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"Redtail is dead!"

Ravenpaw's cry made Sandpaw sway unsteadily on her paws. Desperate yowls rose from her Clanmates around her, denying or questioning his proclamation.

"Let him speak!" Lionheart yowled.

Sandpaw felt dizzy and confused. No, she thought. Redtail wasn't just the Clan deputy, not to her. He was Sandpaw's father. He can't be… He can't be dead!

Ravenpaw staggered on his paws. Blood ran down his leg from a gash on his shoulder. "We… we met f-five RiverClan cats on the border. Oakheart was with them."

"Oakheart!" Darkstripe hissed.

Ravenpaw nodded and stumbled closer. "Redtail warned Oakheart to keep his hunting parties out of ThunderClan territory. He… he said the next RiverClan cat to put their paws over the border would be attacked without mercy. But… but… Oakheart, he said… he said that his Clan h-had to be fed, no matter what." He wheezed for breath, and blood continued to pour from his wound. He leaned to put his weight on the other leg.

"Then, R-RiverClan attacked," Ravenpaw went on. "We were fighting viciously, but then… I saw Oakheart… pinning Redtail… and... Redtail…"

Suddenly Ravenpaw's eyes rolled back in his head and he dropped like a stone. Ravenpaw hit the ground, and Goldenflower, one of the queens, let out a startled cry and hurried to his side. She licked his cheek and lifted her gaze. "He fainted!" she exclaimed. "Someone fetch Spottedleaf!"

Sandpaw's stomach swirled. The sights and sounds around her became blurred together as she tried to keep her balance. She felt as though she herself might pass out. Ravenpaw's wrong. He's wrong! He's scatterbrained and has bees for brains and he's always making mistakes! He can't be right about this, I know it—

The gorse tunnel rustled once more. Sandpaw whirled towards it, praying to StarClan that she would see Redtail leading the way, wearing his familiar, warm smile.

Instead, it was Tigerclaw that stepped into camp, Rosetail trailing behind him. The massive tabby was struggling with a limp body. He dragged it slowly into camp, holding it by the scruff.

Redtail's body.

Sandpaw stumbled back and let out a wordless cry. She wasn't the only one—all around her, cats were wailing in horror and grief. Sandpaw trembled terribly. No!

Bluestar pushed her way towards Tigerclaw, eyes wide. "How did this happen?" she demanded. Pain was clear in her voice.

Tigerclaw gingerly lowered Redtail's head to the ground. His eyes were dark, and the fur along his flank was matted with blood. "He died with honor," he reported. "He was struck down by Oakheart. I couldn't save him—he was already dying when I made it to him. But I managed to take Oakheart's life as he was gloating over his victory." Tigerclaw lifted his gaze to Bluestar. "He did not die in vain. I doubt we will see RiverClan hunters in our territory again."

Bluestar nodded numbly. She stepped forward and crouched before Redtail's body. She slowly began to lick at his fur, sharing tongues with her deputy for the final time.

Sandpaw's throat was tight with grief. Dustpaw moved closer and pressed against her—she could feel him shaking, too. He had been Redtail's apprentice.

"Let's go to him," Dustpaw murmured.

It took Sandpaw a moment to nod. "Okay," she whispered. She had always known that she would one day have to see her father die—but she didn't know it could hurt as much as it did. It felt as though her heart had split open. She stumbled towards his body and slumped to the ground beside it. Sandpaw had hoped she would find some remaining warmth in her father's body, but he was unnervingly cold and stiff. The fur around his throat was tattered and matted with blood.

Sandpaw buried her muzzle in his soft fur, unable to stare at his wounds. Are you with StarClan already? She wondered. Sandpaw's claws dug into the earth—in her grief, she felt bitterly angry. She wished there was something she could do about his death… but Oakheart himself was already dead. I can't even avenge him, she thought, blinking back tears. I can't do anything.

She looked up as Tigerclaw moved to sit beside her. He looked down at her, a deep frown on his face. "I'm sorry," he said. "He was a good cat."

Sandpaw sobbed and turned to her mentor. She pressed her muzzle into his shoulder and buried her face deep in his thick fur.

"It'll be alright," Tigerclaw quietly promised. "Redtail is with StarClan now."

Sandpaw nodded into his shoulder. It hurt too much to stare down at the body of her dead father—but it felt wrong to leave his side. It was custom for the kin and friends of the deceased to stay with them until the elders took the body out for burial.

"Will you sit with me?" she quietly asked.

Tigerclaw was silent for a few moments. Eventually, he dipped his head. "Very well."

One by one, other cats came to say their farewell to Redtail. They pressed against him, murmured in his ear, or gently groomed his pelt before they slunk away. The excitement of Firepaw's arrival was far overshadowed by the loss of their beloved deputy.

After some time passed, Bluestar lifted her gaze. Her voice was low and thick with grief as she spoke. "Redtail was a brave warrior. His loyalty to ThunderClan could have never been doubted. I always relied on his judgement, for he was never swayed by self-interest or pride. He always wanted what was best for the Clan." She had to pause and swallow before she could finish. "I will miss him dearly."

Sandpaw looked towards Ravenpaw and Spottedleaf. Spottedleaf was applying cobwebs to Ravenpaw, but every so often, she would look towards Redtail, her green eyes dim with grief. Redtail had been her brother. She, however, would not have the time to grieve with her Clanmates. As a medicine cat, she was bound by duty to care for the wounded, and she would spend the night tending to Ravenpaw.

Sandpaw looked away from her aunt and stared back down at her father. Who will be the next deputy? She numbly wondered. Hardly a moment later, she thought, How can he even be replaced? Sandpaw lifted her gaze to look towards Tigerclaw. She'll have to make Tigerclaw deputy, right? Few other cats could compete with him for the position—Starlingclaw, despite his kittypet blood, did have favor with the queens and a few warriors. Lionheart and Whitestorm were both noble, but no cat was as brave or strong as Tigerclaw. He was the obvious choice.

She wasn't the only cat to think so. Her ears angled backwards as she heard the elders speaking to each other across camp.

"How long before Bluestar appoints a new deputy?" Smallear asked.

"What did you say?" One-eye loudly demanded.

"Your hearing is as bad as your eyesight!" Smallear snapped. "I asked how long before a new deputy is appointed. It had better be soon! It'll be nightfall soon enough."

Dappletail's mew was sympathetic. "She won't want to let go of Redtail so soon," she said. "He served her for many seasons." She had been Redtail's mother, and though they weren't particularly close, there was grief clear in her voice, too.

Patchpelt sniffed loudly. "Even so, she must follow the code," he rasped. "A deputy must be appointed before moon-high. The loss of Redtail is tragic, but the Clan must go on."

Sandpaw bristled. How can he say that? She thought, furiously. He's only just died!

Halftail's voice came next. "At least the choice is obvious this time."

Sandpaw glanced over her shoulder. Halftail, One-eye, and Smallear were all staring pointedly at Tigerclaw. She quickly looked away, not wanting to be caught staring at the elders. It'll be Tigerclaw, then, she thought.

Sandpaw crouched beside Redtail's body. As the daylight faded, and crickets began to chirp, Bluestar left his body. She padded towards the Highrock and climbed to the top. She had no need to yowl, for all cats were still in the clearing. "A new deputy must be appointed," she said. "But first, let us give thanks to StarClan for the life of Redtail. Tonight he will sit with our ancestors in the stars."

Silence fell over the camp. Many cats turned their gaze up to the darkening sky. Sandpaw lifted her gaze. Only a few stars were visible. Are you up there, yet, Redtail? She wondered. Or are you on your way? She wished there were some way to know which star would be his—but she knew in her heart that she could only imagine.

Bluestar carried on after she had allowed a period of silence. "Now, I shall appoint the new deputy of ThunderClan. I say these words before the body of Redtail, so that his spirit may hear and approve of my choice."

Sandpaw glanced towards Tigerclaw. His amber eyes were wide with interest.

"Lionheart," announced Bluestar. "will be the new deputy of ThunderClan."

Sandpaw expected Tigerclaw to look disappointed, but his expression betrayed nothing. He rose and padded towards Lionheart, then gave him a hearty shove with his shoulder. Lionheart staggered and grinned, then turned towards Bluestar and dipped his head. "Thank you, Bluestar," he meowed. "I'll do my best to serve my Clan."

Sandpaw flicked her tail. I guess that makes sense. Redtail always said Lionheart was a strong and noble warrior.

Bluestar nodded briefly to him. "I must also appoint a new mentor to Dustpaw. Darkstripe, you are ready for your first apprentice, and you had a fine mentor in Speckletail. I trust you will pass on all you know to young Dustpaw."

Dustpaw started slightly, then nodded and left Redtail's body. He and Darkstripe awkwardly touched noses before sitting down once more.

Bluestar flicked her tail. "I will keep vigil with Redtail before he is buried in the morning." She jumped back down off the rock and padded towards Redtail's body once more.

Tigerclaw, too, returned to Sandpaw. He silently sat beside her, and she briefly felt deeply grateful to her mentor. I don't think I could sit here all night without him.

As the light faded away and the moon began to shine down on them, more cats departed to their nests. Sandpaw yawned and shifted her paws. Her head bobbed as she continued to nearly nod off to sleep.

Tigerclaw nudged her. "I don't think Redtail would blame you if you went to your nest," he quietly grumbled. "Go get some rest, Sandpaw. I'll keep you off the morning patrols."

Sandpaw hesitated, but after a few moments, she nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Tigerclaw." She stood, and with a final long look at her father, she turned and padded towards the apprentices' den, paws dragging along the way.

Sandpaw slipped silently into the den. She stopped after only a few pawsteps in as a terrible scent hit her nose. She curled her lip, fury burning in her chest. She turned her accusatory glare towards Firepaw. "What's he doing here?" she spat.

Firepaw and Graypaw had been sitting inside the den, conversing quietly, but they both snapped their attention towards Sandpaw.

"Um, hello," Firepaw meowed. "We were just—"

Sandpaw cut him off with a hiss. "Just get away from my nest!" she snapped. "I don't want your stench keeping me up all night."

Hurt flashed in Firepaw's eyes, and perhaps it had been another day, Sandpaw would have gone a hair easier on him. Today, however, was not that day, so she leered closer and let out a furious hiss until the two toms scrambled towards the back of the den. She spat before she padded into her nest and circled around in it, then threw herself down. She flattened her ears and kept her back to the pair.

Stupid kittypet! She thought, her tail lashing.

"Don't pay her any mind," she heard Graypaw whisper. "She just lost her father. She's not usually so… mean."

Sandpaw bristled, but she refrained from snapping at them once more. She tucked her nose under her paws and clenched her teeth. She wasn't about to let some kittypet runt see her sobbing. If nothing else, Sandpaw would still keep her pride.

Reviews:

YAS: I love the old forest too! I always love writing stories back in the old forest.

KatieK101: I wish more people remembered Sandpaw and Dustpaw's friendship too! They really used to be the tough duo of ThunderClan. Starlingclaw is going to be pretty fun to write—and next chapter will have a little Firepaw POV with some mentor/apprentice time!

Thanks to everyone else who reviewed!