ridgeclan ... open

im gonna post some older replies just because man i worked hard on these two posts and i don't want them to be deleted forever.
so disregard these im just posting them because of my hard work on them pssh



A humid dusk was upon them. The night was going to be a warm one, but already it had cooled down significantly from the heat of the day it had quite truly been a day where no cat would have wanted to get out of the shade unless they wanted to fall victim to heat exhaustion. Most cats had been as lazy as Walnutstar himself, and honestly, this feline couldn't blame them. He had been curled up in the warriors' den for most of the day, but he hadn't completely wasted his time, oh no, while he had been hiding in the shade he had been planning. Calculating. Now he had come to the conclusion that it was time. After all, he had told as many cats that he knew of that were with him that he would strike on the full moon. Now that the time was upon them he couldn't hold back. It was son against father, and the son hoped he would win.



Slowly he uncurled himself from his moss-laden nest. Quickly he looked around the warriors' den, wondering just who all would be awake. Surely the cats involved with the rebellion would be awake since he had told them that this would be the night he was going to confront Walnutstar. So it was now or never, and Webwhisker was determined for it to be now.



His pawsteps were light. Amber eyes flashed through the growing darkness as he slipped out of the warriors' den. The tomcat swiveled his ears, searching for any sound of cats following behind him if they had noticed his escape from the warriors' den. Nothing. Either that meant the other warriors were waiting for him to do something or they were already out in camp. No matter what Webwhisker knew the whole Clan would eventually come out to see what the commotion was all about. Before he could truly get the rebellion started, the black tomcat headed for the medicine cat's den. He needed Mudfeather by his side; after hearing what she had to say, Webwhisker just knew her words would be imperative to getting Walnutstar to step down as leader. Earlier that day she had come to him saying that Stormstar had visited her in her dreams and told her of his mistake in making Walnutstar the leader. If a StarClan cat such as Stormstar himself came to Mudfeather in these hard times, then it was only natural for them to follow the advice of a still well respected feline. Stormstar may be gone, but he was still a cat that the Clan looked up to.



Peering his head inside the medicine den, Webwhisker softly called out to the tortoiseshell and white female. "Mudfeather?" Surely she was in here knowing what was going to happen on this night. A moment later he had his response.



"Webwhisker?" The frail looking she-cat questioned as she padded toward the entrance of her den. "Is it time?" Blue eyes wide with a mix of emotions, she looked the black tomcat over. If he was ready then so was she despite the nervous feeling she had in the pit of her stomach.



The leader's son nodded. "It's time."



Together the two padded out to the large fallen tree that was hollowed out in an area to make the leader's den. The tree was also the place used for Clan leaders to make announcements. Webwhisker knew his father would be inside his den all curled up and perhaps even asleep already, but he wouldn't be asleep for long. Oh no, he would soon be wide awake.



Even before Webwhisker jumped up on top of the log, a yowl was forming in his throat. The black tom raised his tail and held his head high as he parted his jaws and let out the sharp sound that echoed around camp. "Cats of RidgeClan, the time has come for an important meeting! Every cat, young and old, gather before the leader's tree to hear what has to be said!" On the outside Webwhisker felt and looked confident, but on the inside his insides were turning with a nervousness he thought he wouldn't have. This was his first time standing up here and addressing the entire Clan. What would they think? Most of the Clan would know what this was about, but some cats may not have a clue. Webwhisker could only hope nothing would go wrong. He looked down to Mudfeather, a silent message passing between them. He would have her talk to the Clan once the cats had gathered.



A few moments had passed now, and Webwhisker was sure that most of the Clan was now gathered. Once he felt satisfied that most cats had gathered, he stood tall and began to speak. "Our wonderful medicine cat has received an important message from StarClan. Mudfeather," he mewed as he gestured toward the tortoiseshell and white she-cat, "if you will."



Mudfeather nodded before stepping forward. She quickly scanned the large crowd of cats, swallowing down her own nervous energy before she began to speak up. "Stormstar came to me last night." That was a lie, but only Blackpelt knew that. And only he would ever know. "He has told me that he made a terrible mistake in appointing Walnutstar as leader. He has sa-"



"What is the meaning of this?" The voice was tinged with anger and confusion as a large feline slipped out from the leader's log. Walnutstar had finally roused himself from his nest. His amber eyes flashed with confusion at the sight of Webwhisker atop his log and Mudfeather standing before the Clan as if she had something important to say - it had sounded like that as well.



Webwhisker lashed his tail at the sight of the cat that was his father. Of course he had to come and interrupt what Mudfeather had to say. In a silent gesture toward the she-cat, he told her to step back as he leaped down from the log and came face to face with Walnutstar, strangely calm as of right now. "I think you know what this is about, O' dear leader," he spat the last words with hatred dripping from his voice. For once Webwhisker wasn't going to hold anything back. He was done with Walnutstar's leadership. He was done with what the tom had done to not only the Clan but to his family. Something had to be done, and Webwhisker was doing that now. "It's time you step down. You're in no way fit to be the leader of a Clan. You're lazier than a kittypet, you have no right to even be a warrior!" Now his anger was showing. His fur was bristling, his ears flattening, his teeth baring. Now Webwhisker wasn't holding back at all.



Before Walnutstar could get a word in Webwhisker went on. "You're careless. How many cats have you killed with your careless laziness? Do you even care that you killed Bluefoot or Reednose? What about the others that you've gotten killed? Do you even care?" With each word his voice grew louder and louder until it was a full on yowl filled with deep rage. Webwhisker had never been this angry before in front of any cat, let alone the entire Clan, but he didn't care. Not right now.



Usually Walnutstar wouldn't have reacted to anything like this. Usually he would just shrug it off and pad away so he could go take a nap, but this time he stayed put. He was surprised by his son's sudden anger, surprised by the look in those amber eyes. The dark brown tabby felt his ears flatten and his fur bristle along his spine unconsciously. "I haven't killed anybody. What happened to Bluefoot and Reednose were horrible accidents. Now please, calm down, some cats are trying to sleep."



"No cat is trying to sleep," the black tom snapped, stepping closer to his father until they were nose to nose practically. "Even now you're trying to sneak your way out of this so you can avoid confrontation about all the horrible things you've done to this Clan! If you had never been leader Bluefoot would still be here. Reednose would still be here, too!" Webwhisker paused, sorrow filling his chest for a brief moment at the thought of his mother and brother. Bluefoot would still be here to keep the Clan in order...Reednose would be bouncing around with that smirk on his face while he flirted with all the tomcats in sight. Webwhisker soon pushed aside the sorrow as anger came back to him. "Tell me that you're stepping down from leadership." A threat. It was a true threat.



Walnutstar felt a low growl ripple from the back of his throat as he stared his son in the eyes. "Webwhisker...this is not the time for this," he muttered as he tried to step away.



A hiss escaped Webwhisker. "Then what time is it, then? Nap time? Of course it is! It's always nap time for you," he growled hotly. With every passing second Webwhisker was growing angrier and angrier until finally he just snapped completely. His claws unsheathed and before Walnutstar could get in another word Webwhisker had pounced.



In his rage Webwhisker had missed his mark somewhat. He merely clipped Walnutstar's shoulder, causing the tabby to stumble. He was able to correct himself just as Webwhisker reached forward and clawed at the leader's vulnerable muzzle. This time it was a direct hit that left Walnutstar bleeding. Even if Webwhisker wasn't very good at fighting, it was certainly intimidating to see him now in Walnutstar's mind. For once Walnutstar actually made a move. Yeah, he actually moved for once. He was able to avoid getting hit again by Webwhisker's claws, but he grunted at the effort of moving as he did.



Webwhisker came at him again with teeth bared. "Tell the Clan you're stepping down!" He hissed once more.



Walnutstar shook his head, dodging yet another swipe and leap from his son. "I'm the Clan's rightful leader," he spat and then grunted as a hit raked his shoulder.



"Stormstar wasn't thinking right when he picked you as deputy! You're worth nothing to this Clan as a leader! You're worth nothing to this Clan as anything!" Once the words came from his lips Webwhisker crouched down and pounced higher than he had before. He was able to land on his mark, throwing Walnutstar off balance. Together the two toms rolled on the ground until they came to a halt. Webwhisker began to squirm underneath the heavier weight of his father, hissing and spitting and trying to claw his way out. "You're worthless," he repeated in a grunt, aiming to sink his teeth into the leader's leg as it was the closest thing to his teeth right now.



But before he could Walnutstar had had enough. He bared his fangs in pain as Webwhisker managed to snake forward and bite his front leg. "Enough!" The leader spat, and without thinking, he reached down as fast as he could and sank his fangs into the first thing he could get a hold of.



The coppery taste of blood hit his tongue faster than he had expected. Surprised Walnutstar stumbled backward, rolling right off of Webwhisker. Breathing heavily, he awaited for the black tomcat to take his chance and pounce back on top of him, but that never came. He waited a few more seconds. Still nothing. Slowly Walnutstar rolled up to his paws and glanced over at Webwhisker, still expecting the other tom to pounce on him and take him down. It still didn't happen. And Walnutstar now knew why. Where he had bit Webwhisker...how he had bit down into deep flesh...how the taste of blood had pumped into his mouth much faster than he had expected...



Walnutstar couldn't find anything to say. He couldn't find anything to do. There before him lay Webwhisker, looking ragged and broken as the life swiftly bled out of him from his neck.



The black tom scrabbled desperately at the ground. Every time he tried to breathe in blood was brought down into his lungs, quickly filling up with the coppery substance. His body was twitching uncontrollably as it lost too much blood way too fast. In only a matter of seconds he had stopped writhing and was barely breathing. His amber eyes were already glazing over, and right before the last trickles of blood escaped from his opened neck, he found himself looking at Wiltedpetal. He loved her. He wanted to be her mate, wanted to be the cat that stood at her side for their entire lives and even in StarClan. He wanted to one day have kits with her, raise a family with her at his side and watch as those kits grew into amazing warriors. Webwhisker wanted a life with her but he could no longer have that. Not when the life was now drained from his body forever. He fell slack, amber eyes completely glazed over as death gripped its cold talons into him. The last thing he had seen was Wiltedpetal, the pretty she-cat he had wanted to make his mate, the pretty she-cat he had fallen in love with.



Silence. That's all there was.



Walnutstar was petrified. Had he...he had... The tabby fumbled and landed ungracefully on his tail. He was still panting and bleeding from his wounds, but none of his injuries were near as bad as Webwhisker's.



Mudfeather herself was speechless. She had not expected anything such as this. She swallowed dryly, blue eyes clouded with shock. Even if she had tried to help Webwhisker it had been too late the moment Walnutstar sank his teeth into the tom's neck. Webwhisker had been a dead cat the moment that happened.



The silence continued on until, finally, somebody broke it.



Shakily he stepped forward. The black and white tom was ruffled with shock, not sure how to handle this situation in any way possible, but he had to try to be there for his Clan. He had promised himself moons ago that he would put aside his feelings for the sake of keeping his Clan happy. Maybe he couldn't do that now, but maybe he could keep them together.



Chickenflight stood before the Clan, shaking with grief. But what cat wasn't? He closed his eyes and then glanced up, unable to look down at the blood-stained ground where Webwhisker now lay limp. "We can't follow a cat that has murdered another in front of us." Even if it had been intentional, murder was still murder. "We can't..." He stopped, unable to go on as he choked on his emotions. Chickenflight tried to steady himself so he could continue, but before he could another voice piped. Walnutstar.



"I'm the rightful leader... Stormstar wanted me as deputy. I have the name, the nine lives... I can't just stop being leader..." The tabby tried to sound defiant, but his words came out cracked, broken. Webwhisker... He hadn't meant to... But that didn't mean he could no longer be leader. StarClan had rightfully given him his name and nine lives so that had to mean something. And he hadn't meant to do what he had done... But that didn't matter. Well, it did, but he was still leader. No cat could make him step down.



It was still Chickenflight who spoke up. His apple green eyes lay directly on Walnutstar. "Stormstar came to Mudfeather. He told her that he had made a mistake making you leader. If even StarClan sees a problem in your leadership, then you surely can't lead us anymore."



Walnutstar flattened his ears even more to his skull. He bared his fangs at the black and white tom trying to defy him. He wasn't a fighter, wasn't much of anything, but for once in his life he didn't want to give something up without a fight. "StarClan can't protect you now," he growled from deep within his throat. "I am the rightful leader, and none of you can take that position from me. So if you want a fight, then come get one. Then you can all join Webwhisker and your precious Stormstar."


- - - 

By now the tomcat was so out of it, so out of breath really, that he couldn't quite respond to anything Wiltedpetal had to say. The only thing he could do was emit a harsh yowl of pain when a second cat came forward and bit into the skin of his shoulder. Walnutstar thrashed weakly about, unable to do much other than make the wounds Webwhisker had given him larger. While he had lost, and was still losing, a decent amount of blood, it was nothing that would kill him. The tabby was nowhere near to bleeding out as his son had moments earlier.



More pain racked through his body when Wiltedpetal gave him one last squeeze with her claws before jumping off. Walnutstar lay there panting for a minute or two, panting deeply and painfully. "You..." He finally managed to mutter. "You traitor... You have went against me. You...you attacked me! What loyal warrior...what Clan cat...would do that? You should be punished!" Finally, Walnutstar was able to throw himself to his paws in an unsteady manner, but he had managed nonetheless. The broad shoulder tom crouched down, ready to lurch forward and pounce on Wiltedpetal to then rip the life out of her. Just before he jumped something startled him, a voice as loud as thunder and as bright as lightning. A voice that carried in the wind and held all the power of a storm in its wake. It couldn't be...could it?



There, in the middle of camp, stood a powerful warrior with muscles that rippled with strength. Intense amber eyes swept around the camp with an authority that was not to be questioned. The cat that stood there was large and intimidating even with the transparency that revealed a dusting of stars in his shimmering pelt. Through the stars the feline was very obviously a thick-furred spirit with silvery gray fur along with a white blaze, white socks on his back legs, and white paws on the front. "Stop your foolishness, Walnutstar. This is not StarClan's will."



Walnutstar had no choice but to stop himself pouncing on Wiltedpetal. He breathed in deeply, eyes wide as he stared at the cat that he had succeeded in leadership. "Stormstar..."



The gray and white tom nodded as his name was whispered from the throat of Walnutstar. "It isn't just me who is here to set things right. If you will," he mewed and then nodded to his side as a swirl of stars danced nearby. From the stars stepped forward a sleek-furred warrior with a coat of shiny black. Amber eyes were narrowed in the cat's head, those eyes looking directly at Walnutstar.



"Webwhisker," the tabby leader breathed, swallowing dryly soon after. The spirit of his son nodded as his name was spoken just like Stormstar had done moments before.



Webwhisker flicked his tail as if dismissing his father's greeting. "I have no quarrel with you now. Your reign of laziness is over, Walnutstar. It's time to step aside and let the true leader of RidgeClan take their position."



A snarl came from Walnutstar, his tail lashing. "I'm the rightful leader! Stormstar," he gasped, looking at the large tom, "you picked me as deputy! I'm the rightful leader..." The tabby stumbled in his fit, ears flattened and fur fluffed out as he eyed the former leader with dull hope in his gaze.



A long sigh drew from Stormstar. He then shook his head. "Webwhisker is right. I was on my last life when I picked you as deputy. After Fernleg died, I was old, ancient by some cats' standards. I had intended on picking Bluefoot as my deputy, but in my state of mind I thought of her mate as I spoke...and now my mistake has done more damage than good." Stormstar flattened his ears for a brief moment as he glanced over at Webwhisker. The meaning was clear. Had Walnutstar not been leader, Webwhisker would still be alive. Bluefoot would be alive, Reednose... So many other cats that had died so early on because of who was leader. Because of Stormstar's awful decision. "And what about all these kits that should be apprentices and apprentices that should be warriors? RidgeClan needs these cats in their rightful position, but you are letting them waste their potential by keeping them in dens that do not fit them any longer. Your duty as leader is over, Walnutstar. It is StarClan's will, and now that we are here to tell you, you have no other choice." And no cat in their right mind would ever challenge a cat such as Stormstar.



Walnutstar opened his maw to argue, to tell Stormstar to just go back to being dead so he could resume his leadership, but he clamped his jaw shut when both Stormstar and Webwhisker gave him a harsh look that said it all. He had no choice. There was nothing more he could do. So finally he just gave up, and besides, he was tired, battered, bleeding... He just wanted to curl up and sleep for moons. "...I step down..." There. He had done it. Now what?



A relieved look crossed Stormstar's face at the words. He nodded to Walnutstar before flicking his tail in a silent message to Webwhisker. As the gray and white tom stepped closer to Walnutstar, Webwhisker slowly made his way to where his body still lay. He looked broken, sad that he had not been able to last any longer than the first fight. And Wiltedpetal...he had left her... "Wiltedpetal?" The new StarClan warrior called out, voice strained. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice light in the breeze. "I wanted to... I tried to... I never got to tell you I love you," he mewed, voice breaking. Even if she wasn't exactly standing side by side with him, he knew she was there in the crowd somewhere. His amber eyes searching longingly for her, only to stop when he spotted her familiar pelt all disgruntled and dirtied from battling his father. "I may be gone in RidgeClan, but...in StarClan, I'll be there for you always. I'll watch over you, and I'll watch over the kits you may one day have. My heart will always belong to you, but I want you to be happy. Move on, Wiltedpetal. Find some cat who can love you here as I would have..." That's all he wanted from the she-cat. He wanted her to be happy. Stepping closer to her slowly, he leaned down and pressed his nose against her cheek once he had made his way to her. "I'm sorry," he breathed once more and then pulled away. A sorrowful longing glowed in his amber gaze as he stepped away and padded back to Stormstar and Walnutstar. The two toms looked as if they had just finished an important conversation when Webwhisker returned. He watched in silence as his father nodded to Stormstar and then lay down with his neck outstretched. What was...? Surely Stormstar wasn't going to... Could a StarClan cat even physically harm a living cat? Wow, Webwhisker had a lot to learn about being dead.



Stormstar looked down at the tabby before him and then turned to face the Clan members that still stood in the camp clearing. "What is happening is something that has happened only once before in RidgeClan history," he explained with an efficiency that told of how well he was as leader. "Many, many seasons ago a leader known as Crowstar gave up her leader position for she felt too old to lead. She came to StarClan asking to give up her name, and while the StarClan warriors did that, they also took away her last life, but they did not kill her. No, they took the life they had given her and replaced it with her old one. She returned to camp as a newly named elder known as Crowleap. She lived out the rest of her days peacefully." Stormstar then turned back to Walnutstar. "While your fate is not that of Crowleap's, the same will happen to you." And without another word the gray tomcat leaned down and pressed his nose against Walnutstar's. Usually when a leader was receiving or giving his lives, nine cats would appear, but Stormstar was the only cat here that could do as much. He was powerful enough of a spirit to do it all himself as well. What transpired was a sacred act between a leader and StarClan, but this was a rare instance in when StarClan had no choice but to show some of their mysterious powers. In silence it was like Walnutstar was dying nine times over, but a peaceful, in his sleep death. Nine times over. Some minutes passed before Walnutstar finally came back to, groggy and dreary. He blinked up at Stormstar as the leader nodded. "Welcome back, Walnutpelt."



Webwhisker stood there in awe. He had never heard of such a thing...leaders being able to give up their lives like that. He swallowed down any questions he had except for one he was too curious about. Still new to the whole StarClan thing, he had yet to receive the answer to this question. "Who is the new leader now, Stormstar?" He subconsciously turned to find Redstorm or Thistlestride in the crowd, half knowing one of those two had to be it.



A chuff of amusement slipped from the former leader. He eyed Webwhisker with a knowing look before addressing the whole Clan yet again. His tail gestured toward the leader's log. "Why, he is already standing in his rightful place upon the leader's den."



Webwhisker was wide-eyed as he slowly followed the former leader's gesturing tail to the leader's log. There atop the den was none other than... "Chickenflight," the black warrior whispered.



A squeak of surprise emitted from the black and white tom's maw. He looked at Stormstar with even wider eyes than before, his chest heaving as if he couldn't catch his breath. "W-what?" He gasped out finally. "Y-you...you must be mistaken... I can't...I can't lead," he mewed with disbelief. Him? As leader? No way...no possible way.



But Stormstar simply shook his head. "I may have made a mistake in the past, but this, dear Chickenflight, is not a mistake." He then took a deep breath and looked upward towards the heavens. "I, Stormstar, former leader of RidgeClan, appoint Chickenflight as the new leader of RidgeClan. I speak for all of StarClan when I say this is the right decision."



Chickenflight was still in shock like any cat would be, but he knew not to question such a powerful warrior any more. Stormstar was so sure of himself, so confident...this couldn't be a mistake. Slowly the black and white tomcat nodded, coming to terms with the news. He was still shaking from the battle and from what Stormstar had said, but he had to push that aside. Now was his chance to truly take his vow serious - he would protect his Clan with all his heart and make them happy with all he had. "I'll make you proud, Stormstar. I promise." And despite his nervousness his voice rang out loud and true.



A smile shadowed Stormstar's face. He then glanced at Webwhisker, sensing another question on the tom's tongue. "Go on," he rumbled with amusement.



Webwhisker blinked up at the other tomcat. He shook his head and turned to look at Chickenflight. "You'll receive your nine lives when you have recovered from the battle. StarClan will be waiting, but...but to stray off the path of Walnutpelt's destructive behavior, I would like the deputy to be named now. Who will the deputy be?" He was perhaps being a bit pushy, but he had to know now. Webwhisker didn't want the Clan to be without a deputy any longer.



All of this was still so hard to take in, but Chickenflight was doing his best for the sake of his Clan. He was, however, a bit taken aback at the sudden request of a deputy, but he could see where Webwhisker was coming from. A deputy...a deputy... So many wonderful cats fit the requirements...but thinking about it clearly, Chickenflight needed a cat that would not be as soft as he was. He needed a cat by his side that was a bit more cold, a bit more harsh, to give that sense of solid power that Chickenflight lacked. He was wise, yes, but he was friendly and even naive, he needed a cat that would balance that out and keep him on his paws when it came to trespassers and foreign cats. He needed a deputy that would train him just as he would train the deputy to be leader. And it wasn't long before a name came to his mind and he felt positive that his choice was the right one.



Standing before the Clan he took in a deep breath. "I, Chickenflight, say these words before StarClan and hope that they approve of my choice. The new deputy of RidgeClan is...Blackpelt." As the name left his tongue, he turned to look at Webwhisker and Stormstar, both the toms nodding in approval. Chickenflight sighed with relief. StarClan approved.



With the announcement of a deputy, Stormstar and Webwhisker gave one last look to the Clan before they slowly began to fade away, the stars in their pelts the last thing a cat could see before they faded away for good leaving the Clan to its own decisions and conversations now that they had done their job. Now it was up for RidgeClan to fix themselves on their own.