Warriors: If Things Had Changed

If Brackenfur was Deputy - Part 1

What Happened:
Firestar took a deep breath and said, "The time has come to name ThunderClan's new deputy. I say these words before the spirits of our ancestors, and Graystripe's spirit, wherever it may be, may hear and approve of my choice. Brambleclaw will be the new deputy of ThunderClan." (Sunset, page 257)

What If?:
Firestar took a deep breath and said, "The time has come to name ThunderClan's new deputy. I say these words before the spirits of our ancestors, and Graystripe's spirit, wherever it may be, may hear and approve of my choice. Brackenfur will be the new deputy of ThunderClan."

Sorreltail smiled and nuzzled Brackenfur before he stepped forward to the Highledge. Brackenfur's chest was pounding, he knew that he wasn't the obvious choice. Many cats thought Brambleclaw would be deputy, especially since he went on the journey to the sun-drown place. 

"Firestar, are you sure? What about the vision?" Leafpool asked. 

Vision? Brackenfur wondered. Was StarClan against him being deputy? If there was, why had Firestar made him deputy? 

"The vision can say anything it likes, but I'm not breaking the warrior code for it," Firestar said in determination. 

"Vision, Firestar, what is she talking about?" Squirrelflight asked. Brackenfur's fur started to bristle nervously, Squirrelflight was known for having a flaming temper, and a fiery spirit, what if StarClan really was against him?

"It's none of your concern," Firestar said sternly to Squirrelflight. 

"No, Firestar, they need to know. They need to know that StarClan has not shown approval to the deputy of your choice," Leafpool said again. 

"Then, tell us, Leafpool," Dustpelt said, "Tell us what Firestar won't." 

"Last night, I had a vision. I saw the camp, but I couldn't get in it because it was surrounded by brambles, protecting it. The brambles were curved, like claws. Brambleclaw was protecting the camp," Leafpool said, loudly. 

Brackenfur started to feel emotions bubbling in his throat. Would Firestar break the warrior code and demote him as deputy? 

"Firestar, we can't deny the will of StarClan," Dustpelt said stubbornly. 

"And we also can't break the warrior code," Thornclaw said in return, Brackenfur nodded gratefully towards his brother.  

"Exactly," Firestar said to Thornclaw, "Leafpool did have this vision, but the warrior code is just as important, and Brambleclaw had never had an apprentice." 

"Brackenfur is a loyal and strong warrior, he will make a fine deputy," Mousefur said. Brackenfur blinked his thanks to the elder.

"The will of StarClan is more important than the warrior code," Squirrelflight said fiercely, snarling at Firestar and Brackenfur. Brackenfur's normally calm demeanor was falling apart, and his lips started to curl back into a snarl. 

"Really? Brambleclaw's not as experienced as Brackenfur is, he's never had an apprentice, and for the past few moons, who appointed the patrols while Graystripe wasn't here? Brackenfur! Not Brambleclaw," Sorreltail hissed at Squirrelflight. 

"Not as experienced? Brackenfur never went on the journey to the sun-drown place!" Squirrelflight snarled back. 

The clan quickly dissolved into chaos, cats backing up Brackenfur, and cats backing up Brambleclaw, Brackenfur found himself arguing with Firestar. 

"Firestar, you need to create order in this clan," Brackenfur argued. 

"Create order? You can't create order, even if I call the clan together, cats will still be divided, this argument needs to be resolved before order is called upon," Firestar said seriously. 

"Then call them to order, we don't have enough time to argue more about who is deputy. You put off assigning a deputy for so long, and to make ThunderClan great again, you need to make up your mind, and fast, before this descends into violence," Brackenfur hissed. 

Just as Brackenfur said that, they heard yowls of battle, and he caught glimpses of ginger fur and tortoiseshell and white fur tangled together, claws flashing, and blood splattered in the clearing. 

Brackenfur leaped towards them, and grabbed his mate's scruff with his teeth and pulled her back, still hissing and snarling. 

"This needs to stop right now! This is not how the deputy is decided, and this is never how any deputy is decided," Brackenfur yowled, as loud as he could, and the clearing turned into silence. His normally calm amber eyes were now burning with fury and indignation, "This choice is Firestar's and not StarClan's." 

Brackenfur then looked to Firestar, "Well, Firestar. You have the power to revoke your decision. How will you bring peace?" 

Brackenfur didn't know what Firestar would do, the clan was split half and half between himself and Brambleclaw, no matter who he chose, there would be unhappy cats. 

"I stand behind my original choice, Brackenfur is the deputy of ThunderClan," Firestar growled, "There will be no more argument." 

"Then if that's the choice, I will stand by it as well," Brambleclaw said, stepping forward. Brambleclaw had stayed oddly silent while the clan had descended into chaos, and this was the first time he stepped out. 

Brackenfur nodded his thanks to the dark tabby warrior, and stood up to say, "This is not how I would've liked to become deputy, but I will serve ThunderClan to the best of my ability, and hopefully..." he paused a second to look at Squirrelflight, the ginger she-cat's eyes were still burning in fury, "gain the support of those who think Brambleclaw should be deputy." 

"Brackenfur, Brackenfur!" Whitepaw yowled. Brackenfur blinked gratefully at his apprentice, and slowly, more cats started cheering, some more enthusiastic than others. He made mental notes to himself as he watched the warriors that cheered for him reluctantly. Those were the warriors he would have to convince, the only way to fully prove himself as the rightful deputy for ThunderClan.