High Rank Announcement [#hrannouncement]

**dino.** · #**267** June 8th, 2023, 12:13 PM

High Rank Announcement [#hrannouncement]

As she watched her Clan for a brief moment of silence, the simple patter of rain turned into something a little heavier. Bumblestar lifted her eyes to the sky once more, watching the dark clouds circle overhead as droplets fell ever faster. Spring rains were always a good sign; prosperity, growth, change. StarClan knew ThunderClan needed that now more than ever.

…Huh.

Tilting her head, she found two specific cats in the crowd and rose back to her paws, tail swaying confidently behind her. She had never been one to pass up an opportunity.

“Drizzlecloud. Springpaw.” She made sure to sweep her gaze over them in turn. “I’ve never been one to believe heavily in StarClan, but even I know an omen when it’s in front of my nose.” Dropping directly onto it, more like. “This new-leaf rain’s no chance happening. Drizzlecloud, as ThunderClan’s medicine cat, with Springpaw training as your apprentice, I’ve got a good feeling you’ll both bring great things to my Clan.”

She gave both she-cats a toothy grin.

Now for the topic of leadership.

Unfortunately, pickings were slim. There weren’t many cats she would personally deem fit for any sort of authority, so her choices had been limited, but through all of her thinking, one face had kept coming back to mind. She didn’t know him personally, had hardly even spoken to him on any meaningful level—but he was present, he was clearly invested, and he obviously CARED, which was a hell of a lot more than she could say for half of these cats. Her stare grew sharp when she picked him out of the crowd.

“Alderstep.” A pause, to make sure she had his attention. “After some lengthy consideration, I’ve decided that you’re the cat currently most fit to be my deputy. You’ll be helping me lead ThunderClan. This doesn’t mean you’re immune to my judgement. The second you start to falter or disappoint me, I’ll have you removed.” The same went for the new healers, although she felt it wasn’t necessary to say. They were smart cats, they’d get it. “I expect you to be just as engaged here as you have been in the past, if not more so. I’ve high expectations for you—you’d do well to adhere to them.” The ‘OR ELSE’ hung unspoken in the air as she glanced him over, before turning her head away and jumping down from the Stormcrest.

“This meeting is dismissed. Drizzlecloud, Springpaw, when the two of you have a moment, I’d like to speak to you both privately in the medicine den. Alderstep, I’ll talk to you after I’m done with them.”