"All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather below the high rock!" Moonstar's call echoed throuhout the camp, waking Silverkit from her sleep. "Huh?" she mewed curiously. Brightkit sat up groggily.

"It's a clan meeting I guess." she mumbled. "Let's go check it out." she began limping toward the medicine den's entrance when Silverkit heard a gruff voice hiss, "Not so fast." Frostfoot padded over to them from the shadowy corner that he was sorting herbs, unnoticed by the kits. Brightkit paused and turned around.

"But we-" she began but was cut off by Frostfoot.

"You can watch from the entrance. Besides, you're not old enough to go out there." Brightkit sighed.

"Whatever." she huffed. "Come on, Silverkit." Brightkit padded to the entrance of the medicine cat den and sat down cautiously.

Below them, the clan was gathering below the High Rock. The cats had just barely settled down when Moonstar began to speak.

"Cats of MoonClan;

               "As you know, yesterday, three of our kits-" Moonstar's gaze lingered on the medicine cat den's entrance - and on them - for a moment before he continued. "snuck out of camp and were attacked by four malicious rats. Two of them stayed to fight the rats, while the other went to get help.

               "By the time the hunting patrol was notified and arrived to help, both kits were badly wounded but still alive. Birdflight took the kits back to camp, leaving only three other cats to fight.

               "Luckily, what was left of the border patrol - Foxbreath and I - had already returned to camp and had gone back into the forest to search for the missing kits. We heard the battle and raced to help." Moonstar sighed mournfully.

"My deputy, Skyheart, had just yowled my name when I saw a rat - one of the last ones left - dash up to me. He leapt up, and right before he landed on top of me, Skyheart jumped in front of the rat and saved my life.

               "Unfortunately, Skyheart - my deputy - was killed in that instant. I must now - before moon-high - appoint a new deputy." Moonstar bowed his head and paused for a moment. When he raised his head again, there was a hopeful, joyful gleem in his eyes beside the mournful one.

"Silvernight will be the new deputy."