Shadowstar frowned inside her den, images of StarClan withdrawling from her head. Her black pelt bushed out, her white paws sunk into the ground, her white muzzle speckled with dirt, while her white underbelly and chest remained flat against the dusty ground.

Are we losing all hope? We can't be! Thats impossible!

Shadowstar shuddered, wind blowing her fur to one side.

I mustn't seem afraid, or sad. My Clan needs me to keep strong, I must show them I can help.

"Shadowstar?"

A voice broke into her thoughts.

"Yes?" Shadowstar glanced up, seeing Redstorm, one of her most noble Warriors stand before her.

"Its time you chose a new Deputy." Redstorm murmured, his eyes flashed a sudden gleam of grief and he seemed to shrug it away.
"Yes. I know, Redstorm." Shadowstar whispered, her voice coming quieter and seemingly weak then she had hoped.

Fawnpelt, the former Deputy, had died of Blackcough. A heartrending sickness that hardly any cat had ever been cured from.

As Shadowstar exited her den, more images of NightClan's past home flashed through her eyes. The rocky bridge that covered the territory looped into ThunderClan's Camp. She shivered, remembering the flood that had essentially cloaked her territory and sent her Clan scouting for a new Camp.

Shadowstar leaped onto JaggedPeak, gazing down at her Clan that murmured to eachother while carrying prey back and forth from out of Camp to the fresh kill pile. The Camp Site was in fact, good. Bushes cloated the entrance to a tunnel which lead down towards rocky ground, the tunnel seemed to dissapear into emptiness, looking pitch black where it was. But in fact, the tunnel lead to NightClan Camp. At the time, hardly any cats were healthy and fit to hunt and guard the territory. Even marking the borders was hard. She had scouted for Kittypets who were kind enough to join the Clan and help.

Though this was something the former Clans usually disliked, Shadowstar didn't seem to care anymore, the clan had survived the harshest hours of the past, and the former Clans didn't seem to be found anywhere nearby.

Even SkyClan drove us out...

"All cats old enough to see during the night, gather under JaggedPeak for an announcement." Shadowstar yowled, the words ringing through her ears. She hadn't said that for over a moon.

Once the Clan had gathered under JaggedPeak, Shadowstar immediately frowned. Not many cats were seen, Any more deaths to come and the Clan is due to death.

Shadowstar gulped, fear rising in her throat, "Though many cats have gone to CloudClan," She began, her voice breaking submissively at the her ancient Clans' name, StarClan is gone to us, forever?

Keep going, Shadowstar. Your Clan is awaiting your new Deputy's name to be said...

Fawnpelt? Shadowstar thought, hearing the she-cats' voice forced Shadowstar's words out at that exact moment, "We will keep moving. We will stay strong. Soon we will be better then ThunderClan, ShadowClan, RiverClan and WindClan." Shadowstar cast a glance to Fawnpelt's body, that still lay in the center of Camp, "I say this before the body of Fawnpelt. So she may hear and agree with my desicion. The new Deputy of NightClan is-"

Shadowstar ears backed up, she hadn't decided on this yet. In the corner of Shadowstar's eye she saw Redstorm, smiling hopefully to himself.

"Skyleap," Shadowstar meowed, suddenly remembering the time Skyleap had helped the Clan during the scout for new territory, She deserves it, doesn't she?.

Most cats seemed stunned by the she-cat being made Deputy, Skyleap didn't seem to care, though. The pale ginger furred she-cat pranced over to Shadowstar and dipped her head to the Leader, "I will do everything in my power to protect NightClan, thank you, Shadowstar." Skyleap meowed, her head rising to the Clan while being greeted with congratulated calls.

Redstorm yowled the congratulations quiter then the others.

Shadowstar knew altogether she had made the right desicion, her white tipped tail flicking behind her. "Skyleap is a very noble Warrior, I don't understand why everyone didn't feel the same way I did about her becoming Deputy..." Shadowstar murmured to herself while backing into her den.

Skyleap flicked her tail, "Stop! Please!" She muttered, loudly. "Now, for Patrols." She began, calling cats to leave to head out to hunt and train their Apprentices. Though she stayed back and groomed her fur, waiting for more cats to ask for things to do.

Redstorm padded over to Skyleap, "Can I join a Patrol?" He asked her, his red and white fur swishing in the wind.

"No." Skyleap snapped, then began grinning, "But, you can clean out the Nursery."

Redstorm huffed, "Okay. Whatever."

"I told you I'd become Deputy, even though your friends with Shadowstar, doesn't mean you are meant to be Deputy." Skyleap smirked tauntingly.

Redstorm rolled his eyes, "I didn't believe I would become Deputy, anyways. I'm too soft. I dislike fighting. That holds me off from anything Leader-like." He admitted, his white fur flowing on his pelt while his red streak along his back lay flat against his body.

Skyleap grimaced, "Whatever. Just, go clean out the Nursery already!" She spat, whipping around and stalking off towards the other Warriors and Apprentices that chattered while doing nothing helpful. She began snapping at them and ordering them around to do work.

Shadowstar hadn't seen any of this, her mind whirling somewhere out of the ordinary. She gave a single puff and fluffed up her black and white pelt, curling up in her nest and closing her eyes and falling into a luscious sleep.


Thanks for reading, guys! Please try reviewing! It'll help a lot, I always love feedback. But, please. Nothing too harsh.