Firestar’s choice: what makes a deputy
BY THE EDITOR
From the moment they first met as kittens, Graystripe has stood by Firestar’s side as his most loyal friend. Firestar would never have gotten through the trials of Tigerstar’s treachery and leading ThunderClan without Graystripe’s steady support. But does being best friends necessarily mean that Graystripe was the right choice to be Firestar’s deputy? Let’s explore Firestar’s choice, and whether Graystripe did well as his deputy.
We’ve already gone more in-depth about a deputy’s role in a previous article, but to recap, deputies serve as the second-in-command of the Clan, overseeing aspects of daily Clan life like patrols and the progress of apprentices in their training, as well as offering support to the Clan leader. Was Graystripe the right cat for this job when Firestar chose him? He had some experience in training an apprentice, but admittedly fobbed much of that responsibility off on Fireheart in favor of spending time with Silverstream. His affair with Silverstream, and subsequent stay in RiverClan that he only returned from a few short moons before becoming deputy, left the Clan’s faith in him deeply shaken. That mistrust had not fully abated by the time Firestar made him deputy. So why did Firestar choose him? Was it really just to reward his closest friend and keep him at his side?
Whitestorm’s endorsement goes a long way towards explaining his choice. When one of the noblest warriors in ThunderClan, and Firestar’s first choice of deputy, gives his verbal approval of appointing a certain cat with his dying breath, it’s hard to imagine choosing anyone else. Graystripe had also managed to win back some of the Clan’s trust by saving Sorrelkit, and in the courage he showed by helping lead the dog pack towards the gorge. And despite any misgivings from the rest of the Clan, the simple fact is that Firestar trusted Graystripe with his life. He knew without a doubt that he could rely on Graystripe to help him keep ThunderClan safe.
With all of that said, how did Graystripe actually perform in the role once he had it? Quite admirably, as it happens. Not only did he serve as a great support for Firestar during their work together, but he also lead the Clan successfully during Firestar’s journey to rebuild SkyClan, averting disaster during the battle with Fury’s BloodClan, and leading all four Clans in battle against a family of foxes that had fortified themselves in Fourtrees. His final act as deputy was leading the patrol that saved the cats stolen by twolegs during the destruction of the forest, and inadvertently sacrificing himself by staying behind to free Brightheart from her cage. Firestar ended up choosing Brambleclaw over him as deputy once Graystripe returned to the Clan, a choice Graystripe himself may not have disagreed with – he said himself that he didn’t believe himself to be the right cat to be ThunderClan’s next leader. But at least for the time he was ThunderClan’s deputy, he served his Clan well, and even those who may have doubted him when he was first appointed can’t deny the good he did for his Clan once he was appointed.
