The Rise of Sunclan

Okay, here is where TwistedLeg originated. This was a story actually written off of a role-play Whisp and I were doing. But, it just so happened to be mapless and went inactive after three weeks. So, things will seem a little choppy at times. We'll most likely go over and add some things and what-not, plus finish the story. Some characters have been edited and/or changed so as to not use characters owned by another person.







The wind had died to a gentle breeze though the rain still poured form swollen clouds. Thunder rumbled far off in the distance telling an end to yet another storm. Freshly felled trees littered the plain with debris and large pits in the ground, already filled with water, torn out by their roots. The grass land plain was dotted with pools of water and stream-lets turning it into a swamp with thick mud that trapped any who passed through it.

As chaotic as the scene may seem, a fresh scent wafted up from the torn earth as new as birth. It spoke of life and beauty, death and sacrifice, hope and belief. This once dry plain was now riddled with water sources and the scant life would bloom in full over the next coming weeks. Hope.

The cat looked back at the lingering storm once more before turning and padding into a damp burrow. She followed it until it let back out into the light and the middle of a camp. The she-cat shook out the water clinging to her fur, spraying it out in a halo of droplets. Sniffling once, she gazed around at the walls of grass that had formed into a tunnel over the years, carved out by many passing bodies of cats and other life. She could still hear the low echoing growls of the thunder while the rain had found ways to slip by the tightly woven grass, forming small puddles. But something was missing from this familiarity; the other cats.

The she-cat looked around her, but there was no one. Strange, she thought. She cocked an ear as muffled voices came from the elders den.

The she-cat followed the voices to the den and stepped inside.

"-And we had many more storms before this one", the single elder stated. His common brown tabby coat could be seen tucked behind the other cats from the clan.

"How many more?" The tiny grey kit in-front of him sat wide-eyed as if in disbelief.

The elder tom chuckled hoarsely, "Oh far too many to count."

The kit stared at him, completely in awe of the elder.

The old tom smiled gap-toothed at the innocence of the kit. "Would you like me to tell you?"

"Oh, yes please", the small kit answered excitedly, his eyes shinning.

"Very well. It happened long before you were born", the elder began, "These storms where nothing but a regular occurrence for us at this time of year, but they came too soon and too fiercely. We cats thought nothing of it at first, until, that is, the storms started to take cats' lives.

"In the beginning, it was just rare accounts of a warrior gone missing during a storm or another taken by a flash flood. But then it turned into sickness from the constant dampness and cold that clung to everything. And hunger due to the lack of prey. Weak with hunger, many of our kits died from becoming ill. All of them perished in time, except one." The elder cast a glance at a young pale white she-cat curled up in a corner before continuing.

"Even the elders were taken by the illness that spread-"

"Except you", the kit interrupted, drinking in the elder tom's every word.

The old cat looked forlornly at the kit, his one good eye saddened by memories, "Yes, little one, and one other. She and I were the only elders left after the storms passed, and RoseClaw was the only kit.

"We did everything we could to build back up after so much was lost, but no matter how hard we tried we always failed.

"Our leader began to curse StarClan, blaming them for the storms and claiming they had abandoned us to what ever deaths would come. This caused many of the warriors to leave, believing that our leader was right, but many of us knew he was wrong.

"As if the storms and our mad leader weren't enough, a pack of coyotes had started to wreak havoc on the Clan. They took our cats when they went on patrols or hunts. And some even braved coming into our camp.

"Again RattleStar blamed StarClan for this and only caused more of our faithful warriors to desert us in our time of need. No more than half the clan were left when the coyotes attacked us. This wasn't like before, where they only harassed us, but a full scale attack.

"The Clan fought mightily, but, weakened as we were, we nearly lost entirely. A few warriors, two apprentices, our medicine cat, the leader and myself were all that was left when the battle ended. Our deputy, one of the only cats who could stand up to the leader, tell him of his foolishness and continued to have steadfast faith in StarClan, was dead.

"The Clan, so few as we were, buried our dead and sat watch that night. The whole mass of SliverPelt could be seen and a full moon looked back at us. Then, after the moon had settled on the horizon, the stars streaked across the sky as if StarClan was mourning with us. As if all the brave and noble cats who had now joined their ranks were saying 'we are still here, and we will watch over you'...", the elder paused as a tear fell from his good eye and he shook with the emotion of the memory.

"The next morning, FaithWhisker, our medicine cat, informed us that RattleStar had died due to his injuries and that StarClan had selected her to act as leader until a new one could be found. And this is where we are now, young one", the tom said to the kit. "We are doing what we can to rebuild our clan to its former glory."

The she-cat backed out of the den. She sat still for a moment in the light of the setting sun, remembering all the elder had said. Amid all that chaos, there was one thing that seeped up from the bottom of desperate hearts. One thing that could never be destroyed, never stolen or beaten. Hope.





The stars glittered in the sky like a thousand pieces of broken glass. A faint north wind ruffled the trees, sighing through their heavy boughs. The surface of the starlight pool shuddered as the passing breeze tickled its reflections.

The large boned tom sat stern faced, staring back at his dark russet reflection. There are so many, he thought. How can the Clan survive with so many gone? He looked up at the cats around him.

The ranks of StarClan had swelled after this attack from the coyotes. And not just with the old or sick, who had met their time, but with the brave young warriors that made the bulk of the Clan and the innocent kits that would have been the future of the Clan. Every one of them brave and loyal.

Not like those other cowards, the tom hissed inwardly. If only they had stayed, far fewer of our warriors would be joining us. He turned back to the pool and its celestial images. Would there be any hope left for SunClan?

He looked up as a she-cat padded nearer to him.

"Is he here", the tom asked.

"Yes", the she-cat answered, but she held off her words with some hesitation.

The tom's whiskers twitched, "And?"

The she-cat's pale fur glowed a soft silvery blue under the bright stars, "He is here, but he is not with the others." Her voice wavered.

At this news, the tom burst into a bristling ball of hissing. "What!? Does he still think we have abandoned him, or is he stupid enough to forsake us even in our own realm!?" He began to spit foam as he raged, "What sort of wretch is he!? Blind, arrogant, vile and foolish piece of fox-dung!"

"By the Clan, OwlHeart, you can sure get yourself into raving mad fits when it suits you."

The dark rust-brown tom spun around to face the new cat, "And what do you have to say about it?"

The near black tom sat calmly with his tail laid over his paws, "That I've had to deal with RattleStar longer than you."

The silver she-cat agreed, "He's right, OwlHeart. Let RattleStar muse over these past few months, he may yet turn around."

OwlHeart grumbled something about she-cats but kept from exploding again.

The she-cat looked back at the blackish gray tom, "You should have heard him when RattleStar first began to disclaim us. It went on for weeks. Queens had to take their kits out of hearing, which was a lot farther than should have been."

The tom laughed, "I've heard stories about him from the the elders. One of which was you, SilverStreak."

"Yes, I remember. Though I had heard them as stories myself from my elders." She lowered her voice, casting a glance at OwlHeart, "And I think they gave him some grace in the stories."

Again, the dark colored tom laughed, "I couldn't agree more. He just doesn't need to discriminate RattleStar like that. I know he did wrong, but he was confused and desperate."

"For one who has just lost their life for a coward, you seem very attached to him", OwlHeart said, an ugly sneer on his face.

The black tom leaped to his paws hissing, his ears plastered to his skull, "I did NOT give my life for a coward, I gave it for my Clan! As for my loyalty to RattleStar, I defend him only as I should."

"OwlHeart, VulterStripe! Enough!" SilverStreak weaved her way between the two toms. She looked at each of them; one with a bitter grin, the other with an angered snarl. "Stop this at once! OwlHeart, keep your opinions on this matter to yourself, unless you want to face the others. VulterStripe, ignore him. He is only angry with RattleStar and isn't thinking straight."

OwlHeart settled into a sulking attitude by the pool while VulterStripe sat back down with a tempered sigh.

The she-cat nodded sternly, "Better." She turned to look over her shoulder as another cat ambled over. She knew who it was even before she saw him by the way of his three legged gate.

"TwistedLeg, what brings you here", she greeted.

OwlHeart and VulterStripe looked up at SilverStreak's words.

The three legged tom waddled up to them, his tabby splotches turning black within the white of his coat.

"I heard that RattleStar has joined us, but he is not with", he said, putting it more as a statement than a question.

"Yes", SilverStreak answered him.

"Hmm." The three legged tom mused over this, staring at his paws. He suddenly looked at VulterStripe, "What have you to say for your leader?" His voice was not judging nor his words stern, just merely asking.

VulterStripe took a glance at OwlHeart before answering, "RattleStar has done wrong against the Clan and StarClan, but he should not be shunned. He has already suffered enough as it is with his clan falling apart as it has."

"Most of it being his fault", OwlHeart hissed under his breath.

TwistedLeg gave the tom a baleful glare before readdressing VulterStripe. "And do you believe that, after all that has befallen them, SunClan will rise again even stronger?"

The black/gray tom frowned at TwistedLeg's question. Did he believe the Clan could come back to its former glory? He turned the question over in his head for a few moments before answering. "Yes."

"Good, for that is what I came to tell you", TwistedLeg said. He looked off into the mists behind the three cats in-front of him. Then, turning back, he said in his deep young voice, "The Clan will rise again, built on the hearts of Hope."

The three cats looked questioningly at him for awhile. Then SilverStreak asked, "Is that a prophecy?"

"Yes, but there is more. 'That which was One, will become Two'. This I do not know what exactly it means, but I do not think it is a threat to the Clan", TwistedLeg answered.

"But it could be", OwlHeart stated.

TwistedLeg nodded his half tabby, half white face in ascent with the other tom's words, "Yes, you are right on that, OwlHeart. But until we know, we will not tell the Clan."



The cool air of night drifted on the wind as the sun set beyond the horizon. Shadows crawled forward, reaching all corners with their cold fingers, until everything was shrouded in darkness.

Most of the cats had padded into their dens and curled up to sleep the night away and the few that remained would soon be joining them. Except for the two cats put on night guard. The watch had been doubled since the coyote attack as no one wanted to take chances. But with so few cats to spare, it was hard to find a fresh warrior.

The agile calico she-cat sighed, how could she keep this up? Acting as leader and medicine cat is very tiresome, she thought. Oh StarClan, please let nothing else happen to us. She padded into her now empty den. The last wounded warrior had left that morning, having been given a clean bill of health.

The first thing the she-cat did was to check her herb stores. After these past few moons, she had used most, if not all, of her herbs. She picked through the piles as she counted their numbers.

"Hmm, I have enough Yarrow. Even if I didn't, it grows practically everywhere so it wouldn't be hard to restock", she said to herself. "And there's the Broadleaf. Yes, I will need to gather more of that tomorrow. Barely any of it left. Willow? Hmm, yes, I'll get more of that, also. Never know when you might need it."

The she-cat muddled with her herbs, sorting through them again just to make sure of their quality and quantity. She reached into the back of her stores and pulled out a tightly bundled leaf. She could already smell the amber sap it contained.

She frowned at her supply of honey. Maybe I should get more, she asked herself. Then shook her head. Gathering honey was a dangerous job as the bees were known for their deathly stings. Killer bees; swarming in masses at whoever and whatever posed a threat to their hive.

She replaced the bundle along with the others, making sure that each herb was in its designated spot for easy access. When she felt that everything was right as rain, the she-cat peeked out of her expansive den to gaze around the camp.

No one was up.

She nodded in satisfaction and backed into her den. She circled her nest twice before settling to her belly and curling her tail about her. For a long while, she stared at the ground deep in thought. She glanced at her white paws before looking up at the empty nest beside her. A long and heavy sigh escaped her.

It was the true medicine cat's nest and what she laid in was just another bed for the sick and injured or the medicine cat apprentice. And though she was the true medicine cat of SunClan, she had never gathered enough courage to lay in it. It was not because she thought that she was undeserving, but that memories of her mentor kept her from just moving on. The calico she-cat felt, in a way, that if she slept in the nest as if it were her's, then she would be saying that her mentor had never existed.

She could almost hear his soft breathing and the scent of his pelt wafted under those of the herbs.

"FaithWhisker..."

She heard his voice drift around the den like the memories had come to life and the sorrow of his passing rushed anew in her already heavy heart. "Oh TwistedLeg, I wish you were here."

"I am here, FaithWhisker."

"Wha..", the she-cat looked back at her mentor's nest and saw him sitting there, his splotched tabby and white coat shimmering like star dust. "TiwstedLeg!"

"I am always here with you, FaithWhisker. You just have to keep remembering", the tom said with a gentle smile.

FaithWhisker looked abashed by his words as if he were giving her a telling off. "I'm sorry", she whispered.

He gazed at her with amber eyes so full of caring, "Why? You clearly remember me, and the rest of StarClan for that matter."

The she-cat ducked her head even lower in shame.

TwistedLeg's smile faded from his soft features and was replaced by concern. "What is wrong?"

"I have failed StarClan and, even more so, SunClan", FaithWhisker said. "I have done everything I can. But it seems that we - I, am doomed to fail. Two more of our warriors left us and now we are so few that we cannot have a hunting patrol and still have enough warriors left in camp to guard it if anything should happen. And what's more, the coyotes are still out there! If they wished to come back, we would be destroyed!"

The tom waited until FaithWhisker was done before he spoke, and when he did, it was not what the she-cat wanted to hear. "And that would be a bad thing?"

"What" she pat, standing up with her tail lashing. She couldn't believe her ears. What is he thinking!? Does StarClan want them to all die!?

"FaithWhisker, the Clan is only doomed if they believe so. One cat cannot build a family alone, but two can make it happen", TwistedLeg said with such calmness and authority as if it were common knowledge. So much so that FaithWhisker felt ashamed at having not seen it.

The tabby and white tom continued, "It is not your fault if the others give up but their own. We cannot make them believe, only show them how to. You have done exactly what StarClan has asked of you, and more. But it is time that a proper leader was chosen."

FaithWhisker's head shot up, her eyes wide with the fear of uncertainty, "But, what if I make the wrong choice?"

The tom shook his head, "You won't."

"But what if I do?"

"You won't", TwistedLeg said again with finality. He reached forward with is nose to touch FaithWhisker's cheek, his figure already starting to fade. "I know you will make the right choice, FaithWhisker. You always do."

The calico she-cat pushed into his touch. NO! Not yet! Please stay longer!

"Be strong, FaithWhisker. All will be right in time..."

FaithWhisker jumped awake as an owl hooted nearby. The pale light of dawn was seeping through the grass walls out side her stony den. She looked at the nest beside her and placed a tentive paw inside it. It was still warm.

She sniffed its edges and caught the familiar scent of TwistedLeg. Her dream came back to her as new as the day.

Standing up and stretching, she padded out of her den and looked at the awakening dawn hunting/border patrol. She knew exactly whom she would choose.



The red glare of the dieing sun hued the boulder's surface the color of rust on its western face and a dark ashen gray on its eastern flank. SkyRock looked as if someone had washed half of it in blood and the other half had been smote by a long gone fire.

Unaware of its awesome beauty around her, FaithWhisker stood on top of it and gazed down at the gathering Clan with placid eyes. Though her fur tingled with excitement at what she was about to reveal.

The Clan mingled below her with hushed voices and subtle whispers. It had been a long time since any one had sat on SkyRock, let alone the Clan gathering for a meeting. What was this about, they wondered. Was anything wrong? Had they angered StarClan, or was some other danger looming just outside their camp walls?

The last Clan meeting had been RattleStar's announcement of RoseClaw's warrior naming and then his utter disclaim of StarClan after the coyote attack. What news, good or bad, would FaithWhisker bring them?

The calico she-cat was painted by the setting sun. Her orange burning a deeper and richer color while the blackish brown turned chocolate and the more dominate white flickered a light blush pink. She waited 'til all of the Clan had settled before she stood and addressed them.

"Cats of SunClan, I have very encouraging news", she began in a strong voice.

The Clan cats looked at one another, murmurs of excitement and curiosity rose from them.

"StarClan visited me last night, and they have instructed that a new leader is to be chosen before the sun sets this very day." FaithWhisker watched as the Clan gasped as one and the murmurings turned to hushed tones and whispers. She waited for them to quiet before continuing, "And I know this goes against tradition but I will also be choosing the deputy." Again more hushed whispers followed.

FaithWhisker stood taller as she surveyed the Clan before calling out, "DustWhisker, RoseClaw, please step forward."

The Clan fell silent for the first time since the meeting and watched with both pride and envy as the two she-cats did as they were bid.

FaithWhisker nimbly leaped off the boulder and stood before the two she-cats. She turned first to the pale Brown tabby she-cat who looked as if she might leap from her pelt.

"DustWhisker, you have shown your Clan that it doesn't matter where you're born or what you're born as, you can still be the very best warrior any one can be. You have a courage that is unending and a passion for protecting those you love and care for. It is, then, by StarClan's will that you should and shall be named our leader. You shall be known as DustStar from this day forward!"

The Clan burst into a frenzy of noise until FaithWhisker's yowl brought them back to silence. She then looked at RoseClaw. "You have shown your Clan true bravery and a steadfast love for all that it stands for. You have adopted the warrior code as a way of living and therefor have shown our young what it means to be a warrior. So, from this day on, you shall be SunClan's deputy."

She paused to look at the two she-cats with such pride and emotion before addressing them both, "May StarClan watch over you and guide your paths."

At that, the Clan went into a hysteria and every cat present yowled in unison, "RoseClaw, DustStar!" Their shouts echoed off the closely woven grass walls.

FaithWhisker sat with her tail curled about her paws and watched the cats gather around their new leader and deputy. She was certain that even if the Clan was three times as large, the noise would not have been any more deafening.



The ever present star light glistened in the sky as the collection of nine cats sat in a half circle. Their pelts shimmered like the heavens as they calmly waited.

The whole of StarClan drifted in the grasses and light woods behind the nine cats like many distant shadows from the past.

The smallest member of the assembly gazed around at her companions. "I've never been to Dead-Tree Hill before", she mewed with innocent thought.

A cream and white splotched tom beside her smiled, "I have and it's wonderful."

An old queen glanced at the young pair from across the crescent, "Shh, you two. By the Clan, you two are still as troublesome as when you were kits." She let a smile tease her lips.

The brother and sister smiled back, their minds full of memories. Their attention was suddenly brought back to the fore front as a golden tabby tom spoke. "She's here."

A dusted-brown furred she-cat appeared before them, shock and uncertain delight gleamed in her eyes.

"Greetings, DustWhisker", a burly black tabby tom purred, his features set with a strong and noble expression but laced with good humor.

The she-cat dipped her head, "Greetings, VultureStripe."

"We have watched you with great admiration. And we believe you are ready to take on your future," an old she-cat mewed, her dappled flanks glinted in the moon light. "We will now grant you your nine lives."

With that said, VultureStripe stepped forward and rested his muzzle on DustWhisker's shoulder, "I grant you the life of Honer. Lead our Clan with a just thought and an honest heart."

The she-cat winced slightly then stood just as before, though maybe a little more taller.

The second cat to step forward was an old she-cat whose dark, brown frame seemed to expel an air of authority. She, too, laid her muzzle to DustWhisker's shoulder, "I grant you the life of Wisdom, so that you may lead your Clan with out any doubt of uncertainty."

As the she-cat took a pace backward, the golden tabby tom took her place. His deep amber eyes glitered. "I grant you the life of Courage. Let not the fears of the unknown cloud your mind."

This time, the old gave way for the young as the young she-cat stepped up, "Do you remember me?"

"Sweetpaw", DustWhisker smiled warmly at the apprentice before her.

"Good. I give you the life of Memory, so that you will never forget what it is like to be young", as Sweetpaw stepped back to her place, a tear could be seen in her eyes.

An old queen stepped forward, her solid gray pelt looked like the dawn sky sprinkled with star dust. "I give the life of Love, may you always know what it is like to love and love with an endless passion."

The next cat to came forward was Sweetpaw's brother, FrogLeap. He followed the example of the others and placed his muzzle on DustWhisker's shoulder. "I grant you the life of Strength, so that you may continue on even when your heart gives out."

A gangly old queen ambled forward and rested her stern gaze on DustWhisker. "I grant you the life of Compassion. Do not let your heart harden and keep from understanding even the hardest of truths."

DustWhisker turned to gaze at the three legged tom who approached her. He smiled at her with such kindness it was hard not to smile back. He set his nose to her shoulder, purring, "I grant you the life of Healing. Not only will you heal the wounds of the body, but those of the heart as well."

At last, the final cat stepped up. His all too familiar pelt gleamed with new strength and happiness.

DustWhisker gasped with shock, "BrownTail! What are you doing here?"

The old tom's gaze saddened though he kept on smiling, "You will no longer see me as I was before, but as I am now."

"You mean... But you can't be dead", DustWhisker protested. "I was with you before I left for Dead-Tree!"

BrownTail shook his head, "I am. And I am here to give you your last and most important life."

The tabby she-cat lowered her head, both in sorrow and in humility.

The elder placed his muzzle on DustWhisker's head. "I give you the life of Joy. Never forget what it is to be happy and condemn others to such a life as depression. Let your life be the Joy of others and live with that Joy forever." He stepped back with a grating purr, "You will now be known as DustStar. May you lead your Clan justly with these lives you have been granted."

The new leader dipped her head in thanks to the cats around her and slowly disappeared. The whole of StarClan chanted her name as softly as a gentle breeze till she was out of sight.

The assembly of nine cats still sat in their half circle, seemingly frozen in time. Then a vicious hiss sounded from within the underbrush. Sweetpaw glanced up to see two gleaming amber eyes staring at them from under the shadows.

"RattleStar", VulterStripe called, both as a warning and a greeting.

"You all doom my clan", was the reply. "Why do you give such false hope!?"

"We do not give false hope. It was you who doomed the Clan", VulterStripe countered with a growl. "Had you not forsaken StarClan and lead others to do likewise, the Clan would not have been as it was."

"Traitors! You all are traitors!" Then the eyes darted back into the shadows and all was quiet.



RoseClaw glanced around the camp, completely lost as to what to do. It had only been a day since she was named deputy, and she was still getting used to being a warrior. Blue eyes roamed over each cat, knowing their pelts well, as she tried to get her mind straight. Maybe a boarder patrol? Or a hunting patrol? Or maybe..she really had no clue.

Coming to her white paws, the young she-cat sought out her help. DustStar was still asleep from her journey to Dead-tree hill, so RoseClaw didn't want to disturb the pale brown leader. Instead, she padded across the camp to the medicine cat's den, looking for the calico she-cat that resided within. "FaithWhisker", she mewed gently, poking her head just inside the den's mouth, "FaithWhisker?"

No answer came. The medicine cat was out. RoseClaw stepped further in the den, the sharp tang of herbs hitting her pink nose. The young deputy padded over to the nests, peering into them. No occupants. A very good thing.

The white she-cat remembered all too well the horrors of the medicine cat's den during a war or battle. It seemed her whole life had grown up on death and suffering. She remembered her mother and father, passing before she could say anything, being taken by the coyotes or storms. She had lost all her close friends and family, being left with next to nothing. She found little comfort in things except FaithWhisker, VultureStripe, and BrownTail. But now, only the calico she-cat was left.

"Don't think too hard about the past, or it just might change your future." RoseClaw jumped and whipped around to face the holder of the voice, her hackles raised. But she only found the sympathetic smile of FaithWhisker. "By StarClan, you scared me", the white she-cat mewed in relief.

The calico medicine cat padded to her herb store and placed a small bundle in with the rest. She straightened a few things before turning back to RoseClaw. "For that, I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting anyone in here for a while yet", she mewed in a soft chuckle, hoping her joke would be taken with a light heart.

Then her green eyes locked onto RoseClaw's pale blue ones, seeing her slight distress. "RoseClaw, may I ask what you are doing here? You are felling well", FaithWhisker asked in a gentle voice, stepping closer to her young friend.

"Well", the white deputy started, "I'm fine it's just, I'm not sure what a deputy, you know, does." She was actually slightly embarrassed by this and, even though she trusted FaithWhisker as a good friend, found it pride-hurting to say aloud. But someone needed to help her, and if anyone had to know, the calico she-cat was the right source.

"Ah, I see", FaithWhisker mewed, whiskers twitching with amusement. She moved to sit next to the young, white she-cat, tucking her tail against her molted flank. "Do you remember VultureStripe?"

"Of course. I may have been young, but he was like a big brother to me", RoseClaw said with some reserve. It hurt to remember her best friend. Even if he was a little older than she, the she-cat saw him as her closest friend, confiding to him everything she had felt.

"And do you remember what he did?" FaithWhisker glanced at her younger counterpart from the corner of her eye, the green orbs flashing.

RoseClaw thought for a moment, silent as she reached into closed up memories. "He was deputy. He order the clan around, instructing patrols and hunting parties and other things. He filled in when RattleStar wasn't around and helped the clan stay on the right course."

"Exactly", the calico medicine cat purred, standing and padding over to her nest. She settled in as RoseClaw lent way to timid protest.

"But that doesn't answer my question", she mewed.

FaithWhisker looked up at RoseClaw. "A question? I only heard a problem to which you received the answer. You said how you didn't know what a deputy did, but now you do."

"But I don't know what to do. Do I call out a hunting party or a boarder patrol? Or nothing? I'm lost, FaithWhisker", the white she-cat mewed hopelessly, her tail flicking in her simple dispair . "I'm a horrible deputy. You shouldn't have chosen me."

Dual colored ears flattened against her skull as FaithWhisker narrowed her eyes at RoseClaw. "I never chose you, StarClan did. If you have a problem with how they run things, then talk to them. And by the stars, RoseClaw, you are a perfect deputy. SunClan needs strong cats like you to help it come back. To help us come back. Being deputy isn't about when a patrol goes out or who is on it, but what you do for your clan. That is what made VultureStripe such a good deputy, because he cared about what, and how, we felt", she mewed, her features softening as she gazed at her young friend. "I, for one, agree with StarClan on making you a deputy. Just do what you think is best, and everything will be fine."

But RoseClaw shook her head, "But that is the thing, I don't know what is best!" She came to her paws, ears angled back as she continued. "How can I be deputy when I have no idea what to do? I'm such a mouse-brain about it. It's not like we have mentors who teach you-"

"Exactly my point", the medicine cat interrupted, "There are no mentors for becoming leader or deputy. The only teacher is yourself. You are the one who must teach yourself to be the best deputy you can, no one else." FaithWhisker sat up in her nest, facing the white she-cat. "That is what I'm trying to tell you. No one can help you be a better deputy, only you can do that."

RoseClaw looked down at her paws. What FaithWhisker said made sense, but the white she-cat just didn't trust herself enough to place the lives of her clan-mates in her own paws. What if she made the wrong decision? What if she caused another cat's death? She couldn't possibly live with that thought. But who was she to argue with StarClan?

Looking back at the medicine cat, RoseClaw nodded her head. "Okay, I will try." With that she turned and padded out of the den, but not before looking back and saying, "I can't be a better deputy than VultureStripe, but I'll try to come close. Thanks, FaithWhisker, for everything."

The calico she-cat sighed as she looked after RoseClaw. When the white tail vanished from the den's mouth, she sighed. "No, you're right. You won't be as good as VultureStripe. You'll be better."



RoseClaw stepped out into the camp, sighing as she looked around. She would do her best. That was what FaithWhisker had said, just try to do you best. She just hoped her best was good enough for her clan.

Stepping over to a group of cats, she called out in a uncertain voice, "SandTail, I need you and two others to go on a hunting patrol." That was how VulterStripe would have done it, right? "Just, don't be out too long", she added.

The named warrior nodded his head and beckoned with his tail to two cat near him, then all three dashed out of camp and into the territory. Leaving the clan and a worried RoseClaw behind.




The black cat slinked back into the burrow, mumbling about things to no one. He looked up as a faint ray of light shown at the other end of the underground tunnel and he padded out into the small den.

"Did any one see you?" A voice hissed, as a form moved in the back of the small enclosure.

"No", the black tom replied, sitting squarely on his quarters. He really didn't like all this secrecy, but his friend said it was best that no one found out.

"Good. Any news", the other cat asked in a hissed mew. His large shoulders rolled as he came to his paws.

"Nothing very helpful. Just a cat was named leader and another became deputy. Nothing big", the black tom shrugged.

"Nothing big, eh? That is exactly what we didn't want happening you mouse-brained fool!" The other tom spat, coming only a paw's length from the black tom's muzzle. "What do you think is going to happen now? Are they just going to leave? No! Now they are going to come searching for more cats to make their clan stronger!"

The black pelted tom didn't flinch away from his friends raging. Instead, he added his own. "And You think I can do something about it? Puh, you're the one with feathers for brains. Let them do whatever they do. We are almost stronger than they. Then we can push them out and just take over. All we need a re just a few more cats, that's all."

The brown tom sat back on his haunches, his tail flicking in annoyance. "It's not that easy. Half of us came from there. Do you think that we can just shove our own out of the way knowing that they will not survive if we do?"

"You know what I don't get", the black cat started suddenly, "I don't get why we just left the rest of the clan instead of just taking over it. Why do we want to even shove them out, anyway? Just let the coyotes deal with them if you want them gone so bad. Or, just ignore them. They don't even come this way."

"Because, adder-head, the clan won't accept cats like us. Remember? What do you got in there, crow-food for brains", the brown tom spat at his friend, turning away from the black tom. "Make sure you bring something back so the others don't get any ideas." Then he laid down at the back on the den, indicating an end to their discussion.

The black tom shook his head before coming to his paws. He slipped out of the small den and back into the burrow that led to the sun-light prairie.



The white she-cat nuzzled her two newborn kits, one a silver tabby, the other a cream and white tabby. How beautiful, she thought. After all she had been through, these two little bundles signified a new start for her once desolate and dead soul.

She had lost so much, too much. A mate, kit, and clan, all gone and destroyed by those wretched coyotes. But now, she would be able to continue in her life. She had thesse two gorgeous daughters to help with that. She only wished that her first daughter could be with her to relish in this sacred moment.

The white queen glanced up at the den roof, just catching a few peices of the late evening sky through the woven reeds. Oh Rosekit, I'm so sorry I wasn't there to save you.

She looked back at the den's entrence as pawsteps sounded outisde. "Hello", she called in a questioning tone.

"It's okay, WhiteFur. It's just me", was the gruff reply as a heavy set tom padded in. His large shoulders brushed the top of the den as his deep amber eyes passed over his two daughters as if they were unimportant. "I brought you some fresh-kill. Just caught it myself", he mewed as she dropped a small prairie hen at his mate's paws. Then he sat himself down.

WhiteFur glanced over the smug offering, then looked away. "Thank you, but I'm not really hungry."

"Not hungry? None sense. You just birthed two kits, you should be starving", the tom said, moving the hen closer to the queen with a forepaw.

"I was, but I already ate. Wolf brought me a lizard earlier", she mewed timidly, not looking at her mate or his offering.

"Oh", was all he said. There was a moments silence only broken by the two suckiling kits as they mewled between eating and sleeping. Then the tom spoke, his tone nuetrual. "So, how are you doing?"

What an adder-head, the queen thought. "I'm fine."

"Good." Another long bout of silence.

WhiteFur, feeling uncomfortable, broke the erie spell with a soft mew. "How has your day been, Mud?"

The tom shrugged his borad shoulders with a nod, "It's been good. As you can see, I've been out hunting", he mewed while nudging the hen.

The queen felt hot under her white coat at his words. He always made her feel so unnerved with comments like that. Making it seem as though she were causing some sort of trouble. She didn't see him as a mate, she didn't even want a mate. All she knew was that he was the father of the two kits at her belly. The only good things that had happened in their meetings.

"It's a fine catch. I bet you caught more than the others", WhiteFur mewed in an attempt to distract the tom's barbed words.

It worked. "Oh, I most certainly did", Mud said, a smug look of his features as he drank up the feable compliments. "Anyways, I guess I'll let you be. You need your sleep." With that, he disappeared out of the den.

After a few seconds, the queen let out a quiet sigh as if she had been holding her breath. Mud always mde her feel uncertain about things. Did he even care about his daughters? She hoped it would improve as they became older. For now, she was just content to ponder about what might be.