#appleflame

In the days since Galespeck had finally come up with a cure for the deadly disease that ravaged through PumpkinClan, the entire Clan had felt a weight be lifted from their shoulders. Although their losses were tremendous, their recovery would be even greater.

Appleflame nosed her way into camp, carrying a large thrush in her mouth, Larkcinder and Asterjoy following her. She nodded to Heronrose as she sat down her prey. The brown tom was speaking sternly to his apprentice, Onepaw, whose eyes lit up with glee after he finished speaking. The young black-and-white she-cat nodded, then turned to share her news with Slipsoar and Sproutdapple, who were sharing tongues.

"When do you think Bitterspeck and Galespeck will be back?" Asterjoy asked, padding over to Appleflame. Appleflame sighed. "Soon, I hope." she said in response, taking a mouse for herself and sitting down. Asterjoy followed her.

"I remember when Bloomstar went to get her lives - it didn't take nearly as long. Maybe something went wrong. Do you think something went wrong?"

Appleflame grunted. "Only StarClan knows. But I'm sure nothing bad happened - this is Bitterspeck we're talking about. She can hold her own."

"I suppose your right." Asterjoy said with a sigh, nibbling at her vole. "It's just - I try not to worry, but we've been dealing with so much lately. It almost feels as though StarClan's punishing us. I don't want us to be punished again."

"StarClan isn't punishing us. Sometimes mouse dunged things happen, and StarClan can't stop it. They can only guide us, or whatever." Appleflame did her best to console the older she-cat, but in truth she was just saying nonsense. What did an ordinary warrior like her know about StarClan?

Suddenly, Larkcinder yowled in excitement. Appleflame smelled the air, and realized what was going on, and before she knew it all (eight members) of PumpkinClan were flocking to the camp entrance, as Bitterspeck and Galespeck padded through. Both looked tired, but there was a new spark in Bitterspeck's step as she dipped her head to her Clanmates, padding over to where the leader called the Clan to order.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather around the Vineheap for a Clan meeting!" The Vineheap was a tangled mess of leaves and vines, both living and dead. On top of it all was a large tree stump, situated on a hill positioned slightly above the rest of camp. It was odd, watching her former deputy stand there, but Appleflame couldn't help but admit that it seemed to suit her.

Galespeck went to stand at the base of the stump, at Bitterspeck's right. He looked up at her, nodding, and Bitterspeck took a deep breath, turning to look at her Clan. "Cats of PumpkinClan!" Bitterspeck yowled. "Galespeck and I have visited the Moonstream. StarClan has accepted me as your leader."

With those words, the Clan immediately begun to chant: "Bitterstar! Bitterstar!" Appleflame joined them, yowling as loud as she could, and she thought she saw Bitterstar's eyes meet hers for a moment. Bitterstar raised her tail for silence, and she continued. "I, of course, mourn and respect those before me: Bloomstar was an incredible leader, and I will miss her every day, as I'm sure you all will. I will do my best to live up to her example, and become a leader that both she, the rest of our fallen Clanmates, and all of you can be proud of." Bitterstar and Galespeck exchanged a glance. "However; I must perform another duty, as the leader of PumpkinClan: picking our new deputy, the cat that will serve alongside me as my trusted second-in-command and one day take my place."

The camp grew silent then, and although none of them would admit it, Appleflame knew that every cat was anxiously awaiting to hear if their name would be called (except Onepaw, of course).

"On the journey home, I thought long and hard about which cat I wanted as my deputy, and I believe that the perfect cat to stand beside me does indeed reside here, in this Clan." Bitterstar gazed at Appleflame. "Appleflame, I would like you to be my deputy."

Appleflame padded forward, both surprised and pleased at her leader's choice. She didn't think that she'd be chosen over some of the other cats in the Clan, but she was proud of being Bitterstar's first choice. "I would be honored, Bitterstar."

"Then Appleflame will be the new deputy of PumpkinClan."