Guess who's back! (If you can't figure it out, you're an idiot.) (Sorry.) I apologize for the cliffies, it's just so fun to annoy all you peoples. I'll try not to do that in this chapter. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors, just my kitties and g-pigs and otherwise.

Chapter 5

Windwalker padded through the forest. Sometimes Firerunner would join her, but for the most part she traveled alone. She didn't mind too much. She liked being able to set her own pace. Still, it gave her a lot of time to think about the Clan. She missed her mother and her siblings so much. She felt horrible about disappearing without a word, but she knew she wouldn't have been able to leave if she had even glanced at them.

Dusk had fallen. Windwalker had made herself a small nest and was just settling into it when a light breeze swept by her. Seconds later, the form of a red tom appeared beside her.

Windwalker sighed. "I wish you would stop doing that."

"What? What am I doing?" Firerunner asked, knowing full well what it was.

Windwalker glared at him. "This random coming and going. It drives me nuts."

Firerunner purred softly. Then his mood became somber. "It won't be happening again," he meowed. "Soon, you will have to continue on your own."

Windwalker blinked up at him. "Why?"

"We are almost to the point where I lost my life…where I failed. I cannot continue past that point. But you must, Windwalker."

"What happened?"

Firerunner stared at her for a second. If he told the little Wanderer, would she be more inclined to repeat the mistake he made? No, she should know what happened. "I was traveling just like you were until I came to where the mountains began. There was a deep chasm, and at the bottom was a fast flowing river. The only way to get across was by leaping from these rock formations that formed a bridge. They were spaced far apart from each other, and the tops of them were very small. The first few I made it across okay. But when I got to the middle, I started to second-guess myself. I kept thinking about the Clan I had left behind. As I made my leap for the smallest rock, I foolishly looked back. I missed and fell, down into the river far below me. I died as soon as I hit the water."

Windwalker was staring at him, her eyes large and frightened. No doubt she was thinking about going home, where it was safe.

Firerunner scooted closer to her and rested his head lightly on hers. "You can do this. You are small enough that you should be able to land without any problems. Just don't look back, don't second-guess yourself. You know in your heart this is what you were supposed to do. Trust your instincts and you'll be fine."

Windwalker cuddled in closer to the spirit cat. "You will make it," was the last thing she heard as sleep overtook her.

--

Windkit had now been missing for three days. The search party had picked up on her trail near the border. She was heading for the mountains. On occasion, it would vanish entirely, and they would have to split up and hunt it down again. This was one of those times.

"Over this way!" Smallpebble called to the others. "There's a nest here!"

"Whoa, I thought you said Windkit was less than a moon away from being an apprentice," meowed Redfoot as he inspected the tiny nest. "It's barely big enough for a two-month-old kit!"

Emberflame padded up to the others and sniffed to nest. "It was recently made. Her scent is fresh."

"Hey, I've got a trail," Hawkwing called from where he was standing with Russetpelt. The rest of the cats quickly joined him.

"It's really fresh, like she only just left this area. Windkit couldn't have gone too far," Russetpelt added.

The search party quickened their pace. They found where she had taken a quick detour and had caught herself a mouse and had eaten before returning to her journey. One thing they had all noticed was just how straight her path was. Rarely did she make a turn, and they only time she had truly veered from it was when she was hunting. Then she would immediately return to it.

What really surprised them was how well she could hunt without any training. Every hunt seemed to be successful. The search party had come to the conclusion that someone was with her. The only problem was that there was never any scent of another cat.

Emberflame's ears twitched. A low roaring sound was ahead. The others too had heard it, and all knew what it was. They sped up, hoping to catch the wandering kit before she reached the river.

The roaring became louder extremely fast. As they burst out of the forest and into the sun, they were terrified by what they saw. The roar of the river was deafening. Standing at the edge of a steep cliff was Windkit. She was looking uncertainly down into the chasm. She glanced up quickly at the series of rocks that created a bridge, and then back down.

"Windkit!" Emberflame yowled.

Windkit's ear twitched and it looked as though she was about to turn around. Suddenly, the air beside her seemed to waver for a moment. Windkit froze, and then looked up. She crouched, then sprang, her front paws outstretched. She landed easily on the first rock and prepared for the next leap. She neatly managed to land on the next several rocks before hesitating again. The next jump was wider than the others, and the rock she was aiming for was smaller as well. Windkit flexed her claws and jumped. She hung for a moment in the air, then gracefully landed and continued her way across the rest.

Redfoot, Smallpebble, and Russetpelt stood frozen, watching the little she-cat make her way across the chasm, praying to StarClan that somehow she would make it. Emberflame raced forward and sprang onto the first rock. She jumped again and landed awkwardly on the next one. As she was trying to catch herself, one of her paws slipped off the edge. She felt herself falling backwards. Emberflame closed her eyes tightly and dug her claws into the rock. Moments later, she felt something grab her by the scruff.

"Hang in there," Hawkwing meowed as he pulled her up. Emberflame pulled as hard as she could with her front paws and found a small ledge for her hind paws. She pushed up and almost made it back onto solid rock when the worst occurred.

Hawkwing had taken a step back as he pulled, only to find there was nothing there. He started to slide off, his claws scrabbling for any foothold, but to no avail. He let go of Emberflame and plummeted off of the rock. A scream of terror was ripped from his throat as he fell. It was cut off abruptly as he hit the water.

Emberflame hauled herself up onto the rock and turned to watch as the deputy was swept away. She looked up to see that Windkit had just made it to the other side. "Windkit!" she screamed. This time, the silver striped she-cat didn't even acknowledge her aunt.

Emberflame was about to jump to the next rock when Russetpelt called out to her. "Don't follow her! It's too dangerous!" The orange she-cat sighed and returned to the other cats.

"Let's go home," she mewed quietly. Redfoot and Russetpelt nodded solemnly and padded into the forest. Smallpebble lingered behind.

Smallpebble brushed against the MysticClan warrior. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "Would you like me to walk with you back to your Clan?" Emberflame looked up at her. She shook her head. The gray she-cat nodded and followed the others.

Emberflame looked back briefly. Windkit was standing on the other side of the river. She glanced back at Emberflame. Their eyes locked. Emberflame was suddenly on the other side of the chasm, looking back at an orange cat. She realized she was seeing through Windkit's eyes. I'm sorry, but this is how it has to be.

--

Windwalker stood at the edge of the chasm looking down into the rushing river far below. Her gaze flicked up at the tall rock formations that created a broken path from one side to the other. "You have got to be kidding me," she mumbled.

"Windkit!" She froze and was about to turn and answer Emberflame when Firerunner appeared beside her.

"Do not look back!" he growled, not out of anger but of worry. "You need to make this journey. Remember, you aren't a Clan cat anymore; you don't need to answer to them. You must rely on yourself…believe in yourself. Now hurry!"

Windwalker nodded and leapt onto the first rock. Easy enough, she thought as she sprang to the next. Again and again she jumped and landed until she came to the middle. This is where Firerunner died. She paused and sized up the jump. She was small enough that she could land on the tiny rock without any issues, but the jump itself frightened her. It was so vast…

Windwalker shook her head and jumped. She floated for a moment then felt her paws hit solid rock. Out of instinct, she dug her claws in and was amazed that she had indeed made it. Windwalker continued across the bridge with confidence.

Then she heard the scream. She knew it was Hawkwing. She wanted to turn around, to go back, but she knew it was too late. She landed on the opposite side of the chasm and stood there panting. She looked back to see Emberflame standing there alone, looking at her niece with sad light blue eyes. "I'm sorry, but this is how it has to be," she whispered before turning and padding into the unknown territory beyond the river.

--

Aquastar stared at Emberflame, her jaw hanging open. Hawkwing? Dead? her mind was crying over and over. The rest of the Clan was gathered, watching the report of the events that had occurred three days ago. None of them could believe that the deputy had died like that. They believed he was like Aquastar, invincible. Many worried about the Warrior Code; after all, they had been without a deputy for three days.

Aquastar snapped out of her trance. "I need some time to decide on the new deputy. For now, go about your normal activities. Gather beneath the Great Rock at sundown." With that, the leader padded quickly into her den. The Clan dispersed, meows of grief and wonder spreaded through the Clan. Hawkwing's gone. Windkit is out there all alone. Who do you think the next deputy will be?

Emberflame became aware of the fact that Wolfheart was standing behind her. Before she could say anything, the queen spoke. "I know that you wanted to bring her back. But I do agree with Smallpebble. It would have been too dangerous for you. Besides, then I would have lost my older sister as well."

Emberflame turned and buried her head in her sister's shoulder. "I'm sorry. I couldn't bring her home! I'm sorry!" she sobbed quietly.

Wolfheart laid her tail across Emberflame's shoulders. "I know. But it isn't your fault. And even if it was, I'd still forgive you."

"Mom?" chorused two little voices. Sunkit and Twilightkit were standing, their eyes round. "Will Windkit be okay?"

Wolfheart smiled at her remaining kits. "You're sister was always a fighter in her own right, and clever, too. I'm sure she'll come home without a scratch on her."

…

The cats of MysticClan milled uneasily at the base of the Great Rock. Finally, Aquastar ascended to its peak and looked down on her Clan, studying them for a moment.

"I have decided upon the new deputy. It was a hard decision, for all of you are some of the best warriors I have seen in a long while. But I have finally come to a conclusion of who will be the best in the position of deputy." Aquastar paused, and then lifted her muzzle gracefully up to the stars. "Hawkwing, I hope that you will approve of my choice, and I hope you will be an example for the new deputy." Aquastar looked back down upon her Clan, her eyes seeking out her choice's pelt. When she found it, she yowled, "The deputy of MysticClan will be Emberflame."

All eyes turned to the young warrior. Emberflame blinked, her light blue eyes fill with surprise, honor, and a little bit of nervousness. She stood and padded towards the Great Rock as though in a dream. She touched her muzzle to Aquastar's shoulder and meowed, "I will do my best to make you, this Clan, and our ancestors proud."

Instantly, the rest of the Clan began chanting her name, her sisters and the kits the loudest voices. After a moment, Aquastar held up her tail, silencing the Clan. "Although we do not have his body, we will still sit vigil for Hawkwing."

The Clan nodded and formed themselves into a circle. Wolfheart and Frostbite both sat next to Emberflame, at least until Aquastar softly told Wolfheart to go and get some rest with her kits. Before she returned to the nursery, Wolfheart brushed her pelt against Emberflame's. "You'll do fine," she murmured.

Emberflame looked up at the stars. She still blamed herself for losing Windkit, and she felt responsible for Hawkwing's death. If she hadn't been so clumsy, if she had just stayed put, if he hadn't come out to help her…Emberflame's thoughts stopped short. There were too many "if"s. What was done was done. No amount of wondering could change that. She was deputy, and she had to be more certain of herself now. She watched a shooting star go by, heading towards Silverpelt. Hawkwing.