Ch.11 A New Deputy
Redmoon emerged from the medicine cat den, the stick of cobwebs clenched firmly between her jaws. Her mind was still hazy from the vision she had witnessed earlier, and so when the chilled air hit her face, it took her by surprise. "It's snowing…" she murmured. She lifted her gaze towards the sky, watching as the small, glittery flakes drifted downwards, burying the camp in white. For a moment, she wished she could stay that way forever, slowly disappearing under the snow only to emerge in greenleaf.
Then a voice snapped her back to the present. "Is Icebreath and Sparkpaw okay?" Littleaf asked, his tail twitching nervously. "Rabbitclaw wants to know as well."
Redmoon felt hot with embarrassment as the warrior gazed at her, his green eyes filled with concern. "They're fine," she reassured him, after putting the cobwebs down so that she could speak. If he was that concerned, he would go to the nursery and check on them himself. "Neither cat has life-threatening injuries. Sparkpaw needs to rest for a day and go easy on his training, and Icebreath will have to stay off her leg for a moon."
Littleaf nodded, visibly relieved. "Thank StarClan," he murmured. Icebreath was his littermate and Sparkpaw was his apprentice. If he lost them both he wouldn't know what to do with himself.
Redmoon gently touched his shoulder with her tail. "Don't worry, they'll live," she assured him. "Now, go and fetch them some fresh moss for Icebreath to rest on and bring it to the medicine cat den. Cloverpaw's in there helping out."
Littleleaf dipped his head and then scurried off to do as he was told. Redmoon watched him go, feeling as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, knowing she had one less thing to do.
Once she had arrived at the nursery, she dropped the cobwebs on her front paws and peered inside. "How is everyone?
"Can I go now?" Sparkpaw grumbled. "I have important things to do." He had his head on his paws, and he was waving his tail back and forth impatiently. "I promised Dewpaw that I would help her clean out the elder's den."
Redmoon gave a curt nod. "I think you're good to go, just make sure you take it easy and rest for the remainder of the day. And keep that wound clean!" She shouted as the ginger tabby rushed past her. The tom gave a small grunt in response before disappearing behind the nursery.
Once inside, Redmoon found Icebreath lying on her side, chatting with Goldenear. The yellow-eyed she-cat looked up just as Redmoon entered and gave her a reassuring glance. "She's okay, the wound looks much better now thanks to the cobwebs you used earlier. She's no longer bleeding."
Redmoon rolled her eyes. Great, she wasn't needed after all.
She padded over to Icebreath's side and examined the leg injury herself. After giving it a good sniff, she detected no signs of infection. The swelling around the wound had also subsided, and it was pretty pink in color. "Goldenear, you did an excellent job cleaning the wound," Redmoon remarked with admiration. "I don't need to do anything more to it."
"Of course," Goldenear purred in response, pleased with the acknowledgment.
Even though she had meant to check up on her patients, Redmoon didn't want to let the trip go to waste. "How are you feeling, Goldenear?" she asked. It had been one moon since the former warrior moved into the nursery.
"Why don't you see for yourself?" She rolled onto her side, exposing her white underbelly.
Redmoon pressed her ear gently into Goldenear's fur, listening intently. Suddenly, she felt a kick and pulled back in surprise.
She gave a mrrow of laughter. "They're pretty lively." She purred, licking her belly fur. "They're going to grow up to become powerful warriors."
"We're already trying to come up with names." Icebreath mewed, glancing with admiration towards the future queen.
"Can I name one?" Redmoon asked, wincing as she suddenly felt her heart drop to the bottom of her paws. The crushing realization that she will never be allowed to have kits felt like a fresh blow to her already fragile state of mind. This was yet another privilege being taken away from her by StarClan, and once again she felt her hatred towards Willowbranch intensify.
Goldenear placed her tail gently on her shoulder. "These kits will be yours as well as mine." She mewed, her yellow eyes staring warmly into Redmoon's own. "You'll be able to watch them grow up and become apprentices, and then become warriors and maybe even a medicine cat. Your bond will be stronger with them than the rest of your clanmates' because you will be there from the moment of their birth. I think that is a privilege equal to what you have lost."
As Redmoon listened intently to Goldenear's words, her eyes became glassy with tears, and it took all she could to hold them back from streaming down her face. Maybe Goldenear was right. Maybe this is what StarClan intended all along. A medicine cat's duty is to selflessly care for their clanmates and having kits will force them to become biased towards their own kin. As much as she desired to have her own, being able to name just one of them was enough to feel like she still had something to hold on to.
"Thank you." Redmoon finally said, choking back her sob. She swiped a paw over her eyes to wipe away her tears. "I'll go check on the medicine cat den and see if it's ready to be used."
She turned her attention to the remaining unused herbs, pushing them together into a leaf wrap.
Goldenear simply watched, a gentle purr rising in her throat. "And Redmoon?"
"Hmm?" Redmoon glanced over at the queen.
"You're doing a great job."
"Cloverpaw?" Redmoon peaked into the medicine cat den to see her working diligently. The place had completely transformed itself since she last left. The remaining scraps of Willowbranch's moss bed were no longer there, and the herbs were put away neatly back in their proper spot.
"Almost done!" Cloverpaw mewed, purring to herself as she padded down the dirt floor. "I'm going to fetch some more moss so we can have some fresh nests."
"Slow down." Redmoon mewed, placing her remaining bundle of herbs down. "I don't want you to be getting sick. Icebreath already has a cough." She pushed the remaining herbs back into their proper place in the stone crack. "And you wouldn't want to miss Flamestar's announcement of the new deputy."
"I know," she sighed. "I just can't help myself. I've been restless since the battle." She brushed a scrap of moss off her shoulder, waving her tail back and forth. She clearly couldn't stand still. "Do you think we can go collect some herbs tomorrow?" she asked, her ears falling back. "There doesn't seem to be much left."
Redmoon padded her paws anxiously against the dirt floor, deep in thought. It had been a while since she had last gone out looking for herbs and with a pang of guilt, she realized that she had been neglecting this duty for too long. "Sure!" she mewed, "But eat first." She pointed with a paw towards the fresh kill pile. "Rabbitclaw has eaten already, and the rest of the apprentices are taking their share. You better get over there."
"Thanks, Redmoon!" Cloverpaw mewed, sounding relieved. She rushed past her and towards the clearing.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highrock for a clan meeting!" Flamestar's voice called.
From inside the medicine cat den, Redmoon heard Flamestar's voice, loud and clear across the camp. She stepped out and screwed her eyes, suddenly realizing just how dark the day had become. The half-moon cast long shadows across the tall trees, playing tricks with her vision. She noticed that the evening patrol was already emerging from the gorse tunnel with Hazelpaw first, followed by Leopardstrike and Flintfoot. They left a trail in the snow as they drew closer to the Highrock, their dark outlines becoming more recognizable as they approached the clearing.
Cloverpaw returned to her, carrying a squirrel in her jaws. "Let's share!" she mewed excitedly, after dropping the prey. She sat back down again, taking a bite out of the small rodent. "I wonder who the new deputy will be." She mewed, her green eyes lighting up. "I hope it's Leopardstrike!"
Redmoon gave her a strange look. Leopardstrike had just gotten in trouble with the border patrol, and now she's expecting her to be chosen as leader?
She shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. Whoever it is, hopefully, they can be trusted.
But can she really expect her leader to do the right thing? She raised her gaze to the top of the Highrock, where Flamestar was standing. He looked calm and collected, but he was also lashing his tail back and forth, almost as if he were masking his true feelings underneath the fog of smoke rising from his clanmates' breaths. How could she ever trust him again after he blamed Emberstar for her mentor's death? And that prophecy…she shuddered.
"Cats of ThunderClan," Flamestar began once the rest of the stragglers assembled, "the time has come. Not only will I be announcing a new deputy, but some new apprentices will be made into warriors as well."
The cats looked at each other, their pelts bristling with excitement. The clearing immediately filled with mews of small congratulations towards the oldest apprentices, who stood huddled together closest to the front. Dewpaw nudged her sister, but Mintpaw could only look down at her paws.
"Mintpaw, Dewpaw, please step forward."
The apprentices did as they were told, padding past the crowd so that they could be seen clearly at the foot of the Highrock. Mintpaw was dragging her tail, but Dewpaw looked excited. She waved her tail towards her mentor, a tortoiseshell and white she-cat – Blossomheart, who dipped her head in acknowledgment as she passed by.
Flamestar raised his gaze towards Silverpelt, which shimmered brightly underneath the soft rays of the moon. "I, Flamestar – call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn."
Flamestar leaped down from the Highrock approaching Mintpaw first. The older sister's green gaze reluctantly drifted towards her leader, and with a heavy heart, Redmoon wondered if making her a warrior so soon was a good idea.
"Mintpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do." She murmured, letting out a barely audible reply.
He then turned towards Dewpaw, whose blue eyes were narrowed with determination as she gazed at her leader. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do." She mewed.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Mintpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Mintshade, and Dewpaw, your name will be Dewshine.
"Dewshine, Mintshade!" The voices of their clanmates rose above the crowd, so loud that they could wake even the sleeping cats of StarClan. Dewshine and Mintshade took turns licking their leader's shoulder, completing the ritual.
Even Cloverpaw had leaped to her feet, shouting both their names so loudly, that she could be heard from the medicine cat den. She turned her gaze towards Redmoon. "Come on!" she mewed eagerly, "Let's cheer them on!"
Redmoon smiled, remembering the moment she had with Dewshine many moons ago. She was her first patient. The memory sent a flash of heat from ear to tail to tip with embarrassment, but she forced the feeling down and raised her voice. "Dewshine! Mintshade!"
Flamestar waited patiently until the noise had died down enough to raise his tail, bringing a sudden halt to the cheering.
"Cats of ThunderClan," he continued, blue eyes peering as stars in the darkness. "As you all know, the time has come for me to choose a new deputy." He said, glancing towards a long-furred tabby tom standing away from the crowd.
Silversky's gaze was full of venom; he looked about ready to leap out of his fur and rip him to shreds, but Goldenear gently held her tail around his paws, holding him back.
"Silversky has served us for many moons, as a passionate and brave deputy. He has shown great admiration with his leadership skills in arranging patrols, and his reputation as a mentor is unmatched; Dawnwhisker and Larkstep had become formidable opponents. Sadly, the time has come to choose a new deputy, so that he can focus on becoming a father."
"I have waited until this very moment to announce my decision because I believe as a clan, we must start over, and re-forge our bonds. When the night falls, we must huddle together for warmth, just as all of you have begun to do now, and as prey has become scarce, we must work together now more than ever to make sure our clan is fed. When the sun rises at dawn, I hope this will be a reminder to all of you, that ThunderClan's strength will soon rise again."
"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 is Ravenstorm."
"Ravenstorm, Ravenstorm!" Immediately cheers of praise rose up among the crowd, congratulating Ravenstorm, as the black tom padded towards the Highrock to stand beside his leader. Even then, he kept a straight face and turned to face the crowd.
"Why would Flamestar choose him?" Redmoon murmured to Cloverpaw, keeping her voice low enough so no cat could hear her. She thought it was an odd choice, considering how cold he was to everyone. The few times she did interact with him, he wasn't nice.
"Ravenstorm does pretty much everything around here." The she-cat explained, "He's constantly going on patrols or training Hazelpaw at the hollow. I don't think he even sleeps." She took another bite of the lukewarm prey, deep in thought. "I would say he's a good choice, second to my mentor." She didn't seem nervous or afraid, so Redmoon chose not to worry either.
"May StarClan light your path," Flamestar mewed, pressing his nose against the black tom's. Ravenstorm returned the gesture, and then they both leaped down from the Highrock, adjourning the meeting.
"Congratulations!" Blossomheart purred, catching up with Dewshine. She licked her ear affectionately, while Mintshade stood back and watched, her eyes glazed with sorrow. A moment later Sparkpaw appeared and wordlessly pressed his fur into hers.
Dewshine stepped away and puffed out her chest. "I'm a warrior now!" she declared to Blossomheart, "I don't need your praise!" She whirled around and sprinted away towards Flintfoot.
"Flintfoot I did it!" she mewed excitedly, brushing against her father's brown pelt.
The tom's eyes shone with pride as he pulled her close and started licking her on her forehead. "I never doubted you once."
Hazelpaw padded over to Ravenstorm his eyes wide with concern. "Are-are you still going to be my mentor?"
"Of course." He mewed, cuffing the young tom with his paw. "We might have to shorten our lessons from now on though."
"Ravenstorm!" Both cats shot their gaze to see Silversky step in front of the new deputy, his fur bristling. "You know very well that the role belongs to me."
Small gasps radiated throughout the camp, and many of their clanmates began speaking in hushed voices, shocked by Silversky's challenge.
Hazelpaw bit his lip, looking nervously back and forth at both Silversky and Ravenstorm. He then took several steps back, bumping into Rabbitclaw. The elder gave him an annoyed glance but didn't say anything as she returned her gaze towards the two toms. The whole camp was paralyzed in shock; no cat dared lift a paw to interrupt them. Silversky was shooting venom at the black tom, but Ravenstorm's gaze remained hard and focused. If he noticed that there was a cat staring him down, he clearly didn't care.
What peaked Redmoon's interest though, was not the standoff, but simply the fact that Flamestar stood back and watched. The leader of ThunderClan, after having spoken of re-forging bonds and starting over, didn't bother to lift a paw or even try to defuse the situation. It was almost as if he was waiting for something.
He was waiting for a reason to exile him.
After a long pause, and no movement from the former deputy, Ravenstorm blinked. "Do what you want." He turned, padding away from the long-furred tom. "If you really want your role back, you can take it from me by force."
Silversky unsheathed his claws and took a step forward, when suddenly Goldenear leaped in front of him, slamming his paw down and stopping him in his tracks. "We talked about this remember?" she mewed sternly, "It's not worth it."
The tom clenched his jaw, looked about ready to say something, but then stopped. "Fine." He mewed through bated breath. "Have it your way." He padded away, avoiding the gaze of his clanmates and lashing his tail as he headed towards the warrior's den. Goldenear stood back and watched, releasing a heavy sigh.
Redmoon released the breath she didn't realize she was holding and gave the air a good sniff. A small tinge of fear scent was mixed with the smell of fresh snow, and the two seemed to combine and intertwine with each other, almost as if they were one. This cold leaf-bare was driving every cat mad; the hunger, the distrust, the feeling of loss. The absolute chaos they had experienced today was a testament to the anxiety that seemed to be boiling up within her clanmates, and that prophecy she just saw…suddenly it didn't seem all that unbelievable.
"Thank StarClan." Cloverpaw mewed, extending her forearms into a wide stretch. The she-cat's dark stripes rippled as she moved forward and then back, exposing the outlines of her ribs. For the first time, Redmoon realized just how skinny she had become.
She wondered how her mother and father, Emberstar and Echosong, were doing. Were they experiencing the same kind of hunger they were all suffering from now? StarClan, please let them be okay!
Cloverpaw stopped what she was doing and swiveled her ears towards a white shape. "Is that Flamestar?"
Redmoon shot her head to see the white tom padding towards them in the snow. He was almost invisible except for the ginger fur that outlined his face and legs. Uh oh. Why is he coming this way? Her heart pounding out of her chest, Redmoon rose to her paws. All of a sudden, everything around her began spinning and the image of his blood-spattered face kept flashing through her mind. She closed her eyes tightly, trying to make it go away.
"Redmoon."
She slowly opened her eyes to see her leader standing before her. The tom looked concerned. "Are you okay?"
She nodded, swallowing the lump that threatened to burst out of her throat, and forced the fur on her pelt to lie flat again. All she was doing was talking to him. Nothing more.
She made a sideways glance towards Cloverpaw, but the apprentice was gone. All that remained of her was an indent in the snow.
"I think it's time for you to speak to your warrior ancestors." Flamestar mewed. "The full half-moon is tomorrow, and that is when medicine cats travel to the Highstones." He flicked his ears. "You haven't been there before, so I will show you the path you need to take through our territory, and from there you can meet with the rest of the medicine cats."
Redmoon gave a small nod and then looked down at her paws, which were buried in the snow. She had never felt so trapped. To travel alone with Flamestar…even if it was through their own territory he could kill her at any moment, and make it look like it an accident. She swallowed the lump in her throat and raised her head to address her leader. Her pelt felt so hot with anxiety that it felt like it was going to burst into flames. Finally, she dipped her head, acknowledging his proposal. "Okay."
