Heya! There seem to be a few misconceptions about the last chapter. For those of you who were like, "Whoa! I didn't know ThunderClan had their own waterfall!" in short, they don't. In my mind's eye, I saw the river scene as thus: the river was maybe like 15 feet wide, and the drop was like 10. This isn't Niagra Falls, people. =) So I apologize for the confusion. I go into further detail in this chapter, and I have added more detail in the last for (hopefully) future readers.
Another source of confusion came from a reply that I got from a much appreciated reviewer questioning the number of lives Firestar has left. I have considered many ways of explaining this issue, and have settled with a good old-fashioned list. So, here we go!
1st life: Darkest Hour- killed by Scourge
2nd life: Dawn- killed by tree in the destruction of ShadowClan's camp
3rd life: Firestar's Quest- killed by rats in an attempt to save Rainfur
4th life: Sunset- killed by Hawkfrost's fox trap. (This one is questionable, but I am among those who believe that he lost a life here)
5th life: Ravenpaw Manga- this one is a RUMOR. Since the manga is indeed not out yet, I am ASSUMING that this one is true. You will thank me for this in later chapters.
6th life: Long Shadows- killed by greencough
7th life: This lovely fic!- drowned
This is sadly where my list ends. I tried to make it so that people would assume that he had only one life left, but with this list, I have revealed my own plot to trick my readers into believing that what I wrote was true. So shall we, for the sake of fiction and my sanity, assume that Firestar lost two lives in his latest river excursion? Thank ya much!
Lionblaze lifted his head from the fresh-kill pile in shock when he heard loud wails from the camp entrance.
Cinderheart beside him was tense. "What is that?" she asked shakily, her tabby fur fluffed up.
"I don't know," he replied. "It sounded like Squirrelflight." The two warriors raced to the thorn tunnel just as Jayfeather and Firestar came through. Lionblaze felt a jolt of shock when he saw Brambleclaw's limp body between them. The deputy's front leg was badly broken; blood glistened on the wound, and Lionblaze could see flicks of bone glinting through the wet tabby fur.
"What-" he started but was interrupted by his brother.
"Move over, mousebrain!" the medicine cat spat. "You're in the way."
Too dazed to feel angry at his brother's harsh words, he quickly stepped aside. The two cats continued their struggle to the medicine cat's den, while the rest of the Clan watched in fear and concern.
"I bet it was WindClan," Spiderleg was mewing. "They didn't stop to think about killing Brackenfur!"
"We don't know who did it yet, Spiderleg," Brightheart responded calmly, even though Lionblaze could see a flicker of panic in her single green eye. "We shouldn't assume."
Spiderleg looked at the ginger-and-white warrior incredulously, but let the matter drop as he rushed after Firestar.
Lionblaze turned to Cinderheart beside him. "Do you think it was WindClan?" he whispered.
Cinderheart didn't respond. She was staring at the quivering thorn branches that covered the medicine den, her whole body trembling. Alarmed, Lionblaze pressed his pelt into the she-cat's, feeling the tremors that racked her slight frame.
"Are you okay, Cinderheart?" he asked worriedly.
The tabby suddenly gave her head a brisk shake, and turned to face her worried companion. "I'm fine. Something… caught my attention." Her voice betrayed none of her former strange reaction. "A broken leg," she mused. "Do you think he'll still be deputy?"
The question caught Lionblaze off guard. He hadn't stopped to consider the consequences if Brambleclaw didn't recover. "He'll be fine! Why would Firestar replace him? He's a great deputy!" He could hear how false his voice sounded, saying words that he didn't truly believe himself.
Cinderheart's blue eyes clouded with pity, and she touched her nose to his. "Brambleclaw will recover," she said firmly. "Don't worry."
"How can you be so sure?" Lionblaze asked desperately.
She didn't say anything, just gazed into his amber eyes. Comforted by her presence, he mewed, "Let's go see what Leafpool has to say."
Cinderheart let out a soft purr, and dipped her head.
Firestar paced outside the den, his tail flicking nervously. He glanced up as he heard their approach. "Go ahead in; Brambleclaw just woke up." The ThunderClan leader sounded defeated, utterly defeated. As they passed, Lionblaze pushed his nose into Firestar's shoulder fur, wanting to comfort him as much as Lionblaze himself needed to be comforted. Lionblaze felt a rumbling purr, and looked up into Firestar's warm green eyes. "You should go in," he said simply.
Lionblaze shouldered aside the thorn screen in front of the den, and held it open as Cinderheart padded in. Letting it drop behind him, he gazed at the pile of dark tabby fur in the nest just in front of him.
Brambleclaw looked terrible; his flank heaved as he fought for breath, and his eyes were wide in pain. He opened his jaws and gave a yowl of agony.
"Jayfeather! Get the thyme!" Leafpool shouted across the horrible noise of the deputy. "Lionblaze, help me hold him down!"
He moved quickly to her side and laid his forepaws across the deputy's hind legs. Brambleclaw was thrashing, his tail flailing and his amber eyes glazed with pain.
Jayfeather rushed into view. He dropped the thyme in front of Brambleclaw, but the poor cat was delirious with pain.
"Here, let me," Cinderheart mewed. She used her front paws to pry open Brambleclaw's jaws. "Chew up the herbs, Jayfeather." Her voice was calm; it was like a drink of cool water in the green-leaf heat.
Brambleclaw was muttering feverishly. He tossed his head, then fixed his wide eyes on the gray tabby she-cat. "Cin… Cinderpelt?" he asked confusedly. Lionblaze saw a flicker of motion out of the corner of his eye. Turning slightly, he saw Leafpool gazing at Cinderheart in shock.
Cinderheart lowered her muzzle to the deputy's ear and whispered, "You will be well soon if you eat these herbs." She pushed the wad of chewed-up herbs so that they touched Brambleclaw's chin. She bent to touch his forehead with her nose. He slowly opened his mouth and swallowed the mouthful, then shut his eyes.
"Thank you," he murmured as he drifted off into a much calmer sleep.
Leafpool coughed. "What herbs did you just give him?" she asked with a strange look in her eyes.
Cinderheart looked surprised. "Thyme. It's good for shock. I mixed in a few poppy seeds as well; not enough to make him sleepy, though. Just enough to dampen the pain. He just fell asleep on his own."
"Yes. Good job." Leafpool's voice sounded strangled. Cinderheart didn't seem to notice; she was sniffing along the edge of Brambleclaw's wound.
"What's in that poultice?" she asked curiously.
"Cobwebs make up the wrap, but there's also some broom for broken bones and some marigold to-"
"Fight infection," Cinderheart answered promptly. Noticing the look on the medicine cat's face, she mewed, "Is… is that right?"
"Yes… it is." Leafpool shook her pelt. "I think you two should go now. I can take care of Brambleclaw now that he's settled down. I've already set his bones; I think that's what woke him up in the first place." She laid down beside the deputy, and began to clean the blood off his pelt with long, smooth strokes of her tongue. In between licks, she said, "Squirrelflight is upset; I would appreciate if you would get her some fresh-kill."
As much as Lionblaze hated the idea, he knew it was the wrong time to argue. He dipped his head and mewed, "Of course, Leafpool." He turned to Cinderheart. "Are you coming?"
"Yes. My belly is yowling!" she answered cheerily.
Wondering what Leafpool's strange reaction to Cinderheart's treatment of Brambleclaw, Lionblaze stopped at the fresh-kill pile. The pile was well picked through; only a shrew and three mice were left, as well as a ragged-looking thrush. He contemplated which one to give to the lying ginger warrior.
Cinderheart saved him the trouble. Grabbing two of the mice by the tail, she meowed, "These should be enough, don't you think?"
Thankful that she had saved him from picking the worst prey for Squirrelflight, he said, "That's great. Could you take them to her? I need to talk to Firestar."
She mumbled an agreement through the prey, and started off towards the warriors' den. Waiting until she was out of earshot, he padded back to Firestar.
The leader had stopped his pacing now that Brambleclaw's wails had faded. He dipped his head to his warrior. "Lionblaze," he greeted. "You look like a cat with something to say."
"That's right, Firestar. Can… can I ask you a question?"
Firestar let out an amused purr. "You just did. But yes; what is it?"
Lionblaze squirmed uncomfortably; he didn't know how big of a breach of privacy it was to ask what he was about to. "How many lives do you have left?"
The ThunderClan leader flicked his ears in surprise. "Why do you want to know?" he asked calmly.
"I-I just need to know," he mewed evasively.
Firestar looked at his for a long time. Lionblaze began to fidget under the weight of the leader's green stare. "The life I lost today was my sixth. I still have three left."
"Okay… er, thanks." Lionblaze didn't know what to say after that, he sat uncomfortably, until Firestar let out a purr.
"You and the rest of the Clan act like I'm going to keel over any heartbeat!" he laughed. "I'm still as fit as ever; don't worry."
Soothed by his words, Lionblaze asked, "How did Brambleclaw hurt his leg?"
Firestar's amusement vanished, and his eyes acquired a somber look. "The river that we fell at is full of sharp stones," he explained. "Brambleclaw reached out and snagged a clawful of moss of one of the rocks, but the river tugged us too hard. We twisted in the water, and the front of his leg was snapped like a dry twig." He extended his front paw. "In a cat's front leg, there are three bones: one at the top part, and two in the lower part." He tapped his own leg to prove his point. "The two bones in the lower part broke."
"I see." Lionblaze tried to hold back a wail of despair as he imagined how it would feel to break his leg. His muscles tightened as a wave of sympathy rushed over him. He dipped his head to his leader. "Thank you for being honest with me," he said, as grateful sounding as he could.
Firestar watched him with an inscrutable look in his eyes, then dipped his head as well. "I must retire to my den now," he said. "I have some thinking to do." He turned and padded in the direction of his den.
Lionblaze went back and picked up the last mouse from the fresh-kill pile. As he ate, he thought back to what Firestar had said. Only three lives left! he thought as ripped another mouthful from his meal. He can only die two more times before he joins StarClan forever! The thought of a Clan without Firestar was impossible; he shuddered from the thought.
Still chewing, he glanced around the camp. Berrynose and Mousewhisker were sitting by the medicine den, staring into the darkness beyond. "I hope he gets better!" Berrynose was saying. "He was my mentor!"
"I'm sure he'll recover," his brother assured him. "But I heard Firestar say that he needs to appoint a new deputy."
Mousewhisker's words sent a cold claw through Lionblaze's heart. Brambleclaw not deputy? He opened his mouth to ask Mousewhisker exactly what he had heard, when Hollyleaf dropped beside him, the thrush in her jaws.
"I've just been to see Brambleclaw," she explained. "He's hurt pretty badly."
"I was there when they brought him in. He was yowling in pain." Lionblaze flinched away from the memory.
Hollyleaf looked at him sympathetically. "He'll get better," she soothed. "He's got Jayfeather to look after him."
Lionblaze was comforted by her words. Their brother was a great medicine cat and he would most assuredly heal Brambleclaw. "I heard Mousewhisker say Brambleclaw wasn't going to be deputy anymore," he whispered.
Hollyleaf didn't look surprised. "Of course not! He's injured." She plucked a mouthful of feathers from her prey. "He'll appoint someone to take his place for a while, just until he recovers." Her voice was sure.
"Maybe… but what if he never walks again?"
"He will. He's a strong cat."
"You seem so sure," he purred. "I wish I was as sure as you and Cinderheart."
"Cinderheart?" she asked curiously. "I've noticed you two have been getting along very nicely." Her green eyes glinted mischievously. "Have any plans yet?"
"Plans?" he echoed confusedly.
"Plans for kits, mousebrain!"
"Kits?!" he yelped. "It's not like that between us yet!"
"Yet?" she echoed, enjoyment clear in her voice.
"D-don't you… Cinderheart and I… I didn't mean…" He stopped and glared at her. "You're infuriating."
She whapped him playfully with a forepaw. "I'm just teasing! You don't have to tell if you don't want to." She narrowed her eyes teasingly. "Besides, Cinderheart has already given me the whole story."
He forgot that the tabby was his sister's best friend. "The whole story?" he repeated, trying for nonchalant but ending up desperate. "What story?"
Whatever Hollyleaf was about to say was cut off by the yowl of Firestar. The fiery tom was perched atop the Highledge, waiting for the Clan to arrive.
Once he had every cat's attention, he said strongly, "As you already know, Brambleclaw has an injured leg. He may never be able to walk again." Shocked gasps rose from the Clan. Firestar went on: "I have spoken to StarClan and asked for their guidance. They have told me to look within my heart for the answer. And I have." He locked eyes with the Clan while they stared at him, holding their breaths.
He gazed towards Silverpelt, just now visible behind a veil of clouds. "I have decided to appoint a new deputy, one that I think will prove to be a great leader."
Lionblaze gazed at Firestar rapturously. I would give anything… he thought. But I haven't had an apprentice.
Mousefur interrupted. "Firestar, you can't be serious," the old she-cat rasped. "You made us wait for seasons when Graystripe went missing. Why do you decide to have a new deputy when Brambleclaw is still alive?" Lionblaze heard mews of agreement whisper through the crowd.
Firestar turned to face her. "StarClan have told me that ThunderClan needs a new deputy," he said calmly. "Do you argue with their judgment?"
"That's what you said about Brambleclaw at his deputy ceremony," Spiderleg pointed out. "Are you telling us that StarClan didn't want Brambleclaw to become deputy? That they've changed their minds?"
"I'd never be able to imagine what StarClan thinks or why they do what they do," Firestar meowed. "They told me to pick a new deputy, so that's what I'm going to do!"
Mumbles of disagreement swept through the Clan. Lionblaze saw Hollyleaf sink her claws into the sandy ground. "The leader's word is law," she hissed, so softly he didn't think she meant to say it out loud.
Firestar stared down the Clan. "Are there any more objections?" When no cat said anything, he flipped his head back and said, "I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice." He paused looking down at his Clan. Lionblaze saw him lock eyes with Graystripe, and anticipated that the leader would make his old friend his deputy once more.
He didn't.
"Hollyleaf will be the new deputy of ThunderClan."
So... this is the end of my story, my readers.
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Just kidding! You should have seen the looks on your virtual faces! (Ugh, poor Shadow. She really has lost it...) This chapter wasn't very long, but I'm hungry and have "Avatar the Last Airbender" taped. It's the last episode... -sob- But, on the plus side, I get to spend approximately 23 minutes contemplating all angles of Zuko's amazingness. -blissful sigh-
But anyway, not a very shocking chapter, right? I don't think that I do build-ups to revelations very well. -ponders- Eh, what can you do? So... hoped you liked it? It took me freaking THREE HOURS to do it. My neck's starting to hurt from all this updating. -grumble grumble-
Shadow