Daygaze looked confused for a minute. How did her mother die? Was there a battle? Her confusion turned to sadness. She trotted toward her mother's corpse and she hung her head low all the way there. Tears streamed down her face and she stayed vigil. But in the middle of the vigil, Eaglecry called out.

"Let all cats old enough to hunt in the marshes gather around the HighTree for a clan meeting!" Eaglecry yowled from the branch that Cloverstar used to sit on to call a Clan meeting.

Cats whispered and murmured. Eaglecry silenced them with a flick of her tail. 

"As you probably all know, Cloverstar was on her last life this moon. She has now died of Greencough. She never wanted to tell you because she was afraid all of you would panic. She always wanted you to be a panic-free clan. I am going to carry on her dream. I will be the best I can be. As you all know, I have to pick a deputy before Moon-high. Daygaze. You have served your clan well as a warrior. I think you should have the role of Deputy."

Daygaze nodded.

"I say these words before SpiritClan so they can hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of MarshClan is Daygaze. I also want to perform another ceremony. Daygaze, do you want to change your name?"

"Yes, I do," Daygaze replied.

"I say these words before SpiritClan so they can hear and approve of this name. Daygaze's new name will be Dawngaze." Eaglecry replied.

"Dawngaze! Dawngaze! Dawngaze!" The Clan chanted.

Dawngaze smiled proudly and walked toward the HighTree.

"Clan dismissed," Eaglecry mewed. Eaglecry hopped down off the branch and started speaking to Dawngaze. "Dawngaze. Tomorrow night I want you to protect the clan while I am getting my leader name and nine lives."

Dawngaze nodded. Eaglecry nodded her head in thanks and walked into her den.

Dawngaze walked past the apprentices' den and padded into the warriors den. The bracken overhanging the den was meaning she had to crawl. She shook her fur as if she had water on it and layed down on her moss bed. 

Eaglecry was sitting outside the leader's den and was staring down at her paws. At the edge of her paws another body laid there. Lying there. 

Her eyes were glazed with sadness as she ran toward her past apprentice. 

Emberpaw was dead.

(Word count: 401 words)