Between the Series
Chapter 3
Deadfoot's Death/ Crowpaw's Ceremony
By Firestar's Gal
Have you ever noticed that Deadfoot didn't die in the old series, but he was proclaimed already dead in TNP? Also, the books never mention how Deadfoot died. Well, I'm going to fix that.
Crowkit sat in the nursery beside his mother, bored, in anticipation of his apprentice ceremony.
"Crowkit," his mother, Ashfoot, had said, "Why don't you go visit the elders for a story? Your ceremony isn't until later."
"Mother," Crowkit complained, "That's for kits. I've heard all the stories those dumb elders have to say."
"Crowkit, you never disrespect you elders, do you understand me?" Ashfoot snapped.
"Now, don't be too hard on him, Ashfoot, I'm sure he didn't mean any disrespect," Deadfoot said, coming through the entrance to the nursery.
"Deadfoot!" Ashfoot exclaimed, nuzzling him. Deadfoot was her mate and also Clan deputy.
"Come on, you two, or you'll be late for the ceremony!" Deadfoot exclaimed excitedly. He was so pleased that his only son would have his apprentice ceremony.
"YAY!" Crowkit jumped up. "I'm going to have the perfect life!"
(Author's note: ironic, isn't it?)
"Mudclaw," Tallstar had said before the ceremony, "You have proved yourself a fine warrior and deserve an apprentice. And, between you and me, you'd make a great deputy."
At the ceremony, the cats were all chanting, "Crowpaw! Crowpaw!" after Tallstar gave him his apprentice name and mentor, Mudclaw.
Deadfoot and Ashfoot went up to Crowpaw after the ceremony. "We're so proud of you!" Ashfoot purred.
"I didn't really do anything. I just turned six moons old," Crowpaw commented.
"But we're your parents," Deadfoot said, "It's our job to be proud. Fancy a little fresh-kill before you go to the apprentices den?"
"Sure. I'll get Mudclaw," Crowpaw said.
"Hey, Crowpaw," Nightpaw said to him. "I saved you a nest in the apprentice's den, if you want it."
"Um, thanks, Nightpaw," Crowpaw said. What's her problem? He thought.
The Next Day
"So, Crowpaw, I was wondering, why does your father have the name Deadfoot?" Mudclaw asked Crowpaw while giving him a tour of the territory.
"Have you seen his paw? It's like, broken, and Tallstar couldn't call him Brokenfoot or something stupid like that," Crowpaw remarked.
"How did it get that way?" Mudclaw asked.
"Mother said he got it injured in a fight. Nightpaw said her mother saw him trip and break it. It's odd, I think I believe Nightpaw's story more. Did you know she likes the word breeze a little too much?" Crowpaw replied.
"What was your father's name before that?" Mudclaw asked.
"Smokefur," Crowfeather replied.
"Does he have any habits you've noticed?" Mudclaw asked.
"Yes, he can't stand it when cats get too close to him in conversation, even if it's friendly. He always backs up when cats get like a mouse length to him," Crowpaw replied.
"Ah, I see," Mudclaw replied. "How do you feel about Nightpaw?"
"I find her creepy. I would almost rather have kits with two she-cats from other Clans at the same time than hang around her any longer," Crowpaw replied smoothly. (Again, ironic, isn't it?)
"Well, that was interesting," Mudclaw said as they arrived back at the camp. "I can't train you tomorrow, so I asked your mother to take over for the day. I just really wanted to take a patrol by the gorge, and you're not ready for that."
"Okay, see you at fresh-kill time tomorrow, then."
The Next Day
"Hey, Deadfoot," Mudclaw greeted Deadfoot the next morning. "Do you want to take a patrol by the RiverClan border this morning?"
"Why would I do that?" Deadfoot asked. "There's a huge gorge there that blocks any cats from crossing. We can't even pick up enough speed to jump that thing, and we're WindClan, for StarClan's sake!"
"I took Crowpaw there yesterday, and we saw some RiverClanners trying to cross," Mudclaw told him.
"Well, when you put it like that, I guess I'll go," Deadfoot agreed.
At the Gorge
"This is the place," Mudclaw announced as they came to a part of the gorge which was low on the RiverClan side.
Deadfoot peeked over the edge. "Yes, I see, they could come in on that side because it's low, and then they swim across because they can, and then they climb up those rocks on our side. But would they really waste their time?"
"What do you mean?" Mudclaw asked.
"Every cat knows that RiverClan are lousy land hunters. They prefer the water," Deadfoot pointed out.
"Well, I saw them do it," Mudclaw said, walking close to Deadfoot, causing Deadfoot to back up.
"If you insist," Deadfoot said nervously, backing up as Mudclaw stepped closer.
"Want me to tell you something?" Mudclaw asked, stepping closer.
"Sure. What?" Deadfoot replied, stepping back.
"I didn't really see RiverClan cats over here," Mudclaw told him, stepping closer.
"Then why did you tell me?" Deadfoot asked, stepping back.
"For this," Mudclaw replied, taking one last step forward.
"What do you meeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaan?" DEADfoot asked, falling into the gorge.
That's the end of Deadfoot.
XXXXX
No, I do not know who Crowfeather's father was. But since Ashfoot's gray, Deadfoot's black, and Crowfeather's gray-black, it worked out nicely.
With all due respect,
Firestar's Gal