[ EVERYONE ] - Water-Spirit's Choice - Stepping Up

The night had fallen in a seemingly slow disarray, the cats of the Tribe who held the mark of Water on their shoulders moving as though through fog and mud. The morning had brought horrible news for these cats, sent out in a ripple of distraught whispers. They had heard that these monsters could swim, sure, but why would they swim so far? It was the first sighting of them and a cold fear gripped them as they knew that it probably would not be the last.


The Green-Water Guard, Xander, and their deputy, Sterling, had journeyed out on a patrol earlier that day, the Yellow-Water's apprentice accompanying them, to check to see how the ice-bridge had been holding up. All the Spirits above, powerful and not, old and new, held their breath in unison as they watched. Everything seemed fine, of course- Water-Tribe did everything to the fullest of their abilities and the job was good, but the mistake fell upon the shoulders of whichever cat had requested they take a swim, if not just briefly, for fun- on the caiman side of the bridge.


It was hardly their fault. No cat could have known that, just on the other side, scaled creatures were doing some patrolling of their own. Sterling went down first. Xander followed- and, watching as the water slowly turned red instead of its usual pretty blue, Kyrian scrambled out of the water as fast as he could and raced back to their camp, screeching at the top of his lungs and breaking the comfortable quiet and serenity that all Water-Tribers seemed to be invested in.


It was a heavy blow to them all, losing a loyal, if not hot-headed, guard and a cat who was looked upon so greatly. And without even the bodies to show for it- what a disgrace to their tradition, many would sigh as they bowed their heads. Unified, as they ever were, all Water-Tribers would gather together and begin their heart-ached vigil, grief swelling in all of their chests as a unit, though one would take the blow hardest.


Even though the Silver-Water had enveloped herself in darkness, seeking to take her grief away from her Tribe and sneaking into one of the tunnels of the caverns made of crystals, the eyes above saw her as clearly as if she was in the daylight. They all bowed their head for her misery, and watched as the liquid that fell from her closed eyes left a little puddle at her tiny paws. The Yellow-Water was more than a deputy to her, she would sob to the ground, though her sorrows were being preached to the sky. She was her mentor, her friend, family- another mother, in a sort of sense.


"Poor dear," one voice whispered, quietly, shaking her head for the little leader. No other spoke upon this, but instead nodded their heads slowly, one-by-one, pelts of different colors flecked with the same silver lining and transparency that gave way to starlight and the sky's shimmer on the grandest of nights.


The one who blazed as a brightest of stars, barely noticeable to the others, did not move, however. Anger made her boil, for their lack of ability to save her children, her Tribe. She held no form and no physical voice, but something was murmuring from her, anyway- empathetic and angry and commanding. She understood the Silver-Water's grief, and, young as she was, she understood that she would probably by unable or unwilling to make a decision, but one had to be made on this night, even if it was just adding salt to the wound.


Vitani stayed like that for the rest of the night, only moving once, to go from laying to sitting. She fell asleep, and even in her sleep she poured aqueous grievances, murmuring the name of her lost over and over again, doubt slithering into her mind like a poison of how they were going to make it over this tremendous hurtle. The Spirits that were gathered to watch over her and her Tribe, their own left loved ones, slowly moved on as well- moving from the crowded circle that they sat at until only the brightest of them was left.


And now it was her turn to act, before the first few streaks of pink hue cut through the sky and indicated dawn. She crept, silently, down her staircase of stars, a whisper of wind and cold, leaving droplets of dew blanketing every surface her gaze touched in her movements- a beautiful, graceful conjure of just water. She should not have to be doing this. They should have found the solution to these demons, these scoundrels, before they even appeared- but, she could only shake these thoughts away and continue forward, until her form molded into the form of Water-Tribe's camp, seeking out a specific den, in which the warriors of this Tribe rested.


Her touch drifted over each sleeping form, five in total, each body responding to the caress with a shiver, and then a content murmur, before they fell into a deeper sleep. All these cats would do fine in leading their Tribe, she knew, but she was seeking out just one in particular.


She had given the current Silver-Water her tattoo, torn between her young age and her, obvious, ability to take on the task. Water represented life- she was life, and water was always new and running and young. Young was strength, to her, and while she knew that her decisions would not be agreed with on occasion, because of this mindset, she ignored any other ideal but her own. She knew what was best for her Tribe, and her decision, made before she even descended the stars, was made with what was best for the Tribe in mind.


Her gaze traveled over a dark gray tomcat, giving him another gentle touch. Not this one.


A white she-cat. Not this one.


A bluish she-cat. Not quite.


Two she-cats were laid side-by-side, silver and cream, and the Water-Spirit sighed heavily at both of their disturbed and restless sleep. Both rather close, to the Silver and Yellow- of course they would be sharing their pain. The Water-Spirit laid her touch on Sooka first, sending calm to her mind, before turning down to Tuari, watching as the young she-cat still twitched and quivered.


Slipping into her sleeping form, the Water-Spirit traveled until she reached the place of her dreams, watching as Tuari watched her own adapted seen of the murder of both Xander and Sterling, through terrified blue eyes. Immediately, the Water-Spirit snatched this image away, wrapping herself around the now confuse cream-dream figure and murmuring quiet reassurances, in a voice that was not a voice but instead a stream of thought.


"I am sorry to intrude," she began in her own way of speaking, the sounds of millions of oceans and streams and ice and beauty intermingling. "And I am sorry to ask such a large duty on you so young, dear Tuari.


But, I come here with a request. You have almost left before- we watch everything. However, you were unable to, and your love for the Tribes - your Tribe - was a factor. I believe that all leaders and deputies should hold the qualities of a good heart, their own mind, a love for their Tribe, and a willingness to grow as a cat, and you have shown all of these qualities over and over again to my watchful eye.


It is with this in mind that I come to you now, Orange-Water, to ask that you fill a leadership void left in your Tribe and step up to claim the duties I am assured you can handle. Will you become Water-Tribe's new deputy, and will you allow your tattoo to turn from orange to yellow?"


With these words finally gone, the Water-Spirit moved back, just a bit, and awaited the young warrior's answer, shifting form still.

_________________________________________________________________

Tuari had been sleeping fitfully, watching her own imagined scene of how Sterling and Xander were killed when suddenly the dream was snatched away and replaced with calm and the sound of running water, a scent that was sweet and soothing reaching her nostrils.

Then the presence began to speak and Tuari realized, with a jolt of shock so strong she was surprised she didn’t wake, that the Water Spirit was talking to her. The shock faded, slightly, as Tuari listened to what the Spirit had to say. Tuari’s pale gaze widened in shock at what the Spirit was asking of her – to become the new Yellow-Water; to become the deputy of her tribe. A million thoughts raced throughout Tuari’s mind, a million emotions, a million fears. She had just become an Orange-Water; just become an adult and yet the Water Spirit was asking her to become something entirely different.

Deputy.

She would help to lead her Tribe. She would help hold their lives in their paws, make decisions that would affect them. She would be expected and required to be diplomatic, respectful to other leaders and their own tribemates.

Tuari's breath left her in a soft exhale before she swallowed, lifting her head slightly to look at the Water Spirit. She was the epitome of beauty and for a moment Tuari simply looked at the Spirit, noted the color of her pelt and the gossamer shimmer that clung to her fur. Pale blue eyes hardened slightly as a decision settled into her mind. Two words, seemingly insignificant but they would change Tuari's life.

Deputy.

Yellow-Water.

Tuari nodded, more to herself than to anyone else, feeling the rightness of this moment, of those words. "I will make you proud." She mewed, though one might speculate that, from the tone of her voice, she wasn't talking to the Water Spirit. And indeed, when Tuari muttered the words only two cats came to mind. Sparkling blue eyes, her father's eyes, her eyes, bright with pride. A soft embrace she hadn't felt for several moons now and the words Ruse had said to her before she'd left for the Tribes. I will always be proud of you.

Then vibrant amber eyes, full of caring and sisterly affection. Sooka's calming voice rushed through Tuari's mind and even in her dream she could feel the warmth of her former mentor, though Sooka was so much more than that. Tuari had promised, when she and Sooka first went out together that she would make Sooka proud. That she would be the best apprentice the silver she-cat would ever have. That she would make her proud. Tuari hoped that, with this, she might be able to do that.

And then, possibly and probably the most important cat the Water Spirit herself. Tuari swallowed nervously, ears flicking back slightly. "There are others far more qualified for this position than I, others who likely deserve this position more than I," She began, a small frown creasing the set of her mouth. "But I promise on my life that I will serve Water Tribe, that I will serve you until my last breath. I accept."

Congradulations, zeus-thighs, roleplayer of Tuari and dedicated member of TGB.

Will you become Water-Tribe's deputy? We're awaiting your answer, which you can post in a comment to this blog or note or whatever. c:


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