Disclaimer: I don't own warriors.

Authors note: Poppyclaw is Poppypaw, the other apprentices in 'the sight' will be told who they were. If this story is dumb, tell me. It's my first warriors fanfic other than 'squirrelflight's character talk show' and the songfics. It will get better, I promise!

Brambleclaw's best friend

Chapter one: Just a normal day…

Brambleclaw sighed as he exited the warriors den. It was unusually bright, and he could hear birds and mice outside the camp. He couldn't wait to hunt! But first, he would need to assign the dawn patrol.

"Brambleclaw!" Firestar yowled to his deputy before the dark brown tabby could gather a patrol.

"Yes?" he asked.

Firestar waited until he was inches from Brambleclaw's face before speaking. "Do you want Squirrelflight to stay in ThunderClan? I want to know your opinion because I have noticed it seems as if she wants to leave."

"Yes. I've noticed as well." He answered.

"How so?"

"Well, whenever I send out patrols near WindClan, she always wants to go, and whenever I let her lead patrols, she says she's going to the WindClan border. I don't think anyone's noticed except us."

"I see…" Firestar nodded. "Do you think she should stay?"

"I think she should follow her heart." Brambleclaw replied.

"…Do you love her?"

"…" Brambleclaw hesitated. He would be lying if he said that he did. Poppyclaw had only recently finished her apprenticeship while Brambleclaw was the deputy of ThunderClan, and she was only about fifteen moons old, whereas most she-cats didn't even fall out with a tom until around seventeen or nineteen moons old, but on the day of her assessment, she had confessed her love for him, and Brambleclaw had to admit, she was attractive, even though young, and had told her he liked her too, though only a little true.

So, then, everyday, Brambleclaw had gone on patrols with her, and no one had noticed or they would have said something. Brambleclaw had realized once and for all where his heart belonged.

Now, it looked as if he was being asked to do it all over again. He could just imagine Squirrelflight bounding up to him and saying 'Hey, Brambleclaw, did you know I love you?'. He couldn't say yes, because he knew that if he did, he would be lying to Firestar, Squirrelflight, Poppyclaw, himself, and everyone in the clan. It wasn't fair for him to do that. He loved Poppyclaw, not Squirrelflight.

"No." he answered finally.

"Alright." Firestar muttered. "Would you like to tell her?"

"Um…no. You tell her." Then he remembered the dawn patrol. I'll send Squirrelflight, Dustpelt and Cloudtail, just to keep her out of my fur. He decided. "I'm gonna go hunt now, after I send out the dawn patrol, okay?"

"Sure." Firestar began to walk away. After a few paces he stopped. "Oh, and, I want you to know that you shouldn't get mixed up with the younger warriors. Their foolish and can sometimes do crazy things they'll regret later. If they want to, you can't stop them, but if you can stop it, then do so, unless you both want it for sure." He turned his head and scorched Brambleclaw with his green gaze. "Poppyclaw is especially foolish. Right now you two may not stop to think about it, but later, you will. Or one of you will, and you will already be unable to do anything but watch what happens afterward. If I had any power over what you do with your love, I'd give hers to someone who was more her age and I'd give yours to someone you used to never dream of being apart from." He flicked his tail to Squirrelflight across the clearing, talking with Leafpool. "Get the point?"

"Um…no, not really." Brambleclaw said honestly.

"Stop this between you and Poppyclaw before it goes too far." Firestar summarized shortly.

"But we love each other!" Brambleclaw whined, taking a step forward.

"Then you have nothing to regret." His eyes narrowed. "But what will you do if Squirrelflight decides to step into your life again suddenly?"

Brambleclaw shook his head. "…I don't know."

Firestar's eyes burned into Brambleclaw's like green fire into amber fire. "That's a good thing to think about. Tell me when you know. Oh, and, be careful with Poppyclaw. I think you would be a great mate for her-the best ThunderClan could offer her- but others would strongly disagree. Watch out for them. They will try to steal her heart from you." He jerked his head into the clearing. Brambleclaw followed where he was indicating and saw Berryfrost, his old apprentice Berrypaw. "Don't let them."

"I won't. And we'll be careful." He promised his leader. "Cross my heart."

"Good." Firestar turned away to tell Squirrelflight as Brambleclaw went over what his leader had said in his mind.



Poppyclaw and Brambleclaw were returning to camp after hunting. Squirrelflight watched in total jealousy as Brambleclaw's eyes sparkled with enjoyment. Okay. So what if he's enjoying himself with Poppyclaw? Squirrelflight thought, silently seething. I enjoy myself whenever I'm with a lot of toms; Spiderleg, Ashfur, Cloudtail, Stormfur, so what? Maybe their just good friends.

But thinking of that made her remember how she'd first started liking Brambleclaw; a simple friendship between them. Then it had grown to love. What if Brambleclaw and Poppyclaw were friends long enough for the same thing to happen with them? What if Brambleclaw wanted to be more than a friend to Poppyclaw?

Squirrelflight's eyes softened as she laid eyes on the small she-cat. She was so much younger than Brambleclaw. So sweet and innocent. If they became more than friends, Brambleclaw would be stealing that from her. But, who could blame him, after all, Poppyclaw was attractive. The way she smiled and laughed was so adorable. Even some she-cats had trouble not admitting that. A few days ago, Sandstorm had said 'She looks so much like her mom did when she was little; so cute and adorable, a little smaller than most her age, but so sweet. And she's such a trouble maker. But she's also very innocent; you just can't stay mad at her for long.'

'Can't stay mad at her for long', eh? Well, I disagree. Squirrelflight thought. Beware, Poppyclaw. I love Brambleclaw as much as I hate traitors and ShadowClan, and if you're going to steal him from me it won't be without a fight!