She felt the ruffling of the summer breeze in her pelt as she began to wake up. She was just outside of the camp. The sky was glittering with all sorts of stars, and all around her were roses, but unlike one of Roseshade's dreams he had, these ones only swayed gently in the breeze and stayed anchored to the ground. It was just her. "Hello? Anyone?" She looked around. Something in her wanted to walk toward the Star Tree, so she obliged in hopes she might be able to find someone.
As she approached the Star Tree, she noticed the stars were a little brighter near the tree. They were only that bright when an eligible leader was receiving their nine lives. It confused her- if it wasn't her up on the tree, then who was?
As she approached the tree, she could see a short figure at the top. The only distinguishing trait that she could see from the top of the tree was a pair of forest green eyes staring at the sky...
Waspthroat woke up, uncertain and confused. What was that dream all about, and who was up there if she wasn't?
"Waspthroat!" Roseshade called into the den. She looked up to see the tom standing a tail length away from her. "Are you trying to sleep all day? We need to figure out what you're going to do about becoming the new Titan and let the clan know."
Waspthroat and Roseshade talked for quite a while about their plan for her to receive her nine lives; She would let the clan know they were leaving tonight and they would go to the Star Tree that night just after sunset. Cinderflurry would make sure the clan doesn't fall apart, and Weaselstride would be the designated temporary medicine cat for the clan.
The two left just as the stars began to appear in the sky, and as they walked, they heard rustling in some bushes nearby. The two stopped to turn and watch for whatever may have been lurking in there...
A weasel appeared from the brush, carrying a flower in it's mouth. Roseshade stared at it for a few minutes before the weasel darted off. He watched it for a few moments after, seemingly in deep thought. Waspthroat couldn't quite understand what could have clicked in his head, but it didn't matter as he suddenly snapped out of it and continued onward. "Roseshade?" Waspthroat asked the distracted tom who didn't really respond besides flicking his tail. "What's going on in that head of yours?" Roseshade stayed silent still until suddenly something clicked, and it showed in his eyes. "That weasel... I have a suspicion that the Forest of Stars sent that weasel as a sign... weasels don't typically carry around flowers like that. It's also worth noting it kinda had the same colors as Weaselstride." Waspthroat looked at him. "That could be a coincidence... You know this, right? I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying you shouldn't jump to conclusions."
"I know. The Forest of Stars can confirm or deny it... We'll see."
The two reached the base of the Star Tree. Roseshade looked over at Waspthroat. "Good luck, Waspthroat." He smiled slightly, then went to the other side of the tree to do his part of the leadership ritual.
Waspthroat began to carefully ascend the tree, making sure she didn't lose her footing. Once she became Titan, then what? It wasn't like she didn't know what she was doing, but at the same time... she almost didn't know. She was about half way up the tree when a branch began to bend under her weight, and she was not heavy for her size. The next thing she knew, the branch gave out from under her and she plummeted to the ground, landing with a hard thud...
As she approached the Star Tree, she noticed the stars were a little brighter near the tree. They were only that bright when an eligible leader was receiving their nine lives. It confused her- if it wasn't her up on the tree, then who was?
As she approached the tree, she could see a short figure at the top. The only distinguishing trait that she could see from the top of the tree was a pair of forest green eyes staring at the sky...
Waspthroat woke up, uncertain and confused. What was that dream all about, and who was up there if she wasn't?
"Waspthroat!" Roseshade called into the den. She looked up to see the tom standing a tail length away from her. "Are you trying to sleep all day? We need to figure out what you're going to do about becoming the new Titan and let the clan know."
Waspthroat and Roseshade talked for quite a while about their plan for her to receive her nine lives; She would let the clan know they were leaving tonight and they would go to the Star Tree that night just after sunset. Cinderflurry would make sure the clan doesn't fall apart, and Weaselstride would be the designated temporary medicine cat for the clan.
The two left just as the stars began to appear in the sky, and as they walked, they heard rustling in some bushes nearby. The two stopped to turn and watch for whatever may have been lurking in there...
A weasel appeared from the brush, carrying a flower in it's mouth. Roseshade stared at it for a few minutes before the weasel darted off. He watched it for a few moments after, seemingly in deep thought. Waspthroat couldn't quite understand what could have clicked in his head, but it didn't matter as he suddenly snapped out of it and continued onward. "Roseshade?" Waspthroat asked the distracted tom who didn't really respond besides flicking his tail. "What's going on in that head of yours?" Roseshade stayed silent still until suddenly something clicked, and it showed in his eyes. "That weasel... I have a suspicion that the Forest of Stars sent that weasel as a sign... weasels don't typically carry around flowers like that. It's also worth noting it kinda had the same colors as Weaselstride." Waspthroat looked at him. "That could be a coincidence... You know this, right? I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying you shouldn't jump to conclusions."
"I know. The Forest of Stars can confirm or deny it... We'll see."
The two reached the base of the Star Tree. Roseshade looked over at Waspthroat. "Good luck, Waspthroat." He smiled slightly, then went to the other side of the tree to do his part of the leadership ritual.
Waspthroat began to carefully ascend the tree, making sure she didn't lose her footing. Once she became Titan, then what? It wasn't like she didn't know what she was doing, but at the same time... she almost didn't know. She was about half way up the tree when a branch began to bend under her weight, and she was not heavy for her size. The next thing she knew, the branch gave out from under her and she plummeted to the ground, landing with a hard thud...
Leadership: Roseshade's Version is the second half of the story