Chapter 35:
Lakestar lay her head on her paws. It was sunset so she would have to announce deputy soon.
"Lakestar," Yellowflower shifted her weight. "Rosewind wants to know if you'll share prey with her."
"Rosewind?" Lakestar sat up. "Sure."
Yellowflower nodded and backed out of the den, Lakestar following.
The former medicine cat's muzzle was white with age but her eyes were still bright. "There you are."
"Hello Rosewind." Lakestar greeted her.
"Have you decided on deputy?" Rosewind took a bite of the rabbit in front of her.
"Yes." Lakestar lay down across from her.
"Is it Darkfang?" Rosewind asked.
"Maybe." Lakestar shrugged. "She fits all the requirements and she's brave."
"Perhaps." Rosewind looked thoughtful. "But what will the clan think?"
"What do you mean?" Lakestar frowned.
"You were both born outside the clans." Rosewind replied.
"So?" Lakestar bristled. "They were happy enough when Flamestar chose me as deputy!"
"What about the other clans then?" Rosewind rubbed her paw over her ear.
"I don't care. Darkfang will be deputy." Lakestar growled firmly.
"Alright." Rosewind shook her head.
"Rosewind, I have a question." Lakestar asked suddenly, thinking back to just after the rogue battle.
"What is it?" Rosewind looked up.
"After the battle with the rogues, you made Kestreltail leave but you never said anything afterwards." Lakestar meowed.
Rosewind sighed heavily. "Lakestar, before I tell you, know that I never thought what happened would happen."
"What?" Lakestar unsheathed her claws impatiently.
"You were expecting kits just before the battle," Rosewind explained.
"What?" Lakestar jerked her head back in surprise. "That can't be."
"I thought you knew." Rosewind continued. "But I didn't say anything because I thought that. The stress and the wounds you sustained in the battle must have caused you to miscarry."
"You mean . . ." Lakestar closed her eyes. "I killed my own kits and you let me do it?"
Rosewind studied her paws.
Lakestar shook herself. "You must be wrong. I've never been expecting kits."
"A medicine cat knows these things." Rosewind insisted.
"Then why didn't you warn me?" Lakestar felt she would be angrier but the truth was she was rather relieved to not be a mother. Her kits would have grown up without a father. "And why didn't tell Echostorm if you're so observant?"
Rosewind shrugged uncomfortably. Lakestar had never seen her anything but calm and composed. "I wasn't concerned about Echostorm to be honest." She finally admitted.
"Why were you so focused on me then?" Lakestar pricked her ears.
"There's something special about you." Rosewind sounded awed.
"Yeah right." Lakestar muttered, shifting her weight. She felt terribly guilty now, knowing she had been expecting kits, but couldn't shake the feeling of odd relief. She tried to ignore her emotions. "Rosewind, I really need to see my mother one last time."
Rosewind now seemed annoyed. "Lakestar, you can't lead Windclan properly if you keep running off."
"One more time." Lakestar snapped. "It was something I was told when I received my nine lives."
"Well," Rosewind hesitated. "If Starclan told you . . ."
"Thank you, Rosewind." Lakestar finished the last of her prey quickly. The sun had already set.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather around the Tallrock for a clan meeting." She yowled, springing easily up to address the clan. Her clan.
When she was certain the entire clan was sitting in front of her, Lakestar continued. "The time has come to announce the next clan deputy. I say these words before StarClan, that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of Windclan will be Darkfang."
The clan was silent for several heartbeats before Hawkpaw started chanting her mentor's name. "Darkfang! Darkfang!"
The clan quickly took up the cheer but Lakestar noticed several were halfhearted. She pushed back her anger remembering both Storm's and Dewmist's lives.
~*O*~
"Lakestar, can I talk to you?"
"What is it Darkfang?" Lakestar rolled over in her nest.
"You should choose someone else to be your deputy." Darkfang scuffled her paws. "The clan doesn't want me."
"Nonsense!" Lakestar sniffed. "They'll have to get over it. I made my decision."
"Yes but you shouldn't choose me just because we're friends." Darkfang stared at the ground.
"That's not why I chose you. You're strong, brave, and you get things done."
Darkfang shook her head stubbornly. "The clan needs to accept their deputy."
"They accepted me."
"You heard them out there."
"Darkfang, they just need a bit of time."
"If you say so."