Chapter 69: Not Even A Week
I'd finally settled into my new position after a few days. Lionheart and Whitestorm were invaluable in both teaching me my necessary duties as well as legitimizing my authority by being present as I presented new orders. I actually had a mental list of who worked best with who after some interviews with cats I hadn't gotten the time to get to know personally. I learned important things about all our cats, like Whitestorm should always be patrol head unless Bluestar is present, Lionheart is a real good filler for any empty slots in a patrol, Longtail has a bit of a thing for Mousefur, Sandstorm is desperate to make up with Fireheart, and Darkstripe really doesn't function in a patrol structure unless either Lionheart, Longtail, Whitestorm, or I is present. Fortunately, I had another use for Darkstripe. He had a very niche set of skills that I had personally experienced and planned to exploit.
I caught Darkstripe coming back from a hunting patrol. He looked somewhat annoyed since he hadn't been paired with a cat that could rein him in, and his ego wouldn't allow him to take orders from an equal. It was for this reason I decided to assign him a new duty.
"Darkstripe. Can I talk to you for a sec?" I asked my former mentor.
Darkstripe perked at my voice. Despite how much effort I put in to showing that what Tigerclaw did blindsided us all, a significant number of cats had changed their dispositions towards any cat who had associated with Tigerclaw. Unfortunately, that left Darkstripe far more isolated than he'd already been. This new duty would not only force him to socialize, but it would give him a level of authority which would help stomp out those prejudices. "Sure. Whatever you need." He answered happily.
"I've noticed you have a distinct talent in teaching. I was hoping for your assistance with something. You see, up until now, we've had no good way to assess the current skillsets of our training apprentices besides assessments, and those have a bit of bias from mentors. I wanted to offer you a unique position. You'd be the overseer of all training going forward. This does not mean you can overrule mentors or have to teach each apprentice, but rather, your job would be to inspect mentors and apprentices during their training, assess whether their methods are valid, and if not, to step in and guide the mentor into a better training method for their apprentice. I know that this would be a big responsibility, but it is one I know and trust you could fulfil. Are you willing to accept the position?" I offered sincerely.
I actually saw Darkstripe's eyes mist up at the offer. He scrunched his face a bit, trying to keep his emotion from overflowing. I came to figure out he had a massive inferiority complex, constantly thinking himself lesser and doing a fair amount of bragging and lashing out to get a feeling of control. My offer had been far more than he could ever hope. I offered him a unique position tailored to him. I was giving him physical proof that he was not a lesser, and even that he was a better and well trusted cat. In a strange way, I was giving him everything he could ever wish for. It is a shame that I didn't realize at the time how big of a deal this was for him, but it did earn me his undying loyalty.
"Yes." He choked out, suppressing a joyful sob. "I'd love nothing more. I'll get right on it. You can count on me." He mewed out with firm conviction.
I was thankful that Bluestar and Fireheart gave me mostly free rein. They were both still considered my bosses, but they seemed to have a more paws off approach for now, whether that be because they were too busy with training or they wanted to see what I'd do with my newfound power.
I was quite the busy cat. I was finalizing patrol schedules, mentoring an apprentice, and maintaining my personal life all at the same time. I feel like most cats would cave under the pressure, but I am a bit different. When assassination was my game, management of many fine details became second nature. It was all about knowing how the cogs of the world mesh. The world and every being in it was maid of connections, and if one knew where the important ones lay, one could somewhat accurately predict how things would go. In a world of cogs, I am a wrench, moving pieces and removing others.
I was on patrol near the Riverclan border with Ravenfeather and Ashpaw when I heard a pair of cats pelt past me. It startled me for a moment before I moved to investigate. What I found left me with an unknow but unpleasant feeling. Cinderpaw was crouched down near a Riverclan queen, who I had to assume was Graystripe's secret mate Silverstream, who was still in the process of giving birth. Fireheart and Graystripe were anxiously waiting by her side. I rushed over to investigate.
"What's going on?" I ordered, drawing the attention of the two watching cats.
"I don't know. We just found her here bleeding..." Graystripe's frantic look and the word bleeding caused me to interrupt.
"How long has she been here?" I asked, noting the growing pool of blood near her spasming form.
"I heard her yowl, so not long. I caught Cinderpaw somewhere about halfway to camp and we sprinted here." Fireheart reported, not remembering he technically held a higher position than me.
I am a very professional killer, so I know blood well. Given what Fireheart told me, Silverstream's condition was not favorable in the slightest. That pool of blood was accumulating very quickly. The fact that Silverstream was not only conscious but still putting in the effort to birth her kits was a testament to her willpower. I could already tell she would not make it to the end of this day. As much as I detested Graystripe, he was still one of mine, so I had to help him however I could, even if it was just getting him to give his final words to his dying mate.
"Graystripe. You'd better talk to Silverstream now while you've got the chance. Given what I see, you won't get another." I gently mewed to him.
"No! She'll make it! I know she will! She needs to! We've got a medicine cat and everything!" He screeched, drawing a sympathetic look from me.
"I'm sorry. Some things aren't within our control. If you need to cry or lash out, do it, but right now she needs you to be strong. Fireheart and I will be here, whether it be for you to box my ears in or mourn her memory." I answered in the same gentle tone.
Graystripe was stunned to silence before turning to his mate. Cinderpaw had just eased one kit out who she gave to Fireheart to groom. Graystripe and Silverstream whispered to each other is distressed but hopeful tones. They both knew Silverstream wasn't going to make it, so they focused on their kits. This left me with an uneasy feeling. Here a cat was dying, one I had a vested interest in, and I could do nothing. I felt antsy beyond belief. I wanted to do something, anything, but I could not. I could do nothing, and that terrified me. I was twitchy just looking at the scene knowing nothing I could do would change a thing. I desperately needed to do something. I almost pelted off just to get out of this situation when Cinderpaw pulled free the second kit and placed her in front of me. I could feel that she'd somehow read my unease and knew I needed something to do.
Thus, I found myself grooming this tiny kit. This was something that was immeasurably valuable to me. It just felt right. I was finally doing something, ensuring someone's survival. Even if I couldn't save Silverstream's life, I was saving another. They were Graystripe's kits who Cinderpaw worked so hard to save, and those two were both Thunderclan and thus under my care. Their desires were mine, so these kits lives were more valuable than gold to me. Before Cinderpaw, Ashpaw, and I departed to camp, I gave Graystripe and Fireheart the order to inform Crookedstar and Riverclan what occurred. If I had assessed Crookedstar correctly, he'd let Graystripe sit in on her burial. Ashpaw briefly questioned why we were caring for these kits, but he accepted my answer that as deputy, my duty was to take the wishes of my clanmates upon myself even if I did not understand them completely.