Chapter 3 ~

Stormcloud yawned, heading out of the warriors den. Willowstorm had kitted last night. She had three little she-cats. Otterkit, Honeykit and Cloverkit. Lionclaw, Lilyfang and Mudheart were warriors now. "Stormcloud, I need toi on Heatherspirit's hunting patrol." meowed Mintheart. He was getting old. "Okay." Stormcloud followed Heatherspirit, Kinktail and Gorsefire through the entrance and swam across the stream.

Stormcloud dropped his truite and his robin on the fesh-kill pile. "Let all chats old enough to catch their own prey gather under the Highbranch for a Clan meeting." Goldenstar called. She looked at Mintheart. "Mintheart has decided to retire from being our deputy." She meowed. She began the elder ceremony. "Mintheart, is it your wish to give up the name of a warrior and go to rejoindre the elders?" She asked. "It is." answered Mintheart. "Your Clan honors toi and all the service toi have donné to us. I call upon StarClan to give toi many moons of rest." finished Goldenstar. "Mintheart! Mintheart!" yowled the Clan. "Now I have another thing to do" she added, looking up at the sky. "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 MarigoldClan is Braveleap." purred Goldenstar. Braveleap gaped at her, shocked. "Braveleap! Braveleap!" cheered the Clan. Stormcloud was proud of his brother. Hopefully he would be a good deputy.