Deerleap's Suffering

DEERLEAP'S SUFFERING

PROLOGUE

**The colossal, muscular tuxedo tom stomped around, his paws sinking into the mud while his gaze didn’t avert from the pure white she-cat which stood across him. “She’s a *kit,* for StarClan’s sake! You can’t torture one like this. Milkfur how could you do something so cruel?” A loud hiss came from the white she-cat.**
**“So you now believe that \_I\_ have done this? As a Clan leader you should know that I am trying to keep everything at piece along with all the StarClan cats.” After several deep breaths, the muscular tom sat down in front of Milkfur.**
**“Cedarstar, you have to care for Deerkit, alright? Not just her but your whole Clan. Remember, Finchstar believed in you and she trusts you with this role of Leader. *Don’t* disappoint.” As Cedarstar’s under-jaw dropped for him to speak, Milkfur disappeared into dust as the breeze dashed by. Only a frown on Cedarstar’s face was left behind.**

CHAPTER 1

**Cedarstar lifted his head from the top of his paws, blinking slowly while his amber, piercing eyes scanned the crowded clearing. His black soft fur bristled in a rather threatening way as his focus switched to the bright sky of the afternoon. The sun was barely hanging over the other side of the forest while the clouds began to walk off, preparing to make space for the bright moon. With anger swelling inside him, his sharp short claws exposed themselves, digging into the earth as he rose to his mitts. “Hello, Cedarstar! You started rolling in your sleep, Copperpatch got worried so she went out for a patrol wi-“ With a single glance, Cedarstar hushed the small ginger apprentice whom he towered over. The ShadowClan leader along with many other cats were well known for their unbelievable strength and piercing glare. “Thank you for telling me, Gingerpaw.” The Clan leader mewed softly, his tail began to sway along the grass. Gingerpaw dipped her head before bounding off with a bright smile to meet her father and two siblings in the Nursery. Watching her leave, Cedarstar’s mind switched through multiple thoughts. *What was Milkfur saying? Why is Copperpatch still Deputy though she has three kits? What’s for dinner?* After a small shrug to himself, the tom was off, padding across the clearing towards the Shaded Rock. As he received a pawful of confused glances, he one more began to think. His Deputy and Warriors weren’t back. Was he ready to call a meeting without them? “May all cats old enough to lurk in the shadows gather beneath the Shaded Rock for an important Clan meeting.” His loud calls rang across camp, waking a few Warriors, Queens and Elders while attracting some others. The cats of different breeds and patterns chattered endlessly as they huddled beneath the tall rock that their Leader proudly stood on. As he had one more look around, not only did he notice his patrol return with plenty of prey, he had also spotted a young, fluffy brown kit with bold black stripes. Instantly identifying her, Cedarstar called off the meeting. Another large she-cat with copper, long fur and silver stripes all over her body sighed as she began padding towards the Shaded Rock. “What was that about? It’s the eleventh time this moon, Cedarstar. As your deputy, I demand a good explanation.” Copperpatch hissed, her tail rising up high.**