"No.. no, no, there must be some mistake!" Vixenpaw protested. "I can't lead WindClan – I only begun my apprentice training two moons ago! Isn't there some other way to do this – an extra rule for these situations?!"

Gooseholly looked troubled. "Believe me, I wouldn't put you through this unless it was the only option. Our code states that the heir or heiress must take over in the event of the parents' death, and if the rulers had no children then the next closest relatives must..." He trailed off. "Honestly, this kind of situation has never been foreseen – leaders usually have enough lives to at least survive until their successor becomes a warrior."

Vixenpaw shook her head. "Please, I can't! I won't even receive a warrior name – I'd just go straight to Vixenstar!"

"Not necessarily-"

"That doesn't matter!" She exploded. "What will the other clans think of us, having an apprentice playing Queen?! What will my own clanmates think?! I'm not ready to become a warrior, let alone lead WindClan!"

Gooseholly gazed at her helplessly. "I don't know what to do – surely, this is how StarClan wanted things to go? They must have a plan..."

"Er, Gooseholly?" A voice called from outside the den. It was Oatfreckle.

"Come in."

The short brown and white tom entered somewhat nervously, and Vixenpaw hoped he'd not heard her embarrassing outburst. "I, uh, was coming to speak to you anyway – but I heard you mention StarClan and had an idea."

Oatfreckle then explained that he could go to the Moonstone and visit StarClan, asking for guidance on what to do. The clan would have to listen to their verdict.

Gooseholly nodded slowly, "That's a good idea. Can you travel tonight?"

"I'll leave immediately – but Oddpaw must remain here." Oatfreckle promised, backing out the den – probably to prepare travelling herbs.

Vixenpaw deflated, exhausted. "I really hope they have a better idea than me taking over the clan."

"As much as I love you, as both your mentor and your uncle, I hope so too." Gooseholly agreed. "You shouldn't have to be given such a weight to carry at merely eight moons old. Now, I suppose I must break the news to our clanmates."

They left the den together, Vixenpaw sticking close by her mentor's side. The clan had already gathered around Tallrock, expecting guidance – many called out to Gooseholly, asking questions, but he ignored them and sat beneath Tallrock.

"Listen up!" He yelled over the questions and arguing. "Let's be respectful – our King and Queen's spirits may still linger." The crowd fell silent politely, allowing him to continue. "I know you all have questions, so let me talk and they may be answered – any that aren't, you can ask when I'm done.

"As everyone knows, the oldest child of the King and Queen must step up to rule when one or both rulers die. This leaves us in a difficult situation, their eldest kit being Vixenpaw – only eight moons old, not even halfway through her apprenticeship."

The heiress shrunk beneath the judgemental gazes, who'd been so kind just the day before.

"As our code says, the oldest kit must take over WindClan – but our ancestors did not foresee such a situation as our own arising. So, Oatfreckle has offered to go seek enlightenment from the dead, to ask what should be done next." His gaze hardened. "Whatever they decree we must do, and I expect you all to respect their answer and not argue – we mustn't question the wisdom of our ancestors."

"Even if it means letting practically a kit lead us?!" Skyglow, a Siamese tom, called out brusquely. "Think how the clans will ridicule us!"

Gooseholly sat up straighter, undeterred. "As I have said, they will not question the judgement of our ancestors. Are there any other questions?"

"What will happen if they say she should lead WindClan? She can't go from -paw to -star!" Someone else called out.

Gooseholly turned in their general direction. "I'm sure Oatfreckle will ask that same question too, if he must." Oatfreckle, who had emerged from his den now, nodded and begun to eat his travelling herbs.

"Is that all?" Gooseholly clarified, and when no one else spoke up, he nodded firmly. "Good. Now, I'm going to organise today's patrols – but let's give the apprentices the day off."

Taking that as her signal to leave, Vixenpaw wandered over to the apprentice's den, where most of the apprentices were gathered.

Oceanpaw was attempting to comfort Stonepaw, sitting a little too close to him, while Seapaw and Twitchpaw murmured comfortingly to Tulippaw.

Oddpaw sat a little distance away, nestled in Inkpatch's side, his older sister revealing a guilty expression.

"Hey, Vixenpaw!" She called out suddenly, spotting the heiress and hurrying over. "I just wanted to share my condolences. Hawkstar and Dreamstar were such lovely parents to me and my brother.." she frowned. "I know I've been acting a little odd recently, towards you and your parents, but..." she trailed off, eyes misting. "well, I suppose now isn't the time to unload this on you. Long story short, I'm sorry that I never got to apologise properly to your parents about how I spoke to them sometimes."

Vixenpaw nodded, not really listening. "Thanks, I suppose. I'm sorry too – they were your parents too, after all."

Inkpatch flicked her tail nervously, "Yeah, I guess."

Vixenpaw pushed her way into the den, noticing with a little shock that her nest had been pushed further from the other ones. Backing out the den, she came face to face with Oceanpaw.

"Why has my nest been moved?" She asked angrily, not in the mood for messing around.

Oceanpaw scowled. "You shouldn't even be in here. You're going to be the Queen soon."

"No, you don't know that for sure!" Vixenpaw argued. "Oatfreckle is going to ask StarClan-"

"This was probably their plan." Oceanpaw interrupted. "I bet you're loving all the attention!"

Vixenpaw scoffed crossly, but saw Stonepaw and Tulippaw glaring at her pointedly. Did they really think that?

"You can't seriously believe she's not upset Hawkstar and Dreamstar are dead, can you?" Oddpaw, who'd overheard the conversation, asked incredulously. "Who would want this?!"

Seapaw scuffed his paws awkwardly under his sister's insistent gaze. "Anyone would be happy at the chance to be King or Queen at a young age – you've always boasted about it, to be fair."

"I have not!" She retorted falteringly. Had she? Since she was a kit, she'd been groomed for this day – even if it was a little early – and loved the idea of leading WindClan. Had she been boasting, without really realising..?

"Well, even if I have a bit," she admitted reluctantly, "that doesn't mean I'm happy that my parents are dead!"

Tulippaw laughed sourly. "Sure you're not, and a hedgehog just flew by!" She grunted, stomping past Vixenpaw and heading to her nest in the den. Oceanpaw and Seapaw followed, Stonepaw trailing behind them; Vixenpaw was left with an awkward Oddpaw.

"Do you think this too?" She asked unhappily.

"No!" He answered loyally. "They're just jealous of you, and being immature."

"... 'jealous'?"

Oddpaw shrugged. "Sure, it's like what Seapaw said – everyone has, at some point, wanted to be King or Queen. It's part of the reason some cats aren't a fan of our way of life – unless you're born into the royal family, the best you can hope for is becoming the advisor – whereas ThunderClan get to vote for their leaders, ShadowClan have a group of them, and RiverClan are on rotation so they have more leaders and deputies than everyone else."

Vixenpaw shook her head in disbelief. "I just can't get my head around the fact they could be jealous – Stonepaw and Tulippaw have the same parents, so understand the loss, and Oceanpaw and Seapaw lost their mother a few seasons ago! Surely they know the pain isn't worth being jealous of the fact it means you can become King or Queen?"

"I don't know what to say to that." Oddpaw admitted. "It's crazy, I know – but that's the fact. Tulippaw has always been jealous she wasn't born before you, and most apprentices are going to be jealous of the scions and heiress." He sighed, yawning. "We should just try to get some sleep – I'm exhausted after that vigil."

Vixenpaw nodded sadly. "I suppose I am too."

---

"Hey, wake up – Oatfreckle is back!" An abrasive voice called out.

Vixenpaw jerked awake, sitting up suddenly. "Who, what- huh?!"

Oddpaw laughed. "Come on, let's see what he has to say!"

Vixenpaw stumbled out the apprentice's den, realising with a jolt she'd slept through the entire previous day and until the next morning. Under Tallrock, the clan was gathering around as Oatfreckle and Gooseholly stood above them, murmuring to each other.

Vixenpaw prayed to her ancestors that they wished for her not to lead.

"WindClan, gather around for a clan meeting!" The medicine cat called out, though it wasn't necessary – everyone already had. "I have returned from visiting StarClan with immense news. I was visited by Freckleface, Dreamstar and Hawkstar."

Moorwing and Daisydusk cringed at the mention first name. Freckleface was Oatfreckle and Flutterflower's biological mother, who'd died at quite a young age with an unknown mate – the two elders had adopted the littermates afterwards. They'd also adopted Teaflower, Flutterflower's best friend, when her father died.

Oatfreckle sighed heavily, and continued. "I asked them what we were expected to do, and they expressed StarClan's collective desire for... Vixenpaw to become Queen of WindClan."

Vixenpaw inhaled sharply as the clan exploded into cries of shock and distress, beginning to hyperventilate as many looked at her in disbelief. They couldn't really expect... her own parents had agreed... she felt herself spiralling mentally, and stumbled away from the large crowd, staring at her shaky paws.

"Please, let me finish!" Oatfreckle cried. "They wished for us to hold a warrior ceremony for her, to earn her warrior name, and take her to the Moonstone to receive her lives."

"Surely not!" A voice cried. "What about her training!?"

Gooseholly stepped forward imposingly. "If this is StarClan's wish, then we must obey. I can continue to train Vixenpaw until she reaches the age of twelve moons, and continue to show her guidance and support onwards. Then, when she's old enough, she may choose a mate to rule beside her."

Vixenpaw wheezed heavily, hidden at the back of the crowd. This couldn't be real, it had to be some sort of joke... she could hardly defend herself alone, or hunt a rabbit by herself!

"Please, we must listen to StarClan." Oatfreckle insisted desperately. "Their will is what needs to be done. We have just under a moon until the next Gathering, so we have until then to represent WindClan as a functioning clan under Vixenpaw's leadership, giving her enough training and lessons to prepare her for becoming Queen. I urge you all personally to support her as best you can, rather than act with hostility towards her..."