Paws Of Stars book #1: Rising Tides

Chapter 7

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather below Highledge!"

"He must have decided who the deputy should be," Hollypaw mewed, hurrying over from the medicine den and sitting down beside her brothers. She wriggled down into the grass, shivering in anticipation.

"Graystripe and Brackenfur are on Highledge with Firestar," Hollypaw whispered to her brother.

"I know," Jaypaw answered curtly.

"I know you've all been wondering what will happen now that our previous deputy has returned," the Clan leader began.

"When we left the forest, I thought I would never see Graystripe again," Firestar confessed. "There were many nights when I stared up at Silverpelt and tried to imagine him among our ancestors." The ThunderClan leader went on. "Graystripe was my deputy and my friend. I trained with him and fought with him. I trusted him more than any cat. Having him back is like having one of my own lives restored."

"He's going to make Graystripe deputy again!" Hollypaw hissed under her breath.

"Wait," Jaypaw warned. How could he know anything? 

"But Brackenfur has helped me lead the Clan through some of its most terrifying challenges. He is thoughtful, strong, and I've never seen him waver in his loyalty to his Clanmates. The last thing ThunderClan needs now is more change." He paused and glanced at the two warriors. "So I've decided that Brackenfur should remain deputy."

Mews of surprise rippled around the Clan. Hollypaw could understand. She looked up at Graystripe, but his expression was impossible to read.

Sorreltail raised her voice happily. "Brackenfur!"

"Brackenfur! Brackenfur!" Ashfur quickly joined in.

Dustpelt and Thornclaw started calling Brackenfur's name too. Graystripe got to his paws and joined in, and Brackenfur dipped his head respectfully to the former ThunderClan deputy.

"Told you so," Jaypaw murmured.

"How did you know?" Lionpaw asked accusingly.

Jaypaw shrugged. "It was the wisest choice."

"Do you think Graystripe minds?" Hollypaw whispered.

"Does it matter?" Jaypaw asked.

"He must know the Clan has changed a lot," Lionpaw replied.

"But what about when he's fully recovered?" Hollypaw persisted. "Will he be happy just being a warrior?"

"I think Firestar made the right decision." The meow made Lionpaw jump. He glanced up and saw Ashfur padding toward them.

"Brackenfur should be deputy," Lionpaw told him firmly. "Graystripe doesn't even know the territory yet. He'd be as lost as a WindClan kit in a ShadowClan nursery."

"Exactly." Ashfur nodded.

"And Graystripe is going to take another moon to recover," Jaypaw put in. "He still smells of crow-food."

"He'll be strong soon," Hollypaw mewed defensively.

"Soon isn't good enough," Lionpaw argued. "We need a strong deputy now. Green-leaf's heat is only getting stronger and Windclan is making our lives more difficult. We can't afford to wait for Graystripe to recover."

"But he was deputy first!" Hollypaw protested. "Has everyone forgotten? When Mistyfoot was taken by Twolegs, Hawkfrost replaced her only until she returned. Because according to the warrior code she never stopped being the deputy!"

"Your sister has a point," Ashfur commented.

"I know, but" Lionpaw stammered. "Firestar has to be practical."