She was? How? Who was her new mate? Windpaw was very confused. “I have been for a while,” she explained, “Since just before Redclay’s death, but I didn’t know it then.” That wasn’t much help to Windpaw’s puzzlement. He opened his mouth, but Icepaw beat him to it. “I thought that it was pretty clear that you were pregnant,” she said, “but why haven’t you shared before now?” “I didn’t want to share it because I didn’t want to get my hopes up. Redclay is the father of these kits, and his legacy will live on in them,” Crystalstar meowed. “I will be joining the nursery with Flamesight, and Wildwing will take over Clan leader duties. He may select a temporary deputy if he chooses.” “Thank you, Crystalstar,” Wildwing said. “I will choose a temporary deputy to help me with my extra duties or in case of… accidents while you are in the nursery.” “Who will you choose, Wildwing?” Songcloud asked. Wildwing thought for a moment. “Shimmerpool,” he decided. Songcloud nodded. “Crystalstar’s sister and a strong warrior. Good choice.” Wildwing turned around to leap onto the Bigrock. He settled himself neatly on top. “I have decided that the temporary deputy will be Shimmerpool.” Shimmerpool pushed her way through the crowd and sat at the base of the rock, facing the other cats calmly, her green eyes glittering. Blackpaw, on the other paw, looked like she was going to explode with pride. Windpaw felt jealous and slightly angry at Blackpaw’s arrogance, but then he realized the pride was meant for Shimmerpool, not herself. I mean, if Thistlestrike was chosen as deputy, I’d feel the same way, he thought. He turned to look at Echopaw and Icepaw to see how they felt. Echopaw was busy with her mentor, and Icepaw looked slightly relieved. Windpaw wondered what was up with her. Icepaw was in a state of depression and she kept saying weird things in her sleep and in the waking world, but through it all, she was still very intelligent. Who knew what was happening in her head? Although she was saying some sketchy stuff about the prophecy in her sleep, things sounded like she was trying to figure out who was the shade. She also talked weirdly about Redclay. She spoke about him sometimes in the present tense - as if he were still alive. For example, yesterday she’d said “Redclay is the best at catching squirrels,” when she saw the one Echopaw had had in her jaws. Windpaw wasn’t sure if Icepaw was going insane or had changed because of Redclay’s death. “Windpaw!” Icepaw’s voice jerked Windpaw back to reality. She was standing next to Crystalstar and Thistlestrike, glaring at Windpaw. The crowd had dispersed. “Crystalstar asked you a question. Will you go to the Hindwalkerplace or not?” Windpaw stood defiantly. “I told you. I’ll go the long way around so I don’t end up so close to FernClan territory.” “Wind. Paw.” Thistlestrike glared at him along with Icepaw. “Go to the elders' den. There, you can clean the bedding, take out their soil, and take care of the ticks. And you can do this for three moons straight. No leaving camp unless you’re getting fresh moss. No hunting. You will have the occasional battle training match in case we are attacked, but either Crystalstar, Wildwing, or I will choose your partner. No picking. Icepaw, I’ll discuss this with Larchpelt so that he won’t assign you any duties in the elders’ den.” Windpaw realized that Crystalstar was already in her second moon of pregnancy, and had been for a while. She would probably have kits in the next half-moon or less. Windpaw then realized what Thistlestrike had said. “What? You can’t revoke my training!” Windpaw glumly remembered when he was a kit and Streampaw had told him how Archclaw’s kithood had been extended, and how Windpaw’d told him that would never happen. Windpaw groaned inwardly. “Yes, I can. I have full permission too.” “I don’t want to be another Archclaw!” “You aren’t. You’re not behind almost every little trouble the clan has,” Thistlestrike growled. “To the elders’ den with you.” “But I don’t want Icepaw getting her ceremony delayed!” “It won’t be.” Icepaw smiled smugly, though it was shadowed by the sadness in her eyes. “Three-moon delay, right? You’ll become a warrior with Echopaw.” “Windpaw,” Crystalstar said sternly. “Elders’ den.”
Sorry for being so late! I'll try to post chapters more often, but, you know, no promises :) Previous: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/790268984 First: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/737784560/ Next: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/841678255
