They continued the rest of the journey in silence. From the corner of her eye, Sagestar noticed that Thistletail kept looking at her with a curious expression, turning away whenever she caught him staring.
Sagestar wondered what it all meant. Learning about the Council of StarClan had only raised more questions- who really were they? What does the Council do? Why didn't they say anything about the Council when they spoke to her and gave her the extra lives? Why had they chosen to appear to her?
She shook her head. There was no way that she was going to get the answers now. She had to focus on the tasks in front of her: performing the burial rites, then returning to the Clan in time to appoint a deputy... and choosing someone to be her deputy.
Before she could start worrying more about who she would choose, they arrived at the ruined camp. A patch of freshly-turned earth in the middle of the camp stood in stark contrast to the scorched ground around it- the grave that she had helped dig just days before , which contained the bodies of over half of JuniperClan.
With a sense of regret, Sagestar realized she knew only a handful of names of the cats who were buried here, yet she was now responsible for their surviving kin.
Under Thistletail's direction, Sagestar fetched a branch from the juniper tree that stood at one end of camp. She had to climb to the top of the tree to find a branch that wasn't entirely destroyed by the fire. Thistletail found a branch of sage as well, then joined her at the grave.
"Normally, this part of the ceremony would be done with the Clan, and would be personalized for the fallen cat. Then there would be a procession to the Ancestor Grove for the burial," he explained. "However, in this case, we will have to do it differently."
He told her what to say, having her repeat back to him a few of the trickier phrases.
Sagestar took a deep breath before she began.
"We stand here before StarClan to remember the fallen cats of JuniperClan. They were all important and unique members of the Clan, who each contributed much to the Clan."
She looked down at the soft soil that covered their bodies.
"You will all be missed by your kin and your Clan. May the stars light your path."
Sagestar gently placed her juniper branch on the ground. Thistletail placed his sage branch over it, marking the grave.
"These were loyal cats," he said. "who lived their lives according to the Code, in defense of JuniperClan. This juniper branch is a reminder of the clan that they leave behind.
"Now their paws are on a new path. May StarClan guide them and lead them to their new home in safety. May this sage branch provide the protection from evil as they begin this new journey."
Together, Sagestar and Thistletail sat in silence for a few moments. After a while, Thistletail got to his paws. Without a word, Sagestar followed.
They walked in silence, Thistletail a few paces ahead. Sagestar was lost in thought, preoccupied with her next task.
Who was she going to choose as her deputy? Mentally, she ran through a list of the cats she knew.
Robinfrost was the first cat she'd met. She was a good hunter, and would be a good support to her. However, she seemed to have a pretty casual view on the Code, and Sagestar wasn't sure that she would be a good fit for the role of deputy.
Her mate, Quietstorm, looked like a strong warrior, but Sagestar knew very little about him. In fact, she realized, she didn't think she'd even heard him speak at all. He seemed to be as silent as Robinfrost was talkative.
The cats who found them at the ruined camp, Elkpaw, Chickadeepaw, and Emberglow, didn't seem like good choices, either. Two of them were still apprentices, obviously, while Emberglow was openly against her even being in the Clan.
Lizardclaw would likewise be a poor choice. It was clear from his outburst at her first Clan meeting that he was going to cause problems as she tried to gain the Clan's respect as their leader.
Then there was Cougarstrike. He clearly had no respect for her. He was a good warrior, but he was so infuriating! He was arrogant and had even told her directly that he didn't think she was fit to be leader. Just thinking about it made her blood boil.
She didn't feel like she was any closer to having a good answer when she and Thistletail arrived back at the temporary camp. The moon was nearing its peak, though, and she knew she had to decide right away.
Robinfrost, Quietstorm, and Lizardclaw were back, but she didn't stop to talk to them just yet. Instead, she climbed to the lowest branch of the nearest tree and called to the cats below.
"Cats of JuniperClan, gather now for a Clan meeting!"
The JuniperClan cats crowded in below her. A few muttered darkly to their neighbors, and she saw Emberglow roll his eyes, but soon the entire Clan was gathered below her.
"It is nearly moonhigh, and it is time for me to choose a deputy to help me to lead this Clan," she told them.
"StarClan knows she'll need the help," Lizardclaw muttered, just loud enough for the entire Clan to hear.
Sagestar ignored him. "I know that I'm new to the Clan, and don't know many of you very well. But, I still think that this cat, should they accept, will be the best fit for the role of deputy."
She looked over the expectant faces below her, and recalled the words that Thistletail had told her earlier.
"I, Sagestar, leader of JuniperClan, stand before StarClan to appoint a deputy over the Clan, to help me to lead and protect the Clan, and to take my place as leader if I should fall. May StarClan approve of my choice."
She breathed deeply, willing her nerves not to show. She couldn't go back on this choice later- now was not the time for hesitation.
"The cat I have chosen to be my deputy is Cougarstrike." She met the scarred tomcat's gaze. "Do you accept this role, along with the duties and responsibilities it entails?"
Cougarstrike dipped his head. "I do," he said firmly.
Sagestar leapt down from the tree branch and licked the top of his head, like Thistletail had told her. He raised his head, and Sagestar began the chant.
"Cougarstrike! Cougarstrike! Cougarstrike!"
The whole clan joined in, shouting their new deputy's name. Cougarstrike's face shone with pride as his clanmates crowded in to congratulate him.
Sagestar only hoped she had made the right choice.
