the heir

~~~

THE MOON SWEEP is a thing of fascination for Lianapond. As the ruler, her father Rushingstar would visit all four Clans every now and then, the entire process taking roughly a moon total. Rushingstar never spoke about his journey through the Clans, and the silver tabby had asked him about it as a kit, he'd brushed it off. She supposed she'd just have to experience for herself someday.

Well, she wouldn't be the one experiencing it, she reminded herself. With a scowl, Lianapond tilted her head upwards, where her brother Wolfclaw's tail kept brushing her as he flicked it around. "Stop that."

Wolfclaw was lounging upon Rushingstar's rock, otherwise known as the Throne. Although an heir had yet to be announced, everyone knew it would be Wolfclaw. The muscled gray tom was the perfect choice to lead the Glade Empire in every way: assertive, confident, strong. 

Aside from those traits, he was also arrogant, hence why he was choosing to lounge on the Throne while Rushingstar was out on the Moon Sweep. Getting used to his new, not-yet-his position already, Lianapond supposed. 

"Come off it Lianapond, quit complaining," returned Wolfclaw. "I bet there are cats in the Clans who would give a paw for my tail to touch their head." 

The silver tabby highly doubted anyone from the Clans even knew what Wolfclaw looked like. The two of them have never left the Glade in their lives, never strayed near the border, never even seen the Guards who watch the border. The cats she knows are her family and those from the Academy. 

The only time she's seen cats outside that group was during her Apprentice Rank, a tournament with apprentices across all four Clans, but even that was held in the Academy, within the Glade. Though she hadn't won, she had fought, and remembered her opponents all to have been quite vicious, especially one SummerClan tom who almost tore a tuft of her fur out. 

"Quit it," she muttered as Wolfclaw started flicking his tail around again.

Her brother rolled his eyes. "Just move."

"I'm perfectly comfortable," huffed Lianapond. The grass was soft beneath her, and the sun was warming her pelt just so. "Why should I move? Just stop swishing around your tail like you're king of the world."

Wolfclaw grinned. "But very soon, I will be king of the world. Haven't you heard? Father should be returning from the Moon Sweep today, and when he does, he'll choose his heir."

Lianapond had heard that. Rushingstar had told that to both of them together, along with their little brother Stormpaw. 

She rolled her eyes. "And you're so sure Father would choose you? He could pick Stormpaw, or-"

"Or you?" Wolfclaw cut her off, cackling. "Yeah, right. You were out of the Apprentice Rank almost immediately when it started. Eveninglark mentored you, and that old cat can barely see anymore. Your skills are nothing compared to mine."

Lianapond opened her mouth to give an angry retort, but before she could speak, a deep, booming voice sounded first.

"Wolfclaw," said the voice. "Why are you on the Throne?"

The silver tabby's ears stood up, peeking around the Throne to catch sight of a large white tom, green eyes tired from a moon of travel. "Father!"

She jumped to her paws at the same time as Wolfclaw, who turned around to give Rushingstar a sheepish grin. "Just trying it out," he meowed as he hopped off the rock. "Welcome home, Father. I heard you're finally choosing your heir today."

Rushingstar grunted, and climbed onto the Throne, laying down and flicking his tail over his paw. "Patience, my son. I've just returned, and I've sent word to your mother and the Academy. As soon as they arrive, I will pick my heir."

Wolfclaw looked elated. "And when will announcements be?"

"The Challenge and the announcement to the Empire will all be next week," Rushingstar meowed in his deep rumble. "It'll give your suitors some time to prepare, and then the heir can be presented along with their mate to the deputies as the next leader of the Glade Empire." 

Lianapond had only met her suitors a pawful of times. They appeared to be fairly nice toms, but she found it unimaginable that by next week, she would become mates with one of them. She could hardly even remember their names.

"Father," she meowed, standing up on her hind legs a little to place her front paws on her father's, as though she were a little kit again. "Father, how was the Moon Sweep? Did you see anything interesting?"

"Lianapond, the Moon Sweep is not for interest," Wolfclaw cut in unnecessarily, lifting his chin. "It's a check in on the Clans to make sure they're performing all their duties properly for the Empire to continue functioning."

Rushingstar nodded. "Indeed, Wolfclaw. If the Moon Sweep weren't necessary, I'd never leave the Glade at all. The Clans are a dangerous place, but we're working hard to fix that."

The silver tabby had questions of whys and hows, but just then her mother, Snowberry, arrived, greeting her mate and kit with deep purrs. It wasn't long after that the Academy arrived also, Lianapond's aunt Ivymoon at the front as the leader. Stormpaw was also there as he's training at the Academy, and hopped over to join his older siblings as the rest of the Academy, the suitors and mentors, padded towards the back. Lianapond caught eyes with her old mentor Eveninglark and exchanged a quick smile.

Rushingstar had risen into a sitting position on his Throne by then, Snowberry by his side. Lianapond always thought the two of them looked incredibly regal and powerful like this, even though her father looked more worn out now than usual. 

She glanced over to the suitors, spotting the two she-cats who were trained to be Wolfclaw's mate. She was just debating which one, next to Wolfclaw, would exert the same force as her parents did when Rushingstar began speaking.

"Thank you, everyone, for joining me here today. I have just returned from the Moon Sweep, and it has become even clearer to me that I must choose an heir as soon as possible. The Clans will need someone young and strong to lead them." His eyes scanned over his kits, all three of who were standing in a straight line in front of him.

Lianapond felt his gaze pass over her onto Wolfclaw. Despite all the talk she'd had earlier, that was to be expected. 

"My heir will be..."

The silver tabby opened her mouth, ready to congratulate Wolfclaw. But, Wolfclaw's name wasn't the one Rushingstar said.

"Lianapond."