Chapter 29

The death of Mistyfern hurt…a lot. To make matters worse, Fallowfur dies the next day. Shadowheart was made deputy as promised…but it wasn't easy getting the clan to listen to him. Shadowheart learned the ways of the clan, watched Weaselclaw's deliver her first litter of kits, and learned to interpret omens with the help of Whistleleaf and Sprigpaw. It was on a faithful day when Shadowheart found Galestar on the side of the thunderpath…his body mangled from the damage of a monster.

Shadowheart was now leader of SkyClan…his nine lives given to him and his name now, Shadowstar; now he stood before his clan in wait of addressing his new deputy. He narrowed the results down to three cats…Hazestorm, Clifffall, and Rainstorm.

The three cats sat with each other above the group of cats as Shadowstar looking down on them with plain eyes. Shadowstar looked at each of the three cats slowly, his mind set on the one cat that would become his deputy.

The cats held their breath as they waited for Shadowstar to make his decision. Shadowstar opened his mouth and watched as the cats of the clan tensed up in waiting. The three cats looked anxious.

"The deputy of SkyClan…will be…" Shadowstar mewed flatly, gazing at the three cats. "Rainstorm"

The silver tabby looked shocked, her blue eyes wide in amazement. Hazestorm and Clifffall congratulated Rainstorm and watched as the silver tabby padded up to Shadowstar on the leader's rock. Shadowstar appointed Rainstorm as his deputy as watched as the cats chanted her name to the sky.

Rainstorm looked over at Shadowstar with a gapped mouth and followed Shadowstar into the leader's den when all the cats dispersed. The she-cat stepped in front of Shadowstar's path and flattened her ears.

"Why did you pick me?" Rainstorm whispered.

"You don't want to be deputy?" Wondered Shadowstar with a flat face

"Of course I do!" Declared Rainstorm "But…you and i…we've never liked each other. Why did you choose me?"

"Because…" Murmured Shadowstar, his voice dull. "You are the most loyal cat in this clan. It would be stupid of me not to choose you, Rainstorm."

Rainstorm opened her mouth to protest but clamped it shut. Shadowstar twitched his whiskers in humor and lay back down in his den. Before he had left June two moons ago, he collected a bundle of her shed fur as a remembrance of his mate when he left. He tucked the bundle of fur close to his chest and could barely smell her scent on it…he wondered if she was even alive now, and if she was…what did his kits looks like? Would June tell them about their father…or was she angry with him.

"Well…thanks for choosing me." Murmured Rainstorm apologetically

Shadowstar sighed and hid his mate's fur under his bed of moss, looking back over at Rainstorm. "It's nothing…the cats will listen to you anyway."

"How so," Mewed Rainstorm.

"For starters…" Shadowstar meowed, placing his head on his paws. "You aren't an alleged murderer."

Rainstorm flattened her ears and watched as Shadowstar closed his blue eyes and listened to the breathing of Rainstorm. The she-cat sighed and stood, slipping silently from the den. Shadowstar rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling of his den…he seemed so empty without June.

"We will meet again…soon." Shadowstar whispered.