The bodies were freshly buried – the smell of fresh-turned earth and dry flowers was prominent in the air around the site. Firestar pushed himself to his paws and trod away from the hollow; a small stick had been marked in a site just over from Doeflower to represent Graystripe and his sacrifice. Newleaf buds did nothing to disguise the ugly scent of wolf and the metallic stains of blood that Doeflower and Cinderpelt had left while being borne to their resting-places.

But Clan life had to go on. He needed to appoint a deputy before moonhigh – and since Graystripe was taken just after moonhigh, that gave him time to think. There were many who could make good deputies – loyal Sandstorm, persistent Brightheart, steadfast Stormfur, or keen Brambleclaw. But he didn't want to be a nepotist and choose Sandstorm solely as she was his mate, or choose Stormfur for his connection to Graystripe. He sighed again.

"Why did it have to be like this, Graystripe?" He asked. He paced onward to see dark tabby fur; his nose was to the ground, trying to follow a path.

"And the trail disappears here. StarClan-accursed wolf crossed a river or something." Brambleclaw mumbled. Squirrelflight burst out of another bush on the opposite side of the little brook.

"Crafty piece of fox-dung went over the rocks."

Firestar padded on to camp; meanwhile, the two young mates shook their fur off.

"That's the last of the distinguishable scent trails."

"We'd better get back; everyone will be wondering where we are." Squirrelflight remarked.

"Do you want to have a fish first? Tracking Graystripe is all well and good, but bringing back prey would be better."

"Sounds nice – I need something to take my mind off it anyway."

They sat down near the lake and had a friendly competition like that long-ago day in the barn, during simpler times when all they had to worry about was the entire fate of the Clans and all the cats within.

"Maybe if I put this minnow in the water, it'll attract someth-" Brambleclaw started, tailing off mid-sentence as a large trout lunged for the minnow, mouth gaping. Brambleclaw hooked it with a claw and lay it on the pebbled shore.

"Impressive, but I've won." Squirrelflight said.

"Hey, I recognise that fish!" Brambleclaw groused, pointing to one of his catches on the pile.

"We said five fish, not where they had to be from."

"I'll show you five fish!" Brambleclaw grumbled, tackling her into the water. Squirrelflight was quick to respond, nimbly flipping the massive tabby onto his back.

"I have you at my mercy now." Squirrelflight boasted.

"Oh no, whatever will I do?" Brambleclaw mock-sighed. "Will she let me go if I promised her a stroll in the clearing later?"

"You drive a hard bargain, but I'll have to agree." Squirrelflight laughed, getting off her mate.

"Sorry to break up your love-moment, but I have to talk to you. Tadpolefur had padded up to them, pelt streaming and eyes desperate.

"We're all ears." Squirrelflight said, after checking that Brambleclaw was also engaged.

"Hawkfrost attempted to kill Mistyfoot tonight. He was going to use the high newleaf waters and an 'accidental' shove to get rid of her. I stopped him; but Leopardstar won't believe me if I tell her."

"Why not?" Brambleclaw asked, bemused.

"Leopardstar always liked Hawkfrost the most out of the three of us. Elders' rumours that I heard when the other apprentices thought we weren't in earshot say that Leopardstar loved Tigerstar and Sasha both."

"Oh." The pieces fell together in Squirrelflight's mind; he blinked. "So Leopardstar wants to keep you three around because you're the product of the two cats she loved?"

"I think so, yes. But more precisely, she wants to keep Hawkfrost around. Because he wears his pelt and her eyes; because..." He seemed unable to say it.

"She's hoping that this Tigerstar doesn't become evil like the other did. She's still hoping for a piece of him in the clan – ambitious, charming and powerful." Brambleclaw breathed.

"But there's another reason, too. There is apparently Sasha in him; it comes out in the way he cleans his paw, the way he speaks, his steadfast independence."

"So, what will you do?" Squirrelflight asked.

"What I can. I believe that Hawkfrost will have no leverage over me soon; he will wish to punish me for stepping in."

"And Mothwing, too..." Brambleclaw realised with a sinking feeling.

"Yes. The gathering is tomorrow, isn't it? He'll likely make an announcement then. But I'm done with my brother. He has proven himself to be reprehensible, and I don't want a part in that legacy."

"Hey, maybe you lot should make a club. The "Kits of Tigerstar Who Aren't Evil" Club. You could have meetings and everything!" Squirrelflight laughed.

"First on the agenda: all who wish to be loyal to their Clan, say aye." Brambleclaw joked.

"Aye." Tadpolefur replied, echoed by Brambleclaw. Squirrelflight stuck a paw up in the air.

"Meeting adjourned." Tadpolefur said. "I just wanted to warn you – although Hawkfrost seems like he's laying idle, he isn't."

Firestar eventually slept. He had expected it to be hard, with tossing and turning and mourning, but he was exhausted, and slept as soon as he had lay down in his nest.

He soon found himself atop the camp. Were those thorns down there? Why were they around the camp? He padded closer to one of them. These were brambles – they solely faced outward, shielding the camp from all outside harm.

He looked closer – the individual thorns of each cluster were curved, almost like...

Bramble claws! Bramble claws would protect the Clan.

StarClan had chosen his deputy for him.

Just before moonhigh, Firestar gathered his Clan. There were the apprentices – Ferncloud's litter would be ready to make warrior in a couple of moons, at the rate that they were progressing. The cats he had chosen were born mentors. The warriors assembled in one group, though there were conspicuous gaps where Doeflower and Graystripe should have been. Nearer the medicine den, Leafpool sat, again with a bed of ferns where Cinderpelt usually sat.

"I have received a sign from StarClan and have used my own personal judgement to come to this decision. I say these words before the spirits of our ancestors and Graystripe, so they may hear and approve of my choice.

The new deputy of ThunderClan shall be Brambleclaw."

Brambleclaw stood there, mouth gaping in shock for a while.

"Close your mouth or you'll catch ticks." Squirrelflight teased.

"M-me?" Brambleclaw asked. "Firestar, are you sure?"

"Certain." The orange tom dipped his head in recognition, then melted away into the crowd and left Brambleclaw to get mobbed.

Squirrel and Bramble: *Having A Moment*

Tadpolefur: This interruption was brought to you by Raid Shadow Legends... and Hawkfrost.

Firestar: Hm, who should deputy be?

Yellowfang: He's oblivious. Break out the VisionTM

Brambleclaw: I'm actually a deputy! Yay!

Squirrelflight: He does know that I'm practically going to be another deputy, right?

Brambleclaw: Yes, dear.