Bramble's Sacrifice
Summary: After the death of a young Clanmate he had grown close to, Bramblestar starts feeling his age. He goes out on a private hunt to clear his head, only to find a group of older WindClan kits in trouble with a fox. He will save those kits from the consequences of their foolishness even if it's the last thing he does… and it is. Now ThunderClan and WindClan must deal with the fallout of Bramblestar's sacrifice. Part of the Ghouls of the Clans series.
Warnings: OCs, violence, character death, death fic, kits in life-threatening/life-ending situations, tear jerker, canon deviations
Canon Deviation Warnings: Lake Territory!SkyClan, Powered!Three (they did not lose their powers permanently), Medicine Cats Allowed Mates and Kits, Altered Cat Descriptions (the Erins have not been consistent on cats' appearances or even their gender, so I made up my mind on some cats), AU after Thunder and Shadow
Bramblestar opened his eyes. He laid on the cold ground. He wondered why he was sleeping in the clearing of the ThunderClan camp instead of in his den on the Highledge. Leafbare had been brutal.
His amber gaze then caught the small white she-cat lying in front of him. Her chest was still. Her blue eyes would never open again. A cold feeling made its way into his chest.
Smallblaze had been a ThunderClan warrior for several years. She and her brother Smokefoot grew close to the huge dark brown tabby and his mate Squirrelflight.
She had been a helpful cat that assisted others in battle training, possessed an optimistic attitude, had a passion for battles, and knew much about strategy. She had been a good choice for deputy if Squirrelflight ever decided to step down. She was full of vigor.
Then, she came down with greencough. The ThunderClan medicine cat Dapplecloud isolated her from other cats. She claimed that the white she-cat was fighting the illness viciously. The Clan had expected her to recover.
Smallblaze took a turn for the worse. Dapplecloud announced to ThunderClan last evening that she had died in spite of her fight against the illness. The small she-cat was laid in the middle of camp for her vigil.
Bramblestar peered at the others that had fallen asleep around their fallen Clanmate. Smokefoot had slipped into sleep with his muzzle in his dead sister's fur. Dapplecloud snoozed by her tail. Cranefeather curled up near her former mentor.
Squirrelflight curled up in a ball near Smallblaze's head. She stirred.
"We fell asleep out here, didn't we mousebrain?"
The dark brown tabby tom licked his chest fur.
"Yes, we did."
He couldn't help but stare at Smallblaze. Her originally lithe body had turned gaunt from the greencough she suffered from.
"She's gone, Squirrelflight. One of Jayfeather's kits is dead."
His dark ginger mate laid her fluffy tail on his shoulders. Her voice cracked.
"I know. It happens during each leafbare. She had so much to offer ThunderClan. I liked her cheerful nature."
An all-Clan patrol had exiled Jayfeather without permission from Bramblestar or the other Clan leaders years ago. They drove him away from the lake while he was severely wounded, and attacked the other medicine cats at the Moonpool meeting.
The investigating cats thought that the gray tabby tom had been killed. The ringleaders were exiled. Others drawn into the conflict were confined to their camps for moons.
Jayfeather attempted returning home, but his injuries and blindness impeded his efforts. He had settled down with a mate near the mountains. He told Smokefoot and Smallblaze tales of the Clans as they grew up. They left for the Clans of their own volition once they were apprentice-aged.
Bramblestar leaned into his mate.
"I did, too. She had a great insight for battle strategies. I remember how she loved observing birds. I wonder why she liked them so much."
He stared at the lightening sky. The clouds had a dark cast to them is if it was going to snow heavy later on. The cats around Smallblaze's body started waking up.
Leafkit and Blackkit headed out of the nursery. They held their tails low. The pair headed for their still sleeping father Smokefoot.
Smallblaze had been a good aunt to them. They had not taken the news of her death well. Their tortoiseshell and white mother Robinsong followed them out.
Their denmates Limpetkit and Carpkit stayed around the nursery entrance with their mother Rosepetal. The younger kits were too young to understand mature concepts like loss yet.
Blackkit nuzzled her father's side. The gray tabby tom opened his eyes.
"Father, wake up," she urged.
"You fell asleep outside next to Smallblaze. The elders will be taking her out of camp soon."
Smokefoot retracted his muzzle from his sister's pelt. He sat up on the cold ground. He licked his chest fur.
Leafkit pressed his nose into his aunt's pelt.
"Goodbye, Smallblaze. We'll miss you."
Blackkit nuzzled Smallblaze's side.
"Goodbye, Smallblaze. We'll see you again someday."
Smokefoot followed his kits' example. He nuzzled his white sister's side one last time.
Brightheart ventured out of the elders' den. Cloudtail and Whitewing followed behind her. Her white mate's fluffy body shivered as he approached Smallblaze's corpse.
"It's time to bury Smallblaze," the ginger and white she-cat called.
"Would anyone like to help us lay her to rest? The ground will be hard with the weather we've had lately."
Cranefeather focused on the elder she-cat.
"I would like to. To help lay my former mentor to rest would be an honor," she volunteered.
Smokefoot approached the ginger and white she-cat.
"I would like to assist with burying my sister," he voiced.
Robinsong laid a tail on her mate's shoulder.
"Are you sure you're up for this, Smokefoot? You've grown thin since Smallblaze became ill. You come back from hunting patrols with your paws dragging on the ground."
The dark gray tabby tom locked eyes with his mate.
"I am capable of burying Smallblaze. If it makes you feel better Robinsong, I will spend the rest of the day in camp."
Squirrelflight padded up to the pair.
"Be careful, Smokefoot. We don't need you getting sick as well. Come back as soon as Smallblaze is laid to rest."
She then called out to Brightheart.
"Send him back to camp once you're done."
The elderly she-cat nodded.
"I will. Let's carry her out of the camp."
Whitewing approached Smallblaze's corpse. She carried the small white she-cat by her scruff. She laid the fallen ThunderClan warrior on Smokefoot's back. The burial party walked out of the tunnel.
Bramblestar watched them go. His adopted granddaughter was just so tiny in death. He could not believe that she was gone.
The Clan started coming to life. Squirrelflight assigned cats to patrols as she did normally, but with a resigned tone in her voice. Friends of Smallblaze gathered near the warriors' den speaking in whispers.
He could not deal with the somber atmosphere. A voice in his head told him he needed air. He needed some time out of the camp. A hunt alone would do fine.
He padded up to his mate.
"Squirrelflight, I am going on a hunt alone," he announced.
"I will be near the WindClan border."
The ginger she-cat stared at him in shock.
"Alone? Why?"
He whispered into her ear.
"I need some space away from the somber cloud hanging over the camp. I want you to stay so ThunderClan is protected. You know I'm on my last life."
It was hard to admit sometimes. His lives had lasted a while. He lost one life to the blood dirt fever that tore through the Clans years ago. He had given up a few to protect his Clanmates. It kept adding up.
He was forced to admit that he would not be around for much longer when he saw his grayed muzzle reflected in a puddle last leaffall. He was old. The majority of cats that had been alive when he was a kit had joined StarClan. Only his sister Tawnypelt, Cloudtail, Brightheart, Mistystar, Reedwhisker, and Snowbird remained.
Squirrelflight licked him on his ear.
"Okay. Just make sure we can spend some time together later."
He nuzzled the aging ginger she-cat. Was that white fur on her muzzle? It appeared even the cats that had been apprentices on the Great Journey were growing old.
"I will," he promised.
He exited the ThunderClan camp through the thorn tunnel as quickly as he could. He headed for the forest area near WindClan's border.
He spent the morning prowling for prey. He only caught a mouse, a squirrel, and a vole. The cold had driven most animals away. He buried them under a tree. His old limbs ached.
Bramblestar lifted his nose into the air. He could do better than this!
Instead of prey, the scent of WindClan mixed with a faint hint of milk hit his nose. The two odors were nearly overpowered by blood. A musky scent like that of a fox followed close behind.
The dark brown tabby growled. It seemed like a fox was pursuing WindClan kits onto his territory. The orange creature probably thought that the kits were an easy meal. Starvation made predators desperate. He would not let that stand.
He jumped into the Moonpool stream towards the kits and fox. His large churning paws broke up the ice. It had thinned with recent warmer weather. He hoped he would not be too late.
The forest grew thinner. A mangy ginger creature with a pointy muzzle and five kits around half the size of fully-grown warriors came into view. At the front of the kits was a mottled brown tom-kit with a bleeding side. He swatted an unsheathed front paw at the fox. The fox snapped at his leg.
Bramblestar threw his body into the fox's side. Its ribs showed through its fur. The creature let out a shocked yip.
A golden brown tabby she-kit ran at the back of the fox. She bit its tail. The dark brown tabby tom called out to the other three kits.
"Who are you, and where did you come from?"
A shaking brown tabby tom-kit answered him.
"I'm Buzzardkit. The two with me are Blackbirdkit and Dunlinkit. The mottled brown tom-kit is Frogkit, and the golden brown tabby she-kit biting the fox's tail is Brackenkit. We're from WindClan."
Bramblestar inwardly swore. How foolish were these kits for sneaking out of their camp? Their mothers had to be worried.
The fox closed in on Brackenkit. It lurched for her side. The ThunderClan leader leapt onto the fox's back. His fangs tore at the creature's skin underneath its thick fur. It turned away from Brackenkit. Frogkit ran back to his Clanmates.
"Why did you attack it, Brackenkit?" Blackbirdkit cried.
The golden-brown tabby she-kit slashed at the fox's hindleg. Her green eyes glinted with ferocity.
"Because I'm not letting any cats get hurt by the fox anymore! Just because I don't play much with the rest of you doesn't mean I want you dead."
The fox's fangs caught Bramblestar's upper leg. Blood gushed out.
A brown and white tom smelling of WindClan came into view. He hurled himself at the front of the fox. He tore at the orange animal's chest with unsheathed claws. Blood rushed from the wound.
The fox cried in shock. Bramblestar used the chance to ask the WindClan tom for more information.
"Harestar, why did I find five of your kits being attacked by this fox early this morning?"
Harestar slashed at the creature's foreleg. His response came out as a gasp.
"They snuck out of camp late at night. Their mothers Sparrowstripe and Brindletail alerted everyone that they snuck out as soon as they notice their kits were gone. Are you alone, Bramblestar?"
The dark brown tabby nodded.
"I went on a private hunt to clear my mind. I left Squirrelflight to defend the camp."
The fox regained its bearings. It rolled on its side. Bramblestar slid off its back. The fox tore off part of his shoulder. Harestar sprung on its back. His fangs tore at the back of the fox's neck. The orange animal bit the lower part of his side.
Buzzardkit entered the battle. He ran under the fox. He bit its belly. The creature cried out.
"Take that, mangy fleabag! We aren't scared of you," the brown tabby tom-kit hissed.
Blackbirdkit froze. She called out to her Clanmate.
"Buzzardkit, get out of there! You barely made the fox bleed a drop," she urged.
Frogkit ran up to the brown tabby. He tugged his Clanmate's ear.
"I agree with Blackbirdkit, Buzzardkit. Come back here with us. Going out to find a fox was stupid."
Bramblestar could not believe his ears. These kits decided to purposely seek out a fox?! Didn't any of their Clanmates tell them how dangerous they were? It was like Jayfeather, Hollyleaf, and Lionblaze all over again.
Buzzardkit reluctantly joined his fellow kits at the edge of the confrontation. The fox's body shook. It could barely stay upright. It lunged for Harestar's back leg.
The same could be said of Bramblestar. His legs threatened to buckle under him. His head grew light. But, he glanced at all of the kits.
They had made a dangerous mistake. They all sported wounds from their struggle with the fox. The ginger animal was unlikely to back down with its ribs sticking out. It was too weak to run away even if it wanted to.
There was only one thing to do.
Bramblestar barreled at the fox with all of the strength he could muster. He knocked it on its side. His claws slashed at the canine's exposed belly.
Harestar approached the fox's neck. He tore at its throat. The fox let out a choking gasp. It collapsed on the ground.
It convulsed for a few moments. Blood bubbled in its nose. It slowly grew still.
Bramblestar trembled. His amber eyes gleamed with triumph.
"It's gone," he breathed.
The WindClan leader faced him.
"Thank you, Bramblestar. You have saved five of my Clan's kits. I need to call off the warriors that are searching. The kits and fox's scent led all over our territory."
Harestar then turned to the five kits. He flattened his ears.
"And you five are in so much trouble! You should know better being four moons old."
Dunlinkit squeaked in protest.
"But, we had fun! I loved exploring the forest and moors. That was a lot better than Gorsetail's stories."
Bramblestar felt slick blood running from his shoulder. He gasped. His legs gave way.
Blood pooled under him. He gasped for breath. How badly had the fox gotten him? Harestar ran to his side.
"Bramblestar!"
The huge dark brown tabby heard the brown and white leader order Blackbirdkit to find moss. His body grew weak. His surroundings blurred around him.
Harestar sat near his head.
"How many lives do you have left?" the brown and white tom inquired.
Bramblestar coughed. He felt blood rising in his throat. He was losing too much blood. There was no risk in telling his rival Clan leader how close he was to joining StarClan. Not now.
"Only one," he gasped.
"It's too late for me. Please tell my Clan what happened."
He vaguely felt Blackbirdkit pressing a moss ball to his side. It did little for the bleeding.
Harestar laid next to him. He heard the brown and white tom say one last thing, as his surroundings grew dark.
"WindClan thanks you Bramblestar for your sacrifice. I will tell ThunderClan that their leader went out as a hero that should be remembered. Please walk peacefully with StarClan."
Bramblestar opened his eyes again outside of his body. A black she-cat with green eyes was there to greet him.
"It's time to join us, Bramblestar."
The dark brown tabby pricked his ears forward. He felt healthier than he had been in many seasons. His limbs no longer ached with the pains of age.
"I suppose it is. It's nice to see you again, Hollyleaf."
He followed Hollyleaf into the sky. He would be seeing so many friends again.
He glanced once behind him at Harestar lying beside his body. Even if he had obeyed the warrior code by rescuing Brackenkit, Blackbirdkit, Frogkit, Buzzardkit, and Dunlinkit, ThunderClan would not take it well. They could harbor resentment for the kits. His mate Squirrelflight would take it especially hard.
He sighed. There was nothing to do about it now. His spirit entered StarClan's territory with a drooping tail.
Harestar stared at Bramblestar's body. The ThunderClan leader had given his life to save five foolish kits from a Clan not his own. He gently nuzzled Blackbirdkit.
"Please stop now, Blackbirdkit. Bramblestar now walks with StarClan."
The black she-kit with a white chest and tail tip allowed her moss ball to fall to the ground. Her ears drooped.
The brown and white tom eyed the other four kits. None of them had strayed. That was likely because their small bodies were littered with injuries. If Bramblestar had not come when he had, the fox would have killed them for sure.
Blackbirdkit looked up at him with wide blue eyes.
"Why did he die, Harestar?"
The WindClan leader laid his tail on her shoulder.
"The fox injured him too badly. You heard him say he was on his last life. I doubt that even a medicine cat would have been able to fix his shoulder."
The other four kits approached the aging tom slowly with their tails between their legs. Frogkit spoke up first.
"We're in a lot of trouble now, aren't we?"
Harestar nodded. He was not going to lie. These kits were old enough to understand that actions had consequences.
"Yes. Because you wanted to sneak out of camp to see a fox, a leader of another Clan has died to protect you. I might hold back your apprenticeships."
Dunlinkit split his amber gaze between Bramblestar and the dead fox.
"What are we going to do now, Harestar?"
That was a good question. The kits needed to be brought back to the WindClan camp. But, ThunderClan needed to know that their leader was dead as soon as possible. His corpse and that of the fox would attract scavengers shortly.
Other WindClan warriors were out looking for the kits. Hopefully one of them was close enough to hear a call for help. If a WindClan warrior found them, perhaps they could take the kits back home while Harestar bore Bramblestar back to his Clan.
The aging brown and white tom turned to the kits.
"I'm going to call for help. My hope is that a WindClan warrior hears me so they find us and bring you home. If that fails, we will walk through ThunderClan territory to their camp. They need to know that their leader is dead."
He puffed out his chest. He yowled for help for several minutes.
He stopped once his lungs ached. He opened his mouth for scents.
There was no WindClan scent approaching their location. No ThunderClan warriors' scents wafted on the breeze, either. It appeared he had no choice.
Harestar approached Bramblestar's body. He slid the huge dark brown tabby over his back.
He gritted his fangs. The ThunderClan leader was heavy! His injured leg threatened to collapse under him. He flicked his tail at the kits.
"We're heading into ThunderClan territory. Stay close to me."
The brown and white tom entered the ice-free part of the Moonpool stream. His body shivered with cold. The kits followed behind him. He paddled through the water slowly.
Bramblestar's corpse threatened to slip off his back during the small swim. Brackenkit and Buzzardkit swam up to his left and right sides. They helped support the dark brown tabby tom's body. The three cats stepped onto the other side of the Moonpool stream.
The trip to the ThunderClan camp was slow. Bramblestar's weight and his wounds meant that Harestar could not move fast. The kits were weighed down with injuries. A couple of them complained about the situation.
"My side hurts. I'm cold and hungry. I want to go home," Frogkit whined.
Blackbirdkit hobbled at the back of the group with her left hindpaw in the air.
"My leg is injured," she whimpered.
Harestar stopped for a moment. He sighed.
"I know. But, we need to get Bramblestar back to ThunderClan. I will ask for their medicine cat to look at you once we get there. Help each other if you notice that someone is falling behind."
The group trekked through the forest. Dunlinkit supported Frogkit's side.
Harestar lifted his nose into the air. Maybe a ThunderClan patrol would head their way.
The scent of cats mixed with forest wafted nearby. The scent quickly grew closer. An unseen cat called out.
"Halt! What are you doing on ThunderClan territory?"
The old brown and white tom called out his response.
"It's Harestar of WindClan! Please come. I need help."
A silver-gray she-cat with dark blue eyes came into view. Behind her were an old gray tabby she-cat, a brown and cream tom, and an orange tabby she-cat. The silver-gray she-cat's fur stood on end once she spotted the kits.
"These kits are injured! What happened to them?"
Harestar bowed his head as deeply as he could. It was difficult with Bramblestar's body over his back. He spoke in a somber voice.
"Two of my queens woke up this morning to find their kits missing. I immediately sent out search parties to look for them. My warriors discovered that a fox was trailing the kits. I headed out to join the search party with my deputy Leaftail left at camp. I found the kits around our border with you. The fox was attacking them."
The orange tabby she-cat stepped out of the patrol's formation. She stared up at where Bramblestar's body laid with widened green eyes.
Harestar's heart went out to the she-cat. She was Bramblestar's daughter Sparkpelt. There was no way to sweeten up what happened to her father. The brown and white tom took a shuddering breath before continuing.
"Your leader Bramblestar had found the kits first. He engaged the creature ferociously. I jumped in to assist him. The fox had been starved to the point of desperation. It refused to leave even with two Clan leaders and some of the kits fighting it."
Sparkpelt padded up to the WindClan leader. She examined her father's body.
"The fox ripped an entire chunk of his shoulder out!" she cried in shock.
"He's not moving…"
The old brown and white tom looked directly into her green eyes.
"Bramblestar received severe injuries before we managed to kill the fox," he informed her.
"He collapsed soon after we verified that it was dead. We tried stemming the bleeding, but he had lost too much blood. He told me that it was his final life. I am so sorry."
The ThunderClan patrol froze. Sparkpelt curled her tail around herself while staring at the ground. The old gray tabby she-cat broke the silence.
"Harestar, thank you for bringing Bramblestar back to us. Molewhisker, escort Sparkpelt back to camp. Inform Squirrelflight about what has happened. Prepare Dapplecloud so she can treat the kits and Harestar. Drizzlewing, you and I will help Harestar bear Bramblestar's body home. Keep an eye on the kits."
The silver-gray she-cat nodded.
"Of course, Cinderheart."
Molewhisker led Sparkpelt away from the patrol. The orange tabby leaned into the older warrior's shoulder.
Cinderheart leaned up against Harestar's side. They carried Bramblestar's body between them. Drizzlewing gently herded the kits.
The ThunderClan camp was mostly empty when they arrived. It was probably because of most cats being out on patrol. The cats that were present looked on edge.
Dapplecloud met them at the ThunderClan camp entrance. Her small body shook as she looked at the kits. She drooped her large ears.
"You poor things. The fox really tore you up. Let's see about getting you looked at."
Dunlinkit came up first with Frogkit leaning into him.
"Please check out Frogkit. His side's bleeding a lot," the gray and white tom-kit begged.
The dappled ginger tabby and white she-cat nodded. She braced Frogkit's other side.
"I'll treat him first," she promised.
"I will mend his injuries as best as I can."
The mottled brown tom-kit followed his gray and white Clanmate and the dappled medicine cat into the ThunderClan medicine den. The other kits stared at their surroundings.
"Why do ThunderClan cats live in dens made out of stone?" Buzzardkit wondered.
Blackbirdkit stared at the large beech tree that made up part of the ThunderClan camp. She widened her blue eyes at the sight of it.
"That tree is big! How did it get there?" she whispered.
Squirrelflight approached the party of WindClan cats. Her response came out in a cracked voice.
"It fell into the camp one day when the roots grew loose. We had to evacuate. If it weren't for Dovewing sensing it, we would have lost more than our elder Longtail."
She then turned to Harestar.
"Harestar, this is terrible. Were any other WindClan warriors looking for these kits?"
The old brown and white tom nodded.
"Yes. I was about to go call off the search for the kits when Bramblestar collapsed from his injuries. He died soon after."
The old ginger she-cat swallowed slowly.
"I understand. Harestar, I would like you to assist me in bringing Bramblestar up to his den. He will remain there until it's time for his vigil."
The WindClan leader bowed his head.
"Of course."
Squirrelflight addressed Cinderheart next.
"Cinderheart, you and Molewhisker will go back out towards the WindClan border. Get the attention of their warriors. Inform them that Harestar found their kits at our border and that they are being treated here for injuries."
The gray tabby nodded. She moved Bramblestar's body back on Harestar's back. She and Molewhisker headed out through the entrance tunnel.
Squirrelflight leaned against the old brown and white tom's side. They traversed the Highledge with Bramblestar's corpse held between the two of them. They entered a cave smelling heavily of the dark brown tabby.
The two cats gently lowered the fallen leader into a nest of moss. Squirrelflight licked some of her mate's long fur. She groomed it so some of his wounds were hidden.
Harestar stared at Bramblestar's body. His amber eyes were closed. They would never open again. The huge dark brown tabby tom would never represent ThunderClan at another Gathering, lead his warriors into battle, or spend time with his family. Out of the six cats that had traveled to the sun-drown-place, only Squirrelflight and Tawnypelt remained in the Clans.
WindClan was a little insular, it was true. They often clashed with ThunderClan during Onestar's reign. But, that did not mean that WindClan kits were sheltered from the heroic deeds that cats from other Clans performed. The brown and white tom's mother told him back in the nursery about how StarClan chose these cats to find a new home after Twolegs destroyed the old forest.
Thanks to five kits that wanted to find a fox, one of those heroes died protecting them. Bramblestar had followed the warrior code perfectly when he saw them in distress. Why did no one notice Brackenkit, Frogkit, Buzzardkit, Blackbirdkit, or Dunlinkit leaving late at night? Harestar's warriors that were on sentry duty last night and the queens had a lot to answer for.
Squirrelflight glanced up at the WindClan leader.
"Your leg is injured. Let me help you to Dapplecloud's den."
The brown and white tom nodded. He leaned against the dark ginger she-cat for the trek down the Highledge.
He did not see Blackbirdkit, Brackenkit, or Buzzardkit in the main part of the camp. Dapplecloud must have brought them into the medicine den for treatment. He entered a cave with a covering of lichen hanging from the entrance.
Dapplecloud greeted Harestar from where she laid a poultice on Brackenkit's tail.
"Have you come to get looked at?" she asked with a slight hint of fear in her voice.
He did not blame her. The dappled she-cat was a former kittypet that joined ThunderClan at four moons old. WindClan had been involved in some nastier parts of her past, including the death of her mother Mottleflower.
A rogue originating from the moors slaughtered the pale she-cat with a mottled brown and cream face, ears, legs, and tail as if she were a piece of prey. He then tried killing Dapplecloud and her mentor Jayfeather. Onestar exiled him from WindClan.
The black tom was found on the border a few days later dead of his wounds from that raid of the ThunderClan camp. The WindClan leader did not doubt that the WindClan rogue, formerly Breezepelt of WindClan, walked with the Dark Forest. Why did Breezepelt allow his prejudice against kittypets and his half-Clan kin cloud his judgment?
Harestar nodded at the she-cat. He gestured to his left back leg with his tail.
"The fox bit me there. It's hard to walk on it."
Dapplecloud headed behind him. She examined the injury.
"The fox bit through your leg's muscles," she informed him.
"I'll retrieve some comfrey root, goldenrod, oak leaves, dock, and a few poppy seeds. You will be unable to foot patrols for at least a few days."
The old brown and white tom peered at the ground.
"What about getting the kits and I back to WindClan? My Clan will grow frantic."
The ginger tabby and white she-cat stopped poking through her herb store. She blinked kindly at the aging tom.
"You can go home tomorrow. You should stay off your leg for at least tonight so you have the strength to walk back to your territory."
She turned her very dark blue gaze to the kits. Frogkit slept fitfully in a moss nest lined with feathers. Blackbirdkit laid in a separate nest with her injured hind leg sticking out. Her blue eyes were nearly closed.
The other kits were wide-awake. Dapplecloud addressed them.
"You have all been hurt. You are not to play roughly until Kestrelflight or I tell you it's okay again. Your injuries could open up if you do."
Dunlinkit, Brackenkit, and Buzzardkit froze. They pricked their ears in the dappled ginger tabby and white medicine cat's direction.
"Don't bother Frogkit or Blackbirdkit while they're healing. They will have to stay in the medicine den when you arrive home. Do you understand?"
Buzzardkit nodded his head from where he sat.
"I understand, Dapplecloud."
Brackenkit turned her green eyes to the moss-covered den floor.
"Yes, Dapplecloud. We'll rest until our injuries get better."
Dunlinkit restlessly pawed at the moss in his nest. He nodded.
"Yes, Dapplecloud. I'll stay quiet until I'm healed."
Harestar did not believe that the gray and white tom-kit would live up to that promise, but kept his muzzle shut. He slipped into another nest.
He looked around the den as the dappled medicine cat fetched herbs from her stores. Her assistant Briarlight was not present.
"Where is Briarlight today?" he wondered aloud.
Dapplecloud twitched her whiskers as she carried over some comfrey root to him.
"She's off getting fresh air with Elderstripe near the SkyClan border," she informed him.
"She needs a little time out of camp once in a while so she isn't too frustrated. I'm going to ask her if she wishes to join the elders soon."
The brown and white tom understood. Briarlight's spine had been broken in the same tree fall that killed Longtail. ThunderClan hid her condition from the other Clans until the trial for those involved with Jayfeather's death. She testified about his character to those present, particularly that he held no romantic inclinations for anyone.
The dark brown she-cat started wandering her Clan's territory more often with an escort after that. She occasionally chatted with cats from other Clans on the ThunderClan borders. They usually indulged her. It was not like she could attend Gatherings often with her condition.
Harestar laid his head on his paws. The next few days were going to be long. He would have to bring the elders, Leaftail, Kestrelflight, and the senior warriors together for a council. He would have to interrogate the queens and the warriors that were on sentry duty last night. The sentries had been Squirrelfoot and Flintstorm.
Then, he would have to think of an appropriate punishment for the kits that was firm, but not excessive. Keeping them under heavy watch after their stunt was a given. There was the question of if he should confine them to the area around the nursery, make them perform chores around camp, or delay their apprenticeships by a moon.
He was not going to like the coming days at all.
Harestar laid a short distance away from the medicine den with Brackenkit, Dunlinkit, Blackbirdkit, and Buzzardkit. The moon had risen over ThunderClan's leafy camp. It was barely visible over the snow falling from the sky. The camp was filled with cats sporting low-hanging tails and drooped ears.
Squirrelflight carried her mate's body down from his den on the Highledge with Alderheart's assistance. They gently laid Bramblestar in the camp's clearing. Dapplecloud stood by his broad head.
"Bramblestar was a great leader," the ThunderClan medicine cat began.
"He lived a long life that was spent serving his Clan to the best of his ability. Born to Goldenflower and Tigerstar of the Dark Forest, he undertook the journey to the sun-drown-place alongside his eventual mate Squirrelflight, his sister Tawnypelt of ShadowClan, Feathertail of RiverClan, Feathertail's brother Stormfur of the Tribe of Rushing Water, and Crowfeather of WindClan when StarClan gave him a warning. He was a proud father. May he rest easy in StarClan."
The dappled she-cat panted near the end. She paused for breath.
Cloudtail spoke next. His voice sounded raspy. He sat a little behind Squirrelflight.
"Bramblestar and I were both trained by Firestar. There were worries that he would take after his father. But, Bramblestar proved those fears wrong. Whatever ambitions he had were for his Clan to thrive. He trained his former apprentice Berrynose well even if he ended up as a pain in the tail. Bramblestar will be missed."
Harestar watched the vigil with his Clan's kits. Dapplecloud had allowed them out to witness the vigil so long as they did not strain themselves. He hoped it would make Blackbirdkit, Buzzardkit, Brackenkit, and Dunlinkit understand the consequences of their actions. Frogkit was not with them because of his more severe wounds.
Blackbirdkit twitched her ears as each cat spoke. She focused her unblinking blue eyes on Bramblestar's body. Harestar recalled how she held stories told about warriors of long ago in high regard. These stories would hopefully teach her not to wander from the WindClan camp again until she was apprenticed.
Lionblaze approached his foster father's corpse. He bowed his head low.
"Bramblestar was the best father a cat could ask for," the golden tabby remarked.
"He took it hard when he found out that he and Squirrelflight were not our birth parents, but he still loved Hollyleaf, Jayfeather, and I. He told us just before the Great Battle that he was very proud of us. He offered advice when he could. I'll miss him."
Buzzardkit raised his head off the ground. He whispered in Harestar's ear.
"Harestar, why are they upset? They'll see Bramblestar again in StarClan, won't they?"
The aging brown and white tom froze. It took time for kits to really understand the concepts of dying and StarClan even though both were large parts of Clan culture. Buzzardkit, Dunlinkit, Blackbirdkit, and Brackenkit were at the age where young cats started to comprehend it. He took a deep breath.
"Buzzardkit, being in StarClan is not the same as being alive with one's Clanmates. They cannot come down from Silverpelt whenever their kin wish for their company. All that made Bramblestar who he was is now in StarClan. He is now separated from his living kin until it's their time to join him."
The brown tabby tom-kit widened his bright blue eyes. He lowered his head.
"Could Frogkit join StarClan too? His wound on his side looks bad."
Harestar did not know how to respond. There was no denying that the fox tore viciously into Frogkit's side. It was a ragged wound that could get infected easily. The brown and white leader sighed.
"He might. He took nasty hits from the fox. His wounds will take longer to heal than any of ours if he does recover."
Buzzardkit flattened his ears against his head.
"I hope he doesn't join StarClan. He's my brother. We never should have gone to seek out a fox."
Dunlinkit snuggled against his denmate.
"I don't want him do die either. Even if he acts like a younger kit, he fought off the fox before Bramblestar arrived. He acted as brave as LionClan."
Brackenkit's smaller body shook. She stared at Harestar.
"I'm scared. What if more foxes come after us?" she cried.
Harestar noticed that Bramblestar's vigil had come to a temporary halt. Several cats glared at the kits. But, others did not. Among the cats not glaring at the kits was a dark gray tabby tom that was padding up to their spot beside the medicine den.
The WindClan leader knew of him. He was a ThunderClan warrior named Smokefoot. He was a stern if reserved cat that always set a good example for the younger members of his Clan. His mate Robinsong bore two kits four moons ago. He was a good father according to what ThunderClan cats claimed at Gatherings.
Smokefoot laid next to Brackenkit. He laid his short tail over her shoulders while his thin body shook. His voice came out cracked.
"No more foxes will come after you."
Brackenkit blinked her green eyes at the dark gray tabby. He continued speaking.
"You and your denmates made a mistake by sneaking out of your camp. You didn't know what lurked out in the forest. But, those mangy creatures will not lay another paw on you. ThunderClan will be checking the territory tomorrow for anymore foxes. And, I have no doubt that your leader will do the same once you're back at home."
The golden-brown tabby she-kit peered up at Smokefoot.
"Really?"
He stroked his tail against her body.
"Yes, really."
The WindClan kits gathered around the dark gray tabby tom. Harestar spoke up.
"You have my word. WindClan will check every patch of grass in our territory to make sure there are no others."
The brown and white tom saw the cats glaring at his Clan's kits turned away. Bramblestar's vigil resumed. Several cats spoke about the huge dark brown tabby.
Tigerheart thanked him for taking him into ThunderClan after certain events left him unable to live in ShadowClan anymore. Curlewfoot recalled how Bramblestar had taken in non-Clan cats like him, Dapplecloud, Smokefoot, and Hailwhisker to join ThunderClan following the blood dirt fever.
Stormcloud brought up how the ThunderClan leader had helped him lay his brother Benny to rest after the Great Flood. His mate Cherryfall leaned into him as he spoke.
Squirrelflight slowly approached her dead mate. Their kits Sparkpelt and Alderheart flanked her sides. She drew in a deep breath.
"Bramblestar was not just a wise leader. He was a great friend, father, and mate."
She stared at her mate's dark brown tabby corpse.
"When I was young, I would never have imagined falling in love with him. He thought poorly of my attitude, and I gave him cheek every chance I had. We had our share of hardships for sure. He didn't forgive me for taking Lionblaze, Jayfeather, and Hollyleaf in as my own for seasons."
She smoothed down his long fur with a few licks.
"But, we could not stay separated forever. Our bond drew us back together. He asked me to become his deputy. I was happy to have him back. We were blessed with three adopted kits and four birth kits. Bramblestar was happy to raise each one, even if Hollyleaf, Jayfeather, Dandelionkit, and Juniperkit departed for StarClan long before him. I love him deeply. I will take good care of ThunderClan in his place."
Several cats quietly called out in approval. The dark ginger she-cat waved her bushy tail for silence.
"My first order as leader is that a patrol searches the territory for any traces of fox after moonhigh. No Clan will lose any more cats to these creatures."
The gathered cats nodded with grim approval. The new ThunderClan leader continued her announcements.
"I will leave for the Moonpool around that time. Dapplecloud will accompany me. Dapplecloud will leave Briarlight in charge of all medical matters until we return. Consider the camp under lockdown. No cat is to leave unless it is an emergency or if you have been assigned a patrol."
Harestar watched Squirrelflight command her Clan. While she was upset about her mate's death, her stern voice left little question of her strength. The other ThunderClan cats listened to each word she spoke.
"I hope that you all treat our WindClan visitors with respect. While they are here in part because of what led to Bramblestar's death, they did not mean any harm. Any cat that treats the kits inappropriately will answer to me."
Blackbirdkit's eyes were wide in admiration.
"I want to grow strong enough to protect others like Bramblestar did," she remarked.
"He did a lot of great things."
Harestar quietly shushed her. He listened to Squirrelflight's last announcement.
"If our moonhigh patrol around the ShadowClan and SkyClan borders encounters Bramblestar's sister Tawnypelt, please inform her of her brother's death. She may come to our camp at her discretion. Inform any ShadowClan and SkyClan cats about the possibility of nearby foxes. Dismissed."
The dark ginger she-cat then laid next to Bramblestar's corpse with her muzzle pressed into his fur. Several cats came up to pay their respects. Two of those cats were a black she-kit and a ginger tom-kit around the WindClan kits' age. They had to be Smokefoot's.
The WindClan kits' eyes widened. Smokefoot gestured to his kits with his tail.
"The warrior code says that all kits must be protected, no matter where they come from. I would shield you no less then I would my two kits over there."
Buzzardkit opened her mouth wide.
"Really? Why does the warrior code say that?"
Harestar laid his tail on the brown tabby's shoulder. He gazed down at the tom-kit with gentle blue eyes.
"Because kits like you, Frogkit, Blackbirdkit, Dunlinkit, and Brackenkit are precious. Kits are easily hurt. You are WindClan's future. Warriors protect all kits equally. The five Clans are different, but in some ways we are the same."
Briarlight dragged herself up to the group. She must have finished paying respects to Bramblestar. The kits stared at her.
"What happened to your back legs?" Dunlinkit blurted out.
Smokefoot gasped in horror at the gray and white tom-kit's bluntness. Briarlight, on the other paw, did not have a single hair rising on her pelt. She purred.
"A tree fell on me when I was an apprentice. I no longer feel my back legs, so I drag them around."
Blackbirdkit tilted her head.
"Was it the same one that's now in your camp?"
The dark brown she-cat nodded.
"Yes. I had gone back after our Clan ordered an evacuation of the camp. Our elder Longtail had run back to the elders' den to retrieve a piece of prey. I planned on convincing him to come back with me. Well, that didn't happen. The tree fell on us. It broke my spine, and Longtail died."
The WindClan kits stared at her in horror. Their ears drooped. Briarlight continued speaking.
"Now, I am Dapplecloud's assistant Briarlight. I will take care of you while she and Squirrelflight are at the Moonpool. You all look tired, so come with me into the medicine den."
None of the kits protested. They followed her inside of the den like a group of ducklings waddling after their mother. Harestar followed in close behind. Smokefoot called out a farewell.
Harestar limped back to his temporary nest. He did not care that the den was more enclosed than he would have liked. He yawned as he curled up on the moss.
He heard Brackenkit's voice as he drifted off to sleep.
"You know, part of me wishes that our moms found out about our idea before we went through with it. Queens are supposed to know everything. I don't want this happening to any kits I have when I grow up."
Allegiances
ThunderClan
Leader: Bramblestar – Elderly dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes
Deputy: Squirrelflight – Old dark ginger she-cat with green eyes and one white forepaw
Medicine Cat: Dapplecloud – Dappled ginger tabby and white she-cat with very dark blue eyes and a long thin tail, former kittypet (Mottleflower and Jack's daughter)
Medicine Cat Apprentice: None
Warriors:
Cinderheart – Old gray tabby she-cat with blue eyes
Lionblaze – Aging golden tabby tom with amber eyes
Curlewfoot – Aging brown tabby tom with yellow eyes and a notch in his ear, former rogue
Tigerheart – Aging dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes, formerly of ShadowClan
Briarlight – Older paralyzed dark brown she-cat with blue eyes
Dovewing – Older pale gray she-cat with blue eyes
Cherryfall – Bright ginger she-cat with amber eyes
Molewhisker – Brown and cream tom with amber eyes
Lilyheart – Small tortoiseshell and white she-cat with blue eyes
Ambermoon – Pale ginger she-cat with amber eyes
Snowbush – White tom with amber eyes
Stormcloud – Gray tabby tom with deep amber eyes
Hollytuft – Black she-cat with bright green eyes and distinctive tufts on her ears (Cinderheart and Lionblaze's eldest kit)
Alderheart – Dark ginger tom with amber eyes (Squirrelstar and Bramblestar's son)
Sparkpelt – Orange tabby she-cat with green eyes (Squirrelstar and Bramblestar's daughter)
Larkblaze – Black tom with blue eyes (Lilyheart and Snowbush's son)
Turtlefrost – Gray tortoiseshell and white she-cat with pale blue eyes (Poppyfrost and Berrynose's daughter)
Apprentice, Yarrowpaw
Pinestripe – Dark brown tabby tom with green eyes, is wobbly (Dovewing and Tigerheart's son)
Apprentice, Beetlepaw
Drizzlewing – Silver-gray she-cat with dark blue eyes (Dovewing and Tigerheart's daughter)
Hailwhisker – White she-cat with long whiskers and dark blue eyes, former loner
Apprentice, Webpaw
Smokefoot – Swift dark gray tabby tom with light green eyes
Russetbird – Small dark ginger tom with amber eyes, former loner
Elderstripe – Brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes (Ivypool and Bumblestripe's daughter)
Willowface – Pretty silver tabby and white she-cat with blue eyes (Ivypool and Bumblestripe's daughter)
Shriketail – Gray tabby and white tom with blue eyes (Ivypool and Bumblestripe's son)
Burnetfoot – Swift ginger tabby tom with green eyes (Cherryfall and Stormcloud's son)
Cranefeather – Gray she-cat with bright green eyes (Hollytuft's daughter)
Antfang – Black tom with dark green eyes (Hollytuft's son)
Leopardclaw – Spotted golden tabby tom with amber eyes (Cinderheart and Lionblaze's son)
Aspentail – Large gray tabby she-cat with blue eyes (Cinderheart and Lionblaze's daughter)
Lizardclaw – Huge brown tabby tom with green eyes and a white chest, former loner
Apprentices:
Webpaw – Dark gray tabby tom with green eyes, former rogue
Yarrowpaw – Golden tabby she-cat with amber eyes (Larkblaze's daughter)
Beetlepaw – Black tom with amber eyes (Larkblaze's son)
Queens:
Rosepetal – Aging dark cream she-cat with blue eyes
Mother of an unknown tom's kits: Limpetkit and Carpkit
Robinsong – Tortoiseshell and white she-cat with green eyes, former loner (Eclipse and Fox's daughter)
Mother of Smokefoot's kits: Leafkit and Blackkit
Kits:
Leafkit – Ginger tom-kit with amber eyes
Blackkit – Black she-kit with green eyes
Limpetkit – Cream tom-kit with green eyes
Carpkit – Pale cream she-kit with blue eyes and white paws
Elders:
Cloudtail – Old longhaired white tom with blue eyes
Brightheart – Old white she-cat with ginger patches and blue eyes
Whitewing – Older white she-cat with green eyes
ShadowClan
Leader: Juniperstar – Sleek black tom with blue eyes (Dawnpelt and Crowfrost's son)
Deputy: Palestripe – Very pale white-silver tabby tom with bright green eyes and light gray markings, former loner
Medicine Cat: Puddleshine – White tom with brown splotches and blue eyes (Pinenose and Spikefur's son)
Medicine Cat Apprentice: None
Warriors:
Tawnypelt – Elderly tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes
Snowbird – Old pure white she-cat with green eyes
Owlclaw – Aging light brown tabby tom with amber eyes
Pinenose – Aging black she-cat with amber eyes
Dawnpelt – Aging cream-furred she-cat with amber eyes
Mistcloud – Older spiky-furred pale gray she-cat with blue eyes
Hornetcloud – Longhaired ginger she-cat with dark blue eyes, former kittypet
Apprentice, Copperpaw
Cloverfoot – Gray tabby she-cat with green eyes (Snowbird and Scorchfur's daughter)
Rippletail – White tom with bright green eyes (Snowbird and Scorchfur's son)
Newtnose – Tortoiseshell she-cat with dark green eyes, former rogue
Sleekwhisker – Yellow she-cat with amber eyes (Dawnpelt and Crowfrost's daughter)
Needletail – Sleek silver she-cat with white chest fur and bold green eyes (Berryheart and Sparrowtail's son)
Lionfoot – Yellow she-cat with amber eyes (Pinenose and Spikefur's daughter)
Starlingfire – Black tom with blue eyes, a white chest and white paws, former rogue
Arguswhisker – Dark tortoiseshell she-cat with white paws and amber eyes, former loner
Tallflower – Black she-cat with long legs and green eyes, is very wobbly (Pinenose's daughter)
Blizzardheart – Small white she-cat with black paws and blue eyes (Rippletail's daughter)
Apprentice, Waxpaw
Tanagerfang – Dark ginger tom with blue eyes (Arguswhisker and Juniperstar's son)
Wagtailheart – Black and white tom with green eyes (Arguswhisker and Juniperstar's son)
Ploverclaw – White tom with gray tabby patches and blue eyes (Puddleshine's son)
Bitternpelt – Brown and white tom with bright green eyes (Puddleshine's son)
Birchshine – Dark gray tabby tom with green eyes, former loner
Railclaw – Brown tabby she-cat with green eyes (Cloverfoot's daughter)
Lilacleap – Pale gray tabby tom with dark amber eyes (Needletail's son)
Slugfoot – Black tom with a stripe of white down his chest and blue eyes (Tallflower's son)
Sedgetail – Black tom with a white tail-tip and amber eyes (Tallflower's son)
Apprentices:
Waxpaw – Fluffy golden tabby tom with amber eyes (Lionfoot's son)
Copperpaw – Tortoiseshell she-cat with a white chest and paws, and green eyes (Lionfoot's daughter)
Queens:
Cardinalflower – Ginger she-cat with blue eyes, former kittypet
Mother of Rippletail's kits: Garlickit, Bramblingkit, Gingerkit, and Icekit
Kits:
Garlickit – White tom-kit with green eyes
Bramblingkit – Tortoiseshell and white she-kit with bright blue eyes
Gingerkit – Ginger tabby tom-kit with bright green eyes
Icekit – White she-kit with blue eyes, deaf
Elders:
None
WindClan
Leader: Harestar – Old brown and white tom with blue eyes
Deputy: Leaftail – Old dark ginger tabby tom with amber eyes
Medicine Cat: Kestrelflight – Aging mottled brownish-gray tom with bright green eyes and white splotches
Medicine Cat Apprentice: None
Warriors:
Emberfoot – Old gray tom with darker front paws and green eyes
Heathertail – Aging light brown tabby she-cat with blue eyes
Sedgewhisker – Aging light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes
Larkwing – Pale gray she-cat with blue eyes
Oatclaw – Pale brown tabby tom with green eyes
Featherpelt – Gray tabby she-cat with blue eyes
Slightfoot – Black tom with a flash of white on his chest and amber eyes
Basilwhisker – Spotted gray tabby tom with amber eyes, former loner
Stoatstep – Small ginger tom with amber eyes, former kittypet
Shortflower – Small dark gray she-cat with green eyes, former loner
Bluetnose – White she-cat with pale blue eyes, former kittypet
Apprentice, Ryepaw
Squirrelfoot – Reddish-brown tom with amber eyes, former kittypet
Asphodeltail – Ginger she-cat with deep green eyes, a white chest and white paws (Stoatstep's daughter)
Apprentice, Chervilpaw
Flintstorm – Dark reddish-brown she-cat with amber eyes, and white paws (Shortflower's daughter)
Apprentice, Chipmunkpaw
Sprucepelt – Pale gray tom with light green eyes (Shortflower's son)
Mintclaw – Gray tabby tom with amber eyes, former loner
Apprentices:
Chervilpaw – White tom with blue eyes (Bluetnose and Harestar's son)
Chipmunkpaw – Splotched brown tabby and white she-cat with pale blue eyes (Bluetnose and Harestar's daughter)
Ryepaw – Golden-brown tabby tom with amber eyes, former loner
Queens:
Brindletail – Mottled brown she-cat with blue eyes (Heathertail and Breezepelt's daughter)
Mother of an unknown tom's kits: Frogkit and Buzzardkit
Sparrowstripe – Striped light brown tabby she-cat with blue eyes (Featherpelt's daughter)
Mother of Slightfoot's kits: Brackenkit, Dunlinkit, and Blackbirdkit
Brightcloud – Dappled black and white she-cat with blue eyes, former loner
Expecting Oatclaw's kits
Kits:
Frogkit – Mottled brown tom-kit with blue eyes
Buzzardkit – Brown tabby tom-kit with bright blue eyes
Brackenkit – Golden-brown tabby she-kit with green eyes
Dunlinkit – Gray and white tom-kit with amber eyes
Blackbirdkit – Black she-kit with blue eyes and a white chest and tail tip
Elders:
Nightcloud – Black she-cat with green eyes
Gorsetail – Very pale gray and white she-cat with blue eyes
RiverClan
Leader: Mistystar – Elderly blue-gray she-cat with blue eyes
Deputy: Reedwhisker – Old sleek black tom with dark gray eyes
Medicine Cat: Willowshine – Old dark gray tabby she-cat with green eyes
Medicine Cat Apprentice: None
Warriors:
Minnowtail – Old dark gray she-cat with amber eyes and fluffy fur
Mallownose – Aging light brown tabby tom with amber eyes
Petalfur – Older gray and white she-cat with amber eyes
Podlight – Sturdy gray and white tom with blue eyes
Curlfeather– Pale brown she-cat with amber eyes
Lakeheart – Gray tabby she-cat with blue eyes
Shimmerpelt – Silver she-cat with green eyes
Perchwing – Gray and white she-cat with blue eyes
Brackenpelt – Tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes (Petalfur and Mallownose's daughter)
Jaywing – Gray tom with green eyes (Petalfur and Mallownose's son)
Foxnose – Russet tabby tom with amber eyes
Cypresswhisker – Pale gray tabby she-cat with blue eyes (Lakeheart and Lizardtail's daughter)
Yarrowwhisker – Pale ginger tom with blue eyes, former rogue
Egretstream – Aging fluffy deaf white tom with frosty blue eyes, former loner
Apprentice, Birchpaw
Chanterellefur – Light ginger she-cat with pale green eyes, is wobbly (Brackenpelt's daughter)
Apprentice, Shellpaw
Swanwing – White she-cat with dark blue eyes and a small ginger patch on her head, former loner
Spiderfang – Black tom with one dark amber eye (Havenpelt's son)
Patchpelt – Gray and white tom with pale amber eyes (Jaywing's son)
Otterclaw – Black she-cat with dark amber eyes (Jaywing's daughter)
Lilytail – Gray she-cat with blue eyes and a long tail (Perchwing's daughter)
Apprentice, Lightningpaw
Breamstream – Long-legged silver tabby tom with amber eyes, former loner
Apprentice, Mudpaw
Wigeonfeather – Pale tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes and a white belly (Chanterellefur and Spiderfang's daughter)
Hornetclaw – Pale ginger tom with amber eyes (Chanterellefur and Spiderfang's son)
Apprentices:
Lightningpaw – White tom with bright golden tabby spots and dark green eyes, former loner
Birchpaw – Brown tabby tom with amber eyes (Curlfeather's son)
Mudpaw – Brown tabby tom with green eyes and a white chest (Curlfeather's son)
Shellpaw – Brown tortoiseshell she-cat with a white chest, paws, and tail tip, and blue eyes (Curlfeather's daughter)
Queens:
Icewing – Old white she-cat with blue eyes
Mother of an unknown tom's kits: Privetkit, Juniperkit, Hazelkit, and Heronkit
Kits:
Privetkit – White she-kit with very light blue eyes
Juniperkit – Light gray she-kit with bright blue eyes
Hazelkit – Light brown tabby tom-kit with blue eyes
Heronkit – Silver tabby and white tom-kit with very pale blue eyes
Elders:
Duskfur – Brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes
Pouncetail – Ginger and white tom with blue eyes
Mothwing – Dappled golden tabby she-cat with amber eyes, former medicine cat
SkyClan
Leader: Hawkstar– Small dark gray tom with yellow eyes (Cherrytail and Sharpclaw's son)
Deputy: Falconheart – Heavily scarred gray and white she-cat with light green eyes, is blind in right eye, former kittypet
Medicine Cat: Mossleaf – Pretty tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes, white paws, and a white tail tip, former loner
Medicine Cat Apprentice: None
Warriors:
Mintfur – Old short-legged gray tabby she-cat with deep green eyes
Tinycloud – Old small white she-cat with deep blue eyes
Birdwing – Old black she-cat with a gray muzzle, bright green eyes, and a scar over one eye
Harrybrook – Old gray tom with a paler muzzle and underside, and amber eyes
Cloudmist – Aging small white she-cat with blue eyes (Cherrytail and Sharpclaw's daughter)
Bellaleaf – Aging pale orange she-cat with green eyes, former kittypet
Dovenose – Aging gray tabby tom with deep green eyes (Mintfur and Nettlesplash's son)
Whinchattail – Aging pale brown tabby she-cat with bright green eyes (Mintfur and Nettlesplash's daughter)
Diverleap – Older black and white tom with green eyes, former kittypet
Ospreyspots – Small black and white she-cat with blue eyes, former loner
Violetheart – Black and white she-cat with amber eyes, formerly of ShadowClan (Pebbleshine and Hawkstar's daughter)
Apprentice, Gullpaw
Silverpoppy – Small silver tabby she-cat with bright green eyes, former loner
Daisyfoot – Swift white she-cat with blue eyes and small silver tabby patches, former loner
Campionflight – Ginger she-cat with a white chest and paws, and blue eyes (Blossomheart and Daffodilfang's daughter)
Warblerflower – Pretty brown tabby, ginger, and white she-cat with green eyes, former loner
Flamenose – Ginger tom with blue eyes (Bellaleaf and Ivyface's son)
Ashheart – Gray tabby tom with green eyes (Newtmist's son)
Wisteriafang – Pale gray tabby tom with green eyes (Dovenose's son)
Oakstripe – Golden-brown tabby tom with a white chest and dark amber eyes, former loner
Kitewhisker – Mottled brown tabby and ginger she-cat with pale green eyes (Commaclaw and Cedarstorm's daughter)
Apprentice, Kestrelpaw
Wasptail – Pale ginger tom with a distinctive striped tail and amber eyes (Commaclaw and Cedarstorm's son)
Lapwingfang – Gray and white she-cat with blue eyes (Violetheart's daughter)
Bearwhisker – Large black tom with white paws and amber eyes (Violetheart's son)
Lichenheart – Gray tortoiseshell and white she-cat with bright blue eyes (Flamenose's daughter)
Crowcloud – Black she-cat with dark green eyes (Birdwing's daughter)
Apprentices:
Kestrelpaw – Brown tortoiseshell and white she-cat with bright amber eyes (Falconheart and Gingerstrike's daughter)
Gullpaw – White tom with gray patches and deep green eyes (Falconheart and Gingerstrike's son)
Queens:
Cricketsong – Small black she-cat with green eyes, former kittypet
Mother of Oakstripe's kits: Wrenkit and Flykit
Kits:
Wrenkit – Light brown tabby tom-kit with amber eyes and soft fur
Flykit – Tiny black she-kit with green eyes
Elders:
None
Cats Outside of the Clans
Former Clan Cats and Their Families
Crowfeather – Old dark gray, almost black, tom with blue eyes, formerly of WindClan
Leafpool – Old light brown tabby she-cat with a white chest and paws, and amber eyes, formerly ThunderClan medicine cat
Mother of Crowfeather's kit: Gale
Jayfeather – Aging gray tabby tom with blind blue eyes, formerly ThunderClan medicine cat
Half Moon – White she-cat with green eyes; revived, formerly of the Ancients
Mother of Jayfeather's kits: Silver Fern, Ice Moon, Wolf Feather, and Gray Leaf
Mole – Black tom with amber eyes (Leafpool and Crowfeather's son)
Patch – Tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes; Mole's mate
Acorn – Brown tabby and white she-cat with blue eyes (Leafpool and Crowfeather's daughter)
Snowflake – White tom with green eyes; Acorn's mate
Gale – Pale gray tom-kit with green eyes
Silver Fern – White she-kit with silver-gray patches and bright blue eyes
Ice Moon – White she-kit with dark green eyes
Wolf Feather – Gray tabby tom-kit with blind blue eyes, a white chest, and white paws
Gray Leaf – Small dark gray tom-kit with bright green eyes
Loners and Rogues
Smoky – Old muscular gray and white tom with green eyes, lives at the Horseplace
Coriander – Aging tortoiseshell and white she-cat with amber eyes, lives at the Horseplace
Dottie – Tortoiseshell and white she-cat with amber eyes, lives at the Horseplace (Smoky and Coriander's daughter)
Mother of Stripes' kits: Tiger and Feather
Stripes – Gray tabby tom with blue eyes and prominent stripes, lives at the Horseplace; Dottie's mate
Tiger – Gray tabby, cream, and white she-kit with blue eyes, lives at the Horseplace
Feather – Gray tom-kit with amber eyes, lives at the Horseplace
A/N: Welcome to Bramble's Sacrifice. Let me go over some things that were not clear in the main part of the chapter.
Starting the story off with a death is maybe not the best way to go. I do wish I had some time to characterize Smallblaze first. But, I have a tendency to make very long chapters if I do not check myself. The other characters' remarks about her will have to do.
Bramblestar is over thirteen years old by the time of this story according to my calculations. Even kittypets start being considered old around that time. He knew that his life would be cut short soon no matter the cause.
I find that many Warriors fans don't size younger cats well in fanart. Average three month (moon) old kittens are half of their adult size. The reason why cats start their apprenticeship at six moons is that they are three-quarters of their full size by this point.
As I have also talked about in the author's notes for Berry's Loss, four moons old is the equivalent of six to eight years old for a kitten. Kids do not fully understand death in all its complexity until nine years old. But, that is still old enough for a kit to understand that they did something very wrong. Harestar will have no choice but to impose a severe consequence given what the end result is.
The WindClan cats searching for the kits will believe the ThunderClan cats given the evidence at the border. They do not know the whole story yet, however. The kits' mothers are frantic.
Tawnypelt was still close to Bramblestar despite the two of them being in different Clans. Informing her of her brother's death and inviting her to his vigil is the only right thing to do. ThunderClan knows she takes the moonhigh ShadowClan patrol a lot. Being an elderly ShadowClan warrior has its perks, like choosing one's patrols within reason.
Several ThunderClan cats do resent the kits for what happened. The reason they are not more hostile in this chapter is because of rule twelve in the warrior code: a warrior must not neglect a kit in danger, even if the kit is from a different Clan. I find that many stories go overboard when someone hates a kit for something. Yelling at kits, injuring kits, and denying kits food are not things likely tolerated in a Clan community.
Jayfeather still has his powers, so he will know that his daughter is dead shortly if he doesn't already. You will have to imagine his reaction as I'm staying by the lake in this story.
I found it appropriate to include all of Squirrelflight and Bramblestar's kits when talking about their family. Juniperkit and Dandelionkit were still their kits even if they didn't live very long. Squirrelflight keeps up the fiction of Jayfeather being dead as his being alive still is a secret.
Bramble's Sacrifice's cover shows Bramblestar in the front, and the WindClan cats involved confronting the fox in the background. No blood is explicitly shown so people are not spooked.
Bramblestar is pictured as a broad strong cat. His shoulder scar was first mentioned in Sunset. His long fur was mentioned in Bramblestar's Storm. I gave him other scars to display his battle prowess and how much time has passed. I did not want him looking too much like Tigerstar, so his ear notch is in a W-shape instead of a V.
Brackenkit is the kit closest to the fox. Buzzardkit is next to her. They're supposed to be running towards the fox, but I didn't get it right. They are the most confrontational of the group.
The adult-sized cat is Harestar. He has a few added scars and silver on his muzzle because of his age. Blackbirdkit is the kit nearest to him. She was originally drawn with her broken leg, but space constraints forced it out of view.
There are not many real life cat colors where a cat can be mottled brown. I decided for simplicity and genetics that Frogkit and his mother are classic tabbies. Classic tabbies are among the least frequent types of tabby pattern occurring in the Clans and appear different enough from regular tabbies that the Clans don't see them as tabbies.
Frogkit's extensive injuries are from holding off the fox until Bramblestar arrived. He's been tore up like a ragdoll. But, even in his weakened state, he is willing to face the fox to protect his friends.
Dunlinkit is quite frankly scared out of his mind. His widened eyes and flattened ears are both feline body language for being scared. He's wishing he had not gotten involved with the fox at all. Blackbirdkit's ears are flattened in a similar way.
Harestar, Brackenkit, Buzzardkit, and Frogkit show more aggressive behavior with their ears pulled back, curled lips, and arched backs.
This story was supposed to be released with another story, Squirrel's Abdication. That story could be considered a sequel to this one. It will come out once I make a cover for it. The cover will be simpler than the one for Bramble's Sacrifice. It will probably be released in the next few weeks.
How did you like it?