Enjoy.
Chapter Eleven
"Congratulations." Jayfeather meowed to Lionblaze for the hundredth time that evening. Lionblaze scowled.
"Why didn't he tell anybody? I probably looked like a mouse-brained idiot in front of all the Clans!" Jayfeather sighed. Is he still going on about this?
"I know, it was stupid of Bramblestar not to tell, but maybe he wanted it to be a secret. And it was clear that you're a popular choice." Lionblaze lashed his tail angrily, as if he didn't hear Jayfeather.
"He could've at least told me! After all, I'm the cat who had to stand up there, looking dumb!" Jayfeather muttered in agreement.
When they reached camp, Jayfeather padded across the clearing and into his den. Briarlight dragged herself out of her nest.
"What happened at the Gathering, Jayfeather?" Jayfeather began grooming his fur.
"Oh, you know, the usual. WindClan didn't show up, there's Greencough in RiverClan, and Lionblaze is deputy."
"What?" sputtered Briarlight; there was no shortage of shock in her mew. Jayfeather began fixing his nest.
"Squirrelflight is moving to the nursery, it just so happens she's expecting kits, and Lionblaze is the new deputy." Briarlight pulled herself frantically across the den.
"Why didn't anybody tell me?" she cried.
"Because nobody knew. Not even Lionblaze." He felt surprise spark off her pelt.
"Not even Lionblaze?" she echoed, "Why would Bramblestar do a thing like that?" Jayfeather shrugged. "And speaking of kits," she added in a more business like tone, "you should go check on Millie's." Jayfeather rolled his eyes.
"Yes, O mighty Briarstar. I'm going." He grumbled. He heard Briarlight's mrrow of amusement as he left the den. Jayfeather padded into the nursery. Dovewing was filling in Daisy on the interesting turn of events at the Gathering. Cinderheart was sleeping in the corner, and Millie was grooming her kits, and scolding them about how they shouldn't be awake at this hour. Jayfeather waved his tail in greeting.
"Jayfeather!" mewed Millie with relief, "I think Fernkit has a cough."
Lionblaze curled up in his nest. He refused to talk to any cat about what happened. He was enraged at Bramblestar. He had stood on one of the roots of the tree, and stared in shock at the other leaders, while Bramblestar had called out that Squirrelflight was expecting kits. It hadn't even been that bad, but he was worried that the other Clans would think ThunderClan's deputy was a mouse-brain. As exhausted as he was, he couldn't seem to get to sleep. Finally, he pulled his tail over his nose and drifted off.
He woke up early the next morning to send out patrols. Lionblaze was perfectly suited to be deputy, but he hadn't expected it to happen like it had. He stood on highrock to organize the patrols.
"Foxleap and Rosepetal, take your apprentices out for their final assessments, they're long overdue, Icecloud, go with them to help access. Toadstep take Dewpaw, Brightheart, and Bumblestripe out on border patrol. Go to the WindClan border and see if anything weird is going on."
"Can Ivypool come? Please?" called Toadstep. Lionblaze swallowed a purr, Toadstep sounded as desperate as a newly made apprentice.
"Sure, wake her and Snowpaw." Toadstep bounded off. "Blossomfall, Rosepetal and Thornclaw, you're going hunting. Graystripe, find a patrol and visit the ShadowClan border. Sandstorm, can you go with Amberpaw, and train with Cloudtail and Lilypaw? Uh, Dustpelt and Whitewing; go hunting as well." Lionblaze leapt down from highrock and padded to the fresh-kill pile.
"Hey, Lionblaze!" He glanced up to see who was calling him. It was Daisy. "Cinderheart wants to congratulate you." Lionblaze waved his tail and walked into the nursery. Cinderheart raised her head.
"Lionblaze! I can't believe it! You're deputy now. It's fantastic, I was shocked when Bramblestar announced it." Lionblaze shrugged.
"Me too, and thanks. Bramblestar made me look pretty dumb though." Cinderheart purred happily.
"He sure did, but you would've looked dumb anyway." Lionblaze's whiskers twitched with amusement. He glanced outside.
"I'd better go hunting." He meowed. Cinderheart glanced at him meaningfully.
"You sure go hunting a lot." mewed Cinderheart in a tone of voice that said she knew that he was just using excuses to get away from the nursery. "How about we go for a walk? It's pretty squished in here."
"Okay, let's go." Lionblaze led the way out of camp. Lionblaze's paws itched to break out into a run, but he forced himself to keep pace with Cinderheart's slow pace.
"You look as fat as a badger." Purred Lionblaze. Cinderheart rolled her eyes.
"Don't you think I know that?" she muttered.
Dovewing groaned, it was getting cramped in the nursery. Especially since Squirrelflight had moved in. Dovewing had never really like Squirrelflight, mainly because Lionblaze had never liked her, and she learned everything from Lionblaze. She pulled her nest as far away from everyone else's as she could. Dovewing curled up, feeling Fernkit kick her in the ribs. She pressed herself into the thorny wall. She heard Brackenfur, Thornclaw, and Spiderleg arrive. They were going to expand the nursery today. Dovewing heard them begin working. They wove brambles into the back and sides of the nursery to make more space.
"Thanks." She mewed. "We really needed that. It's starting to get really crowded in here. Too many queens." She purred. Thornclaw dipped his head cheerfully. Dovewing padded out into the clearing, and settled down by the fresh-kill pile. She was about to pick up a mouse, when there was a sharp cry from the fern tunnel. Rosepetal dashed into camp. Icecloud stumbled through the tunnel after her, supported by Foxleap; she was limping and covered in blood. Cherrypaw and Molepaw raced in behind them, wide eyed with fear. Lionblaze darted into camp, followed by Cinderheart.
"What happened?" yowled Lionblaze in shock. Icecloud staggered forward and collapsed. Foxleap began to explain,
"We ran into a badger set, and we were checking it out, when at least four badgers came out and swarmed us. Rosepetal and I tried to help Cherrypaw and Molepaw get away, but I noticed Icecloud wasn't with us. She was trying to hold the badgers, then Cherrypaw and Molepaw started to help, and we were able to get away, but the badgers are still there." Dovewing stood, stiff-legged with shock as Foxleap recounted their story. Jayfeather raced out into the clearing and began sniffing Icecloud's wounds. Bramblestar came out on highrock.
"What happened?" Lionblaze hurried over and shared Foxleap's story once more. Bramblestar stared at the camp with a somber expression. "Although we are sad that Icecloud is injured, it seems we have two new warriors to make today. Cherrypaw, Molepaw, please step forward." Cherrypaw and Molepaw exchanged awed and excited glances. Bramblestar began he ceremony. "Foxleap, has Molepaw proved that he is fit to be a warrior?" Foxleap cleared his throat.
"He has." Molepaw puffed up her chest proudly. Rosepetal meowed in agreement.
"Cherrypaw has as well." Bramblestar nodded, and continued speaking,
"Very well, Molepaw, Cherrypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code with your life?"
"I do!" squeaked Cherrypaw.
"I do." Responded Molepaw, more reservedly.
"Then, by the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Cherrypaw, from this day forward, you will be known as Cherrysky. Molepaw, from this day forward, you will be known as Molefoot."
"Cherrysky! Molefoot!" The Clan cheered for the new warriors and crowded around them to congratulate them.
Congratulations Cherrysky and Molefoot.