We're up to twenty-one chapters!

Sorry about the problems with the last chapter, I don't know what happened...

Hazel Ashwood- Ambereye wasn't 'okay' with being the deputy at all. Actually, she just knew she had a specific duty to her clan (unlike Willowfeather haha). Sorry about the weird mistakes with the last chapter! Also, I totally agree with you- Shadestar should hurry up and die, but unfortunately for the clan, she's sticking around. I mean, if Firestar/any other clan leader in real warriors was the leader of ThunderClan in the story, they would at least hold a vigil for Ambereye and Willowfeather. However, they didn't really need a ceremony for Willowfeather. At least Ambereye received a proper goodbye from Willowfeather.

Anyway, onto the story (and hopefully there are no terrible mistakes this time...)

"Shadestar?" Willowfeather asked meekly, walking into Shadestar's den. She had been arguing the whole day with Kestrelwing about meeting the clan leader. While he insisted Shadestar was too weak to hold a ceremony for Ambereye, Willowfeather knew Shadestar at least needed the strength to pick a replacement for herself.

"Come in, Willowfeather," Shadestar croaked. Her grey pelt was matted and dirty as if she hadn't groomed herself for days. "I'm sorry about this StarClan cursed illness. I'll be back on my feet in a few days, I promise."

"Back on your feet in StarClan, more like," Willowfeather muttered, too quietly for Shadestar to hear. "I'm really sorry, but Ambereye... Ambereye is dead."

"WHAT?" Shadestar scrambled to her paws and immediately started to cough, sounding like every breath was scraping at her lungs. "What happened to her?"

"Some rogues happened," Willowfeather said darkly- they had agreed to pretend they had been attacked by rogues.

"And Ambereye died in such an attack?" Shadestar asked, flabbergasted. "She was an honourable and brave warrior. A few rogues won't have done anything, and besides, you were there, and Flamepaw-"

"The rogues threw Flamepaw into the river, and I was too busy trying to get him out. Then a rogue pushed me in, and WindClan found me- that is why I was missing for a while," Willowfeather began.

"You went missing?" Shadestar asked blankly. "What do you mean?"

Was Shadestar really that useless? The clan leader's place as number 1 delusional mouse-brain in all of the clans was getting surer by the minute.

"It doesn't matter," Willowfeather said hurriedly. "Anyway, you need to appoint a new deputy."

A few hours later...

"All cats old enough to hunt their own prey, please gather here for a clan meeting," Shadestar rasped. She was slowly losing her leadership with her sanity, and her respect was slipping away. All the cats took a little longer than usual to gather for the clan meeting.

"Ambereye fought bravely against the rogues and lost," Shadestar snarled, and Willowfeather thought she was disrespectful to the deputy's memory. "So now, it is time for me to decide on a new deputy of this clan."

"While there are many capable cats in the clan," She continued, her eyes glazed and unfocused. "There is one who has stood out to me. Goldberry will be the new deputy of this clan."

All the cats shifted and eyed each other nervously- what was Shadestar talking about? Goldberry was dead!

Willowfeather walked up to Shadestar, nodding respectfully to her leader, before whispering in her ear.

"Goldberry is dead," Willowfeather whispered as she watched her clanmates grow increasingly impatient.

"Oh," Shadestar said, looking more distracted than ever. "How about Snowcloud, then?" She turned and yowled to her clan. "Snowcloud will be the new deputy!"

"I haven't had an apprentice," Snowcloud called back, looking shocked. Third time lucky, Willowfeather prayed as Shadestar finally decided on a third try.

"Dawnflower will be the new deputy of this clan, then," Shadestar growled. "Surely she's alive, and she's had an apprentice."

"Yes, but Dawnflower is a nursery queen, not a warrior," Willowfeather objected. "She can't be the deputy, either."

"I'm sorry," Shadestar murmured, her legs wobbling as if she would collapse any minute. "Willowfeather... care for my clan for now. I will appoint a new deputy soon."

Shadestar's legs gave one last jerk, and she fell down. Her slow and steady breathing revealed she was alive, though barely.

"I knew it would be too stressful for Shadestar!" Kestrelwing exclaimed, fur bristling. "Come on, Shadestar, you can swallow some juniper berries..."

Kestrelwing dragged the clan leader into the den, and immediately, cries rose up from the clan.

"What's wrong with Shadestar?" Lilypaw wailed.

"Why is she so useless? Can't we just get a new leader?" Dustfoot mumbled.

"And who would be the leader?" Willowfeather challenged. "Shadestar was a better leader than any of us can be!"

"Shadestar was a better leader, you said it yourself," Finchcry said darkly. "She was strong when I was a kit, but maybe now it's time for a new leader. A new power to lead us to safety."

"This is what you're worried about?" Sweetbreeze pounced. "This is the perfect time for a cat to attack! Who has been stealing our prey? They could come and attack right now!"

The clan fell into an uneasy silence.

"We... we could beat them back," Flamepaw offered.

"No," Cinderpaw shook her head, her voice hopeless as if they were all going to die. "No. They have probably planned this attack for moons upon moons. They will have trained, they will only attack when they are ready. We will not defeat them with brute force."

"Cinderpaw is right," Snowcloud said suddenly. "We have no hope with a show of strength. We can only use our brains here."

Suddenly, a terrible thought crept into Willowfeather's mind. What if Shadestar is sick on purpose? What if someone is making her sick?

Sickened to the core, Willowfeather dashed for the Medicine Den.

A few moments later...

That would explain everything. Kestrelwing doesn't let anybody else see Shadestar, after all. Willowfeather's thoughts buzzed as she ran as fast as she could, copying the WindClan cats' graceful movements. She winced as her injuries played up, particularly her broken leg, but she ignored them and ran faster.

Willowfeather burst into the Medicine den, where Kestrelwing fed Shadestar unfamiliar berries.

"What are you feeding her?" Willowfeather asked savagely, and Kestrelwing looked up in surprise. "I said, what are you feeding her?"

Kestrelwing gave her a grumpy glare. "This is private. If you need medical help, go and see Spottedbird."

"Don't be stupid, what are you feeding her?" Willowfeather bellowed.

"Juniper berries, if you are going to be like that," Kestrelwing said smoothly. Willowfeather was skilled at spotting lies, and she saw Kestrelwing's eyes chill with fear for a moment.

"No," Willowfeather said calmly, stalking towards them, and sniffed the air. It reeked of poison- a strange scent in a medicine den. "I, for one, think you are giving her Deathberries. Am I correct in assuming this?"

Kestrelwing looked at her. "You know nothing of medicine. I am not doing anything to Shadestar, and you don't know what juniper berries look like, we never showed them to you."

"On the contrary, I do know what juniper berries look like- WindClan gave some to me. And juniper berries don't look like that, I can assure you."

Kestrelwing jumped back. "I am Medicine cat, the most powerful cat in this clan at present. And I-I will not betray my true leader!"

"You already did," Willowfeather drawled. "You practically revealed all your plans. But the question is, why?"

"Because she was my littermate," Kestrelwing shot at her. Willowfeather had to stop to think about who Kestrelwing's littermates were. I think Dawnflower was one, but she's loyal to the clan, Willowfeather thought in confusion. Maybe there was another one.

"She promised me safety in her new clan, and I have been helping her all this time- one failed, so she came to me," Kestrelwing added.

"And now that you have failed, the mysterious littermate will go for Dawnflower," Willowfeather realized. "And you- Shadestar will exile you! We will finally be free from you, especially considering we already have a medicine cat, so we don't need you-"

"That doesn't mean I won't return," Kestrelwing boasted before Willowfeather pounced on him. Kestrelwing tried to wiggle away, but even with injuries, Willowfeather was a good fighter, and he had no success.

Willowfeather scratched a mark into his side. "I'll make those sides match if you don't go, right now," She threatened. "Maybe poke out your eyes, too."

Kestrelwing fled.

A few hours later...

"Kestrelwing was that disloyal?" Finchcry's mouth was wide open, while all the other warriors and apprentices, as well as Dawnflower, nodded.

"The question is, who is Kestrelwing's littermate-"

"You don't need to wonder," Dawnflower interrupted, looking skinnier and older than ever. "My littermate's name was Breezefur. I believe you know her."

Willowfeather stepped back.

"I look much weaker than my littermates. I was always the small one, and I haven't had very much food recently- my injury is playing up, as well, I will admit. Funny, though. The kit expected to do the least ended up being the only kit out of the litter to stay loyal," Dawnflower said, bitterness in her voice for the first time. Willowfeather had never heard Dawnflower raise her voice, or mutter angrily, or do anything bitter or angry before.

"I'm sorry, I'm losing my temper," Dawnflower apologized, stepping back. "But how will we defeat my sister? Breezefur?"

Oh no! I'm pretty sure you guys all knew it was Breezefur, but did you know that Kestrelwing was disloyal? I don't think so (Or at least I hope. I tried to keep it a secret...).

Next chapter will hopefully be just as exciting, if not more, but it might not work out... I will try to update soon enough! Don't forget to review!