pain will only embrace us {IN THE END} [CLAN MEET]

[lily ♫]

L I L Y T H O R N

Paws heavy, breath quick, and each thought racing through her mind faster than the last, she knew this had been coming for quite some time. It was irreversible. All the mistakes she'd ever made, all the things she'd seen so close only to be snatched up and taken away - everything - built up to now. The weight of the Clan balanced precariously up on her shoulders, each time she looked behind her to see what was falling down because of her past actions, the weight grew heavier, pushing her further down the path of no return and letting her sink lower and lower toward the ground, into a pit of doom, despair, and the deepest of all depressions. It was exhausting to put up with it all, and the ginger female couldn't last much longer. But, at the same time, the Clan meant everything to her.

we say goodbye, i turn my back
run away, run away, so predictable

She'd been deputy for over twelve moons, an entire year of experience and then some, and it felt like it was all she had ever known. Every step she'd taken since she had won and lost everything went toward the choices she made each and every day. But..everything was different now. Lynxstar was gone, dead, along with Northwind, Chasmriver, Radianteclipse, all of them, simply gone. VertigoClan just wasn't the same, and it never would be. She had Jet now, though they'd been avoiding each other for the last couple moons. Then again, she had experience in doing what she did.

not far from here you see me crack
like a bone like a bone, i'm so breakable

It was like that, the constant nag inside her mind, telling her to dive in, make the choice - and every time she couldn't. Somewhere, somehow, a reason reciprocated all of the reasons she put forth toward one cause, only to push back with gargantuan force. A push here, a pull there, everything was pressuring her, and the female couldn't take much more. Her nerves were shot, her body exhausted, her mind racing, and her heart swollen with all the longing she had for all the cats she missed and those she couldn't even speak to anymore. She wasn't young anymore; she simply couldn't take it. She was making the right choice.

and i'll take everything from you
but you'll take anything, won't you?

Taking a deep breath, her misty blue eyes solidified into their icy form, restraining emotion from sprawling across her gentle face. Her jaws clamped down tightly as if they had been wired shut, she closed her eyes and gave herself a silent pep talk, walking through the steps she needed to go through. "This is..so hard.

[/color]" She whispered, on the verge of tears, ready to break down and begin crying, but her last resolve was to allow only tears of joy to find their way down her face. It was time.

run away, run away, like a prodigal
don't you wait for me, don't you wait for me

The VertigoClan deputy drew in a long shaky breath and shuddered, her entire body stiffening as if a cat with evil intentions was breathing down her neck. The fur on her back rose, and she fought to keep her hackles down. 'You can do this.' Lilythorn reassured herself before opening her eyes and quickly stalking across the camp, not stopping until she was a tail-length from the hollowed tree used as the meeting place and the leader's den. 'I will never sleep in that den.' She thought, her heart breaking as a rush of memories spent with a silvery brown lynx tabby cat swept through her mind, making her choke on any words she had. 'Give me strength, Lynxstar.'

so ashamed, so ashamed, but i need you so
don't you wait for me, don't you wait for me

And with that, the she-cat jumped up onto the partial tree, turning 'round to face her Clan as their superior for the last time. "All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather for a Clan meeting.[/color]" Was her cry, clear and calm though her insides rattled about as if possessed by a million butterflies flying freely within her bodice. Sucking in another long breath, she closed her eyes for a moment longer before flicking them open quickly, looking down at all the cats that lived in her Clan, their emotions playing across their faces or hidden deep within. Some gazes held warmth, some held promise, and a few held contempt. Shaking herself, the deputy drew her mouth open, ready to begin.

i'm on the road to who knows where
look ahead, not behind, i keep saying

"VertigoClan, I have been your deputy for over twelve moons now. That's an entire leaf-fall, leaf-bare, new-leaf, and green-leaf. The times I have spent learning how to lead our Clan have bee some of the best I'd ever experienced - some even greater than I'd even dreamed of - and I wouldn't trade them for anything.[/color]" The female began, her voice remaining even as her demeanor flickered back and forth between calm and anxious. Rocking back and forth from one side of paws to the other, she dipped her head to the crowd and looked at them all evenly once more.

there's no place to go where you're not there
on your rope, i hold tight, but it's freeing

"The time has come for me to step down as deputy. VertigoClan is not the same as it was when Lynxstar first appointed me to be her second-in-command. I am not fit to lead anymore, and I am not worthy of being Pyrestar's second-in-command. Times have changed, just as expected, but I have not changed in the same way. Like a kit longs for its mother's milk, I long for the life I was never allowed to live, and in the past moons I have been tempted with desires I have suppressed in these past seasons. I'm not too old yet, and there's a chance I may still live out the other path StarClan has set aside for me. Thank you for having me for these last many moons. It was a pleasure to lead you in everything I could. May StarClan light all of our paths for the rest of our lives.[/color]"

i keep trying to find my way back
my way back, run away, run away

She finished, choking on air, leaping down into the crowd, the tears of a wide array of emotions streaming down her ginger face. It hurt so incredibly much, but relief came over her in waves, larger than any had before, and the former-deputy felt almost light on her feet. No more stress, no more longing, no more avoiding those she longed to be with. But then again, there was no more leading. She'd never organize another patrol. She'd never become leader, but some things she could stand. She'd be able to fall in love, to take a mate, and there was even the possibility of kits. And that was enough for Lilythorn.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[LYNX ♥]

It was an eerie sunhigh, almost, as the petite lass felt a soreness in her throat, and an ache at the top of her spine-- a feeling of tension, as if she had spent the day expecting a blow to the cheek or a tirade of unearned praise, and her accuteness to this odd feeling left her dazed and confused. Instead of wondering if something off was going to happen, she could simply only wonder when. If only because she couldn't say she experienced that feeling often, but at that moment in tme she felt like a pawn in StarClan's twisted game which no one knew the rules to, and they had accidentally left her a hint. It was the only way she could wrap her mind around the thick air in camp, as though she could reach out and grasp a pawful of the atmosphere. Looking around, the leader wondered if the others were feeling this way too. Perhaps a blizzard is on its way, she decided, if only to quell the thrashing ocean of her thoughts.

Settled on that, Pyrestar found it much easier to go about her business, and trotted through camp with her bobbed tail twitching sporatically-- rather less concerned than she had been now, and entered her den with a much easier feeling. However, of course, she still had her share of problems to contend with, and puzzles to unwind. With a soft huff of dismay once realized had begun to once more crash down on her hefty frame, the vividly patched female flopped into her nest-- still too big as it was still customized to suit Lynxstar and not her own small frame. It wasn't long that her hyperactively buzzing mind lulled her head down onto her paw, then further lulled her lids downward, hiding away her cold golden eyes.

"Pyrepaw, I'm not a big fan of frogs," A tender voice sounded behind me, and a cried out and dropped my precious load-- three frogs daintly wrapped in a dock leaf bundle, so as to easily transport them. Instantly, a chorus of soft ribbits sounded inside the hollowed pine tree where my aunt slept each night, incidentally the target of my greatest prank. I had been so hopeful, too! When all the other apprentices heard that I had dumped multiple frogs in the leader's nest! StarClan, even the thought made my pawpads tingle with anticipation, although as I turned to face her behind me, her gray eyes unable to be read, I let my excitement fade to fear. This would be a good one, a nice, rough punishment. Not that I hadn't seen them all, I was already seven moons old! With a guilty grin, I awkwardly looked down at my paws.
"Yeah, I was pretty sure you wouldn't be too happy 'bout it." I couldn't help but chuckle, she was so pissed.
"Then why, pray tell, would you bother putting them where I sleep? Sounds to me like a pretty awful gift." Lynxstar was so cool and collected, but I never let the guilt knaw at me. She played this game every time she caught me doing something, so I was pretty used to playing it just as cool. Idly, I reached out and grapped one of the hopelessly confused little frogs, and crouching so I could cup both of my forepaws around it. Now it only wriggled about under my pawpads.
"I need a reaction sometimes, you know? Gotta get the old lady goin'," I purred, twitching my distinct lack of tail, which matched my punisher's matching bobtail. She wore it better though. I looked like a little weird rabbit-cat. "I woulda loved to hear you yelp a little bit. I've never, ever seen anyone knock you off your pedestal." I was trouble, sure, but she was my aunt, and she only wanted to set me straight. She loved me. She was practically my mother. I didn't expect special treatment from her, but at least I wasn't like the other troublemakers, fumbling around and making meek little excuses. I looked her in the eyes when I spoke, and my voice hardly shook. Which was saying something, considering how damn intimidating she was.
"I've never been knocked off my pedestal," She replied evenly, although I thought I saw sparkle of humor in her eyes, "Anyway, since you continue to act like a juvenile, you'll be spending the next moon in the nursery. I suppose it will be fair to tell the clan to call you Pyrekit, too. Until you can earn back your title as an apprentice anyway."
"Cool." I snapped, my eyes hardening with the injustice of this punishment- something more severe than I'd seen before. Not to mention the humiliation! Fuck her, then. I stalked past her, out into camp with tears burning in the back of my throat. Rather than visiting my new den with the squealing kits and fussing queens- hell in its purest form- I spun and raced out of camp, ready to focus my anger on hunting instead of throwing a tantrum like a kit. Frogs! Pah! Next time I'd find some damn scorpions.

It felt like hours of blackness had passed since she had last been conscious, but when Pyrestar lifted her head and peered out of the narrow opening of her den, she realized it was still bright out. Perhaps only a few heartbeats had passed after all. It was then that her dream, or flashback rather, struck her hard. Grief returned in a rush, and tightened its relentless grasp around her heart. I miss you Lynxstar. She thought meekly, lowering her head once more onto her paws. Her limbs were full of stones, and she didn't think she could move even if she had to. In the distant wind, she was sure she heard her deceased aunt call soft encouragement to her, and felt a tugging of necessity on her paws. She had to go out, she had to hunt and check on her clanmates. She was the leader now, somehow. She had progressed from troublesome kit, to pregnant apprentice, to overly-ambitious warrior, to leader. Anyone really could make it these days. She thought with a self-loathing frown marking her hardened features. At once, she jumped up out of her nest with the cry of her clanmate... overhead? It was Lilythorn! Damn her! Calling a clan meeting nonetheless. Of course, the blue-eyed she-demon would be up to no good. Slandering Pyrestar's name some more, perhaps rallying up a riot to drive the calico bobtail out of her home. A snarl scarring her face, Pyrestar leaped out of her den and spun around to face her idiotic deputy, ready to defend her own good name at whatever the cost.

However, instead of bringing up Pyrestar even once, Lilythorn went on about herself. She rambled passionately, and as she went, Pyrestar's features softened, bit by bit, until she was fighting not to smile. Lilythorn was stepping down, of course! At last, she had realized that what Pyrestar had quoted from Lynxstar had been true, and that deputy was not her place to hold, and finally Pyrestar was free to give the position away to a cat of her choosing, instead of letting the cat she hated most have it. As Lilythorn wrapped her speech to a close and stepped down, moving past Pyrestar, the young leader murmured a hesitant and cold, "May StarClan light your path," in her former rival's ear.

[Dawn]

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JETFANG.

[/color][/size]looking up from underneath fractured moonlight on the sea reflections still look the same to me as before I went under

Jetfang kicked out one way, then the other, drowning under a sea of sleep that was very steadily decreasing. With a start, he woke, confused and disoriented. His muscles gave a groan of protest as he shifted in his nest, which was all but kicked to pieces. The last few moons had been hell for most everyone, including him. It was a hard leafbare, and the world would soon be set for an only slightly easier newleaf. That was what he held onto, what he looked forward to. The warrior didn't want to admit that he still looked for her, every time he opened his eyes. Every. Single. Time. That when he padded out of the den each morning, he hoped to see her. Always, Jetfang hoped that it had all been a dream.

and it's peaceful in the deep - cathedral where you cannot breathe - no need to pray no need to speak - now I am under

He struggled with himself, trying to determine what had woken him. A tenseness stirred deep inside him, like the air before a storm. The last sounds of his dreams echoed in his mind, nearly unrecognizable. "All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather for a Clan meeting." Jetfang shivered, and for a moment, he didn't know who the words belonged to. Had they been the cry of the old cat, Lynxstar, bringing together her clan? Or was it Pyrestar, confident and cool? Had his dream shown some sort of ambitions of his own, to say such words before Vertigoclan? The warrior's mouth was dry, and his stomach gave a lurch at the thought that he recognized the voice, not just because it was that of a clan mate, but because he knew it intimately.

and the arms of the ocean are carrying me - and all this devotion was rushing out of me - in the crushes of heaven for a sinner like me - but the arms of the ocean delivered me

Driven by that thought, Jetfang shook his fur roughly, looked over the den, and then stood. He went without hesitation for the entrance of the den, and stepped out into cold but bright sunlight. Like every morning, he lifted his head and looked around the clearing for that same face, the one with glittering blue eyes that had always known his soul. What he saw instead, however, took his breath away just as well. A ragtag group of cats assaulted the leader's perch, clustered about it, all of them looking up toward one certain point. Jetfang followed their eyes, until he could make out, carefully, the brilliant focus of the meeting. The black and white tom stumbled and almost fell, his paws becoming clumsy. He had known all along that it was Lilythorn that had called the meeting.

though the pressure's hard to take It's the only way I can escape it seems a heavy choice to make - and now I am under

And so she was speaking. And Jetfang was walking without purpose, because he was stunned by everything around him, as if he had entered an alien world. Cats he had slept beside for moons made way for him as he moved into their cluster of pelts, but the scents that assailed him were not familiar. A shoulder nudged him, and soft fur brushed against his own, whispering at his cheek. A tom much stronger than himself guided him to a spot beside Reflectedrain, and he sat numbly between the young tom and his cousin, Silvertalon. Jetfang didn't even spare the protective silver maine coon a glance; his mismatched amber and blue eyes were for the deputy only, though his ears strained to catch at what she had been saying. "...some even greater than I'd even dreamed of - and I wouldn't trade them for anything..." As he sat in the silence that followed, the warrior felt unusual clarity. His senses didn't grow so that he could pick out every clan member around him by name, as usual, or so that he could focus on many things at once. Instead, it became so that he saw all but made no judgements; he scented the other toms, but couldn't place them. All of his attention was on the cream-furred cat.

and it's breaking over me - a thousand miles down to the sea bed - found the place to rest my head - never let me go,
never let me go

"The time has come for me to step down as deputy." Jetfang listened without feeling anything but a twist in his stomach, sharp, fast, and over quickly. He heard, and guilt and unhappiness and unworthiness washed over him. "I'm not too old yet, and there's a chance I may still live out the other path StarClan has set aside for me." She finished with a number of other things, including a fervent prayer. Then, as beautiful and fragile as a bird soaring on newly mended wings, Lilythorn leaped down among Vertigoclan. At that moment he felt whole and broken at the same time, nervous and calm. Jetfang turned his head toward the massive form at his side and found Silvertalon already looking at him with an expression he could not decipher. He wanted to step forward, to greet her in some way, but he felt stupid and blind, and instead pressed against his kin's shoulder. "Will she even want me now?" He wondered aloud, though very softly, so that only Silvertalon heard.

and it's over - and I'm going under - but I'm not giving up I'm just giving in - I'm slipping underneath - so cold and so sweet - deliver me

He felt the same nudge as before, only harder now, and he stumbled forward, awkwardly to his feet. Jetfang brushed roughly against Galefrost, and offered a subdued apology, before moving onward, his feet propelling him toward Lilythorn. Everything that could have been and would have been now was and could be, and it made him ache profoundly, though he couldn't quite grasp at the reason why. There's so many cats that should be here to see this. It felt like the crowd parted around him, pressing away, as he moved toward Lilythorn. Gradually, he stood in front of her, like a sinner waiting to be judged. If only he knew the right thing to say, but his throat felt parched for water. "There's so many words I need to say to you." He looked at her for a moment, then away, pelt burning with shame and sorrow for the words that had passed between them, no matter how true in many cases. "I only hope that you'll want to hear me say them." He sighed, hating how tired he felt, and how weary she seemed. They had both waged their own wars, at one point or another, and at a few points, upon each other. "That's more than I deserve."[/color]
[/center]

[lily ♫]

L I L Y T H O R N

Remaining composed was hardest for her, especially as she continued walking away from the only life she had known for many, many moons. A bob-tailed calico caught her as she shifted down from her position in the hierarchy of the Clan, transforming back into a warrior like she had been all those moons ago. The slippery coolness of the leader's words revolted Lilythorn, and a fire burned inside her, her eyes as chilly as Pyrestar's words had been.

Expressionlessly, moving her mouth mechanically, her eyes bore into Pyrestar's, and her words held no significance. "And yours too, Pyrestar.

[/color]" Muttered the creamy ginger femme, flicking her head back straight on her shoulders and resuming her march. 'Lynxstar, forgive me, but I have never hated any cat so vehemently and passionately all the days I have lived.' The she-cat cursed in her head, narrowing her eyes for a moment but then trying to relax her tension-filled muscles. 'Time will allow the hatred to pass.' The female told herself, shaking her head quickly before continuing on through the crowd.

Her senses were hit with the overwhelming amount of murmurs, whispers, intakes of breath, and then the scents of all the cats surrounding her. It felt as if even though she had stepped down from the tree (and from her position) some of her clanmates gazes were still fixated on her. Keeping her head low, she nearly ran right into one of the cats whose mismatched gaze bore right into her. Raising her head high in only a split second, her cerulean eyes met his multicolored eyes and she held firm her resolve as he spoke words that made her heart melt.

A small smile spread across her maw silently, and she closed her eyes for a moment, nodding. "I only hope your words are the ones I wish to hear, Jet.[/color]" The female murmured, her tone light and her eyes filled with emotion. She stepped closer to him, pressing her head into his shoulder, nuzzling him before taking a step back. "You're more than I deserve![/color]" She retorted, flicking her tail at his ear, a near giggle escaping from her slight bodice as her whiskers twitched.

Flicking her eyes toward the entrance to camp, she pointed with her tail in the same direction. "Shall we? I've no duties awaiting me right this moment, there's no wolf out there to stop us: it's just you and me and the chilly breeze.[/color]" The female announced quietly, her delicate smile never fading. They'd finally get to talk everything out, make decisions, talk freely. It was perfect and the one plus that Lilythorn had kept on her mind the entire time she debated with herself, and she was happy to be able to do so now, with no restrictions. "Come along, Jet! Unless... you want to hear who Pyrestar chooses as deputy?[/color]" She added, raising an eyebrow at the tom with good humor.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[LYNX ♥]

It's weird, how quickly that happened.

The only thought that echoed inside of her mind was simply a strange reverberating tone of just how odd the announcement the former deputy had just made was; not that the leader was surprised. She wasn't surprised in the least, actually, and almost had felt it coming. Now she looked back upon her day and the eerie feeling that had raised the fur along the ridge of her spine, and the haunting sensation that had clung to her most of the morning, it made significantly more sense now, she supposed, and felt a rush of heat flow through her stocky frame. Pleasure, that's what it was, and she embraced it with open arms. What a lovely feeling! Not that it would be easy from here on out, but at last VertigoClan was her clan-- she didn't have to share it with some frigid bitch, and she didn't have to pretend to care about what her deputy said, and she didn't have to fight the constant war of rumors-- perhaps the one thing she felt knawed away at her conscience. She couldn't contend with the intangible attacks flung her way! And now she wouldn't have to, not in her own clan anyway. And the other clans could shove it.

Releasing a soft, perhaps silent, purr that came from deep in her throat, the calico smoothly moved past the blue-eyed female to take her rightful place upon the hollowed-out pine tree, a spot that felt natural, comfortable. It was where she belonged, she figured, as her pawpads slipped smoothly into the grooves of the rotting tree's flesh. Then, looking out among the spectrum of feline pelts sprawled before her, it was as though the young leader was noticing them for the first time, and cleared her throat confidently. "While you're all gathered," She mewed, her voice echoing a faint hint of humor, she watched idly as Lilythorn and Jetfang slipped away from camp. She fought to keep from rolling her eyes dramatically-- like there was any mystery as to what they were up to. Lilythorn might as well have just said she didn't wanna be deputy anymore because she needed a good fuck. Wrinkling her nose slightly, Pyrestar shifted her attention back to her clanmates, all with ears perked in anticipation.

"Lilythorn's place as deputy will be missed, but as she has chosen a different path to tread, we must now take this time to seek a new, able warrior to take the spot as our deputy." The air was thick, tense. Pyrestar felt that she was the only cat breathing, as all else held their breath. She realized, with a bit of surprise, that she knew exactly who she wanted to take the position, and it wasn't the cat she had first expected to give it to. No, she needed experience on her side, and a rookie would have no place beside her. So, while her gaze rested momentarily upon Reflectedrain's familiar tabby coat, she avoided his eyes and instead sought a different feline altogether.

Clearing her throat importantly, the stocky, small calico drew herself up and called out, using her well-practiced 'leader voice' to call out to the heavens, letting VertigoClan bear witness to it. "I say these words before StarClan," She began, her rough voice ringing out with renewed strength that she found after Lily had left. "that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice." Pleased with herself, Pyrestar let the significance of the ceremony settle and build, growing until it threatened to burst. "The new deputy of VertigoClan shall be Flamingarrow." The tension finally broke, and she smiled as she rested her knowing gaze upon her clanmate, now meant to help her lead VertigoClan, knowing she had made the proper decision.

[lily ♫]

F L A M I N G A R R O W

Lilythorn's cry, the evenness in her tone, immediately unnerving the bright scarlet-ginger femme, as she gathered the Clan with a single call, was enough to tell Flamingarrow that something was happening. her emerald gaze holding strong onto the creamy ginger bodice of her Clan's deputy, her stomach began to flip back and forth, and she could do nothing but listen to the words that the older she-cat attempted to explain with. Eyes wide as shock burst inside of them, Flamingarrow blinked rapidly, astonished by Lilythorn's resignation as deputy.

Even though part of her felt like it had been coming, it still surprised her with its eventual suddenness. Immediately, the female locked onto the bobtail calico nearby the place where Lilythorn had addressed the Clan. Her fur ruffled by a previous nap, Flamingarrow guessed, the leader looked a bit out of sorts, but immensely pleased that the deputy had resigned. 'I wonder who'll be the deputy now.' The she-cat pondered, letting her gaze search the crowd, stopping on a select few cats. 'Reflectedrain? No, he's too young, but he's close to Pyrestar. Jetfang, maybe?' The she-cat wondered, but watched as his black and white form slipped out of camp behind Lilythorn's. Inwardly rolling her eyes, the female continued peering at her clanmates, not taking any notice that Pyrestar had begun speaking.

It wasn't until her own name was announced by the leader that her attention snapped onto the calico she-cat. "I - what? Me? But - why? Wha -

[/color]" The young female stuttered, her pelt standing on end. Why, out of all of the candidates, had she been picked? She had never imagined becoming deputy, let alone leader! Her eyes were wide, her expression an exact replica of astonishment. "Congrats.[/i]" Was the murmur that trickled out of the mouth of the turquoise-eyed tabby tom next to her, envy rolling off him in waves.

"Er, thanks?[/color]" Flamingarrow replied out of habit, blinking and stepping forward with sudden urgency to meet Pyrestar where she stood at the epicenter of the gathered cats. "I - thank you, Pyrestar. It will be an absolute honor to serve below you. Even though my allegiances have not always belonged to just VertigoClan, my loyalty has never strayed. I never imagined becoming..well, deputy. Thank you. I'll do the best job that I can.[/color]" Flamingarrow meowed, her eyes locked on those of her superior, euphoria crashing over her as she realized all that had just happened. Flamingarrow. Deputy of VertigoClan. 'Lynxstar must be proud of me now.'[/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]

[LYNX ♥]

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[atrb=background,http://i698.photobucket.com/albums/vv347/lovelywarriorlynx/pyrestar22.png] Amidst a rather raucous uproar from her clanmates, the female's expression was awash with smug satisfaction, as today had turned into a considerably successful one, she figured, running over the details in a flash, the back of her mind vivid with the dream she had-- a bitter flashback, actually, followed quickly by this impromptu ceremony, preceeded only by somewhat easy hunting. Yeah, definitely a good day in her world. The best day she'd had the glory of experiencing in weeks, it seemed. Now the trauma of conflict between the two most powerful she-cats in the clan would pass, replaced by Pyrestar's very own powerful reign. With Flamingarrow to help her lead the way, she would carve her name into VertigoClan's history, as was her plan all along. And, the best part of such a strategic move as choosing the fiesty ginger female as her second-in-command was the trust she already held within the clan. Despite breifly training with MaliceClan's leader many, many moons ago, Flamingarrow had also been a faithful warrior, mother, and apprentice to the beloved Lynxstar all of her life. She was experienced, and, to Pyrestar's pleasure, she could be angry and aggressive as well. The more she thought on her quite impulsive decision, the more pleased she became with it. For a moment, her perminently fierce gaze grazed over her friend Reflectedrain-- his expression was bitter, shut off. He was handling things in a way he probably thought seemed cool-headed and distant, but anyone who looked would have quickly identified his envy. Pyrestar didn't regret not choosing him, as he was far too inexperienced in just about everything to be able to help her lead anything, and he could hardly be qualified with having a strong personality- something Pyrestar found important to leadership anyway. Tearing her gaze away from the young tom, the calico stared into her new deputy's vivid green eyes instead, and flicked her nub of a tail, idly wondering if it would ever suit her like it had suited Lynxstar- graceful and brutal in her appearance as Pyrestar could only hope to be. "Flamingarrow." The leader meowed, dipping her head in an almost admiring manner, despite the other female's nerves putting a jagged edge to her words. "I can't imagine you letting me, or your clan, down. I've never seen you show anything to your clanmates but loyalty and heart-- just what we need in this time of recovery and compensation. Together we'll help VertigoClan fight to become great once more." She spoke with a power that was natural to her- adding a booming, ringing tone to her deep voice. Though her harsh eyes still lay upon Flamingarrow, her words were clearly directed at the rest of her clan as well as the new deputy. A promise-- a garuntee for power and happiness for all.