"What?!" Cloverpaw and Sandpaw asked at the same time. All of ThunderClan began panicking, wondering how they lost their beloved deputy.
"Quiet." Bramblestar meowed, raising his tail for silence. "We lost Squirrelflight today during a a border fight with WindClan. She was with Thornclaw, Brightpaw, Icecloud, Ivypool and Birchfall when it happened. Thornclaw told me that it was Harespring, the WindClan deputy who did this. We will avenge her after her vigil, Jayfeather, prepare her for the ceremony, Cloudtail, you and Birchfall stand guard by the entrance and alert me if there are intruders. The rest of you, after saying your farewells, can get some sleep. We leave early tomorrow!"
"What about a deputy?" Some cat called from the crowd.
"I'll fix that right now." Meowed Bramblestar, while jumping up onto the Highledge to begin the ceremony. "I say these words before the spirit of Squirrelflight so that she may hear and approve my choice. The next deputy of ThunderClan will be Brackenfur. Brackenfur, you must also choose a patrol that we'll take to WindClan tomorrow at dawn." When he finished speaking, their leader left the Highledge to return to the fallen cat's side and push his nose into her cold fur. It must be hard for him, Cloverpaw thought. Squirrelflight wasn't only his deputy, but also his mate and they had known each other forever. Cloverpaw felt really bad for him, but didn't know how to help him, and she was only an apprentice after all. All four apprentices came up to offer their condolences to their leader and pay their respects to their fallen clanmate. Later, they all returned to the apprentice's den and fell into a gloomy silence. They had known Squirrelflight too. She had been really helpful and friendly to them when they had first arrived to ThunderClan, and now, just like that, because of that dumb WindClan deputy, she was gone.
"Dosnt he even know the warrior code?" Asked Cloverpaw, breaking the silence.
"Who?" Asked Brightpaw.
"Harespring, of course. I mean, the code says that a warrior doesn't need to kill to win. If he had just let her go, she would've still been alive. He didn't need to end her life for some stupid border fight." Cloverpaw stated.
"I agree. Now we've lost the best deputy." Meowed Willowpaw.
"Ya, but now Brackenfur's deputy, and there is nothing we can do to bring her back. Anyway, Willowpaw, your mentor is deputy! How does it feel?" Asked Sandpaw.
"I haven't really thought about it. I mean, there are more important things to worry about right now, aren't there?" Answered Willowpaw.
"I guess..." Mumbled Sandpaw discouragly.
"I hope we are on the patrol that goes to WindClan." Meowed Cloverpaw.
"Me too. I'd like nothing more than to sink my claws in some filthy WindClan fur." Agreed Sandpaw.
"If Toadstep went, I bet he'd totally shred every WindClan cat there." Meowed Brightpaw randomly. Every cat turned and looked back at her, wondering why the heck she would bring up Toadstep right now.
"Oooooooooo!" Meowed Willowpaw, "some kitty's got a crush on Toadstep!"
"Oh, you so do!" Agreed Sandpaw, and Cloverpaw had to admit that she liked the change in topic. She didn't like talking about fallen clanmates because it makes her feel so sad.
Her attention snapped back to her friends when Sandpaw nudged her in the ribs.
"Ow!" She meowed, and the others started laughing.
"As we were saying," meowed Brightpaw, after they had all cooled off. "Who do you like, Cloverpaw?"
"Me? Foxleap I guess." She replied shyly.
"Well, I like Snowstorm." Said Sandpaw.
"What? I thought you liked Toadstep too?" Meowed Cloverpaw.
"That's old news, plus he's like, old." Sandpaw replied.
"Not that old." Meowed Brightpaw.
"If you say so..." Answered Sandpaw under her breath.
"Willowpaw, you still haven't admitted your crush to us." Meowed Sandpaw.
"Fine. I like Dewfeather. Happy?" Willowpaw answered.
"Very." Sandpaw said. They continued talking and playing games with each other like 'truth or dare', or 'would you rather', until it got pretty late and a warrior had to come into their den to silence them since their chatter and laughter was keeping the whole clan awake. They tried to keep quiet, but with casual glances towards each other, the four apprentices couldn't stop giggling and once more a warrior, this time Toadstep, came in to tell them to "shut up in StarClan's sake!" then they fell pretty quiet, especially Brightpaw who was no doubt trying to impress him. They soon fell asleep, dreamless too, even Sandpaw didn't dream that night.
The next morning, they all awoke a little before dawn. Getting out of the warm den into the chilly morning was hard, but they really wanted to go to their first battle, and that wouldn't happen if they spent all day sleeping. Padding over to the fresh kill pile, Cloverpaw and Sandpaw fetched a squirrel from the pile and Willowpaw and Brightpaw brought back a rabbit. The four apprentices shared their prey and talked more about the battle, what it would be like and what they would do if they didn't go.
"Well, I know what it would be like if we DID go." Meowed Sandpaw. "I'd shred every single WindClan cat there and make them pay."
"Well, in that case, I guess you better come with us this morning on the raid." Meowed a voice behind them. Turning around, Cloverpaw saw that it was Brackenfur and Bramblestar.
"Really?" Asked Brightpaw excitedly.
"All of us?" Meowed Willowpaw at almost the exact same time.
"Yes, all of you. We'll need your battle skills out there. Especially yours, Cloverpaw." Meowed Brackenfur again. He turned away from the four apprentices without catching the scowl on Sandpaw's face towards Cloverpaw. Oh StarClan! Thought Cloverpaw. Why did Brackenfur have to say that now? We were just getting along.
"Do you always have to brag, Cloverpaw? No one cares! You are so ignorant!" She huffed, and stalked away.
"How in StarClan's name was I bragging?" Asked Cloverpaw.
"And do you think she even knows what 'ignorant' means?" Replied Willowpaw. Turning away, the three remaining apprentices returned to the outside of their den, where they could keep an eye on Sandpaw, who was now chatting with Snowstorm, had a scowl on her face and occasionally threw Cloverpaw dirty looks and then returned to her conversation with Snowstorm. It looked like Sandpaw was talking about Cloverpaw with him, and that he either agreed with her or, he had a crush on Sandpaw so he just tried to agree with her any chance he'd get so he could be with her. Whatever their motives, Cloverpaw guessed that Sandpaw was going to start spreading rumours.