"APPLEBREEZE IS DEAD!"

Shocked gasps filled the clearing, before it went completely silent. Kestrelstar, who had just been bouncing with happy energy, suddenly went silent. Her eyes widened in shock, and the fur along her spine stood on end. 

Blackpaw's ears flattened and her claws unsheated. She looked at Lionpaw, hoping for an amused glimpse in his eyes. Wishing it was a joke. 

"What are you saying Robinspot?!" Kestrelstar demanded. 

"Someone, or something attacked us. K-Kestrelstar-" Robinspot's eyes rolled to the back of his head, as his legs gave under. He collapsed at the entrance, filling the earth with blood. 

"Get out of my way!" Fernpelt's angry voice cut through the air, as he bounded across the clearing to reach Robinspot. "Specklepaw, come help me!" 

Specklepaw ran towards her mentor, her eyes wide open and her tail bushed out. They both ducked for the unconscious warrior, and carried him into the medicine cat's den. 

"I want a patrol to track Robinspot's scent and go find Applebreeze." Kestrelstar said in a ice-cold voice. Her eyes were still wide open, and her claws were dug into the soft earth.  "Runningmist take Stumpyfrost, and Brokenface with you." 

Runningmist nodded and flicked her ears. She then turned and pelted out of camp with Brokenface and Stumpyfrost hot on her tail. 

The rest of the clan remained seated in a circle, staring at each other in pure disbelief and sadness. Blackpaw suddenly felt as if she was suffocating. She looked around, her eyes searching for the familiar pelt of her mother. She spotted her sitting next to Boulderfur with Shadowpaw crouched beside her. 

Giving Lionpaw one last look, she made her way towards her family. She reached her mother first, who reached out with her muzzle to put it reassuringly on her head. Blackpaw buried her face deep into her chest, breathing in her sweet scent. She could feel her mothers tongue, as she licked her ears. 

Shadowpaw and Boulderfur joined them, and Boulderfur curled his tail protectively around his family.

"Everything is going to be alright, my dears." Dawnbreeze whispered softly. "Robinspot will wake up soon, and tell us what happened. Then we will solve whatever problem there is."

Blackpaw nodded, not trusting her voice enough. She knew if she would say anything, her voice would break and she would sound weak. She was not weak! She wasn't...

"Why don't you two go rest for a bit? I promise to wake you if anything happens." Boulderfur said with his deep soothing voice. 

Shadowpaw nodded and put his tail on Blackpaw's shoulder, guiding her towards the apprentices den. "Let's go rest, Blackpaw. You're not looking that well..." 

Blackpaw followed her brother, her thoughts whirling around in her head. This was the first time she had experienced death. 

But we're warriors! Death is a part of our life... Right? I'm not weak! I'm not! 

The young apprentices collapsed in Shadowpaw's nest. They curled up next to each other, just like they used to in the nursery. Blackpaw breathed in her brother's familiar scent, and felt her crazy heartbeat slow down a little. She snuggled deeper into his fur and closed her eyes, waiting for sleep to overcome her. 

✦✦✦

Her paws seemed as if they were flying across the earth. She ran as fast as she could, feeling as light as ever. Muscles rippled beneath her pelt, and her tail streamed out behind her. She looked around, searching for a piece of prey that she could hunt. 

This is so weird, Blackpaw thought. How can the forest be so empty? 

She tried to stop her legs from running, but her paws seemed as if they were controlling themselves. She ran and ran, through the ShadowClan territory. She noticed. that she was running closer and closer to the border. Behind the border lay no-clan territory. Why was her legs carrying her that way? 

Blackpaw ran across the scent line confidently, as if she had been here many times. Her paws carried her further and further away from home. Her heart started to beat faster in panic. What was she doing and where was she going? 

A smaller forest came into her vision. Tall and short trees filled the area, with bracken and bushes. It kind of looks like ThunderClan territory, a thought flashed in her mind. But wait, when had she ever been on ThunderClan land? 

Blackpaw felt confused and scared. She tried to scream, but no sound came out of her mouth. Her legs carried her into the small forest. Deeper and deeper she ran, until the sky was hidden behind the treetops. 

The area of the forest she was in, looked dark and gloomy. There was no light, even though it was sun-high. The thick undergrowth seemed to choke Blackpaw, and yet, her lungs breathed in air just fine. 

Finally, her body came to a stop in front of a big rock. A weird fuzzy sensation coursed through her body, and Blackpaw could finally move on her own again. She whipped around, her hackles raised and her claws unsheated. Fear and confusion clouded her mind. 

A small bush rustled to her side. Her head snapped towards it, and she curled her lip to reveal her sharp fangs. 

A small kit stepped out from behind the bush. With each step the kit took towards Blackpaw, the more it seemed to grow. 

The apprentice watched the cat as it grew from kit-size to full-grown cat size in the spam of just a few moments. The cat had light-brown fur and her light-green eyes seemed to shine. 

"Blackpaw..." The cat breathed out, her voice sounding familiar. "Help..." 

Without warning, the cat's fur ripped and blood poured out from her wounds. Its face got scratched and its ears shredded. The cat's body kept getting injured, as if an invisible animal raked its claws through her body. The cat whimpered and yowled in pain, until it collapsed. 

"H-help..." A gurgling sound came from the back of the cat's throat as it heaved for air. 

Then, it fell completely silent. 

✦✦✦

Blackpaw woke with a loud gasp. She jumped up from her nest, looking around in panic. Her fear-scent rolled out of her in waves, making her hurry out of the den. She felt relived that no other apprentice was in there to see the way she woke up. 

Breathing in the crispy night air, she shook her fur and started to relax. The moon shone brightly on the night sky, and Blackpaw realized that it was nearly time for a gathering. 

She didn't go to the last gathering, as Kestrelstar said she and Shadowpaw were too young to attend. They had started their training a little earlier after all. 

Blackpaw bent to wash her paws, when she noticed mud and dirt under her claws. She then noticed how heavy her legs felt, as if she had run around the lake territory three times without stopping. She felt her body freeze with shock. When had she gone out to find this amount of dirt under her claws?

The black apprentice shook her head and looked around. She found Shadowpaw sitting alone on the other side of the clearing, and padded slowly towards him to sit. 

She reached her brother and settled beside him. Blackpaw started to wash his pelt, feeling his stiff limbs relax a little at her touch. She kept lapping at his fur lazily, waiting for anything to happen. 

The entrance rustled and in came Runningmist, Brokenface and Stumpyfrost. Their eyes shone with exhaustion and their tails trailed behind them. Runningmist made her way towards the center of the clearing, and let out a low meow. 

Kestrelstar padded  slowly out of her den, her eyes dull and her tail down. 

"Kestrelstar, we have run all around in our territory, but there is no sign of Applebreeze. Her scent disappeared in some bushes. We searched everywhere. I swear by StarClan. It is as if some cat reached down from the sky and picked her up. She's gone." 

Kestrelstar nodded, her shoulders hunching. She shut her eyes, and stood still for a moment. Her ear flicked and she jumped onto her branch. 

"Let all cats gather to hear what I have to say." Kestrelstar said, her voice thick with emotion. 

"As you all know, Robinspot came and told us that Applebreeze is dead this sun-down. I have sent a search-patrol in attempt to try and find her body, but Runningmist has just reported that her body is gone. It is now near moon-high. Our traditions say that I must appoint a new deputy soon, but before I do, I would like for you all to remember Applebreeze. I hope StarClan receives her as an honorable warrior, who put the clan before her in everything. May she find good hunting, swift running and shelter where she sleeps... "

"Applebreeze! Applebreeze! Applebreeze!" 

The clan fell silent once more, watching Kestrelstar with curious eyes.  Blackpaw felt her paws itching. She wanted to find out who was the new deputy. 

"I say these words before StarClan , so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors  may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of ShadowClan is Ashbrook." 

With those words said, Kestrelstar jumped down from the branch and disappeared into her den. 

Confused murmurs filled the clearing. Ashbrook stood still, his fur spiked and his tail lashing. His eyes flashed nervously around, as he heard what the elders and warriors said about him. 

"But he's certainly too young!"

" And he is only just training his very first apprentice."

"Kestrelstar must really be grieving, I don't think she would ever appoint him as deputy if she hadn't been this sad." 

"But Ashbrook is a good choice. Yes, he is young and training his first apprentice, but he is a skilled and patient warrior. I think he is the best choice." Daisystep suddenly poked her head into camp, and meowed, loud enough for everyone to hear. 

"No one asked for you opinion young one! Don't forget you're sitting vigil and are not allowed to say anything. Now go back outside and keep your thoughts to yourself." Doeclaw growled and lashed her tail.

Daisystep frowned and retreated. 

"Why don't we all just accept and respect Kestrelstar's decision and go to sleep. What's done is done, and we have no right to doubt our leader's decision." Emberheart said and beckoned her kits towards her with her tail. "Come on, kits. Let's go get some sleep." 

Warriors growled and grunted. Some glared at Ashbrook, while others congratulated him on being chosen as the new deputy. 

Blackpaw padded towards her mentor, feeling her chest burst with pride. 

"Wow Ashbrook! You're new deputy, how cool is that?!" 

Ashbrook licked his chest in embarrassment. 

"I honestly wish that this would never have happened. I don't want Applebreeze to be dead!" He said softly, keeping his gaze fixed on the ground. 

"No one wants anyone to die. But this is part of our life as warriors. I think you should take Emberheart's advice and go get some sleep. Don't forget you have to wake up early to send out the patrols and then train me." 

Ashbrook grunted, dissatisfied with what Blackpaw said. She nudged his shoulder with her nose, hoping to encourage him to look up. 

"Come on, Ashbrook. The warriors will be mad for a day or two, then they will all have to accept the fact that you're deputy now. They'll all grow to like you, trust me!" 

Ashbrook looked up, and looked at his apprentice. He sighed and shook his fur. "Well, I guess you're right. Let's go get some sleep, and see what tomorrow brings us." 

Blackpaw purred and touched his nose with hers. She turned around and padded towards the apprentices den, waving her tail in goodbye. 

"Goodnight Ashbrook. Sweet dreams!" She meowed loudly, earning some irritated glares from her clan members. 

"Bye Blackpaw!" She heard Ashbrook meow, before she padded inside the den. 

Blackpaw curled up in her nest. She put her black tail on her nose, and examined the silver hairs that were dusted in her tail-tip. Then, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.