Chapter 21

                It had been a little over six moons since Crazyflame had received her warrior name and first met Stonestream at the WindClan border. She’d continued meeting Stonestream, thankfully without getting caught, and her nighttime training sessions with Thunder had continued. Cloudstar had lost a life to a badger while he was hunting alone, but he’d sent a patrol of warriors after it to drive it out. The other Clans hadn’t caused trouble, except for the usual level of hostility from Shadestar and his Clan at Gatherings. Mousepaw had gone with the patrol to attack the badger and been severely injured, but for some reason Cloudstar didn’t give her warrior name. So Crazyflame’s enemy was stuck in the medicine cats den once again.

                The only truly bad news was the death of Sootsplash, Ashtail, and Smallpaw, due to greencough during leaf-bare.

                Only a few heartbeats ago, Cloudstar had concluded the ceremony to send Leafstorm to the elders den. The former deputy’s muzzle was silver, and it was obvious to everyone it was unlikely that he would’ve been able to put up a good fight with anyone from any of the Clans. Cloudstar would announce the new deputy tonight. As the crowd was dispersing, Cloudstar added, “Crazyflame, come see me in my den, please.”

                Crazyflame easily made the climb that once seemed difficult, but nearly slipped due to nervousness. Has he discovered I train with Thunder or worse than that, the fact that I meet Stonestream at night?

                “Yes, Cloudstar?” she called hesitantly from outside the den.

                “You can come in,” Cloudstar meowed.

                Crazyflame walked through the entrance to the leader’s den. Cloudstar stood there, pacing back and forth. “So I understand there’s a certain prophecy Honeywhisker ‘forgot’ to tell me until yesterday,” he began. “I’m not sure whether or not you know…”

                “The flame of mischief will rise to attempt to defeat the dark splash of murder and betrayal!” Crazyflame couldn’t help but blurt out the lines of the prophecy.

                Cloudstar raised an eyebrow. “I guess you do know,” the ThunderClan leader commented. “But I wanted to ask if you know what it means. I know the flame of mischief represents you but do you have any idea what the dark splash of murder and betrayal might be? Perhaps ShadowClan or Shadestar? Because ‘dark splash’ could easily mean Shadow or Shade.”

                Crazyflame hadn’t considered that option. Maybe it wasn’t Thunder or someone from her Clan! “I don’t know,” she replied honestly.

                Cloudstar nodded. “I thought so, but I had to ask,” he meowed.

                Crazyflame turned to leave. “I’ll tell you if I know anything,” she promised. “But you should really be asking Honeywhisker.”

                Cloudstar hesitated. “The thing is…Honeywhisker isn’t being very helpful,” he admitted finally. “I asked her to help me choose a deputy and she said, ‘Go with whoever you want to pick.’ So, even though I probably shouldn’t be doing this, I was wondering if you could help…”

                Crazyflame knew what the rest of his sentence would be. “Sure!” she replied, feeling honored that he was choosing her to help him but also not quite understanding why he’d chosen her.

                “There’s three cats that I’m thinking about: Thornwhisker, Liontail, and Splashheart,” he explained.

                “I’ve never liked Thornwhisker,” Crazyflame commented.

                Cloudstar frowned. “Me neither,” he confessed. “There’s something about him I just can’t trust. Plus, he’s one of our oldest warriors. He’ll join the elders soon.”

                “What’s wrong with Liontail or Splashheart?” Crazyflame asked. “They’re both incredible hunters and fighters, and loyal warriors.”

                “Yes, they are,” the white-furred tom agreed. “But…both of them had, um, family issues. Quite a few seasons before you were born, just a little while before I became deputy actually, Liontail’s brother caused a whole lot of trouble and almost started a war between all of the Clans. More than one cat died because of his mouse-brained sibling.”

                “What about Splashheart?” Crazyflame asked curiously.

                “Splashheart’s sibling wasn’t quite as much of a problem, but it still was necessary to force him to leave the Clan. Liontail’s brother, however, was a lot, I repeat, a lot worse. Imagine a cat spying behind everyone’s back, talking with every leader including his own Clan’s leader, placing fake evidence of ‘prey-stealing’ so that everyone would start making false accusations, and spreading rumors about each of the Clans. Quite a few small border fights were caused. But Liontail was the one who caught him in the act and reported it to our leader, who was Poppystar at that time. That’s how your mentor became so well-respected,” Cloudstar finished.

                “Exactly!” Crazyflame exclaimed. “He worked against his own brother for the good of the Clan. And I’m sure it wasn’t Splashheart’s fault for whatever minor offense his brother did. You should judge cats by their own actions.”

                Cloudstar sighed. “I do, but I doubt the Clan will like it if I choose either of them, particularly Liontail,” he meowed dejectedly. “I suppose Liontail shouldn’t become deputy, at least not yet. I’ll probably choose Splashheart. Thank you, Crazyflame.”

                But I didn’t really do anything!

                “No problem,” she responded instead.

                “Oh, and wait,” Cloudstar called to her as she had just stepped out of the den.

                Crazyflame looked back over her shoulder. “I nearly forgot,” he meowed. “Cloudheart’s kits, Blossomkit and Brightkit, are six moons old and are ready to be apprenticed.”

                Blossomkit was a light brown she-cat with amber eyes while Brightkit was a silver-and-white she-cat with light green eyes. And Crazyflame felt excited for the time in moons other than when she was with Stonestream. She would get to mentor one of them! “Would you like to mentor Brightkit?” Cloudstar asked.

                “Of course!” she shouted happily. “Thank you so much, Cloudstar!”

***

                “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!” Cloudstar’s voice rang throughout the stone hollow as he summoned the Clan.

                Crazyflame looked up at the sky. It was quickly approaching moonhigh. She was glad this was not one of the nights she was supposed to meet Stonestream at the WindClan border. She hoped there weren’t any Clan meetings tomorrow night though.

                “I say these words before StarClan, that they may hear and approve of my choice!” Cloudstar yowled.

                Crazyflame looked around the crowd. Cloudheart was just outside the nursery, fussing over her kits’ fur as they struggled to get away. Thornwhisker was next to Crazyflame, glaring at the Highledge for no reason, which was typical of him. Swiftstorm was on her other side, not looking away from Cloudstar for a heartbeat. Splashheart sat near the back of all the warriors, talking with her father, Flamefoot. He appeared to be enjoying himself, not caring whether he would be named the next deputy or not. Splashheart whispered something to Flamefoot and both cats started laughing, earning a glare from Cloudstar for interrupting the ceremony.

                At the front of the group, Crazyflame saw Liontail’s golden pelt. His fur was perfectly groomed and he looked like he was expecting to receive the title of deputy. His amber eyes gleamed with hunger and ambition, which made her uneasy. Perhaps Cloudstar was right about not choosing Liontail.

                “The new deputy of ThunderClan is Splashheart!” Cloudstar declared.

                Splashheart had stopped talking now, and as he heard his name, his eyes widened with surprise. “I wasn’t expecting this, but since you have chosen me, I swear by StarClan to do the best I can do,” he promised, sounding like he didn’t believe that he was actually ThunderClan’s deputy.

                Crazyflame glanced anxiously at Liontail. He looked extremely disappointed and slightly even angry. He stared at the ground and wouldn’t look up.

                “Thank you, Splashheart. I trust that you will uphold that vow,” Cloudstar responded. “Also, we have one last bit of news. Cloudheart’s kits have reached the age of six moons and are ready to be apprenticed.”

                Cloudheart guided her kits to the front of the crowd. “Blossomkit and Brightkit, step forward,” he instructed the two kits. “Blossomkit, from this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Blossompaw.”

                The glint of excitement danced in Blossompaw’s eyes. “Morningblaze, you haven’t yet been given an apprentice. You learned a lot of wonderful skills from Splashheart, and I trust that’ll you’ll pass on all that you know to Blossompaw,” Cloudstar announced.

                Crazyflame’s sister touched noses with her new apprentice. “Brightkit, from this day on, until you’re given your warrior name, you’ll be known as Brightpaw,” he named Cloudheart’s other kit. “Crazyflame, I can tell that Liontail taught you quite a bit. You’re a marvelous fighter and a great thinker, and I believe you can teach Brightpaw well.”       

                Brightpaw looked nervously up at Crazyflame. She’s almost as nervous as Streamsplash! She smiled reassuringly and leaned down to touch noses with her first apprentice. Brightpaw relaxed just a little bit. “It’s okay, you’re doing fine,” Crazyflame whispered.

                The ceremony concluded with the Clan chanting the new names. “Tomorrow morning, we can do hunting or battle training,” she told Brightpaw. “You can choose which one you want.”

                And then, to her surprise, Brightpaw laughed. “Battle training, of course!”

                Perhaps we’re not that different after all…

A/N: Crazystar's first apprentice and a new deputy! Plus, did I mention that Liontail has amber eyes?