Brambledusk hooked a rabbit bone with his claw as he dug the remains into the ground. He grumbled with irritation and sat back on his haunches, wondering when the next cat would catch anything edible. He had sent the apprentices out, but they had ended up chasing hares that they weren't used to catching. Are they even trying? he asked himself.

Just as Brambledusk finished burying the remains, a sudden cry made his ears prick up, and he angled his ears to figure out where it was coming from. Blackdove was calling out, "Scorchclaw has returned!" The sleek black she-cat darted across the clearing towards the entrance, where Scorchclaw had entered the clearing with Violetheart at his side. Exhaustion glazed Scorchclaw's pale amber eyes, but he held himself with the air of a leader.

So, he's Scorchstar now, Brambledusk thought to himself. He had always expected to see one of Swiftstar's sons to succeed him one day, but he hadn't imagined it'd be the youngest. Thoughts of Adderstripe flashed in Brambledusk's mind as he watched Scorchclaw pad into the clearing, his fiery eyes blazing with strength as he leaped onto the Tall Branch. He was a splitting image of his father, Brambledusk thought. The father who caused Oakcloud and Spottedwing's deaths. Who had been responsible for Adderstripe's death.

"Greetings, Clanmates!" Scorchclaw yowled, the exhaustion melting away from his face to be replaced with taut confidence. "I present myself to you all as Scorchstar, the newest leader of WindClan."

"Scorchstar! Scorchstar! Scorchstar!" cheered the WindClan crowd, their voices high with joy. It seemed that every cat had faith in Scorchclaw now, compared to the day he had first been appointed deputy. Wildheart's cry was the loudest of them all, and Blackdove and Russetstripe joined her. Even the senior warriors who served Swiftstar so closely, Heathercloud and Dovewillow, cheered loudly for Scorchstar. Brambledusk kept his jaws firmly shut. He wanted to see how Scorchstar would turn out as a Clan leader before pledging his support to him.

Harepaw raced around the Tall Branch in circles. "Wow!" he gasped. "My mentor is the Clan leader!" He shot a triumphant glance at Seedpaw and Briarpaw. "Take that!"

Seedpaw rolled her eyes. Briarpaw let out a sigh.

Scorchstar cleared his throat, nudging Harepaw away with a twitch of his tail. "As your leader, I have multiple ceremonies to perform today. First…" His amber gaze traveled to the three apprentices that stood on the far edge of the crowd, watching their new leader with curiosity. "Three apprentices have completed their training."

What? Brambledusk glanced over at Buzzardpaw, Lightningpaw, and Cinderpaw. His siblings were exchanging excited glances, their tails waving back and forth. Brambledusk wanted to interrupt, to tell Scorchstar that they had not completed their training – they hadn't even had their final assessment – but the happiness in their eyes was just too much for Brambledusk. Brambledusk let out a heavy sigh.

"You don't think they're ready?" Waspberry asked from where she sat next to Brambledusk, her blue eyes dark with concern. "I've seen how well you've trained Buzzardpaw – and Lightningpaw, after Sandfall went to the nursery. Plus, Cinderpaw has all the skills ready to be a warrior. So what are you afraid of?"

Brambledusk shook his head. "Allowing them to be warriors in a world full of war."

"We are all warriors in a world full of war," Waspberry said. "Just because they are your kin, does not mean you can shield them from the chaos."

"No, but it doesn't mean I can't wish I could," Brambledusk growled.

Sorrow glinted in Waspberry's eyes, and Brambledusk knew he should be excited for his brothers. But he wasn't. He was worried. They had fought their fair share of battles – Lightningpaw had been brought to the RiverClan battle and Cinderpaw had been chosen to attack the rogues – but they weren't nearly as seasoned warriors as Brambledusk was, and he was finding it hard to pick his way through life. He swallowed the lump in his throat as the Clan cats parted for the three apprentices to walk through the clearing and reach the foot of the Tall Branch.

Scorchstar looked down at them. His paws seemed to tremor with excitement, much more than the apprentices,' as he spoke the sacred words. "I, Scorchstar, leader of WindClan, call upon my ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Lightningpaw, Cinderpaw, Buzzardpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." Lightningpaw's voice was deep and his amber eyes flashed with resolve.

"I do," Cinderpaw meowed, lifting his head and meeting Scorchstar's gaze.

"I do." The muscles in Buzzardpaw's body rippled as he tensed his shoulders.

"Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Lightningpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Lightningtalon. StarClan honors your bravery and dedication, and we welcome you as a full warrior of WindClan." Scorchstar leaped down from the Tall Branch and rested his chin on top of Lightningtalon's white-streaked head. Lightningtalon licked his leader's shoulder in joy and turned to face his Clan.

Scorchstar swung his head towards Cinderpaw. "From this moment on, you will be known as Cinderfall. StarClan honors your independence and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of WindClan." The WindClan leader rested his chin on top of Cinderfall's head, and the dark gray warrior licked Scorchstar's battle-scarred shoulder, his eyes glowing.

Buzzardpaw was the last one, shifting his weight from each paw in nervousness. Brambledusk watched his apprentice, remembering their first training session, how Buzzardpaw had failed mostly every time and then had finally found the strength in him to succeed on the last. I'm proud of him, he thought. All of them.

"Buzzardpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Buzzardwing." Scorchstar's ginger-and-white fur ruffled in the soft leaf-fall winds. "StarClan honors your patience and resilience, and we welcome you as a full warrior of WindClan."

Buzzardwing's ginger tabby fur bristled with excitement as Scorchstar touched his chin to Buzzardwing's head, and Buzzardwing craned his neck to lick the tom's shoulder in response. All three warriors turned to face their Clanmates, who cheered their name with so much enthusiasm it pulsated along the walls of the camp.

"Lightningtalon! Cinderfall! Buzzardwing!" cheered the cats. Brambledusk joined in, yowling his brothers' names to the pale blue sky, hoping his parents were hearing him. Did you see the ceremony, Mother? I promised you I'd protect them. And I will still hold true to that promise. Even though they're warriors, they will always be my little brothers. Father, I hope you can see how good of warriors they will turn out.

"You are to keep a silent vigil tonight," Scorchstar told the new warriors. "But since it's not evening yet, you can exchange a few words with the cats you want to before you have to keep guard."

The new warriors nodded, and Scorchstar jumped back onto the Tall Branch, signaling that the meeting was not over yet. The ginger-and-white tom cleared his throat. "Now, to another matter. I need a deputy to help me serve my Clan, and I've finally decided who it will be."

Brambledusk couldn't miss the hint of determination in Wildheart's yellow eyes as she peered her head closer to Scorchstar. She wants to be deputy? Usually, the Clan leader's deputy in WindClan was their kit. But Scorchstar had no kits. Who would he pick? Scorchstar's gaze traveled the cats, and Brambledusk followed his gaze. Out of all the cats, Thrushwing had served Swiftstar the longest and had multiple apprentices. He would be Brambledusk's guess. But there were other warriors who were more honorable than Thrushwing was, and more worthy of the position.

"I say these words before StarClan, that the spirits of my warriors ancestors hear and approve of my choice." Scorchstar took a deep breath, and for a moment, uneasiness wavered in his eyes. But it was gone in seconds. "Brambledusk will be the deputy of WindClan."

Excuse me?! Scorchstar's words turned the clearing dead silent. Brambledusk gawked at the ginger-and-white leader. Was he dreaming? Was he stuck in some twisted nightmare? Surely Scorchstar knew how Brambledusk felt about him and Swiftstar. How Brambledusk had been Adderstripe's best friend and had little to no loyalty towards Swiftstar and Scorchclaw, blaming both of them for the loss of his mother and father. Brambledusk had never been kind to Scorchclaw in camp, often choosing to ignore him, and the conversations he had with him flashed into his mind.

"Why was I released? So I can live in a Clan full of cats who kill their own kin and worship their parents for being tyrants?"

In addition, Brambledusk had been the one who assisted Adderstripe in mauling Scorchstar prior to Adderstripe's rebellion. Brambledusk was the last cat Scorchstar should have picked. But now he had picked him? Is this cat out of his mind? The clearing was so silent that all Brambledusk could hear was the heavy breathing of a few cats. There wasn't one cheer – every cat knew their history. Brambledusk wondered if he should straight out decline the position. He didn't want to be Scorchstar's deputy. But…

I go off to war to protect the cats that mean the most to me, Brambledusk thought, glancing at his siblings. If being Scorchstar's deputy means that I can be a vital part in ending the wars that threaten their lives, then… maybe I'll be able to do it. The pale tabby tom let out a deep breath, and he was aware that every cat in the clearing, even Scorchstar, had their eyes focused on him, waiting to see what he would say.

Brambledusk lifted his head and focused his sharp amber gaze on Scorchstar. "I accept, Scorchstar. I will be your deputy." Nothing else. He had nothing else to say. He didn't promise loyalty because he didn't know what Scorchstar would be like as a leader. Would he be as ruthless as his father? Or would he take WindClan into a different direction? We'll have to see, he thought.

"Thanks, Brambledusk." Scorchstar nodded. He looked back over his Clanmates. "It's leaf-bare, so we'll do as my father would have done – we'll catch the prey we can, but of course make sure that there is enough so the population can replenish itself. Russetstripe, if you could start taking out some patrols to hunt, that'd be great. Blackdove, could you train Harepaw while I settle into being a leader?"

The two she-cats dipped their heads in acknowledgement of their orders and bounded away. Scorchstar leaped down from the Tall Branch and walked inside their den. Brambledusk followed him, pushing his way into the hollow tree. The roots inside were tightly woven, and Brambledusk recalled being here when Swiftstar brought him here to discuss his future mate, and Adderstripe and Swiftstar had mourned over Petalspring's body.

Unsaid works sparked between Brambledusk and Scorchstar, and the tension was thick in the air between them, as if it would snap at any moment. Brambledusk sat down, facing Scorchstar, waiting for him to speak first. He was the leader, after all. Surely he had something to say.

"Brambledusk," Scorchstar said, "I'm aware of how you feel about me – and my father. I even picked you as deputy in spite of… what you and Adderstripe did. But I want to right those wrongs, Brambledusk. I know that you're a great warrior, and a great cat. You care so much about your family – I've seen how you dealt with the grief over your mother and father, and how you raised your siblings when Spottedwing died. I know that you've been living while suffering, and I think that's incredibly brave. I… I want you to serve the Clan with me, Brambledusk."

Brambledusk lifted his head. "So you chose me as deputy because I suffered?" he asked dryly. "You think that suffering is what makes a deputy?"

"No." Scorchstar shook his head. "I made you my deputy because I want to trust you."

"Why would you want to trust me?" Brambledusk sniffed. "You just named all the things I've done wrong."

"Because you had the chance to turn on WindClan," Scorchstar said. "But you didn't take it. I know that you're loyal, and I want you to use that loyalty to help me make WindClan stronger than it was underneath my father. I know you disagree with what my father did, and I can't blame you. But I promise I won't drag us into the wars he started. I won't put any of my Clanmates' lives in harm's way if I don't have to. I swear to you, Brambledusk."

Brambledusk stared at his new leader with hard, amber eyes. "Then you better hope you stick to that, Scorchstar. Because if one innocent life is lost for no reason, I will no longer serve as your deputy."

The fur on Scorchstar's shoulders bristled, but Brambledusk made his ultimatum, and he wouldn't back down. Amber eyes gazed into amber as Scorchstar finally gave Brambledusk a small nod. "Fine," the WindClan leader said. "It's decided."

"Yes," Brambledusk said. "I will show you my loyalty if you prove to me that you are not like your father." Without waiting for Scorchstar to say anything, Brambledusk swung his tail behind him and walked out of the Tall Branch. He heard Scorchstar's low growl, but the ginger-and-white tabby should've expected Brambledusk's response.

When Brambledusk left Scorchstar's den, he came face-to-face with all three of his brothers. Pride and joy glimmered in their eyes. Lightningtalon licked Brambledusk's shoulder as he purred out, "You're deputy! And we're warriors! Isn't that so cool?"

Cinderfall hopped on his paws. "I think you'll make the best deputy ever," he said. "You're so strong and smart! And not to mention, the best brother in the world!"

Buzzardwing's green eyes glittered as he brushed his muzzle against Brambledusk's. "Congratulations, Brother," he meowed. "You deserve this. Really. And… thank you."

"Thanks," Brambledusk meowed. "What for?"

"I don't think we would've been able to fight our grief for Mother if it hadn't been for you," Buzzardwing said, his green eyes fluttering towards his paws. "But it was you who stood by our side and taught us that even though she wasn't here physically, she's always in our hearts. It was that resolve that pushed us through our training and made us warriors."

"I wasn't lying," Brambledusk said.

"I know you weren't," Buzzardwing said, brushing against his brother affectionately. "Now it's your turn to make us proud by being the best Clan deputy!"

"Ah." Brambledusk couldn't help a faint purr escape his body. "All right. I'll make my little brothers proud."

"There you go!" Lightningtalon's tail flicked in joy. The black-and-white tom looked over his shoulder, catching the eye of Waspberry. He cleared his throat and dipped his head. "I need to go now." He bounded over towards the gray-and-white she-cat, his blue eyes glowing.

"Already?" Brambledusk groaned at the obvious affection in Lightningtalon's eyes. "And to think, he couldn't wait for even a few moons after he became a warrior…"

"Hey, now that he's a warrior, it's okay now," Buzzardwing said, flicking his tail.

Brambledusk let out a heaving sigh. "By all the gods…" But, watching his brother approach Waspberry with a genial smile on his face gave Brambledusk some joy as well. His brother was developing his own life, and that was what Spottedwing wanted the most for her kits. Brambledusk let out a sigh. And it's my turn to help build the world to keep them safe. Even if that involves being Scorchstar's deputy.

But deep inside he couldn't fight the guilt that had gnawed at him ever since the day he had attacked Scorchstar with Adderstripe. Did he deserve to be deputy, with those skeletons in his closest?