Silverstar's Quest Part Six

She looked at the gathered cats, "I have something else to say. We need a deputy for TreeClan. I say these words before StarClan so they will here and approve of my choice. Bumblefur, you will be TreeClan's new deputy." Most cats cheered his name, some nodded in approval. Even Whitefang, the clear choice of most of them, congratulated him.
     Bumblefur had lost a lot; he needed something like this to cheer him up, yet he didn't look happy at all, he looked shocked more than anything. "What?" he stampeded. He looked at Silverstripe then at Whitefang.
     "You are the new deputy," Whitefang assured him, "you deserve the high honor."
     "No, I don't," he said a little less stunned, "if anything, you should be deputy. You are more experienced than I am. You are also much wiser than I."
     "Do you know how old I am?" croaked Whitefang, "I'm old enough to be an elder. I was a warrior by the time you started your apprenticeship." He looked at the other cats, "Isn't Bumblefur the best choice for your deputy?" The cats hesitantly nodded their heads. He was right, even though he was a great warrior, he would join the elders' den in about two seasons. By that time Froststar's kits would be apprenticed. That means he can't mentor them. "Bumblefur, she couldn't have picked the best deputy. You have proved yourself to this Clan over and over again," the senior warrior said, dipping his wide head "Congratulations, Bumblefur."
     "Fine," the younger warrior meowed, "I guess I'm TreeClan's new deputy. Can I still go to you for help, Whitefang?"
     "Of course," The white cat purred, "though I'm sure you won't need it." Whitefang looked proudly at the new deputy. When Stormcloud turned evil, he was like a mentor to him. Stormcloud was his mentor, so he changed a lot when Whitefang helped him get back on track. Even though the destructive tom was his mentor, Bumblefur was always a good cat.
     "Now that we have that settled," meowed Silverstripe, "we should rest. At sun-down, we will leave to our camp." She looked at the cave Froststar told her about. "I must go to the Moondiamond tonight. Whitefang, I want you to come with me. Bumblefur is in charge of the camp while I'm gone. When I return, we will decide the scent marks."  They would still fallow the warrior code, unless it involved other Clans. She jumped back down from the branch landing softly on her paws. She looked at her Clan. They would be strong again one day, she knew it. "We will go the same time as you, for we must rest."
     Silverstripe padded up to Dusktail and lay down. She curled her tail over her nose, and fell into a deep sleep. She was in the new camp. Froststar walked out of a gap in the brambles. Three other cats fallowed her. They were Treestar, Dreamcloud, and Lionpelt. Froststar sat right in front of her. Lionpelt sat beside her, and her parents stayed behind them. Froststar licked her ear, "You did it," she meowed in her sweet voice, "You'll be a great leader."