SIXTY EIGHT

The rivers and creeks that fed into the lake were running low as leafbare moved into full-swing. A fresh blanket of snow now covered the surrounding forest, making hunting more difficult for ThunderClan and ShadowClan. Fishing was not a problem for RiverClan. Reedriver had already brought back several pieces of fresh-kill, and he had begun teaching Ripplepaw the art of fishing. His apprentice was much quieter compared to his siblings, which he highly approved.

There were challenges when it came to the snow.

Scarletfur had a harder time searching for herbs such as catmint and comfrey. Goldenrod was also getting harder to find as the last batch had been killed off by the frost. Luckily she had a steady supply of any other herbs used for injuries, but the catmint was a worrying sign. He heard Pricklefur and Eaglewing coughing earlier that week. Foampelt had already complained about a slight stomach bug, which was easily treatable.

It was the fact that cats were already getting sick that left Reedriver concerned for his Clanmates. He still met up with Frozenfoot regularly, but their time together hadn't been as long as he would have liked. Between training Ripplepaw and everything else, his schedule had been chaotic. Then there was the added pressure of that stupid prophecy looming over him. He knew he couldn't keep avoiding it, even if he desperately wanted to. It didn't help that his dreams were regularly haunted by nightmares or by River himself. He would often find himself in precarious situations, whether it was back in the old forest where the Clans originated or worse.

I never asked to be thrown in this position, he thought bitterly.

He wanted a normal life where he could raise his own family or protect his Clanmates. He never imagined his life would turn into the mess it was now. What made it worse was that Minnowstar expected him to fulfill his end of the prophecy as well. That was the main reason she had given him an apprentice, and he suspected she would name him as her deputy if she had the chance. He was lucky that nothing had happened to Mintwhisker.

StarClan knows what the Clan would say if that happened, he scoffed in annoyance. My own sisters would ridicule me mercilessly.

As it was, they still went out of their way to make his life difficult. Willowsong wasn't nearly as bad as Larchwing or Hollycloud, but she could be just as annoying. She was trying at the very least, which was more than he could say about his other two sisters. Jealousy had become an obvious and petty obstacle for him, and he was facing the brunt of it.

"I'm going to need more dock and horsetail," Scarletfur let out a sigh as Puddlepaw worked alongside her. Reedriver had offered to help her with whatever herb collection she needed. He knew it was just a distraction from his typical duties, but he needed a break from Minnowstar and his siblings. "Our supply of cobwebs is also running low, surprisingly."

"I'd be more than happy to escort you if you need one," he offered.

"Don't you have your own apprentice to worry about?" the medicine cat retorted. Reedriver couldn't help but duck his head in embarrassment as she looked at him. Even Puddlepaw looked a little amused. "The offer is generous, but we should be fine. I'll need to show Puddlepaw the best spots for herbs anyways."

Reedriver's tail flicked from side to side when Scarletfur finally finished sorting through her storage. He knew she was right. He was just stalling at this point, but the prophecy was looming over him like a heavy fog. He wanted nothing more than to spend time with Frozenfoot and keep his Clanmates safe. Anything was better than the stupid prophecy that threatened everyone, not just RiverClan.

He tried pushing those thoughts aside, knowing full-well that he did have a duty to fulfill. As much as he hated to admit it, Minnowstar had chosen him to mentor Ripplepaw. The younger cat was eager to learn everything he could. He was energetic and filled with curiosity, but unlike his sisters, he was quieter and less sociable. Reedriver supposed that he benefited from those lack of social skills, especially during training sessions.

He shook his head at the thought and finally spotted Ripplepaw sitting with Silverpaw. The two cats were quietly talking to each other while watching the rest of the clearing. Ashfang and Watertail were sharing tongues outside the warrior's den, and Larchwing and Willowsong were grabbing a piece of fresh-kill from the pile nearby. Camp was bustling with activity in spite of how cold it was, and Mintwhisker was busy setting up patrols for the following day.

"Ripplepaw, why don't we work on some hunting techniques?" he suggested after reaching his apprentice.

"Can we work on fishing?" Ripplepaw asked once he stood up. "I know I can get the move right after Silverpaw showed me her trick!"

Amusement swept through him at the younger cat's enthusiasm.

This was the first time Ripplepaw had shown any enthusiasm since they became apprentices. He wished he could share that conviction. With so much going on, it was hard to feel any enthusiasm towards anything. Other than fulfilling that prophecy to give him a sense of relief.

Ripplepaw bounded after him, tail curling with excitement as they headed for an area where the stream hadn't been frozen or dried out.

"Remember not to make too much noise," he pointed out when they reached an area where Ripplepaw could reach. "The fish may not be able to hear us, but they can feel our vibrations. They'll flee if they know we're approaching."

That was the first thing Minnowstar taught him when he was an apprentice. He could still remember the many attempts he made at fishing. It took days for him to finally succeed, whereas every other RiverClan apprentice learned quickly. Minnowstar had explained to him that he lacked patience that a RiverClan cat needed, and he had been offended at the time. He was only just beginning to see the wisdom in her advice as he sat down with Ripplepaw.

"Silverpaw already caught her first fish," Ripplepaw muttered as he stared at the creek thoughtfully. "I wanna prove to her that I can catch one too."

He reminds me of myself in a way, Reedriver thought in amusement.

He showed Ripplepaw the same movements that Minnowstar taught him moons ago. Ripplepaw's eyes never left him as he managed to snag a minnow. Compared to some of the fish they could catch in the lake, the minnow was more of a snack. It was harder catching fish in leafbare, from what Reedriver gathered. So the minnow would have to do for now.

Ripplepaw soon found himself crouched over the bank of the creek. He kept a close eye on his apprentice, noting how Ripplepaw's muscles were bunched together. Instead of lashing out like he had, Ripplepaw suddenly leaned forward too far and landed in the creek. Reedriver stifled a mrrow of laughter when Ripplepaw emerged from the water, gasping in disbelief.

"You're not supposed to lose your balance when you're fishing," he pointed out. Ripplepaw shook himself out of his resolve, crawling out of the creek with water dripping all over the place. Thankfully it wasn't too cold out. Reedriver didn't want to risk getting him sick or pushing him too far, but Ripplepaw had also learned a valuable lesson. "One of the biggest mistakes a cat can make is losing their balance. It's worse near the lake, since the water can be deep in certain areas. The creek's a good starting point for beginners."

"Can I try again?" Ripplepaw asked once he recovered from his initial surprise.

Reedriver gave an encouraging nod. He wanted Ripplepaw to learn. It was only through practice that they got better at fishing, and it turned out to be the same for Ripplepaw. He managed to snag a couple of minnows after a few tries, much to Reedriver's relief. Once they were finished with training – Reedriver didn't want to push him too far – they returned to camp with their catch.

"That's a lot of minnows for two cats," Ashfang remarked when she spotted them.

Reedriver couldn't help but duck his head in embarrassment as his mother eyed him thoughtfully. She had been giving him useful tips for training Ripplepaw. He felt guilty enough for getting an apprentice before everyone else. But his mother made it worse by doting on him, and he couldn't help but wish she'd give him some space.

"He's a natural," he meowed after dropping off his own catch. Ripplepaw did the same and happily bounded over to Silverpaw, who was finishing cleaning out the elder's den. "I'm glad Minnowstar chose him as my apprentice. I'm not sure if I could manage Silverpaw."

"You would have done equally as well," his mother reassured him with a head-bump. Reedriver flinched at that, though he did feel slightly reassured. "Your sister is in the medicine cat's den. She started coughing when she returned from a patrol."

His heart sank at that. While he never got along with his sisters, that didn't mean he would wish harm to them. They were still his family, regardless of how he felt about them. He knew Scarletfur had been worried about the sickness spreading through camp, and her worst fears were confirmed. He doubted the sickness would go away anytime soon, especially with leafbare in full swing.

"Did Scarletfur manage to find any catmint?" he asked warily.

"I'm not sure," his mother admitted. Ashfang looked down at her paws, and Reedriver's heart sank even further when he realized something was wrong. "She left with Puddlepaw soon after you left, but they haven't returned yet."

He had a feeling that something might have happened during their search. A shiver of unease swept through him as he thought of all the threats surrounding them. It wasn't just WindClan and ShadowClan they needed to worry about. Predators and rogues also loomed out there, along with the threat of Twolegs. Although, Twolegs didn't typically show up until greenleaf. He hoped nothing serious had happened to them, but with everything that was happening, he wouldn't hold his breath.

...

"… getting any younger, and we still have ShadowClan to worry about on top of WindClan."

Reedriver stiffened when he passed Minnowstar's den. Scarletfur and Puddlepaw had finally returned from their search for herbs, only to explain that they ran into a ShadowClan patrol. They were lucky to escape with only minor injuries, but the fact that they were attacked had left the Clan shaken. Minnowstar had already dropped an order that no medicine cat or elder should leave camp without a warrior's escort. To make matters more complicated, she planned on posting a guard at all possible times.

It wasn't unheard of for RiverClan to take such drastic measures. Reedriver remembered hearing stories of how RiverClan's camp had been under constant threat seasons ago when the lake flooded over. The Clan had to temporarily leave their territory until the floodwaters receded. By the time they came back, ShadowClan had moved in and claimed what was left. It took seasons for RiverClan to fully recover from that mess, and the old wounds of those battles still lingered in the elders.

"I'm not sure if you were involved in that ambush as well, but this is a fishbrained idea, Minnowstar," Mintwhisker snapped. "I'm well aware of how old I am, but that's no excuse for me to step down and let someone with less experience take over my roll."

He makes a valid point, Reedriver thought guiltily.

He was angry over the fact that Minnowstar wanted to name him as her deputy. Most cats would have been excited and eager to serve their Clan, or to rise in power. He knew what it would mean. More work, more accusations and more chances for his sisters to tease him. It was difficult enough with the prophecy looming over his head, and now he had this mess to worry about.

"I understand your frustration, Mintwhisker, but we need to make this work," Minnowstar meowed.

The lake will run red with blood.

A shiver of dread swept through Reedriver as memories of his nightmare came rushing back. The lake had been red with blood. He recognized the thick, acrid tang almost immediately. He knew somewhere deep down that this could happen. With so much tension surrounding the five Clans, a battle was likely. He couldn't help but wonder if the five cats born from history were doomed to lead the Clans to a path of darkness and despair.

"I hope you're ready for the consequences of your actions, Minnowstar," Mintwhisker hissed furiously. "I doubt the Clan is going to accept this change so easily. Most of them don't trust him in the first place."

Reedriver's heart nearly skipped a beat when Mintwhisker pointed that out. He hadn't realized until then that the deputy was right. As much as he hated to admit it, the Clan looked down on him rather than up to him. It wasn't as if he meant for such instances to occur, but he knew he had his work cut out for him if Minnowstar went through with her plans.

He tried pushing those thoughts aside as he padded over to the warrior's den.

Everyone was on edge since Scarletfur and Puddlepaw returned, and rightfully so. Reedriver didn't miss the way Cinderfire and Watertail were whispering to each other. Blossomwind had returned with Silverpaw and Dawntail after going out for a hunt. The moment Silverpaw returned was when she butted heads with Ripplepaw. The two of them headed for the medicine cat's den to check in on their sister, who had taken the brunt of the ambush.

They care so much about each other, he thought bitterly. Why can't my sisters care about me like that?

He wished that his family looked out for one another. Ashfang was the only cat that really seemed to care about him, aside from Frozenfoot. His own father had stopped caring about him the moment Minnowstar started paying more attention to him. Mintwhisker had always only had eyes on Larchwing, Hollycloud and Willowsong. It was hardly surprising that Mintwhisker had such a reaction to Minnowstar's news, though it also hurt to know what his father really thought of him.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather around the Sandpile for a Clan meeting!"

A knot formed in the pit of Reedriver's stomach when Mintwhisker soon emerged from Minnowstar's den. The deputy looked even more furious than he had before. Reedriver swallowed hard after guessing why that was the case. Most cats were already out after Scarletfur's return, but a few stragglers emerged from the elder's den or the warrior's den.

"This is a bad idea," Mintwhisker grumbled under his breath.

"What is this about?" Cinderfire asked curiously.

"Most likely the recent attack on Scarletfur and Puddlepaw," Foampelt meowed.

I wish that was the least of our problems.

"The recent attacks from ShadowClan have been taxing on our deputy," Minnowstar explained once everyone was settled. Reedriver flinched when everyone looked at Mintwhisker. He didn't look the least bit exhausted from that fight. He wasn't even part of the battle, but it was clear Minnowstar had already made up her mind. "It is for that reason that he has decided to retire to the elder's den."

Meows of shock soon followed. Reedriver grimaced when he guessed what Minnowstar's next big decision would be. There were plenty of other suitable choices for her deputy, including Mintwhisker himself. He knew he was nowhere near ready for this position, but Minnowstar wasn't giving him the chance to argue.

"Are you sure it's wise to change our deputy so soon after this battle?" Ashfang asked.

"My decision stands firm," Mintwhisker replied through gritted teeth.

"Mintwhisker, is it your wish to give up the name of deputy and retire to the elder's den?"

Minnowstar hadn't taken her eyes off of him. Reedriver could tell that she was aware of the thick tension surrounding the Clan. She wasn't doing much to dissolve the tension, and he had a feeling that there would be repercussions for her decision. Still, Mintwhisker was surprisingly agreeable as he glared back.

"It is," he replied without missing a beat.

"Your Clan honors you and all the services you have given us, I call upon our ancestors so that you have seasons of rest."

There was a pause as she hesitated to place her tail on his shoulder. Mintwhisker didn't give her the chance to show any signs of respect. He shrugged her off and headed to the elder's den, though not without glaring at her once again. Reedriver couldn't help but look down at his paws guiltily. He knew this was going to end badly, regardless of what anyone tried telling him.

"It is also time for me to pick a new deputy, since our last has retired," she added after a hushed silence fell over the camp. No one cheered for Mintwhisker. No one made a move to congratulate him or wish him the best. Reedriver swallowed hard after realizing that everyone felt the same way Mintwhisker had. They were too shocked to move forward or say anything. "I say these words before Mintwhisker so that he may hear and approve my choice: Reedriver will be my deputy."

The yowls of outrage that followed were enough to send a shiver through Reedriver. Embarrassment swept through him when several cats glared at him or accused him of working with Minnowstar. Mintwhisker didn't say a thing to steady the constant accusations. Reedriver merely glared back at the former deputy, suddenly aware of just how dangerous this new position was. He knew these cats would never trust him, just as Mintwhisker had warned.

"Are you completely out of your mind?" Larchwing demanded. "He's barely old enough to have left the nursery let alone lead a Clan!"

"You're the same age, fishbrain," Hollycloud rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"Physically yes, but mentally it's a different story," Willowsong muttered crossly.

"Minnowstar, you should reconsider your choice," Watertail meowed carefully as other cats jumped in. "The Clan is already struggling to hold itself together without this driving a further wedge. We should stand united at a time like this."

She'd make a better deputy than myself and Mintwhisker, Reedriver realized.

Watertail had always been wiser than most cats he knew, aside from his own mother. He felt guilty enough for being thrown into this position. Knowing that Watertail could have done a better job left him feeling sick.

"I have already made up my mind," Minnowstar snapped over the arguing cats. "I understand that this is not the ideal situation, but my decision stands firm. You will make a fine leader when the day arises."

His ears flattened when Minnowstar left it at that.

For the first time since this venture started, he suddenly found himself wishing that he'd never been part of this prophecy. He wanted nothing more than to curl up in his nest and forget that this had ever happened. But he knew what happened, and he knew that he would have to take his place in the prophecy. Whether he was ready for it or not.