I AM YOUR NEW KING

[Strike]

Strike listened from a tree branch about ten feet up, flicking her ears as she heard her rival call for DeathClan's attention. Instantly, she listened even closer, despite how much she hated him.

More and more cats gathered around, only two or three of which she actually knew. What happened, she thought harshly, digging her claws into the tree bark. What happened to DeathClan? Where is everyone I once knew? It was disappointing to see how her home, her so-called family had dwindled down to near nothing. They used to be a superpower. They used to be the monster's in kits nightmares. Now they were just a memory - forgotten.

When the spotted tom spoke again, Strike pulled herself from her daydreaming, looking down and paying direct attention to the tom who had given her so many scars. And when she heard him, she nearly fell out of the tree. Holding on with her front two paws, she pulled herself back up, laughing loudly. Though, behind her proud exterior, she was terrified.

Jumping down from the tree, the agile she-cat walked between the cats that were gathered, walking straight up to Drought, who had his claws unsheathed. "Well, King Drought, she taunted, mock praise in her voice. "I fear what your leadership will bring us to. I see lots of wars and bloodshed. Maybe even loss of our homelands."

She had reason to be afraid. Drought wasn't a thinker, or at least, he didn't appear to be. he acted to brute force. She knew from all of her fights with him how strong he was. Since they were kits, they had fought. And Strike knew nothing would ever change that.

[Vale]

sorry I'm probably not in the mood to post right now but I don't not want to post on this.. if this post is crap I'm sorry.. xD

"As a witness, I know that Drought would benefit and do only so for DeathClan. Any of you who oppose to him ruling are a bunch of pansies and should leave now. Because obviously your brains would fit in a mouse's yap." He flicked his tail and glanced back at Drought. "I won't lie, I'm surprised of this sudden uprising you're bringing on. Yet I won't deny to the fact I like it." He grinned.

His gaze flickered with anticipation and thrill. "It's been long since DeathClan has had any fun. Our Clan-toys have long become far too played with the same way that it's become rather dull might I add. I think Drought will spice up this Clan into something none of the leaders we have had before have accomplished." He nodded.

"I'd like me some of that." He went on. "Little 'brother' has grown up so fast on me. Oh deary me I might start having condensation in my eyes." His blue eyes glanced around the crowd. "In sum, I agree, Drought for leader! Any who oppose go stick your paw in your throat."

[Dove]

"Well, I'm on the same ship as you then." she said. It was true. This was the first time that Dove encountered or even heard of Drought, and only came to the camp because of the others. She then stared at the newcomer and felt rather uneasy seeing how vulnerable she was around these cats. Everyone praised Drought, but she did not. She did not want to just this conforming sick fest. How she called him "King Drought." Oh how she detested the sound of that. As she continued though, Dove recognized the doubt in her speech. Destruction. The loss of Deathclan. She would have to pay attention to this she-cat more since they might see the same in Drought.

[Artemis]

As cats steadily filed in, Artemis flicked her ears while she waited for the meeting to begin. She acknowledged those she recognized with a slight nod, but otherwise gave no indication she even saw them. She was only watching Drought intently, wondering what the purpose of this was. Did he have something planned?

When he finally spoke, his announcement was more than a little surprising. For a moment, actual shock could be seen on the normally stoic she-cat's face, but it only lasted a fraction of a second before turning back into her default neutral expression. However, there was now a hint of pride shining in her eyes. So Drought was leader. He really had come a long way, and she'd been there to see it herself. Not many cats could say they'd helped and given a home to their future leader when they were a kit.

Artemis didn't speak like several of the others did, only giving Drought one of her rare smiles and a nod of approval. He could be trusted with DeathClan, she knew him well enough, and words did not have to express that.

She had to resist from groaning, however, as she heard another familiar voice. Unsurprisingly, Strike was opposed to the whole thing, not that she could be blamed for it. It was obvious to everyone with eyes and ears that Drought and Strike had never been anywhere near allies. Personally, Artemis chose to stay out of their feuds, as she had supported both of them at several separate points.

"Strike, that's enough," she said quietly. "The point of this meeting was not for challenges. You may disagree, but now is not the time to pass judgement so quickly. Try to wait and see first."

[Deleted]

Luckily, it appeared that many of the DeathClanners were strongly in support of his new leadership. Badger openly defended his claim first, and most of the others seemed to be agreeing with the grey tabby tom.

Of course, there was always going to be at least one cat who would refuse to bow to him... and that cat, unsurprisingly, was Strike. Drought glared down at the younger blue-grey female, fur starting to bristle on the back of his neck.

"Really? You fear watching DeathClan rise to its former glory... and possibly surpass it? Tell you what, Strike - you've got two choices. You can scamper right out of DeathClan's land and never return, or you can be the first example of what happens to those who feel the need to oppose me." The scarred tom bared his teeth at his long-time enemy. It was a clear challenge, and he was more than willing to back up the threat.

His gaze flickered over to Dove briefly - she was the only other cat who appeared to disapprove. If the silver tabby wanted to resist his leadership, she would soon share the same fate as Strike would.

[Strike]

Strike knew that her one, simple comment would cause a lot of trouble. Others would call her unloyal - a traitor, the ultimate insult in DeathClan. Not only that, being a traitor was a death sentence. You would die at that. And yet, the experienced young she-cat did not fear at all what would happen. With every whisper, every glance she got, she wasn't going to back down.

It seemed she had a supporter, though, or at least someone who put some faith in her. She didn't care as much about that as what Artemis said. That was one of the two cats in the makeshift clan that she actually respected. "Artemis," she began. "I am not challenging him. He's our so-called king? Then fine, I don't care." She really didn't care. After all, she knew she was always going to stay in this position of the clan, and she didn't care who it was leading her. She would never move, and she would always have the same role of a suicidal attacker. "I just want to say what I believe."

Drought had finally begun to give her some attention. At the sight of his fur bristled, the battle scarred feline nearly flinched, yet she had become so accustomed to the site, it was almost natural at this point. She knew his threats were real, and she was going to accept whatever the consequences were. She took a breath and raised her head, meeting his firey gaze with calm, cool eyes and a determined expression. "I want nothing more than to have DeathClan return to it's former glory. You misinterpreted what I said," she explained.

"But, despite my doubts, I will never leave my home, Drought." It was her home. She came here when she was three moons old, and she had made this place hers. She had friends, enemies, and memories. She wasn't going to leave because of a change in dictatorship. "And the reason I am not afraid of your threats is a mistake of your own. All those times we would fight, all this times you would attack or ambush me, I learned to take your beatings. I learned to expect it. I know what's coming... since I am not leaving."

There was a sickening feeling in her stomach. Stike didn't want to have another scar, another mark of how weak she was, but she wasn't going to back down to the one who had made her life a living hell. She wasn't going to leave because of him.

[Lynx]

Lynx had been hanging around the area, taking a nap, when a loud yowl had woken him. Stretching with a loud yawn, the apprentice-aged tom was surprised to find his father standing in the center of the clearing, already surrounded by a small coalition of DeathClanners.

Throughout the announcement he said nothing, simply watching with interest. This was an unexpected turn. He'd joined DeathClan only recently, having finally decidedd that it would be preferable to have some sort of group with which to ally himself. When he'd joined, he had expected to be under the rule of the oft-absent Fallacy. Now it appeared as though they had a new leader.

He stared at Strike. How stupid could one cat be? What did she hope to accomplish here? Bobbed tail twitching, he watched the confrontation between the two cats. There was only one way this was going to end, and it wasn't going to be pretty.

Idiot.

[Mirage]

Mirage turned her gray head away from Dove when the sound of another cat walking into the clearing caught her attention. Unlike everyone else's entrances, this cat made her presence known to the crowd, but mostly to Drought. What an idiot. She thought glaring at the she-cat with narrowed amber eyes. Mirage just couldn't believe that any cat, no matter how foolish, would ever think of challenging Drought. Even though she had never personally met Drought, she could still tell that the tom was skilled fighter and would fight for the position that he had just claimed for himself. Still it might be interesting to see how this plays out though.

[Lyricwhisper]

Lyric sat quietly as the announcement was made. Of course, she knew this would have happened eventually. It was obvious that Fallacy was never coming back to restore the group of rogues. Someone had to take the throne. The gray and white she-cat also knew for a fact that the cats that have been in DeathClan most of their lives would support him. She knew her father, especially, would support Drought. That left the newer members like herself to decide whether they supported the black and white tom.

She glanced sideways at Thicket as he spoke, giving a small, inaudible sniff at his comment. Lyric then glanced at Badger after he spoke about how he'd prove to the cats that Drought was the right choice. The younger she-cat looked lastly at her father. There was no doubt in his decision. Drought was his brother. Her uncle. 

She had to go with him.

"I'm willing to have a new leader. Just as long as we don't all die out like the others."

[Dove]

Her fur bristled as Drought quickly glanced at her, agitated, wanting to just disappear. Oh, why did she even come here the first place when she could still be asleep? She felt like Drought was waiting for her to say something, least a challenge or an alliance. Well? Considering the attention that Strike was receiving, it was best for her to lay low, even though it was pretty noticeable that she was here. Everyone except her and Mirage seemed to know each other anyways.

The tabby dig her claws into the  ground, trying to resist the temptation to speak up. Someone had to defend Strike anyways, in case if something happened. How hawkbrained it was of her to just talk to Drought and his followers so boldly. Must have known each other for a long time if she's that courageous. 


"Or the third option is to simply stay in Deathclan and learn to live under the reign of "King Drought." she said, nervously padding up to Strike's side. She felt a little odd standing beside a cat that she did not know, making the two vulnerable to the rest of Deathclan. "As long as Deathclan prospers once more."

[Deleted]

Fang watched silently from his position in a bush, thinking that he blended in with his surroundings. To his dear and oh so observant author, he was clearly visible to everyone. He yawned slowly, his thoughts whirling around curiously. Fallacy was an all right leader, but Drought seemed... so standoffish and arrogant. Yet.. he held the qualities of a true leader and he clearly showed the confidence of one as well. He eyed Drought critically, Fang's tail swishing slowly behind him.

" Well.. You seem like an all right cat. An arrogant one at that, but still.. I suppose you'd make a good leader. " he mewed derisively, the youngling drawing a paw over his muzzle. " Although it may seem like I'm agreeing to this, I'm actually on neutral territory, torn between agreeing and disagreeing. "

Fang instantly flinched after that, cursing that tongue of his. He immediately feared a beating, since he knew Drought was a violent cat and his beatings were harsh.

[Badger]

Badger's lips raised in a fierce snarl as everyone around him spoke, but it was directed purely for Strike. It was no mystery, by any means, that he despised the blue-grey female with every fur on his body, and in truth she was the only cat he would probably take pleasure in murdering, which was truly something rare for him to desire. So when she, of course, began to question the rule of Drought, he couldn't help but chime in with his usual responses to Strike.

"Listen here, peasant, you are a nothing in this Clan. You weren't even a thought when Deathclan was in it's true glory. You have no concept of superiority, or at least not a good one. You've been a thorn in Deathclan's side since the day you walked in here. And while I will not attack, maim, or kill you without my new leader's command, you should know that I have run out of mercy, care, and sympathy for you, Strike." He had never in his entire life spoken so harshly to a cat, and in truth, it felt absolutely wonderful.

He made another step forward, but caught himself and paused. Now he was reaching his edge of stability. "I'd suggest you quiet yourself, completely, before you say something else wrong. We may have a new leadership, but your own reputation is nothing new." He snapped, glaring at Drought, hoping the tom would allow him to pounce on the idiotic crow-food immediately.

(WELL THAT WAS FUN)

[Strike]

Strike looked towards a younger cat who had approached her, flicking her ears in annoyance. She didn't need someone to stand against her, as she wasn't questioning whether or not Drought should be their leader, rather she was just making one of her usual sarcastic remarks in order to get under his skin. It had worked, so she felt satisfied. She did not at all care who was the leader in her little group of insane felines.

She turned her attention back to the female. "I'm remaining in DeathClan, regardless of who the leader is. Like I stated, I don't care," she growled in a smug tone. She may have low rank, but she wasn't afraid of keeping herself above those of her class. She had lived here too long and been in too many fights to be remarked with the same level of so many others. "Go away. I don't need an ally or help or whatever you intend to be." Perhaps that was a little too harsh for a potential ally, but the blue-gray feline didn't care.

With a flick of her ear, she turned to face Badger, her facial expression unchanging. He was known well here, and she knew of his strength first hand. However, similar to Drought, she was undaunted by his threats. "If you want to attack me, Badger, Drought, whoever, go ahead. She paused for a moment. This is a dangerous game I'm playing into, but... She raised herself again, trying to look as proud as any of the other cats, particularly trying to act like her old role model.

"But why harm someone who is useful, even within the slightest of ways?" she questioned. She had gotten herself in this mess, and she was going to get herself out of it. "You all clearly cannot hear. I accept this fool as our leader. I don't care. I'm loyal to DeathClan as a whole, not an individual leader," she hissed, lashing her tail in annoyance. Sometimes it seemed like no one ever listened, which had gotten her in trouble a few times.

Strike turned to Drought, flicking an ear. "Well, Drought, I don't really care."

[Artemis]

Once again, for what seemed to be the thousandth time, Artemis found herself the witness to tension that would only take one more verbal prod to turn violent. All over something as petty as past feuding, influencing DeathClan's politics like a blight to a field. She set her jaw, watching the exchanges, but it took all her self-restraint not to snap then and there at Strike. What she was doing walked a fine line between courageous and foolish, and right now, it seemed to be heading towards the latter.

However, she was soon distracted from the exchange by an interjection from a young cat she didn't recognize, maybe a newcomer or someone she just hadn't seen until now. Her eyes narrowed slightly. Oh, lovely. It was one of those, wasn't it?

"Please, hold your tongue," she said flatly to the tom. Then, without another word, she turned away to ignore him in favor of turning towards Drought and Strike. Only a glance and a twitch of her good ear indicated she had heard Badger's input.

"Drought, this isn't necessary," Artemis said. "Fighting does not always enforce a reign. Strike has done nothing but express an opinion; while I will not say I agree with it, it does not warrant a feud. Can't you explain instead how you plan to restore DeathClan? Wasn't that also the purpose of this meeting?"

She was careful to keep her tone neutral enough so she wasn't siding with Strike, but not with Drought's threat, either. In her opinion, fights were better left for raids and defense and general war, not gatherings like this.

"Strike, you've made your point," she continued. "Please, let's not forget why we're here. As Drought said, DeathClan is in need of help, and we should at least hear how he intends to give it, regardless of our own personal opinions."

[Dove]

Whatever. It's her loss. "Alright. I was just -" she cut herself off, realizing that Strike was right. She was a strong cat who knew her place, and Dove had to learn that too. Without much worry, she fled from the attention of all and stayed where she initially was. Next to Mirage, watching the conversation of this meeting, or whatever this was. All she wanted was for all the cats to be safe and to just get on with their lives.


"Can this just hurry up so that we can part ways like usual?" she asked no cat in particular, bored for her life.