Title: SpiritClan's Deputy

Challenge: Why not me?

Word Count: 917

Stonestorm stretched in the weak dawn light and watched Blazestorm hand out patrol assignments. His former mentor stood by his mate, Berryfall. Together they stood and helped everyone that had a question. Stonestorm approached the two. "What do I need to do?" Stonestorm asked. Blazestorm met his eyes and nodded approvingly.

"Take a patrol with Berryfall and hunt along the DawnClan border. Rosefern won't be able to sleep easily with Caramelkit and Waspkit unless she's sure there's no intruders."

Stonestorm nodded, pleased Blazestorm respected him enough to let him lead a patrol with Berryfall in it. "Let's bring Timberheart and Featherwing," Stonestorm suggested. Berryfall dipped her head. The two named came over at a wave of the dark gray tom's tail and the four cats headed out on patrol.

Timberheart stopped the group about a tail length away from the border. "Squirrel," he hissed. Berryfall and Featherwing crept in a circle around the creature, but it wasn't necessary. Timberheart jumped with all his strength and soon the squirrel was fresh kill. Stonestorm congratulated him on his leap.

"That was impressive," Stonestorm acknowledged. Timberheart looked satisfied with himself.

The brown tom flicked his tail and buried the squirrel, saying, "That'll feed Rosefern and the kits."

Stonestorm smiled. "They're adorable." Timberheart nodded, and Berryfall looked impressed Stonestorm had remembered Timberheart was the kits' father.

As the patrol walked back to camp loaded with prey, Stonestorm's thoughts wandered to deputyship. It would be nice to be deputy, he thought. He was certainly eligible. He had trained two apprentices, now known as Pinkdaisy and Owlnose. He was a good hunter, too, his catch of two birds and three mice said that. But he was content to wait. Stonestorm respected his former mentor and certainly didn't wish him to die.

The camp was busy, loaded with cats. In the middle of it all was Rosefern. "Caramelkit and Waspkit are missing!" the reddish gray she-cat wailed. Timberheart rushed to his mate's side. Stonestorm dropped his prey.

Blazestorm shoved his way through the crowd. "How long have they been gone, Rosefern?" Blazestorm asked.

"Since sun high," the distraught queen answered. Stonestorm glanced at the sun. It was almost dusk. "Oh, they've been eaten by a fox, I know it!"

The cats surrounding Rosefern tried to comfort her. Stonestorm padded away from the mass, curiously nosing around the nursery. To his relief, there were no fox scents. He began to pad away, but the smallest trace of a strange scent drifted over his nose. NightClan. "Blazestorm!" Stonestorm yowled. The russet tom rushed into the nursery.

"What?" Blazestorm asked hurriedly.

Stonestorm explained everything in a rushed way. "NightClan took Rosefern's kits! We have to get them back."

Blazestorm nodded and backed out of the den. Stonestorm followed, and by the time he was blinking from the change of brightness Graystar was calling an announcement. "Cats of SpiritClan," Graystar began, "something terrible has happened. Clawstar along with his gang of mouse hearts has taken our kits! I will send a patrol immediately to get them back. Did anyone see anything suspicious today?" Graystar surveyed the group.

Cats shook their heads. "Okay. The rescue patrol will consist of Blazestorm, Berryfall, Stonestorm, and Squirrelfur," Graystar commanded. Stonestorm stood up straighter. Squirrelfur clawed the ground in excitement from the back row.

Blazestorm shot forward. "You can't send Berryfall, she's expecting my kits!" Berryfall glared at him and the Clan exploded in murmurs. Berryfall stepped up next to her mate.

"I'm going," Berryfall said in a firm tone. Blazestorm dipped his head, and the patrol started for NightClan.

Stonestorm clawed the ground, anxiously watching Squirrelfur pace through the trees. Yowls came from the NightClan camp and Stonestorm shot in, clawing until he reached the prison they had scouted before they attacked. Caramelkit and Waspkit cowered against the wall until they recognized him. He ushered them out into camp and shoved them at Berryfall as he was swamped with warriors.

Vaguely he saw Blazestorm kill Clawstar and fall to the NightClan cats. Berryfall sprinted out, not noticing Caramelkit drop from her grasp. Stonestorm fought himself free and dragged his limp mentor out as quickly as he could. Squirrelfur yowled in anguish and Berryfall joined him. Stonestorm dropped Blazestorm on the edge of the ravine.

"Are we being followed?" he asked. Squirrelfur shook his head. "They got what they wanted, then."

Berryfall was still looking over the cliff, yowling. Stonestorm looked over and saw why. Waspkit was lying still on the bottom of the cliff. He pressed his shoulder against her comfortingly but she shoved him away angrily. "If you had fought better, both of them would still be alive!" she accused. Stonestorm stood still in shock, staring at her as she fled back to camp.

Graystar stood on top of rock beneath the moon. "The new deputy will be... Berryfall!" Stonestorm glowered at the she-cat, as her head raised proudly. He knew she had spread rumors of him making him look bad. He killed Blazestorm hoping to be deputy. He killed Waspkit because he saw. He tried to kill me, but I was too strong for him and fought him off. See the scars? He bartered with Clawstar that they could have Caramelkit if they killed my mate. He...

Stonestorm shook his head to clear it and turned away. He wouldn't let her know he cared that much. He would ignore her, but one day he would prove her wrong. One day he would be deputy. One day he would get revenge.