Chapter 7

Riverspirit's wings dragged across the ground as she waited for news on who ThunderClan's deputy would be. It was close to moonhigh now, and the whole Clan was on edge. After witnessing the way Stormstar had acted, everyone was worried she had gone mad, and understandably so.

Sorreltail was looming in the back of camp, ears flattened and eyes on the ground. She had already lost Aspenpaw. To lose her mate was like losing part of her heart. Riverspirit understood how she felt now more than ever.

I've already lost me sister, she thought bitterly.

Her claws unsheathed and sheathed again when Stormstar emerged from her den. The black, silver and gray she-cat's fur looked ruffled as if she had woken up from a nightmare.

For the first time Riverspirit began to notice how old her mother looked. Stormstar was around the same age as Squirreltail, but she looked moons older now. She jumped onto the Highrock and ignored the stares from her Clanmates.

"I don't think a call for a Clan meeting is needed at this point," Stormstar announced.

She was right. Most of the Clan if not everyone was gathered around the base of the Highrock. Sootpelt and Rainstorm were watching her expectantly. Brambleclaw sat beside Squirreltail, their tails twined together.

"I say these words before the spirit of Brackenfur, so that he may hear and approve my choice. Snowstorm will be my deputy."

Yowls of disbelief followed her words. Riverspirit blinked in surprise when Snowstorm glared at Stormstar. Didn't she want to be deputy?

"She's too young, just like you!" Mousefur spat. "There are plenty of cats better off being deputy!" Her fur was bristling as she glared at her leader.

Riverspirit suddenly understood Snowstorm's anger. She didn't want to be picked out as the younger deputy. It didn't seem fair - there were plenty of choices like Mousefur had said.

"My decision is final!" Stormstar snapped. Her eyes blazed with anger as she looked down at Mousefur. "Unless I've heard wrong the leader's word is law."

The dusky brown she-cat's whiskers trembled with outrage as she glared at Stormstar. Riverspirit hung back in the gathered crowd as she listened to their argument. Though Stormstar had a good point it still didn't make any sense.

Unease crawled down Riverspirit's spine when an uncomfortable silence filled the air. She knew that this was far from over. Sooner or later Stormstar was going to get a taste of her own medicine.

"This meeting isn't over yet. I also have a warrior's ceremony to hold." Stormstar's words caught Riverspirit by surprise. She looked over her shoulder to see Frozenpaw and Echopaw looking at their leader in shock. "Brambleclaw, Snowstorm, do you believe that your apprentices have completed their warrior training?"

Both cats looked just as surprised, but Brambleclaw dipped his head in response. "I do," he meowed calmly.

"I do," Snowstorm replied in a softer voice.

"Than I, Stormstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors so that they may look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Frozenpaw, Echopaw do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your lives?"

"I do." Frozenpaw's response was curt, but Riverspirit wasn't surprised by that.

"I do," Echopaw mewed. Her eyes were as big as the moon as she looked at her leader.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Frozenpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Frozenpool. StarClan honors you for your bravery and courage, and we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan."

Stormstar jumped down to place her nose on Frozenpool's forehead. In response Frozenpool gave her leader's shoulder a respectful lick.

"Echopaw, from this moment on you will be known as Echoshade, in honor of your loyalty and friendship to the Clan, and we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan."

Echoshade's eyes glowed with happiness when Stormstar did the same thing with her. Riverspirit didn't miss the shadowed look in Stormstar's eyes. It seemed like there was more to Echoshade's name than she was letting on.

The meeting finally drew to an end as the Clan cheered their names. Stormstar seemed content with the Clan's response and returned to her den.

Confusion swept through Riverspirit as she watched her mother leave. Something was definitely wrong. Stormstar was hiding something that made her nervous. And the Clan was beginning to notice her change in attitude.

Something told Riverspirit that things were about to go from bad to worse for ThunderClan.


AN: I am so sorry for this chapter's shortness. Won't happen again, but I'm not promising anything. You all got to see who the new deputy was... is anyone surprised? And I bet everyone knows where Echoshade's name comes from. If you can't figure it out, than I'd read the other books :P