"I want to be in the running!"

Junco couldn't believe what she had heard. Oriole had never shown any interest in being the leader. She was incredibly relieved, it would not be so easy for Static.

Has nobody else noticed that she is acting weird? It started with the kits, and Amber, and Granite. She's so cold, I feel like she might have hidden ambitions.

To her credit, Static had managed to only look thrown for a minute before regaining her composure and speaking, "Very well. As long as no one else wants to run, you will put your leaf on the left for me, and on the right for Oriole."

The cats in the clearing were nodding and Snapdragon took Lupine down to the small cave. Junco wasn't the only one who had let out a held breath with Oriole's proclamation, Estacado was padding over to her.

"I'm so glad that's over, though I really don't know who to vote for."

Junco nodded, she could understand his confliction. Oriole had helped raise him, but Static was his sister, and he wasn't particularly close to either of them. Estacado had always been quiet and rather distant. Though, not in a sad way, he seems perfectly happy like that.

Really the only one he had ever been close to was Snapdragon. He was always helping her with herbs and hanging around her as she healed others. The motherly old cat loved his company, and supplied most of the chatter for the pair.

Estacado was talking again, "I want to go right after them, so my decision won't be influenced by anyone else's."

Junco nodded again. Estacado was still young, but he always was wise beyond his years.

One by one, the wanderers padded to the cave with leaves hanging from their jaws, to place their votes. Static and Oriole were required to go first, so they wouldn't know who was winning until the end. Obviously they both voted for themselves.

Junco had only ever taken part in one vote before, where they elected Branch. She had been very young, so she on sorta remembered it. I hadn't imagined it would take so long. She watched Snapdragon go into the cave, went and got some prey from the pile, came back, and she was still there.

Thinking, I suppose, it's an easy choice for me.

When her turn finally came, every other cat had already been. Grabbing a small, red leaf off the grassy earth, she went to place her vote. When she got in she noticed it was perfectly even. Three for Oriole and three for Static.

Lupine was sitting against the back of the cave.

"You're the last one? I bet I know who you'll vote for."

Junco frowned, "No you don't."

"Oriole. I saw how you perked up once she joined the running."

Saying nothing, she placed her leaf and turned to leave.

"I knew it! You got something against that other cat?" Laughter danced in Lupine's blue eyes.

Junco hunched her shoulders and stalked out of the den, tail lashing. Who does she think she is?

"The votes are all in, I was the last."

Static looked at her, "Then Lupine will announce the winner."

I already know the winner! The realization hit Junco and she felt immense happiness. As she looked around, the grass seemed greener and the colors of the nearby wildflowers more vibrant. Static is going to hate this! She thought, almost gleefully.

The pretty, blue she-cat padded out of the cave, shaking her pelt out as she passed Junco. That was unnecessary. She jumped on a stump and carefully arranged her paws before announcing, "With four votes, the new leader of the Wanderers is," she paused for dramatic effect, "Oriole!"

Oriole stood up and raised her tail, smiling softly, as every cat chanted her name. Every cat, except for one.

Near the edge of the crowd, she had clearly backed up after hearing Lupine, stood Static. She was not cheering or smiling, as Junco had predicted.

Oriole leaped up onto the stump as Lupine hopped down. In the sunhigh light, she looked radiant, the sun shining off her smooth fur, and Junco smiled even brighter.

"Thank you all! I will do my best to be a good leader. Tomorrow I will begin my trek to the top of the mountain in the distance to commune with our ancestors. I suggest we all move, this place has gone old."

A chorus of agreement met her suggestion and she nodded. "For now, fill your bellies with prey and rest for the coming journey. The day is still young," Oriole observed, "so there is plenty of time to prepare."

The group began to disperse and Junco padded back to the unfinished squirrel she had grabbed earlier. Oriole met her there with two mice.

"Congratulations!" Junco mewed.

"Thank you! I'm so excited but really nervous too, how do you think I did with that announcement?" she lowered her voice, as she had been speaking rather loudly, "Should I not have suggested leaving?"

"No, no. You're right, this place was getting old, and it has too many bad memories."

"We've left too many places because of bad memories lately," Oriole sighed, "Hopefully we can make some good ones now."

Junco purred. Three losses, two of them deaths, were terrible and would not be forgotten, but the future with Oriole as the leader looked bright.

Movement outside the rock cave caught her eye. A gray she-cat was standing outside.

Static looked ready to kill someone.

Celebrate a Win
By KittyPeep on deviantART (me)