Chapter 11
"By the powers of StarClan I give you your warrior name: Fernpaw, from this moment onwards, you shall be known as Fernclaw. StarClan honors your courage and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full member of HailClan." "Fernclaw! Fernclaw!" The Clan started cheering for the new warrior, who puffed out her chest with pride. Two moons had passed since Leafwater had moved into her den, and Featherkit herself had a few more days before she was made an apprentice. As Featherkit and Leafwater started going back to their dens, Fernclaw bounded up to them. "Hey mom! Aren't you happy I'm a warrior now?" "Yes! Yes, I'm so happy for you! You deserve this so much!" Leafwater gave her daughter a half-hearted lick on her cheek, but the arrogant warrior didn't seem to notice that. "Once I become a senior warrior, I might be made deputy! When you become leader, mom, will you make me deputy?" Featherkit saw hesitation and alarm flashing in Leafwater's eyes. "M..Maybe. But there's a long way for that. Blizzardstar still has eight lives left." Fernclaw let out a snort of disgust and bounded over to go to speak with her former mentor, Tigershade. Leafwater then turned to Featherkit. "Fernclaw's been asking me about my deputy ever since she was four moons old," she explained. "Each time I said "We'll see", she kept getting upset, and walking away." "But Blizzardstar is so old!" Featherkit mewed. "How can he only have eight lives left?" Leafwater leaned in closer. "That...That was actually a lie; I said that so Fernclaw would quit bugging me." "Then how many does he actually have left?" Leafwater leaned even closer and whispered in her ear. "Deputies aren't supposed to say how many lives their leader has left, but I know I can trust you on this. He has three lives left; not eight." Featherkit's head spun. Leafwater was so close to leadership! Sunpaw suddenly appeared from behind their den. "Sunpaw!" Leafwater went up to her younger son. "Where's your mentor?" Sunpaw dipped his head. "Stormpelt went on a hunting patrol, but he isn't back yet." Leafwater frowned. "But I sent them out ages ago! Why haven't they come back yet?" Featherkit had a feeling that something was wrong.
