Chapter 4

Sunrise

Once the news had spread around camp and the shock worn off, everything was silent. Mellowsky's body was brought out for mourning and cats were lined all around their former deputy. Waspstar hadn't spoken a word since he had been told and warriors were becoming unnerved. They began talking about what might have happened.

"Maybe it was Shadowclan? Wasn't Mellowsky heading in that direction?" "Then how did she get down tot the lake? She would have fought off a Shadowclan warrior. I think that she decided to walk along the lake and decided to go for a swim." "She's a strong swimmer, she wouldn't have drowned just like that." "What about Aspenclaw?" "You don't think he drowned her do you?" "Why would he do that?" "Maybe he wanted to be deputy?" "No way! He's a good cat! He wouldn't do that! Would he?"

Murmurings floated all throughout camp until many cats were convinced that Aspenclaw had something to do with Mellowsky's death. They would glare into the medicine cat's den until Reedsong or Skypaw shooed them away. No one was allowed to enter, not even Willowbreeze.

Inside the den, Aspenclaw still lay unconscious. Reedsong was getting a little nervous. He should have woken by now. But Aspenclaw was far away at the point. In his sub-consciousness, he was still down by the lake.

He sat at the edge and looked out at the water. He was pretty sure he was dead, which worked fine for him. It didn't look like he was in Starclan, but neither did it look like the dark forest. He decided he must be somewhere in between. He whirled around as he heard footsteps behind him. It was Mellowsky. His heart dropped.

"I had hoped you survived," he said sadly. She shook her head. "I was gone long before you found me, but I want to thank you for trying all the same."

Aspenclaw shook his head in grief. "I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. It's not your fault." She moved closer to him and her face grew serious. "Aspenclaw, you have been marked for a dangerous path. Starclan can do little to help you. We know that you have no choice in what you are going to do and we understand that. We will not condemn you for something you did so long ago." Aspenclaw's green eyes grew wider with every sentence. "I thought it didn't matter anymore! I can't do anything when I'm dead!"

"You are not dead Aspenclaw. We have kept you in a slumber until we could talk to you."

"Why couldn't you just let me stay dead? Everything would have been easier then!" He cried in fear and agitation.

"It is not our choice. You were rescued by one of your clanmates," she said keeping an even tone. Aspenclaw hung his head. Mellowsky continued. "Know that when this is over, you will still have a place in Starclan. We will explain as much as we can to the clans. But Iceheart and his followers have been wise. They have gone places even we cannot se to discuss their plans. We only know for sure that war is coming."

Aspenclaw desperately wanted to tell her all the plans they were making, but his mouth seemed bound shut. Mellowsky stood and began walking away. "I must go and so should you. We will talk again soon."

The brown tom watched the lithe orange and white cat disappear. He felt himself dissolving, but not before he heard Iceheart in his head.

"Tell them Windclan did it and I will make things easier for you. I will even lay a scent there."

Aspenclaw woke with a start in the medicine cat den. He was alone at the moment. Reedsong and Skypaw had gone out to show their respect for Mellowsong. Aspenclaw thought quietly for a few moments before standing up and wobbling out of the den. One-by-one cats began to notice his arrival. A hush fell over the clan. Finally Hollowtree broke the silence.

"What happened Aspenclaw?" A clan full of wide curious eyes looked expectantly at him.

"It was Windclan."

Furious yowl and cries erupted from the cats. They called out angrily until Waspstar called out with a mighty "QUIET!" The cats fell silent. Waspstar turned to Aspenclaw. "Explain."

Aspenclaw took a deep breath and continued. "I went out looking for Mellowsky last night. She had been heading along to the Shadowclan border, but changed directions. I followed her scent down to the lake when, suddenly, I smelled Windclan." He paused for a second to gather his thoughts and looked at the cats surrounding him. Their faces were laced with shock, horror, and anger. He shook his head and continued. "I saw two cats swimming away in the direction of Windclan. I figured they were trespassing and I began to swim after them. They weren't very good swimmers so I was gaining on them and my foot hit something. I stopped and ducked underwater and found Mellowsky. Her foot was caught in some reeds. It dawned on me that this was what the cats had been swimming away from. I swam down and chewed her foot fur and began going back up the surface. I was stopped when something shoved me back down. The two cats had returned. They held me under and took turns breathing. I managed to scratch them a few times, but my vision went dark. I began sinking back down and they swam away. I remember pushing Mellowsky up with my hind legs and then nothing."

For a few moments, all the cats remained silent. Shellnose stood up. "I remember pulling the reeds off of Mellowsky's foot." "And I remember the Windclan scent." Piped up Smokepaw. "I was too busy running back to camp to think about it much." Cats began to murmur amongst themselves. Their voices grew louder and louder until they were shouting.

"We can't let them get away with this!"

"We should attack their camp and make them suffer!"

"What about our kits? They're not safe!"

On and on they went until Waspstar leaped up onto the stump and let out a yowl. The cats grew quiet.

"We will not attack them today. The gathering is in three days. For now, we will increase patrols and guards. If you spot a Windclan cat on our territory, you will bring them here for punishment." A few cats nodded their heads, but most looked still unsatisfied. "We will not let them get away with this I promise," Waspstar said. He hung his head a little before looking back up. "Now it is time to choose a new deputy." He let out a sigh and thought for a moment. "May Mellowsky approve my choice. The new deputy will be…" He faltered off and many cats looked confused, but only Aspenclaw saw what made him stop.

The shadow of Larkstar, the previous leader of Riverclan, was slowly circling Waspstar, clouding his thoughts. Aspenclaw tried to move forward, but Iceheart stepped in his way. "There never was such a perfect opportunity."

"Aspenclaw," Waspstar finally spoke. "The new deputy will be Aspenclaw." Aspenclaw looked horrified. The clan mistook it for shock. They called out his named and congratulated him. Hollowtree and Willowbreeze were among the first.

"Look at my mentor all grown up and deputy!" Hollowtree said cheerfully. Willowbreeze said nothing but rubbed against him purring loudly. The clan came up one cat at a time and congratulated him. Some made jokes about patrols and duties he'd have to do while others murmured words of encouragement. Aspenclaw said very little through the process.

When most of the cats had gone their separate ways, Willowbreeze finally spoke up. "You seem a little shocked." Aspenclaw nodded. "I guess I am." Willowbreeze nudged him caringly under the chin. "You'll be fine. How about I lead the first patrol?" She asked looking up at him. "We do need more now anyways right?" Aspenclaw smiled at her gratefully. That would be wonderful, thank you. She nodded and went over to talk to Whitestone and Streampatch. The three of them left the camp together. Aspenclaw stopped smiling and turned towards the warrior's den.

Reedsong stopped him before he reached the entrance. "Are you feeling alright Aspenclaw? No dizziness or upset stomach?" Aspenclaw shook his head. "Just tired is all." Reedsong nodded. "That's to be expected. Come see me if you need anything. And congratulations!" She smiled and turned to go back to her own den. Aspenclaw crawled into his nest and lay quietly until moonhigh. The day had gone fast.

Outside, the elders were burying Mellowsky's body with Waspstar nearby. Waspstar walked very slowly behind them and when the deed was done, he walked very slowly back. Aspenclaw noted how much this must have taken out of him. He was a very old leader and had seen too many deputies go before him.

"He won't have long left," whispered Iceheart in Aspenclaw's ear. "That's when you will start everything." Aspenclaw shook him away and finally drifted off to sleep.