Spottedleaf's Madness

Chapter 14

            Spottedleaf bristled. "No." she thought. She saw Tigerclaw pad in, with Redtail's limp body hanging from his jaws. "No!" Spottedleaf yowled. As Tigerclaw put down his body, Spottedleaf ran to him and buried her nose into her brother's soft, still-warm fur.
           "He was murdered by Oakheart in the battle. I had to choice but to avenge him as I took Oakheart's life." Tigerclaw mewed.
           Spottedleaf looked over to Bluestar and saw sadness in her eyes as soon as Tigerclaw mentioned Oakheart's death.
           Spottedleaf looked over to Sandpaw and saw tears in her green eyes. She was beside her mother, Brindleface. Brindleface stared down at her mate's body with tears in her eyes.
           Runningwind ran to his body and buried his face in Redtail's fur, yowling with grief.
           Spottedleaf stared at her brother. Was this the great punishment Goosefeather was talking about?
           Spottedleaf heard Bluestar sigh with grief as she leaped onto the Highrock. "Cats of the Clans. You may know that Redtail is dead." Bluestar mewed with sadness.
           Whispers and murmurs were passed along the Clan. "Who will be deputy now?" yowled Darkstripe.
            Bluestar hesitated for a moment. "I'll think about it." Bluestar mewed before padding into her den.
            Spottedleaf padded into her den and gathered the herbs that will send him to Starclan. She padded out and put the herbs on his body.
            "Rest well in Starclan, dear brother. May you find good prey and shelter while you sleep." Spottedleaf choked.
            "I didn't know I had to do this to my own brother." Spottedleaf thought with grief.
            She saw Firepaw pad up to her. "What're you doing?" Firepaw mewed, eyes filled with curiosity, but his voice was filled with pity.
            "I'm sending him to Starclan." Spottedleaf mewed softly. "What's Starclan?" he mewed. "It's the warrior spirits. It's where almost everyone goes when they die. You will see them in the group of stars called Silverpelt. There will be a star added to them tonight." Spottedleaf mewed.
            Spottedleaf felt his tail run down her spine. "What was he to you?" he mewed. "He was my brother." she mewed. Firepaw paused for a moment. "I'm so sorry." he mewed. "It's alright. I'll see him again one day." she mewed softly.
            Before she could continue to mourn for Redtail, Bluestar came out of her den. "Let cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!" Bluestar yowled.
            Everyone trudged beneath the Highrock as Bluestar continued. "I have made my choice who's going to be the next deputy." Bluestar yowled.
            Everyone glanced at each other, as they also glanced at Tigerclaw, obviously wondering if he will be the next deputy.
            "But first, let us have a moment of silence for Redtail. He was an honourable deputy and a good friend. He will be missed." Bluestar mewed. Everyone hung their heads as they went silent.
            "Now. It's time to name Thunderclan's new deputy." Bluestar broke the silence. "I say these words before the body of Redtail, so his spirit may hear and approve my choice."
            Spottedleaf's heart thudded as everyone looked to Tigerclaw. Will he be the next deputy?
            "Lionheart will be the new Thunderclan deputy!" Bluestar yowled.
            Everyone stared at her with surprise. Even Lionheart looked surprised as he leaped onto the Highrock.
            "Thank you, Bluestar. I'll lead the Clan with the same eagerness and courage as Redtail did." Lionheart mewed.
            Spottedleaf looked over to Tigerclaw and saw a look of disappointment. "I don't blame him. Everyone thought he was going to be deputy!" Spottedleaf thought.
            "Now we will spend the rest of the night grieving for our former deputy." Bluestar mewed. She and Lionheart leaped down the Highrock as they padded to Redtail's body.
             Spottedleaf closed her eyes and buried her nose in his fur. She opened one eye and saw Sandpaw walk away. Spottedleaf understood why. "She can't bear the thought to grieve her own father. It's alright if she doesn't mourn him tonight." Spottedleaf mewed. She closed her eyes again. "Goodbye, brother. I will meet you again one day." she whispered as she drifted off to sleep.