High Rank Announcement [#hrannouncement]
Lynxkit. She'd forgotten about him. She blamed the fog, and acknowledged him with a mere glance and nothing else.
"While you finish up your training, you'll be Quackpaw, Mantispaw, Spiderpaw, Cricketpaw, Floodpaw, Hailpaw, Emberpaw, Snakepaw, 'n Lynxpaw. Fawnkit, there's already a Fawnpaw, so you're Doepaw.
"Cricketpaw, you're with Blackbirdwing. Emberpaw, with Acornfall. Spiderpaw, with Milkbee. Mantispaw, Mothflame. Quackkit, Brackenclaw. Doepaw, Midnightrose. Hailpaw, Mountaintalon. Snakepaw, Dragonflycliff. Floodpaw, Risingstorm. Lynxpaw, Sparrowpelt."
Bumblestar's world felt unsteady. She dug her claws into the rock and tried to cling to reality, just long enough to get through the next bout of ceremonies. But when her eyes found Wolfhive's apprentices, their names died in her throat. They deserved to move on just as much as the others did, but looking them in the eyes...
She decided to be selfish and tore her gaze away. Later, when she could meet their gaze without her lungs constricting. Not now
It was impossible to keep her words stable as she continued. "I'm... sure by now you've noticed that Brackenclaw 'n Raggedear are back, 'n the cats from Sunkissed Creek have returned to camp. The plague's over. They lost Lavendersong on the journey, but she could still be alive somewhere, and... it's over." She swallowed. Her heart hurt. "We're- we're not without losses. Honeykit, Grousekit, Cinderkit; Poppypaw, Elkpaw, Goldenpaw, Bravepaw, Beachpaw-" The apprentice's limp body curled close to Wolfhive's flashed behind her eyes, and the world tilted. "Littlerose, Redhawk-" Her vision swam. "Wol..."
Her tongue wouldn't form the name. Suddenly she couldn't feel her legs, couldn't look at her Clan, couldn't breathe. With spiked fur and flattened ears, Bumblestar tilted precariously on the Stormcrest's edge.
#tcmeeting
