Nightbird leapt from the branch she was on, and landed, tail fluffed out, at the edge of the battle. She dashed over to the entrance of the den and hissed at the nearest fox kit. She didn’t want them to take cover in there again.
“Wait, what?” Nettlespeck said. “We’re trying to get them to leave, you guys!”
She nodded, still grooming her. "I know its hard losing him and taking over the Clan. But Bramblestar wouldn't have chosen you if he didn't think you would be good at it."
Hazelpaw turned on him, her eyes flaming in anger. "Fox kits grow up to be foxes that steal our prey and kill our friends. It's better to kill them now while its easy rather than wait until they become a problem." She growled before throwing herself back into battle.
“But how can I lead like this?” she asked in an anguished whisper. “ThunderClan deserves better than me, better than someone who can barely talk.”
"You have no idea, do you?" Owlherb sighed. "If you hadn't been Bramblestars deputy and advisor, he wouldn't have been half the leader he was. It was you who pushed him and made him make certain decisions to make our Clan what it is."
Rosesky gasped. She understood her clanmates’ anger, but....she sprinted towards the littlest kit. It whimpered in fear. This kit wouldn’t harm them yet. It was the runt, and could barely even fend for itself. She lingered...then scratched it, not enough to hurt it significantly, but it worked. She hissed and it turned tail and ran. She didn’t follow. “From the way it ran, it won’t be back.’’
“But he pushed me. We made a pair. That’s why both of us worked well together.”
Blackblood stared her down, ice in his gaze. With a nod towards Hazelpaw recognizing what she said, he ran after it
"And I know you will choose the right cat that will do the same when you choose your deputy."
