1"Brightstar, I get the feeling you don't trust me," Riversong meowed.

Brightstar sat up in his nest and gazed at his deputy. It had been two moons since Wingfoot had been exiled from DuskClan. Sleetfur's kits had been born: three toms and a she-kit. Hawkwing had died a few days ago. Radianteyes was with kits. Clan life continued as it always had. Brightstar blinked his brown eyes curiously.

"Why do you say that, Riversong?" he asked.

"Well, you've told me numerous times since I became deputy to ask Trueheart who to send on patrols," Riversong replied, "I have yet to assemble and send out a patrol of cats on my own."

"You're young. I don't want you to be overwhelmed."

"But I won't be, Brightstar. I know that I can always ask for help from some of the senior warriors if I need it. I'm not going to try to do it all on my own. It's impossible. I know it is."

Brightstar stood up. "Riversong, don't start this again," he meowed, "I know you're loyal to DuskClan, even though you left. I respect that you came back and saved the Clan from that murderer Wingfoot." He sighed. "But I want you to become accustomed to your new duties."

"Brightstar, I haven't done anything," Riversong protested, "You haven't let me carry out any of the deputy's duties on my own. I can't 'become accustomed' to them if I never experience them!"

"Keep calm, my deputy. You want to put together a patrol on your own? Take the sunhigh patrol. Choose your cats, sweep the lip of Shaded Valley, and report back to me."

Riversong nodded and backed out of the den. Scars greeted her with a bark. She turned to face the badger. "Well, you've settled right down with Clan life," she remarked.

"Is what I always wanted," Scars replied, "Such cat-friends I have made here, Bluey!"

Riversong nodded. "I'll see you around, Scars," she meowed and headed towards the warriors' den, running through possible cats in her mind. Sunface, definitely...Trueheart... and...maybe Timidheart. Need an apprentice. Timidheart's not doing anything with Heathpaw. That'll be good. She padded into the den and nudged the curled up ball of red fur. Sunface lifted his head.

"Who-wha?" he muttered.

"Just me," Riversong meowed, "Sunhigh patrol sound okay?"

"Sure." Sunface yawned. His tawny eyes blinked at his former mentor. "I can't believe you're deputy now, Riversong."

"Yeah, I know. Hey, any idea where Timidheart and Trueheart are?"

"Timidheart's out with Heathpaw for some practice with her fighting techniques. Trueheart is with Sleetfur, I think."

"Want to come?"

Sunface nodded. Riversong led the way to a small thicket in the bracken. Cats from many moons ago had carefully woven the bracken into a cave of sorts. It was well made. No rain dripped through it during summer showers. The queens had made it a little more appealing to the eyes. The had brought shiny clamshells from the banks of the stream that ran through DuskClan territory and placed them strategically in the roof so that sunlight caught them and caused them to shine. Their nests were lined with soft rabbit fur and bird feathers. Riversong crept silently towards a small tunnel and arrived at Sleetfur's nest. Trueheart was seated beside her. The three tom-kits were long-furred, while the she-kit was short-pelted. One tom's fur was dark gray. He was Stonekit. A second's was white with black paws and tail. His name was Shadowkit. The third he-kit was silvery-gray. He was called Ashkit. Sleetfur's only daughter's name was Riverkit. Her fur was, oddly enough, the same color as Riversong's. Riversong purred at the sight of Riverkit. She knew why Sleetfur and Blacktip had chosen that name for their kit.

"Did you want me for something, Riversong?" Trueheart asked.

"Are you all right with sunhigh patrol?"

Trueheart nodded. "I am," he meowed, his eyes gleaming, "Does this mean Brightstar is finally doing what a leader should be doing?"

"What do you mean?"

"Letting his deputy choose cats for a patrol and not another warrior. He needs to see what you're capable of. Let's make this patrol so incredible, he won't ever ask me to do your job again!"

Riversong was surprised by the old tomcat's strong belief in her. "We still need Timidheart and Heathpaw," she meowed.

"Oh, them? They're not doing anything that can't be done another day. Let's go." Trueheart stopped himself. "Sorry. I'm...doing your job, aren't I?"

"It's okay. Let's go get them!"

Timidheart stared deep into Heathpaw's gray eyes. "Go on, you can d-do it," he encouraged. His stutter was getting better, but it was still there. "Attack me."

Heathpaw was about to leap when she paused, scenting the air. "Timidheart, I smell other cats. DuskClan, though."

"I smell them too. Bonus if you know who it is. Don't say anything, you g-guys. Let Heathpaw try."

"Riversong...Trueheart..." Heathpaw sniffed a few more times. "And...Radianteyes? No, Firebelly!"

"Close, but no fresh-kill," Sunface meowed, stepping into her view, "You got nearly all my kin, though. You were close."

"S-Sunface," Timidheart said, "What's up?"

"Sunhigh patrol," Riversong replied, showing herself, "We can take Heathpaw if you like."

"I would," Timidheart meowed. He curled his tail around his apprentice's body. "Come on, Heathpaw. Where t-to, Riversong?"

"Just a quick scan. Has she been to the lip of Shaded Valley at all?" Heathpaw shook her head. "Then we'll show you there. It's fun. You can see the camp from there." Heathpaw did an excited dance.

At a nod from their deputy, the patrol of cats set out. The view from Shaded Valley's rim took all of their breath away, not just Heathpaw's. It was a view that never became less incredible. Riversong looked over at Heathpaw. "You know, when I came back with Scars and Sunpaw, we sat here for a good long while, just looking down at the camp. It's really pretty at moonhigh."

"Can I come back here tonight?" Heathpaw squeaked. Timidheart shrugged.

"If R-Riversong says it's okay, then sure," he meowed. Riversong shrugged as well.

"We'll see," was all she said, "It's about time we headed back. I don't know if Brightstar will let me pick the evening patrol as well."

"I hope he does," Trueheart murmured, "It's about time he trusted you with these things."

"I'll have to talk to him about that..." Riversong muttered to Sunface, "Some days I wonder if it's back to where I started from all those moons ago when I left DuskClan."

"If it is and you leave again, I'll be with you all the way," Sunface replied softly. His light brown eyes glittered with affection. Riversong purred as she bounded down the hillside, back to the Clan camp.

Sunface's words struck a chord in her heart. The notes rang in her head for the rest of the night. 'If it is and you leave again, I'll be with you all the way.' His voice sang through her head, keeping her awake. Riversong sighed and padded from the den. She sat in the center of the camp and gazed up at Silverpelt's glory. Sunface may not have known it, but he could have been right. The way Brightstar kept treating her, desertion of DuskClan may be all too near. She sighed.

StarClan protect me if it comes to that, the young deputy prayed.