A/N: I just heard about Yellowfang's Secret, a Super Edition book the Erins are planning... This book will probably make this fic even MORE non-canonical than it already is... But I would like to point out here and now that I started this before that book was even planned so it is not my fault that it will be so wrong. Well, all the current issues are definitely my fault, but you know what I mean. Anyway... Curse word(s?) in this chapter, don't read if you don't like it.


Russetfur jumped to her paws at the sound of the screech. She dashed out of the newly structured nursery as fast as she could towards the noise. The sound, while having obviously come from a she-cat, resounded from Raggedstar's den. Several cats were already hurtling to whichever Clanmate's aid.

The queen pushed through the bystanders crowded around the den. When she finally got close enough to see what was happening, she wished she wasn't. Raggedstar lay dead on the floor of his den, his throat slit and a pool of blood drying around him. From the look of things, he had been there since moonhigh, though it was still early in the morning.

Greenpaw was the cat that had found him and screeched. The small tortoiseshell's fur was fluffed out and her eyes huge with fear and disbelief. Nightpelt had found his way to her, and was comforting his apprentice. Brokentail was staring at his father's body, just as shocked. His bent tail drooped, but soon he lifted his head and turned to his Clanmates.

"ShadowClan...My father has been murdered! It's likely that since no scents of other Clans are present.. That it was one of us! So look me in the eyes, cat who killed my father. Look me in the eyes, and know that these eyes will be the last thing you ever see! I'll find you." He said darkly. He locked eyes with Russetfur and twitched his tail for her to come to him. Remembering their deal, she walked forward silently to stand beside him, noth literally and figuratively.

The dark-furred tom pressed his fur against hers and announced to the Clan, "I will be your leader, now, and I will bring this Clan to glory if we die trying. I shall make ShadowClan the most powerful Clan in the forest, and no cat will ever challenge us again!" He said, his voice growing stronger as he gave the inspirational speech. "Russetfur," he said in a somewhat lower voice, "Tell Runningnose to prepare traveling herbs. Tonight I go to Highstones!" he said the last bit in the same confident, surging voice. Russetfur dipped her head silently and trotted to the medicine den. Anything to get away.

"Runningnose?" she called from the entrance of the den. When his eyes blinked open, she asked hesitantly, "Brokentail wants you to make traveling herbs." The gray and white medicine cat didn't respond, only looked at her with desolate eyes for a moment before standing shakily to get the herbs. He was still grieving Crowtail, as was Russetfur. She wanted to say something comforting, but she held back the impulse and only said, "Raggedstar's dead." over her shoulder as she returned to the nursery.

Flamesong was huddled in the back of the den with fearful eyes when Russetfur returned. "What happened out there?" she asked in a small voice.

"Raggedstar...He's been killed." Her eyes widened with horror.

Shaking, the fragile queen asked, "Who? WindClan?"

"No." Russetfur replied. "It was a cat from ShadowClan. We don't know who... Brokentail is going to HighStones tonight. I can't grasp the fact that he's going to be our leader..." she changed the subject slightly.

The black-furred queen pawed at the dirt. "That is a really strange thought. I wonder who our deputy will be.. Maybe Ratscar? They did nurse together, after all..."

"No, Brokentail doesn't even like h-" she paused, wrinkling her nose in confusion. "How did you know he's called Ratscar now?" Her tail lifted hopefully. "Is your memory coming back? What's Duskpaw's warrior name?"

Flamesong shook her head sadly, "No, I was just talking to Shadestorm. She mentioned his new name...What is Duskpaw's warrior name?"

"Duskfeather." Russetfur answered, her tail drooping again. She noticed that Shadestorm was staring at her and the dark ginger she-cat looked back at her. "What?"

Shadestorm didn't reply, only began to groom her fur, breaking the silent exchange of looks. Russetfur, with another sad glance at Flamesong, curled her tail over her nose and closed her eyes, wishing that Brokentail was the one found dead in his den.


That night, before Brokentail left for Highstones, the queen heard him call a Clan meeting. She decided to pretend to be deeply asleep, and pricked her ears to listen. "ShadowClan, since I will no longer be your deputy in a little while, I will appoint the new deputy now. I say these words before Raggedstar, may he hear and approve my choice. Blackfoot will be the new deputy of ShadowClan."

Russetfur, who had closed her eyes, blinked them open. Blackfoot? Disgust and jealousy wrapped her heart in vines. Blackfoot was deputy. That vile, creepy, irritating jerk was deputy! She resisted the urge to spit on the ground and growl in defiance, knowing she would have to support Brokentail's decision in this. She waited for Brokentail to leave before exiting the den. She nearly stumbled headfirst into Blackfoot. He jumped back in surprise. "Sorry, deputy." Russetfur muttered scathingly.

The huge white tom narrowed his eyes, but not in anger or irritation. His gaze seemed almost...Concerned. "Russetfur, I need to talk to you." The dark ginger she-cat sighed. Did he really think this was the time? Regardless, she followed him out of camp a little ways. "Look... This is going to come as a shock to you, but don't freak out or run away, okay?" he asked.

"Blackfoot..." Russetfur said slowly, deciding to turn him down before he made some sad plea. "I'm sorry, but I do not like you that way. I guess we can be friends or whatever, but as you can clearly see from my belly the size of Carrionplace, there's someone else." She didn't actually like that someone else, but that was beside the point.

The white tom snorted. "Would you just listen? I wasn't going to say- uh, that. Pretty much the opposite, actually."

"If you made me drag my pregnant ass out here to tell me you hate me- " she stared, but he cut her off.

"Russetfur!" he said insistently. "Shut up and listen. Littlecloud and I are your brothers."

She tilted her head sideways. "Excuse me?"

"Cedarstar... He's our father, too. Littlecloud talked to him in StarClan when he got his name. He had another mate, before Crowtail. She was the RiverClan medicine cat!" Blackfoot explained, looking scandalized. "Littlecloud and I are half RiverClan.. And their medicine cat! How could Cedarstar have broken the code so badly? He didn't deserve to be leader, Littlecloud shouldn't be a medicine cat, and I shouldn't be deputy." His ears flattened to his skull, and his tail drooping as he slowly sat down.

Russetfur awkwardly placed her tail on his shoulder comfortingly. "Did Brokentail know you're half-RiverClan? No. So you do deserve to be deputy. And Littlecloud's a better medicine cat than Runningnose. Maybe he gets it from your mother, but that doesn't change the fact that it saves cats' lives. Cedarstar made a mistake. A huge, horrifying, mistake. But I'm sure you'll be a fine deputy, even if I wish he'd picked me, kits and all."

"I guess." Blackfoot chuckled. Russetfur said nothing more for a while, contemplating how odd it was that they turned out to be related and how even more odd it was that Blackfoot, of all cats, was doubting his place as deputy. He was such a cocky, arrogant tom normally. He leaned against her, and she resisted the urge to shrink away. What a change his parentage had brought in him.

Finally, he stood up. "Anyway, Brokentail was telling me that were one of his supporters. I know how he can be... He didn't... Get you pregnant, did he?" he looked a little green at the thought.

"No!" Russetfur nearly shouted. "He's like a kit to me! Yuck."

Blackfoot looked incredibly relieved. "Thank StarClan." He waited for her to continue.

"I'm not telling you who the father is. I'm sorry." she apologized.

He shrugged. "That's okay. I think I know anyway." He trotted away, calling over his shoulder, "Get back to camp, oh pregnant one! I'm going hunting."

"Ugh." Russetfur winced at her new title, but did indeed start walking back to the nursery for a good long rest, preferably before her new leader returned and made her follow him around like an eager kit.


A/N: Ahhh I'm sorry about all the short chapters, I really am. and it's even worse because I leave for my grandmother's tomorrow evening, and I'll be gone for more than a week... Looks like another long pause, guys... Sorry... I really suck lately... I can't promise I'll be better but I'll do my damndest for longer, better, and quickly written chapters when I get back. Go and read Cedarstar's Secret if you haven't already, or maybe re-read this from the start for something to do... Goodbye for now...