"How did this happen?" Cloversplash demanded, marching to the center of the clearing towards their dead deputy's body.
"We were on patrol, and a patrol of cats I'd never seen before attacked us." Ambercloud meowed shakily. "There were at least seven of them, and they fought like warriors, except fiercer and more vicious."
"I'd seen some of them." Blossomfall meowed quietly.
Every cat turned to face the tortoiseshell she-cat.
"What do you mean?" Cloversplash meowed quietly, her eyes darting from Blossomfall to Brackenfur.
"Some are known to be dead." She whispered, looking at Cloversplash with fear in her eyes.
"Some?" Willowfrost echoed.
"Some were living, I know that. You could tell by their scent." She answered fearfully.
"We have to do something!" Some cat wailed from the back of the crowd.
"We will." Cloversplash replied. "First things first, Sandbreeze, tell Bramblestar what has happened. Brightcloud and Toadstep, help Molewhisker secure the nursery. Thornclaw, you and Dewfeather secure the Elders den. The rest of us must train. I'll make patrols to send out to train with-"
"Why do you get to order us around?" Meowed a snappy Bumblestripe. He had become very agitated ever since Dovewing had broken up with him, over what she never knew, only that they had grown farther and farther apart.
"You're right. It's just that I was the first to take charge. But you're right. An older cat should be in charge."
No cat spoke, until, "we want Cloversplash!" A group of cats yowled, consisting of mostly apprentices and the young warriors, with Fireleaf in the lead. Others soon joined in, but another group steped aside from them, with Bumblestripe on the lead.
"I don't agree with this." He growled. His followers, including Spiderleg, Cherryfall, and surprisingly, Daisy, nodded with him.
"I'm sorry Cloversplash, but I'm afraid I'm with Bumblestripe on this one. The older warriors have more experience with this. Even I have more experience with this. I don't want to be rude, but we'd be better off with a senior warrior in the lead." Daisy meowed apologetically.
"I just don't want Cloversplash to lead." Bumblestripe growled. Cloversplash was taken aback. Why did he have against her? In fact, they never really talked, at all. It was too much to think about right now.
"Well, I think she' she best at leading." Fireleaf meowed.
"Yeah." Gingerpaw and Squirrelpaw meowed together.
"Never. She'll just lead us into the paws of the enemie." Bumblestripe spat.
"Enough!" Bramblestar yowled from the top of the Highledge. "Sandbreeze told me what was going on. Today is a sad day that will hang with us forever. Not long ago, we lost our last deputy, Squirrelflight. I'm sure both of them would've wanted us to cooperate."
The cats all hung their head in shame. He was right, fighting was the last thing they needed right now.
"I'd like Cloversplash to continue with the patrols for now, I will name the new deputy later. There are more important things to do right now." He continued.
She was surprised, but pleased. She carried on with her new official duties happily, but thought about how sad she'd be when she'd have to give them up. She never wanted to be in charge, but now that she had it, she didn't want to let go.
Bramblestar fell asleep alone in his den. He missed Squirrelflight, and he couldn't believe that Brackenfur died so soon after Squirrelflight. He wanted her back now more than ever, because now, he had to face reality. The Revenge Day was coming any day now, and he didn't know how he would do it.
He closed his eyes and pondered with his thoughts, wondering who he would choose to fill the slot of deputy, and hoping that he'd make the right choice. Who should he choose? Lionblaze? He was a formidable fighter, he's fearless and strong, and would help make ThunderClan strong too, but somehow that didn't seem like the right choice. He needed a cat who was brave, courageous, sympathetic yet strong, and he needed to find who it was as soon as possible. Cloudtail was another option. He had been with ThunderClan for a long time and was well respected and wise, yet Bramblestar wanted a cat with more youth. He found himself thinking of Ivypool, who had basically saved the forest alongside Dovewing, Lionblaze, Jayfeather and Firestar. She was young, a great fighter with more courage any cat could ask for, but she didn't seem right either.
He fell asleep, only to be awoken in a dream. There, in the StarClan hunting grounds, were Squirrelflight and Brackenfur, who looked at him with all the wisdom of StarClan in their eyes.
"Bramblestar, we know how hard it is for you to pick a new deputy after both of our deaths." Squirrelflight started, only to be interrupted by Bramblestar.
"I don't want to put any cat's life in danger." He meowed.
"The spot isn't cursed, if that's what you're suggesting." Brackenfur meowed holding back a laugh.
"Are you sure? You both died so soon." Bramblestar murmured.
"Yes, we are sure. But the night is passing, and you should take the time to listen before you wake." Squirrelflight meowed.
"What is it?" Bramblestar meowed urgently.
"We want to help you find your new deputy. Yes, all the cats you have considered are worthy, and would make good deputies, but there is one cat in particular who stands before all. She is part of the prophecy." Squirrelflight continued.
"Which one?" He demanded.
"The one who bares the name from Greenleaf." Brackenfur replied, and as he said that, he woke up, with his mind swirling.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneth the Highledge for a clan meeting!"
Cloversplash padded towards the clearing with Foxleap by her side, she felt comforted by him. Losing Brackenfur was hard, but life had to go on, and she'd respect the new deputy and serve him or her with honour.
"As you know, we lost Brackenfur yesterday, and I think it is time that you know why." He continued.
A loud murmur broke out at once. "What do you mean?!" Some cat called.
"Brackenfur was a noble cat. He was strong, but not even he could stand alone against Dark Forest Cats. Cats of ThunderClan, we are once again in danger of the cats who live in the Place Of No Stars. They have recruited more cats, and have started to avenge their defeat.
A day will come where a battle will break out, worse than the Great Battle. We must prepare."
"But they have no leader!" Birchfall called.
"They have Breezepelt. It seems as he has taken over the Dark Forest." Bramblestar replied.
"In addition to preparing, we need a deputy. I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of ThunderClan will be Cloversplash."
"What!?" One voice broke out against the congragulating meows of the rest of the clan.
"Bumblestripe! Calm down." Graystripe called sternly from his place near the elders den.
Bumblestripe just scowled and stormed away towards the warriors den.
Cloversplash was confused herself. Why her? Bramblestar gave her no warning, what was she supposed to do? How could she lead these cats? There were so many other more experienced cats to chose, who would know how to handle the situation. Why her?