The hollow became dead silent. Fernstar's heart pounded in her chest. Who died? Quickly, she scanned the clearing. Sighing in relief, she noticed the only cats of hers gone were Leafpaw and Fallowfern, who had not participated in the fighting.

Padding toward the noise, she and Bramblestar investigated. She saw the white she-cat with ginger splotches bent over the gray-and-white tom that Fernstar had attacked at the beginning of the battle.

A brown tabby she-cat with white patches flung herself forward. "Ambermoon! Are you okay?"

Ambermoon nodded solemnly. "But, Lilyheart! Dewnose didn't make it..."

Lilyheart screeched in grief, burying her nose into what Fernstar assumed was her son's pelt.

"Molewhisker didn't either!" A fluffy ginger she-cat cried out from where she hunched over a lifeless body of a cat.

Bramblestar turned on the Skyclan leader, rage brimming around his amber eyes. "Two of my cats dead!" He shrieked. "Was that worth it?"

Fernstar shrugged. "It depends." She whirled around as she heard yet another screech of grief. This time, though, Fernstar recognized as her mother's voice.

"Dewfrost! Don't leave me..." Cloudmist whimpered.

Fernstar dashed over to see her father covered in blood and scratches.

Dewfrost was gazing at Cloudmist with loving eyes. "Take care of our kits for me." He drew in one last shaky breath before his flanks grew still.

Amberleaf and Prinkleleap bounded over. "Dewfrost!" Fernstar's sister cried.

Fernstar hung her head and slowly turned back to Bramblestar. "Yes," She whispered boldly. "It was worth it."

Cloudmist turned on her. "How could you say such a thing! This was your father. He cared for you. He was your deputy!"

Fernstar gazed sympathetically at her mother. "I realize that, Cloudmist. But I also believe this was supposed to happen. He was getting older anyway."

"He was younger than me!" Cloudmist snapped.

"I know. But I think Starclan planned this as his time." She dipped her head to Bramblestar, "As it was also Dewnose's and Molewhisker's. Dewfrost was in with the plan from the beginning. He knew there was a chance of death, but he still fought for me. He was a loyal deputy and a loving father too. Even though in all we have lost three cats, I will still fight for the right to territory!"

"Fernstar! Fernstar!" Fernstar's clanmates cheered encouragement to her.

Bramblestar bared his teeth, "You can have everything past the abandoned twolegplace for all I care! I don't think it's worth it anymore." He turned on his paws and stalked away toward his den. Glancing over his shoulder he called out, "Sandstorm, Millie, Graystripe! Bury the fallen."

Fernstar gazed thoughtfully at her battered clanmates. "We have victory!" She yowled. She flicked her tail and grabbed her father's body by the scruff. With the help of her littermates and mother, they half carried him, half dragged him out of the hollow.

* * *

"Your back!" Fallowfern exclaimed. "How did it go?"

Fernstar let go of Dewfrost's scruff. "We got victory, but lost Dewfrost."

Fallowfern gasped. "What happened?"

Fernstar glanced at her clanmates. She hadn't seen who Dewfrost had last been fighting.

Skyclan cats glanced at each other, questions in their tired eyes.

Finally, a small gray-and-white she-cat padded up to the front. "I know who! I saw him tackle this ginger she-cat. I heard them call her Squirrelwing or something."

Fernstar stared at Seedpaw, pondering. "Oh. Squirrelflight! The Thunderclan deputy."

"Yeah that sounds right." Seedpaw's eyes sparkled in the moonlight. "Anyway, they were fighting for a really long time and I was going to go help him. But then some black she-cat attacked me and I lost sight of him. Soon after though, the battle ended."

Finsplash nodded. "Who was that black she-cat?" He asked casually.

Seedpaw shrugged.

"I think you're talking about Hollytuft." A small voice piped up.

Fernstar whirled around to see Leafpaw limp forward. "Hollytuft helped carry me into camp."

Fernstar glanced back at Finsplash and noticed a wistful look in his blue eyes. She mentally noted to confront him about that later. She addressed the rest of her clan. "Now, we need to find a camp."

They buried Dewfrost, paying their respects, before setting off, heading deeper into the woods.

"Wait!" Amberleaf suddenly cried.

Fernstar gazed over her shoulder. "What?"

"You need to appoint a new deputy before moonhigh." She glanced at the sky.

Fernstar followed her gaze and noticed the moon was almost at its highest point. "You're right." She faced her clanmates sweeping her green eyes across the group of battered, tired cats. Lifting her nose to the stars, she called out the familiar words: "I say these words before the body of Dewfrost, so that his spirit may hear and approve of my choice." She glanced one last time at the cat she knew was destined to be her deputy. This cat she knew would always be there for her, guiding her pawsteps through leadership. "Reedthicket will be the new deputy of Skyclan!"

"Reedthicket! Reedthicket!"

Reedthicket bounded up to Fernstar, pressing his cheek up against hers. "Thank you my love!" He breathed.

Fernstar licked his ear. She started toward the abandoned twolegplace but Cloudmist's call stopped her. "What now?" She mumbled.

"I would like to become an elder. My mate is gone and I would like to keep Sagenose company." She glanced fondly at her clanmate.

"Very well." Once again, she glanced at the stars. "Cloudmist, is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and go join the elders?"

Cloudmist dipped her head. "It is."

"Your clan honors you and all the service you have given us. I call upon Starclan to give you many seasons of rest."

"Cloudmist!"

"Cloudmist!"

"Thank you." Cloudmist whispered to the sky.

"Okay, now can we get going?" Fernstar huffed.

"Of course." Reedthicket answered for the clan.

"Good." She lifted her tail and set off into the undergrowth.

Her cats followed swiftly, weaving around trees and skirting bramble thickets. Fernstar could tell everyone was hungry, but they didn't dare hunt on Thunderclan's land. The moment they passed border markers stinking of Thunderclan, Fernstar settled down, resting her head on her paws and leaving Reedthicket in charge of hunting patrols.

Pale dawn light shown through the tree tops as Fernstar opened her eyes. Yawning, she stretched and heaved herself up. Gazing down, she noticed her wounds had been treated and were patched with herb poultices. Thanks Amberleaf!

The mouth-watering scent of squirrel bathed her tongue, making her conscious of the stabs of hunger shooting through her belly. She glanced down, seeing a fat squirrel at her paws. Taking a bite, she surveyed the camp. She saw Fallowfern sleeping, her flanks full with unborn kits and Meadowlark shared tongues with Prinkleleap. Other than that, Fernstar noticed most of her clanmates were gone.

Swiping her tongue over her lips, she plodded to her brother. "Where is everyone?"

"Hunting and exploring." The cream and brown tom didn't even look up at her.

"When did they all set out?"

Prinkleleap glanced at the sky, "Just before dawn."

Fernstar nodded before whirling around at the sound of paws drumming on the leaves.

Reedthicket burst through the ferns, skidding to a halt next to his mate. "You're awake!"

"No, I'm sleeping standing up and with my eyes open!" She retorted.

Reedthicket eyed her closely, "Yeah right!"

Fernstar sighed. Where is his sense of sarcasm? "Where've you been?"

"Exploring with Tigerlily, Plumwillow, Seedpaw, Leafpaw, and Waspwhisker."

Fernstar nodded, satisfied. "And everyone else?"

Reedthicket gazed at the sky, lost in thought. "Doestep, Windwhisp, and Duskpeak went hunting. Parsleyseed and Amberleaf went to find useful herbs in the area while Sagenose and Cloudmist are sleeping under that Yew Bush."

"What about Finsplash?" Fernstar realized that he hadn't been one of the names her mate had stated. "Is he on a patrol?"

"No... In fact, I don't think I remember seeing him at all today." Reedthicket's eyes widened. "Should I send out a search party?"

Fernstar shook her head. "It's probably better if he just comes back when he wants. He might be even doing some exploring on his own.".

Suddenly, there was loud crashing in the bushes in front of her. "What in all of Starclan is that?"

"Fernstar!"

"Yes Duskpeak?" She called out, recognizing the voice.

Before the orange tom could answer, Sagenose slid out from under the yew bush. "Oh great! Now you woke me up and probably scared half the prey in the forest with that kind of noise!"

Fernstar flicked her tail, silencing the elder.

Gasping for breath, Duskpeak slid to a halt in front of her. "I found something!"

"What is it?" Fernstar pricked her ears.

"I think it might be a good place for a camp!"

"Show me!"

He led her through a winding route until they stumbled into a clearing. "Wouldn't it make a great camp?"

Fernstar gazed around, drinking in her surroundings. There was soft soil and flattened grass in the sunlit clearing and trees and bracken scattered around. Farther forward was a hollow cave with lichen hanging down in front. At the edge of the clearing was a jetted rock that stuck out like a sore paw. "This is perfect!" Fernstar exclaimed.

"Of course it is!" Duskpeak twitched his whiskers excitedly, "Didn't I tell you?"

"Yes." Fernstar shook out her pelt. "Let's go tell everyone else once they come back from patrols."

They padded back towards their make-shift camp where every cat was scurrying around busily. "Prinkleleap! Have you seen Finsplash, I haven't seen him anywhere and it's already sunhigh." Fernstar declared, flicking her tail.

"No, haven't seen him." Prinkleleap acknowledged.

Weird.. She thought. "Well, Prinkleleap, can you go find the other patrols? I'm going to call an important meeting." Fernstar padded onto a low branch in a sycamore tree. She waited for Prinkleap and the patrols to bound into the tiny clearing before yowling at the top of her lungs.