Brambleclaw opened his eyes to the pale morning light streaming through the walls of the warriors den. He pushed himself out of his nest and stepped around Brackenfur. He glanced toward the far corner to spot a flame-colored pelt he knew so well.
She lied to me. He gritted his teeth and turned to exit the den. He noticed the few pieces of prey left on the pile and made a mental note to send out extra hunting parties. He began listing off patrols in his head and didn't notice Jayfeather approach.
"Hey, I'm low on tansy." The blind medicine cat meowed, facing Brambleclaw as if he could see him. "Could you ask Brightheart to pick some up for me while she's out?"
Brambleclaw gazed at the young tom in front of him. Jayfeather worked so hard to serve his clan and had proven himself to be a wonderful medicine cat. He couldn't help but feel proud of his son.
No. Brambleclaw shook his head. He's not my kit. He's just another regular clan mate. Why do I still feel this way?
"Brambleclaw?" Jayfeather prompted.
Brambleclaw snapped out of his thoughts. "Yeah, of course Jayfeather. I'll let her know." He turned away from the medicine cat and padded over to sit under highledge. He glared down at his paws. He hated being constantly reminded of the lies and betrayal that surrounded his once thought to be kits. What am I supposed to do? Just pretend the past moons of being their father never happened?
He lay his head on his paws and closed his eyes. As his breathing became slower, he began to dream of a different time. The happiest days of his life had been surrounded with three joyfull, bouncing balls of fluff he thought to be his kits. Raising them with the cat he loved. Watching those three grow and become warriors had made him more proud than he ever had thought possible.
"Brambleclaw?" Graystripe's voice cut through his memories. He rose to his paws to see several warriors already gathered around, awaiting his orders. His eyes caught on Squirrelflight's sleek ginger frame, and her blazing green eyes. He loved the way her fur lit up in the… No.
Brambleclaw tore his gaze from the she-cat and began handing out assignments for patrols. When every cat was satisfied, they all once again left him to sit alone under the highledge. His loneliness struck him like a blow from a warrior. His best friend, and all the family he thought he had in his clan ended up being all lies. He was alone in the clan.
The worst part, he knew, were the feelings and thoughts that tore him up inside. He felt betrayed by the one he had grown to trust, but still… He couldn't stop thinking about her. No matter how many patrols he joined, hunting parties he lead, or training he helped with. Brambleclaw practically been working himself to exhaustion the past several days. Just to keep his mind off of the pretty ginger she-cat and the kits he had thought were his. However, no matter how hard he tried, he was never successful.
Oh, Squirrelflight. He thought. I wish everything could go back to the way it was before. Because as much as I want to, I know I can never stop loving you.
