High Rank Announcement [#hrannouncement]
Stormstar - RiverClan Leader
As the chanting started to die down for both of the cats and their new names, the RiverClan leader once again lifted her tail to quiet the crowd down as she moved on. "Gonna start bringin' this meetin' to a close with some more somber news. You might've noticed a few absenses from our ranks - Featherbreeze was exiled for her negligence towards her own kit 'n blatant lack of care towards RiverClan, 'n Ospreydart was exiled for his willin'ness to help her out." While she had only caught him at the border, his friendly exchanges with the cat he had brought to her den to have exiled was all the confirmation Stormstar needed to exile him. "If you see either of 'em, they're to be chased off."
Exiles done and out of the way, it was time for the least favorite part of announcements; deaths. Ignoring the growing pain in her shoulder, Stormstar cleared her throat. "We've also lost some cats. Catfishwhisker was killed by the foxes that were taken care of already, 'n Weepin'paw was found by Berryshine - looks like whatever illness he was sufferin' from wasn't anythin' that could be healed." She knew Berries was still young and didn't know everything, but something told Stormstar that if there had been a way for the medicine cat to save the 'paw, she would've.
As much as the grief wrapped its way around her heart, so too did frustration. "I was also told that he was spotted goin' for a walk out by himself, but the cat who saw him didn't think to inform anyone, so let me remind you; apprentices are not allowed outside of camp, 'n if you see somethin' like that - especially a cat that's been gettin' treatment from our medicine cats - you need to tell somebody. I don't care if it's me, or Owls, or another Lionheart. This could've been avoided if we had known 'n gone out after him." Stormstar wasn't too sure how much of that was actual truth, but it still left her frustrated all the same with how it had all played out.
"...Sweetsap was also found dead out in the territory, 'n like Weepin'paw has been buried at Seagrass Fields. She went out despite her kits bein' almost here, 'n drowned in the river..." Stars, that was a lot of death huh? "Startin' now, queens who're expectin' kits are not allowed out in the territory by themselves, 'specially if they're close to kittin'. It's dangerous 'n reckless, 'n there's no need for it. If you wanna go out, you'll need at least one warrior with you." Her voice was hard with a certain edge to it, and she knew some of the queens might try complaining, but honestly the leader wasn't going to budge on this one.
"Bluekit 'n Frozenkit were also taken by... a hawk. Not sure how the hell one even got to camp considerin' how close we are to Lionsbeach, but I want all cats vigilant for a bit until I'm able to see if there's a nest of sorts that needs clearin' out." Two kits who could've had a very long future ahead of them - gone, just like that. It made Stormstar clench her jaw in frustration, her tail whipping once behind her. She let the silence fall, a time to mourn those who had passed...
That was about it - oh, yeah. "'Fore I wrap this meetin' up two more things; I wanna remind our warriors that we've got a whole den for you - no need to be sleepin' in the middle of camp, or out in front of my den. If you wanna be a lump on a log instead of a warrior 'n sleep in the middle of camp, I've got no problem puttin' you back as a 'paw until you learn the dens all over again." Stormstar swept her tail behind her as she lifted her head, hoping that it would put a stop to random cats just napping in the middle of a clearing when they had a hole den to do it in. "'N second, since we have a new gravesite, we'll be lettin' go of Sleepy Thicket. 'M workin' on... movin' the graves over now. But as of right now it's no longer RiverClan's territory. I know the other three Clan's stuck their noses everywhere, 'n I don't want grieving cats with their guards down to be targets." She knew she'd get backlash for this, but it needed to be done. For the good of the Clan's future. "Meetin's dismissed."
With one last look over the cats gathered Stormstar started to descend down the stone pathway, stopping briefly at her den before heading down into the clearing. Maybe it was about time she get her shoulder checked out...
