Stormtail's Secret

Chapter 7

If you would leave a comment or vote, I would post more chapter more quickly. Also go and follow @TabbystarTheTabby because they were my first official voter, plus they are an awesome writer. You can find them on drawcast @Tabbystar ENJOY OR DIE!

"Why is Hollypooll sleeping? Couldn't she find a better place to snooze off the day?" The high pitched mew sounded behind me. Oh no, I thought.

"She's... She's in a better place now, Finchpaw. Hollypool is in StarClan," I say. Finchpaw seems to understand, but doesn't say anything. Wow, I thought. The second dead cat within a quarter moon! "Let's take her back to camp. There we can sit vigil for her," I start to drag the deputy by the scruff, and Finchpaw comes and helps, which makes it a lot easier.

I get back to camp panting, and it doesn't help when all the cats in the hollow at the moment come rushing over and crowd around the dead she-cat. "Back up! I need some space!" I yowl into the crowd. They back up a taillength or two, but watch silently with grief-stricken eyes. Finchpaw and I lay the black and white cat in the center of the clearing, and at that moment, Snowstar padded out of his den.

"What is this all about?" He demands.

I start telling him the story. "Me and Finchpaw were patrolling the borders when I smelled a funny scent I knew it was Hollypool's, but it smelled very odd. I found her dead in a clearing, though there were no bites or claw marks on her and there was no struggle."

"Come in my den. You too Finchpaw. I need to speak to you and the senior warriors about this." The leaders eyes were glittering with worry. I pad into the Snowstar's den with Finchpaw at my side. When we got into the dim den, the warriors were already talking.

"But it isn't a fox Silverstorm, Stormtail said that there wasn't any claw marks-"

"How do you know you can trust his judgment?" Silverfeather interrupted. Snowstar just stared at her.

"You can always trust Stormtail. He is very loyal and brave and you should trust him with your life," Snowstar scolded her. Then Silverfeather just stalked out of the den. "What was that all about?" The leader asked me. I just shrugged. If Silverfeather wanted to be stubborn, then let her, I thought.

"Well anyways, since it was obviously so,etching else, then what could it have been?" Suddenly, the white cat's eyes darkened. "I need to speak with Stormtail and Whitewhisker alone," he told his senior warriors. "Finchpaw, you might as well come because you're Stormtail's apprentice." At that he waved his tail to let the senior warriors dismissed.

When all the warriors were out, Snowstar meowed, "I have a couple things to discuss with you. First, I'm thinking about picking you for a deputy." I almost passed out with surprise with this. Deputy? But Snowstar swept on. "By the time any of my senior warriors become leader, they will be too old to becoming a leader. Do you know how many lives I have left?" He asked me. I shook my head.

"I have eight lives left. That's good enough so that when I lose my final life, you will become a younger leader, but it's better to be younger than older when it comes to being a leader." I broke in, desperate to asks a question.

"But aren't there older warriors than me, but not to senior warriors? Snowstar shook his head.

"There hasn't been a warrior ceremony, besides yours, in moons," he meows. "You shall be picked as the new deputy before moonhigh, if you agree that is." His eyes look desperate and pleading. I know what I have to do.

I take a deep breath and meow, "Yes Snowstar, I will become your deputy."