Squirrelflight sighed. The sky was a pale gray shade, the sign that rain was not far off. Cats moped around hopelessly, their heads low and tails drooping as they got on with usual duties, knowing that their leader, Firstar had recently announced to Thunderclan that he was on his last life. And what d'you know? Greencough.

"There's nothing more I can do!" Jayfeather had squealed, as a few members of the Clan had ganged up on the blind medicine cat. She spotted his silver tabby pelt at the entrance to the Medicine den, sweeping away crumpled herbs that had been trodden on by Jayfeathers' angry protesters. A rough voice rose up, it was Brambleclaw's. Squirrelflight registered how tired he looked, he was obviously finding it difficult without his leader to help him.

"Doesn't look like Brambleclaw can handle the pressure..." mumbled Rosepetal smugly, flicking her tail. Squirrelflight bristled.

"Do remember that Firestar's on the brink of dying, and you can be smug? I'd like to see you in that position, Rosepetal." she hissed, lips curling back in a defensive snarl. Rosepetal grunted, padding across to join Bumblestripe and Dovewing. Brambleclaw began assigning patrols, his voice quick as if Starclan were pushing him past his limits. "What about me?"

"What about you?" Brambleclaw sneered, avoiding her gaze.

"You've not choosen me for a patrol." she answered, controlling her temper towards him. "Can we go hunting?"

"Me and you?" Brambleclaw hissed, cocking his head, ears twitching.

"Yes."

Brumbleclaw hesitated, the breath not leaving his lungs until he made his decision. "Fine." he began to bound along to the entranceto the hollow, scrambling out lazily as if he couldn't be bothered. Squirrelflight followed him at a safe distance, watching him with concerned eyes. Once they were out of earshot of the others, she opened her muzzle to speak.

"Brambleclaw, we need to talk."

"What do we have to talk about?" he snarled, swinging his heavy head in the direction of Squirrelflight.

"Everything. Us." Squirrelflight replied, edging closer to him. "Brambleclaw, please understand that I never meant to lie!"

Brambleclaw scoffed. "You never meant to lie?" he said in mock tone.

"I mean, I was doing it for Leafpool! For us!"

"Stop saying that word." Brambleclaw mewed.

"What word?" whimpered Squirrelflight.

"Us."

Squirrelflight sighed. "Understand, I thought what I was doing was right. After our kits died, you were really upset and-"

"And what?"

( Author's note;; Yeah, I know Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw had 0 kits, but in this fic they do. )

"Leafpool begged me! She's my sister, I couldn't abonden her at a time of need!"

"So, if Hawkfrost begged me to take his Half-Clan kits, would you care if I did?" Bramble meowed.

"Thats different!"

"Just because he's Tigerstar's kin, right?" Squirrelflight froze.

"No." she said. "Brambleclaw, I love you. I thought the kits would make you happy."

"I know, Squirrelflight." he replied softly.

"The why wont you love me?"

"Because you lied. You let me believe that Jayfeather, Lionblaze and Hollyleaf were my kits. They didn't even look like me!" he said. " I was living a lie. And now, I can't even talked to the adopted kits I raised!"

"It's not you're fault."

"Yeah, because it's your's."

"It's Leafpool's!"

"Hardly." then Brambleclaw pelted into the shadows, leaving the grief-strickin Squirrelflight drowning in her own little lies.