[PRP] A New Leader Steps Forth... [Tigersnarl x SunClan]

[Blinded By Silence]

The night after the stones were cast and Tigersnarl lay down to rest, sleep found him quickly. When he closed his eyes to rest, the sound of water gently lapping stone would find his ears. Upon opening his eyes, the young new leader would find himself no longer laying in his nest, but standing on the stony shore of a lake seemingly made of pure liquid sunlight. The sky above him is full of stars, more than he has ever seen, each one a tiny sun of its own, watching, waiting.

A voice behind him would ring out over that beautify sight, soft and bell-like, filled with so much joy.

"Welcome, Tigersnarl, to the Sun Pool. We have brought you here for a very important ceremony." As Dovetail spoke, other cats stepped forward, "It has been known that a leader's duty is to be the first into battle and the last one to eat so that their clan may have the strength to flourish. It has been decided that those willing to give their lives for their clan should be able to do so freely. No longer will a clan be left so quickly." She lifted her head, looking to Tigersnarl with a proud smile, "Today, Tigersnarl, you will be given nine lives, so that you may serve your clan to your fullest capabilities."

And with that he stepped aside, letting the first cat approach.

@Nym @kovak @Tigeria @belloblossom @PeterPan_da144 @NatiStorm

 

[PeterPan_da144]

Thistlefur approached first.

Unlike any SunClan cats she'd met yet, nor ever known of, she was still in her elder state. It was a choice more than anything, one she was very proud of.

However, unlike in life, she seemed full. Full of life, full of energy, she wasn't so worn down and rickety. Her fur still stuck out in an unkempt fashion, the origin of her name. However, overall she looked more spry than she had in her final days.

"Tigersnarl," she greeted, dipping her head, before swatting him over the ear.

"That's for refusing food," she huffed, though there was a proud tone to her voice. "Even if it proved that you are leader material before anyone even thought to vote."

She drew herself upright and moved closer, her closed eyes crinkling as she smiled.

"With this life, I give you the gift of selflessness. The clan comes before all, for without the clan, there is nothing." She tilted forward to touch noses with him. He would feel the life rushing into him, and would understand how her outward stubbornness was actually selflessness. Her choice to eat last, and the least, out of any cat, so that those around her could persevere and survive. She gave her life for the clan, just as she knew Tigersnarl would too.

Thistlefur slowly stepped back, allowing the next cat to step forward.

 

[kovak]

Floodkit knew about death and life at such a young age, but luckily, they were not gathered to greet a cat into Sunclan today. Rather, it was to bless Tigersnarl with his nine lives.

"Hi Tigersnarl!" he chirped, dipping head in greeting. "With this life, I give you the gift of confidence. The clan may be feeling lost at times, but remember that you are the trust that the clan needs. Be confident in your decisions and your intuition, for they are usually right." He then reached up to try to boop noses before scampering back to Thistlefur's side.

 

[NatiStorm]

Wearing his ever present smile, Starfur waited patiently until the small kit had made it all the way back before he approached the new leader. "All cats face hardships, a leader more than most, and it will do you no good to dwell on the things you cannot change." Starfur said as he stood before Tigersnarl. Having died in his prime before a time of famane, the pale tom retained his form in peak condition. Standing next to Tigersnarl, the difference between them was clearly visible and it was easy to see at least one of the hardships Starfur spoke of.

"With this life, I give you acceptance." Starfur leaned in and touched his nose to Tigersnarl's. "May you accept the hard truths, past mistakes, and grief so that you may lead the clan with your conscious unburdened by things beyond your control." Still smiling, the pale warrior returned to his place among the others.

 

[belloblossom]

Floppyear was old. While her body no longer felt its age - if she felt as old as she was, she would surely turn to dust in moments! - her mind remembered how long ago it had been since she felt her paws on the ground. All of her kin, older and younger, were in SunClan. Any trace of Floppyear's bloodline had died with the drought, but she suspected that the cats on the mountain now, wouldn't even know to mourn the loss. Her name or her stories may not even be a tale the elders would remember, but Floppyear was determined in death as she was in life, to stay relevant.

She listened to the medicine cat speak and begin the ceremony and then to the cats that followed - Floppyear honestly hadn't bothered to learn new names... save for the little ones. It would be heartless not to get to know Floodkit, Pebblekit, Emberkit and Blazekit... though only a few were present for this occasion. She supposed with her age, she ought to give Tigersnarl a life that amounted to "something something follow tradition" but listening to the cats that came before her... selflessness, confidence, acceptance... she couldn't help but tilt her head to the stars, as though she were rolling her eyes.

As the SunClan tomcat was stepping away, Floppyear came forward briskly, standing before him.
"My name is Floppyear and I was born when the trees on your mountain were mere saplings." She told the tabby tomcat. "My story may not be carried on the tongues of your elders any longer, but that doesn't mean it'll be the same for you..." She could give him a life towards legacies, or maybe one of perseverance, but those felt so stuffy. Yes, she'd made her choice, it was best to give him the life of... "Common sense is what I am passing to you with this gift, youngster. Yes, the Clan is important and yes, now you'll have more lives than those of your kin, HOWEVER," Her tone became grandmothery and sharp. "These are merely personality traits! It's all well and good to be selfless and confident and accepting, but you're going to actually need some manner of intelligence to keep your Clanmates and yourself, out of danger. Use your head, Tigersnarl, and survive the challenges that come your way."

With that, Floppyear pressed her nose to the new MountainClan leader. In the span of seconds, he would see a vision of the mountain, as Floppyear had seen it when she was alive, the trees small and the river rushing through. Quickly, the scenery began to change, trees growing, falling, sprouting anew, the river flooding, freezing and drying up altogether and cats... so many cats, moving around the clan's territory, until he finally saw the MountainClan territory that he knew so well, and that he would wake to, when his ceremony was complete.

Pulling away, Floppyear directed her blind gaze towards Tigersnarl’s eyes.
"MountainClan has survived this long. May it continue to survive under your watch." She told the new leader, before turning and padding away to her original spot, to watch the rest of the ceremony play out. Glancing at the cats who had already gone and the ones who had yet to, she raised her head at them as though to challenge them to badmouth the life she'd given the new leader.

 

[Nym]

Morningsky had been following her mate during his travels, but that wasn't going to stop her from answering the calls of the sun. MountainClan may not be the home her family remained within, but it had been her birth and death places, and that amounted to something. Pride seeped through her skin and bones as Tigersnarl stood before the clan ancestors -- yes, he was a good pick. Strong, passionate, and clearly someone who wanted great things for the clan. A good pick. ​

​

But another thing worried her, nibbling at the edges of her brow as she considered the cat before her. He was the kind to abandon himself for the clan, and while that was an admirable trait in itself, well... it might write an early end for the new leader.​

​

No, MountainClan needed every opportunity they could get. ​

​

Finally, finally, it was her turn, and Morningsky sighed in soft amusement towards Floppyear. A good life; they had similar worries. She approached the large cat and dipped her head in silent greeting.​

​

"The clan needs you," she began, voice a low velvety purr. "After each turn and twist the clan needs structure. It needs a rhythm, again. How will MountainClan persist if not without hard work, dedication, and ritual?" She rose her head and leaned to brush her nose to his.​

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"I give you the life of survival -- stay alive, Tigersnarl, for the clan cannot handle much more tragedy. Protect it, and the lives you've been given. Even though they are many, one day you might regret the careless loss of them."​

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With her life came a choking tightness around Tigersnarl's neck. He gasped, clawing at his throat as the life rushed over him and, suddenly, he was freed from the sensation, and with that came a sense of strength. Morningsky nodded and took her spot back at the sidelines. ​

 

[Nym]

Pebblekit had never given life to a leader before, which notably rang true for most of the cats present in the ceremony. It was a surreal experience, even with being a ghost and living (could you call it living now that he was dead?) in an ethereal afterlife where you literally watched cats through the sun, and Pebblekit wasn't sure what he could possibly do that would be worth the grand experience. He had a lot of responsibility on his little shoulders, but Pebblekit was determined to make use of it.​

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Once Morningsky was done it was his turn. Survival was a good life -- it was absolutely no fun being dead, especially as a kit. Pebblekit was older than quite a few of the cats present and yet he'd always be stuck in the body of a child... Yeah, dying wasn't enjoyable.​

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He tilted his head to the older-bodied cats and then back to Tigersnarl, his nose scrunching. What could he provide that might aid Tigersnarl? What had MountainClan lacked for so long? ​

​

Oh.​

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Pebblekit found himself bounding up to the new leader and gesturing with his paw towards the much larger cat, raising onto his back legs as Tigersnarl bent down. His paws gripped both sides of the tom's face and Pebblekit brought their nose closer to the striped male, a pleased smile on the kit's face.​

​

"With this life I give you hope," he mewled, entirely pleased with himself. "So that you will always keep going forward, even when it looks impossible!" Their noses touched and with it came a sense of strength and warmth. Pebblekit released the tom and proudly padded back to the group, his tail held high.​

 

[Tigeria]

Stonepaw watched as all cats in Sunclan that remained with the mountain gathered. He might not have had a long life, but he's glad that Tigersnarl was taking lead of MountainClan. They sorely needed leadership by the looks of things.

Waiting as his little brother finished giving a life to Tigersnarl, Stonepaw makes his way towards the Tom.

"Hello Tigersnarl!" He practically bounced towards the larger Tom now that he's close. He rubs his nose against Tigersnarl's nose and speaks. "With this life I give you Humor, it's not enough to just to live and survive in a desperate state. You also need to see and make light of miniscule problems." He grins and bounds back to the rest of the Sunclan cats.

 

[kovak]

Russetsong stood there, listening to every cat's gift. They all sounded so good, and he shifted his paws, unsure of what he was going to give Tigersnarl, himself. "Hello Tigersnarl," the cat might be dead, but respect was always big to him. "With this life, I give you the gift of a voice. Listen to your clanmates -- the quiet, the loud. The young, the elderly. You are the representation of Mountainclan, and you represent these cats. Use your voice for the better of the clan." With that, the tom returned to his clanmates, waiting for the ninth gift.

 

[Blinded By Silence]

Finally, Dovetail stepped forward once more, smiling patiently as she waited for Tigersnarl to stand ready for his last gift. "Last but not least," She said softly, "I give you the gift of faith. When times are hard and you're unsure of what to do next, please know that we will always be here. Your ancestors walk beside you and will answer if you call us." She pressed her nose to his and a sense of comfort would wash over him. With the final life given, Dovetail stepped back and looked upon the cat anew.

"I hail you by your new name," She said in a tone that belied ancient and powerful words that felt heavy in her small voice, "Tigersun. Your past life is no more. You have now received the nine lives of a leader, and SunClan grants you the guardianship of MountainClan. Defend it well; care for young and old; honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; live each life with pride and dignity. Such is the way of the Clans."

Signaling the end of the ceremony, she was the first to raise her voice to the skies, welcoming the newest leader of MoutainClan.