Warriors: Deerleap's Loss (Complete)

Chapter 32

 When Deerleap entered the camp, he saw Cloverstar jump off the Shaderock, and some cats looked happy and proud. However, Smallfur looked startled and anxious.

 Deerleap blinked, confused, and padded toward Turtlepond.

 The black-and-ginger tom looked up. ''You're back!''

 ''Yes, I'm back.'' He sighed. ''What happened? Everyone looks like we just found a bunch of prey to last us the whole upcoming leaf-bare. And Smallfur looks like he saw a bunch of StarClan cats telling him a random prophecy that makes no sense.''

 ''Not a lot of things happened.'' Turtlepond meowed. ''Eelpaw, Cactuspaw, and Blackpaw just became warriors. They're now called Eelleaf, Cactuscloud, and Blackfang.''

 Blackfang! Deerleap knew exactly why Cloverstar named him Blackfang. The new warrior had all of his teeth white, except for one that was fully black.

 Deerleap nodded. ''Anything else?''

 ''Well, kind of. Daisypurr is giving birth to Smallfur's kits. Lilypetal and Speckleflower are with her.'' He meowed.

 ''All right. Also, am I still deputy?'' Deerleap asked.

 Turtlepond shrugged. ''Cloverstar didn't say anything about you, so I think you still are. Also, where have you been?''

 ''I followed Iceskin, and I promised him to reveal the truth to ShadowClan.'' Deerleap meowed, then turned around. ''And that's exactly what I'm going to do.''

 He felt proud that his apprentice became a warrior, but he didn't have time to congratulate her. At least not right now. Not yet. He looked around, searching for Blackfang, and when he saw him, he ran toward him.

 ''Blackfang!'' He called.

 The younger warrior turned around.

 ''Deerleap, you're back!'' He dipped his head, then looked troubled. ''What is it? Is something wrong?"

 He shook his head. ''I need you to follow me out of camp.'' He meowed and then turned around, rushing out of camp.

 Blackfang hesitated, then followed him.

 When they reached the middle part of the territory, Deerleap sat down. Blackfang sat down in front of him, looking a bit skeptical and anxious.

 ''What exactly happened by the pond?'' Deerleap asked.

 Blackfang looked surprised by the question.

 ''I need to know the truth. What did you see?'' The tom looked at him intently.

 ''W-Well, I.. Well, I was near a huge pond with Iceskin and Ravenflight. Then, somebody pushed me and I fell in it. I couldn't see anything, but then I swam back up and I saw both Iceskin and Ravenflight fighting.'' He explained.

 ''And then you went between them and Iceskin accidentally clawed you?'' Deerleap asked.

 Blackfang nodded. ''But I don't think it was an accident. I'm sure he pushed me in the pond.''

 ''How do you know Ravenflight didn't push you?'' Deerleap tilted his head.

 Blackfang shook his head. ''It's impossible. She was my mentor, and I admit, although she was aggressive at times, she saved me from a badger in that attack. And when I was a kit, I snuck out of camp to explore the territory, but I got lost. It was Ravenflight who found me, and she agreed not to tell anyone that I snuck out. She saved me twice!''

 Deerleap narrowed his eyes, still skeptical. ''All right, thanks. You can go.''

 The younger tom got up and padded back to camp. Deerleap got up and ran after him. He had to tell Cloverstar what he just found out.