"Where's Palesight?"

The white she-cat with very pale brown stripes raised her head at the sound of her name. She smiled, blinking the pale blue eyes she was named after. "I'm right here, Mudwater. What do you need?"

"I was hoping you would go on a patrol with Racingpelt and Spotmark," the deputy instructed. "We haven't checked the WhisperClan border lately, and with Stormstar as the leader now, Emberstar worries about our safety."

Palesight nodded, her expression serious. "I understand. Were they in the warriors' den?"

"They were," the brown and white tom agreed.

Palesight padded to the den, peeking her head in. "Racingpelt?" she called. "Spotmark? Mudwater wants you to come with me on a patrol by WhisperClan's border."

Rustling came at the opposite side of the den, and Racingpelt grunted as he stood up. "Okay, coming." He snickered. "Come on, lazy-bones," he teased. "We have to go on patrol."

Spotmark groaned and stood, shaking out his black speckled golden-brown pelt. "Fine, fine," he muttered. "Let's go."

Palesight's lip twitched in a smile, waving her tail at the toms. "Come on, you two. We have to go." The she-cat led the two toms to the WhisperClan border.

"Do you know where you're going?" Spotmark asked.

Palesight's tail twitched with annoyance. "Of course I know where I'm going!" she snapped. She stopped at a WhisperClan scent. "Wait a second. This is way too far inside our territory to be an accident."

"You've got that right."

Palesight's fur bristled as three WhisperClan cats padded out of the underbrush. "What are you doing here?" she demanded. "This is MistClan territory!"

A tom scoffed, chuckling loudly. "Oh, I am so terrified." He drew out the 'so' in a sneer.

Palesight knew that voice and that scent. "Thrushheart," she snarled. "What does the deputy of WhisperClan want with MistClan?"

"What do I want with MistClan?" Thrushheart nearly whispered, stalking forward till he was nose to nose with the she-cat, his hot breath washing over her muzzle. "What wouldn't I want with MistClan? Now, you are going to remain silent about what has happened here, or… you shall watch them from StarClan, still being silent. It's your choice, Palesight."

Palesight ducked her head in submission, blinking. "I will remain silent. It has been too long since a mighty leader like Stormstar has ruled."

Thrushheart let out a little sound like he was surprised, but pleased at the same time. "It's about time another cat realized that." He put his muzzle right up to her cheek.

"Except there's one slight problem…" Palesight murmured so quietly only Thrushheart could hear.

"And what's that," Thrushheart asked, his voice low and heavy with sweetness.

"I may be blind, Thrushheart," Palesight told him softly, her claws unsheathing ever so slowly. "But I'm not stupid." She slashed at the deputy's throat so fast his friends didn't have time to react. Thrushheart gasped and coughed and slumped to the ground, dead. She narrowed her eyes to where she knew the other WhisperClan cats were. "Anyone else want to try me?" she growled.

Palesight heard the other two shuffle their paws, then run toward the border. She turned to her clanmates, breathing hard.

Racingpelt let out a breathy laugh. "Well, I'll know not to mess with you from now on."

The brothers carried the body of Thrushheart back to Emberstar, while Palesight relayed everything to him. Emberstar shared a private word with his deputy for a few minutes before calling a Clan meeting.

"Mudwater has decided to retire," Emberstar told them all. "I honour his decision and appreciate that he was my deputy, no matter how short it was. I say this before Mudwater, so he may hear and approve my choice. Palesight will be the new deputy of MistClan."

"But why?" Spotmark objected. "She hasn't had an apprentice, and she's blind!"

Emberstar silenced the yowls of agreement to Spotmark's outburst. "Palesight risked her life to save MistClan from an invasion of WhisperClan warriors. She sees so much more than any of you, despite being blind. A Clan leader's word is law. I see no reason to make her my deputy."

Racingpelt was the first to shout Palesight's name, going against his brother's beliefs. "Palesight! Palesight! Palesight!"

Palesight nodded to her leader in gratitude. "Thank you, Emberstar. I am pleased you thought of me. I will help you lead MistClan well," she promised.

Emberstar chuckled. "I know you will, Palesight. MistClan is lucky to have you."