Chapter 49

Ravenflight barely had time to react as cats yowled at Firestar. Several of her Clanmates sprang to their paws, arguing that she was far from ready. Others just looked around in confusion and alarm. She was certain that they were trying to decide which sides they should choose.

Panic suddenly outweighed her previous thoughts. She needed to squirm her way out of the hole Firestar had placed her in. She was in no condition to fight it off. After losing both Brambleclaw and Thornclaw in only a matter of days, the Clan would think of anything they could use against her.

"My decision is final," Firestar snarled when the cries died down.

The look in his green eyes told Ravenflight that he was far from finished. She felt her ears flatten in annoyance when more cats glared in her direction.

"Firestar, are you sure about this choice?" Sandstorm approached Firestar cautiously, her tail flicking from side to side as she watched him warily.

When no answer came, Sandstorm simply looked down at her paws. Ravenflight felt fear and surprise worm it's way into her belly as more cats began to accept Firestar's choice. She knew that most cats would have a difficult time accepting what had been done.

Her ears flattened in embarrassment when Stripecloud and Cinderheart approached her happily. Both cats looked pleased with Firestar's choice, though she could see concern within Cinderheart's eyes.

"Congratulations, deputy," Cinderheart purred. "You deserve it." She rubbed her muzzle against Ravenflight's affectionately before pulling back.

"Wow, to think that my sister is the deputy!" Stripecloud's voice was filled with warmth when she dipped her head respectfully.

"Have you thought of which cats will go on patrols?" She was surprised when Spiderleg approached her. "Or were you too busy living in the glory of being named deputy?" His amber eyes narrowed into tiny slits when he glared at her.

In truth Ravenflight did not have the time to think about it. She blinked before she thought over the cats who were available at the time. Brambleclaw had already organized patrols for tonight and sunhigh, but she would have to organize the hunting patrols and border patrols for tomorrow.

"You can lead the dawn patrol tomorrow," she meowed when she met Spiderleg's mockingly concerned gaze. "Take anyone you feel like."

The long-legged warrior's pelt was bristling with frustration as he stormed towards the warrior's den. She felt a sense of relief when she thought over who else could go out.

"Icecloud, can you go out tomorrow for the sunhigh patrol?" Ravenflight looked at Icecloud cautiously when the white she-cat shook her head.

"I'm moving to the nursery," Icecloud explained when she noticed Ravenflight's confusion. "I'm expecting Lionblaze's kits!" A purr rose in Icecloud's throat as she beamed with pride and happiness.

I feel great for you Icecloud, but what will Lionblaze do when the kits arrive? Ravenflight asked silently. She shook her head when Icecloud joined Lionblaze by the pile of rubble. Somehow she had a feeling that he was unaware of the future that stood before him.

Lionblaze, her mentor, and likely one of the harshest cats in ThunderClan, was about to become a father. A shudder coursed down Ravenflight's spine at the thought.

She tried not to think about it as she organized the rest of the patrols, casting out Icecloud in the process. The white she-cat was oblivious to the looks that others sent her. They were blatantly aware that she was spending more and more time with Lionblaze.

"Ravenflight, can you help me clear away this rubble?" Rosefoot's questioning mew made Ravenflight look at her in surprise.

The dark cream she-cat had never been close to Ravenflight. She recalled many times when Rosefoot would sneer at her for giving up on becoming a medicine cat. Anger had coursed through Ravenflight at the time, but she noticed a new found respect within Rosefoot's amber eyes.

With a nod she began to clear away piles of dust and stones collected under the rubble. Rosefoot worked on one side with Foxleap beside her. The reddish tabby seemed to enjoy spending time with Rosefoot, something that Ravenflight had begun to notice only just now.

Dusk settled around them by the time they had cleared half of the rubble away. Ravenflight was afraid of what they would find underneath the rest of it. Brambleclaw had been crushed by the boulder, saving her in the process. A sense of dread washed over Ravenflight when she struggled to move the boulder.

"I'd leave that," Mousefur rasped as she staggered out of the elders' den. "Some things are better left unseen." Her eyes grew wary as she looked at Ravenflight.

"You never spoke to me like that before," Ravenflight murmured half-heartedly. "Is it because I'm the deputy now?"

"You remind me of Firestar when he was an apprentice," the dusky she-cat admitted. "He was always getting himself into trouble, only to discover that he was helping the Clan in the end. I can see now that you have done the things you did to protect this Clan."

Her words left Ravenflight feeling oddly comfortable. Mousefur had never been so kind to her before. Perhaps age was getting to the old she-cat. Ravenflight couldn't help dipping her head respectfully before slipping away from the pile. Rosefoot and Foxleap had finished early and were now sharing tongues by the fresh-kill pile.

"Seems she's taken a liking to you," Cinderheart purred after flicking her tail over Ravenflight's shoulder.

"I think old age has gotten to her," Ravenflight murmured with a shake of her head.

"Nonetheless I think you should take her words seriously," Cinderheart meowed in a more serious tone. "Mousefur has…always been wise about things we never think about."

Ravenflight stared at her mother in surprise as Cinderheart left her to join a hunting patrol. She had never thought of what the elders told her as a serious thing. Usually Longtail or Mousefur would just tell stories about the old days. The very idea was a common one, and some of the leaders took their storytelling seriously.

Maybe mother is right, Ravenflight thought with a flick of her ears. Or maybe I'm just going insane.