An athletic tom stood upon a towering boulder that overlooked the whole camp. His amber pelt glistened in the warm afternoon sunlight, his lips parted in an ear splitting yowl as he called attention to the crowd of cats below him,

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the great boulder for a clan meeting!"

Every feline within ear shot gathered beneath the boulder, the massive shadow that lingered from the cool stone engulfed every cats pelt, making them seem like one big mass of different hued pelts. The tom inhaled sharply, his deep orange gaze filled with worry with a twinge of fear. He swallowed before beginning what seemed to be the hardest announcement of his life,

"Dewclan, I have gathered you here today because I must inform you, I am on my final life," an uproar of murmurs rippled through the clan, pelts bristled and the shrill cry of MossPelt, the clan leader's mate could be heard from near the nursery.

"TreeStar," One deep ebony hued she-cat spoke up bravely, even though she had the right to speak; for she was the deputy. The she-cat was elegant, she had a very strong and sophisticated expression etched into her deep amber irises, "I assure you that your final life will be the best yet, you have been one of the best leaders DewClan has ever had and I hope I can live up to your expectations if I do end up becoming the leader of DewClan."

"I'm sure you will be a lovely leader, CinderWing." The tom's gaze was cold and glued to the clan below him, he appeared speechless, and as if his words were fumbled and caught in the back of his throat. TreeStar managed a cough before breathing another sentence, "Clan dismissed, CinderWing, Mosspelt please meet in my den." With a flicker of the strong amber tom's tail he disembarked the boulder, stumbling down the slick surface to his den, where he was eaten up by the dark shadows.

CinderWing and MossPelt entered the leader's den simultaneously, the air was heavy with distress. TreeStar was pacing the den impatiently, his ears flickered back against his skull, his lower jaw was propped open. His words still seemed to be caught in his throat, even though he was no longer dealing with about twenty astounded feline. CinderWing shot the silver tabby she-cat an uneasy glance as she retreated to her hinds, giving MossPelt the go ahead to speak first.

"Don't start, Mosspelt." TreeStar blurted, halting abruptly to turn his gaze upon the shocked she-cat.

"B-But," She began, salty tears forming in the corners of her brilliant emerald eyes, "I can't bear to loose you, and our kits are just about to be apprenticed, I want you to be around to watch them grow." MossPelt trembled, her weight shifting upon her pads nervously.

CinderWing gulped, her paws kneading the earth beneath her. She parted the rubbery encasement of her glinting teeth to allow words to pour from her vocals, "TreeStar, as your deputy I suggest you take it easy, I don't want your kits to grow up without a father," a grin eased its way onto CinderWing's already tense expression, "Just have a bit of fun on your final life, keep things subtle with the other clans, don't pick fights but enjoy life."

CinderWing trailed, finding herself lost for words as she glanced hopefully at MossPelt for saving grace. CinderWing was promptly denied help from the silver she cat that shot her a dismissing gaze.

"Please, CinderWing, give us time alone."

CinderWing held back a scowl that almost shoved its way onto her face, the way MossPelt addressed her was unnatural, not to mention rude. CinderWing nodded placidly before winding her way toward the den entrance where she hunkered down, she was outside after all, and just hardly able to hear the conversation taking place between the leader and his almost too young mate. CinderWing rested in the basking sunlight, her deep ebony pelt catching a supernatural blue pigment that was caused by the harsh caress of sunlight. CinderWing remained silent, as silent as a mouse just as its predator pounces for the kill. Her ears were erect upon her smooth skull, making lovely listening devices for this moment, the echo of the den also helped propel the voices in her direction.

"I see why you fell for her," the silky smooth tone of MossPelt was unmistakable as it reached CinderWing's eardrums, she was trying to ease something out of her mate, in a rather seductive manor. "But let's make one thing clear, sweety. You are mine now, and only mine, I don't want any affairs going on do you hear me?" MossPelt's understanding tone inclined to a scratchy warning, just by the way she was speaking CinderWing could tell the silver feline's pelt was bristled. CinderWing inhaled sharply, her jaw dropping in protest, were they talking about her? Did CinderWing like TreeStar in return? Did he even still like her? He did seem to enjoy her company, and not hesitate to make her deputy, it didn't take him long to make the decision, he seemed confident in his decision the moment LittleLeap died, he even seemed to favor her over his own mate. CinderWing recoiled into her own thoughts, she had been stupid this entire time, not reading the signs correctly, how stupid of her.
"Don't worry, MossPelt, you're the only one I want." TreeStar's tone was one of reassurance, yet anyone could hear the unease within it, maybe he was still into the ebony she-cat, and there was only one way to find out. CinderWing purred with amusement as she extended her rather long legs so that she was standing again. The feline briskly shook her pelt, relieving it of any dust particles before turning toward the clearing where she searched for any loose warriors.

"MapleEyes, DuskPelt, FoxChaser, why don't you guys go on a hunting patrol, FoxChaser can lead it." CinderWing had found a new drive within her, it created a nervous knot in her stomach but she knew it would drive her farther than anything else, and it sure as hell would make her achieve greater than any other she-cat in the clan. A wicked grin stole every muscle in her facade, her tail lashed from left to right as she trotted dominantly over to the Warriors den, her mind engulfed in deep thoughts, she knew what she would be doing very early the next morning.