AN: Sootstripe is the other candidate for deputy.

I trudge through the dense forest, mud chilling my paws. The moon, though it is full, casts only a faint shimmer of light, and I can barely see two tail-lengths in front of me. I sniff the air, trying to find my way by scent, but the smell of pine sap clouds my nostrils. Eventually I step into a large clearing draped in shadows.

"Nightwing?" I call. "Nightwing, are you there?"

A rustle in the distance is the only reply.

Suddenly, I hear pawsteps. Loud ones. They come closer and closer and I shudder, prepared to be eaten by a badger. A black shape darts out in front of me. Its amber eyes glow in the murky darkness.

"Nightwing!" I screech, but feel relieved at the same time. "You scared me!"

"Come on!" she meows, rolling her eyes. "I can't believe Wolfstar even made you a warrior. You're so ridiculous!"

"So, why did you want me to come out here anyway?" I mew quickly, eager to change the topic. She is normally like that; she seems to enjoy teasing me.

"Glad we can finally get down to business," she purrs coldly. "Here's the deal: Wolfstar is old. He's a weak ruler. And we both know who should be the next leader."

"Amberstorm?" I guess.

"No, you fool," she snarls. "Me."

"Can't you picture it?" Nightwing continues, her voice cold but smooth as silk. "You will help me take over. Sootstripe has a tragic accident, Amberstorm disappears, and I become the deputy. Then Wolfstar is murdered by a rogue." Here she pauses and begins to smile. "And you. This plan will fail without you. I need you, Shadeflower, and you alone. You will be my deputy as a reward for your hard work. Everyone will love you, Shadeflower. Our mother would be so proud."

I whimper at the word mother. Does she really have to bring that up? I can't help but remember…

...

"Mommy!" I shout, pinning down Night. "Look, Mommy! I beat Night at play fighting!"

I looked around the clearing. "Daddy, where's Mommy?" I ask.

"Mommy… left," he meows softly.

"What do you mean?" I mew quizzically, tilting my head. "Did she go hunting?"

He shakes his head. "I'm sorry, Shade. Mommy isn't coming back."

…..

"Here," my father, Smoke, meows. "A group of cats live somewhere in those pine trees. I'm sure they'd let you join them. You're both strong fighters and good hunters. And you're about six moons too, and that's when they start training their kits."

"How do you know so much about these cats?" Night asks.

"I was once one of them."

…..

I sit alone in the ShadowClan camp, picking at the damp ground. None of the other apprentices talk to me. They always talk about me behind my back; about how my parents were rogues, how I should be forced to leave the Clan. Sootpaw is especially mean and always calls me names. The only apprentice who is ever nice to me is Honeypaw, and only when no one is looking. I wonder if they think I'm not good enough, like Mom did.

Lately, even Nightpaw is being mean to me. She always yells at me for being too slow or too clumsy or too weak. I think she's still angry because of Mom, but it doesn't make it hurt any less.

I make a promise to myself then. I promise myself that if I get better at everything and become the best warrior, then everyone will finally notice me and love me. And then maybe the pain on the inside will start to go away.

…..

"Shadeflower! Nightwing! Shadeflower! Nightwing!" the Clan chants.

I hold my head high, even though the cheers for Nightwing are much louder. I don't care. I'll show them how good I really am. Then they will love me.

I remember the promise I made moons ago. I'm almost there, I think. But why hasn't the pain gone away?

…..

"Are you alright?" Nightwing asks, and I'm back in the clearing, curled up on the ground, gasping.

"Yeah," I mutter, getting up and giving my fur a few licks, partially due to embarrassment, partially due to the fact that it just rained and my dark gray fur is now very brown.

"Good," she meows. "It would be a shame if you weren't. Then my perfect plan would fail. Will you help me?"

Her words run through my mind. I need you. You will be my deputy. Everyone will love you.

My promise goes through my head as well. One day I'll be such a great warrior that everyone will love me.

If I do what she wants, maybe she will love me.

"Of course," I say. "When do we begin?"