The adventures of Mosstalon - Death and deputies by QuailyCat (classic reads .TXT) 📕

me plan the patrols. Mosstalon, could you?" Firestar asked.
"Me?" I asked, astonished.
"Yes, you."
"Well, um... Okay then."
I followed Firestar over to the halfrock, and clanmates began to gather around exitedly, hoping to go on a patrol.


"Bluepaw! Come on! We're going on the dawn patrol. We're already late, and I need to lead this patrol!" I called to my apprentice.
Firestar had chosen me to lead the dawn patrol. I was very exited, because this was my first time leading a patrol, and dawn patrol were probably the most important kind of patrol.
"Oh, alright then." Bluepaw moaned, crawling out of the apprentices den and blinking sleep from her eyes.
As the dawn patrol, including me, Bluepaw, Hazeltail, and Spiderleg, headed into the forest and over towards the Shadowclan border, the strong scent of squirrel filled my nostrils.
"Ooh! That squirrel just given me an idea. Since leaf-bare is coming soon, can I go hunt? I promise that I'll stay near the Shadowclan border, and I'll set scent markers if I can." Bluepaw asked.
"I'm not sure..." I was worried about Bluepaw going off on her own near another clan's border so soon.
"Of course you can. It will be a good oppourtunity for you to explore more of our territory." Spiderleg interrupted. I was annoyed that he had answered, not me, and he spoke just like a mentor did to their apprentice.
"Excuse me, Spiderleg. I'll tell my

apprentice what or what not she can do, thankyou." I told him, trying not to have an edge to my voice.
We padded on further through the forest. I soon scented the undeniable stench of Shadowclan. We had reached the border.
"Okay, Bluepaw. You can go hunt here." I said. Bluepaw raced off the opposite way down towards the lake.
"I can smell vole!" She called as she went further and further out of my sight.
I began to patrol the border, setting scent markers her and there. However, I noticed that Spiderleg kept on trying to overtake me.
"Spiderleg! I'm leading this patrol, not you! Besides, this is my first time leading a patrol, so don't ruin it for me!" I hissed.
Spiderleg drew back his lips in a snarl. He was about to say something when a cry peirced the air.
"Come on!" I cried, and bolted towards where the scream had come from.

Chapter Four - Ferretclaw

I bounded down the stream that marked the border with Shadowclan, following the scent of vole. I then saw the vole, plump and juicy looking. I positioned myself into the hunters crouch, and leaped after the vole. The vole perked up its head, alert. It saw me before I reached it and darted away, but I gave chase. Soon I was right near vole, and was about to snap at it when I stumbled on something.
"Ow! Get off me!" The thing I had tripped on said. I realised that what I had stumbled on was a cat.
"Ferretclaw?" I asked. "What are you doing on Thunderclan territory?"
"What are you

doing on Shadowclan territory, Bluepaw?" He demanded.
"What?" I then saw that the oak tree had turned to pine trees, and there was less undergrowth in this area. The border stream was far behind me.
"I'm sorry. I must have chased that vole onto Shadowclan territory wihout noticing." I apoligized.
"It's okay. You didn't realise, but get off my clan's territory before a patrol sees you."
"You mean, you won't tell?"
"Why would I? I don't want to get you into trouble."
"But why? Why do you care if I get into trouble or not?"
"Um, well... You've only just become an apprentice. It wouldn't be fair on you."
"Okay." I darted back over the border stream, but saw that Ferretclaw had followed as far as the border.
"Bluepaw, there's something I want to say to you." He said.
"What is it?" I asked, curious.
What would he want with me?

I wondered.
He opened his mouth to reply.
"Ever since I first set my eyes on you, I just thought you seemed so, so-" He was cut off by a yowl further into Thunderclan's territory.
"That's one of my clanmates!" I cried, and darted off before he could stop me.
"Wait! I really need to tell you this!" I heard his distant call, but was too far away to turn back.
One of my clanmates was in pain, and I had to help them.

Chapter Five - Death

"What about the border patrol?" Hazeltail called after me.
"It can wait!" I called, and darted through the trees trusting only my instincts to take me to the cat in danger.
I soon reached a small clearing, and saw a huge badger running as fast as it could away from the clearing. Brambleclaw's were there, hissing at it.
"Chase it off." Lionblaze ordered Sorreltail and Berrynose.
Why isn't Brambleclaw telling them what to do?

I wondered, then spotted Brambleclaw. He was lying on his side, flanks heaving.
"What's happened to Brambleclaw?" I noticed Bluepaw running out of the undergrowth.
"The badger bit his neck." Lionblaze's voice was calm, but his eyes gave away the panic he was feeling.
"What? But what happens if he dies? He's our deputy!" Spiderleg cried.
"Bluepaw, go ahead of us and get help from camp." I waited until Bluepaw was out of my sight before looking back at the other cats. "We need to take him back to the hollow."
I lifted up part of Brambleclaw and was helped by Lionblaze and Hazeltail.
As we enetered the stone hollow, Firestar bounded up to us.
"Jayfeather! Come quickly!" He cried urgently.
Jayfeather came over, sniffed Brambleclaw, ran his paw along the deep wound, and ordered:
"Bring him into my den."
We carried Brambleclaw into the medicine den, and Jayfeather started to mix herbs together to make a poultice.
"Do you need help? I know what herbs to use." I asked him.
"Yes, please. The more cats helping, the biggger the chance of Brambleclaw surviving."
I rushed into the herbs store, and remembered how I had once been a medicine apprentice, padding into the store and muttering under my breath about how I wished I could be a warrior apprentice.
"AAAHHHH!" I heard Brambleclaw scream, and raced back out of the musty smelling store.
Brambleclaw was breathing faster and faster, and wheezed to Firestar, who sat beside his deputy:
"Firestar, if I die, please, tell me know, who will become deputy after me? I want to be sure I leave this clan in good paws."
Firestar leaned over to his deputy, and murmured something that I thought he didn't want anyone else to hear, because I couldn't catch what he told Brambleclaw.
"You have made a good choice, Firestar." Brambleclaw said, and laid his head down on the soft moss nest that had been made for him. He took one last breath, before his eyes closed, and he lay still, unmoving.

Chapter Six - Deputies

"Is, is he really gone?" Firestar looked up, wide eyed, at Jayfeather.
"Yes, Firestar. However, we will always remember him. He was a great deputy, and he died saving his clan. Kits, apprentices, even warriors may have died if he didn't lead that patrol to chase that badger off our territory." Jayfeather said.
"We will miss him." I said, and rested my muzzle on his chin.
After several heartbeats, Firestar said:
"We'd better go show the rest of the clan. They'll want to mourn for him."
As we carried out the limp body, the other members of the patrol Brambleclaw led came through the thorn tunnel.
"Oh! How could this have happened?" Sorreltail gasped, while Berrynose just stared, mouth wide open.
"I never thought that he would die this soon." He said.
"This means you must appoint a new deputy." Spiderleg padded over. I noticed that instead of his voice sounding sad, he actually sounded quite pleased.
Does he want to become deputy?

I wondered.
"You are right, Spiderleg. I will choose my new deputy now." Firestar agreed then bounded up the rocksthat led to Highledge.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the highledge for a clan meeting!" He yowled.
Cats began to sit down beneath him. When most of the clan had gathered, he continued.
"Brambleclaw led a patrol to chase a badger off our territory today. He got bitten in the neck, and he died. He will always be remembered, but Thunderclan still needs a new deputy."
He looked down at his clan.
"I would like my new deputy to be..." Firestar began. "I say these words before the spirit of Brambleclaw, and the spirits of all Starclan, that they may hear and approve my choice. Mosstalon, you will be the new deputy of Thunderclan."
"Mosstalon! Mosstalon!" Tanglekit started to call, and then the rest of the clan joined in.
"Thankyou, Firestar. I never imagined that I would become deputy of my clan." I thanked my leader.
"Mosstalon, my kit, becoming deputy!" Spottedhead was muttering.
"You may be a young warrior, but I know that you are the right deputy." Firestar purred.