No cat said anything. Everything was silent. Bloodstar and Saphirestar stared down at Blacktail's body, shocked. Tears started to emerge out of Saphirestar's eyes. Dawnstar started trembling as she stared wide-eyed at the body. Jaystar shook his head, while closing his eyes and looking away. Daystar was shocked by the whole scene. Her clan was unable to attend the last gathering because a bad sickness hit Wonderclan. Thornstar still looked weak from the same sickness that also hit Thornclan. Thornstar dipped her dead to honor the dead deputy. Goldpaw started trembling, tears started to sting her eyes. Blacktail was a big inspiration. He was kind and gentle. He would have been a great leader.
Graypaw lowered his head, trying to hide his tears. His whine made Goldpaw tremble even more. Darkpaw pushed her muzzle into her mentor's fur, while Frostpelt sat there, with no expression. Strikestar smirked.
"Starclan seems to be mad..." Strikestar meowed in his low voice. Thunder boomed above in the skies, making some cats jump. Lightning lit the sky for a heartbeat.
"The gathering is over." Strikestar chuckled evilly. He jumped down from the Great Rock, or will later be known as the Killer Rock, and started walking toward Strikeclan's side of the forest. Rain suddenly poured from the clouds. Strikeclan followed their leader, their tails held high, showing pride in their leader.
Bloodstar finally came to her senses. Her claws scraped against the Great Rock.
"STRIKESTAR!" She roared loudly. Her roar echoed in the forest. Thunder rumbled in the distance as the echo faded. Shadowclan cats started to gather to travel back. Dawnstar's eyes got watery as she dipped her head at Saphirestar and leaped from the rock. She instantly ran for the forest. Her clan struggled to catch up with her. Jaystar walked over to Saphirestar, running his tail along her spine for comfort. Then he walked to the edge of the Great Rock. He hesitated, as if he was afraid that he would also plummet to his death. He shook his head and whimpered slightly as he leaped. He landed safely, then dashed into his territory, and his clan was right behind him. Daystar, too shocked to say words, just leaped off the Great Rock and left with her clan.
"... Saphirestar..." Thornstar muttered, her sleek black coat was soaked and clinging to her sickly frame. "I'm so sorry for your loss. He was a great deputy, but he is now in the ranks of Starclan." She dipped her head politely and jumped down gracefully. She led her clan back to her territory. Saphirestar stood there, staring at her dead deputy.
"B-Blacktail... N-o..." Saphirestar mumbled. "NO!"
Instead of jumping, she slowly climbed down the Great Rock. She helped some cats get Blacktail on their backs for the trip back to the camp. Goldpaw stood in the rain, soaked to the bone. Graypaw slowly turned and walked toward the rest of the clan. Tears dripped from his eyes like the rain dripped from his pelt.
Goldpaw couldn't move. Why is everyone dying?! She wanted to scream. But, before she could, her mother grabbed her by the scruff and carried her home.
**************************************************************************************
They arrived at the camp, soaked. The rain had stopped, but it left everyone cold. Many cats were shocked at the sight of Blacktail's soaked body. Saphirestar put Goldpaw down and went to crouch beside her dead deputy's body. Goldpaw slowly trotted into the apprentice's den and stood at the entrance with water dripping from her pelt.
"Goldpaw?" Bronzepaw mewed drowsily. "What's wrong? You look like you saw a fox!" Goldpaw's tail quivered as she recalled the memory of the deputy's death. Slowly, his body plummeted down toward the ground. The crack of his neck echoed in her mind. She broke down in tears. Bronzepaw quickly got up to comfort her.
"What is it, Goldpaw?" Bronzepaw meowed comfortingly.
"B-Bl-acktail... He..." Goldpaw managed to choke out a few words. "H-he's d-de-ad..." She sobbed loudly. The other apprentices gasped and shot outside to see the deputy. Bronzepaw stood there, dazed. Goldpaw cried. Tears continued to sting her eyes. Bronzepaw whimpered and ran outside to see the dead clanmate. Goldpaw slowly followed him. She crouched down onto the wet ground and pressed her flank against the cold body of Blacktail. He didn't smell like Blacktail anymore. He smelt like rosemary and mint. Bronzepaw was beside her, whimpering in Blacktail's fur. Saphirestar laid beside Blacktail's cold face. His eyes were still open wide. Saphirestar whispered her farewell and closed his eyes with her paw.
Even the elders got out of their warm dens to go sit vigil for Blacktail. Joysoul still look fragile and grief-stricken. Goldpaw guessed that this death hasn't helped her any. Darkpaw pressed her flank on Goldpaw's other flank. Graypaw sat beside Saphirestar, whining and sobbing into his mentor's neck fur. Goldpaw quietly cried. It started to sprinkle rain. But, this rain wasn't like earlier. It felt as if Starclan was grieving with Crystalclan.
Her mother suddenly got up and dragged her paws as she walked up to the Tall Crystal. She leaped onto it and yowled.
"I, Saphirestar, leader of Crystalclan say these words in front of the previous deputy so he can approve my choice." She paused to think about her choice. "Tigerlily, would you like to be the new deputy of Crystalclan?" Every cat's head turned to Tigerlily who was shocked. Her eyes were as wide as the moon.
"I-... Me?... Deputy? I..." Tigerlily stammered.
"You would be a great deputy, and when the time comes, leader." Saphirestar mewed firmly. Goldpaw was surprised that her mother chose her mentor!
"I..." Tigerlily paused to think, then she looked up at her leader with determination. "I would be happy to serve the clan as their deputy." The clan cheered the new deputy's name.
"TIGERLILY! TIGERLILY! TIGERLILY!" They chanted. Goldpaw went up and congragulated her, but she wasn't as cheery as she thought she was.
"Goldpaw, you seem tired." Tigerlily meowed. "Go to sleep, Blacktail won't mind I promise." Goldpaw nodded and yawned as she slipped into the apprentices' den. She noticed that Bronzepaw was restlessly sleeping in his nest beside her's. She scooted her moss bedding closer to Bronzepaw and laid down. Her flank pressed against Bronzepaw's. He instantly calmed down and started purring. Goldpaw smiled a little and drifted into a deep sleep.
YOU ARE READING
Goldstar's past
FantasyGoldstar had a rough start in her life. But she has learned from her past and will put her last breath to protect her clan. But what happens... When the enemy... is somewhere in her clan.
