Aa.: " This is a short chapter I'd say, but its basically just a small head's up before I continue I guess. But it IS still a chapter :D"
Cinderheart: " Imma be, imma be, imma be...-"
Aa.: "Don't say it!"
Cinderheart: "Fine...Hey! Splashkit! Leave Sandstorm alone!"
Aa.: " Alright, well let's begi-"
Moonflame: "Imma be, imma be, imma be a-"
Aa." Zip it!"
Ivytail: "Imma be, imma be, imma be a-"
Aa.: " Oh gosh. Yes. Alot of cats will *be* something more in this chapter..."
Firestar: "But not me! Noooo..I had to die! And we all know who's fault THAT is..." *Side glances at Aa.*
Aa.: " But you're not really-"
Moonflame to Ivytail : " And I was like baby, baby, baby, ohhhhh, like baby, baby baby ohhhh-"
Ivytail to Moonflame: "It comes naturally, it comes naturally, when you're with me baby-"
Firestar to Sandstorm: "Ain't no mountain hiiiiigh enough- ain't no riiiver wide enough- to keep me from gettin' to you-"
Lionblaze to Cinderheart: " You- make- me - feel like im livin' a- teen-age-dream-the way you -"
Cinderheart to...no one: " Thunderclan she-cats are unforgetable, daisy dukes bikinis on top! Sun-kissed fur so hot it'll melt-"
Moonflame: "Wait, bikini?"
Cinderheart: "Yeah! Remember the yellow polka-dot one I wore on our trip to the Lake...?"
Lionblaze: "Oh yeaaah!"
Aa. * stares at all the cats with wide eyes.* : "What the heck guys? What IS this? Singing? Justing Bieber? Katy Perry? Selena Gomez?"
All of them: " Its Cat-Idol!"
Aa.: "Lame. Anyway- I do not own Warriors or any of the songs that the so called Cat-Idol cats sung. Oh...and I dont own American/Candian Idol either...sigh ..."
ENJOY THE CHAPTER AND THE OTHER ONES THAT WILL SOON BE POSTED!
Lionblaze and Birchfall carried Firestar's limp body all the way back to camp, trying their best to honor his body by decreasing his drag on the rough earth. The rest of the patrol was following closely
behind, all tails drooping. Even Berrynose was quiet and at least seemed to be mourning, although Moonflame wouldn't put it past him to already be thinking about the next deputyship. Just then,
when Moonflame turned his head to steal a glance at Berrynose, he noticed a very distinct spark of excitement in his eyes.
"You could at least pretend to be mourning." Moonflame spat at his denmate and hurried along the line to pad alongside Ivytail.
Her scent drifted to his mouth and he sighed in half-content, pressing close to her as their low tails twined. Suddenly Moonflame stiffened as Mountainstar and Raincloud's scent joined Ivytail. Their
scent was wrong- spiked with sudden anxiety. The feeling on their invisible pelts grew strong as Berrynose padded ahead of Moonflame and Ivytail. Moonflame wrapped his tail protectively around
Ivytail as he glared at his ignorant clanmate.
Be strong.
His father breathed before all trace of their slight visit vanished into the dead air.
"What's wrong?" Ivytail asked, trying to walk normally despite her obvious limp.
Moonflame shook his head and sadly licked her ear.
"Be strong."
* * * [ Half a moon later ] * * *
Doveflight padded past Moonflame on her way to Bramblestar's den and Moonflame dipped his head at his former mentor, but before he had time to ask, she bounded away, hurrying to Foxleap who
was sitting beneath High Ledge. Apparently Moonflame had assumed wrong about Doveflight visiting the new leader, but Graystripe on the other hand was definitely on his way to the rockfall.
Moonflame stood and started to edge toward the medicine den where Ivytail still lay since the battle. It had turned out that her paw had been broken, not torn, and so Jayfeather was keeping her in
until there was no more threat of further injury.
"Are you coming?"
Moonflame nearly jumped out of his fur.
"W-what?"
Graystripe was beside him, his eyes slightly curious. Ever since the death of his best friend, it had taken a lot for Graystripe to show any other emotion than grief. He was taking it the worse. Then
there was Sandstorm. She had lain two days straight beside her former mate's stiff body, yet she was now happily helping her new denmates improve the Elder's den. ( She had moved on from her
warrior duties after her vigil) Moonflame had overheard her say something about soon being able to see Firestar in Starclan and that she should not over mourn for something that was destined to
happen; her time would come soon, she had mewed quite cheerfully. Moonflame now shook his head. Sandstorm was more of a warrior than any of the other cats here; if he lost Ivytail, he would
surely crumble down to an unworthy mess, and wait for the whole of Starclan to come fetch him.
"Moonflame!"Well it wasn't that hard to get Graystripe angry.
"I'm sorry Graystripe. What were you saying?"
"Bramblecla-er-star wants us to go to his den."
"Me? Why?"
"What do you think fox-heart? Or have you forgotten about the way Firestar gave you a home, protection, food, denmates, Ivytail…"
Moonflame blinked, his eyes wide. Graystripe snarled and stalked away, not bothering to wait for him. It wasn't that Moonflame had forgotten, he had simply not…wanted to remember. Bramblestar
had yet to assign a deputy, and the whole clan was in a sort of frenzy, feeling weak because of the unfilled position. Trying his best not to be mad at Graystripe, Moonflame ran up the rockfall and
stopped at the edge of the leader's den.
"Bramblestar?"
"Come in Moonflame."
Mooflame padded inside the den and was surprised to see his leader almost purring. The warrior dipped his head at Bramblestar and ignored a look of reproach Greystripe. Moonflames huffled his paws.
"Is there something you wanted to talk to me about?"
"We need a deputy, and I need some of my warriors' opinions." his large head swung around to look at Graystripe who reluctantly came to sit beside Moonflame, as far from him as was
appropriate.
"Shouldn't you be replacing me with a senior warrior?" Moonflame cocked his head to the side.
Bramblestar shrugged and placed his tail neatly over his paws, his amber eyes glinting in the darkness.
Graystripe went nuts. "You two are the most heartless cats I've met since the battle with Bloodclan. Everyone around here is acting as if nothing ever happened, when in fact, Firestar died not even a
moon ago. What do you think he thinks when he sees how happy his clan is while he's in Starclan?"
Bramblestar patiently waited until Graystripe had finished growling, and then spoke calmly.
"Do you know who gave me my fifth life? Firestar himself. With the fifth live, he gave me Freedom and he explained what he wanted me to do with it. He wishes for his clan to be strong, and free of any
unnecessary grieving over him. Do you think Firestar would have really wanted us to mope around, ripping each other's whiskers off at every mew. Normally, leaders do not share such information with
warriors. So I hope that from now on Graystripe, you will follow your duty and serve your clan dutifully until at last you shall join your friend in Starclan."
Moonflame's whiskers twitched. Bramblestar was so…wise. Maybe he had always been, it wasn't as if Moonflame had really talked to him on a more than respective friendship level.
"I'm sorr-"
Bramblestar rose his tail in signal for silence and Graystripe nodded, his shoulders seemingly not holding the weight of the world any longer.
"I assume that you will keep this information to yourself as well." Bramblestar's eyes darted to Moonflame who nodded at the leader and the latter sat down more comfortably before continuing. "We
need a deputy." he spoke bluntly.
"Did you have anyone specific in mind?" Graystripe asked, as if determined to prove to his new leader that he was capable of being a real part of the clan once more.
"Berrynose?"
"I think the clan might take it the wrong way." the gray warrior mewed quietly as Bramblestar nodded.
Moonflame sat there, simply listening, his mind truly elsewhere.
"What about Squirrelflight?"
A spark of some feeling coloured Bramblestar's eyes and Moonflame knew right away that there was no chance of Squirrelflight ever becoming deputy; not while Bramblestar was leader anyway.
Moonflame suddenly stood straighter."Cinderheart." he mewed ever so quietly and winced at the silence of shock that followed.
"Cinderheart?" Bramblestar echoed, as if not fully sold on the idea.
"She is kind and rational, meaning that she would not rush the clan into uncessary battle. She is a strong warrior with determination so fierce, that it alone could devastate an entire clan. She is
devoted and-"
"She has kits." Graystripe spoke and Brambleclaw's voice filled the den soon after/
"Kist that are due to become apprentices."
Silence followed and Moonflame could hear the very cat they were talking about mewing gently to her kits."Crouch down like this," she was saying, "keep your tail low, and….attack!"
Just after, a fake surprised yowl came from Lionblaze who was probably being pelted with soft blows from Echokit and Splashkit.
"I think Cinderheart would make a great deputy." Bramblestar finally spoke and Moonflame concentrated on what was before his eyes, although he could hardly keep in place, especially after hearing
Lionblaze and Cinderheart playing with their kits.
"May we go now?"
Bramblestar purred and nodded, turning to make talk into more depth about the upcoming announcement with Graystripe. Moonflame dipped his head at the two toms and bounded out of the den,
pelting his way to Jayfeather's den.
"Jayfeather?" Moonflame called before entering.
"She's awake." the medicine cat guessed and Moonflame barged into the den.
"Ivytail!" he purred as he saw his mate up and walked nearer. Ivytail stood with perfect balance and trotted towards him, brushing her pelt along his, her body quivering with her purr.
"She's completely cured now, and she may leave the medicine den." Jayfeather called from deeper into the den and Moonflame nearly jumped up and down like an excited kit.
"We can finally go hunting together!"
Ivytail's eyes sparked at the thought, but Jayfeather ruined the moment.
"I don't think so. The only place where she's going is the nursery, and at tops the fresh kill pile."
Right. The kits first."When are they due again?"
"How can you forget? You ask me everyday…" Jayfeather muttered before picking up some herbs and walked away to the Elder's den.
"Anytime now." Ivytail mewed gently and Moonflame positioned himself beside Ivytail as he guided her to the nursery.
"You go hunting, and I'll get some sleep in a comfy nest." Ivytail purred softly.
Moonflame hesitated.
"Fine, but I'll bring you back something juicy."
And with a lick at her cheek, Moonflame started to run towards Doveflight and Foxleap to ask them if they wanted to come hunting, when suddenly Bramblestar emerged from his den.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath higledge." his mew was rejuvenated and fresh, and even Graystripe was standing straighter, all the grief vanished from his eyes.
The clan gathered, a buzz echoing through the assembled cats. Energy was sparking the air. They felt like it was about time Bramblestar made a descision; there was a Gathering tonight, and
everything would be slightly easier with an assigned deputy to eliminate any hint of weakness. Moonflame stiffened. He doubted the truce tonight would mean anything to any cat.