[odessa]

Sweet greenleaf afternoons, oh how Alderstep had missed those. If he closed his eyes, he could pretend everything was still the same. Creamcloud would be in a corner munching on some prey after a long day hunting, her pale fur reflecting the sunlight glamorously, and his not-friend Rabbitchatter would probably be playing with some kits. Alderstep opened his eyes with a huff. He really should be done with being sad or whatever this was. Those cats disappeared some time ago (well, not Rabbitchatter. He was more like a moon ago.) He was being too clingy.

The tom turned his gaze onto the clearing, shifting to get the sun out of his narrowed eyes. There wasn't much activity going on, or so it seemed. While every bone in his body demanded that he leave camp and go hunting and enjoy the territory, Alderstep stayed rooted to his spot. It was something about keeping an eye on the clan. And as much as he hated to talk to cats (especially the incessantly annoying ones), he supposed he should make himself available should anyone need him.

For now, though, he was a rock in the camp. Still and inanimate in every way except for his green gaze constantly shifting or the occasional twitch of his ears.

Perhaps he should send out patrols? No, it hadn't been much time since Spiderthroat's herb patrol. He'd give it another day or so, besides, he'd just become deputy. It felt like a breach of everyone's autonomy if he jumped in and started ordering cats about immediately. He'd let them get used to his existence first, if that was even possible.

He tried to recall how the past deputies had been. How Thrushstar (or was it Thrushfur now?) acted, and how Bumblestar was as a deputy. Was he doing it right? Hell if he knew, he clearly had no idea what to even do. Despite his strong "do-it-myself" resolve, Alderstep could really go for a shoulder to lean on. He supposed he could lean on his own shoulder, but it wouldn't be the same as some other cat yelling at him when he made a mistake.

Then again, nothing could really be the same again. New camp, or really, back to the old one. New apprentice. New rank. Everything was like a new start. Alderstep sure hoped he wasn't the only one who felt like this. He'd feel pretty dumb if he was.

[open]