Code Nine

The Deputy will become Leader when the current Leader dies or retires.

In the past the Deputy did not succeed the previous Leader, the retiring or dying Leader chose someone else to take their place, usually a Warrior that had no experience in leading a Clan.

This Code comes from LeafClan.

Follow the Leader

LeafClan Territory

The air is quiet and the trees are still, the only sound that is heard is the sound of the river that borders WaterfallClan and LeafClan's territories lapping against the pebbles. A brown tabby is laying on his side a deep gash through his belly. His voice is raspy as he speaks.

"Blackbee?" Pinestar said.

"Yes, I'm here, Pinestar. Your Clan is safe," Blackbee said. The tip of Pinestar's tail twitches.

"They won't be safe for very long. WaterfallClan will not be content with my death. LeafClan must attack again before they do. Take the battle into their territory this time and make sure that we win."

"Hush, Father. Get some rest and we'll take you back to the camp tomorrow," Lakestorm said.

"This is my final life, my ninth life is slipping away; our Warrior Ancestors are already waiting for me." Pinestar stares past Blackbee. Blackbee tries to see what Pinestar is seeing. "I come, my friends. Wait just a minute longer. Lead our Clan well, Lakestorm. Make me proud as I watch you from HeavenClan." Pinestar closes his eyes one final time and his flank stills.

"FATHER NO!" Lakestorm yelled. Blackbee trades an agonized look with Sunnytail, who is also watching the tragic scene. Sunnytail is LeafClan's current Deputy. On the way back to the camp to fetch Kinkfur and Rosequartz, the two Elders that will bury Pinestar, Sunnytail falls into step with Blackbee.

"No cat can deny his loyalty to LeafClan and to the memory of his father. He fought as bravely as any of us yesterday, especially after his father was struck down by Lightningstorm," Sunnytail said.

"I want to give Lakestorm a chance to show WaterfallClan that he is just as good as his father and show LeafClan that he is a good Leader. He needs to be at least as strong and as wise as his father was," Blackbee said.

"He will need our support."

"Even though we may not fully agree with him," Blackbee said. Sunnytail flicks her ears.

"He is our Leader now HeavenClan will guide his paws," said Sunnytail.

LeafClan Clearing

It is raining hard as Lakestorm is standing on a low tree branch getting ready to call his Clan. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather to hear me!" Lakestorm said loudly.

Lakestorm's father had been buried the day before and Lakestorm will be going to the Moonstone Cavern to receive his nine lives and new name tonight. Blackbee thought.

"Cats of LeafClan! My father's last wish was to take our battle to WaterfallClan's side of the river and prove finally that LeafClan cannot be beaten!" Lakestorm said loudly. There are cries of support from the cats huddled under the branch where Lakestorm is balancing. Blackbee does not say anything.

I wonder what the river looks like after all of that rain. Blackbee thought. Lakestorm leaps down from the branch and runs to the camp entrance his tail waving.

"I will lead my Warriors into battle to honor my father who was the greatest Leader of LeafClan that was ever known!" Lakestorm continued.

And who would know better than to set out before checking the water level of the river. Blackbee thought. The Warriors stream out of the camp, Apprentices racing to keep up with their Mentors without tripping over branches brought down by sodden leaves.

Having storms this late in summer is dangerous because it is not only the water that falls from the sky. Blackbee drops back so that he can give his own Apprentice a shove over a slippery tree trunk. Aspenpaw's fur is slicked with rain and streaked with mud and strips of moss.

"I feel like I'm going to drown before I get to the river!" Aspenpaw said.

And I'm afraid you'll drown when you get there. Blackbee thought. "You're doing great. Just follow the Warriors." Picking up his pace, Blackbee squeezes past the other cats until he is at the front next to Sunnytail. "What do you think the river's like today?" Sunnytail shakes her head.

"We'll see when we get there I guess," Sunnytail said. Suddenly they burst out of the trees and their paws crunch on the pebbles. Blackbee stops and stares in utter horror. The river is more than twice its normal size; the shore being no more than a narrow strip of pebbles, barely a few pawsteps wide. The Stepping Stones are marked by the white froth washing over them.

"LEAFCLAN ATTACK!" shouted Lakestorm. Lakestorm rushes toward the river. Blackbee glances at Sunnytail who looks as horrified as he feels. WaterfallClan wouldn't need to fight them; they could just sit on the far bank and watch the floodwater carry the LeafClan cats away.

"LAKESTORM STOP!" Blackbee shouted. Blackbee flings himself onto Lakestorm's back bringing him down just a few pawsteps from the Stepping Stones.

"What in the name of HeavenClan…? Blackbee let me go! Since when were you such a coward?" Lakestorm asked. Blackbee lets Lakestorm stand up but positions himself between Lakestorm and the river. Behind Lakestorm, the LeafClan cats are lined up, their expressions ranging from angry to bewilder to relief.

"I won't let you cross the river. It's excessively dangerous."

"Get out of the way or have you turned traitor and joined WaterfallClan?"

"I'm as loyal to LeafClan as I ever was. Too loyal to watch my Clanmates drown before they have a chance to fight. We can fight this battle another day."

"NO! This battle will be fought now before the memory of my father fades from our hearts. His death will be avenged!"

"Not if it means more LeafClan cats will die!" Blackbee protested. Lakestorm pushes past Blackbee and plunges into the icy water. Almost immediately, a wave washes over his head and he disappears. Then he reappears again further up the river. His ears twitch as he strikes out with his paws for a Stepping Stone. The water hits his face as he clings to the stone with his claws. Finally, he drags himself onto the rock and stands belly deep in white foam.

"Come on! All of those LeafClan cats who wish to avenge our Leader's death follow me!" Lakestorm shouted.

"NO!" Blackbee shouted. Blackbee watches uselessly as at least half of his fellow Clanmates and their Apprentices run past him and splash into the water. "It looks like Lakestorm is fine for now as long as he stays on the Stepping Stone. We'll have to get the others out before they go under." Aspenpaw pads over to Blackbee.

"We have to help them!" Aspenpaw said.

"Yes we do. Sunnytail do you agree?" Blackbee asked. Sunnytail nods her head quickly.

"Warriors and Apprentices of LeafClan! Our Clanmates are in danger from the floodwater. No cat must go into the water without having two other cats in a chain behind them. No Apprentices must go near the water at all. Rescue the cats closest to the shore first. Don't take any unnecessary risks!" Sunnytail said loudly. She then faces Blackbee. "Do you think that will work?"

"Definitely." Blackbee touches Sunnytail's left ear with his tail tip. "I'll form a chain with Aspenpaw and Splashnose. You stay on the shore and look out for the cats that need help the most." Blackbee watches Sunnytail run along the shore encouraging the others to form chains. "Come on Splashnose, you take my tail and Aspenpaw will take yours."

A few moments later

"Are you ready?" Blackbee asked. Splashnose and Aspenpaw nod their heads. Blackbee takes a deep breath before jumping into the water landing with his chin a few inches above the surface. Other cats on either side of him are doing the same thing. A bluish-white shape is bobbing a little way off. It is Poppydawn. Her eyes are closed as she battles to stay afloat. "Don't struggle," Blackbee said.

Blackbee bites deep into Poppydawn's scruff and instantly he feels his tail being tugged bringing him back ashore dragging Poppydawn with him. Sunnytail is standing belly deep at the edge of the river. She grabs Poppydawn's scruff from the other side and nods to Blackbee saying that she has a firm hold on Poppydawn. Blackbee plunges back into the water. Soon Rosetail, Rainpaw, and Darkpaw are standing shivering on the bank with Aspenpaw glaring at them sideways as if he is holding them responsible for his Mentor risking his life to save them.

"You've done enough, Blackbee," Sunnytail said. Blackbee is crouched on the pebbles coughing up river water, he shakes his head.

"I have to fetch Lakestorm," Blackbee coughed. Lakestorm is still clinging to the Stepping Stone watching silently and wide-eyed as his Clanmates are rescued from the raging river. I know Lakestorm is too cold and exhausted to make it back to the shore without help. Blackbee thought. "Promise me one thing." A puzzled look crosses Sunnytail's face. "Promise me that you'll be the new Leader of LeafClan!"

"But I can't do that!" she protested.

"You have to. Moreover, with the support of your Clanmates you will." Blackbee flicks his tail at Runningglow, Starnight, Glowstone, and Windheaven as they stagger onto dry land with grateful glances at Sunnytail for organizing the rescue patrols.

"I'll support you," Rainsplash said.

"And me," said Angelpaw.

"Our Clanmates are not idiots. They respect you as their Deputy and they'll respect you as our Leader. Moreover, they'll respect Lakestorm as a Warrior," Blackbee said. Sunnytail looks once more at her soaking wet Clanmates and then she nods.

"And I'm not stupid enough to think that my Clan doesn't need me. If Lakestorm agrees, then I'll be the new Leader of LeafClan," Sunnytail said.

"In that case, we'd better fetch him," Blackbee said. Blackbee glances at Splashnose and Aspenpaw. "Ready?"

"Lead on," Splashnose said. Blackbee plunges back into the icy water.

LeafClan will be safe under Sunnytail's leadership. In addition, I will suggest a new rule to be added to the Messenger Code: that Deputies replace the Leaders when they lose their ninth life or they retire as the cats most use to leadership and dealing with rival Clans. Blackbee thought.

This is the Ninth Code