Cats jumped onto their paws with cries of anger and displeasure as the words settled in their minds. Greystar watched quietly, his flicking tail tip the only sign of his distress. But I could see behind that mask, Greystar didn't want to resign. So why was he?

"No! Greystar you can't do this!" Crazypelt cried, her face a mix of sadness and betrayal.

"You know what this means Otterstar! Don't do i-" Bigears was interrupted by the leader, who gave a loud yowl to silence the outburst. The cats fell silent, still frowning or crying.

"I haven't told you why yet." Greystar said calmly, but I saw him lash his tail, Greystar was no happier to announce this to his clan than they were about hearing it, I thought again. The clan had fallen silent, but the warriors were staring up with confusion and the elders were still mewing in a scared way that made me feel weird. It was as though Greystar was their tree and they were the leaves; as he was cut down they felt they were going down with him.

"The reason why is something more important." The elders gasped at this. Nothing was more important than the leader position. You kept the clan safe; you made the decisions. I glanced down at my parents and brother. Hailkit had his snout crunched up in disgust. I felt anger swarm in my chest. He had no right to be scornful! Hailkit hadn't even heard Greystar out! Mother had a look of confusion written on her black-furred face and father one of sadness. I wondered what I felt about this. Bewildered perhaps. I pricked my ears as Greystar opened his muzzle once again and braced myself for his words.

"But- Otterstar-" Dappledmuzzle cut in, sharing a glance with Hailkit at his side. Father flicked an ear, that one movement showing so many emotions. I stared at Hailkit until he looked up. I gave him a look that I hope he translated to 'What is going on?' He shook his head, he didn't know either. Greystar opened his muzzle to speak again:

"You all know the rules of our clan. We are called Waterclan because we rely on the rivers. And just like that, you rely on me to lead you." I blinked at the leader, listening to his words carefully.

"When the rivers dry up, Waterclan begins to thirst. When a leader weakens, the clan begins to fall." I turned my head to look at Otterrun, what did he think? His face was as expressionless as ever, but behind the mask I saw a small flicker of understanding. A tiny note that knew what was going on. I then began to wonder, was Otterrun glad of his leader's departure? Or sad to loose his friend? 

"I don't want to stop my clan because I have become weaker." Mother's muzzle wrinkled and Crookedtail whispered something in Crazypelt's ear. The tortoiseshell nodded, frowning. I flicked an ear in confusion. Greystar wasn't weak. He wasn't even close to being an elder! So what was going on? Greystar let out a sigh and I wondered whether he was going to stop being cryptic and just give us the message. It appeared so.

"Doublepelt and I... are having kits." My eyes widened. Kits? Leaders weren't supposed to have kits! Their clan was their kin, they looked after it. No wonder Greystar was resigning! Otterrun shivered beside me and I wondered whether he was reconsidering being deputy. Now that Greystar had resigned, Otterrun would become leader. Did he want be leader know that he had been reminded that he wasn't allowed to have his own family? 

"Clan... dismissed." 

The clan didn't disperse. They stayed in groups, murmuring and crying. I heard yells every now and then when a cat got into a heated argument and could see sad expressions wherever I turned my head. 

"Run along Jaguarpaw. We will begin training tomorrow." Otterrun mewed. I nodded, getting to my paws swiftly and practically racing over to Hailpaw the first chance I got. He was pushing through the crowd now surrounding Doublepelt, his tail erect. He wanted to do something. I gave a shiver, what was Hailpaw up to? I squeezed under Crazypelt and dodged around Crookedtail and eventually found my brother, arguing with the new queen.

"Its all your fault!" He hissed, flattening his ears and baring his teeth. 

"I- " Doublepelt whimpered. Her tail was ticked between her legs and she was backed up against the base of the High Ledge as cats swarmed around her.

"How long have you known?!" A voice that sounded like Bigears asked with a hiss.

Doublepelt stammered, her eyes full of fright. Hailpaw unsheathed his claws and I felt horror stab my chest. He wouldn't hurt the queen, would he? 

"Stop!" A grey pelt flashed in front of my eyes. I blinked. Greystar stood snarling in front of Doublepelt, his teeth bared and tail lashing. The crowd took a startled step back, looking at their paws. Hailpaw stayed where he stood, staring defiantly up at the leader.

"Traitor!" He cried, flattening his ears and baring his teeth at Greystar. The leader had had enough. He swiped at Hailpaw's ear, leaving a glistening red scratch along it. Hailpaw cowered away. 

"Don't you dare hurt my mate! What has gotten into you?" Greystar snarled. I saw Dappledmuzzle pushing past cats to get to the front and felt my panic dissolve. Father would solve this, I thought.

"Hailpaw!" My father's voice was boiling with anger and he lashed his tail furiously as he growled at his apprentice. Hailpaw turned to look at Dappledmuzzle, giving him a defiant look. He was going to be in so much trouble, I thought.

"Get into your den!" Dappledmuzzle looked like he was trying not to take a swipe at his son's ear too. Hailpaw opened his mouth to protest.

"But I-" Dappledmuzzle gave him a glare filled with daggers. Hailpaw closed his jaw. With another lash of his tail, he stormed to the apprentice den. I stared after him as he disappeared inside while the clan turned their attention back to the leader and his mate. Doublepelt was leaning against Greystar, whispering in his ear. She looked upset, sad and nervous and I felt anger at my brother as well as the clan for making her feel bad. It wasn't her fault; it was Greystar's decision too. The leader wrapped his tail around hers, whispering something in her ear. His mate gave a nervous nod, padding away and back to the Nursery. She cast nervous looks behind her as she went, as though worried someone would leap at her. But no one did, they were too busy swarming Greystar. 

"What are we? Mice?" Greystar yelled, his voice echoing around camp as the cats closed their muzzles quickly.

"I am ashamed of you, you were not mentored to behave like this!" Bigears shuffled his paws uncomfortably and Crookedtail cast scornful looks at cats around him, as if he hadn't been loving the drama a few minutes before. Greystar glared at them all but I saw his hackles lower into his fur. 

"Otterrun, organize patrols." Greystar sighed, not looking at his brother as the Siamese Tom jumped down from the high ledge. The deputy nodded to his brother understandingly and looked, un-tormented, in front of the warriors. Only Dappledmuzzle, Bigears, Gianttail, Crazypelt Crookedtail and my grandfather, Bumblefall, remained staring at the deputy. The Elders had snaked their way back into their den and Speckledsnout had left even before the fight broke out. Dappledmuzzle whispered in his sisters ear while Crazypelt nodded and then whispered back. Bigears and Gianttail sat a few tail-lengths apart, probably got into an argument again, I decided. The brothers had never gotten along. Bumblefall looked undecided on whether he should leave or watch and Crookedtail was flicking his tail-tip in impatience. 

"Gianttail, lead a patrol at the Darkclan border with Crazypelt and Crookedtail. Dappledmuzzle, Bigears, you can lead one at Dayclan's border along with me, and my apprentice." I looked up sharply from my way to the apprentice den. I thought we were waiting till tomorrow! It appeared not, the deputy was already standing with my father and Bigears near the entrance, muttering orders. I glanced at the apprentice den where my brother was most likely smoking his rage off and decided it would be best to go with, not that I had a choice. 

"Jaguarpaw!" I heard a call from behind me and bounded over, suddenly eager to get out of camp. Imagine seeing all the other territories! What did they look like? Did they have different prey? I wondered as the patrol walked out of camp. There was a large rushing river snaking its way along the sides of the camp, creating a perfect barrier between the clan and the outside world. Only the clan knew of the secret way out back, covered by brambles and thistles. It was beside the HighLedge and Willow, easy to spot if you looked from the right angle. Otterrun padded out first with me at his side, close enough for our fur to touch. Dappledmuzzle followed a tail length behind with Bigears right behind him.

"Alright, are you ready Jaguarpaw?" Otterrun asked, startling me; I was caught off guard by the question. Ready for what? The deputy must have noticed the confusion on my face because he explained quickly afterwards that we had to cross the barrier. 

The river was calmer here but foam still crashed around and onto the muddy banks. A few stones that may have been used once to cross were submerged under the stream along with the pebbles lining the bottom. I gulped. Otterrun didn't wait for me to answer his deciphered question before leaping across and into the water. I gasped, worried for a moment that he might drown. But his paws began churning under the water and he heaved himself out on the other side, shaking his thin-furred pelt dry. I gave a flick of my tail at my stupidity. We weren't called Waterclan for nothing. Dappledmuzzle followed suit a few seconds after, quick and steady. I swallowed. The stream couldn't really be called a river, it wasn't wide enough. Though it seemed wide enough to me; it was about two fox-leaps across, or five tail-lengths. 

Bigears swam next, standing next to my dripping father and mentor. Here we go... I thought, bracing myself for the swim. I wondered if the water was cold. I hoped not. I took a few wary steps forward, crouching and bunching my muscles. Maybe if I jumped far enough I wouldn't have to swim... I took a deep breath then pushed off of the bank. It felt as though I were flying! But I crashed back down into the water only a few seconds later. I gasped as the cold water swirled around me, threatening to drag me down into its depths.

"Churn your paws as if your running!" My mentor called. I pushed my front paws forward, pulling them back. Then the hind paws. My head bobbed above the water; I was swimming! I struggled to the muddy bank and Dappledmuzzle reached over and grabbed me by the scruff. He hauled me out of the water and I gasped on the ground like a fish once he had set me down. Otterrun gave me an approving nod before flicking an ear and walking away into the long reeds and grass that surrounded us. I jumped to my paws quickly, not wanting to be left behind.