Ghosts of the Clans

Chapter 16

Redwillow watched as Tigerheart and Rowanclaw gently placed Russetfur's dead body onto the ground, and his blood began to boil with rage. ThunderClan had always meowed about following the warrior code, and now, Lionblaze had broken the ever-so precious warrior code!

He raked his claws on the soil, a red haze covering his vision. What was more important was that he had failed to make Firestar lose a life. He had broken his promise to Tigerstar. How am I going to face him now, to prove my loyalty to the Dark Forest?

"Redwillow, are you okay?" a concerned voice broke his string of thoughts. The haze cleared, and he saw Pouncetail, standing with his head tipped to one side. "I'm fine!" he snapped at his father, and went to join Olivenose, who was crouching beside Russetfur's corpse, her head bowed.

Just before he could sit down, Ratscar nudged him and beckoned him with his tail toward Applefur. "Follow me," was all the dark brown tom mewed, but Redwillow did as he asked. Ratscar whispered something into Applefur's ear, and the mottled brown she-cat twitched one ear and got up, touching her nose one last time into the dead deputy's dark ginger fur.

"Applefur's our newest trainee," Ratscar declared as soon as they were out of earshot. "Really? That's... good news," Tigerheart, already there, narrowed his amber eyes. But Redwillow had heard the slight hesitation in the dark brown tabby tom's voice. "Did I just hear disloyalty?" he purred, his voice silky and his eyes gleaming.

Tigerheart shuffled his paws. "No, Redwillow. I was just surprised that it would be Applefur..." his voice trailed off as the she-cat's bright green eyes swivelled toward him. "Well, Brokenstar visited my dreams four nights ago. He told me that I was a great fighter!" Her chest puffed out with pride.

"Why did you come to the Place of No Stars, anyway?" Ratscar questioned Applefur, and her eyes darkened slightly. "Toadfoot. He has been the centre of attention ever since he came back from freeing the water. I want to be just like him- no, better than him!"

Tigerheart cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. Applefur glanced at him. "I have more of a competition since he's my brother," she reminded him, and the younger tom shrugged. "How about you three?"

"Well, because according to Dawnpelt, Jayfeather killed Flametail. And I agree with her. Jayfeather was in exactly the place where Flametail drowned," Ratscar confessed. The young orange tom had drowned last leaf-bare, playing with the younger Clanmates.

"Well, I have the ambition to become Clan leader one day, kind of like Tigerstar, just not as... far-fetched. When he approached me, how could I refuse?" It was now Redwillow's turn. He grasped for a random reason, anything but admitting his hatred of the warrior code. If any of them were somehow disloyal to the Dark Forest, they would report him to Blackstar for sure!

"What are you talking about, youngsters?" Tigerheart's father, Rowanclaw, had come over to the group, saving Redwillow from replying. "Uh, guessing who would be the next deputy," Tigerheart quickly lied, earning an affectionate laugh from the dark ginger tom.

"I think it'll be Crowfrost, anyway." Ratscar told him, and Applefur hastily nodded. Redwillow shook his head. "I still think it'll be Rowanclaw." "Me too!" Tigerheart chirped, and Rowanclaw's eyes softened. "Thanks, you two, but the Clan is still mourning Russetfur. Blackstar will announce his decision soon- the moon is rising."

As if on cue, Blackstar yowled from the Tallbranch. "Every cat whose old enough to catch their own prey, come here! It is time to announce the new deputy, for I have made up my mind."

They all trotted forward, and to almost no cat's surprise, Rowanclaw was made deputy. As he congratulated the new deputy, Redwillow reflected that Rowanclaw was a strong warrior. Perhaps not too much of a weak choice, but I think a Dark Forest trainee would be better!