Gustfoot ran into camp. His sides were covered in blood and he was heaving. It sounded like gurgling from his lungs, as red liquid dribbled from his opened mouth. The medicine cat was ancient, and could barely stand. He fell sideways with a soft thud. Many cats in the clan gasped and didn't know whether to cry out or run away. Solemnskin, deputy of Thunderclan, ran to his side.
"Gustfoot! What happened, where's Sunstar?" He asked frantically, while whisking his tail towards the Medicine cat apprentice, Thymebelly, to get cobwebs.
"Don't waste supplies on me!" The older Medicine cat called to his apprentice, who halted, and ran at his mentor's side.
"Listen, Solemnskin. A Windclan patrol stopped us, and their deputy, a bloodthirsty beast, called us liars. He claimed we were there to spy, and he attacked with five other cats."
Solemnskin's eyes grew wide. "Surely Sunstar's other lives would have protected her! She must be alive!"
Stormcry looked around. Most of the clan had gathered around the dying medicine cat. Solemnskin didn't seem to understand at all.
Gustfoot took a death breath. It sounded awfully painful. "SunSTEPS, never made it to the moonstone. They killed her before we got there."
Waspfur let out a mournful cry. Her face was full of horror. She turned to the deputy. "Solemnskin, please, let us attack! Let us avenge my mother!"
Stormcry was also outraged. A cat she felt was on her side was now in Silverpelt. She felt the need to fight also. Flexing her small, but sharp points of claws, she hissed under her breath. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Waspfur nod at her in slight gratitude.
Solemnskin bowed his head. "Tomorrow, I will travel to the moonstone and succeed Sunsteps." He jumped on Highrock, "Starclan, please approve of my choice for Waspfur as deputy!"
He jumped down and touched his nose to the queen's head. "We will avenge your mother, I promise you that."
Waspfur closed her eyes. When she opened them, fire seemed to burst from her pupils. She was ready.