"Goldenflower, wake up." It was Brindleface. "We have some bad news."
Goldenflower looked at them warily.
"Lionheart has joined StarClan," Brindleface broke the news to her quietly.
No. Goldenflower shook her head in denial. "Where is he?"
"Beneath Highrock."
She rose stiffly from the nest, trying not to disturb the kits. Her wounds throbbed as she slowly walked across the camp, picking her way around the other shocked ThunderClan cats. Graypaw was next to Lionheart, grief shadowing his amber eyes. Firepaw sat next to him, his green eyes sad and shocked. Bluestar dipped her head in acknowledgement as Goldenflower stumbled past.
"Lionheart," Goldenflower whispered, curling up on his other side. "Thank you." There was so much she wanted to say, so much she should have said, so much that she could never tell him again until she joined him in StarClan. She pressed her muzzle into his mane and breathed in his scent, memorizing it.
Bluestar stopped next to her and pressed her forehead against Lionheart's. For a long moment, she stayed like that. "Oh, what am I going to do without you, Lionheart?" she whispered and turned away.
What are we going to do without you? Goldenflower closed her eyes. Lionheart had always been by her side.
—
"Speckletail!" Lionkit called from where he had made it up Highrock. "Look!"
Goldenkit balanced on a stone a tail-length lower than him. She reached up, unable to find any traction on the smooth surface. "Lionkit, help me!" she pleaded, even as she heard Speckletail's furious snarl.
"Get down from there!" Speckletail called. "You shouldn't be up there."
"Lionkit!" Goldenkit wailed as she leaped and didn't quite make it high enough, slipping back down the tangle of stones that made up highrock.
Her brother was at her side in a flash, boosting her up. He showed her the paw holds that he used to get to the top of Highrock. A thrill went through Goldenkit as they looked down at the camp. Every cat was so small. And there was Speckletail, pacing angrily below Highrock.
"We're in trouble," she murmured.
"So what?" Lionkit scoffed. "There's only Bluepaw and Snowpaw as apprentices. What can they do to us? We'll be apprentices soon!"
Goldenkit purred. "Thistlekit, Rosekit, and Sweetkit are all older than us. They'll be apprentices first."
"But not for long." Lionkit nuzzled her, his thick fur fluffed up with excitement. "And then we'll climb anything in the forest!"
Goldenkit felt unstoppable. She and Lionkit would be great warriors!
—
"And listen to us," Sparrowpelt cautioned his apprentice, his gaze stern. Lionpaw blinked up at his mentor, his eyes wide.
Goldenpaw nodded solemnly. Her ear no longer burned where Bluepaw had scratched her. There were bigger things to worry about. RiverClan was attacking and she had to help guard the camp. Patchpelt caught her eye.
"It'll be okay," the young black and white warrior meowed. "I doubt they'll get this far."
"And if they do," Lionpaw added. "We'll stop them."
"Oh really?" Goldenpaw purred. "I'll help you." She unsheathed her claws. No cat would be able to get past her and Lionpaw.
—
"We're warriors now, Lionheart," Goldenflower whispered to him as she clawed together some moss for a nest.
"Yes," Lionheart purred. "Goldenflower and Lionheart."
They settled into the nests and she buried her head in his mane. "Can you believe it?"
"I can," he meowed calmly. Stifling a yawn, he continued, "And one day, we'll be on Highrock together as clan leader and deputy."
She purred at her brother's ambition. "That day will be a long time in coming."
"Indeed," Lionheart mumbled, tucking his tail over his nose, "but when it comes, there's no other cat I'd rather have at my side."
"Go to sleep you two," a warrior ordered from across the den. "Unless you want me to tell Tawnyspots neither of you are tired from your vigil and want to go on patrol!"
"We're sleeping," Lionheart promised.
"Totally," Goldenflower added, causing the other cat to snort with amusement.
—
Her wounds were patched and a poppy seed was dulling the pain in her body, but not the pain in her heart. She heard a whisper of pawsteps, slow and heavy, from a cat in pain. It was Bluestar, moving as slowly and stiffly as Goldenflower felt.
Goldenflower turned to look at Bluestar, who was seated on Highrock. "It is nearly moonhigh," Bluestar announced. "And it is once more my duty - much, much too soon - to name ThunderClan's new deputy." Her voice cracked with sorrow and Goldenflower felt her heart splinter. ThunderClan would never be the same without Lionheart, without her brave, funny, cheerful, loyal brother.
Goldenflower turned to look at Tigerclaw. He was the cat who made the most sense for the new deputy. The strongest, most driven warrior in the clan would be a great asset against Brokenstar's threat. She knew she was not the only one who felt this way.
Bluestar inhaled sharply and then spoke the ritual words. Goldenflower had only heard these words spoken a few times before. "I say these words before the body of Lionheart, so that his spirit may hear and approve my choice." Bluestar paused for a long moment before continuing, "I have not forgotten how one cat avenged the death of Redtail and brought his body back to us. ThunderClan needs this fearless loyalty even more now."
Bluestar paused again and anticipation hung heavy in the air, though every cat knew who she would appoint.
"Tigerclaw will be the new deputy of ThunderClan."
There was a sharp yowl of approval from Darkstripe. Anger surged through her. Had the dark warrior forgotten what ThunderClan had lost? Who had been lost? Other yowls of approval surged through the camp. Longtail and Darkstripe were the loudest. Goldenflwoer met Tigerclaw's gaze and nodded slowly. He was a good choice.
Tigerclaw lifted his chin, pride rippling through his pelt. Proudly, he stalked forward through the clan, accepting Mousefur's congratulations and nodding when Whitestorm dipped his head to him, a gesture of respect from one senior warrior to his deputy. Tigerclaw leaped up on Highrock next to Bluestar.
Admiration kindled through Goldenflower at his boldness. He would indeed help Bluestar to lead the clan well. Maybe then no more kits would die needlessly.
"ThunderClan!" he yowled, "I am honored to accept the position of Clan deputy. I never expected to gain such high rank, but by the spirit of Lionheart, I vow to serve you the best I can."
Thank you for remembering Lionheart. Goldenflower sat up straighter, fixing her gaze on him. Tigerclaw dipped his head low, a solemn bow, his amber eyes sweeping across the clan. Did they linger on her? He leapt down from Highrock to more accolades as the clan swarmed around him.
She crouched back down and rested her chin on Lionheart's shoulder. Frostfur lay next to her, nuzzling her mate's fur. Her blue eyes were mournful. Graypaw had not moved from his mentor's side. Firepaw was there and so was Ravenpaw.
Bluestar also sat vigil, but from a distance. Goldenflower wondered if StarClan had told Bluestar this is what she would come back to after visiting the Moonstone. A dead deputy, a shattered clan. And Rosetail. The kind, gentle elder was dead. Pebblekit would no longer grace the camp with her inquisitive questions. A lifetime, ripped away by those sharp fangs.
The night slipped away quickly as Goldenflower remembered Lionheart. At dawn, Speckletail and Smallear and Patchpelt came to bear Lionheart away to his grave. Goldenflower and Graypaw went to say the final farewell to Lionheart.
Mud clumped their fur and chilled their paws as the grave was dug. Lionheart's body hit the soil with a thump, hollow. It was just another reminder that his spirit was no longer with them. Goldenflower hopped in and arranged his body. "StarClan light your path. I miss you so much, already," she whispered to her brother, so quiet that no cat except him could hear, if he was even listening from StarClan.
As they covered his body with dirt, Speckletail solemnly spoke the final blessing: "May StarClan light your path. May you find good hunting, swift running, and shelter where you sleep."
"Goodbye, Lionheart," Graypaw choked out. Goldenflower rested her tail on the young tom's shoulders. Patchpelt leaned against her. Never again would Lionheart's pawsteps grace the ThunderClan camp. His quiet wisdom would be missed.
What next, StarClan?