Dawnwillow closed her eyes, dread filling her mind as Redeye, the RiverClan deputy, took his place on the Highrock, beside Ridgestar.
"It is my honor to welcome our new deputy, Redeye, to his position!"
Most of the Clan erupted in congratulations, but Dawnwillow could tell a few weren't as happy as they appeared to be.
"Thank you, Ridgestar." Redeye mewed. "It is with great honor that I take this new role in our Clan…" He went on about how grateful he was and all that nonsense. Dawnwillow couldn't stand any more, so she moved to stand beside Hawkfang.
"The ugly oaf won't last one moon." The newest queen mocked the ugly tom as a greeting.
"He will. He'll keep everyone in fear if he isn't supported. How do you think he was chosen?" Dawnwillow noted.
Hawkfang hung her head. "I don't like this."
Every cat in RiverClan knew Redeye killed Tremblefoot in the border skirmish to claim the now open spot, but no one had the courage to say anything. Redeye was one of RiverClan's best warriors, now deputy, and maybe even the best out of each of the three Clans. They'd find out that night at the Gathering, Dawnwillow guessed.
"Thank you, Redeye." Ridgestar meowed as he reclaimed his place on the rock, letting Redeye pad down to the bottom. "As most of you know, tonight is the first Gathering since Tremblefoot's passing. WindClan is well aware of the tensions between our Clans and I have no doubt that Tulipstar will want to speak out about it, as she knows what it's like to lose a deputy in such a way. However, ThunderClan is absolutely ignorant to the border dispute, and they will want to know what happened. I'm ordering everyone who will be attending this Gathering: DO NOT share any information or speak against WindClan, we need their alliance. We will let them tell what happened to keep as much peace as possible. Understood?" His voice boomed with his last word.
"Understood." The Clan repeated.
"Good. If you have an apprentice, bring them here to me. Everyone else is dismissed." Ridgestar jumped down from the Highrock.
Hawkfang lurched. "I'm going to go back to the nursery. Come find me when you're done?" She asked, her voice sour.
Dawnwillow nodded. "Of course!" She rubbed noses with her best friend and watched her wander back.
Dawnwillow went around the Clan hurriedly, looking for her apprentice. It should've been so much easier to find the rose-colored she-cat, Rosepaw would usually stick out like a dog around the camp. Sometimes she hid, just to see who would notice, which got on Dawnwillow's nerves.
As she rounded a bend, she spotted the radish-red she-cat chasing a butterfly.
"Rosepaw!" The warrior bellowed. Rosepaw turned mid-leap, falling and taking a face plant into the ground.
Dawnwillow sauntered over to her. "Where were you? There was a Clan meeting."
Rosepaw got up and shook the dirt out of her face. "I was there! I saw this butterfly and-"
"Don't use excuses." Dawnwillow interrupted. "Come on, Ridgestar wanted to see us." She turned to pad back to the Highrock.
Rosepaw hurried to keep up. "Us? Did I do something wrong again?"
"No, Rosepaw, I don't think so. Not this time, at least. He wants all of our apprentices."
They walked in silence, but as they did, Redeye stepped away from the group to hiss at them. "You're late."
"Yes, Rosepaw got distracted on our way over."
The ugly tom snorted. "You can't keep blaming your apprentice for your poor warrior skills, Dawnwillow." He went back to stand beside Ridgestar, who glanced in their direction.
"Thank you for joining us. Rosepaw, I'm sure you know Dewpaw?" Ridgestar nodded at the other apprentice, maybe just two moons older than Rosepaw. He looked a lot like Redeye, only he was a long-haired tom with a white-tipped tail, muzzle, ears and underbelly. If Dawnpelt looked close enough, it would appear that Dewpaw could have been Hawkfang and Redeye's kit.. Dawnwillow dismissed it. Hawkfang wasn't the only queen, and they had found Dewpaw as a kit in a shrub not far off of RiverClan territory.
"Yeah!" Rosepaw agreed, moving closer to her friend.
"Good. I'd like to see you both in action, if your mentors don't mind." Ridgestar looked at Redeye and Dawnwillow. Redeye stepped up immediately. "Of course! Why don't we all go down to the brook?"
Dawnwillow stepped in before anyone could say anything. "No, we should stay here. It's no good for a Clan leader to leave his Clan, ever, unless he's attending a Gathering."
Ridgestar nodded, smiling at his former apprentice. "Very good Dawnwillow. We'll stay here, in the clearing." He looked over at Redeye. "You've just been shown up by a warrior. She isn't the deputy." He laughed. While Ridgestar seemed to find this amusing, it didn't seem like Redeye did. His too-kempt composure was making her uneasy.
The two apprentices had already begun a mock fight a few tail-lengths away from the warriors. "Redeye, let's see how much you've done with Dewpaw." Ridgestar ordered. "Rosepaw, attack Dewpaw."
Immediately the red apprentice pounced, and Dewpaw defended well. He managed to get over her rather easily, but Rosepaw used her small body to her advantage, moving faster instead of stronger, though he had her exposed in seconds.
"Finish her!" Redeye called. Dewpaw looked up, frozen and confused, Rosepaw still under the weight of his forepaws.
Before Redeye could respond, Dawnwillow intervened. "No!" She moved forward. "Dewpaw, you did well. Stand down." Dewpaw stepped back, hurrying away.
Dawnwillow turned to Redeye. She ignored Ridgestar. "You fool! He could have killed her!"
"Enough!" Ridgestar stepped between the two. "Dawnwillow, go find Dewpaw, make sure he's okay. Take Rosepaw with you and find Pantherpelt, she's with Thornclaw in the Medicine Den." He turned to Redeye. "And you, come with me. We should discuss your new position more thoroughly." With that, Ridgestar turned for his den, Redeye in tow.
Dawnwillow took Rosepaw to find Dewpaw, and the three of them began to pad back to camp.