Book 1 - Warriors: The Shadow Outcast

Chapter Twenty-Six

"The new deputy of ShadowClan will be Rainfur."

Rainfur's eyes grew wide, and he stood there with shock as ShadowClan called out in protest. They all refused, and Rainfur actually agreed. He wasn't ready to be deputy yet—not only was he only eleven moons old, he hadn't even become a mentor!

"You must be joking!" a young tom yelled.

"That's outrageous!" a she-cat hissed.

"You can't do this!" yowled an elder Warrior. "He isn't experienced! He's only eleven moons old!"

"I understand that this is sudden and mouse-brained," Nightstar told them, standing tall. "However, I feel that it needs to happen, only for now. He is smart, as I have figured out, and he is strong, as you have all seen. He may become a loner after the fight, and if that is the case, then I'll let him go and choose another deputy. It's as simple as that."

"It's not that easy, Nightstar," growled the elder Warrior. "I've been in this Clan many moons, and not once have I seen such a foolish act. Have you no common sense? He has not yet even had an apprentice! How will StarClan react?"

"He trained me!" Sweetclaw suddenly yelled. "It may have been only a moon, but he trained me to know the ways of the Twolegs, and many other life lessons!"

"Did he teach you how hunt?" asked the elder Warrior, narrowing his eyes. "Did he teach you how to fight, or to even understand the Warrior code?" Sweetclaw shook her head, but she wasn't afraid. She was furious.

"No, but he did give me a Warrior name," Sweetclaw growled. "Sweetclaw is my new name." The elder Warrior snorted with laughter.

"Oh, so did he pretend to be Rainstar of ThunderClan?" the elder Warrior hissed. "He may have given you a name, but officially, you are still an apprentice." Sweetclaw growled lowly for warning.

"That isn't true," Sweetclaw hissed. "StarClan told him that they approved, and I saw it. If you want proof, go ask them." The elder Warrior growled.

"Don't talk about our Warrior ancestors that way!" the elder Warrior hissed. "If you claim yourself a Warrior, then you must act like one!" Sweetclaw hissed.

"Snakeheart, Sweetclaw is actually a Warrior," Nightstar interrupted. "StarClan told me, just a half-moon ago, actually." Snakeheart, the elder Warrior, tilting his head with confusion.

"What are you saying?" asked Snakeheart. Rainfur was surprised as well, for he was looking at the noble leader in confusion.

"Days ago, Shadowstar himself told me," Nightstar explained, sitting on the Highrock with a proud expression. It was hiding something else, but he wasn't lying. Nightstar was telling the truth. "He told me that Rainfur had given Sweetclaw a name, and they approved." Snakeheart narrowed his eyes with irritation, his tail lashing.

"Fine, Sweetclaw is a Warrior," Snakeheart hissed. "That still doesn't prove to anyone that Rainfur is supposed to be your new deputy."

"Actually, StarClan sent me a dream about that as well," Nightstar told him. "Our Clan was dying, and I was the only one left, the only thing I could see was fire. A smokey figure emerged from a pool of water, and then everything was normal. Do you call that proof? StarClan told me Rainfur was going to return, and according to that dream, he will help us all."

"Is that why you want to appoint him deputy?" asked Snakeheart. "Are you mouse-brained? Rainfur may save the Clans, but he doesn't need to be deputy to do it!"

"Where's the rule against it?" asked Nightstar his eyes narrowed. Rainfur could tell the noble leader was getting irritated, but usually a leader would control his emotions a bit better than this. Were Snakeheart and Nightstar related?