Newleaf brought more changes to ThunderClan. Adderfang and Stormtail retired to the elders' den, and at the end of newleaf, Willowpelt's kits were apprenticed to Tigerclaw and Redtail.
Not all the changes were good though. Larksong, Swiftbreeze, and Tawnyspots died shortly after Goosefeather. Featherwhisker had diagnosed the she-cats with greencough, and although the sickness took its toll on them, herbs were able to relieve some of their pain. They were never in the outright agony that Tawnyspots experienced before his death. Bluefur wouldn't wish the suffering of the former ThunderClan deputy on her worst enemy.
The face of ThunderClan was changing as new cats became apprentices and old ones became elders. But one change overshadowed the others.
It had been a normal morning for the most part. Bluefur had just returned from the dawn patrol, and was about to go hunting with Mosstail when a screech rang through the air.
A white shape shot out of the gorse tunnel. "Dog!" shrieked Frostfur, her blue eyes wide with terror.
Bluefur leaped to her paws and raced over to her former apprentice, but Thistleclaw got there first. "Where?" he demanded.
"By the training hollow!" Frostfur's breath came out in short gasps. "Sunstar was there; I don't know what happened to him!"
"You left Sunstar?" Thistleclaw snarled.
Frostfur seemed to shrink. "I couldn't fight them alone."
Thistleclaw glared at her for a moment, before whipping around and naming the cats standing closest to him: "Tigerclaw, Darkpaw, Mosstail, Thrushpelt, Bluefur, you're with me." He turned and bounded through the gorse tunnel.
Bluefur followed him, her Clanmates on her heels. It wasn't long before they made it to the training hollow, but Bluefur knew it was a bad sign when she couldn't hear barking. Either Sunstar had chased them off or... She shook her head, trying not to think of the terrible possibility.
But as the patrol rounded a tree, Bluefur spotted a ginger shape lying motionless. "No!" she yowled, dashing to her former mentor's side. She prodded him with her paws to wake him, but he didn't stir. Even at a full on sprint, they hadn't reached him in time.
Sunstar was dead.
"Oh StarClan no!" Wails rose into the air as the patrol dragged Sunstar's body to the center of the camp. Bluefur trailed behind the patrol as cats began to crowd around their dead leader. She still couldn't believe it; her paws were numb in spite of the newleaf warmth.
"What happened to him?" Smallear called out.
"Dogs," Bluefur answered dully, sitting down next to Thrushpelt. The sandy brown tom licked the top of her head; she barely noticed the kind gesture.
Thistleclaw leaped to the top of the Highrock, his expression unusually somber. The cats quieted down, waiting for him to speak. "Cats of ThunderClan, I have terrible news. Sunstar has lost his final life." Shocked meows rose up from several cats who were just emerging from their dens. "He was fending off a group of dogs, and he died bravely."
Bluefur lowered her head, a renewed sense of grief washing over her pelt. A hush fell over the gathered cats.
Adderfang broke the silence after several long heartbeats. "Sunstar was a good leader. ThunderClan will miss him for many moons."
"At least he died defending ThunderClan from an enemy," Stormtail meowed solemnly. "He would have wanted that." Murmurs spread through the camp as Adderfang nodded beside him.
The cats soon began to move forward one by one to share tongues with Sunstar one last time.
The rest of the day seemed to blur together. While every cat sat for a moment with Sunstar individually, Bluefur remained at his side for most of the day- she figured she owed him that much after all he did for her. She sat vigil for Sunstar that night along with Stormtail, Adderfang and several other elders and older warriors.
Mistyfur, Stoneclaw, and Mosstail rested beside her for a short time, comforting her with kind words and ear licks.
In the morning, the cats of ThunderClan made their way out into their clearing for Sunstar's last farewell. Every cat, from the oldest elder to the youngest kit lined up and bowed their heads as their former leader was carried to his final resting place, a glade a short distance from the camp.
After the burial, Bluefur watched as the cats trudged back into camp, and she sensed something had changed in all of them. They were looking at Thistleclaw now, and their faces carried hopeful expressions.
"It is time for me to go to Highstones," Thistleclaw meowed, and turning to his former apprentice, lowered his head in a swift nod. "Tigerclaw, I'm placing you in charge of the camp until I come back."
The huge dark brown tabby dipped his head in return, and Bluefur saw something pass between them. She could already guess who the next deputy of ThunderClan would be.
A full day later, Bluefur was returning from a patrol with Stoneclaw and Mistyfur.
The forest felt different now that Sunstar wasn't there. It was an empty feeling, one that Bluefur knew well; she recognized it from when she lost Moonflower and Snowfur, and while she knew ThunderClan would develop a new normal, it would also never be the same.
But she knew she wouldn't fall apart like she had when her mother or sister had died- ThunderClan needed her too much now.
"Good work, you two," she meowed, breaking the silence at they reached the boundary of the camp. Mistyfur was carrying a squirrel that was so large its tail dragged on the ground, while Stoneclaw was grasping a sparrow and a mouse in his jaws.
Bluefur led them to the fresh-kill pile, dropping her cache on top, before shaking out her fur. It was already warm and greenleaf would soon arrive, bringing even more heat. Even though prey would be plentiful then, she wasn't looking forward to the harsh sunny days that browned leaves.
"It's getting hot out already," Stoneclaw echoed Bluefur's thoughts as he set down his prey.
"I almost wish I was a RiverClan cat today so I could jump into the river to cool off!" Mistyfur mrrowed in amusement, and Bluefur couldn't help but twitch her whiskers. If only she knew. Bluefur wondered if deep down her kits had inherited an instinctive love of water from their father, and the only thing preventing them from discovering it was ThunderClan's aversion to getting their paws wet.
"At least this weather brings good hunting." Runningwind padded up, his tail flicking. "Which of you caught the squirrel? That's the biggest one I've seen since last greenleaf."
Mistyfur raised her tail. "I did."
"That's great!" Runningwind mewed. "I wish I could catch prey like that every day." The young tabby tom's eyes brightened, while Mistyfur shifted her paws awkwardly. Bluefur suppressed an amused purr; their interaction reminded her irresistibly of Thrushpelt's first attempts at conversation with her all those seasons ago.
Stoneclaw seemed to notice it as well. "You're a good hunter too, Runningwind," he meowed, his whiskers twitching. "Perhaps you and Mistyfur should go hunting together and compare techniques." Out of Runningwind's view, Mistyfur jabbed her brother's side with her paw.
"That sounds like a good idea," Runningwind meowed, casting a hopeful glance toward Mistyfur.
Mistyfur gave a mild affirmative murmur, shooting a glare at Stoneclaw when Runningwind glanced away.
Suddenly Runningwind looked up, his eyes gleaming in surprise. "Thistlestar."
Bluefur followed Runningwind's gaze. The new leader of ThunderClan emerged from the gorse tunnel, followed closely by Featherwhisker. The Clan began to congregate around their new leader while Tigerclaw loped to the front of the group, dipping his head respectfully.
"The camp is well, I take it?" Thistlestar meowed.
The dark brown tabby nodded. "Nothing out of the ordinary."
Bounding to the top of the Highrock, Thistlestar didn't waste any time before he called out the traditional summons. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting." Thistlestar sat imposingly above the rest of the Clan, his dark gray tabby fur glinting in the sun. Most of ThunderClan was already in the clearing, and the few who weren't slid out of their dens.
"Cats of ThunderClan," Thistlestar meowed, "I have received my nine lives and a new name. I am known as Thistlestar now." As his words sunk in, cheering spread across the camp.
"Thistlestar! Thistlestar!" Most of the Clan called out his new name, their yowls spiraling into the forest canopy.
Thistlestar allowed them to continue for longer than Bluefur thought was necessary, but eventually he flicked his tail to silence them. "I can never hope to replace Sunstar, but I will do my best to be a leader he would be proud of." Thistlestar paused, his eyes gaining a steely glint. "With Sunstar gone, other Clans may challenge us. We must all do all we can for ThunderClan in this time of change. We must prove to them that we are still strong. Our Clan has the best warriors, and together, we will defeat anything that dares to fight against us."
There was a scattering of caterwauls that rose up into the sky. Bluefur stared straight ahead, suddenly feeling very cold. Hadn't Goosefeather said Thistlestar would lead ThunderClan into endless battles? She blinked rapidly; even Thistlestar wasn't stupid enough to attack another Clan without provocation. He sounded like he simply wanted to defend ThunderClan. Stop, she told herself. Just because he wants to protect ThunderClan doesn't mean we'll be thrown into a never ending war.
"Now, to prove that we are still strong, it is time to name ThunderClan's new deputy," Thistlestar meowed. The anticipation in the crowd could be cut with a claw. As a hushed silence fell over the crowd, Thistlestar raised his head. "I say these words before StarClan so that their spirits may hear and approve my choice." Thistlestar closed his eyes, and then opened them. "Tigerclaw will be the new deputy of ThunderClan."
Cheers rose from the crowd once again while Tigerclaw made his way up the Highrock to sit next to the ThunderClan leader, his tail held high. "Thank you, Thistlestar, for this honor. I will do everything I can to serve you, and ThunderClan, to the greatest of my ability."
"Tigerclaw! Tigerclaw!" Cheers echoed through the clearing, filling it with sound.
Once again she felt the same loneliness as she had during Thistlestar's deputy ceremony; while most of her Clanmates seemed exhilarated, Bluefur was just tired. Was she the only cat in the entire Clan who wasn't happy that Thistlestar was leader? Who do you have to blame for that, Bluefur? meowed a voice that sounded like Goosefeather. That could have been you, but you put yourself first.
Bluefur twitched her ears, pushing the thought aside. Although ThunderClan had a leader she didn't approve of, it also had the rest of her Clanmates. All of them were loyal, and ready to defend ThunderClan with their lives; that had to mean something. Pushing her way into the warriors' den, she settled herself in her nest next to Thrushpelt.
The sandy brown tom flopped over onto his side. "Are you worried?"
Bluefur jerked her head around. "Why would you think that?"
"I can tell." Thrushpelt shifted his paws. "You can talk to me about it, you know."
"I'm fine." Bluefur sighed, and then on second thought decided to confide in him. "It's just that Thistlestar..." she paused, trying to gain control of her thoughts. That was the first time she had spoken his new name, and it felt odd on her tongue. "I want what is best for ThunderClan, and I'm sure Thistlestar does too..."
"But?" Thrushpelt mewed. "If you just give him the chance he might end up being a great leader. I know you and Thistlestar have had differences of opinion in the past-" Bluefur snorted; that was an understatement to say the least- "But he might be what ThunderClan needs right now," Thrushpelt finished, his eyes earnest. "Change doesn't have to be all bad, you know."
Seeing Thrushpelt's kind expression, Bluefur felt her anger soften. As much as she wanted to convince Thrushpelt that she was right to be wary of their new leader, she knew it would be difficult. She was the only cat in ThunderClan who had a problem with Thistlestar, and Thrushpelt wouldn't understand why; he probably thought it was a simple rivalry. Besides, Goosefeather's prophecy probably wasn't real; the tom had been seeing things for seasons when he died. "I know, Thrushpelt," Bluefur meowed. "I know ThunderClan will be fine no matter who leads it."
Seeming satisfied, Thrushpelt settled himself deeper in his nest, and a short while later he was talking to Robinwing and White-Eye.
An electric energy seemed to course through ThunderClan, and cats talked all through the night. Bluefur lay awake for a different reason though. Did I make the right choice?
Noticing her three kits huddled together, Bluefur shook herself. Of course she had made the right choice. Her kits were warriors of ThunderClan, well respected by all their Clanmates. How could she even think she had made the wrong decision, when her other choice had been to live a life without her kits?
ThunderClan will be fine. Bluefur reassured herself. If StarClan truly believed Thistlestar would cause our destruction, they would have done something by now.