Chapter 3:
Crowflight felt as though his paws were made of lead as he entered the camp.
"So what happened?" Leafsplash asked eagerly as the group arrived.
Crowflight hardly heard Emberstar and Silverfern trying to explain the events that had only just transpired. He didn't even notice the whole clan, kits and elders included, had come out of their dens to listen, ears pricked, until Redwing spoke for the first time since the Gathering.
"I would like to resign from my position as the deputy of Shadowclan," The red-brown tom refused to meet any cat's gaze.
"Fine," Emberstar replied shortly. "I will announce the new deputy before moonrise tomorrow," The gray tom turned abruptly and went to his den.
"He doesn't honestly expect us to fight for half-breeds, does he?" Cloudpool curled his lip.
"They aren't even half-breeds!" Crowflight's sister, Hollywing, added furiously.
"I don't know," Silverfern let out a weary sigh. "But everyone needs to rest. Go to your nests. The dawn patrol will be made up of Nightstorm, Cloudpool, Larkpaw, and Leopardstorm."
Crowflight felt a flicker of surprise as no cat objected to the medicine cat's decision. Then, they were probably exhausted.
Crowflight padded into the warriors' den and sank happily into his nest between his littermates, quickly drifting into an uneasy sleep.
He woke beside a shimmering pool, fed by a small waterfall. A willow tree dipped the tips of its branches into the water.
"Where am I?" He touched his pad to the surface.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" A dark red she-cat appeared beside him.
"What?" Crowflight looked to her in confusion. "Who are you?"
"My name is Cloverheart," The she-cat answered.
"Redwing's mother," Crowflight inhaled sharply.
Cloverheart nodded. "Don't make the same mistakes I did, Crowflight."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Crowflight became defensive. "I'm loyal to Shadowclan!"
Cloverheart only shook her head silently then disappeared.
Crowflight's flanks were heaving. He shot up in his nest.
All the nests were empty except for his. "Crowflight, Emberstar is choosing the next deputy now," Hollywing stuck her head back in the den.
Crowflight scrambled outside, cringing as he exploded into full view of the morning sun. He had already missed the beginning of the meeting.
Emberstar was perched on the HighBranch. "I say these words before Starclan, so that our warrior ancestors may hear and approve my choice. The new deputy of Shadowclan is," He paused and looked down into the clearing. "Hawkpelt."
"Hawkpelt! Hawkpelt!" Crowflight quickly joined in the cheering, a warm glow of pride for his brother spread through his body.
"He's a bit young," Fleetfoot was muttering to Halfear.
"He'll do fine," Halfear brushed off the silver elder's concerns.
Crowflight hurried over to Hawkpelt. The tom seemed stunned by the news.
"Congratulations!" Crowflight nudged him.
Hawkpelt appeared catatonic. He didn't even blink.
"My mentor's the deputy!" Ravenpaw was boasting to the other apprentices.
"What's you're first order as deputy?" Sparrowflight prompted.
Finally, Hawkpelt moved. "I should send out some more patrols then. Who knows what the other clans will do?"
Emberstar lay his tail on Hawkpelt's shoulder. "After you do that, I'd like to see you in my den."
Hawkpelt dipped his head. "Brackenpool, take Foxclaw and Hailpaw on a hunting patrol. Sunstorm, you take a patrol to the Riverclan border made up of Icetail, Leafsplash, and Crowflight," He paused. "That'll be all for now. I want plenty of warriors to remain in the camp."
Crowflight trotted over to join his patrol.
"Riverclan," Icetail shook her head. "I can't believe Redwing's having kits with one of those fish-breaths," The white she-cat muttered as they left the camp.
"What wouldn't that half-clan do?" Leafsplash growled.
"That's no way to talk about our former deputy," Sunstorm snapped.
"He's a disgrace to the warrior code," Leafsplash retorted bitterly.
Crowflight shifted uncomfortably. Like the rest of his clan, he held disdain for cats of mixed blood and traitors, but Redwing had always served his clan well and put them first. Or at least, he had thought that.
"What do you think, Crowflight?" Icetail cast a sideways glance at him.
Crowflight's stomach clenched. "I think we need to make sure our border is secure."
Sunstorm nodded. "Our top priority needs to be the safety of the clan. Not throwing around blame."
Leafsplash snorted. "I think you were born in the wrong clan, Sunstorm."
Sunstorm halted abruptly. "If I were you, I would keep quiet, Leafsplash."
"Stop it," Icetail looked distressed. "We don't need to be fighting with each other now of all times."
"She's right," Crowflight pointed out.
The senior warrior glared at Icetail. "Fine," Sunstorm stalked ahead, pushing angrily past a swatch of ferns.
Crowflight flicked his tail and carried on. The sooner this business with Mintleaf's kits was over the better.
"Riverclan was here not long ago," Leafsplash observed, tasting the air on their side of the thunderpath.
"Just hurry up and mark the boundary so we can home," Sunstorm grumbled, setting a marker as close to the pavement as possible.
"You heard him," Crowflight moved farther down the border to do likewise.
Icetail followed. "Crowflight, please tell me what you think about Redwing."
"Why do you want to know so bad?" Crowflight inquired, not meeting the she-cat's gaze.
"I don't want to be the only one who doesn't think poorly of Redwing," Her voice was pleading.
"I don't know what to think," Crowflight admitted. "If it was only that he was half Thunderclan, it might be different, but he's betrayed the clan by being with Mintleaf."
"I know, but if he really love her. . ." Icetail trailed off.
"The clan needs to come before love," Crowflight meowed firmly.
"I don't think so," Icetail frowned. "Family will always be more important to me. I don't know what I would do without my sister."
"The clan is our family," Crowflight waved his tail dismissively.
"I suppose," Icetail shuffled her paws. "What would you do if you found out you had kin in another clan?"
"It wouldn't matter," Crowflight felt certain of his answer. "I wouldn't have grown up with them like I have my clanmates. They'd be strangers and more than that they'd be the enemy."