Chapter 6
Blackstar felt a lot of grief. But, he had to choose a new deputy. The raiding patrols were only able to get two kits: Runningkit and Boulderkit. Both kits were five moons, the same age as Nightkit, Pebblekit, Stonekit, Stormkit, and Skyfur's kits. Suddenly, Blackstar noticed something. One of Skyfur's kits was also called Pebblekit! He would do the name changing ceremony for the AppleClan kit.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the highrock for a clan meeting!," shouted Blackstar.
The clan gathered, and Blackstar looked at them.
"Adderblaze died bravely in battle, and will be honored forever. But now, we must appoint a new deputy. Let Adderblaze's spirit hear and approve my choice. LakeClan's new deputy will be Robinwing," he said, looking at his mate.
"Robinwing! Robinwing!," the clan cheered.
"Also, I noticed we have two kits named Pebblekit. To change that, I'll make a name changing ceremony. I'll change the name of the AppleClan born kit. Pebblekit, come here!," he said.
The dark gray tom went running, his icy – blue eyes shining.
"Pebblekit, from this day on you will be known as Shadekit," he said, and Shadekit looked at the clan.
Shadekit jumped down from the highrock and went back to the nursery.
"The meeting is over!," he said, looking at the clan.
When he jumped from the highrock, he saw Cedarpaw and Fawnpaw sharing tounges, and noticed that Owlpaw was trying to get near Featherpaw, though the silver tabby she – cat was showing some affection towards Dewpaw.
He suddenly noticed there were no planned patrols. He went towards Robinwing.
"Robinwing, I need five patrols with the cats in the better conditions. Three border patrols, one on each border, and two hunting ones, one for land prey and one for water prey," he said.
"Okay," she said, and then faced the clan. "Cloudheart, you'll go for the AppleClan border. You can take Raintail, Tigerstripe Vixenfur and Featherpaw with you. Swiftwind, you'll go for the RatClan border. Take Tigerheart, Leopardfang, Firetail and Thistlefrost. Dapplesong, you'll go for the YellowClan border. Take Honeyflower, Willowclaw, Heatherpelt and Dewpaw. Birchfur, you'll go hunting land prey. Take Shrewtalon, Finchclaw and Owlpaw. Littlewhisker, head for the lake to fish. Take Grayfeather, Scorchflight and Fawnpaw. The rest of the apprentices do the chores!," she said, and all the cats did as they were told.
Blackstar looked at his mate and purred. He suddenly realized what a worthy deputy was Robinwing. He went towards the fresh – kill pile, and crouched next to her.
"Blackstar, you shouldn't have chosen me deputy," she said, looking at the ground.
"Why not?," replied Blackstar. "You're a loyal cat, the perfect mate, a cat I can trust, and you have an apprentice."
"I'm expecting your kits," said Robinwing.