"I'll name them Mistkit."

"Mistkit," Silvercloud purrs and gives the newly named kit a lick, "Ooh, how mysterious." The queen continues, giving Ferretstar a playful look.

Ferretstar, at a loss for words, just nuzzles her mate affectionately. As she breathes in the silver warrior's soft fur, she is dreadfully aware of the Clan business she still needed to discuss. 'I wish I could just stay here all day'. Ferretstar thinks silently.

After a while, Silvercloud nudges her, "You still need to talk about the gathering", she points her muzzle towards the exit. "Go on, love, we'll still be here when you're done."

Ferretstar buries her face deeper into Silvercloud's pelt. "Nnn how can I stay away so long? There's no way I'll survive," Ferretstar pouts jokingly.

"I know you can brave through it for me," Silvercloud teases back. She gives Ferretstar a lick goodbye.

Ferretstar crawls out from the bush that guarded the nursery. By now there was a hushed whisper of cats discussing what happened at the gathering. Ferretstar would hold a clan meeting soon, but first, she had another meeting to attend.

The cream she cat turns the corner to the wooden cliff steps that lead to her den. Ferretstar notices Puddleclaw waiting pensively at the top. 'Good, at least he has sense enough to do what I tell him'. She thinks, as she climbs up to meet him. Puddleclaw straightens up at her approach. Ferretstar gives him a slight nod, then motions with her tail for him to follow.

As usual, the walls of the den creaked ominously. There was a disorienting feeling being in the leader's den. It was always so dark, except for the bright beam of light that came through the hole where a branch had broken through for an open view of the sky.

Ferretstar leaps onto her nest, an old feathery twoleg thing, shredded and decayed from seasons of use. She takes a deep breath and sighs. "Puddleclaw, we-"

At that moment, the deputy couldn't take waiting any longer. "Ferretstar, it's not my fault, the things she was saying about us-!"

Ferretstar hisses at him for silence. "Shut up! Shut up. Did I say I wanted you to speak?" Ferretstar's eyes narrow seriously, "Sit down, Puddleclaw," Puddleclaw closes his mouth sheepily and complies. The tom sits down and curls his tail around his paws, forcing his fur to go flat. Ferretstar does the same.

"Honestly, I don't know why I made you deputy sometimes. But I can't exactly change that now." She continues under her breath, loud enough for him to hear her. Puddleclaw looks down. He couldn't meet her eyes.

"Now, listen. There's a high chance Foxstar will make good on her threats. No matter how strong we think we are, the simple fact of the matter is: they outnumber us."

Ferretstar paused to let that sink in for a moment. She would make him understand his actions were putting HailClan in danger.

"We need to be smart about this. We might need to ally with SunClan or RainClan to help us. I don't want to owe the other clans any favors, but it might be our only option. Ideally we could end this without bloodshed, but Foxstar's not going to listen to reason after you brought up her dead brother."

Ferretstar knew she was saying things they both already knew, but hearing them outloud was helping her think.

Allies...

RainClan had the biggest clan at the moment. They like minding their own business, so HailClan would owe them a big favor if they decided to help them. Ferretstar knew Reedstar had her eyes on their hunting grounds around the stream in HailClan's territory...

SunClan might be more likely to help for less, but then again, BreezeClan might get RainClan's help and they'd be in an even bigger war than before.

Even the idea of having to depend on another Clan would be a heavy hit to her own warrior's morale. HailClan warriors were quick and clever. Maybe they could fight BreezeClan alone if their battle strategy was good enough. But if it wasn't, surely Gingerleaf would be killed and then they wouldn't even have a medicine cat to take care of their injured warriors...

"Alright, now you can talk. You started this mess. What's your suggestion?"

Puddleclaw shuffles his paws and finally looks at his leader. Ferretstar was almost impressed with this uncharacteristic display of self control.

"Ferretstar, with all due respect, I think you're avoiding the real cause to this 'mess'," Puddleclaw says, "I don't like it either, but Gingerleaf-"

"-Is the only medicine cat we have." Ferretstar finishes for him. "No. We aren't getting rid of him. This isn't just about pride, there isn't anyone else-"

"Let me finish," Puddleclaw interrupts. Ferretstar lashes her tail, but allows him to continue.

"If Foxstar wants us to have a clanborn medicine cat, we'll have a clanborn medicine cat- as far as she knows."

Ferretstar doesn't say anything, so Puddleclaw explains further.

"We'll appoint another of our warriors to pretend to be medicine cat at gatherings, but Gingerleaf will be our true medicine cat- at least until he's had time to train an apprentice."

Ferretstar ponders this plan, it was surprisingly well considered. However...

"It won't work. Even if Foxstar does back down, she will become suspicious when she smells his scent around the MoonTree."

"We'll say he is acting as escort."

"Besides, how do you know we can trust the other medicine cats not to tell their Clan's the truth?"

"Well. I don't know much about medicine cat business, but uh.. Yeah, that's the point, it's separate from warrior stuff. They wouldn't have any reason to."

Ferretstar gets up and paces around in thought. Who would she appoint as the fake medicine cat anyway? If she did to through with this plan, she had to have someone in mind. Still, she wasn't sure she should go through with this plan. Ferretstar sighs and turns back to her deputy.

"I don't like this, Puddleclaw. We can't just do what Foxstar tells us. It's sure to bring future problems."

"If they're future problems then we'll have time to prepare for them."

"But if the other Clans see us as weak, then they may attack before we're ready. The other clans don't respect my decisions enough as it is."

"I think," Puddleclaw starts, a snarl rising in his voice, "You need to stop caring what the other clans think."

Without warning, Puddleclaw leaps onto the ledge beside her. He glares at Ferretstar face to face.

"If you want the other clans to respect your decisions, then just pick one and stick with it already!" Puddleclaw snaps, his eyes burning.

Of course. Who was she kidding when she thought she could talk this out with him like respectable adults? Was Puddleclaw trying to intimidate her into agreeing with him? Ferretstar could feel her own anger rising now. She wasn't going to tolerate him speaking to her like that.

"Fine!" Ferretstar snaps back at him. "I've made my decision..."

Original Poll Options

17 Votes

1. Replace Puddleclaw as deputy- (41.2%)

Ferretstar will discharge Puddleclaw of his position for disrespecting her. The plan she decides will be random, and she will pick a new deputy in the next poll.

2. Fight BreezeClan alone- (11.8%)

Ferretstar will focus on making a battle plan and HailClan will fight BreezeClan without help from the other Clans.

3. Get SunClan allies- (11.8%)

Ferretstar will go to SunClan and ask Quailstar for help against BreezeClan.

4. Get RainClan allies- (11.8%)

Ferretstar will go to RainClan and ask Reedstar for help against BreezeClan.

5. Agree with Puddleclaw's plan- (23.4%)

Ferretstar will agree with Puddleclaw's plan to appoint a fake medicine cat so BreezeClan might not attack them.