Giving In

Chapter Six
"Who will be deputy now, Yellowfang?" Cinderpaw had been wondering about it ever since Tigerclaw had left the camp, and was anxious to hear what Yellowfang would think.

The old medicine cat sighed, and pushed more herbs onto Runningwind's pelt. "I don't know." She admitted. "There are a lot of good choices." She glanced at Whitestorm as she spoke.

Cinderpaw's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean you don't want Fireheart to be deputy?" She asked in disbelief.

Yellowfang's whiskers twitched. "I never said that." She snapped.

Cinderpaw ducked her head. "Sorry, Yellowfang." She muttered. Looking up again, she continued, "But do you think he has a chance?"

Yellowfang was silent, and continued pressing herbs onto Runningwind's pelt. Finally, she sighed. "I don't know, Cinderpaw. Maybe. He's just awful young."

"And he's a former kittypet." Runningwind added with a twitch of his whiskers.

Cinderpaw stiffened. "That shouldn't matter!" She protested. "He was the one who uncovered the truth about Tigerclaw."

Yellowfang was silent, and Cinderpaw decided to forget about it.

"You can do it, Fireheart." She whispered to herself.



"It's past moonhigh!" One-eye, a ThunderClan elder, let out an ear-splitting wail.

Cinderpaw saw Fireheart stiffen.

The young medicine cat apprentice padded over to the fragile elder, and rested her tail reassuringly on her quivering flank.

"Don't worry." She murmured. "StarClan will understand. Bluestar has had a tough time." But she couldn't help but feel worried herself.

Why hadn't Bluestar named the new deputy?

Giving One-eye a friendly flick on the shoulder, Cinderpaw shuffled over to stand beside Fireheart.

"Do you know what's going on with Bluestar?" She hissed quietly. "She needs to appoint a new deputy."

Fireheart sighed. "I don't know what's going on." He admitted. "I hope she's alright." He cast a worried glance towards his leader's den.

Cinderpaw gulped back her apprehension. Fireheart was looking at her desperately, as if he wanted words of comfort. Cinderpaw hesitated. She didn't want to give him false hopes, but at the same time, she didn't want him to discourage completely.

Swallowing, she meowed, "Don't worry, Fireheart. StarClan understands Bluestar's worries. Tigerclaw was a trusted warrior of hers for the longest time. It's been a hard hit for her to watch him betray his birth Clan."

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