[lark.]

Blackfrost
55 moons • RiverClan warrior • she/her
long-furred, mostly black tortoiseshell she-cat with sharp blue eyes

Blackfrost frowned up at the leader as he explained what this meeting was for. She sat with her paws close together and her tail tucked up around them. An open discussion, huh? Well, wasn't that just something.

The past few moons of Fadingstar's leadership had put an uncharacteristic chip in Blackfrost's shoulder. As those precious few cats that were still brave enough spoke up, she found them voicing all of her own misgivings. RiverClan had gone through so much turmoil, being uprooted and chased from their home, and Fadingstar had only served to make it far worse with the way he spread fear in their already pained hearts.

She felt angry. She felt resentful. The crux of it all was the frustration that came with being unable to help these feelings — when many moons ago she had always felt calm and in control.

Finally, Blackfrost's own mother, Waterlily, spoke up. As was the expectation with the old she-cat, her words were well-crafted and viciously pointed. Blackfrost agreed with every single one of her points, and not just because the woman had raised her.

"Your leadership started out fine, Fadingstar," she chimed in after the first time Waterlily spoke. "You brought much-needes stability to our high ranks, appointing both a deputy and a medicine cat in quite sufficient time. Your Lionhearts were rather well-chosen. I have to admit, I had faith in you — I truly hoped you would turn this clan around for good."

She sighed. So much for all that. "But now, Berrypaw is in the medicine den alone. We've been driven from our home and only just returned. We all need a leader who would work to raise our security, stability, and sense of community. Instead, you've been ruthlessly executing cats for voicing their concerns. You haven't been the leader I'd hoped for in you for quite some time."

She had made her own point. She settled back once more to listen to others voice there concerns. The tension escalated quite quickly, however, and Waterlily, that wizened old xat, took matters into her own paws, scolding Fadinfstar, utterly destroying him with her words, until he turned and fled the scene.

When Waterlily collapsed, Blackfrost was at her elbow near immediately, allowing her mother to lean against her own large frame jf she wished. Then Grimpaw had to open his mouth. Blackfrost thanked the stars she wasn't a more temperamental cat, for she was able to speak calmly in the face of this disrespect.

"Grimpaw, you have no authority to call for punishment to an elder many seasons your senior. You talk of respect, yet you can't pay as much to a cat twice Fadingstar's age and experience." Splashleap's words were... accurate, though they could have been worded better. Blackfrost decided not to bother saying more.

Then Dusklion's voice rang out, calling for order. Thank StarClan for Dusklion. As far as Blackfrost was concerned, this meeting was over. Her only concern right now was taking care of her mother.

[ @Goopysharkboi @Rani @gs29513 | hope this is allowed!! I was working on this post when tal posted TvT ]