"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather below Highledge!" I jerked up my head. Firestar's call had woken me from my warm nest. It was dawn, and I could feel Jaypaw stirring beside me. "What does Firestar want so early?" He yawned. "Clan meeting!" I replied with a yawn. I watched Lionpaw speed out of his nest. "Come on, we'd better hurry." I purred, stretching my body out. Jaypaw padded beside me as I walked over to the entrance of the den. I let out a breath. There was snow everywhere. Jaypaw pressed to my side when we sat down in the clearing. He was cold and short-haired while I was full of flowing, soft and warm fur. Firestar sat on Highledge flanked by Brambleclaw and Graystripe. Brambleclaw's pelt shone, the muscles beneath it taut. Graystripe's pelt was well-groomed, the knots and tangles smoothed at last, but it was dull and his ribs still showed beneath.
"He must have decided who the deputy should be," Hollypaw mewed, hurrying over from the medicine den and sitting down next to Lionpaw and me. She wriggled closer to me, shivering. "You're so warm, Seafern!" Hollypaw purred as Moonpaw came over and plopped herself in front of my paws like a kit. "I NEED YOUR WARMTH!" She groaned. I purred in amusement. Firestar's pelt glowed like fire in the cold dawn light as he gazed over the Clan. Millie settled beside Ferncloud, her eyes round with curiosity. Sorreltail, Whitewing, and Cloudtail sat in front of her, Brackenfur and Thornclaw behind. The grey kittypet no longer seemed intimidated by the warriors hemming her in and stared calmly up at Firestar. "I know you've all been wondering what will happen now that our previous deputy has returned," the Clan leader began. Graystripe wrapped his bushy tail tighter over his front paws.
One of Brambleclaw's ears twitched. "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." I glanced at Jaypaw and Moonpaw and wondered what it would be like to lose them. I didn't like the feeling that stabbed at my belly. 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," I warned. Lionpaw shot me a look. "But Brambleclaw has helped me lead the Clan through some of its most terrifying challenges. 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, waiting for them to reply.
"So I've decided that Brambleclaw should remain deputy."
"But—" The gasp escaped Brackenfur before he could stop it. Sorreltail echoed it, and mews of surprise rippled around the Clan. Squirrelflight raised her voice happily. "Brambleclaw!" I raised my voice loyaly. "Brambleclaw!"
"Brambleclaw! Brambleclaw!" Ashfur quickly joined in. Squirrelflight whipped her head around and stared at him. I narrowed my eyes. Why does she look surprised? Dustpelt and Thornclaw started calling Brambleclaw's name too. Graystripe got to his paws and joined in, and Brambleclaw dipped his head respectfully to the former ThunderClan deputy. "Told you so," Jaypaw murmured to Lionpaw. Lionpaw glanced suspiciously at me. "How did you know?"
I 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. I lifted my head and saw Ashfur padding toward us. "And you must be pleased that your father's still deputy," Ashfur purred. "Brambleclaw 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."
