"…I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors and Snowface may hear and approve of my choice," the leader of ThunderClan yowled, his voice echoing throughout the camp.
A light brown tabby tom gazed at the large tom, standing tall on the Highledge. Despite the leader's age, Molestar was as strong as ever. Although he was curious who the next deputy would be following Snowhead's recent death, a strong desire not to be deputy burned inside of him. He didn't see himself as leader-like at all – he barely even had the courage to fight in battle.
"Mouseheart will be the new deputy of ThunderClan," he finally announced. His gaze rested on the tabby tom, and the rest of the Clan's attention was turned to Mouseheart.
Me? The tabby was taken aback by his announcement. Never had he expected to be the deputy of ThunderClan, and there was no way he was fit to be one. Sure, he had trained up an apprentice, but deputy? Mouseheart could never see himself being one.
He wanted to decline the opportunity, he just was not ready to be the deputy. The brown tom lifted an eyebrow, expecting an answer.
Instead, he found himself saying, "I-It's an honor to be the deputy of ThunderClan, Molestar." Now he really can't go back. After a moment of thought, he meowed, "I promise I will serve my Clan for as many moons as I can."
His green eyes swept across the clearing, looking at the cats. Did he do something wrong?
A few moments later, all at once, the ThunderClan cats began cheering his name. "Mouseheart! Mouseheart!"
The brown tom couldn't help but give a small smile. "Thank you," he muttered gingerly.
"Clan dismissed," Molestar announced. With that, the cats dispersed, going back to doing their own things.
"Mouseheart, congratulations!" a familiar voice exclaimed. Looking around, the tabby tom saw a gray tom running up to him, smiling. He stopped a few mouse-lengths before Mouseheart, his yellow eyes filled with joy. "I never even expected you to be a deputy."
"Yeah, me too," a calm voice joined in. Coming out of the chaos was Mouseheart's former apprentice, Icefoot. The dark gray tabby tom sat down beside the gray cat, bowing his head. "Congratulations."
Mouseheart dipped his head. "Thanks, Stormspark, Icefoot…" He glanced down at his paws, shuffling them awkwardly.
His long-time friend tilted his head. If someone knew what was wrong with him, it was Stormspark. "Is something wrong?" he asked.
The tom remained silent. "…It's nothing." He didn't want to confess he did not feel ready to become the deputy.
"Come on, Mouseheart. I know something's wrong," he meowed, his nicked ear twitching. The newly-made deputy remained silent, trying to look away from the gray tom's yellow gaze.
"Please?" Stormspark begged. "We won't tell anyone."
"He doesn't have to," Icefoot meowed quietly, putting a tail in front of the other warrior. "Maybe it's best if we don't know."
"He's right, Stormspark," Mouseheart agreed, giving a quick glance towards the gray warrior.
Stormspark flattened his ears, disappointed. "Oh, fine…"
"We can go hunting, if you want," Icefoot suggested to the group. "We can celebrate Mouseheart's new… deputy-ship."
Mouseheart hesitated before giving a response, and lifted his head. "But what if Molestar needs me for something?"
"Relax, Mouseheart," Stormspark started. "Just tell Molestar you're going hunting with us. It can't hurt, right?"
"Right…" The deputy glanced around nervously. "But still, what if badgers attack the camp? What if foxes attacks the camp? What if-"
"Mouseheart. Calm down. We don't want you having a panic attack," Icefoot pressed.
"Plus, don't you know how putrid they smell? We could scent them from tree-lengths away, I bet!" Stormspark added.
"…Fine. If you say so," Mouseheart meowed. The mangy tom started to climb up to Molestar's den, with his friends following him. Arriving at his den, the cats found him emerging from his den, and was taken off guard by the new arrivals.
"Hmm?" he grunted. After a few moments of silence, the brown-and-cream leader began to speak again. "Hello, Mouseheart. I was actually going to look for you."
The tabby's ears perked up in surprise, eyes widened. "You were?!"
"Don't be surprised," the leader meowed. "You will be talking to me often, now that you are the deputy of ThunderClan." He flicked his tail, beckoning the light brown tom. "Come into my den," he muttered. As Stormspark and Icefoot took a few steps, the graying tom flashed a glare at them. "I want Mouseheart only. Unless you have something you want to talk about with me, you two are free to go."
The deputy turned his head to look at the two warriors, flattening his ears. Giving worried glances, Mouseheart watched as his friends climbed to the exit of the camp, and disappeared into the forest of bare trees. Giving one last look at them, he padded into Molestar's den with its inhabitant.
Molestar lowered his tail, signaling for the tabby to sit down. After he did, the leader sat down as well. With an uneasy glare, the tom sighed.
"You know, Mouseheart, I am proud to see how far you have come since you became a warrior. You've not only grown in skill, but in courage, too," he started, dipping his head in respect. "But that is not all I have to say to you."
The brown tabby looked up at the ThunderClan leader, who was huge compared to his small stature. "…What is it?"
"I want you to find out who killed Snowface."
His words echoed through the den as silence settled in. Mouseheart could start to feel the bitter cold claw its way into his pelt. Could he really solve the mystery of who killed the deputy? He wasn't even sure.
"…Wait… are you sure I can do this, Molestar?" he asked, still unsure of himself.
"I know you are a clever cat, Mouseheart. I know you can do this. You just have to trust yourself," he meowed. "You trust me, don't you?"
"Y-Yes," he stuttered out an answer.
"Then show it. Please, find out who killed Snowface," Molestar demanded. He flicked his tail. "That is all. You may leave now, and I only have one other order for you right now – organize a hunting patrol, please."
Nervously, Mouseheart nodded. "…Yes, Molestar." Slinking out of the den, climbing down to the clearing, he looked around for cats to put on the hunting patrol.
His eyes drifted towards a cream she-cat grooming herself. Whenever he looked at the beautiful Seedbreeze, he'd always felt something warm and strange inside of him. Maybe today, he could make himself be on the same patrol as her? He does have the ability to do that now…
He shook his head slightly. No. He had to organize the hunting patrol, and investigate the murder, starting with examining Snowface's body. He can't let himself get distracted by love. But, he could put the she-cat on the hunting patrol…
"S-Seedbreeze!" he called, trying to get her attention.
The cream warrior stopped what she was doing, and got up on her paws, fluffing her fur out. She padded over to the new deputy, with an eyebrow raised.
"Yes?" she mewed.
He paused, gazing into her amber eyes. Dear StarClan, her eyes are stunning.
"Stop staring at me," she snapped, bringing Mouseheart to his senses. He took a step backwards.
"Oh, sorry," he mewed, startled by her harsh reaction.
"What did you need me for, again?" Seedbreeze demanded, a stern expression on her face.
"Umm…" His eyes drifted down to a scar on the cream she-cat's shoulder. "I was just wondering how you got that scar."
She lifted her leg, showing off the long scar. "This?" The tabby tom nodded. "Well, I got it in a battle with ShadowClan when I was an apprentice." Seedbreeze paused, looking down at the small tom. "And I'm sure you were just a kit."
"Oh… Well, thanks for telling me," he meowed, unsure of what else to say. Mouseheart knew she was older than him, but he didn't think she was that much older than him.
"You're welcome." The warrior turned around, and started to walk back to where she was sitting.
"Wait, Seedbreeze!" he yowled once more. He forgot to tell her that he would be putting her on a hunting patrol.
Mouse-brain, he told himself. I can't be wasting my time like this when I have deputy duties!
The cream she-cat turned her head towards Mouseheart. "What now?" she grumbled.
"I-I forgot to tell you – you're on a hunting patrol," the light brown tom meowed.
"Am I?" She padded up to him once more. "Who else is on it?"
Mouseheart glanced around the camp nervously, looking for other cats. Whoever he saw first, they will be on the hunting patrol. Near the apprentices' den, he saw a white she-cat, Birdpaw, padding up to a dark ginger warrior, her mentor, Redfang. Next, he saw Weaselpaw emerging from the den, a few brambles clinging to his fur.
He's probably looking for Stormspark, he thought. When the brown tom became an apprentice two moons ago, Mouseheart remembered Stormspark boasting to him about how he had finally gotten an apprentice. Either way, the gray tom was probably still hunting with Icefoot. What was the point of putting an apprentice on a patrol when their mentor wasn't at camp right now?
He scanned the camp once more, and spotted a familiar orange-and-white tom, who was emerging from the warriors' den. Stemtail, a well-respected senior warrior, was said to be older than some of the elders, even. And with his appearance, Mouseheart had found the other cats on the hunting patrol.
"Redfang! Birdpaw! Stemtail!" he yowled. "You're on the hunting patrol!"
All three cats stopped what they were doing, and started to climb down to the hollow, where Seedbreeze and Mouseheart were. He noticed that Birdpaw's ears were perked up, her tail swishing around. He knew that she was excited, he just knew it.
"A hunting patrol, hmm?" Stemtail meowed, flicking his tail. "That's fine with me."
"Maybe we can find something for once," Redfang meowed, looking past Mouseheart's shoulder. "The fresh-kill pile has barely anything on it."
"Yeah, I'm starving!" Birdpaw complained.
"We won't catch anything if we sit here complaining," Seedbreeze snapped, head tilted towards the apprentice. She then lifted her head, looking at the other cats. "Come on, let's go." The cream she-cat swiftly dashed out of the hollow, with the other participants following close behind.
"Make sure to come back with something!" he shouted to the departing cats.
Mouseheart let out a long sigh. I wish I could have gone... I could have spent some time with Seedbreeze. But… duties are duties. He sat down, and looked up at the sky, the sun blazing in the middle of it. I hope I'm doing this right.
He looked down at the ground, the bitter air brushing his pelt. It isn't even moonrise yet, but there's still so much I have to do.
The tabby tom got up on his paws, and headed to the elders' den. He really hoped that they haven't buried Snowface yet. Climbing up to their den, he peeked into it, and saw no one in there. Worry crept its way into his mind. Where could they be?
"Hey, Mouseheart," a she-cat's voice greeted. "You looking for us?"
He turned around to see a mangy gray she-cat and a dark gray tabby tom, rubbing herbs on a limp, black body. The gray she-cat, Needlebelly, was gazing at the deputy with piercing yellow eyes. Even though the herbs were working, he still could smell a trace of the foul scent of death
"Hi, Needlebelly, Waspdust," he greeted.
"Hello," the dark gray tabby, Waspdust, meowed. His blind amber eyes did not drift away from the body as he spoke; he was more focused on rubbing the lavender on the former deputy's corpse.
"Yes, I actually was looking for you," Mouseheart meowed, answering the elder's previous question. "Molestar has given me the task of finding out who killed Snowface, and I wanted to find his body."
"He did?" Needlebelly blinked. "Well, go ahead."
"What?" The elder lifted his head. "No," Waspdust hissed. "Don't you know how repulsive Snowface still smells?"
"Come on, he doesn't smell that bad," the mangy she-cat argued. "Mouseheart can come look at it."
The gray tabby tom let out a groan of annoyance. "Oh, fine. He can come over." He looked down at the body once more, pausing momentarily before opening his mouth to speak again. "Don't say I didn't warn you, Mouseheart."
"Thank you," he muttered solemnly. Needlebelly stepped out of the way, leaving enough space for Mouseheart to get to the side of the body she was on. The brown tom walked up to the black deputy's body, wrinkling his nose in disgust of the smell.
He had to admit, he did not enjoy watching someone die, or even looking at a dead body. An image of his deceased father's body came into his mind, which had horrified Mouseheart, then Mousepaw. But he was tasked with finding Snowface's murderers, and part of that was facing his fears. Taking a deep breath, he looked down at the body.
Although the black tom's fur was flattened by the herbs the two elders had rubbed on, supplied by ThunderClan's very own medicine cat, the wound left by his killer was still visible. A clear bite wound was punctured into his neck, indicated by the drying blood that covered his neck, which had leaked onto his snowy white head. He could have sworn he saw blood on the tom's shoulder, too, but he was having trouble finding a wound on it. Mouseheart shuddered at the sight.
Lifting his head, he turned his head to face Needlebelly. "Do you know who was on the patrol that found his body?"
Needlebelly paused momentarily, and then meowed, "I can't remember. My memory's not as good as it used to, young tomcat."
"Why don't you ask your mother?" Waspdust muttered. "She's still around, isn't she?"
"Aspenspring?" The tabby blinked. "…I guess I could ask her."
"Then ask her." The elder's amber gaze did not move from Snowface's body. "She wouldn't mind."
"Good idea," Needlebelly commented quietly.
"Alright." Mouseheart started to climb down the rocks to the clearing, giving one last look at the two elders. "Bye, you two. Thanks for letting me looking at Snowface's body."
The gray she-cat gave a slight nod, and smiled. "Any time, Mouseheart. Any time."
As he climbed down the rocks, to the bottom of the stone hollow, he kept on the lookout for the pale tabby she-cat and her icy, watchful gaze. When his pads hit the cold bottom of the camp, he scanned the camp, looking for his mother.
"Hey, Mouseheart!" a sudden voice chimed.
Jumping in surprise, the deputy looked around frantically for the source of the sound, his fur spiked with aggression. As he regained his posture, he saw behind him a pale gray she-cat, looking down at him with wide, yellow eyes that had a certain sparkle to them, and a smile. He relaxed his muscles, seeing as she was not a threat.
Oh, her.
"Hi," he greeted the gray she-cat. "How are you?"
"Great!" she exclaimed. "What about you?"
"I'm doing fine, Beesong" he replied.
"Well, great! Congratulations, by the way!" the she-cat, known as Beesong, mewed. After a brief paused, she continued, "…For being ThunderClan's deputy, now! It's such a great honor, I'll never see myself as one."
"Thank you," Mouseheart muttered. "To be honest, I didn't expect being given this honor."
"Aw, don't discourage yourself," the warrior responded. "You'll make a great deputy!"
That's what you think, the brown tabby said to himself. I'll never live up to the Clan's expectations like Snowface had.
"You really think so?" the deputy asked in a low whisper. The best he could do right now is to be respectful to the she-cat.
"Yeah!" Beesong nodded furiously, her smile widening.
"You know…" Mouseheart paused, thinking of what to say next. "I was wondering, do you know who was on the patrol that brought Snowface's body back to camp?"
The gray she-cat blinked, swishing her striped tail, before answering. "Well, for one, I was on it!"
"You were?" His eyes widened at the statement. Perhaps he could get a lead now. "Who else was on it?"
"Well… Swiftflurry was!" she answered. "Of course Molestar would put her on one of these patrols, she's really, really fast!" Beesong then whispered into his ear, "I heard she can even catch a rabbit, like those WindClan cats!"
Mouseheart lowered his ears, incurious from her statement. He already knew that. "Right… Who else?"
Beesong stepped back, returning to her original position before answering his question. "Hmm… I think Stemtail was, too!" She quickly added, "Yeah, I think that's right."
Stemtail was on the patrol? Why couldn't I asked him earlier?! he thought. Because you didn't know, mouse-brain, said his conscience. Of course, he shouldn't blame himself for this. He didn't know.
"Anyone else?" the light tabby tom questioned.
"…I think that's it," the warrior admitted.
"Alright, thank you." Mouseheart dipped his head. "Do you mind if I question you some more?"
"Oh, no, go ahead! I have all of the time you need," she agreed. "And I get to be with you!"
Letting out an annoyed sigh, he sat down, clearing his throat before he began. "Alright, where did you last see Snowface alive?"
Beesong hesitated before answering. "I saw him last night, talking to Pricklepelt. It was right before I went to my nest to sleep."
"Okay, okay." Now, I just have to hope I remember this next time I talk to Molestar. "Where did you find Snowface's body?"
"Near the Sky Oak," she answered.
Nodding, Mouseheart paused before saying his next question. "Did you find anything near his body?" the deputy asked.
"I saw a piece of crowfood, but that was all," the gray she-cat meowed. "I wasn't really paying attention. I just know that we were near the Sky Oak."
"Of course," he grumpily muttered before looking up at Beesong once more. "Was there any strange scents near him?"
Beesong shook her head. "No, no. I just smelled ThunderClan cats in the area."
Mouseheart perked his ears up in interest. "Is that all?"
The warrior nodded. "Yeah, that was all."
"Interesting…" The tabby got back on his paws. "…You think another ThunderClan cat killed him?"
"Maybe!" Beesong meowed. "Who knows, though? It could be anyone."
That is true. He gave one final look at his Clanmate. "You're right. Well, thanks for answering my questions. Now, goodbye."
As Mouseheart turned around, the warrior's shrill shriek startled him. "Wait, Mouseheart!" she called. He turned his head to look behind him with a puzzled expression. "Why were you asking me those questions, anyways?" she shouted.
He remained silent for a few moments. "…You don't need to know." He continued on, trying to block out Beesong's voice.
"But I want to know!" she cried. "Please, tell me."
"No," he simply meowed.
"Please…?"
"No."
"Pretty please-"
"I said no," he hissed, swinging around to face her. He lashed his tail angrily, a low growl coming out of his throat.
Beesong stepped back with a look of fear on her face. Trembling with ears flattened, she dashed out of the camp, into the forest.
Relaxing, Mouseheart looked out at the exit of the camp, immediately regretting his actions. He quickly looked away from it, thinking about what had just happened. Head hung down low, he started to head back to his nest.
"Mouseheart!" a familiar voice exclaimed, stopping the deputy in his tracks. "We're back!"
Looking around, he saw Stormspark barreling down the entrance of the camp, with Icefoot not far behind as he slinked into the clearing, holding a bird and a mouse in his mouth.
The gray tom, full of energy, ran around the clearing, surprising many of the ThunderClan cats as he crossed their paths. After his sudden outburst, he strode over to Mouseheart, trying to catch his breath. In the corner of his vision, he saw Icefoot drop the bird and mouse into the fresh-kill pile, and joined them.
"We actually caught something for once, Mouseheart" he meowed. "Did you see that magpie Icefoot was carrying? It was huge! I'm so glad we caught it!"
"I caught it," Icefoot pointed out.
"Right, right," the warrior muttered. "Anyways, we almost crossed the border trying to catch the mouse I caught, too! And thanks to my quick thinking, we didn't!"
"There could have been a battle if we did," the dark gray tabby meowed. "We saw some ShadowClan cats hunting, too."
"Oh, and we saw some of our Clanmates, too! Birdpaw was complaining about how she couldn't find anything, so imagine her face when we told her we caught a mouse!" Stormspark chimed.
"No need to boast, Stormspark," Icefoot meowed. "As long as we caught something, we'll be fine."
"I'm sorry," he apologized. "It's just that's so many things I want to say about our hunt!"
Mouseheart flattened his ears. "Look, I'm sorry I didn't join you, guys. Molestar tasked me with a lot of things, I just didn't have time to go out and find you."
"I understand," the tabby meowed. "Being the deputy must be a lot of work."
"It is," he admitted. "And it's only my first day, too."
"Who knows, maybe it'll get better," Stormspark consoled.
"Maybe," the brown tom agreed. He looked away from them, still feeling guilty about sending Beesong away.
"Huh?" Icefoot muttered. "Is something wrong?"
"Yeah, it looks like there is," the other warrior commented.
"…I got angry at Beesong," Mouseheart revealed to the two warriors.
"You did?" The gray tom blinked with realization. "Is that why she was running out of camp just now?"
He nodded slowly. "I think so."
"But why did you get upset with her?" Icefoot asked. "Was she annoying you again?"
Mouseheart nodded in response.
"I see," he muttered.
"But this is the first time you actually said something about it to her," Stormspark meowed. "That must have hurt."
"I know," the deputy meowed. "I shouldn't have done that."
"Maybe you should go apologize," Icefoot suggested. "You'll feel better about it."
"Maybe when she's in a better mood," he mewed. "She doesn't seem too happy with me right now." Mouseheart continued to the warriors' den. "…I just want to be left alone right now."
"…Alright, if that's what you want," the tabby warrior meowed from behind him.
"Yeah, at least I respect your privacy," Stormspark commented. "See you later, Mouseheart."
"Bye, Mouseheart," Icefoot meowed.
"Bye." The brown tabby slinked into the warriors' den. All was still as he padded over to his nest, all of the cats out doing their duties. He sat down, today's events racing through his mind.
Am I really worthy of being ThunderClan's deputy?
He glanced up at the branches that covered the warriors' den.
Please, StarClan, send me a sign if I am. I want to feel like I belong in this position.
Mouseheart lowered his head, eyelids heavy.
Because right now… I don't.
A/N: HOLY this is a long chapter. This took way longer than I thought it would, since I was having a little trouble finding an ending place for this chapter. The next few chapters might not be as long as this, but I do want some length in it. Anyways, what do you think so far? Thoughts on the characters and who might have done it? I plan to try to update this weekly, but that might depend on the time I have. Anyways, Branchwing, out!
