✧ Devious Fates ✧ | COMPLETE WARRIOR CATS FANFICTION STORY |

// Chapter Twenty Four

Spottedpelt had awoken, aimlessly padding around camp and waiting for others to shuffle out of their dens to bring on patrol. It felt weird setting the patrols while being escorted on them. The spotted she-cat sometimes would feel anger over Vinestar's treatment, but tried to remind herself how lucky she was. She was appointed the deputy. The future leader! It was still hard to comprehend.

But she tried not to get ahead of herself. Can a deputy even be honored if they're so excited to be leader that they forget about the needs of their leader? Spottedpelt's coat shivered at the thought. Could she be a good leader? Was it her fault Vinestar was attacked by dogs?

Her ear twitched as she heard pawsteps scuff against the sand, approaching her. She blinked as she recognized Cinnamontail, who had recently been given his warrior name along with Molefang and Tallear. Buzzardsong, Embergaze, and Gingerpelt had been given their names about a quarter moon earlier.

"Will you and Tansybranch join me for a hunting patrol?" Spottedpelt asked.

"Actually," Cinnamontail answered. "Word has said Frostkit, Grasskit, and Rockkit's apprentice ceremonies are occuring today. I think we should stay for that."

Spottedpelt gave the ginger-brown tom a slight nod, treading towards the clearing. The sun had just about started to peek over the horizon, pouring amber rays of sunlight into the clearing and reflecting over the stones. It turned Spottedpelt's black spots a shade of dark golden, making the air warmer. Spottedpelt soaked in the unusual heat, her neck fur flattening as she started to slightly relax.

More shapes started emerging from the dens, stretching in the light. Webshine trekked to the fresh-kill pile, scooping out a large rabbit and directing her tail towards Lionrage, directing him to share it with her.

Willowheart and her apprentice, Brokenpaw, crawled into the clearing, Brokenpaw with a limp. Vinestar seemed to be affected by the bustle, appearing out of his den and quickly licking one of his broad shoulders. He seemed to have gotten frailer over leaf-fall, sending a burst of nervousness through Spottedpelt as she thought about becoming leader.

She fixed her gaze on Vinestar. Was he angry Spottedpelt would probably be leader? He fixed a quick glance on Spottedpelt. He looked another way so swiftly that Spottedpelt couldn't detect his expression. Stop worrying so much about the future! You're not necessarily going to be leader. The mottled she-cat shook her head, emptying her mind of thoughts.

Darkpool emerged from the WindClan nursery, her three elated kits bouncing at her paws. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here under the Wind Stone," Vinestar puffed. He started to climb the stone, his muscles bunching up as he used all of his strength. He struggled up, huffing a breath as he finally arrived at the top. His age really started to show.

Frostkit, Grasskit, and Rockkit bounded to the foot of the Wind Stone, followed by their mother. Spottedpelt trudged toward the boulder, climbing onto one of the lower ledges. She scoped the clearing for Sorrelpath. The tortoiseshell she-cat wasn't anywhere to be seen. She was still devastated over Eaglekit going missing and her other two kits' deaths. Spottedpelt couldn't blame her.

The WindClan deputy always prayed that Eaglekit would come back. But as moons started to pass, so did hope. Twoclaw and Beavertail arrived in the clearing, followed by Copperfrost and Fiercetalon. A weary Sorrelpath finally emerged, blankly sitting down in the crowd.

Spottedpelt tried to get her sister's attention, but Sorrelpath didn't seem to notice. Disappointment clouded her expression. She gazed up at Vinestar, who seemed to be looking a bit impatient. The grey tabby didn't meet the she-cat's look, only watching intently as an audience gathered below him.

Littlefoot joined the bevy of warriors. Tigertail sat at the very rear of the crowd, not with anyone. He didn't even glance at Sorrelpath. But he didn't look indignant; he appeared guilty, as if he didn't know how to approach his mate anymore. Spottedpelt felt a pang of sympathy for the tabby tom.

"The time has come for Frostkit, Grasskit, and Rockkit to be apprenticed," Vinestar announced. "From this day forward, until they receive their warrior names, they shall be known as Frostpaw, Grasspaw, and Rockpaw. Rockpaw, your mentor will be Amberstripe. Grasspaw, your mentor will be Cloverpatch. And Frostpaw, your mentor will be Spottedpelt." I'm her mentor?

Spottedpelt quivered with excitement. Why would Vinestar of assigned an apprentice to her? Hadn't he still had a grudge against her? She saw Frostpaw look up at her with a large smile. "Amberstripe, Cloverpatch, and Spottedpelt, I expect you to pass on all of your knowledge to your apprentices."

Spottedpelt lunged off of the stone's ledge, immediately greeted by Frostpaw who touched noses with her. "Hi!" she meowed ecstatically.

Before Vinestar leaped down from the Wind Stone, Lionrage stepped in front of it. "I have an announcement," he broadcasted. "Webshine is expecting my kits."

Congratulations zigzagged through the audience. Lionrage bowed his head, dashing towards his mate. Spottedpelt was always thankful to have more kits born into the Clan. But she never seemed to ever find a mate, nor did she really desire one.

Frostpaw's siblings signaled her towards the apprentices' den. "Er, I guess they want to go over to explore the apprentices' den," Frostpaw observed. She glanced up at her mentor. "May I join them?" she asked.

Spottedpelt still was in shock that she was assigned an apprentice. Frostpaw's message threw her out of a daze, and she quickly mewed, "Sure."

Frostpaw gave the spotted she-cat a thankful nod, bounding off to follow her siblings into the stone arrangement of the apprentices' den. Spottedpelt sighed. Would a warrior have to escort me when I train Frostpaw? She searched the clearing for a smug-looking Willowheart, but the silver tabby she-cat was nowhere to be seen. She probably went back to the medicine den.

Spottedpelt glimpsed back at Vinestar as the crowd started to break up, who slowly climbed down the Wind Stone. She squinted her eyes, trying to detect any regret in Vinestar's eyes. If there was any, the broad-shouldered tom did a good job hiding it.

Spottedpelt craned her head around, where she discovered Sorrelpath starting to pad back to the warriors den. She bolted towards her, skidding to a halt. "Sorrelpath!" she gasped.

Sorrelpath met her with a blank expression. "H-how are you?" Spottedpelt stammered.

Sorrelpath fixed her gaze on the ground. "I don't know," she squeaked. Spottedpelt set her tail on the tortoiseshell's shoulder.

"I'm sorry," Spottedpelt mewed, fixing a guilty look on her sister. "D-do you want to go hunting to possibly cheer you up?"

"Could you send out another searching party for Eaglekit?" Sorrelpath asked, forcing the words out of her jaws as if she was trying to swallow bitter herbs.

"We've looked everywhere," Spottedpelt croaked. Sorrelpath gave her a faint nod, acting like all of the colors were drained from her tortoiseshell coat. Sympathy and sorrow struck Spottedpelt like a vicious talon.

"I think I'm just going to rest," Sorrelpath sighed, wordlessly strolling over to the warriors' den. Spottedpelt prayed there was some way to cheer her up; some way to find Eaglekit.