My Time Has Come

Talonstar was dead... Burningdust already knew this when Shiningwing and Deepwater returned to Camp. He'd seen it, and every urge inside him had told him to warn her, to stop her and his father heading out that night, but he hadn't. They'd known for a long time this was coming, Starclan had told them so, a new era was about to be ushered in.

His aunt would be Leader for now, Burningdust wasn't sure quite what Starclan had in mind there, but he was sure that everything would sort itself out, the important part now was taking up the Deputy position.
Deepwater would be heading out soon to travel to the Moonpool and claim her nine lives, most likely with Fleetingpaw, as Noiseflame was nowhere to be found.

Owlmoon was sitting quietly, away from the mourners, although he held his head down in respect of their fallen Leader.

But even in his own quiet way of mourning their Leader's fall, Burningdust knew that Owlmoon was still thinking, still planning, and Burningdust couldn't hold it against him, everything that was to happen now had to be fast.

No one had been down to retrieve the body yet, it was too dangerous in this weather, but her Kits had been told. It was still being explained to her younger Kits who probably didn't understand the concept of what had just happened to their mother, or that they'd have to move out of their Mother's Den and into the Nursery with the other Kits.

"Deepwater... Deepstar," Burningdust ran to catch up with her. He'd never really spoken properly with his aunt before, but she at least had to know he was family, hopefully that would at least encourage her to stop and listen to him.
It seemed to do the trick.
"Is there anything I can do back here? Talonstar's Kits... or at least Faithkit knows me quite well, perhaps I could help settle them with Palefawn," he wanted to show his usefulness, as well as his closeness with his Clanmates, he doubted Deepwater had put much thought into picking a Deputy, like the rest of them... or at least most of them, she'd probably assumed Talonstar would be around for many more moons to come and hadn't concerned herself with it.

The dark she cat blinked at him for a moment, as if weighing him up, then she nodded, "fine, but be careful with them, they don't understand completely what's happened, and as I'm taking Fleetingpaw with me and Noiseflame seems to have vanished get Hollowgaze and Nightpaw to help with getting Poppy seeds around to those who need them, they know the Medicine Cat's Den well enough for that." Then she blinked again and motioned Fleetingpaw to her, before continuing in the direction of the exit. The new Leader had to claim their new lives as quickly as possible in line with their traditions.

Delighted with the responsibility, Burningdust hurried off to find Nightpaw and Hollowgaze. He would prove to Deepwater that in her absence he was the perfect candidate for Deputy.
Finding Hollowgaze lying very still in the Medicine Cat's Den and Nightpaw at the back of the Apprentice Den he called them into action - Nightpaw certainly seemed rather happy at the idea of playing Medicine Cat for the night, although Hollowgaze was careful to keep an eye on him.

Now for Talonstar's Kits.

He bumped into Fainthope on the way, who seemed to be looking for him.

"Fainthope, just the tom I wanted to see" Burningdust grinned, a little exhausted from his exhilaration and all the running around, "can you find Owlmoon and Scorchfrost and get them to help usher everyone back to their Dens, if they stay out too long in this rain we'll end up with potential white-cough outbreak."

The grey tom opened his mouth as if to say something, but Burningdust was already gone, off to find Faithkit and Talonstar's other Kits.

"He seems rather busy doesn't he."

Fainthope turned to see Cherrybloom with a gentle smile on her face, "He works too hard you know" the she-cat told him, "don't worry I'll help settle everyone down as well, I expect I probably have a slightly better manner for it than Owlmoon and Scorchfrost" she smiled, her eyes told of the mourning and sadness she felt at the Leader's passing, but their was a playful look there too, as if she were trying to lighten the situation just ever so slightly, in the hope it would chase away the clouds a little and give them a new ray of hope.

She was right of course, so Fainthope dipped his head, "Thank you."

As Cherrybloom moved away to begin herding the Apprentices back towards their Den, Fainthope caught sight of Owlmoon. The tom was standing by the entrance to the Camp, but his eyes had settled for a moment on Cherrybloom before leaving.
What was he doing?
Cautiously and uncertainly Fainthope followed, Owlmoon must have seen him anyway.

He followed the damp and cold trail that the grey tabby left off towards the mountain path that led to the Cloudclan border - one of the safer paths that was enclosed on all sides.
Fainthope found him settled in the small rocky clearing where Apprentices sometimes hung out when they were off duty - it was particularly useful in Greenleaf when the weather was warm due to the little pool that lay near the centre.

The grey tom looked like he was lost in thought, those impossibly large eyes of his looking up at the starry sky.

"Burningdust is going to be Leader." Owlmoon finally spoke, taking so long to do it that Fainthope actually jumped. "He is the right tom for the job, he loves the Clan and he has all the skills and traits required."
Fainthope nodded slowly, "and we know that Starclan will bring that about, the wolves are coming soon... but perhaps they won't give Deepwater her new lives and reveal that Burningdust is to be the next Leader of Highclan," the younger tom sounded hopeful, but Owlmoon scoffed his idea away lightly.

Owlmoon turned back to Fainthope, blue eyes meeting amber in a clash that made Fainthope flinch, "Cherrybloom will get in the way. She can't be allowed to. If this is going to work we need Scorchfrost to stay by Burningdust's side all the time, he'll enjoy that, you will also need to keep an eye on Cherrybloom, make sure she stays out of trouble. Don't make it impossible for the two of them to see each other, but never let them go rushing off for the other," Owlmoon spoke sharply and insistently here.

Fainthope however was left in a total state of confusion, "Have... Have you had a vision?" That was the only explanation for all this suddenly materialising from nowhere after all.
Owlmoon nodded stiffly, "If the burning star falls towards the cherry tree it will never rise again."

Then he turned back to look up at the stars again, "Burningdust will be Leader," this time it sounded more like he was talking to himself than the other tom, so Fainthope slowly backed away.