Code Ten

After the death or retirement of the current Deputy, the new Deputy must be chosen before Moonhigh.

In the past, the Warrior cats did not have the luxury of grieving right away, they had to look towards the future. This code is from SkyClan.

HeavenClan's Sign

Cloversplash is studying the hunched cat in front of her and shakes her head. "You can't go to the Moonstone tonight, Mosswhisker. You won't make it as far as Gathering Island." Mosswhisker stops to gulp in the needed air.

"But I have to go! I have to receive my nine lives and my new name from HeavenClan!"

"HeavenClan will be perfectly aware of how sick you are. They won't want you to exhaust yourself so soon. Your Clan needs you completely and well. They already accept you as their Leader," Cloversplash said pointedly. Mosswhisker's eyes become clouded.

"They mourn for Dovestar as much as I do. I wish I were still her Deputy…"

"Dovestar will be mourned for many moons to come, but that can't stop us from doing our duty. Moreover, yours is to get rid of this Whitecough so that you can be fit and strong to lead your Clan."

"Are you sure it's Whitecough and not Greencough like Dovestar had?"

"It's Whitecough for sure now lie down and rest."

"I have to appoint as Deputy too…" In the midst of her protest, Mosswhisker lapses into a fit of coughing.

"That can wait until you can do it without coughing in his or her face. I'll bring you some tansy leaves to sooth your chest and s few poppy seeds to help you sleep," Cloversplash said. When Cloversplash returns, Mosswhisker is curled up in her nest, her flank rising and falling evenly. Cloversplash leaves the tansy and poppy seeds beside a small ball of soaked moss when Mosswhisker does not stir. Then Cloversplash returns to her den, stretches, and then curls up into her own nest to get a nice night's sleep.

The Next Day

"Cloversplash! Cloversplash! Come quickly!" Robinwing yelled. Cloversplash shoots out of her nest and into the camp clearing where Robinwing is staring at her wide-eyed in horror. "I can't wake Mosswhisker!"

I only left her two poppy seeds barely enough for a whole night's sleep. Cloversplash thought. Every hair slowly stands up on Cloversplash's pelt.

"Come see," Robinwing pleaded. Cloversplash is already pushing past Robinwing and is heading for the Leader's den.

Leader's Den

Inside she makes her way slowly to Mosswhisker's sleeping shape. Mosswhisker has not moved since Cloversplash last checked on her. Oh HeavenClan please don't let Mosswhisker be dead! Cloversplash thought. Cloversplash pushes her nose into Mosswhisker's scruff and does not find any sign of life and her fur is cold with frost.

"Cloversplash?" Robinwing asked. Robinwing is standing at the entrance of the den. Cloversplash turns to face Robinwing and shakes her head.

Another Leader dead before she even had the chance to receive her nine lives. Cloversplash thought.

"Oh no!" Robinwing breathed. Another cat appears.

"What's wrong?" Maplewhisker asked.

"Oh Maplewhisker!" Robinwing turns to face her sister. "Mosswhisker is dead!" Cloversplash pads out of the dens her paws as heavy as stone.

"Mosswhisker must have developed Greencough in the night. She died in her sleep…" Cloversplash said slowly. Maplewhisker stares at Cloversplash.

"But…she never chose a Deputy! Who will be our Leader now?" Maplewhisker asked.

I know I have to help my Clan find a way out of this terrible mess. Cloversplash thought as she looks at Maplewhisker. "I'll call the cats together."

Camp Clearing

Cloversplash chooses to stay on the ground rather than standing on the fallen branch where the Leaders usually address the Clan.

Mosswhisker had taken her place on the fallen branch only once to greet her Clan for the first time after Dovestar's death; a fit of coughing had stopped her and I ordered her back to her den. I should have known it was Greencough! There must have been something else that I could have done! I could have let her appoint a Deputy at least. Cloversplash thought. "Cats of SkyClan! Mosswhisker is dead. There will be time to grieve for her but first we must choose a new Leader. Are there any cats who want to volunteer?"

The SkyClan cats shift restlessly and worried murmurs pass through the ranks of cats. No cat speaks until Daisyheart steps forward. Her muscles rippling under her calico fur and her eyes are somber.

"I will lead SkyClan if my Clanmates wish it," Daisyheart said. There are yowls of agreement from some cats but also some murmurs of disappointment.

"We think Maplewhisker should be Leader. Daisyheart is too quick to go into battle. We want peace for our Kits," Cherrywing said. Maplewhisker walks forward to stand beside Daisyheart and dips her head to Cloversplash.

"My Clanmates honor me and I would be willing to be their new Leader," Maplewhisker said.

"Not all of them want you! Who'd want a Clan full of cowards too frightened to defend their borders?" Daisyheart snarled.

"Not rushing into every battle doesn't make me a coward! I can fight as well as you any day!" Maplewhisker protested. There is a challenging growl to Daisyheart's voice.

"Prove it!"

"This is no way to choose a new Leader!" Robinwing said horrified. Daisyheart glares sharply at Robinwing.

"We're going to fight and whichever cat HeavenClan favors will win," Daisyheart said. Robinwing looks pleadingly at Cloversplash who seems frozen to the spot.

What's happening to my Clan? Cloversplash thought. Daisyheart and Maplewhisker start fighting; the other cats move back to give them more room. Maplewhisker strikes first with an easy attack that Daisyheart jumps away from with a hiss.

"You'll have to do better than that if you hope to win!" Daisyheart hissed.

"Then so be it!" Maplewhisker spat. Maplewhisker leaps on Daisyheart forepaws outstretched, claws glinting in the early morning sun. She rakes a clean set of scratches on Daisyheart's left flank leaving scarlet lines of blood. Daisyheart spins around, slashes Maplewhisker's face, sinks her claws into her right shoulder, throws her to the ground and pummels her belly with her hindlegs. Cloversplash turns away from the fight.

I can't believe that HeavenClan wants two Warriors to fight like this to see who will lead their Clan. Cloversplash thought. Cloversplash winces as Maplewhisker gasps with pain and the sound of fur ripping as she counterattacks. There is a thud as Daisyheart goes down and a gasp from the watching cats. Then another softer thud as Maplewhisker crumbles beside Daisyheart.

"Maplewhisker! No!" Robinwing shouted. The smell of blood tells Cloversplash what she will see. She turns around. Maplewhisker and Daisyheart are lying still as their lives ebb away from blows struck too close and too hard. Cloversplash feels numb.

I have failed again. Cloversplash thought. Runningstream, Thunderclaw, and Redwind are already moving forward to arrange Maplewhisker and Daisyheart's bodies for the Vigil. The Vigil will last all night and then what? SkyClan still has no Leader. Every cat is silent moving very slowly as if their paws are frozen no one meets each other's eyes. The blood of Daisyheart and Maplewhisker stains everyones paws.

Robinwing alone seems to have her voice; she weaves among the shocked cats comforting them and sending them to the prey pile to eat. "We need to keep up our strength. There is still sickness in the air and no more cats need to die. Robinfur and Nightfreeze take Goldenpaw, Shadepaw, Windpaw, and Riverpaw on a hunting patrol please," Robinwing said.

"Of course," Nightfreeze said.

"There is no need for them to spend all day looking at the fallen Warriors. Keep them busy but battle training will not be fitting I think," Robinwing said. Robinwing's Clanmates nod and lead the younger cats silently out of the clearing. Robinwing then approaches Cloversplash, her eyes dull with shock but she speaks calmly. "Is there anything that I can do for you, Cloversplash, fetch herbs or water?" Cloversplash shakes her head.

There is nothing any cat can do… Cloversplash thought. "I'll be in my den." Cloversplash goes to her den and falls asleep in her nest of feathers and moss.

That Night

Cloversplash's Dream

"Cloversplash? Cloversplash wake up," Dovestar said. Cloversplash opens her eyes. She is lying in the clearing on Gathering Island; the trees' branches are black and sharp against the white sky. The grass under her is cold and crisp and she jumps up shivering. "Cloversplash you must find a new Leader for SkyClan."

"Dovestar?"

"I have been watching my Clan and I grieve for every one of my Clanmates. Most of all for Mosswhisker who would have been a wonderful Leader. In addition, for Daisyheart and Maplewhisker who let ambition cloud their senses and sharpen their claws. You have to put this right, my friend," Dovestar said with a nod.

"What can I do?" said Cloversplash in a clueless tone.

"You will choose a new Leader. That cat must choose a Deputy right away. A Clan must never be left like this again, a headless creature that wades in blood, because it cannot see. At the next Gathering, the new Leader must introduce a new rule to the Messenger Code: Deputies must be replaced by Moonhigh, so a Leader will never be alone for more than half a day. Now tell me whom would you choose as your next Leader?"

I can't and won't choose – Cloversplash thought. The look in Dovestar's eyes stops Cloversplash in her thoughts. "Robinwing. She watched, as her sister died in front of her but her only thoughts was to make the Clan feel safe and keep them occupied before the Vigil tonight."

"A very wise choice indeed. Now tell the Clan."

"Why should I tell them? Moreover, why should they listen to me? I've done nothing for them. Nothing."

"You're their Medicine Cat. They will listen to you if you use the right words." The area around Dovestar and Cloversplash becomes paler. "Go now Cloversplash. Appoint Robinwing as the new Leader of SkyClan!" Cloversplash blinks and she is back in her nest with a robin feather tickling her right ear. She shakes her head irritated.

My Clan is in turmoil. They must think that their Warrior Ancestors have given up on them. No words but maybe an action? Cloversplash thought. Cloversplash pads into the clearing. The camp is quiet and deserted apart from the bodies of Maplewhisker and Daisyheart lying in the shelter of a dry log.

SkyClan Territory

Cloversplash slips out of the camp and pads to an area where a Great Sycamore grew on a ground that is less wet than the rest of the territory. Maplewhisker and Daisyheart will be buried near here. Cloversplash thought. At the base of the tree is a dead robin, she takes a close look at it to see if it rotting. This is still fresh. I can eat the rest of the bird, leaving the wing, and bring it back to camp in a ball of moss. Cloversplash begins to gather moss and delicately puts the wing into the clump of moss. Once she has her pile set up, she picks it up and heads back to the camp.

SkyClan Camp

Cloversplash checks to see if any cats are around and delicately drops the robin's wing in the middle of the clearing. No cat will question a Medicine Cat fetching moss; it is used for bedding as well as to carry water. Cloversplash thought. Cloversplash goes to her den and puts the moss by the small pool of water that is in the middle of the den's clearing.

When she goes outside her den, again there are more cats around. Hunting parties have returned with plenty of prey and pale sunlight has tempted the SkyClan cats to eat. Cloversplash nods to Snowfall and Windflight as she passes them and spots the robin's wing in the middle of the clearing. "Look!" Cloversplash said loudly. Cloversplash is gazing at the light brown wing lying at her paws. "Did any cat bring this into the camp?"

"It's a robin's wing. They are always near the Great Sycamore," said Windflight. Cloversplash lifts her head and faces them. Her paws are trembling so she sinks her claws into the ground to keep them still.

"It's a sign from HeavenClan. They want us to know their choice for the new Leader of SkyClan," the Medicine Cat said.

"Who?" Snowfall asked. Cloversplash touches the wing gently with her left forepaw.

"Robinwing," Cloversplash said with a smile. There are gasps then murmurs of agreement. Robinwing is pushed to the front of the line of cats.

"I don't know what to say…" Robinwing said dazed.

"Just say that you will lead us as HeavenClan wishes," Cloversplash said. Robinwing looks down at the wing and then over at her motionless sister.

"To honor Maplewhisker's memory and Daisyheart's, yes I will," Robinwing said. Robinwing dips her head as everyone cheers around her.

Maybe HeavenClan needed my help to send this sign, but it is what Dovestar wanted. I will tell Robinwing to choose her Deputy before Moonhigh in front of the bodies of our fallen Clanmates and Mosswhisker so that their spirits can hear and approve of her choice. Cloversplash thought. "Thank you, Dovestar," she said quietly.

This is the Tenth Code.