Task 30: Resolution
With the fall of Duskstar, the cats returned to camp, tired and bedraggled. The numbers had fallen greatly, leaving Thornclan in ruins but Hawkthorn knew they’d pick it up and mend what was broken, better than it was before.
“I want you to be my deputy. I trust you and so does the clan,” Robinsong announced as she approached Hawkthorn. “I heard how you rallied the troops and took down the rogues when I couldn’t.”
“I can’t, Robinsong, not now,” Hawkthorn muttered.
“The clan trust you. They would not agree with any other decision that I picked. Please be my deputy, Hawkthorn,” Robinsong asked, looking up at her taller littermate.
“I need to go. I have another clan that needs a strong leader. Duskstar has left those cats with nothing, not even a deputy. They need me more than Thornclan,” Hawkthorn replied sternly.”
“What about Orchidkit, Asterkit and Heatherkit?” Robinsong asked, knowing that they were a soft spot of Hawkthorn’s.
“They are about to become apprentices. They’ll be okay. They are strong and I won’t be far away; they’ll always be welcome to come to the other clan to see me. Besides, I know you’ll look after them,” Hawkthorn said, already having thought it through.
“What about-“
“No please don’t try to talk me out of this. I need to help what my mate ruined,” Hawkthorn cut Robinsong off, not allowing for his decision to be swayed.
“I know. I’m so proud of you Hawkthorn and mom and dad would be too, you know that right?”
“We had very different parents, Robinsong. It’s okay. I’ve moved on and don’t want you to hate our parents just because they gave you all their love but don’t try to make me see them as anything but what they were,” Hawkthorn said softly, a smile on his face as he looked down at his sister.
“I’m sorry-“
“It wasn’t your fault. I see that now.”
“I know, but tell me, who would you pick as Deputy, you were there for the fall of Duskstar, who came out as the strong leader.”
“There was two. Mudnose and Ashmask, but Ashmask still has a lot to learn. I think you should assign him the next apprentice, let him teach a cat. He needs that experience before he can be deputy.”
“Thank you Hawkthorn, for everything.”
“Goodbye, Robinsong – Robinstar, should I say,” Hawkthorn smiled at the cat he once had hated, pressing his forehead against hers in a soft gesture that he had only done to Eagleclaw. Hawkthorn gave her one last smile before turning around and leaving the Thornclan camp for what would be one of the last times as a member of Thornclan.
“I want you to be my deputy. I trust you and so does the clan,” Robinsong announced as she approached Hawkthorn. “I heard how you rallied the troops and took down the rogues when I couldn’t.”
“I can’t, Robinsong, not now,” Hawkthorn muttered.
“The clan trust you. They would not agree with any other decision that I picked. Please be my deputy, Hawkthorn,” Robinsong asked, looking up at her taller littermate.
“I need to go. I have another clan that needs a strong leader. Duskstar has left those cats with nothing, not even a deputy. They need me more than Thornclan,” Hawkthorn replied sternly.”
“What about Orchidkit, Asterkit and Heatherkit?” Robinsong asked, knowing that they were a soft spot of Hawkthorn’s.
“They are about to become apprentices. They’ll be okay. They are strong and I won’t be far away; they’ll always be welcome to come to the other clan to see me. Besides, I know you’ll look after them,” Hawkthorn said, already having thought it through.
“What about-“
“No please don’t try to talk me out of this. I need to help what my mate ruined,” Hawkthorn cut Robinsong off, not allowing for his decision to be swayed.
“I know. I’m so proud of you Hawkthorn and mom and dad would be too, you know that right?”
“We had very different parents, Robinsong. It’s okay. I’ve moved on and don’t want you to hate our parents just because they gave you all their love but don’t try to make me see them as anything but what they were,” Hawkthorn said softly, a smile on his face as he looked down at his sister.
“I’m sorry-“
“It wasn’t your fault. I see that now.”
“I know, but tell me, who would you pick as Deputy, you were there for the fall of Duskstar, who came out as the strong leader.”
“There was two. Mudnose and Ashmask, but Ashmask still has a lot to learn. I think you should assign him the next apprentice, let him teach a cat. He needs that experience before he can be deputy.”
“Thank you Hawkthorn, for everything.”
“Goodbye, Robinsong – Robinstar, should I say,” Hawkthorn smiled at the cat he once had hated, pressing his forehead against hers in a soft gesture that he had only done to Eagleclaw. Hawkthorn gave her one last smile before turning around and leaving the Thornclan camp for what would be one of the last times as a member of Thornclan.