I scrambled up a tree just in time. Flameclaw walked under me. I tensed. I wanted revenge. "For Frostleaf," I hissed through gritted, chattering teeth. I would only get one chance. If I didn't kill him now he would find some way to kill me knowing I had witnessed what he had done.
I lunged and landed screeching in the middle of his back. Flameclaw leapt up into the air but I hung on desperately. I managed to yank myself forward and bite the back of his neck. He hissed and then pulled the worst move possible for me: he rolled. I jumped clear and landed a tail length away, hissing and spitting. His eyes were wide with shock. I guess he hadn't realized apprentices could hurt that much.
"You...killed...Frostleaf!" I snarled.
He glared at me. But then his ears pricked. He looked up thoughtfully. Then he raised his voice. "It's okay, Ripplepaw. I understand how you could have mistaken me for a LedgeClan cat. I do look a lot like Firewing, especially since Frostleaf's body is lying there on the border."
I stared at him, bewildered. Then the patrol walked through the bushes. I understood now. He was covering for us. He'd deal with me later, and again I felt real fear thrill through my veins.
"What's going on here?" It was Rainstep, my mentor, at the head of a patrol. "Ripplepaw, what are you doing? You're supposed to be hunting!"
"I was," I told him. "But there's something at the border you need to see." Rainstep could see I wasn't saying more, so he looked at Flameclaw, who flicked his tail at the stream. We followed him, and it was all I could do not to pounce again.

When Frostleaf's body came into view, my heart was wrenched as Lilypaw, Frostleaf's daughter, screeched "No!" She bolted for her. I hung back with Flameclaw. I glared at him. He smiled, but it was a cold smile. His amber eyes were icy.

"I hate you," I spat. He shrugged and began delicately licking his paw.
This tom was infuriating! I rose and went to comfort Lilypaw, who was sobbing loudly. I hoped that every one of her cries were like a claw through his heart. I hoped he hated himself forever. I hoped he felt terrible remorse and tried to run away or commit suicide or something!

As usual, it was too much to hope.

We went back to camp quietly, mournfully. A loud gulp would occasionally escape from Lilypaw. Rainstep and Foxtail, the other patrol member, carried Frostleaf's body between them. Once in a while I glanced over at Flameclaw. He played his part well, quiet, his head down.

At last we reached camp. We slipped under the fallen pine that lay over the main entrance, through a layer of ferns, and into the main, grassy area of our camp. Firstar sat sunbathing in front of his den. He leapt to his paws when he saw us. His eyes fell on Frostleaf and he blinked a few times, unable to believe what he was seeing. He froze for a few moments, then yet out a yowl. He leapt up onto Highboulder, on top of his den.

I guess I should take a moment here to explain our camp. See, our legends tell us that long ago, instead of a valley between the Highstones (the five mountains which surround us) there was a deep, enormous river of ice. It dropped big, smooth boulders all across the valley when it melted. There are hollows beneath a lot of them, which make some of our dens. Firstar's just happens to be in one such hollow. He stands atop it to address the Clan.

Which is where he stood now as the Clan gathered, looking confused.

"Clanmates," he said. His voice rang flat as the valley floor. "There has been a death among us. Frostleaf, our great and noble deputy, has passed on this sunrise." Stunned silence hung over the Clan like a heavy storm cloud. Then wails of grief began to split the air.

Firstar allowed them to grieve for a few moments, then flicked his tail for silence. "She was a beloved deputy, mother, and of course, mentor. We will work hard to discover the cause of her death. But for now, I must choose our new deputy. The patrols will continue as usual. I am not to be disturbed." With that he slipped down from the Highboulder and into his den.

The Clan broke, moving off in little clumps. Several moved forward to gather around Frostleaf's body. They made sure to leave room so that Rosepool could comfort Lilypaw, who stood at her mother's head. I saw her push her an herb, thyme perhaps. I decided I had better stay in camp, because of Flameclaw. I'd been in border skirmishes, but never had I been more scared for my life.

The moon finally rose. Firstar slipped out of his den and once more topped Highboulder. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath Highboulder!" he called. The Clan gathered, the cats who were huddled around Frostleaf stepped back. Firstar stepped forward.

"I say these words in front of the body of Frostleaf, in hopes that she may hear and approve my choice."

Say Flameclaw and she won't just disapprove, she'll flay you alive! I thought desperately.

Of course my desperate pleas were ignored. What else is new?

Firstar took a deep breath, then spoke again. "Flameclaw will be ValleyClan's new deputy."

Why you... I shook my head in despair while the Clan cheered. Flameclaw stepped up to meet his leader. "I'm honored, Firstar," he said. His voice was heavy with fake -though only I saw it as this-emotion. "I will do my best to serve all of you," he added with a modest-again, fake-dip of his head.

It was now or never. I had to do something! Or at least try.

It was foolish, I know. But I stepped forward, took a shaky breath, and yowled, "Stop!"