A/N
RiverClanner: I'm sorry! I didn't want to kill him either! We practically grew up with him! This isn't the last of him completely, though!
(Recap)
"Now, go mend your relationship with Runningclaw!" Hazelpaw crowed happily, shoving Snowfall out of the nursery den and straight into his brother.
"O-oh!" Runningclaw exclaimed, stumbling back as Snowfall tumbled into him. "Snowfall…?" He trailed off, his faded green eyes a mixture of confusion, anger and sadness.
"I-I-I-" Snowfall stammered, his ears flat against his head in nervousness. He gulped. "Runningclaw, I'm sorry."
"It was wrong of me tease you so harshly when we were apprentices. We were so vastly different; I thought with my claws and not with my brains like you. I probably didn't have any brains. I just got so jealous when Ivysky started liking you over me." Snowfall admitting, waving his paws as he struggled to find the words. "You're so much smarter than me and a lot nicer. I just didn't understand why she would like a clumsy cat like you. I realize now I was the wrong one. Because the real question is, who wouldn't like a clumsy cat like you?"
Runningclaw looked shocked by Snowfall's sudden apology. Then, the faintest traces of a smile were noticeable on his mouth. "Apparently, you wouldn't." He teased. Snowfall smiled in relief. "I've been waiting for a cat to thaw out your icy heart." Runningclaw said.
"You can thank Hazelpaw." Snowfall shot her a thankful glance from inside the nursery. "It was her idea. I didn't think you'd forgive me. Oh, what did I do to deserve a brother like you?"
Runningclaw slapped him with his tail playfully. "Nothing. You're stuck with me."
"Hey, is Oakstar calling a meeting?" Snowfall pointed his tail to their leader as he stood up on the Greatledge.
Runningclaw turned his head. "Oh, he's probably naming the new deputy. It is almost sunset after all."
(POV change: Reedpaw/Snailpaw)
It all happened so quickly. And yet, so slowly. Time seemed to stop for the both of them. Pleasure and confusion and shock made their heads spin, and in a second after their lips touched, they yanked back, covering their faces with a paw and wide eyes.
"It was an accident!" They screamed in unison, their heads whipping to their group.
"Run, run!" Reedpaw blurted, grabbing Snailpaw by the scruff and sprinting off.
"Wh-wh-why are we here?" Snailpaw faltered, looking around. They found themselves by Sunning Rocks, the corner between the ThunderClan and WindClan border. "Why did you kiss me?!"
"It's not like I wanted to kiss you!" Reedpaw hissed in embarrassment. "Not like I liked the taste of mint and mouse on your tongue!"
"Well, I didn't like the taste of berry and carp on yours!" Snailpaw countered, looking down at her paws in an attempt to hide a timid smile on the edges of her lips "I'm going to go hang out with Shadepaw and Silverpaw!"
Snailpaw didn't move.
"Why aren't you leaving then?" Reedpaw asked in a slightly angry voice.
"Why haven't you?" Snailpaw fired back, even though her remark made no sense.
"Fine, I'll leave!" Reedpaw said in an exasperated voice, standing up. "Do you want to come back to camp with me?"
"I do!" Snailpaw stood and followed him, matching his angry-like tone. "As it seems I have no other choice."
…
As the pair made it back to camp, they found themselves swept up in the commotion of getting a new deputy.
"I bet it's going to be Spidertail," Badgerfoot was bragging about his brother to Duskflower.
"No, it should totally be Runningclaw! He's the one who outed Shellwhisker!" One cat said loudly.
"No, that was Shadeleap! It should be her!" Another voice retorted. The clan stared up at Oakstar expectantly.
"Silence!" Oakstar boomed. He cleared his throat as the cats quieted down. "I say these words before StarClan so they may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of RiverClan shall be, Hawkpool!"
The slim black she cat tore away from Pebbletail in shock. "Wh-what, me?!" But her cries of protest were drowned out by the wild cheers of her name.
"Hawkpool! Hawkpool! Hawkpool!" The clan cheered, their eyes bright and supportive. Hawkpool scrambled up onto the Greatledge beside her father with a shy grin. He beamed back at his daughter.
"Mom's deputy!" Whitepaw cried out proudly.
"Actually, Oakstar," Hawkpool cleared her throat as the cheers died down. "You might need a sub-deputy."
Oakstar cocked his head. "Why's that?"
Hawkpool stared down at her paws, then to Pebbletail, then back up at her father. "Because I'm expecting Pebbletail's kits."
A/N
Yeesh, sorry this was really short. But technically, this isn't the end of the chapter. There's a part 2! It'll be up by tomorrow or Thursday, or maybe even tonight if I get enough reviews! Hint, hint.