Hmmm…I just realized a mistake in that last chapter. I said that Icefang doubled over and was claimed by a fit of coughing. But cats can't double over. Hmmm…whatever.
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It was nearly moonhigh when a rustle in the bushes made every cat look up. The silence that had claimed the clearing since the news of Tanglethorn's death had barely been broken as the moon rose from behind the shadow of trees.
Icefang was on watch at the edge of the hollow, and as the noise reached her ears she leaped to her feet and stared into the darkness. Two yellow pinpricks stared back.
"Who is it?" she called, already starting towards the undergrowth.
"Whitefoot," came a small, horse meow. The she-cat stepped out form the shadows. Her pelt was ragged and looked as though it had been burned away in some places, but she walked forward with determination, her head held high.
"Whitefoot!" Icefang cried. The cry was carried through the hollow on the tongues of the other sentries, and soon a stampede of cats came rushing towards the two warriors, Cinderstar at its head.
"Thank StarClan!" yowled the leader bounding forward and covering Whitefoot's head in licks. The warrior smiled weakly and stumbled into the hollow, surrounded by a vortex of joyful cats.
Once the commotion had died down, Icefang joined Cinderstar and Stonepelt as they questioned Whitefoot about her whereabouts.
"I ran from the falling tree," she admitted, not meeting Cinderstar's gaze.
"We all did," said the gray tom reassuringly, blinking slowly.
This seemed to take a weight off Whitefoot's shoulders, and she visibly relaxed before continuing with her story. "I ran for what seemed like hours. I saw…Poppykit is dead," she meowed, her expression turning somber. Cinderstar's eyes closed and his head bent.
"We suspected as much, but it's still a tragedy," mewed the leader softly. The Clan had been excited about the birth of Specklefoot's kits, but the fire had claimed two lives, and now the two kits seemed like barely enough to keep the Clan going.
"Everyone else seems depressed. What happened?" Whitefoot questioned when she had finished explaining the lengthy return journey she had made through the charred forest.
"Tanglethorn is dead," explained Cinderstar bluntly, his whiskers drooping.
Whitefoot's eyes snapped wide, then her whole body seemed to deflate. "I knew something terrible had happened. Poor Tanglethorn…" she seemed lost in thought, until her brow furrowed and turned to stare at Cinderstar.
"Has a new deputy been named yet? It's got to be moonhigh by now." Though her voice was thick with sorrow and concern, but Icefang thought she could detect a layer of anticipation behind those words. Whitefoot wants to be named deputy, he realized, and her blue eyes narrowed involuntarily.
"No, I was just about to do that when you arrived," Cinderstar mewed. Icefang heard Stonepelt gasp sharply. Maybe even he had ambitions, now that the position of deputy was open. Icefang's chest swelled, but she repressed her own feelings quickly. There was no possible way that she would be placed in that position. Not only had she barely been a warrior for a quarter moon, but she was nowhere near having her first apprentice, and she hadn't gained Cinderstar's trust enough to be elevated to a post of such power.
The three warriors followed Cinderstar closely as he padded back to the ditch, where all of the ThunderClan cats had gathered, murmuring in low whispers. Someone had created a makeshift fresh-kill pile, and warriors and apprentices alike were sharing prey in a circle. With the tragedy of the fire formalities like separate eating areas had fallen away.
Cinderstar padded to a small mound at the lip of the ditch that was as close to a Highrock as could be found in the surrounding area. The cats had been waiting for this since Whitefoot's return, and there was no need for the leader to raise his voice – within seconds, every warrior, elder and apprentice had sprinted to the edge of the hollow and was seated in a semicircle facing their leader.
"As you all know, Tanglethorn, deputy of ThunderClan, was killed in the fire that came through our territory today. He was crushed by a fallen tree, and despite our efforts his body remains in the forest. Therefore, we will have to travel into the shadows tonight to share tongues with him one last time before his spirit departs to join our warrior ancestors."
A sorrowful murmur spread through the crowd, and Robinpaw let out a mournful wail. Icefang recalled how proud the she-cat was to be Tanglethorn's daughter.
"However," continued Cinderstar, "I think it best that the new deputy be named with all haste. I say these words before the spirit of Tanglethorn, and before the spirits of all our warrior ancestors, so that they may hear and approve of my choice. Oakshadow will be the new deputy of ThunderClan."
A few cheers echoed through the clearing, but most gasps of surprise. Oakshadow was a skilled warrior, but his recent dispute with Cinderstar had not escaped the notice of the rest of the Clan, and most cats assumed he had fallen out of the leader's good graces. However, as the tabby tom limped forward, a shocked smile on his face, the cheers grew in enthusiasm, until yowls filled the clearing and echoed between the trees.
"Oakshadow, I have known since we were small kits, and I trust that you will use your intelligence and determination in battle to aid your Clan to the best of your abilities. In memory of Tanglethorn, I hope that you can be a strong and inspiring presence in the Clan, especially as we face these troubling times."
Oakshadow bowed his head to the leader, then turned and nodded to the Clan. "I promise to fulfill my duty as StarClan would have me do," he murmured quietly, seemingly overcome by the honor.
The tabby warrior returned to the semicircle, but Cinderstar did not dismiss the meeting.
"We have many other matters to attend to as well," he meowed, and the sudden spark in his eyes made Icefang's heart jump to life in her heart, beating wildly. She knew what was coming.
"Robinpaw! Please step forward," Cinderstar meowed.
A squeak of surprise emanated from Robinpaw's jaws as she heard her name called. Her eyes wide, the ginger tabby stepped hesitantly forward, as if wondering if the whole thing was just a cruel trick. But the warm expression on Cinderstar's face seemed to reassure her, and she bounded the rest of the way towards him.
"Robinpaw, I have heard from many clan members that you were an invaluable help during the flight from our camp this morning. I have watched your skills as a warrior and hunter progress, and I too believe that you are now ready to become a warrior." As the gray tom spoke, his eyes traveled from Robinpaw's face to a point in the line of cats, that when Icefang looked turned out to be Oakshadow's yellow gaze. She nodded to herself in understanding. They must have talked through their differences this afternoon
"Robinpaw, from this day forward you shall be known as Robinwing. ThunderClan honors your brightness of spirit and your kindness. I commend you to StarClan as a warrior in your turn."
"Robinwing! Robinwing!" cheered the warriors, as the ginger she-cat licked Cinderstar's shoulder respectfully and then turned to grin at her Clanmates.
As soon as the noise had died down, the warrior stepped forward. Her gaze flickered towards Eaglepaw and Yellowpaw, who smiled at her and beckoned with their tails. Then her eyes moved to Icefang's, and with a sudden determination she strode towards the white warrior.
"Hey," mewed Icefang, grinning.
"Hey," replied Robinwing, and the hint of smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
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BTW, this was written very hastily and not looked over because I have to go somewhere right now, but I wanted to get it out before I leave. So sorry. :P