A New Sun Rises

[Seraphinu]

Wake, dear one. You must name your deputy soon, the voice of Cloudrain tickled at Sunstar's ear. She didn't want to wake up yet. She didn't want to wake and see Jaystar's dead body once more. She didn't want to see her camp stained with dried blood. She didn't want to see Pantherfang so badly injured.

My dear, have the courage to face your Clan as leader. They need you now. Remember your promise to Jaystar... Cloudrain's voice came again, clearer this time. Sunstar sighed, the numbness of her dreamstate fading as it was replaced with feeling. Again the dull aches of her body's and heart's wounds returned, reminding her of everything. She slowly opened her eyes, uncurling herself, breathing slow and smooth so as not to irritate her chest and her aching ribs. She saw Whitepaw and Moontears go into the nursery to check on Flowerbreeze and Pebblestep.

She then saw a figure approaching, and instinctively her claws unsheathed, her eyes wild. She relaxed when she saw that this cat did not carry a black pelt... and a somewhat familiar one as well. Warily she intercepted the newcomer at the edge of the camp, fighting through the consuming recent memories, trying to think back, almost stinging at the brighter times, and then digging further back still, discovering a cat that she hadn't seen in ages.

"Moss...heart? Is that you?" she asked, blinking in surprise. (Mossheart probably doesn't know Sunstar was deputy either, much less the new leader)

[Mossheart]

"My friend..." Mossheart said softly. "What has happened here...It is like an entirely different world..." and that was truth. So much had changed since she had been gone...since she had been taken. But the pain in Sunstar's face and body was almost unbearable for her to ask any more then that. Instinctively, she moved to comfort her one time friend. She would seek answers later, for now all she could do was lead Sunstar away from the fallen Warrior and perhaps figure something out later.

[Seraphinu]

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[atrb=background,http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j200/Seraphinu/WCtemplatebg.png] Sunstar sighed, wondering where to start. There had been so much pain, so much destruction... when had it started? She could hardly remember. It almost seemed like it had always been this way. "LostClan... they..." Sunstar broke off, having a hard time finding words. Mossheart moved to comfort her, and Sunstar pressed her face into her old friend's fur, feeling the tears roll down her cheeks once more. Was she really built to be a leader like this? She felt to weak, so unable to do anything... surely there was someone who could lead better than her. And then Icetail's words rang through her mind. "A leader's life holds much sacrifice. So, with this life I give you conviction, so that you may see yourself through the deepest of despair..." She felt the former deputy's strength merge with hers, could feel him beside her. He was giving her the strength to meet her new responsibilities as leader. She had to be strong for her Clan. "Jaystar is dead... I am leader now," Sunstar said, her voice a little stronger, though grief was still plain in her eyes. Mossheart wasn't there when the relationship of love had bloomed between them, but it was probably more than obvious now. "WindClan welcomes you home, Mossheart. Perhaps StarClan sent you back to aid us at our darkest hour," she added, musing, wondering if it was really true.

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[Mossheart]

Mossheart nuzzled Sunstar, wanting to take her pain. She knew there was something that had been between Jaystar and Sunstar but Mossheart did not question it now. This was not the time not place to do so.

Mossheart remembered Jaystar as the strong and powerful leader of the WindClan that he was. Her heart went out to his spirit and she gave thanks to the StarClan that she had been blessed to have known him. "As sad turn of events it seems...." Mossheart said quietly. "But you are a strong leader and I know you shall lead us well." she said to Sunstar. She too mused Sunstar's words and wondered if it was true that StarClan had led her home. She liked to think so. "Perhaps Jaystar has led me home to watch over Sunstar and the Clan...I must be strong for her."

[Seraphinu]

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[atrb=background,http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j200/Seraphinu/WCtemplatebg.png] Sunstar led Mossheart into the camp, and began to wonder about her own words. It seemed a strange stroke of fate to be woken by Cloudrain and then meet this long lost warrior. Is this who you want me to be deputy? she asked in her mind. But StarClan was silent. And yet, she still had that feeling. The feeling that Cloudrain had woken her up because it was time to name the new deputy now and not just soon. She thought about all the other warriors she had. She thought about Pantherfang. He would make a good deputy... but I can't put him through that... it would be selfish... Squaring her shoulders, she made her way to the center of camp. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here for a Clan meeting!" she called, her voice as strong as she could manage in her present state.

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[darkflower]

(the not so triumphant return of Mudleaf xD)

Mudleaf padded into camp after a long hunt, dragging a rabbit half his size. His thoughts were elsewhere, hovering on his past life with his siblings, all of whom had drifted off from him and left him alone, He only had Whitepaw left to care for. He immediatly shot his head up, looking for her. "Whitepaw?" he called, wondering if she was there. For a moment he paused, ready to find her. But then he heard Sunstar's summons and,(remembering first to drop the rabbit in the fresh kill pile), padded away from the dens and picked out a nice spot to settle down at in the clearing.

[Magicheart]

Pantherfang struggled to blink open his eyes, the chemicals of the poppy seeds clouding his thoughts, weighing down his eyelids. He struggled to his paws and walked unsteadily to the center of camp, where he roughly lowered himself into a lying position. He was concerned that he would lack the strength to meet Sunstorm in front of his clanmates if she chose him as deputy. He let out a deep breath and tried to reserve his strength. He suddenly noticed the gray cat beside him and struggled with recognition, but the cat remained unfamiliar to him. How many poppy seeds did they give me? he thought, his mind thick with confusion.

Moontears popped his head out of the nursery, and widened his eyes in surprise when he saw that Pantherfang had made his way into the middle of the camp. He rolled his eyes at how stubborn the tom was, but could tell that he wasn't going to miss an announcement from Sunstar for anything. "Whitepaw" he meowed. "Are you finished? I think we should see what Sunstar has to say. Who is that cat with her? I haven't seen her yet." he meowed.

[Seraphinu]

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[atrb=background,http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j200/Seraphinu/WCtemplatebg.png] Whitepaw nodded, done inspecting Pebblestep and her kits, thanking StarClan that neither of the queens were harmed in the recent battles, defended as they were by devoted warriors. She padded out into the clearing with Moontears just as the meeting was beginning. "Cats of WindClan!" Sunstar began, gazing at the group of cats gathered before her, the cats she now led. "Today we celebrate the return of one of our own. After many long moons, Mossheart has returned to us!" she announced, and many of the older warriors cheered happily, eager to receive their former Clanmate home. Sunstar raised her tail for silence. "I believe StarClan has sent her back to us in our darkest hour, and I thank our warrior ancestors dearly for guiding her home. Now... it is also time to name the new deputy of WindClan," she spoke, and every cat held their breath, silently awaiting the name that would be called. No one seemed to be sure who Sunstar would choose- some looked nervously at Pantherfang, but soon all eyes returned to Sunstar. "I say these words before StarClan, so that our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice," she paused, taking a breath, wondering how the Clan would react. "Mossheart will be the deputy of WindClan. I believe that is the reason you were led back to us. WindClan needs your endurance and strength, if you would lend it to us as my deputy," she said. Every cat was silent, waiting for Mossheart's reaction.

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[Mossheart]

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[atrb=background,http://i38.tinypic.com/690wgj.jpgblockquote] Mossheart's breath caught in her throat. Did Sunstar really just name her deputy of the Windclan? The cat was flustered to say the least. Never before had such an honor been placed upon her shoulders. Green eyes swept over the gathered cats, wondering if they would truly accept her back not only into the clan but to protect and guide them as well. Sunstar's words touched her heart and she felt a pride like she never had before. Perhaps is was true after all that the Starclan brought her back here for a purpose. Mossheart may have not known what that purpose was, but she was determined to fulfill it none the less. Mossheart's gaze turned back to be long time friend, every bit of her prepared to be the strength Sunstar would need in the days to come. "It is with a heavy yet joyous heart I accept. And from the ashes, a new age will dawn and so we shall rise."

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[Magicheart]

Pantherfang was shocked. Mossheart? he struggled to remember. He had come to Windclan just before she left. He had never really gotten a chance to know her. Why did he feel relieved? Sunstorm knew what she was doing. He locked eyes with the Windclan leader and gave her a respectful nod and lowered his head to his paws and thought of his son, Eclipsedstar, in Shadowclan.

"Oh!" Moontears gasped excitedly. He stepped into the clearing and gazed at Sunstar. "It seems we have been receiving a lot of messages from Starclan...they have led me here from the mountains, and now Mossheart back home in the clan. We should celebrate that our warrior ancestors are looking so favorably upon Windclan and standing beside us in our time of need. Though we fight a dark enemy, they are with us guiding our path." he meowed, his voice steady as he gazed at the clan.
"Sunstar!" "Mossheart!" he began the call.