Hi everyone! I'm sorry about the wait, my updates are getting fewer and slower. (Not on purpose, of course!) But no need to worry this time! The chapter following this one is written already! Yay! So your reviews are the only things that determine how fast the next chapter comes in! So, once again, I ask for reviews. But we have reached the 50 review mark for this story! Woo hooo! Also, for some reason I didn't type in the winner of the naming contest in my last update. So the winner is Iceprincess-a-whole-bunch-of-numbers with her entry of Flamestorm! Her character will be in the sequel to this story. I haven't received a good clan name yet, so that contest is still on! Winner gets their own character in the sequel as well. But I need that clan name for the chapter a few chapters on from here, so please enter names! In other news, I am removing Flight of Shadows from the site. It hasn't generated many happy readers, and, truth be told, I don't like it either. But I still have this story and my Spyro the Dragon story. If you have played any of the Spyro games, read and review my story! By the way, its name is Rain of Embers. And for any of you who read on Fictionpress, this site's sister site, I will be starting a story there as well. My screen name is When Kittens Attack. Thanks to all who actually read this thing, and who read and review my stories!

Alone

Chapter 11

Squirrelflight screeched and rushed to the churning waters, preparing to leap into their boundless depths. Sandstorm let out a hiss of dismay and threw herself toward her daughter. She buried her teeth into the scruff of the struggling cat's neck.

"Let me go!" Squirrelflight screamed. Sandstorm held her tightly, blinking in worry and concern.

Leafpool, who seemed to be the only one who was functioning properly after the devastating tragedy, stepped forward hurriedly. She dropped the seeds she was carrying in her mouth and carefully placed a good number onto her rough, scratched pads.

"There," she said as she shoved the seeds into her sister's mouth. "That should be enough poppy seeds to send her to sleep."

Very swiftly, Squirrelflight's struggles weakened and finally ceased as the poppy seeds did their job. She collapsed into a quivering heap and Sandstorm gently released her scruff.

Wildflame blinked and drew in a quivering breath. Briefly, she wondered if that was the first breath she had taken since Mosskit had fallen in.

It seemed as if the rest of the clan was still frozen. How much more stress can this clan take? Wildflame thought. Even Firestar seemed incapable of reacting.

But then Mosskit let out a stuttering, pitiful mew. This seemed to stir Thunderclan into action. Suddenly the grassy stretch beside the river was alive with activity. Sandstorm went to gather and comfort her kits with Ferncloud accompanying her. Firestar looked as if he wanted to go with them, but he shook his head slowly and began to call instructions to his clan.

A group of warriors went to search the river in the futile hope that Brambleclaw was still alive. Wildflame hesitated, unsure of what to do. She glanced around the heaving mass of cats, trying to decide where to go.

Then she spotted Hollyleaf splayed out on a clear piece of land. Alarmed, Wildflame trotted to her side.

"Hollyleaf?" Wildflame prodded her side gently.

The black warrior groaned and opened her eyes. "Oh no," Hollyleaf whispered. "I…fainted. I've got to help the clan. Why did…?" Then she seemed to remember the recent events. A massive shudder ran through her body, her mouth parted in a silent yowl.

She struggled to place her paws underneath her and rise. "I've got to…" but Wildflame placed one paw on her shoulder. She wasn't a medicine cat, but she could see that Hollyleaf was in no condition to do anything.

"Wait here," Wildflame meowed. She bounded over to where Leafpool was checking Mosskit.

"Leafpool? Hollyleaf--I think Hollyleaf needs something for her grief."

Leafpool glanced up. "Of course." She turned her gaze back to Sandstorm. "I think Mosskit will be fine. She's just in a bit of shock right now. We don't have many herbs, so I can't give her anything for that, but she'll be fine on her own."

Sandstorm nodded and went back to licking her frightened kit.

Wildflame led Leafpool to where Hollyleaf still crouched. Leafpool nodded, her eyes understanding. Is she thinking about Jayfeather? Wildflame wondered. And about how hard it is to lose someone you love? But, of course, I know all about that, too.

Without warning, and for no apparent reason, her thoughts darted to Nightcloud. She could still see, in her mind's eye, her…guardian's loving eyes as she watched Wildflame become an apprentice. Her fierceness when a fox invaded the nursery, and her vicious battle to keep her safe.

Nightcloud had loved her, that much was obvious. And she had known that Wildflame wasn't her kit. What had Crowfeather told her? And what had changed? So many mysteries…would she ever know the answers?

Slightly annoyed with herself, she kneaded the ground, sheathing and unsheathing her claws. And why did I think of Nightcloud? Why not Crowfeather or Breezepaw? Or, well, he must be a warrior now. Something else I missed. Something I'll never know.

Leafpool's prodding gaze brought her back down to earth.

"Um, right. I'll just let you get to it." Wildflame backed away. The haunted look in Hollyleaf's eyes followed her, though. She couldn't shake the awful feelings that swirled through her.

She half stumbled to a clear patch of grass. Wildflame stopped, more alone in the clan than she had ever been. The only cat her age who had tried to befriend her was Hollyleaf; she wasn't herself right now. Leafpool was busy treating Hollyleaf, and Firestar was obviously distracted.

She sighed reluctantly and finally released herself to what had just happened. Until then she had been frozen, distant, never really accepting Brambleclaw's death.

She waited for the burning rage, the urge to rip and destroy, that always accompanied Brambleclaw. But nothing came, strangely enough. As much as Wildflame was curious, she was mostly relieved. She hadn't wanted to dislike Brambleclaw, not really.

But why now? Maybe because he Saved Mosskit. After all, Mosskit is my…aunt. Wow, that's really weird. But still, he died saving a kit. That's got to be worth something. But why did I hate him so much? Was this Starclan's burden to me? How to learn to trust the deputy despite my hatred? Or was this just a trade off--leading the clan is good, so they had to trade off with something less pleasant. But none of this really matters right now. The question is, who's going to be the new deputy?

Wildflame scuffed her paws in the dirt. She had to make herself useful somehow. Sighing, she padded from the bustling cats to the grassy section beyond to hunt.

* * * * *

The land had not been especially rich in prey, but prey had not been scarce. Plus, the prey acted as though they had never seen a cat before. In the end, Wildflame had caught three pieces of prey and started a fresh-kill pile.

Wildflame had just settled beside Leafpool to eat when the small patrol sent to find Brambleclaw returned from downriver. Cloudtail, who had been on that patrol, pulled Firestar aside to speak to him.

Wildflame craned her neck to see better. A flash of dark tabby fur caught her eye. Her breath lodged painfully in her throat. No…

Firestar nodded, his eyes weary. He padded to the front of the crowd and watched his clan.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather before me for a clan meeting!" Thunderclan focused on their leader immediately.

Firestar began again. "Today Thunderclan's brave deputy saved Mosskit's life. In doing so, he gave his own life for the clan. The patrol found his body downriver. We honor Brambleclaw tonight, but I must also appoint a new deputy."

Just then, Cloudtail and Ashfur pulled Brambleclaw's body to Firestar's side. Firestar winced visibly, but continued.

"I say these words before the body of Brambleclaw, so that his spirit may here and approve my choice," he meowed.

"Graystripe will be the new deputy of Thunderclan. He has experience in leading this clan, and has proven his worth many times over."

Graystripe's mouth had fallen open, but Wildflame wasn't really surprised. He had been deputy before, anyway. Also, she had always suspected that Firestar would have preferred his best friend as deputy.

Graystripe dipped his head respectfully and looked up, his eyes shining. "Thank you, Firestar. I won't let you down."

Several cats gathered to take Brambleclaw's body to where it could be sat vigil for. Squirrelflight had calmed, and she sat by Brambleclaw's side. Hollyleaf padded slowly to Squirrelflight's side. She seemed like a cat in a trance.

Wildflame went to find a place to sleep through the night. Hopefully, they would reach Barley's barn tomorrow. They must have been close, because the territory was becoming familiar to the other cats. They would be safe there.

But who knew what tomorrow would bring?