I'm so bored of all these talk chapters where is all the fighting?! Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter and aren't too shocked on who I chose to be new deputy.
Bone owns Warriors not Typholius.
"I- I, me? You want me to be the new deputy?"
Bone purred in amusement. He figured all of the other cats would have expected him to take another big intimidating brute as deputy, but he saw a spark- a sense of confidence in this one-eyed one-eared she cat. He padded up to her and looked down into her amber eye. "Will you be my deputy," he asked her again. If she said no, he would turn to Blizzard. He was his second choice.
Lost narrowed her eye in suspicion, looking around at the other gathered cats. They all stared intently back at her. "I- yes. I will be deputy of BloodClan."
Frost was the first to address the new deputy. She got to her paws and padded over, her silver and white pelt shining in the light. "Congratulations, Lost. You aren't the first cat I would have picked, but you're not bad either."
"Lost let out a low growl. "Thank's Frost. I'm sure you think you would have been a much better choice."
Frost purred darkly, aware of the challenge. "No thanks, I'll let you prance around all day being the messenger of our great and wise leader."
"Yeah, I thought Bone would have picked a cat that isn't half blind," sneered Reaper, getting to her paws and stretching her forepaws before her to let her sharp claws slide out.
Bone opened his mouth to snarl a word of disapproval, but Blizzard beat him to it. "Lost will make a fine deputy," the big white cat growled, dipping his head to the tortoiseshell she cat. "She knows the Clan as well as any of us, and her fighting skills are better than most."
Reaper opened her mouth, probably to spit something back, thought better of it, and closed it. She just gave a small hiss and turned her head away.
Bone could feel his pick wasn't very popular among his followers, but they would soon learn to accept it. "Now that it's clear who you should be taking your orders from, get to work. We will continue our war against the Clans without Snipe." He lowered his voice to a sinister hiss. "And if I catch any of you disrespecting my new deputy, I'll have your ears."
"But who is going to do Lost's old job?" asked Ghost casually, her unusual red eyes narrowed. "Who is going to help train the new BloodClan members?"
Bone flicked his tail in dismissal. "Blizzard and Blackout will continue as trainers. They can make do without a third." He eyed the two big toms, looking for any sign of discontent. There was none. "Now unless any of you have something else you want to add to this wonderfully sour meeting," he growled. "All of you can get out of here. This Clan doesn't run itself."
The other cats dispersed, but Bone gestured for Lost to stay back. This would be her first task as Clan Deputy.
"What is it, Bone?"
The Clan leader looked down at the battered she cat. Had he made the wrong choice picking a smaller she cat to lead beside him? With war so close, didn't the Clan need a big strong cat in front? But then he thought about Scourge. Scourge may not have been the biggest or strongest cat around, but he made up for all of that with his ferocity. He had seen Lost in battle and knew very well she could hold her own. He dismissed the thoughts and gave his new deputy her first task. "I want you to scout the cutter's place. See if you can find a way to get the Clan hooked up with his medicines- the Clan needs a way to heal after battle with the forest cats." He would have gone himself had he not murdered the cutters last cat and left her corpse by the door.
"Consider it done." She turned to leave, but stopped, her fur rising slightly. "Bone, can I ask you a question?"
The leader blinked in interest. This was the first time the independent she cat had asked him that. If had been any other cat, he would have told them to get on with it, but Lost was no fool. She didn't speak unless it was important. "Go ahead."
The tortoiseshell's tail twitched, the only sign that she was distressed. She looked up at him with her eye wide. "Why me?"
Bone purred and rested his tail on her shoulder- a kind gesture he hadn't made in many moons.
"You saw what the others thought about me as deputy. Why didn't you pick Blizzard or Titus or some other respectable cat?
"You are a respectable cat, Lost," he purred soothingly, a sound he hadn't perfected yet. "Your talents were being wasted on training newbies, and I needed a cat I could trust to get the job done. Blizzard is a good cat, but his skills are in training not leading. He knows how to teach battle moves but not what to do when real trouble comes. I needed a cat with a level head by my side. And Titus is just a mouse-brain."
The tortoiseshell nodded slowly. "Ok, Bone. I'm sure with time I will get used to my new position. Thanks for trusting me." She dashed off down the alley, her crooked tail flying behind her as she slipped around the corner and out of sight.
Bone let out a deep sigh. Everything was falling into place as he made ready for his attack upon the forest cats but for some reason a terrible feeling of dread was filling his stomach. Something still wasn't right and he knew he had to do something about it before they attacked.
Oh well, that would be for another day. He made his way over to the trash cans behind him and jumped on top. Two guards stood on either side of him as the sun slowly slid behind the houses. Tomorrow he would lead a small raid into the forest. He had gone too long without sinking his teeth into something that still breathed.
Don't forget to review and tell me if you like my choice for new deputy.