Chapter 1: The Dark River
Brambleclaw stared down in disbelief at his dying leader. Firestar gazed up at Brambleclaw, his green eyes wide with shock and pain.
"Kill him!" A snarl came from behind Brambleclaw, and he managed to wrench his eyes off Firestar's dying body, and stared at Hawkfrost.
"What are you waiting for? Kill him, and ThunderClan will be all yours. Soon you can take over ShadowClan and I will take over RiverClan as leader, then control WindClan. We will be an unstoppable legacy."
Brambleclaw gazed at Hawkfrost, then his dying leader. Firestar's eyes were stretched wide in disbelief and pain as he learned Hawkfrost's plans. Brambleclaw padded to Firestar's side, and stared at his face, his eyes now pleading. He knew if he tightened the fox trap his leader would die easily. But if he dug it out he would loosen it. Brambleclaw thought for a moment. WindClan's friendship is evaporating like dew in the morning sun. ShadowClan is becoming more and more hostile. We need a strong leader to be able to lead ThunderClan through this. He was stuck to the ground as his thoughts whirled through his head. He stared at his dying leader. His face, stretched in terror as he saw Bramblekit for the first time. Him, running through the fire, the same colour as his pelt, leaping onto the burning tree to save him. His mentor. His trust in the warrior ceremony. And even more so as he appointed him his deputy. Brambleclaw stared at him, then tightened the snare. Firestar's body jerked, then went still for a moment. His leaders face was full of nobility as he choked out, "Brambleclaw… I—I trusted- you.. - I should- have- helped- Yellowfang" His leaders body jerked as Brambleclaw tightened the snare again. "I'm sorry Firestar, but ThunderClan needs a strong leader. ShadowClan and WindClan…" Brambleclaw trailed off. There was no decent explanation for killing his leader, who had saved the whole forest from Scourge, and revealed the plot of his father's, and saved Bluestar. His eyes were dull as he tightened the snare, and Firestar let out a yowl, full of pain and nobility. Brambleclaw stared down at his leader. He couldn't turn back now. Firestar would never trust him again. 1 more life, and the forest would be his. But at the cost of what? How many cats would die like Firestar? Brambleclaw shook away his thoughts, and murmured, "I'm sorry Firestar, but this had to be done." He tightened the snare, and Firestar caterwauled, yet it was full of strength and courage. Brambleclaw stared at his leader for the last time before he fell to the ground, lifeless. Brambleclaw stared down at Firestar's body, remorse creeping through him. He shook it away angrily, and heard a voice behind him. "Well done Brambleclaw, or Bramblestar-to-be. Now, I'd better get back to RiverClan if I want to be deputy." Brambleclaw nodded numbly, and Hawkfrost charged away through the undergrowth towards RiverClan territory. A few moments later he heard cats running through the undergrowth, about two he thought. Leafpool and Squirrelflight ran into the clearing, and skidded to a stop, panting. "Brambleclaw we-" Squirrelflight stopped when she saw her dead leader, and father. She wailed out loud then drew back her lips in a snarl. "Who did this? Please, Brambleclaw, tell me it wasn't you." Leafpool trembled, then spat, "I bet it was. He's been meeting in the Dark Forest with Tigerstar and Hawkfrost. He's a traitor to the warrior code." Squirrelflight glared at him, but now her glare was shadowed with fear and uncertainty. "If you killed my father…" She stopped, gazing at his bloody paws. "It was." She leapt at Brambleclaw, screeching. He unsheathed his claws, dizzy at the scent of blood and death, and what he was planning to do. "JUST BECAUSE I WAS YOUR MATE I WON'T SHOW MERCY FOR A FOX-HEARTED TRAITOR!" She raked claws down Brambleclaw's neck, and he snarled, and drove his teeth deep into her throat, and tore it. She fell to the ground, dead. Leafpool stared at him, terrified. "You—you killed her!" She backed away, terrified. She turned and ran, but Brambleclaw sprang after her, pinning her down. "No please! I'm expecting kits…" She cowered, her words a mere wail. Why couldn't she die bravely, her nobility showing like Squirrelflight and Firestar? Brambleclaw stared down at her, uncertain. StarClan would disapprove of him killing a medicine cat and an expecting queen, but then StarClan would disapprove of all his other actions today. He slackened his grip, and Leafpool ran, leaves skidding out from underneath her in her frantic actions to run. He hesitated, then ran after her, and sank his teeth into her spine. She died quickly.