Scorchstar held a rabbit in his mouth as he walked into the clearing, feeling the warm breeze of greenleaf run through his whiskers. He padded over to the fresh-kill pile and dropped the rabbit on top of the two hares that already laid there and let out a deep breath. He glanced over his shoulder, spotting Sedgefall's lithe brown tabby figure, holding a bundle of herbs in her jaws. The pale she-cat nodded to Scorchstar before making a sharp turn towards her den. Before she entered, Cloudpaw's gray-and-white face popped out, followed by the rest of his body. His blue eyes were stretched wide in horror as he stared at Sedgefall, and then Scorchstar.

"Harewhisker is dead!" Cloudpaw cried out.

"What?!" Scorchstar's jaw dropped, and his world stopped for a moment as he tried to take in Cloudpaw's words. "You're kidding."

"No!" Cloudpaw cried out. "We were talking, and then I walked out to get him some water, and then when I went back, he wasn't breathing!"

Sedgefall dropped the herbs on the ground and quickened her pace, disappearing inside the shadows of the medicine den. Scorchstar followed her, his broad shoulders scraping against the roof of the rock. Cloudpaw grabbed the fallen herbs and was on their trail, and the three cats entered the medicine den to be greeted by a limp Harewhisker, curled up in a ball on his soft nest. For a moment, Scorchstar thought that Cloudpaw must be mistaken. He looked asleep, not dead. Scorchstar walked towards Harewhisker and touched his body with his paw, swallowing the lump in his throat as he realized that even though the tom was still warm, his sides no longer rose.

"How…" Scorchstar whispered. "If he was talking just a while ago, how did he…"

"He was waiting for the right moment," Sedgefall said quietly, brushing her long tail down Harewhisker's spine gently. "He did not want anyone to see him as he passed. It would hurt them too much."

Cloudpaw's eyes welled with tears. "I was just with him…"

"There was nothing you could have done," Sedgefall murmured. "It was his time."

Scorchstar's gaze was focused on Harewhisker, feeling unable to breathe, just as his deputy was. No… not Harewhisker. He's been by my side for so long… he understood me, he helped me, he was there through all the horrible battles. Ragged gasps escaped Scorchstar, and no matter how much he tried to deny it, the fact was right in front of his face, and it wasn't going away.

Harewhisker was dead.

The WindClan leader bent his head and licked the shoulder of his good friend one last time. "Goodbye, Harewhisker," he murmured. "May StarClan light your path. I'm sure I'll see you again someday. Thank you for all your service." He could feel the sympathy in Sedgefall and Cloudpaw's gaze for Scorchstar, and the sorrow for Harewhisker's lost life. Scorchstar turned on his heel and walked away, his head hanging as he stared at the ground and exited the medicine den. The world had caved in around him, and there was a piece of his heart that had broken away. Harewhisker will see Mallowleaf, Blackdove, and Brambledusk. They'll be waiting.

"Father!" Scorchstar looked up as he heard the combined voices of Redmoon and Hawkfire. They stared at him, noting the sorrow and grief on his expression, and exchanged nervous glances. Redmoon cleared his throat while Hawkfire tilted her head.

"What's wrong?" Hawkfire asked, nestling the ground with her pure white paw.

"Harewhisker is dead," Scorchstar replied flatly.

"What?!" Redmoon gasped in horror. "But… but… he said he was getting better!"

"He knew that wasn't true," Scorchstar replied. But I didn't. I hid it from myself for so long, I didn't want to face the truth because I had lost so many other cats that I had loved. I didn't want to lose another one, too. But now it's in my face, and I have to come to terms with it. Even though the Clans are at peace, that doesn't mean sorrow or tragedy won't rear up and show its ugly face again. We may be happy, but happiness cannot exist if it does not coincide with sorrow.

Hawkfire lowered her head in mourning. Redmoon swallowed back a visible lump in his throat. Even though the two cats were notably grieving, Scorchstar knew the question that was lingering in both of their minds. Who is going to be the new deputy? they were thinking. Scorchstar rested his gaze on Hawkfire. He cleared his throat.

"Have you two ever heard the story of my half-brother, Adderstripe?" Scorchstar asked.

Redmoon nodded. "Not a lot, though. Wildheart never told us that much, and whenever we tried to spy on other cats who were talking about it, they'd always see us and immediately change the topic."

"Follow me. I'll tell you more." Scorchstar flicked his tail and led his two children towards the hollow tree that made his den. Scorchstar looked up at the tree. Years ago, there would have been a long branch that stuck out, making the Tall Branch, where generations of leaders had addressed WindClan from. It was gone, now. Just as the times changed, so did WindClan. Scorchstar blinked back the tears from his eyes and squeezed into his den, his kits behind him. When he sat down on the grass, he turned to face Hawkfire and Redmoon, whose faces were drawn with grief for Harewhisker.

"My father was Swiftstar," Scorchstar meowed. "He was a cat who showed his strength by fighting. That made him dangerous, and my half-brother, Adderstripe, wanted to usurp him. However, there were rumors around the camp that Adderstripe wasn't the real son of Swiftstar. Swiftstar was thinking of choosing me as his deputy instead. But Adderstripe's mother, Petalspring, was killed, and while they were grieving, Adderstripe forced Swiftstar to make him deputy after Berrysplash, our Clan deputy at the time, died."

Hawkfire gasped. "Did Adderstripe kill Petalspring?"

"Of course not," Scorchstar replied, shaking his head. "Petalspring was his mother. A fox killed her."

"What about Berrysplash?" Redmoon asked.

"No, she died because she was ill," Scorchstar said. "Adderstripe still saw me as a threat to his reign, since it was obvious that I was Swiftstar's son, and there were no rumors about me. Plus, he thought I'd try and stop the rebellion he was about to start. So he attacked me and sent me unconscious. I nearly died – if it hadn't been for your aunt, I wouldn't be here, and neither would you two. In the rebellion, Adderstripe lost his life, and WindClan nearly went to ruins. The rebellion made Swiftstar a different cat. It turned him more ruthless, more callous, and he didn't think of his Clan anymore, he just thought about making himself more powerful so no cat, whether it was his son or his deputy, would ever try and rebel against him again."

Redmoon and Hawkfire exchanged a glance. Redmoon cleared his throat. "Why are you telling us this today?"

"Because I am going to choose one of you as my deputy," Scorchstar said. "And I cannot have a repeat of what happened with Adderstripe. Adderstripe wanted me dead because I threatened his rule to WindClan. It didn't matter that I was his kin, Adderstripe put his Clan first. Noble as it was, he still wanted me dead, and that's something only an evil cat could do. Whatever happens, you must remember that the two of you are siblings, and nothing, not power, not rule, will ever get in the way of that. I know that one of you will be upset that I didn't choose you. But you must not let it get to you. Even if I don't choose you, you will always be a decorated warrior of WindClan, and you must serve your deputy – and eventually, your leader."

There was silence between the two cats. Redmoon's body trembled, and Hawkfire's muscles stiffened. Scorchstar silently prayed that his words got through to them. He had never imagined his own brother would try and kill him, so even though he doubted that his children would fight, he knew just how competitive they were. He didn't want them to hurt each other, to destroy their family, or to destroy WindClan. You are siblings. You must always act like it. Family is the most important thing.

"You must promise me," Scorchstar said. "No matter which one of you I choose, the other will support them with their whole heart."

"Okay." Hawkfire was the first to speak. Her green eyes did not betray her feelings.

Redmoon dipped his head but didn't speak. Scorchstar had been hoping for a more enthusiastic reply from both of them. But if this was the best he was going to get, he wasn't going to test his limits. He gave both of them a nod.

"My family is the most important thing to me," Scorchstar told both of them. "Everything else comes second, as far as what's important to me. I love the both of you. This is not favoritism on my part, please trust me. This was a hard decision to make." He padded over to his kits, giving Hawkfire a fervent lick on her head and brushing his pelt against Redmoon's. "But first, we must grieve for Harewhisker." Walking past his kits, he headed towards the clearing. The sun was starting to set, casting its amber and orange rays across the camp in a striped pattern. Harewhisker's pelt was dappled by the sunset's rays, where he had been laid in a ball in the center of camp.

Cloudpaw hunched over the brown tom, guilt swarming in his eyes. Sedgefall wrapped her tail around her apprentice's neck comfortingly. Frostpetal sat next to Harewhisker's corpse, her blue eyes swamped with sorrow. Iceheart sat next to her sister, brushing her pelt against hers in an attempt to comfort her. Even though they had never been mates, Frostpetal still was expecting Harewhisker's kits. He still had a life ahead of him – he had been so close to being a father, considering Frostpetal's kits were due any day by now.

Wildheart and Heathercloud sat at the edge of Harewhisker's body, their eyes glazed with grief. Brightpaw and Rainpaw were farther away, having never been exposed to death before, seemingly afraid of it. Seedberry licked Brightpaw's head comfortingly, while Hotaru crouched over Harewhisker's body. Scorchstar knew the silver tom had never quite forgiven himself because of his brother's nearly deadly attack on Harewhisker. Scorchstar could sense the presence of Hawkfire and Redmoon as they approached Harewhisker's body.

When the cats were all gathered, Sedgefall cleared her throat. "Tonight, we honor Harewhisker," the pale medicine cat tabby meowed. "He was a distinguished Clan deputy, and an excellent warrior, one WindClan shall never forget. He was a brave cat until the end, fighting off his illness until he could no longer, and so he let go of his life. But do not forget that we will still see him. In the flowers, the clouds, or even the greenleaf wind. He will never be gone. But, tonight, we will mourn his body, and the passing of his spirit."

Scorchstar cleared his throat. "If I may."

Sedgefall nodded.

"Harewhisker wasn't just my deputy," Scorchstar meowed as he bounded over to the Tall Rock and leaped on top of it. "He was my best friend. He always knew my emotions, he could always read them. He was there for me when I didn't have faith in myself, and he always encouraged me onwards. He was my rock, and I'll never forget him. He was a strong, brave, and fierce warrior." Wait… that's what I need. I need another Harewhisker or Brambledusk for my deputy. He gazed at his two children. I need a cat that will always fight for WindClan. "And that is why I think he will be proud of my choice for Clan deputy."

Wildheart's ears pricked with interest. Heathercloud twitched her tail, while Seedberry tilted her head. Iceheart and Frostpetal exchanged curious glances, while Hotaru gazed questioningly at Sedgefall. Scorchstar cleared his throat. I'm so sorry. I've done a lot more thinking about this, and my mind has changed. This cat is strong, brave, and I can teach this cat not to be so aggressive. This is the cat I think will lead WindClan the best. "I say these words before StarClan, so the spirits of our ancestors and Harewhisker may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of WindClan is Redmoon."

Gasps spread across the clearing. Wildheart's amber eyes were stretched wide with shock – after all, Scorchstar had told her that his deputy would most likely be Hawkfire. Iceheart flicked her tail, while Frostpetal nodded slowly in agreement. Hotaru butted Redmoon's shoulder, and Heathercloud dipped her head to Redmoon. Brightpaw beamed at her mentor being the deputy. The tip of Hawkfire's claws dug into the ground, but she gave her brother a low nod, seemingly accepting his status.

But Redmoon's green eyes were shadowed. There was no trace of excitement or elation in his gaze, like Scorchstar expected, even as the cheers of his name spread through the clearing. When they died down, Redmoon stepped forward, his intense gaze locking with Scorchstar's eyes. Scorchstar tilted his head, confused. Why wasn't Redmoon happy? Didn't he want to be deputy?

"Father, thank you for this opportunity," Redmoon meowed, lifting his head, "but I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline."

"What?!" Scorchstar barked the words out as he stared at his son, standing beneath him.

"I'm honored that you chose me, I really am," Redmoon said, "but I don't see myself as the future leader of WindClan. I'm not the cat who has those skills. I don't have negotiation skills, diplomacy, and I jump before I think. I'm working on that, but you need a deputy who already has those skills. You know as well as I, Father, that that cat is Hawkfire." He waved his tail towards his sister. "I'm a strong cat. I'm brave, fierce, and courageous. But Hawkfire is fast, smart, and charismatic. She has the vision of a future that she can lead cats to, and she has the ability to build trust with cats around her, where I'm too quick to fight. Hawkfire is the cat that can serve the best as your deputy. Not me."

Gasps of shock ran through the clearing. Hawkfire was staring at her brother, her jaw dropped so wide that it may as well have hit the ground. Wildheart's eyes were stretched as wide as two full moons as she stared at her son, while Hotaru tilted his head in confusion, and Iceheart gaped at the two cats. Even Frostpetal looked utterly bewildered. Heathercloud, a composed and calm senior warrior, had a look of awe all over her face. The only cat who was remotely calm was Sedgefall.

"Redmoon…" Hawkfire croaked out. "Are you sure?"

"I'm positive," Redmoon told her. "I'm not the cat cut out to be deputy. You are. You have spirit, resolve, and energy. You're the next leader of WindClan. Not me." He touched his nose to Hawkfire's and nudged her towards Scorchstar. Scorchstar had watched the entire interaction, stiff as a rock. He had thought that if he named Hawkfire deputy, Redmoon would have been furious – and vice versa. But now that he had named Redmoon deputy, Redmoon had refused it and had given it to Hawkfire instead? My kits find different ways to surprise me.

"Very well," Scorchstar meowed. "Let's try this again. I say these words before StarClan, so the spirits of our ancestors and Harewhisker may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of WindClan is Hawkfire."

"Hawkfire! Hawkfire!" cried out the WindClan cats, so loud that it pierced the skies, and Redmoon was the cat who led the chant, his green eyes glowing as he looked up at the stars that were starting to glitter in the indigo sky. Hawkfire looked around, her eyes wide with shock, seemingly able to not having been processing what happened. Scorchstar leaped to the ground and walked over to Hawkfire, touching his nose with her.

"I promise I'll serve you just like Redmoon would," Hawkfire said to Scorchstar, her eyes glittering with spirit.

"I know," Scorchstar said, brushing against his ginger-and-white tabby daughter's pelt. "I always knew you would."

Just as the cheers died down, Scorchstar waved his tail, and the cats began to give their compliments to Hawkfire separately. Scorchstar padded over to Redmoon, who was sitting near the edge of the crowd, his eyes focused on Hawkfire.

"That was a very noble thing you did," Scorchstar commented to him. "But tell me, Redmoon. Did you do it because you didn't want your sister's feelings to be hurt, or because you genuinely believed every word you said?"

"I really believed it," Redmoon replied. "I won't lie, it would be great to be deputy. But the Clan deputy needs to be a leader. And that just isn't me. I'd feel better serving Hawkfire as a loyal warrior than leading her."

Scorchstar pressed his nose to Redmoon's head. "I'm proud of you."

"Thanks," Redmoon replied, twinging his tail with his father's before turning away and walking towards Hotaru. Scorchstar left him to his device and padded over to Wildheart. For the first time, he could see the gaunt lines on his mate's face, and the tips of her once black tortoiseshell fur were beginning to gray. But the liveliness never left her amber eyes as she lifted her head to brush her muzzle against his.

"I never expected that in a million years," Wildheart chuckled. "I thought for sure they'd be at each other's tails. But I guess not."

"They've both grown," Scorchstar said. "I'm proud of them. They can't live in a peaceful world with the personalities they had as young warriors. But with how they are now, they can thrive."

Wildheart grinned. "She'll make a great deputy, Scorchstar."

"I know." Scorchstar rasped his tongue across Wildheart's head before turning away and walking over to Hawkfire. The dark ginger-and-white tabby she-cat was deep in thought, the other cats having already left when she looked up to see her father. Her green eyes glittered and she jumped to her paws, the energy rolling off her in waves.

"Ready to lead the Clan?" Scorchstar asked.

"Am I ever!" Hawkfire exclaimed. "So, what I was thinking is that we could send some patrols out—"

"Wait, what?" Scorchstar tilted his head. "It's night, and we're still going to be grieving Harewhisker."

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean there aren't dangers out at night," Hawkfire pointed out feebly.

"It's late," Scorchstar argued. "No one is going on patrol now."

"But badgers and foxes are nocturnal!" Hawkfire retorted. "So, doesn't it make sense to send a patrol now?"

"Hawkfire!" Scorchstar lashed his tail. "It's late, we're tired, and we're grieving! Nobody is going on patrol tonight!"

Hawkfire flattened her ears. "Why make me deputy if you don't listen to a word I say?" she snarled, anger blazing in her green eyes.

"Hawkfire—"

His daughter turned on her heel sharply and walked over to Harewhisker's body, her tail twitching back-and-forth in irritation. Scorchstar watched her go, anger fizzling in his pelt. He had made Hawkfire deputy, but was she going to contradict him at every turn, or disobey his orders? I thought she was over this stage by now! Scorchstar could only hope that this was a one-time event.