It has been four moons since Russetstar gave Aspenpaw her warrior name. She also named Brownpaw and Heavypaw: Brownfrost and Heavyfall, and later she gave Goldenpaw his, which was Goldenspots.
It has been the first time she noticed that Greypattern's whiskers and hairs on her muzzle were turning grey. Her pelt was becoming dull too and she caught the weakest prey out of a patrol.
Russetstar asked her if she was thinking about retiring. "I think I should," Greypattern had answered with a sigh and they fixed a nest for her.
"Who should I appoint as deputy?" Russetstar asked. Then the first thought about it had come to her mind. "Do you think I should have Aspenbreeze as deputy?" She had asked, blinking.
Greypattern twitched her tail in surprise. "It's your choice," she had retorted and let Russetstar to think about it.
Aspenbreeze is a great warrior, though inexperienced. Russetstar snorted. Who else would I pick? She grinned to herself.
"Cats of ThunderClan," she yowled from onto the branch of her tree. "It is time to pick another deputy. Greypattern wishes to retire and we ask StarClan to let her have many moons of peace. She has served us well and she deserves it."
Greypattern winced to hear so many cats calling her name. "Aspenbreeze will be my new deputy," Russetstar told them.
No cats complained or objected. They looked stunned and when Russetstar looked at Aspenbreeze, her gaze was filled with regret and sadness. "I-I'm sorry, Russetstar," Aspenbreeze meowed, her gaze and voice calm.
"But I hope you can forgive me when I say I don't want to be deputy." Russetstar stared, mouth wide-open.
Some cats muttered muted and hushed words. "Can she do that?" Shadedwing asked. Hollyfire, his sister who was sitting beside him added, "Who doesn't want to be deputy?"
Aspenbreeze gulped, Russetstar knew she just wanted her to accept her apology. "Fine," she stammered. "Then, Gorseleap will be our deputy..."
Russetstar saw a flash of ambition in Aspenbreeze's eyes. I need to talk to her.
She climbed down and reached Aspenbreeze just before she entered the warrior's den. "Aspenbreeze!" Russetstar called. Aspenbreeze turned around at her name.
She halted when she saw Russetstar. She shot a knowing glance at Russetstar. "Okay, let's go talk," she murmured and, with surprise, Russetstar followed her out of camp.
Aspenbreeze sat down, her tail wrapped neatly over her paws. Russetstar sat in front of her. "What's going on?" She demanded.
Aspenbreeze let out a little sigh and explained. "I- er... Just don't feel like I would be a good deputy," she stammered. Russetstar knew she was lying. "That's not it," she retorted with a pang of frustration.
Why didn't she trust her leader? But the calico warrior only looked down at a puddle a tail-length away. She looked impatient and her eyes-widened, not in shock or surprise but actually curiosity.
"I-I am going to go hunt..." She muttered. Russetstar glanced sat the puddle she was looking at. Gasping with shock, she spotted a striped she-cat racing through a forest, with three moons hovering above her.
"Is that what you see?" She asked Aspenbreeze. "Who is that!?" Russetstar hurried to the puddle and Aspenbreeze followed, surprise. They didn't speak of the three moons but they both recognized it.
"You can see that!?" She gasped. Russetstar nodded. Aspenbreeze faintly growled. "But Coalstep didn't see it..." Russetstar hissed impatiently. "Who is it?"
"That's my sister. My lost sister." The words sounded like lightning and it started to rain. Aspenbreeze continued loudly. "StarClan made it clear I must bring her back to the Clans. She will fix your problems and save us all."
Russetstar felt realization like thunder. "The lost sister," she murmured. "So my sister wasn't the lost sister! Yours was. I don't know who she is, nobody but StarClan knows who she is, but you have to bring her back. Do you need me to come?"
Aspenbreeze blinked. "I want Coalstep to come with me." Her meow was flat, and Russetstar was taken aback.
"Besides, you never really chose Gorseleap to be your deputy. You don't really trust him to lead the Clan while you've been away. So you must stay and think about it. I will bring my sister back and she will save us from the lightning that destroyed the tree."
Russetstar sighed. Of course she wanted Coalstep away. "But that would mean there's not as much warriors," she fretted, but Aspenbreeze rested her tail on Russetstar's shoulder.
"I have to go; quickly! There's not much time, I'm guessing I have three moons since there were three moons in the puddle. And no I don't need herbs. I'll go get Coalstep."
Without saying anything else, she bounded back in the camp.
Russetstar waited.
Finally, Aspenbreeze came back with the black warrior at her heels. "She told me everything," he told Russetstar as she opened her mouth to explained.
"Both of you return safely, if you don't, I will kill the one who returns." Russetstar's tone was light with joke. Aspenbreeze twitched her whiskers and Coalstep let out a mrrow of laughter.
"But, honestly, do return safely. ThunderClan needs to be stronger now more than ever." She touched them both on the forehead with her nose.
Aspenbreeze dipped her head and Coalstep nodded. Russetstar watched them exchange a glance and pad off towards the direction of the rogue border.
Aspenbreeze must've had the directions, Russetstar thought, and, with a pain in her stomach, she headed to the camp where her nest lay waiting for her.
