Chapter Five

It was two weeks after I had first seen Oakheart in RiverClan territory, and I had seen him almost every five days after that. I just told Goldencrest that I liked to hunt alone now, and she'd just tease me about what a great warrior I was.

Redpaw and Runningpaw still had not been made warriors, but there was something good coming in the Clan…

"Flowerpetal's kitting!" shouted Goldencrest, shaking me awake with her paws. I sat straight up.

"What?" I gasped.

"She's having Sharpclaw's kits!" gasped Goldencrest. "Get up!"

I stumbled quickly out of the warriors' den and saw ThunderClan crowded around the nursery. A second later Wolfpelt and Spottedpaw came out, looking overjoyed.

"A single black tom!" announced Wolfpelt. "Flowerpetal named him Darkkit."

The Clan erupted in cheers. Perhaps this new kit, Darkkit, would bring an excellent warrior to ThunderClan. I saw Sharpclaw enter the nursery, swishing his tail proudly. I suddenly had a vision of Oakheart doing just that…wait a minute, snap out of it, Bluefur. I shook my head roughly. Oakheart is a RiverClan cat, and you're…

I have to see Oakheart, I thought. I moved into the nursery to congradulate Flowerpetal. The little black kit was curled up in his mother's paws. It was a sleek-looking black and gray tom that looked perfectly strong. It would definitely make a good warrior.

"Congradulations, Flowerpetal," I told her.

"Thank you, Bluefur," she answered.

I nodded and left the nursery, exiting the Clan quickly. I almost ran to the RiverClan border, and, as though he was waiting for me, sat Oakheart.

"Oakheart!" I shouted. The reddish-brown tom looked up and brightened quickly.

"Bluefur," he mewed, swimming over to me. "I was just catching a fish."

"One of our queens gave birth today," I mewed. "His name's Darkkit."

Oakheart purred with both pleasure and amusement. "Bluefur, if you keep telling me all this, I'll know all the secrets of ThunderClan to tell to RiverClan!"

I was surprised. "I trust you."

"I'd never tell," purred Oakheart, nudging me.

"Thanks."

We spent a few moments together before Oakheart told me that they had to prepare for the Gathering. The two of us separated. I hurried back to ThunderClan camp.

"There you are, Bluefur," called Goldencrest once I was back. "Eaglestar's calling the warriors to go to the Gathering soon. Come on!"

I crowded under the Highrock with the Clan. Eaglestar was just finishing naming the cats to go to the Gathering.

"…Bladenail, Bluefur, Goldencrest, Redpaw, Runningpaw, and Tigerpaw." He leapt down from the Highrock.

"I get to go!" exclaimed Tigerpaw, jumping up and down. "Thistleclaw, I get to go to my first Gathering!"

"It was a mistake," he muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing. Come on."

The named cats filed out of the Clan toward the Gathering. I was looking forward to speaking with Oakheart again. Once we were there, I searched wildly for the reddish-brown tom amongst the crowd, but I didn't see him. WindClan was late as well, and when they got there, Tallstar took Breezestar's place.

"Talltail," greeted Shadestar. "Is Breezestar too ill to travel?"

"Breezestar is dead," replied Tallstar. "I am Tallstar now."

There was no mistaking Shadestar's shock as he leapt back. "He-he's dead?" he gasped. "Impossible!"

"In that case, I'll speak first," mewed Eaglestar. "Two of our apprentices were made warriors: Bluefur and Goldencrest. One of our queens, Flowerpetal, gave birth to Darkkit." Yowls of approval rang out through the clearing. "And as for Breezestar…"

He shot a glance at Shadestar. "Bluefur and Goldencrest were apprentices when this happened," he mewed. "WindClan ambushed them. They said that Breezestar and Shadestar had been partners, and that Breezestar promised to make ShadowClan powerful if Shadestar gave him some of his apprentices. He also told them that he wanted Shadestar to prove his loyalty to Breezestar by attacking and challenging ThunderClan. Then Breezestar asked them to join WindClan." Eaglestar snorted. "They were very loyal, so they told him, no. And then, Breezestar ordered for them to be killed." He glared at Tallstar.

"But we won, with the help of RiverClan," continued Eaglestar.

Tallstar spoke up. "I was never involved in Breezestar's activities. You can certainly be assured that you will receive no more attacks like that from WindClan."

But Shadestar was still upset. "Who killed Breezestar?" he asked.

"I did," answered Eaglestar proudly.

I thought I saw a flash of anger on Shadestar's face, but he just mewed, "The forest is better off without him."

"That's for sure," muttered Goldencrest to me.

The Gathering was over quickly. ThunderClan headed back to camp.

A lot had happened three moons after that Gathering. ShadowClan attacked RiverClan, killing Slitstar. We guessed that he had been their intended target. Now the leader was Crookedstar, and the deputy Oakheart. I was incredibly proud of him.

And then, something incredible happened. I gave birth to Oakheart's kits! Two she-cats and a tom were born, with the namesRustkit, Mistykit, and Stonekit. Mistykit and Stonekit looked much like me, but Rustkit looked more like Oakheart - a reddish brown tom. The Clan had no idea who the father was, but they would never find out.

Goldencrest sat next to me in the nursery, watching the kits sleep. "I don't think I'll ever have kits," she murmured. "You can't be deputy."

Deputy?

A horrible thought struck me. I wanted to be deputy of ThunderClan more than anything else in the world. But female deputies can't have kits. And everyone knew Eaglestar was on his second to last life. If Thistleclaw took over…oh, StarClan, what was I going to do?

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join me beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting."

"I'll be back," I whispered to my kits, and then went outside the nursery.

The Clan was gathering underneath the Highrock. Eaglestar beckoned Redpaw and Runningpaw with his tail. Oh, they were going to be made warriors!

"I, Eaglestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior anscestors to look down on these two apprentices. They have worked hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors and their turn." He looked at the two apprentices. "Redpaw, Runningpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your own life?"

"I do," answered Redpaw.

"I do," replied Runningpaw.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Redpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Redtail. StarClan honors your loyalty and your intelligence, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Eaglestar rested his head on Redtail's, then turned to Runningpaw.

"Runningpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Runningwind. StarClan honors your loyalty and your intelligence, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Eaglestar then rested his head on Runningwind's for the second time, before leaping down from the Highrock. I walked over to congradulate them.

"Redtail!" I cheered. "Runningwind!"

"Thanks," answered Redtail. "How are the kits?"

"They're fine," I answered, an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach arising. "Thanks." I walked back to the nursery as Redtail and Runningwind went to sit vigil.

What should I do? I kept thinking. Loyalty to my Clan or loyalty to my kits? It took at least a week to decide what to do. When I made my decision, I told Flowerpetal to watch over my kits for a moment while I went out to hunt.

Where I really went was RiverClan territory. Oakheart was there, mingling by the river. I called out to him.

"Oakheart!"

The reddish brown tom jumped a foot in the air. "Bluefur!" he gasped with joy. "Are the kits all right?"

"Actually…" I hesitated, pain filling my eyes. "Well, they're fine, but that's what I wanted to talk to you about."

Oakheart's eyes narrowed and he swam swiftly across the river. "Well?"

"I…I want to be ThunderClan deputy," I stuttered.

Oakheard stared in shock. "But that would mean getting rid of the kits!" he exclaimed.

"I know," I mumbled. "But I was thinking that you could take them to one of your queens. Let her have them, think that she's their mother."

"Bluefur…" Oakheart stared at me. "Are you sure?"

"I'm positive," I replied. "I'll take the kits to you tonight, all right?"

"Okay," he answered.

That night, I crept out of camp, with Rustkit, Stonekit, and Mistykit in my jaws. They were still very young and small, so they were easy to carry. I had carved a hole out in the nursery den to make it look like a fox or a badger had gotten in and taken them. I suddenly brushed against a damp leaf and Rustkit squealed at the cold. He began to shiver.

I hastily put him down and attempted to get him warmer, but the night cold was too harsh for him; he died right there. With an even more horrible feeling in my stomach, I treaded on, carrying the kits with me.

I reached the river and set them down. "Oakheart?" I whispered.

"I'm here." He was behind me. The reddish-brown tom stepped out of the bushes. "Oh, StarClan!" he hissed when he saw Rustkit's limp form. "He...he's dead..."

"Yes." I dipped my head sadly. "He didn't make it. I'm sorry, Oakheart."

He looked at me. I couldn't tell if his face was filled with hatred or sympathy. But he just mewed, "It's not too late to change your mind, Bluefur."

"I know," I answered. "But ThunderClan needs me. I'm so sorry, Oakheart…"

He sighed and took the kits in his mouth andnodded to me before he left across the river.

I padded miserably back to ThunderClan camp. My kits were gone…I had chosen my Clan over my kits…StarClan, had I made the right decision?

Morning came. I shrieked in horror when I saw that my kits were gone. The entire Clan searched everywhere, but I knew that they'd never find them. I pretended to be distraught for a few days. I was distraught, of course, literally.

The next day, I slept in later until Goldencrest came and woke me up.

"Time for a patrol, Bluefur," she mumbled.

"Right." I got up and nudged her. "Thanks, Goldencrest."

The two of us left the warriors' den and padded toward the exit of the Clan. Just then…

Disgusting, smelly cats shot through the tunnel! There were lots of them as well. Warriors and apprentices crowded around the Clan.

"ShadowClan!" I yelped.

"That's right, Bluefur," snapped Shadestar. "We are here for your leader. Is he around?"

"I'm here, Shadestar," came Eaglestar's voice. ThunderClan warriors crowded around him. "I suppose you want to avenge your friend, Breezestar," he commented. "Good luck."

Shadestar leapt! Claws slashing, teeth biting, he flew at Eaglestar.

"Attack!" he screamed before he was hit. I rushed over to him and pulled Shadestar off. Another warrior crashed into me.

I yowled furiously as I fought to get free. The warrior's claws raked at me, but I leapt nimbly out of the way. I shook the ShadowClan warrior off and faced him. It was Dawncloud, a she-cat. I launched angrily at her and bit her in the neck, causing Dawncloud to run into the bushes.

"Mrrooww!" I yowled angrily as a warrior faced me. It was Scytheclaw. He launched, I leapt, and we caught outselves in midair, twisting on the ground and clawing at each other. I delivered a lethal bite to Scytheclaw's throat but he avoided it. I kicked him hard with my back claws and he hissed in pain. I shook myself free of his grasp and leapt once again, pinning him down and biting him hard. Scytheclaw hung limp; he was dead.

And then I saw something that I never hoped to see again.

Raggedclaw, a ShadowClan tom, had Goldencrest pinned to the ground. He was much larger than her and no matter how hard my sister fought, she couldn't get free. I growled, leaping at Raggedclaw. He saw me coming and swiped a claw over my face.

I yowled in agony as blood dripped out of a scar on my nose and forehad. I sprawled to the ground.

Raggedclaw bit Goldencrest hard on the throat.

"No!" I screamed, summoning all my energy. I launched myself at Raggedclaw, knocking him off Goldencrest, clawing, biting, not caring what I was hitting. Raggedclaw screeched in pain and anger.

"Bluefur!"

It was Whitestorm. I ignored him. Whitestorm suddenly tackled me, bringing me to the ground.

"Mousedung!" I snarled. "What was that for! He killed Goldencrest!"

"A good warrior does not kill repeatedly," he answered.

I snorted with anger and looked at Goldencrest's still body. My sister was dead…

The ShadowClan warriors were running out of the camp by now, dragging their dead comrades with them. I walked over to Goldencrest's body and lay beside her, sharing tongues with her for the last time.

"Goldencrest, you were one of my best friends in ThunderClan," I whispered. "I'll miss you so much, sister."

I looked around the clearing to see who else was injured. I saw Spottedpaw tending frantically to Wolfpelt's wounds. I rushed over.

"Wolfpelt, eat this, hurry!" gasped Spottedpaw, trying to feed her poppy seeds and put cobwebs on her wounds at the same time.

"Spottedpaw…" she gasped. "I can't. I will hunt with StarClan now. Take care of our Clan…"

"No!" yowled Spottedpaw. "Wolfpelt!"

The medicine cat lay limp. I fell onto the ground, feeling lightheaded. Goldencrest…Wolfpelt…who else?

That answer came quickly. Eaglestar was crouching beside a still cat; with a jolt I realized it was Thistleclaw. I padded quickly over to him.

"He died trying to free me from Shadestar," whispered Eaglestar. "And I'm on my last life." He looked at me. "Bluefur, these times are horrible for ThunderClan. What will we do now?"

"Get rid of Shadestar," I answered.

Eaglestar sighed and nodded. He leapt up on the great rock and didn't bother calling his Clan. "We have lost three cats today," he announced, his voice thick with grief. "Wolfpelt, Goldencrest, and Thistleclaw. All three of them were extremely important in ThunderClan." He paused. "But we still have to move on. We need a new medicine cat. Spottedpaw, come here."

The tortoiseshell she-cat stepped slowly away from Wolfpelt's body and stood beside Eaglestar.

"Tigerpaw, you too," he added. The dark brown apprentice quickly sat next to Spottedpaw.

"I, Eaglestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior anscestors to look down on these two apprentices. They have worked hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors and their turn." He looked at Tigerpaw and Spottedpaw.

"Do you two promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your own life?"

"I do," answered Spottedpaw, shaking slightly.

"I do," mewed Tigerpaw.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Spottedpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Spottedleaf. StarClan honors your loyalty and your intelligence, and we welcome you as a medicine cat of ThunderClan." He touched noses with her and then turned to Tigerpaw.

"Tigerpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Tigerclaw. StarClan honors your loyalty and your intelligence, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Eaglestar rested his head on Tigerclaw's, and then beckoned them to get off the Highrock. Spottedleaf and Tigerclaw stood beside me.

"Flowerpetal tells me that her kit is ready to begin training," continued Eaglestar. "Darkkit, come here."

The little black kit padded confidently forward, standing next to Eaglestar on the Highrock.

"Tigerclaw," announced Eaglestar, "you have proven to be a wise and brave warrior. Share all Thistleclaw taught you with Darkpaw."

"Of course," replied Tigerclaw, bending down to touch noses with Darkpaw.

"And the new deputy needs to be named." Eaglestar sounded tired from speaking so much. "The new ThunderClan deputy will be Bluefur."

I froze in shock and happiness. I was going to be deputy! Incredible! I had made the right decision; Thistleclaw would not destroy ThunderClan and I would be made Bluestar!

Eaglestar leapt down from the Highrock and walked over to me.

"Bluefur," he mewed, "we have much to discuss."

"That is true," I agreed, and we both went into his den.

"You told me that we should get rid of Shadestar," mewed Eaglestar. "That is the most obvious solution. But what if Shadestar is replaced with an even worse enemy?"

I hesitated. Then, "I think we should still take the risk. Shadestar is very evil, but probably lots of the cats don't agree with him. So I doubt that an even worse cat will take his place."

Eaglestar nodded thoughtfully. "True, Bluefur," he mewed. "After we recover, we will attack ShadowClan and get rid of Shadestar once and for all."

I nodded. "Good plan."

"You may go, Bluefur."

I left Eaglestar's den and headed for the warriors'.