Sunshadow looked up at the night sky. He was glad to be named deputy of LightningClan. Everything was coming true, just like how he dreamed as a kit. Now all that had to happen was for Dawnstar to die or retire. But Dawnstar was as a stubborn she-cat. She constantly tried to take over the sunning rocks. RiverClan didn't deserve them! LightningClan was covered in trees, while RiverClan was open under the sun.

"Sunshadow, are you okay?" Moonclaw, his mate, padded next to him, nuzzling her cheek into his.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm glad to finally be deputy." Sunshadow purred. "Everything is just... amazing."

"I know." Moonclaw giggled, her tail wrapping around his. "I'm excited thet you're deputy finally. You deserve it."

"Thank you, love. I just hope Dawnstar would stop these battles. She shouldn't constantly be trying to take over the Sunning Rocks. I'm scared, I don't want to die the same way the last four deputies have." Sunshadow mewed sadly, his ears flattening on his head.

"I hope you don't! I don't want to lose you before we could start a family together. I love you." Moonclaw mewed.

Sunshadow smiled softly, giving her head an affectionate lick on the head. "Don't worry, my dear. I don't plan on leaving you until we grow old together, I promise."

Moonclaw purred happily and nuzzled his cheek. "I'm glad. How about we go to sleep?" She suggested.

Sunshadow nodded and padded off to the deputy's den, Moonclaw trailing behind him.

. . .

Dawnstar was coughing blood, her pelt shivering in pain. Everything hurt in her body. She felt like StarClan was calling to her, she wasn't going to give up. She had to hide this from her clan. No one could know she was dying. She didn't want to seem weak to her clanmates.

Dawnstar stumbled to her paws. She lmee she was getting old but just couldn't give up. She wiped the blood off her muzzle, licking the rest off. She slowly, weakly padded out of her den and towards the medicine den.

The moon was sitting high in the sky, shining above the camp, casting slivers of light through the trees. She peaked her head into the medicine den, and notice Thornpaw, sitting awake. Thornpaw twisted her head towards her.

"Oh, hi Dawnstar." Thornpaw mumbled nervously.

"Hello, Thornpaw. What are you awake?" Dawnstar mewed streanly.

"Just... thinking..." Thornpaw mumbled.

"Well, I'm here for my normal herbs." Dawnstar mewed. Thornpaw nodded, grabbing an herb bunble in her jaws and placed it in front of her.

"Thank you." Dawnstar turned around with a flick of her tail and padded off to her den.

Once she arrived to her den, she sat down and unwrapped the herb bundle. It seemed to be the usual, nothing wrong with it. She immediately ate the herbs and swallowed it.

Something wasn't right... her throat was closing up, she gasped for air, coughing as she tried to breath. Everything hurt. In her last moments, she noticed a shadowy figure in front of her den.

"You deserve this." The cat hissed as they watched Dawnstar collaspe on the ground, lifeless...

. . .

The sun was slowly rising next to the trees, casting slivers of light into the tree-covered camp. The warriors were slowly waking up and exiting the den.

Sunshadow grumbled and exited the deputy den. He looked around and noticed that Maplewhisker was missing. Usually she'd be up and eating at the freshkill pile. This was strange to him.

Sunshadow sighed and went over to the medicine den. He poked his head inside. Thornpaw was mumbling to herself. "Hey, Thornpaw?"

"What?" Thornpaw mewed weakly, pawing at her moss nest.

"Where's your mentor? Maplewhisker?" Sunshadow asked.

"I... She... She's gone..." Thornpaw mumbled.

"What do you mean 'gone'?"

"She... exiled herself..." Thornpaw turned to look at him, her eyes bloodshot. He knew she didn't get a single blink of sleep. Sunshadow hid the horrified look on his face.

"What! Why would she do that!" Sunshadoe hissed.

"Check... Dawnstars... den..." Thornpaw buried her head in her paws.

"Take some poppy seads. You need sleep." Sunshadow turned around with a flick of his tail and padded out of the medicine den and headed to Dawnstar's den.

Sunshadow padded towards Dawnstar's den. It was oddly quiet, usually Dawnstar would be padding around her den, planning on who goes on what patrol.

Sunshadow sighed and poked his hesd into the den and saw Dawnstar's lifeless body. Her body was still with a small pool of blood at her mouth and her neck snapped, her jaws twisted. It was a horrified scene.

Sunshadow's widened when he saw that Dawnstar had been brutally murdered. He had no idea who'd do such a thing! But now Maplewhisker was missing. Maybe this had a connection, but why. A medicine cat would never do such a thing!

That's when he realized, he was now the leader. Sunstar.

Sunshadow sighed, grabbing Dawnstar's lifeless body by the scruff and dragged it out of the den.

The elders and warriors noticed and left the den. Sunshadoe placed Dawnstar in the middle of camp and climed onto the tall tree stump. The stump was a hugr part of LightningClan. As it went, when Lighting Strike was the camp leader, thunder struck a tree, knocking it down, giving it the perfect spot for camp gatherings.

"Cats of LightningClan! Let all cats gathering their catch from the pile for a clan meeting!" Sunshadiw yowled.

Everyine immediately went over and sat down.

"Last night, Dawnstar was brutally murdered! Maplewhisker is now missing! Tonight, I will be speaking with StarClan to get my nine lives. Moonclaw will be my deputy." Sunshadow mewed.

"Sunstar! Sunstar! Sunstar! Moonclaw! Moonclaw! Moonclaw!" The clan yowled.

Sunshadow had a purr rumble in his throat. This is what he always wanted. But it also wasn't the way he expected. Dawnstar didn't deserve this kind of death. Her murder was still out their, lurking. Maplewhisker was still missing. Thornpae didn't know enough to take over as the sole medicine cat. She was barely even an apprentice. They needed to find Maplewhisker. Bringing her back was more important than anything.

The day drifted by slowly. It was his first day as leader. He had to figure out patrols.

Soon, the moon was slowly setting in the sky. Thornpaw finally emerged from the medicine den with some herbs. "Eat these. It'll give you energy for the Mooncave."

Sunshadow nodded and licked up the herbs. Soon, they took off to the Mooncave. He hoped they'd make it in time when the moon was high in the sky, where it shined light in the crystals in the cave.

After a long treck to the Mooncave, they arrived. The moon was in thr perfect spot.

"Lick up some water and touch your nose to the big crystal. Clear up your mind and the ceremony will start." Thornpaw mewed.

Sunshadow nodded. He lapped up some water and got down on his belly. He touched his muzzle to the crystal and closed his eyes. He cleared his mind of Dawnstar's death, her mysterious murder and Maplewhisker missing.

Sunshadow opened his eyes, in a blue lit starry area. It was beautiful. Translucent starry prey was running around. He was in StarClan!

Suddenly, he recognized the cat in front of him, Dawnstar.

"Welcome, Sunshadow. I know you'll be an amazing leader. LightningClan deserves a leader like you. I give you the life of loyalty. You will prove your loyalty to the clan even if trouble." Dawnstat touched her muzzle to his forehead and padded away.

A few lifes later and only two were left.

A steange cat appeared in front of him. "Hello, Sunshadow. I am Jade Eyes. The first medicine cat of LightningClan. I give you the life of love. The love a father can give to his kits." Jade Eyes touched his muzzle on his forehead and pulled back.

One more life and he'll be Sunstar.

Lightningstar soon appeared in front of him. "I loved watching my clan grow stronger and stronger each leader. You have a life of growth coming ahead of you. For this final life, I give you the life of strength. You'll need it. Every leader must stay strong. Protect their clan each each and every life."

Sunshadow nodded.

"Welcome, Sunstar." Lightningstar mewed and pulled back.

Every cat that died and yowling his new name, including Thornpaw.

"Sunstar!"

"Sunstar!"

"Sunstar!"