Chapter 13

Airpaw thundered down the gorge, step in step with the SkyClan warriors. He had gotten a reputation in JayClan for being the fastest cat in the Clan and here he was, leading the way, in front of actual warriors. His paws seemed to only skim on the ground and with a massive leap over a boulder, Airpaw overpowered the SkyClan warriors and was the first to throw himself into battle with the rats. He charged in, killing one instantly that had been in midjump, prepared to jump onto a skinny gray cat. The SkyClan cat had looked at him in confusion, but when Sandfire let out a ferocious yowl, understanding flooded into the cat's pale green eyes. Airpaw planted himself beside the warrior and the two of them swiped at rats that began pouring towards them. Sandfire was beside them too, fighting just as powerful as one of the cats of old. In the midst of the fight, Airpaw looked up and saw Darkshadow hovering over Birdheart, clawing any rat that tried to approach her while his littermates were side by side, risking their lives just as any cat would. Just as any warrior would.

Suddenly the rats stopped coming and Airpaw glanced around, shocked to find every cat free from rats. Where had they all gone? And how had they all left together? It was as though some greater force was controlling the rats. Airpaw shook his head and examined himself for wounds. He could feel blood trickling down from a small cut in his neck, but it wasn't bad. Other than that he was fine. Airpaw then turned and padded over to the gray cat who was old enough to be an elder. The cat was wheezing and had a nasty cut on his shoulder. Airpaw hurried forward and helped the cat stand and asked, "Are you okay?"

Before the gray cat could say anything, Sandfire hurried forward and demanded, "Mintstar, are you alright?" Airpaw felt his eyes widen. The cat he had been fighting alongside was SkyClan's leader? Airpaw glanced at Mintstar and realized that he didn't look like a leader. He didn't have wisdom behind his eyes like Woodstar did or rippling muscles like Voleheart had. This cat either looked like he had seen too many seasons or had been just put in the position as Clan leader because no other cat was fit to rule. Airpaw's eyes darkened with worry. What were the other SkyClan cats like if this elder was their leader?

"I'm okay," Mintstar wheezed, "StarClan have decided not to take a life, but I'm afraid they would have, had it not been for this warrior." Mintstar glanced at Airpaw with grateful eyes and Airpaw felt pride seeping into his body. Mintstar thought he was a warrior? "I trust this is a Clan cat, Sandfire? What's your name, young one?"

"Airpaw," The brown apprentice answered, "I'm an apprentice of JayClan."

"An apprentice? You seem much older," Mintstar coughed, "JayClan? What is JayClan? That's not any Clan I know."

"JayClan is all that remains of the four great Clans," Sandfire answered for Airpaw and both cats watched Mintstar sigh.

"Then the other Clans are suffering just as we have?"

"Perhaps, you should call for a Clan meeting?" Sandfire suggested, "It will give us a chance to explain everything to everyone at once."

"You're right, Sandfire," Mintstar wheezed and then paused, asking, "Where's Grayleaf?"

Airpaw's heart sank. He had forgotten Mintstar didn't know about his deputy's death. Sandfire stepped forward, his head bowed, "I'm sorry, Mintstar, but Grayleaf died. I tried to save him, but failed."

Mintstar looked away and whispered, "Grayleaf, I'll miss you son." Airpaw's eyes widened. Grayleaf had been Mintstar's son? "You probably miss him so much more, Sandfire. I remember when my father died." Airpaw's eyes stretched even wider. Sandfire had never mentioned being Grayleaf's son! Why keep that a secret?

"He's with StarClan now," Sandfire meowed softly before adding, "You'll need a replacement, Mintstar."

Mintstar nodded, "The choice is obvious at least this time."

Mintstar then padded away slowly and Airpaw was about to talk to Sandfire, but the ginger warrior followed his leader. Airpaw was about to follow as well, but Darkshadow called his name, "Airpaw!" Airpaw turned and padded towards his brother who continued, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Airpaw meowed quietly, "Hey did you know Sandfire was Grayleaf's son?"

Darkshadow and Waterpaw shook their heads while Cloudpaw answered, "I did."

"You did?" Waterpaw asked in confusion.

"Yeah, he told me when I found out Grayleaf died," Cloudpaw explained.

"Why not tell us?" Darkshadow wondered out loud.

"He and Grayleaf didn't get along," Birdheart explained from beside Darkshadow, "According to Sandfire, Grayleaf was always holding him back while according to Grayleaf, his son was too ambitious."

"Ambitious?" Cloudpaw wondered out loud as though she was thinking of something. Airpaw was about to ask her what when Mintstar yowled,

"All cats report underneath HighRock for a Clan meeting."

"What's going on?" Birdheart ask in a worried voice.

"I think Mintstar just wants to introduce us to the Clan," Airpaw explained.

"How old is Mintstar anyway?" Waterpaw asked, "I honestly didn't think he was going to survive."

"He's seasons upon season old," Birdheart meowed, "Made leader before my mother was even kitted. He met Firestar when ThunderClan came to help SkyClan when he was just a kit. He was one of the first members of SkyClan."

"Wow, how has he survived so long?" Cloudpaw murmured in surprise.

"His nine lives," Birdheart explained, "They give him strength. Now quiet you two. Mintstar is about to talk."

"The rats have attacked us again, but we were fortunate not to lose any lives," Airpaw glanced at the cats gathered around Mintstar. There was only Sandfire, Birdheart, the JayClan cats, and four other cats. This was a Clan? "If anyone is injured they should see Songheart immediatly." Mintstar nodded to a pretty gray she-cat sitting alone. The cat could be barely an apprentice, but the tragedy surrounding her Clan made her wisier than her age. "Now as you notice Sandfire and Birdheart have returned with the Clan cats we have prayed for. Sadly, Grayleaf was called to join StarClan so a new deputy must be chosen."

"When did this happen?" A brown tom demanded from the shadows, "StarClan declared that the new deputy must be chosen before moonhigh on the day of the previous deputy's death."

"Ratpelt," Cloudpaw hissed quietly from Airpaw's side.

"He died a couple dawns ago," Sandfire explained, "But I'm sure StarClan won't mind. No one aside from us knew that Grayleaf was dead."

Mintstar nodded as though that decided everything, "I say these words before the spirit of Grayleaf, so that his spirit may hear and approve my choice. Sandfire will be the new deputy of SkyClan."

Sandfire sprang to stand beside Mintstar, looking very powerful next to the old leader, "I am honored to be chosen Mintstar and I promise I will help SkyClan drive out these rats!" Everyone yowled in agreement, but Airpaw spotted Ratpelt skulking away. Somehow Airpaw realized that Sandfire's deputyship would be rocky in times ahead.