I don't want to be leader!

[Fernpaw]

I don't want to be leader yet! I'm to young. I can't believe Nocturnestar and Bloodroot had to go! Why did they leave me to watch over the Clan! I can't believe it. What if I fail them.... or make a mistake! Pull yourself together! That it so unlike you. As long as you don't get your nine lives, your not the leader yet. Why can't someone else do it!

Whitefur groaned as her mind churned with her emotions and thoughts. So much had happened to her. She was a middle aged cat that had been a decent warrior and made deputy of DayClan just before Nocturnestar died. Nocturnestar had been the old leader of DayClan and Bloodroot his deputy. Both had been killed mysteriously.

"No, I've to get over it and pray to StarClan that a new leader will turn up. I'm just not the right cat for the job at the moment. Besides, it's not really my destiny I feel to be come Clan leader about the moment. I've got to stop worrying and just keep the Clan functioning," she mumbled to herself.

The the snowy warriors shook her head to clear it as she padded away from the gather tree and into the warriors den. Whitefur gingerly picked her way through the mass of sleeping warriors to her own bed in the back. She settled on her bed of soft, fresh moss and curled her fluffy white tail over her pink nose.

She stayed like curled for what seemed like moons as sleep refused to relieve her tired body and mind. Picking her way carefully out of the den she padded toward the Gather Tree. The stars of Silverpelt shined on her coat, turning it into a shiny silver. With a sigh Whitefur sat down in the shadow of the Gather Tree once more.

"Oh shimmery warriors of StarClan, please show me my fate and help me lead the Clan until a new leader arrives," she whispered to he stars of Silverpelt. She sighed again, she knew her warrior ancestors would never share anything with her. She was not a yet leader nor medicine cat, not to mention she had never shared tongues with them before. Her stunning blue eyes cast another glance at the twinkling stars above before she laid her snowy white head on her smallish paws.

As she dreamed a black cat with blue eyes entered her disturbed dreams. It didn't say a word to her as she watched it with huge round eyes in wonder. The cat shimmered and seemed to glow with a light all of it's own. Starlight sparkled in it's blues eyes as it turned to face her. Whitefur only stared back at the starry warrior, words were lost to her and she hardly dared to breath as the cat turned and walked away, but before it did, the faded image of a cat appeared. It was so faded that it was more of an outline really. It was there for a few heart beats before it too disappeared. White fur was all only again in the center of the camp beneath the Gather Tree. A soft voice suddenly tickled the white fur in her ear.

"You will be leader on day, but not yet. A new cat is more suited and destined to be leader be for you Whitefur."

Whitefur turned her head toward the sound of the voice just in time to catch the image of the black cat fad away.

Whitefur woke with a start. She looked around the camp clearing only to find it empty. She blinked her eyes a few times to make certain that it was true. "What a weird dream..." Just as the pure white cat said that, the black cat's message replayed itself in her head.

"You will be leader on day, but not yet. A new cat is more suited and destined to be leader be for you Whitefur."

She looked up at the sky and saw the light of Silverpelt was begging to fade and the barest sliver of moon as well. Time to get the Dawn Patrol out, she though as she stood up and stretched each of her legs. Her claws raked the ground as she did one last stretch and stood up. Whitefur's jaws parted in a huge yawn as she ambled over to the Warriors Den. Her white fur was a mess as she had not yet groomed herself and scrapes of moss and pieces of derbies from the camp floor still clung to her pelt as she stuck her in the Warriors Den.

"Who wants to go on the Dawn patrol?"

[|Marzi|]

Ambergale had had a restless night of aches. His bad leg had irritated him through the fuzzy sleepless darkness. There was no frost or rain to cause his stiff joint pain, but it certainly felt like it. His uneasy night slowly came to an end however, with tiny pricks of light seeping over the horizon. Grouchily getting up from his bed, his jaw opened up into a large yawn. His tongue flicked over his muzzle briefly, and his sleepy eyes looked around the den.

Why couldn't he have gotten a decent nights rest? Was he doomed to whine of joint pains before even going to the Elder's Den? Fluffing up his fur to keep him warm against the morning cool, his eyes drifted to the den's entrance. Whitefur was walking in. Had she been out all night? He didn't remember seeing her come into the den.

"Who wants to go on the Dawn patrol?"

Who indeed would want to go out into the insufferable morning? His ears twitched, but the crumpled one protested. His sharp eyes narrowed with annoyance.

"I'll go." He growled, limping towards her. Maybe going out on the patrol was something he actually needed. Maybe walking around would loosen, rather than irritate his joints. It had better, otherwise he would become a pain to anyone he came across. Ambergale was already close to snapping at Whitefur with accusations. Had she been out of the camp, or had she just slept outside? He suppose it didn't matter, though he showed a slight disapproval in his gaze as he went past her disheveled appearance.

[Fernpaw]

Noticing his disapproval of her appearance she hastily began to lick her fur and shake the dirt and things from her pelt as if just becoming aware of the mess her pelt was. Grimacing at the taste of the dirt and debris as she licked her pelt clean. Never would she let herself get so messy again.

"Thank you Ambergale for offering, but perhaps you should go see our Medicine cat for some poppy seeds to keep the pain way for a while," she mewed, her blue eyes watching the older warrior limp slightly.

An unhappy look pasted to her face she walked in more and asked again if anyone wanted to go. Her voice sounded distant as she recalled the strange dream she had had and all of the problems she faced. She almost wanted to sit down and cry and whine like a kit that she didn't want to be leader...but what about what that strange cat said in her dream? Was he a StarClan warrior? Don't be silly her mind said, of course it was!

Shaking her head to clear her mind from her distracting thoughts her blue eyes swept around the Warriors Den, once more. "Any one?" She sighed. If no one volunteered then she would start assigning cats to do it.

[|Marzi|]

Ambergale did not like being reminded of his ailment. Some things were better left unsaid, and the disheveled warrior had crossed a line. He was grouchy and tired, which might have accounted for some of his nasty feelings too. But he wasn't thinking of that much at the moment, and continued to watch her through narrowed eyes.

"I know what I need when I need it." He muttered under his breath. In her dazed looking state he doubted she would hear him. Wondering if he could be as bold to walk away and just simply go out on his own, he watched her. Could he be so bold as to make such a move towards his deputy? What did it matter, she probably wouldn't notice.

He was the only volunteered help she was getting, but if she was going to snub him off because of an ever present limp... Feeling nasty, he turned to leave and go out hunting on his own. Whitefur could scrap together her own patrol thank you very much! It was about time she started taking charge anyway.

[Fernpaw]

No one volunteered. She walked out of the Warriors den and into the Apprentices Den where Skypaw slept. She poked the small cat's white and orange splashed fur gently with a paw. "Hey, Skypaw, come on. Time to get up and do the Dawn patrol."

Leaving the apprentice be she walked out and saw Ambergale's tail disappear into the tunnel. She hadn't heard him mutter his response to her, but she knew he had said something. Groaning she yelled at Skypaw to hurry up before pounding up the bramble tunnel.

"Ambergale, wait! Where are you going," she screeched once she was out in the open. Her blue eyes searched frantically for the older warrior. "The sooner he's and elder, the better," she muttered as her eyes revealed nothing of his where abouts. It couldn't be that hard to spot his tabby pelt, could it?

Whitefur forced herself to take some quick deep breaths as she felt her panic rising. Determined to find him she marched off into the forest, unhappy with how her day was starting. She scented the air as she walked through the forest. She could detect a faint trace of his scent to the west. Well that problem is solved, but where on earth is Skypaw?

She quickly decided she couldn't wait for the apprentice any longer and bounded off, following the weakening scent of Ambergale. As she ran through the forest his scent grew stronger so she decided to slow down encase he was hunting. There was no need to get him any angrier. She just hoped she hadn't already ruined his catch with her yowling earlier.

She really wasn't coping to well with suddenly the weight of the entire clan resting on her shoulders. She was still shaken up by their loss and some of the Clan members as well, including the medicine cat. Oops, I forgot we didn't have one... Whitefur knew she had to be strong now and pull herself together and act like herself, not a helpless kit. Whitefur stopped and meowed softly, "Ambergale, are you here?"

((I know Wolfeh plays Skypaw. ^^))

[|Marzi|]

(Is Wolfeh coming then?)

The moment he realized Whitefur ad no intention of following him, he quickened his pace. Apprentices of course, were much more useful then him! Lashing his tail, he ignored the scents that filled his nose. Ambergale intended to get away from the camp before even starting his hunt. A patrol, once scrapped together, would be leaving. A large scent of cat would not help him in finding any prey.

Feeling he was a decent enough distance away, he slowed his pace. Annoyance flared inside of him once again when the ache that had gone away came again. The sooner things were back to normal the better!

Calming his ruffled fur, he scented the air. Crouching down and edging forward carefully, he continued to scent the air. Mouse! A rather cruel smile played on his face, accompanied by his fierce yellow eyes; he seemed to be quite the killer. Of course no one else saw him at the moment, so it didn't really matter. Eyes straining and ears pricked, he caught sight of the mouse. His body was tense, ready to spring.

"Ambergale, are you here?"

The mouse fled, and he didn't even try to pursue it. Lashing his tail angrily, he spun around to face Whitefur's voice. If he heard her that clearly, she wasn't far off.

"I'm here!" Limping to where the voice was, he kept his eyes down. Their normal anger filled look would not be hampered by his own irritation.

[Fernpaw]

((I don't know when he/she is coming back. I just decided to include his/her character, since there are only 3 DayClan members, and besides, I've not seen Wolfeh in any rps yet. ^^ ))

Whitefur let out a sigh of relief, thank StarClan he was safe and that she had managed to find him. She knew that other Clans would take advantage of them sine they had no leader or medicine cat.

"I'm glad to see you are alright, Ambergale." She felt a bit awkward at the moment talking with him. She knew he probably wasn't very happy with her at the moment and she didn't know what to say to help make things better between them. "I asked Skypaw to come with us to give her something to do and to show the other Clans we are still strong! The last thing we need is an attack."

The snowy warrior left her statements in the air before continuing. "Do you think we should hunt while we wait for Skypaw?"

((Eww... writers block...))

[|Marzi|]

She was actually worried about him? Cats these days!

"I am perfectly capable of fending for myself Whitefur, I doubt an attack is really on anyone's mind." He held back an indignant sniff, and stared just past her shoulder the entire time.

How could she really fret so much over them? They really was no danger.

"You can wait for Skypaw if you like, I was under the impression you were going on the patrol with out me?" Ambergale's lip curled slightly, but he smoothed it over. No need to go over the top with the cat. When it came down to it, it really wasn't her fault he was in a bad mood. It was the weather that had started it, and his leg, but she had provoked him. He supposed she was just a little frantic, being deputy.

[Fernpaw]

She sighed. " I don't doubt your abilities as a warrior, it's just that..." Whitefur shook her head, she had to get over it and pull herself together. "Yeah I guess you're right, but what if they know of our losses?"

"No I would never go without you..." Whitefur looked him in the eye and noticed that his eyes were not on hers. "What is it? What are you staring out, " she mewed in alarm. Whitefur's eyes searched his face for signs of alarm or aggression, but she saw none, she was probably over reacting again.

She looked over her shoulder and saw nothing there. "Never mind Ambergale," she meowed as she walked into the bushes to begin hunting. She really didn't want to be with him any more. She just needed to chill out.

As the white warrior walked through he forest she felt herself relaxing, after all, the senior warrior was right, there was no danger to them right now. How could anyone possibly know what happened to them?

Her ears pricked at the sound of tiny paws scrabbling among the dead leaves. She quickly dropped into the hunters crouch and stalked quietly over the dead leaves toward the vole. She waited and watched as it got just a bit closer... Then she sprang! She quickly delivered a death bite before burying it and giving thanks to StarClan for it.

[|Marzi|]

(Ambergale doesn't look people in the eye because whatever his attitude is, he always looks like he hates you, even if he doesn't. Fierce eyes. Rwowr.)

She was definatly paranoid. Poor she-cat, going off of her rocker. Simply overreacting because he didn't look at her! And even as she asked his help she denied it by walking away.

Was she confused too? Had something gone disassterally wrong with his deputy? But perhaps he was the one overreacting then. If something was that wrong with her he wouldn't be the only one to notice. Though, he never spoke much with apprentices, so perhaps Skypaw had seen something too. Not that it matter, them being the only ones.

Perhaps DayClan would get a new reputation, one of insanity. He laughed at the thought of other Clans being afraid of 'those insane DayClaners'. It was truly an amusing notion!

A joyous purr in his throat, he padded off to do his own hunting.

(Is the thread over?)

[Fernpaw]

((Not unless you want it to end, although do you think we should make a new one now? I didn't know. ^^))

Before she listened and went searching for more prey Whitefur decided she would look for some thyme leaves. The medicine cat many moons ago had given her some thyme and poppy seed to help her cope with the loss of one of her brothers. Her nerves had been frayed and she had been in deep loss for Hawkface. With time she slowly got back to her old self. Now she would need some more thyme, but just a bit. The snowy white warrior didn't want anyone to know that she had eaten some herbs to calm herself.

She scented the air and tried hard to recall the scent of thyme, she remembered it had smelled kind of tangy and sharp. Whitefur wandered around and nosed some plants to get a better scent and finally found some. She chewed up two leaves before leaving the small vine like plant.

Whitefur pricked her ears and listened for the sound of tiny paws scrabbling through the brown, dead leaves of the forest floor. The white warrior opened her mouth to let the forest air wash against the scent glands in the roof of her pink mouth. As she scented the air she felt the calming effects of the thyme start to take over her. Her tense body relaxed a little and she felt less anxiety.

I'm glad I found some. This is really helping me. At least now I can do the best that I can... Her thoughts were broken by the scent and sound of prey rummaging in the leaves nearby. Whitefur quickly dropped into the hunter's crouch and walked toward her her prey on silent paws. It was a nice plump vole, how nice, he had not seen this juicy a vole since the last greeneaf.

[|Marzi|]

(Yea, I think we should- not only am I too tired to think of a way for Ambergale to come back, I doubt he would. New threads ahoy...)