Frostfire stared up idly at the gray sky, sighing as the dark storm clouds shook, bringing heavy floods of rain onto the unusually dull and empty ThunderClan camp. Shivering as rain soaked her pelt in heatbeats, she padded into the warriors' den. The fresh-kill pile had been moved into the shade of the nursery, as no queens resided there now. The patrols had returned earlier, and no more had gone, for fear of flooding.
Brackenstar padded into the warriors' den. It was rare that he did so, so it took many cats by surprise. His amber gaze scanned the den. "Where's Yellowgaze?"
"He said he was going on a walk," Brindlefrost mewed, from where she was curled up in her nest in the corner of the den.
Brackenstar nodded. "Now, I want any cat who is leaving the camp to ask me before they leave. Okay?" Frostfire dipped her head along with many other warriors in the den. "Good. Now... I want Nightclaw to go and find Yellowgaze as fast as possible."
For some reason, Nightclaw's green eyes lit up, but in a sadistic way, and he bounded out of the warriors' den and into the rain. Watching him go with narrowed eyes, Frostfire barely realized that Brackenstar had left.
"Hello? Frostfire?" Ashflame sounded exasperated. When she finally turned to face him, he sighed. "You were in a world of your own."
"Wait here. I need to go on a walk. I... er, have got some thinking to do." Her excuse was lame, but thankfully, Ashflame didn't seem to notice. She actually wanted to keep a close eye on Nightclaw. Ashflame nodded, looking bewildered, and Frostfire raced out into the clearing, then turned toward Brackenstar's den. The leader was settled in his nest, his amber eyes glazed over, as though he was deep in thought.
"Frostfire?" Brackenstar sounded confused. "What brings you here?"
Frostfire swallowed. She hadn't come prepared with an excuse. "I wanted to leave camp."
"Why?"
Frostfire was hoping he wouldn't have asked that. "I want to go for a walk. I have some thinking to do, and I think best when it's raining." Brackenstar narrowed his eyes but didn't press her any further, just dipped his head.
Nodding respectfully, Frostfire turned and raced out of the leader's den, her blue eyes narrowed in determination, ignoring the heavy rain that drenched her white fur. Her jaws open, she suddenly wished that it wasn't raining. The water could have already masked Nightclaw's scent by now! Her tail lashing in frustration, Frostfire padded into the forest.
There. Frostfire's heart soared as she saw the final bit of a black tail vanishing deeper into the forest. Dropping to a crouch, she crept forward, hating the fact that her fur was white and more noticeable. After diving into a clump of ferns to hide her scent, she rolled into wet dirt, making her pelt look as though it was brown with a few white patches.
Shivering as the icy cold rain ran through her pelt, Frostfire crept closer to the black tom. He was sniffing the air, probably checking for signs of the ThunderClan deputy. Frostfire followed him through the territory.
Suddenly, she stopped short. Nightclaw seemed to have vanished. Then, she spotted him, padding toward a clearing. Frostfire followed, stopping and crouching behind a bush as Nightclaw padded into the clearing. And there stood Yellowgaze, turned away from him.
"Ah, Yellowgaze," Nightclaw mewed. "Brackenstar's been looking for you." He paused, letting the older tom turn around, his yellow eyes dull. His lips curled into a smirk. "And so have I." His lips parted revealing claw-sharp teeth.
Frostfire shivered, but Yellowgaze didn't seem to get the ominous warning in his words. "Why?"
"He wants you back at camp," Nightclaw growled. "But you won't get there. Not ever."
"Why not?" Yellowgaze asked. Frostfire bit back a yowl. How could the deputy not hear the evil in his former apprentice's words. In answer, Nightclaw bowled the tom over, pinning him down, his unsheathed claws gleaming in the half-light. Just as I suspected.
"What are you doing, Nightclaw?" Yellowgaze sounded puzzled rather than angry at the black tom. He barely struggled under the younger cat.
Nightclaw's claws scored a deep gash in his belly. Yellowgaze thrashed around, striking Nightclaw's shoulder. "ThunderClan needs a new leader. Not some old cat like you. And I think I'm just the right cat for the job. I soon will rule over the clans!" With that, Yellowgaze fell limp, his yellow eyes glazing over.
It was so quick, Yellowgaze's death. Feeling sick with horror, Frostfire stumbled back, into a soft, furry, gray pelt.
"Ashflame!" she gasped, quietly.
"It's terrible, isn't it?" he asked softly.
"You followed me!" Her shock gave way to anger at her mate. She let out a hiss, but Ashflame let his tail sweep over her back.
"Hush," Ashflame mewed. "Let's talk, but not here." Casting a quick glance at Nightclaw standing over Yellowgaze's still body, she turned and darted through the woods, toward the Sky Oak, which was rather far from this clearing.
Finally stopping beneath the shade of the large tree, Frostfire shuddered, her eyes filling with tears. Because of the rain, she hoped it wouldn't be too obvious that tears streamed from her eyes. Tears of shock, anger, indignation, and horror. "What is it?" she spat. "You followed me, when I told you not to!"
"No," Ashflame mewed. "Well, yes, but... I've seen you acting weird ever since you were a young apprentice and Mistpaw died. And when you told me you were just going for a walk, it was easy to see that you were lying. I know you better than that."
"You shouldn't have done it!" Frostfire gasped.
Ashflame sighed. "Don't worry, I won't tell a soul." He paused. "I swear that by StarClan."
"Okay, let me tell you everything. When I was an apprentice, I saw Nightclaw kill Mistpaw. He swore me to secrecy, though. Then, he killed Heathershine in battle because he saw me with her, and he wanted to show how much power he had." The words were spilling out of her faster and faster. "And now, this. I always knew he was a bloodthirsty, ambitious killer, but now I have proof."
Ashflame's eyes blazed. "Anything else?"
"Oh, yeah. That scar on his chest? In a perfect claw-moon shape? It's not a sign, it's just him, up to his tricks again. He wanted to gain support from the clan, but all he gained was dividing it. I think he wanted 'proof' that he was chosen by StarClan."
"No."
"Yes."
"It can't be."
"Yes."
"I never trusted him, but I never thought... he would do this."
oO0Oo
Frostfire paced back and forth in the clearing. It was the evening of the same day, and fortunately, the rain had cleared, giving way to pure sunshine. The deputy ceremony was yet to happen, and Brackenstar seemed to be waiting until it was almost moonhigh.
It could be Ambershine, she told herself. Ambershine was a popular choice, a bright orange she-cat who was intelligent and strong. But inside, she knew that Brackenstar would choose Nightclaw over any cat. She lashed her feathery tail in frustration, as she saw Brackenstar bound out of his den and onto the Highledge.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a clan meeting!" You didn't have to hold a meeting, Frostfire thought crossly. We all know who your choice will be. "Cats of ThunderClan, I say these words before the body of Yellowgaze, so StarClan will hear and approve my choice. Nightclaw will be the new deputy of ThunderClan."