Chapter 8

To Silverstripe, it didn't make sense. As she had left the battle, she had heard the sounds of cats still fighting. What had happened after she had left? She offered as many FireClan patrols and posts as possible, yet she never met any cats. The borders never scented fresh but it was obvious that cats still went there every day and night. She never met another post, or anything. She had met Wingpaw of WaterClan at the Circle Quad a few days before, but Wingpaw said that they saw nothing either. Silverstripe was worried. What was wrong with FireClan?

It was a surprise when an evening two days after the incident while on post she scented FireClan, and nearby. She crept around, climbed the nearest tree, but there was nothing. All night, she thought she saw something near the Light Camp, but when she stood at the entrance, there was nothing. As the morning approached, Silverstripe knew she had to return to her post as so not to scare the next cat. When she got there, Speckledflower and Daisypaw stood.

"Silverstripe," she greeted. "It's good to see you. Where have you been?"

"I thought I saw something," Silverstripe informed her. She looked awkwardly at her paws. "I actually was thinking...if I could possibly...stay until next shift?" Speckledflower gaped at her.

"You know this post doesn't end until Sunhigh right?" she asked in wonder.

"Yeah, I know, but...I was hoping to catch a whiff of what's happening in FireClan. Possibly see a patrol?"

Speckledflower shook her head, but said, "If it's what you want..." Silverstripe knew her strange request must strike something with the older warrior. She didn't want to come off as too weird, but she felt so alienated. Without Softfur in FireClan, she didn't know what was going on and the suspense was killing her.

"So," she asked awkwardly. "What's happening back at the camp? Anything new?"

Speckledflower shook herself, as though broken from a reverie. "Yeah, Lionstar decided that tonight, he's going to give Stonepaw and Dawnpaw their warrior names. They saved Brownstripe, you know?" She looked down at Daisypaw who was standing a bit of a distance away. "If only Daisypaw could be like that."

"Yeah," Silverstripe agreed. "Or Lichenpaw." She then seemed to remember her apprentice for the first time. Guiltily, she asked, "Has anything new happened to Lichenpaw?"

"No," Speckledflower said. "She's just angry she doesn't get Night Post with you yet. She says it's against the new rule, but that's what Night Post is meant for." Speckledflower shifted on her paws, her face down. "Look, if you're staying, I have to go back to camp then. I think that Daisypaw and I could be of some use." Silverstripe nodded, taking a deep intake of breath.

"Yeah, when should I be back for the ceremony?"

"Sunhigh." Silverstripe thanked her before turning back. She had waisted so much time talking, she might have missed something. She turned and ran for the Light Camp as soon as Speckledflower and Daisypaw were across the Thunderpath. By the time she got there, the scents of FireClan were just beginning to fade.

...

Silverstripe got in the camp just after Lionstar called the gathering. Shadefrost and Mosspaw were not too far off. Rainpaw and Walnutfur were sitting near the Medicine Cat's den. Softfur was near the warrior's den with Stormclaw and Moonpelt. Silverstripe moved to join them.

"Stonepaw," Lionstar was asking. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do."

"Then, from this moment on, until said otherwise, you shall be known as Stonetail. Let SoulClan light your path, wherever you may lead!" Lionstar and Stonetail touched noses before he moved to stand beside Brownstripe, who had never looked so proud.

"Dawnpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do."

"Then, from this moment on, until said otherwise, you shall be known as Dawnfrost. Let SoulClan light your path, wherever it may lead!" Lionstar and Dawnfrost touched noses before she moved to be with Tigerfang. Silverstripe watched them touch noses but didn't hear the murmurings of senior warrior to new warrior as no one but the two did. She called with the Clan, "Stonetail, Dawnfrost, Stonetail, Dawnfrost!"

Lionstar said, "Stonetail, Dawnfrost. Tonight, you will be guarding the camp alone in silence. When the sun sets, you stop talking." The Clan began to break up.

Silverstripe saw Shadefrost head for the exit with Mosspaw, Silverstripe beckoned Lichenpaw with her tail and ran up.

"Shadefrost, where're you going?"

He glowered up at her before he smiled wickedly. "Battle training."

Silverstripe shuffled her feet awkwardly, well aware of Shadefrost's, Stormclaw's, and Softfur's eyes on her.

"May we go with you? Lichenpaw could use the training for her first Night Post in a few nights." Silverstripe honestly didn't have one scheduled, but she would.

Shadefrost seemed generally surprised. "Well, okay." He said nothing more and the four ran out of the camp. She could see the excitement in Lichenpaw's eyes.

"This soon, huh?" asked Shadefrost over his shoulder. "Why?"

"Well," Silverstripe cursed herself for her sudden lying. "I think Lichenpaw's ready, that's all." Shadefrost muttered something indiscernible as they continued along. Silverstripe and the others were soon standing in the training hollow.

"So," Shadefrost began. "This is the move, copy me exactly."

"You too, Lichenpaw," Silverstripe instructed. Shadefrost did a sort of flip in the air and landed on a pretend enemy's back, clawing all the while. "Now you try it," he said as he stood up. Lichenpaw did it perfectly, Silverstripe noted with satisfaction. Mosspaw messed up in the end.

"No!" hissed Shadefrost in sudden outrage. "You're not listening to me! Try again."

Mosspaw tried, and failed, again. Shadefrost bared his teeth and began to scream at him. To Silverstripe, this was a little much.

...

Silverstripe twisted in her sleep. It had been a long day with endless battle training. She hadn't actually gotten to talk to Auburnfeather about Lichenpaw on Night Post yet, but it didn't matter.

She almost instantly fell asleep. She was standing in the forest, looking around. It was night time. In front of her war a mouse. It was looking around fervently, but Silverstripe knew it wasn't looking for predators. Suddenly, a vole came from nowhere. The mouse swelled up and popped out three tiny creatures. One looked exactly like the mouse, a miniature copy. The other looked exactly like the vole, another miniature copy. The third was an exact mix of the two. Everything but the half-mouse disappeared and a fox came from nowhere. It began to batter the half-mouse with it's claws, purple eyes wide.

Silverstripe sat up. It was dark out. Her dream was still fresh in her mind. She didn't need Yellowflower to know that it was a warning from SoulClan, reminding her that her Mosspaw was in danger as Shadefrost's apprentice. He was a very mean Mentor, he'd proven that.

Suddenly, a horrified scream filled the night.

Mosspaw! Silverstripe thought, beginning to panic. Has Shadefrost already gotten to him?

But Shadefrost was still in his nest in the warrior's den. It couldn't possibly be him causing an apprentice to scream.

Maybe it isn't Mosspaw. Silverstripe gasped and shot out of the den. She stopped. In the middle of the clearing, a brown/red shape lay lifeless. Silverstripe ran forward as Gingerpaw's ginger head came up from where she had been lying. Her eyes were blank with horror. Silverstripe gasped once more as she recognized the shape on the ground.

By now other cats were coming from their dens. Silverstripe's heart nearly stopped when she realized what they would see. Gingerpaw shocked into a shell of her former self, Auburnfeather dead, and Silverstripe standing over the body.

...

Lionstar was the hardest. He came out of his den and stopped. He stared at the body for a long time, no comprehension in his green eyes. Those emerald pools flickered to Silverstripe for a moment before he flicked his tail and jumped onto the Big Rock(well, that's what Lichenpaw called it!).

He didn't even give out the call, just stood there for a few moments. The rest of the Clan gathered in the Clearing, looking around. Those who weren't awake were awoken by those who were. Lichenpaw, Rainpaw, and Mosspaw sat together near the back. Hollowtail, Darkclaw, and Greenshade sat together murmuring something and casting glances in Silverstripe's direction.

"Stop it!" hissed Shadefrost. "Silverstripe wouldn't do something like this. I mean, scent the air!"

Silverstripe nodded thankfully to him and scented the air. There was an aroma that was not too pleasant to her nostrils. She noticed for the first time that some cats had disgusted looks on their faces and the pure torture that everyone else was complaining about.

"Oh," Darkclaw hissed menacingly. "Because she most loyal to you, Shadefrost!" The gray tom winced, a pained look covering his face and he shook his head, head down, and walked away.

Silverstripe felt pain course through her. Of course, she had not been the most loyal cat in recent events, but she hadn't actually done anything wrong! Softfur was of StormClan now, couldn't they just forgive and forget? She felt a lap of tongue on her fur and was startled as Auburnfeather's voice whispered in her ear,

"You are on unsteady ground, Silverstripe, but you have a soft landing." Silverstripe shuddered involuntarily. What did Auburnfeather mean? What did the SoulClan warrior say in that riddle? Lionstar began.

"I want to see this cat in my den after the ceremony," he began, glaring down his green eyes into the gathered cats below him. They cast glances in Silverstripe's way, but didn't say anything out loud. Lionstar continued, "I say these words before the body of Auburnfeather, so that she may hear and approve of my choice. Silverstripe will be the new deputy of StormClan."

There were gasps and cats casts glances or glared in her direction. There were a few cheers. Silverstripe heard Stormclaw and Moonpelt cheer at her. Lichenpaw, Rainpaw, and Mosspaw cheered. Softfur rushed over to brush against her. She was even surprised when Mudpaw cheered a little. The tom never really showed any emotion.

Wasting no time, Silverstripe threw a thankful glance in her friends' and brother's direction before going straight into Lionstar's den.

The leader looked at her in almost uncomfortable silence. His eyes were staring at the floor, so Silverstripe didn't see in them.

"Lionstar—" she began, but Lionstar cut her off.

"Auburnfeather told me before she died," he murmured more over to himself rather than to his new deputy. "She told me that the time was right I know. She said that you were the one I should believe and trust. At first, I didn't understand why she was saying something I already knew, or what she meant by it. Now I understand, she was telling me that you were to become the next deputy." For a moment, Silverstripe considered telling him about hearing Auburnfeather speak to her, but decided not to. It would only trouble him more.

"That smell," he started again. "I don't know what it is, and I fear it will come back." He looked up at Silverstripe, and she nearly gasped. There was a desperation in his eyes, a light she had never seen before. "Silverstripe, we must move camp. I don't know how many other warriors will die here." Silverstripe looked at him.

"Lionstar, it is nighttime. The predators are still running, probably, and we cannot move so many cats at once. We'll be picked off right away."

He shook his head. "If we stay, we'll be picked off one by one, when no one can defend those who cannot fight. And even they are not prepared for this. Look at Auburnfeather; she is one of the best fighters I know of, and she lays dead outside my den. Gingerpaw's lucky to be alive!" Silverstripe was becoming scared of Lionstar. He was just so desperate for some answers. Silverstripe couldn't do this to him, it hurt too much, but she couldn't move an entire Clan not knowing where they were going or how to get there, or if it was safe. Silverstripe thought for a moment through the grief and panic that was coming over her.

"Well, we cannot move right away, but I'll send a patrol out and make sure that whatever killed Auburnfeather is gone, and I'll take a patrol to find a new home for us. But we do not leave tonight," she added cautiously. "We'll leave first thing tomorrow." Lionstar looked relieved to hear this news, his eyes flickering to the door of his den and back. For a moment, he was familiar, for a moment, he was Liontail again.

"Good," he admired. He added awkwardly, "Also...could you, uh, sit vigil with Auburnfeather tonight? You were one of her most admired warriors." Silverstripe nodded and dipped her head, backing out of his den.

"In trouble, new deputy," hissed a familiar voice.

"Darkclaw," Silverstripe ordered right away. "Lionstar has a job for you. Take..." Silverstripe quickly thought of some cats that Darkclaw didn't particularly like. "...take Nightflower, Softfur, and Soddenfoot and search for whatever killed Auburnfeather." The warrior grimaced at being told what to do by Silverstripe but did as he was told, beckoning the other warriors with his tail and disappearing to do the job.

"Not to smart," commented Stormclaw as he approached.

"What?" asked Silverstripe in confusion.

Stormclaw explained, "Well, Darkclaw doesn't really like you, so his loyalty is in question. Softfur I know is loyal, but the others...Nightflower is also in question after her dealings with the Clique. She says her heart is with StormClan, but she said that before the Clique invaded too." Silverstripe cursed herself. Why hadn't she thought of those things instead of how to get back at Darkclaw. If only...he cut off her train of thought, too.

"What should I have Barkpaw do?" he asked. She had to think very hard at first; being deputy wasn't easy, especially when the Clan was in mayhem.

"Uh, Mudpaw and Barkpaw should guard Yellowflower's den, with Gingerpaw in there and all." Stormclaw nodded.

"Wise decision," he murmured before walking over to Auburnfeather, who had been placed as though she were sleeping, and licked her shoulder before turning to the apprentice. Silverstripe walked over and whispered to her friend and deputy,

"How can I do this, Auburnfeather? I need your guidance now more than ever!"