Darkstorm's Code✔️

Chapter Five

The warrior attacking Darkpaw didn't stop; he turned around, aiming a deadly blow at Shadepaw's neck. Tallmeadow yowled, "Stop! You cannot harm that cat!" She ran into the battle and grabbed Darkpaw's littermate by the scruff. "Rainstar! You have killed a noble warrior and a caring deputy. You have won this battle." Before Fernstar could protest, the medicine cat continued, "ShadowClan, retreat! This is a battle for another day!" 

...

"You must let him," Tallmeadow pleaded as ShadowClan walked back. "Shadepaw's destiny is not being a warrior. It is to save his Clanmates." Fernstar scowled.

"I have my reasons, Tallmeadow. You know who that cat looks like."

"He isn't Shadeflight," Tallmeadow mewed. Thinfur stiffened. 

"Who's Shadeflight?" Darkpaw inquired, peering at her father.

"He was a ShadowClan cat... A very close friend of Fernstar's. But he was... not... good. He was a Dark Forest cat, through and through. Remember the legends about Thistleclaw and Tigerstar?"

"Tigerclaw-Tigerstar? Yes. And Thistleclaw... Yeah. Funny how ThunderClan thinks they solve all the problems for the Clans- all the troublemakers come from them."

"Hah," Thinfur mewed. "True. So Shadeflight was evil; he killed a huge part of the Clans before Fernstar killed him. But Fernstar believes that your littermate is Shadeflight reborn. They look exactly alike; they even both have a broken tooth. And the same one."

"Oh. So that's why..." Darkpaw trailed off. Why Fernstar hates me.

"No." Thinfur mewed. She flicked her ears, surprised. "Fernstar wanted me to be her mate. So when I introduced you two kits to the Clan, she was furious. She almost killed me. So she takes it out on you and Shadepaw. But especially Shadepaw, since he looks so much like Shadeflight. You know," Thinfur added, "he even acts like Shadeflight did before he turned."

"Fine," Fernstar spat suddenly, and Darkpaw jerked her head up. After Thinfur's nearly silent mewing, Fernstar's yowl was a jolt to her ears. "You do need an apprentice. You're growing old." Tallmeadow frowned but said nothing. Fernstar acts like a kit, Darkpaw decided. A very big kit, but still. A kit. She perked up, realizing what Fernstar was saying.

"So Shadepaw can be-"

"Shadepaw has one chance," Fernstar hissed. "If, by a moon, he isn't ready to be a full medicine cat, he will return to this- being a warrior apprentice." Tallmeadow spun around, snarling. Darkpaw flinched back at the friendly medicine cat's sudden rage.

"Fernstar, you foxheart," she spat, "No cat has ever learned to be a warrior or a medicine cat in a single moon! Foxdung, you don't even care! All that matters to you is... I don't even know anymore! Ugh!" Tallmeadow ran ahead of the other cats, to camp.

...

"Will he be alright?" Darkpaw asked worriedly. Tallmeadow shook her head soberly, her eyes distant and sad.

"Frogscar is dead. Fernstar will have to appoint a new deputy soon. It's almost moonhigh." Darkpaw paused. I meant Shadepaw... I didn't even think about Frogscar!

"What about Shadepaw?"

"I don't know. That last blow surely would've killed him, but he still might..." she trailed off and looked at Shadepaw's body, lying in the middle of her den. 

"Come!" Fernstar yowled. Now, she doesn't even say the proper words to gather the Clan, Darkpaw thought angrily. Oh, I hope Shadepaw will be okay. Please, StarClan, don't let him die! "Time has come to appoint the new deputy. We grieve for Frogscar. The new deputy will be..." Fernstar paused, as if thinking.

"Has she even decided yet?" Orangepaw muttered in Darkpaw's ear. 

"Who knows?" she muttered back.

"Thinfur," Fernstar finished, leaving to her den. The Clan cast Frogscar to StarClan and deputized Thinfur. Darkpaw pressed her nose to Frogscar's cooling fur. I'm sorry, Frogscar. This never should have happened! Rage filled her heart, twisted with grief. You wouldn't be dead and Shadepaw wouldn't be dying if Fernstar hadn't made us look so weak at the gathering. This is all her fault! She clenched her teeth and stepped back.

"I'll see you one day, in StarClan," she promised more calmly, dipping her head. She padded to Thinfur. Her father was deputy- it was hard to imagine. She flicked her tail. 

"Fernstar must think that you're a great warrior to make you deputy!" Darkpaw mewed, forcing herself to sound cheerful. Just for Thinfur. Just for Thinfur. Her father tipped his head to one side.

"I guess..." He sounded oddly doubtful, but nuzzled her head. "You should go see your brother. Those were amazing fighting moves you used- Frogscar would be proud." Darkpaw mewed something and obeyed, padding over to the medicine den.

"Shadepaw," Darkpaw murmured, sitting beside him. "Thinfur is the new deputy. Aren't you happy? And when you recover, Fernstar will give you a chance to be a medicine cat. Isn't that great?" Shadepaw didn't stir. Darkpaw stifled back a wail. StarClan, no! Let Shadepaw recover, and soon!

Okay, I think that was a good-sized chapter? Should I try to make them longer, or is this size alright?

-Shadowstorm