Bluestar's Choice

Chapter Four

Bluefur woke up, startled. She looked down on her body, and saw that her kits were safely tucked in, sleeping.

She let out a sigh of relief. And she moved softly and slowly, her kits lying down in the moss bed. It was dawn now, and Thrushpelt should have been back from border patrol...

Bluefur walked out of the nursery and she saw Sunstar up on the Highrock, and cats pouring out of their dens to see what's happening. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the High Rock!" Sunstar mewed loudly.

Bluefur shivered. She knew what he was going to announce. It was obvious to those who had a brain. Bluefur looked for a place to sit, and saw Thrushpelt. She quickly padded up to him and sat next to him, while he gave her a happy smile. "I wonder what this is going to be about?" Thrushpelt murmured in her ear.

"I think I could guess..." Bluefur responded, ducking her head. "I'm sad to announce that Tawnyspots is dead. He retired to the elders' den, but died..."

Bluefur couldn't think properly. Thistleclaw is going to become the next deputy, Bluefur thought gasping. "I will appoint a new deputy right now." Sunstar mewed, "We will sit vigil for Tawnyspots after."

Bluefur's paws trembled. "I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirit ancestors and Tawnyspots will approve of my choice. The new deputy is Bluefur."

What? "Bluefur, you will be the ThunderClan deputy from this day forward. May StarClan grant you the courage to help your Clan face whatever lies in its path. And when the time comes for you to take my place, I pray you will shine at the head of our Clan."

But, but... Sunstar wouldn't appoint a queen as the deputy... "Thank you, I will serve my Clan in any way I can." Bluefur croaked out. How could I be the new deputy?

Bluefur saw that Thistleclaw had given her a hard glare. "Bluefur! Bluefur!" every cat yelled, except for Thistleclaw. She glared at him back.

Thrushpelt nudged her. "You're deputy now huh? Does this mean I have to listen to you?" Bluefur nodded, "Yes you do." she mewed barely paying attention. Why did Sunstar make me the deputy?

~~

That night she couldn't fall asleep. She was lost in thoughts about why and how she could have gotten the deputy role.

"Why did I get chosen?" Bluefur murmured to herself. "Why StarClan?"

After a few long moments, she fell asleep.

~~

She dreamed. Snowfur and Moonflower were alive, and Stormtail loved her.

"Moonflower!" Bluefur squeaked like a kit. "Snowfur! You're alive!" Moonflower licked her affectionately, "Of course we are alive." Stormtail padded up to her and gave her a mouse. "I caught you a mouse." he mewed.

"Thank you!" Bluefur mewed, happily accepting the mouse from her father.

"Bluefur." Snowfur murmured. Bluefur looked up, delighted. "Yes?"

"You're dreaming." Snowfur mewed. Huh? "I'm sharing with StarClan?" Bluefur asked, questioningly.

"I'm from StarClan." Snowfur said. Moonflower and Stormtail were busy talking aside. "Oh! You've come to visit me in my dreams!" Bluefur exclaimed happily. "Is Moonflower from StarClan too?" Snowfur shook her head. "There are dangers ahead. You must face them for your Clan." Bluefur jumped. "Why was I made deputy?" Bluefur asked, and added, "and not Thistleclaw?"

Thistleclaw was Snowfur's former mate, so Bluefur suspected Snowfur wanted him to be deputy and not her. "You were destined to be the leader of ThunderClan one day." Snowfur mewed. "Nothing would change that. Not even your kits."

Bluefur blurted uncerantiely, "Are you mad at me for having kits with Oakheart?" Snowfur shook her head. "You shouldn't have done it– yes, but what's done is done. You can't change the past, but you can change the future."

"What am I supposed to do?" Bluefur asked, desperate for answers. "Only time will tell..." Snowfur mewed. "When the time is right, you'll know what to do. Trust your instincts, Bluefur."

"But my instincts are what got you killed!" Bluefur protested. "Trust yourself..." Snowfur murmured softly, and then she vanished.

~~

Bluefur woke up. Her dream was on her mind, bothering her. "Kits?" she mewed. Her kits were gone.

Where could they go? She started to panic, but realized that they must have gone out to play. Bluefur quickly hurried out of the den, and scanned the clearing for her kits. Nowhere to be seen.

She yawned. "Where are my kits?" she demanded, staring at the nearest cat, Robinwing. "I don't know," she mewed softly. "I'll come with you to look for them though."

"Thanks." Bluefur's shoulders didn't relax. "Come on, let's go!"

~~

They searched the entire camp and ThunderClan territory, but no luck. "Do you think they might have... gone on another Clan's territory?" Robinwing asked.

"No! They shouldn't." Bluefur bristled. "They could've." Bluefur glared at her. "But they wouldn't. And that settles it."

Search patrols were sent out that day, but came back empty-handed. Sunstar had suggested asking the other Clans if they saw the kits, but it was already late at night, so they had to search tomorrow.

"Where are you, my precious kits?" Bluefur murmured.

~~