High Rank Announcement [#hrannouncement]
Bumblestar ran her tongue over her jaws, watching silently as more than a few cats stepped forward to express their interest. Good, fantastic, she could work with that.
Her gaze turned toward Ghostpaw[ @Starfinder ]. "By working hard 'n proving yourself as a strong 'n dedicated member of ThunderClan," she explained. "It's not a role for just anybody. I need to be able to trust these cats with my life and be certain that they have the capability to make sure this Clan stays on its paws.
"So, those of you who stepped up. Ghostpaw, Silversong [ @Cinderspirit ], Cherrypaw [ @CreeperLover649 ], Sunleap [ @Katiethewolfchild ], Dreampaw [ @RedLief ]. The interest is noted, but right now's not the time. I'll be keepin' an eye on the lot of you, though."
At Wildtwist's [ @Bean_The_Cat ]question, she twitched an ear. "Apprentices already shouldn't be outta camp on their own, that should be a well-known rule by now. They're fine to take a trip there otherwise."
Her attention was stole momentarily by movement, and when her eyes landed on Gentledoe, she felt her stomach twist. Not at the sight of the missing eye, no, she couldn't care less about that (she DID, she felt terrible about it, but she didn't feel a way that would alter her view of the other she-cat when she saw it), but rather at the way Gentledoe simply settled her head on her paws. Bumblestar made a note to speak to her first chance she got after she was finished with her plans.
Mudhound, next. Bumblestar glanced to her sibling. "Good question. Leads into my next bit, actually."
She cleared her throat and moved to the very edge of the Stormcrest, where her toes hung just barely off the stone.
"As you all should know by now, we're at war with ShadowClan." She swept her gaze over her Clan, making sure this information sunk in as her tone shifted to something rougher and darker. "Dawnstar attempted to take Sunkissed Creek 'n failed. Now she's pinning Ivysnake's death on us because she's pissed that she lost, as if she hasn't been able to find or even keep a deputy until just recently, apparently. She wants to blame us for things when she can't even keep an eye on her own ranks!" A snarl made her lips twitch upward, teeth flashing as the sun sank lower in the sky behind her, turning the clouds ominous shades of red and gold and Bumblestar herself into a vicious, sharp silhouette.
"I shot back at her with war, 'cause I'm not about to sit around and let she and her band of marsh rats murder my Clanmates without givin' them somethin' to show for it. If she wants to make us out as killers, then we'll give her death. From now on, if you see a ShadowClan cat at the border, kill them. Get to them before they get to us. I don't care if they aren't over the scent markers, I don't care if they aren't even near 'em." Her hackles rose. "Kill them. Leave the bodies at the border for ShadowClan to find. This is an us or them situation, 'n I'm choosin' us.
"I want the borders pushed back, too. Encroach on their territory, move the markers inward every time you're on a patrol. They want our land? We'll take theirs instead. Fair's fair."
She glanced at Gentledoe. "A while back, Gentledoe told me an idea she had for night guards. I wanna implement that now. Warriors, and apprentices over six moons, speak to her if you're interested. I want us prepared as possible for this. Mentors, get a jump on training. Make sure your apprentices know how to defend themselves. Warriors, it's a good idea to refresh yourselves on your own training. Mudhound said they have an event planned - join that. Make sure we're ready to face them. I am not allowing ThunderClan to lose this war, 'n I'll do what I have to to make sure we're prepared and able to take them out when they come for us."
A pause, to let everything settle, before she moved on.
"I don't care what you do to RiverClan during this time as long as you aren't going into the heart of their territory or murdering their kits or what have you, but WindClan isn't to be bothered. Not yet, anyways. If we need allies, I trust Twilightstar much more than I do Beanstar. He seems slippery 'n I don't like it. I've got plans for RiverClan too that I'll lay out in just a bit, but before I do that, is everything that I've said so far understood?"
