Warriors - A New Tale

Chapter thirteen

"Cats of Greenclan, gather under the rock for a clan meeting."
The cats gathered. "Since Gloomstar is dead, I will become the new leader. Can I have the elders bring Gloomstar's body to bury?" Nuttree looked shocked. Laketoes and Spottedpelt were probably going to do it because were the younger elders. Laketoes and Nuttree held a sad gaze for a bit. Whitestripe broke the eerie silence. "Stormclaw, who is going to be chosen as deputy?" Stormclaw nodded. "I will tell you, but first I have someone for you to meet." The same black cat that had attacked Gloomstar stepped in from the camp entrance. Nuttree gasped. "This is Blackie. He used to be a rogue, but he's proven to me he's worthy of GreenClan" introduced Stormclaw. Nuttree gave a sharp hiss. "Stormclaw, you can't let him join us, for he is the one who killed Gloomstar!" Stormclaw turned to Nuttree, and Blackie stared at Nuttree, pain glazing his eyes. "Are you questioning me?" Stormclaw spat. Nuttree crouched down in fear. She bowed down her head. "No, Stormclaw. I trust your judgment." I'll get rid of him myself.
"Thank you, GreenClan. I will travel to moonstone at dusk." She hopped off the rock. Nuttree felt rage fill her chest. Stormclaw must've not known about Blackie killing Gloomstar. And of course she wouldn't listen to Nuttree, she had only been a warrior for about a moon. But why would she believe some rogue? "Nuttree!" A concerned sounding voice sounded, as she felt a warm body next to her. She smelt Snowpaw. "You really saw Gloomstar die?" Nuttree was in a bad mood. "I also saw who made him die! But Stormclaw won't listen to me!" She snapped. Snowpaw stepped away from Nuttree. "Yes, I know" she said. She seemed scared about how angry Nuttree was. "I'm sorry," Nuttree sighed. "It's just everything is so difficult." Snowpaw nodded. "I understand. Maybe you should get some rest." Nuttree nodded. "See you later, Snowpaw." She padded to the warrior's den. Leaffall was also in there. Nuttree decided to talk to him so she could forget about her anger. "Hi, Leaffall. How's Sparrowwing?" Leaffall sighed a mixture of happiness and fearfulness. "She's fine. The kits will be born soon" he responded, looking at Nuttree. She nodded. "I can't wait to meet them. With parents like theirs, I'm sure they'll be wonderful cats." Leaffall smiled. "Thank you. Maybe Stormclaw will get you to mentor one of them." Nuttree's heart started racing. "R-really? You think so?" Leaffall chuckled softly and nodded. "Sure."

Nuttree stepped out of the warrior's den. It was early morning, and she was hoping to chosen for dawn patrol. Soon enough, Snowpaw bounded up to her. "Hello, Nuttree!" She purred. Nuttree smiled. "You look awfully happy" she commented. Snowpaw nodded slowly. "I do have a good reason, though. Smallpaw and I are going to be made warriors later today!" Nuttree purred back. "Wow, that's great! It's about time you were made a warrior, Snowpaw." Snowpaw nodded. "As well as your brother. Though he is quite small, he is a great warrior." Nuttree smiled. "Yep! Well anyways, I'm going to go ask Stormstar if I can go on patrol" she mewed, padding over to Stormstar. The powerful leader was talking to Darkfoot and Tigerstripe. "Hi, Stormstar!" Nuttree budded in. The two warriors and leader looked in Nuttree's direction. Stormstar sighed. "Yes, Nuttree, you can join them on patrol." Nuttree nodded. Stormstar shook her head and gave a slight chuckle. She bounded off.
Nuttree suddenly realized she had never interacted with these warriors before. "So," she spoke. "Shall we go?" Tigerstripe nodded. "Of course! Let's go!" He said happily, as he led the way out of camp. Darkfoot followed. He looked tired and grumpy. Nuttree kept close to Tigerstripe. Suddenly the whiff of prey hovered into her nostrils. Her nose twitched for the urge to hunt. "Hey guys, can I go hunt?" Darkfoot turned to her and gave her a glare. "Why? This isn't a hunting patrol" he grumbled. Tigerstripe looked at Darkfoot with anger in his eyes. "That's a great idea, Nuttree. In fact, I'll come with you!"
"Well then, if you two don't want to listen to clear instructions, then so be it! I'll mark borders on my own."
Darkfoot bounded off. Nuttree was confused. "What's up with him?" She asked Tigerstripe. He sighed and shook his head. "He's normally not like this, but Gloomstar dying has put him in a bad mood" the warrior explained. "Oh... okay" Nuttree replied quietly. "They were brothers, you see. But from the point from when Gloomstar became deputy, they had grown more and more apart. And now he's angry with himself for not congratulating his brother for all he accomplished in life." Nuttree felt sad listening to this information. "That... makes a lot of sense." Tigerstripe nodded. Suddenly he raised his head and sniffed the air. "I smell mouse" he whispered. Nuttree smelt it too. They both looked around. Nuttree spotted it. She nudged Tigerstripe and when she had his attention she pointed with her tail to where it was. It was nibbling on a seed. Tigerstripe crouched down. He bit into it, killing it quickly. "Great catch!" Nuttree complimented. Tigerstripe nodded and scraped some dusty dirt over it. Nuttree padded through the forest a little longer. She scented the smell of squirrel. It smelt like it was coming from above. She saw it on a tree branch. Tigerstripe chuckled. "You think you can catch it from all the up there?" Nuttree hissed playfully. "Obviously not! I'm not mouse-brained!" Tigerstripe shrugged. "Sorry, I'm only teasing" he replied. "Of course you are" Nuttree replied. She then smelt another squirrel, and it was on the ground. She found it easily and pounced on it. She clawed it's throat swiftly. "So there!" She purred to Tigerstripe. He nodded. "I think we should get back to Darkfoot now, though." Nuttree picked up the squirrel and bounded back to camp. Tigerstripe stayed. "I'll go get Greyfoot" he called after her. "Okay!" Nuttree shouted over her shoulder.
When she arrived at camp Stormstar was announcing something. "Snowpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code even at the cost of your own life?"
"Yes, I promise"
"Then you will be known as Snowstorm, from now on. You're vigil will begin at sundown."
Newly-named Snowstorm padded to Nuttree cheerfully. She licked her friends ear. "Smallpaw," Stormstar called. "Do you promise to protect your clan at the risk of losing your life?" Smallpaw nodded, looking more determined than he had ever been. "Good. You will from now on be known as Smallbolt for your swiftness."
"Snowstorm, Smallbolt! Snowstorm, Smallbolt!" The clan cheered.
Smallbolt nuzzled with Flamepaw, who was standing next to him. Nuttree heard Flamepaw quietly purr "you're gonna be a great warrior, Smallbolt!" Nuttree was a bit glad that Smallbolt had a friend.
"I also have another announcement" Stormstar called. The chattering died out. "I will also be naming a new deputy."
Everyone's ears perked up to listen. "Blackie, please step forward."
Nuttree almost shrieked in anger and fear. That evil cat? He killed Gloomstar! What is happening with this clan?!
A few cats started protesting.
"What?"
"Anyone would've been a better deputy than him!"
"But he's been in the clan for a day!"
Stormstar hissed. "Silence!" Everyone quieted down, but hostility was still in the air. "Blackie has proven to me that he's a worthy choice. I've been training him in secret for about four moons. Yes, he started out weak as a kittypet," Blackie looked upset at the term 'kittypet.'
"But I believe he's a strong warrior, and worthy to be deputy."
"But didn't Nuttree mention that he killed Gloomstar?" A voice growled. Nuttree turned around and saw the voice came from Snowstorm. She crouched down feeling scared. Shut up! She thought. Stormstar's eyes went to slits as she looked at Nuttree. "And you think she couldn't be lying?" She meowed angrily.
"Well maybe at least give him a warrior name...?" A soft voice called out. It was Orangepelt. Stormstar was starting to get on edge, so it calmed Nuttree to see her fur lay flat at the reasonable statement. "Alright. Blackie, your new name is Blackberry."
The new deputy purred. "Thank you, Stormstar. Thank you, GreenClan. I promise you I will take care of this clan." Blackberry and Nuttree held a stare for a bit. He looked scared.