"No..." Frostleaf gasped. The noble leader who wisely led the Clan for moons is dead. For a moment she wondered if it was just a dream but it was reality.

With her paws numb with shock, she dragged herself to the medicine cat den, where Brownstripe was last seen in. 

Brownstripe was talking with Stagwind when Frostleaf came in. Detecting her presence, he lifted his head. "What's wrong?" he grunted questioningly.

"Nightstar is..." Frostleaf trailed off hesitantly.

"Tell me," Brownstripe ordered but his voice betrayed the panic he was in.

"Dead," she finished sadly. Brownstripe's eyes widened in shock and without another word, he ran to Nightstar's den.

"Why?" the deputy mewed fearfully. "Nightstar, I am not ready to be leader."

"You will have to," Stagwind interrupted. "The Clan needs a leader. You should announce it to the Clan and appoint a deputy before you get your nine lives."

Brownstripe nodded, deep in thought. Then he exited and jumped to the top of Highrock. 

"Let all cats who are old enough to catch their own prey to gather at Highrock for a Clan meeting!" Brownstripe yowled.

They looked confused when they saw Brownstripe at Highrock instead of Nightstar but they gathered.

"Nightstar is dead," he announced. Slience met his words. The whole Clan was shocked. "I will now appoint a deputy," Brownstripe continued.

"I say these words before StarClan and the body of Nightstar, so that they can hear and approve of my choice. Greyclaw will be the new deputy of ThunderClan."

"Greyclaw! Greyclaw!" the Clan cheered. Greyclaw was obviously the most popular choice. He looked stunned and surprised.

"I never expected to be deputy, but I will serve the Clan with their expectations," he said.

As the sun began to set, Brownstripe staggered to Nightstar's body and sat vigil, his eyes dull with sadness.

Most of the Clan came to share tongues with Nightstar for the last time. When it was Frostleaf's turn, she whispered, "You were a great leader, Nightstar. May you walk among our other noble ancestors."

Tired out from the battle and grief, she sank into her nest to fall into a restless sleep.

Frostleaf woke up, stretching. To her surprise, the sun had not risen. She yawned and saw Specklebreeze walking of the den.

Her instincts told her to follow. She carefully sneaked behind her as she exited camp using the dirtplace tunnel. Specklebreeze eventually stopped at Sunningrocks and tucked in her paws to get comfortable.

Frostleaf hid behind a bush. What is Specklebreeze doing at Sunningrocks?  Hostile RiverClan cats might be lurking there, she thought. Suddenly, a rustle of leaves caught her attention.

Frostleaf smelled a familiar scent. She concentrated and realised it was Greenstar. Both Greenstar and Specklebreeze looked at each other with mournful looks.

"Why do you want to meet me?" Greenstar asked crispily. Specklebreeze sighed. "I found something that concerns my clan but if I tell Brownstripe, he would not trust me."

"Brownstripe?" Greenstar echoed. "Nightstar is dead?"

Specklebreeze nodded.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking," the RiverClan leader mewed sadly.

She shook it off and asked, "What's the thing then?"

Specklebreeze's eyes were wide with fear and she said, "I was returning to camp after following the elders to bury Nightstar. I saw Longdrop. I thought he was just taking a walk but he went towards Twolegplace. Then, I saw him..."

She gulped nervously. "Talk to a cat that stank of crowfood."

"A rogue maybe?" Greenstar asked, lowering her voice. "Why would a Clan warrior talk to a rogue?"

Specklebreeze nodded thoughtfully and continued. "I heard him say something about revenge, nose and attack. Greenstar, I think Longdrop is plotting against ThunderClan."

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Update Note (2019): Everyone probably saw that coming lol.