Pineshade's Loss

Chapter 6

Pinepaw opens his eyes, waking up in his nest. The dark gray tom begins to slowly get up out of his nest and pads out of the apprentices' den. He gives his body a few good stretches before realizing that something is going on. He notices that many of his clanmates have very sorrowful expressions.

"Did I miss something?" Pinepaw thinks out loud. Luckily for him, his father heard him.

"Cherrystar lost her last life," Boulderdust tells his son. "She's with StarClan now," he meows, bowing his head with grief.

"How did she die?" Pinepaw asks the big dark gray tom.

"She was very old, I assume her age caught up with her and she died in her sleep," Boulderdust answers. "It's the reasonable explanation."

"I feel so bad for her," Pinepaw meows sadly.

"Don't feel bad for her, Pinepaw. She lived a long, very successful life," Boulderdust responds.

"When are you going to get your nine lives?" Pinepaw asks.

"Later," Boulderdust answers. "Then, I'll have to choose my deputy before moonhigh," he meows.

"Where's Beetlepaw? Milkpaw?" Pinepaw asks, hoping to find either his brother or his closest friend.

"They're both on dawn patrol," Boulderdust replies. "They should be back soon."

"Oh," Pinepaw meows. "Who do you think you will choose as your deputy?"

"I can't share that, Pinepaw," Boulderdust answers with a purr of amusement. "You won't know until the ceremony," he meows. "Oh, look, here they come," Boulderdust then points out, looking off at the entrance of camp. Pinepaw turns his head to spot the dawn patrol returning.

"See you later, Boulderdust!" Pinepaw meows to his father before dashing over towards Beetlepaw and Milkpaw.

"Why do you look so happy, Pinepaw?" Beetlepaw asks. "Our Clan leader died!"

"I'm just happy to see you and Milkpaw! Is there anything wrong with that?" Pinepaw responds with a flick of his tail. "Just because Cherrystar died doesn't mean I have to be sad all day."

"I guess you're right," Beetlepaw responds.

"That's because he is right," Milkpaw quickly adds. "We should be happy to keep our thoughts away from Cherrystar's death. It's not good to be sad over her death all day," she meows.

"I'm glad you agree, Milkpaw," Pinepaw meows.

***

Boulderstar returns from the moonpool with his sister and the clan's medicine cat, Silvertuft, closely following behind him. Pinepaw, excited to see him, watches as he leaps onto the Highbranch, sitting along with the other apprentices.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the high branch for a meeting!" Boulderstar yowls. The clan then gathers around the high branch, knowing exactly what this is for.

"Sadly, we lost Cherrystar overnight due to her old age. She lived a long, happy, and very successful life and StarClan will forever honor her as a great leader of ShadowClan. Now, as my duty as the new leader of ShadowClan, I must choose a deputy before moonhigh," he meows. "After a lot of thought, I have decided on who should be ShadowClan's new deputy," He tells the clan. "I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of ShadowClan is Lizardtail. Lizardtail, you are a strong, loyal, clever, and brave warrior of ShadowClan. You always watch over ShadowClan's well-being and you would be the best fit for the role of ShadowClan's deputy. You are a cat I can trust to be a great leader of ShadowClan if something were to happen to me," Boulderstar meows. The clan cheers and congratulates Lizardtail.

"Thank you, Boulderstar," Lizardtail meows, lowing his head respectfully.

"You deserve it, Lizardtail," Boulderstar meows. "The clan meeting is now dismissed," He then meows, leaping down from the highbranch. Pinepaw glances over at Hawkpaw and Ebonypaw, who are seemingly very excited for their father.

ShadowClan will be under another great leadership. Pinepaw thinks.