Moon 30
"It's like he doesn't even notice," Stoneflyash grumbles, plucking her thrush with a bit more force than necessary. "Well, historically, Flamesplinter has proven to be more than a little dense," Lionspirit teases. "Have you tried telling him how you feel?" Stoneflyash busies herself with her bird. Then, finally, she huffs: "of course not." Even quieter: "he's too busy making eyes at Aeris. Or that HoundClan slimepelt Rat-something." (Stoneflyash knows Ratbramble's name, even if he doesn't deserve to be remembered.) Lionspirit hides his twitching whiskers by grooming a paw. "Well, he might not notice you're trying to flirt if he's only into toms." Stoneflyash grumbles again, something suspiciously like the words, "I know" buried in her thrush.
He might be young, but after passing all his assessments perfectly and more besides, it's clear Rivuletpaw is ready to be given full responsibility as a warrior. Snowstar names him Rivuletbramble, for how fiercely he protects those he loves. The Clan showers the young cat in praises for his accomplishment. Hawthornrose even admits that he thought Rivuletbramble was ready for his name last moon, after only a season's training, with how competently he fought and hunted.
Aeris is also praised for his mentorship, and the ginger tomcat preens in the limelight. As is usual, he goes straight to Zell and swoops the quiet tomcat to his side, who is slowly learning how to tolerate being paraded around with grudging affection. Aeris doesn't hesitate to pull Flamesplinter in for his victory lap after seeing him trailing along (though he doesn't notice Stoneflyash glaring from across the clearing at the three tomcats, nor does he notice her slipping away early).
Patrols this moon go smoothly. Thymebush confidently teaches any cat that wants to learn how to fish; Crocusfox and Cottonwhisper have a fun hunt, each catching a mouse to share beside the pond; Lindenhope watches Snowstar predict where they'll find coyote tracks and realizes his leader is even more brilliant than he'd given her credit for.
Not everything goes well, though. Egrethail's claw wounds grow infected. Sycamorenewt is confident he'll recover, but it isn't pleasant and Egrethail is frustrated that his healing has been delayed. The orange loner Mottlespider dies, unable to recover from his head wound. Poor Juniperkit stays out in the rain for too long and ends up catching greencough. The healers have catmint, but a kitten is especially vulnerable to such a serious sickness, and he is put on close watch.
At the Gathering...
Ptarmigantoe looks utterly defeated as the molly drags herself up to the announcement ledge. Her pelt is in disarray, her eyes dull, her belly still round with milk, and she trembles slightly against the chill. Even Beetlestar is more put together (and that's saying something). Before Snowstar or Beetlestar can say anything, Ptarmigantoe starts the announcements, proclaiming that Emberstar is now in StarClan and that she is the new leader of HoundClan, with Walnuttangle as her deputy.
She says nothing more, and the other two leaders quickly make their own announcements in the wake of such awful news. HoundClan doesn't stay to mingle, following Ptarmiganstar out as soon as the announcements are over, and the other two Clans awkwardly hang about for a little longer before also leaving early.
In HoundClan...
Emberstar is found dead on HoundClan's borders, covered in wounds and drenched in unfamiliar cat scent. No cat is quite sure how many lives the elderly leader had left, but Otterblink knows it was more than two. Despite her grief and her recent kitting, Ptarmiganstar steps up as leader, appointing the unshakable Walnuttangle as her deputy. Surprisingly, she doesn't feel insecure or overwhelmed at the thought of being leader--Ptarmiganstar just feels numb and resigned to her lot.
In BoulderClan...
A flea outbreak has Crakefrill, Poplarrustle, Ringletsplash and Pikeshell scratching at itchy bites. Bughowl decides to use his skills to serve as BoulderClan's mediator. Without a healer around to help keep the peace, perhaps this can serve as a stopgap solution to the power vacuum in the Clan, and it might help keep the other Clans' suspicions off BoulderClan if they have an official advocate to reassure them everything is well. No cat really realized how much negotiating Gingerlilac did with the other healers until he was gone.
