#banyantail

First up, we have Brightstar's parents! Meet Snowslip (female, she/her) a short, pale-furred cat. She gave Brightwhisker a life for Bravery, in hopes that it will gave her daughter the strength to make the right decisions, even when it is frightening to do so.

Next up (to the right of Snowslip) is Minnowshadow (male, he/him), a tall, bulky grey tomcat. He chose to give Brightwhisker a life for Resilience, so she won't lose herself to the hardships of leadership.

The two are worried for their only kit, but try hard not to show it during the ceremony.

Antlersmoke, genderflux (they/them) gave Brightwhisker a life for Sympathy, stating that as leader she needs to better understand the plights of her clanmates, and even the struggles of those outside her clan.

Hawthornpoppy, male (he/him), gives Brightwhisker a life for Clear Judgement, so she can see through those who wish to manipulate her.

Nettlewood, female (she/her) gave Brightwhisker a life for Energy, simply stating that running a clan is draining for anycat before stepping back.

Honeysmoke, trans female (purr/purrs) appears conflicted when stepping up to give Brightwhisker a life for Confidence. Purr then tells Brightwhisker that purr hopes it will help her to be able to stand strong on her own, without any...unsavory voices attempting to lead her astray.

Banyantail, male (he/him) gives Brightwhisker a life for Unity, telling her that a divided clan is one destined to fall.

Second to last is Shatterpelt, female (she/her), Songstar's daughter, who angerly gives Brightwhisker a life for Acceptance, curtly telling her she needs to learn to accept those different from her, or she'll find herself abandoned and alone.

And lastly, the leader giving Brightwhisker her last life is...Songstar?? Huh, I wonder why Spikystar isn't here to name her successor..Oh well! Songstar, trans female (she/her), gives Brightwhisker a life for Leadership through the Darkest of Times before naming her Brightstar, the new leader of ForestClan.

Fluttershiver, genderfaun (they/them) replaced Hawthornpoppy's life of Clear Judgement with one for Steadfast Decisions, telling Brightstar that whatever choices she makes, as leader her word is law. And those who question that law need to know their place.

Silvershock, female (she/her) killed Elkflip on Moon 156, after being unable to handle the loss of her sibling Mirrorfrog. On Moon 197, she dies of greencough, and is doomed to the Dark Forest for her crime, constantly coughing up black sludge in mimicry of the illness that killed her. For Brightstar, Silvershock replaces Banyantail's life of Unity for one of Instinct. She then tells Brightstar in a jittery voice that hesitation means death. To avoid death you must choose quickly, and stick with it. No matter what.

Prairieflicker, female (she/her) secretly murdered Shattertooth, Songstar's father on Moon 158. After dying on Moon 179, during an especially harsh blizzard, her spirit joined the Dark Forest. And in addition to the constant hunger the spirits of the Dark Forest face, as punishment for murdering an innocent, Prairieflicker relives the harsh cold that killed her and is unable to feel any warmth. Prarieflicker replaces the life Antlersmoke gave Brightstar for Sympathy with a life for Ferocity, telling Brightstar that to show mercy is to be weak.

Eveningivy, male (he/him) was sentenced to the Dark Forest after death due to having killed an apprentice by the name of Ratpaw on Moon 86. He died on Moon 107, alongside some clanmates during a large badger attack. This is reflected in the black, eternally-bleeding scars along his body. Additionally, he was the first cat of ForestClan to go to the Dark Forest, and so long alone drove him crazy. Eveningivy replaced Shatterpelt's life of Acceptance with one for Greed. After all, there's no such thing as too much of a good thing, right? And as leader, don't you deserve the best of the best Brightstar?