Silverstar landed back in her body with a great 'HUMPH.' She was exhausted, and felt like she could sleep for a moon. For a moment, Silverstar just lay comfortably on the branches, but suddenly she remembered.
"MOM! DAD!" she screeched and sprang to her paws. Her parents were there, next to each other, in cat bodies. Leafpaw and Grasspaw came up next to her as Silverstar bowed her head and pressed her muzzle against her parent's bodies.
"I'm sorry, Silverstar." Leafpaw whispered. "I found out before your ceremony. The shock and change were too much for them. They couldn't take it. Don't worry, though. They're with Starclan now, and will guide your pawsteps forever."
Silverstar said nothing, overtaken by grief.
Leafpaw muttered to Grasspaw to go get Whiteclaw and Fierceclaw. They would need help carrying the bodies.
That night, Silverstar shared tongues with her parents for the first and last time. She stayed by their bodies all night, and into the early morning, along side Trueheart who had been good friends them. An hour or so after dawn, Silverstar was called to her duties as a leader. She got Trueheart and the apprentices to carry the bodies out, and helped them choose a burial ground. She said a few good (albeit choked) words, and scraped dirt over her parents.
"I'll miss you," she murmered, and turned her back on her old life. She walked back to camp alone, behind the apprentices and Trueheart. When she got back, Whiteclaw was the first to greet her.
"Hey," he murmered, gently rubbing her cheek with his. "You okay, Silverpelt?"
Silverstar shook herself.
"I'm Silverstarfrom now on." she hissed back. Whiteclaw recoiled in surprise, surprise at both the name change and the harshness in Silverstar's tone.
"Wow." he muttered. "Do you need help with anything?"
"No. Wait. Actually, go and get the apprentices hunting. I don't care who you take. We need some lining for our nests as well. Shred the sleeping bags."
"Yes Silverstar."
Silverstar walked over to Leafpaw's den.
"Leafpaw." she called tersely. "Come here."
Leafpaw appeared, annoyed, but polite. She understood that Silverstar was going through a lot of pain.
"I need you to talk to Starclan. They said that we were Treeclan. You need to figure this out."
"Yes Silverstar."
"I'll be in my den if you need me."
They had singled out the cave above Rockpile to be the leader's den.
"Wait, Silverstar!"
"Yes?"
"You need a deputy. Last night didn't count, your parents had died, they understand. You need a deputy before moonhigh."
"Whatever."
Silverstar raced across the clearing to the leader's den. When she got there, there was a pile of downy stuff and two mice waiting for her. She settled down into the fluff and made a nest, and then ravenously ate the mice. She dozed for awhile, then woke up around sunset.
Who should be deputy? she thought. The answer was obvious to her. Whiteclaw has the respect of everyone, and he's good at stuff like that.
Decided, she tried to remember the ceremony to apoint a deputy.
When moonhigh drew near, Silverstar walked out onto Highrock.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath Highrock for a clan meeting!" she yowled half-heartedly.
The cats assembled quickly. Whiteclaw was among them.
"It it time that I appoint a deputy," Silverstar announced. By now, Whiteclaw had spread the news of the change and so everyone knew what she was talking about.
"I say these words before Starclan so that they may hear and approve of my choice. Whiteclaw will be the first deputy of Treeclan."
And so saying, she stalked back into her den.
Poor Silverstar, she's really upset. What's going to happen? I need reviews so you can find out!!! :) lol
-Owly