High Rank Announcement [#hrannouncement]
She'd had something to drink. Eaten less, but still eaten. Turned out being starved for nearly a moon didn't make it easier to wolf things down. She'd managed only a little bit of the otter she'd brought for her mate and sibling before she felt like sending it back to where it came. Still, her limbs were a little more stable, and her head seemed less foggy, so she figured it was progress. Slow, agonizing progress, but progress nonetheless.
A good thing, too. Hadn't she promised Spiderthroat just yesterday that she'd tell them all as soon as she felt well enough to walk? A brief test of her extremities confirmed that, yes, they could hold her weight without too much strain. Maybe not for long, but it'd be long enough for her to make one last climb to the edge of the Stormcrest and address her Clan. As golden light reached through the den's entryway, scattering rays across the thin stream, Bumblestar forced herself to stand up straight and exit. Across the clearing, up the jutting slab of rock she'd started on, squinting into sun when it began to peek through the trunks surrounding her camp.
It would always be her camp, of course, and her Clan, but those phrases would lose their very specific meanings very shortly.
"Thund-HACK-" A coughing fit, triggered by the dryness in her throat, cut her off not even halfway through and she was forced to tuck her muzzle into her chest and crouch until it stopped rattling. Right - more water, as soon as he was done with his part. Get some for Violetfreckle, too, try to help her drink. She cleared her throat, straightened, tried again, still raspy but much louder and with greater success. "ThunderClan! Gather 'round for a meeting!"
She gave it a moment to let her cats wake, leave their dens, and settle at the Undercrag as usual. That's what she was trying to present this as - usual. Stand tall. Speak clearly. She probably looked like hell, all dull eyes taught skin and ragged fur stretched over sharp bones, but Wolfhive permitting, this would be over smoothly. She would hate to have to make her final act of leadership yet another banishment.
As soon as she could see a good number of faces, Spiderthroat among them, she swallowed to wet her throat and tongue and began.
"As most of you might know from yesterday, I've finally woken up from the state I'd fallen into after I failed to rid the otters from our border. During the near moon I was out, Spiderthroat was the one who stepped up. He confronted Fadingpaw's failures 'n promptly refilled the position. He successfully defeated the beasts 'n has worked to keep this Clan afloat while I couldn't. He's been strong while I've grown weak. He's held us together while I can hardly walk. I can't force you all in good conscience to wait for my recovery when you have someone perfectly capable of takin' things from here.
"I took my place as your leader when ThunderClan was in a state of disrepair 'n I couldn't trust a single soul else to be able to step up 'n fix it. For nearly two season-cycles, from the very moment this place became our new home, I stood here on this crest to ensure we became worthy of our place in this forest once again. But today, goin' forward, I finally feel confident in that I no longer need to be the one fill that role. It's been been one of my greatest honors to be able to lead you, but I now pass that onto Spiderthroat. I'll continue to serve you as Bumblebreak, with just as much pride, as one of your Hornets. Thank you all."
Before she descended, she caught Spiderthroat's eye, a threat and a plea all at once: 'Please don't make me have to reclaim my spot here. Don't you dare put me through this again.' Then her paws left the Stormcrest for what would hopefully be the final time, and she took up a spot among her Clanmates at the front of the crowd and waited for Spiderthroat's ascension.
If she had to take her Clan back from unworthy claws once more, she would. But it would be with tears and great reluctantance, not the righteous fury she once wielded.
#tcmeeting
