At long last! Chapter four! I replaced all previous chapters with new, edited versions. As always, R&R!
Chapter IV
That night we held vigil for Redtail. Bluestar lay down next to him for a while, murmuring almost silently. I walked over to the body. Leaning down close to his ear, I whispered, "I'm sorry. I need to fulfill my father's wishes." Then I left.
Just before moonhigh, Bluestar called the Clan once more. "Redtail has served me well for many moons, and his death is a tragic one," She meowed. "But the warrior code tells us to choose a deputy before moonhigh." She raised her eyes to Silverpelt. "I say these words before the body of Redtail, may he hear and approve of my choice." I leaned forward expectantly. "Lionheart will be the new deputy of ThunderClan."
I stared at her in shock, for half a second. Then I remembered. I cleared my face as I had learned to do, so no expression showed through. The Clan was cheering, and calling his name. "Lionheart! Lionheart! Lionheart!" I padded up to him, and nudged him playfully. "Who knew that clumsy apprentice would become deputy?" I teased. Lionheart seemed dazed, as though he hadn't quite absorbed the fact that he was deputy.
Despite my enthusiastic welcome, inside I was raging. Many cats had thought I would be deputy, that I knew. I had 'overheard' several conversations, most wondering who would be chosen. I was mentioned several times.
Shaking off my sulk, I decided to go see Goldenflower. She had a way of cheering me up. Looking around, I spotted her over by the nursery, talking with Willowpelt. She was sitting with her tail curled contentedly around her paws, and it warmed my heart to see her happy.
"Oh, hello Tigerclaw!" she meowed. "How are you?"
I sighed, and sat down next to her. "Good." She looked at me in concern.
"Are you sure? You seem unhappy."
"No, it's nothing," I assured her.
She blinked in sympathy, and ran her tongue over my ears. "I think you would have been a good deputy. But don't feel too disappointed. Maybe you'll be next." I smiled at her. She always had made me feel good. I purred, and listened to the queens chatting.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Time wore on. I grew stronger and more popular within the Clan, not to mention without. My plan was in motion, and it would be hard to stop. But I had overheard Ravenpaw telling his version of the battle with RiverClan story. And I did not like it.
I remembered the flash of white I had seen. Then I remembered the white at the tip of Ravenpaw's tail. That must have been it! He had come back to make sure I was alright, and seen me…
There was the battle with ShadowClan. Cat yowling, blood spattering the ground, fur flying… That was when it happened. I was fighting next to Lionheart, my hatred momentarily forgotten. We were slowly pushing him back, when two of his Clan members came to help him. Now it was us who were outnumbered. We fought bitterly, but we could not fight them.
Two jumped onto Lionheart, perhaps knowing he was deputy. The other went for me. It was hard, but at last I managed to send him running. Then I turned to Lionheart. He was lying on his side. A long, deep gash along his flank was bleeding sluggishly. I grasped his scruff and dragged him to the side of the clearing, where he wouldn't get trampled.
We were winning, I could tell. Most of the ShadowClan warriors had fled. As I watched, the last few went running. I turned back to Lionheart.
He was panting, but the blood had stopped. I called for Spottedleaf. As he lay there, I remembered all the times we had had together. We had been made apprentices and then warriors together. I had once hid some burrs in his nest, as a prank, and he had retaliated by putting thorns in mine. As much as I had hated him… it had somehow been more of a brotherly hate.
I looked at his wound. No cat could recover from a wound that big. He would die, and I knew it. It was time to let my hatred go.
"I'm sorry," I whispered in his ear. "I killed Redtail. My father's only wish was for me to become leader. That is what I must do. I'm sorry I hated you so much. It's time to let that go." I looked into his eyes. He could see the pain and grief there. He knew he was dying as well. But under all that, I saw one more expression. Understanding. "Please forgive me," I whispered.
And with a rasping breath, he whispered the words I longed to hear. "I… forgive you…"
Just then Spottedleaf arrived. I nodded to her, and padded to the far corner to watch. She examined him, and pressed cobwebs to his wound. Then she shook her head. The kittypet padded over to her, and pressed his flank to her. I growled.
When Graypaw heard the news, he let out a wail that chilled my blood. He lay down next to the dying warrior, and soon after announced that he had gone. I bowed my head.
Once again, just before moonhigh Bluestar called a meeting. She looked exhausted, and her eyes were dull with grief.
"Once again, it is my duty -much, much too soon- to name ThunderClan's new deputy." Even her voice was tired. I twitched my whiskers, and leaned forward eagerly. Me. Please be me. "I say these words before the body of Lionheart, so that his spirit may hear and approve of my choice. I have not forgotten the cat who avenged the death of Redtail, and brought his body back to us." She took a deep breath.
"Tigerclaw will be the new deputy of ThunderClan."
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AHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Phear the power of my cliffie 3 What next? See in chapter five!