Starclan's gifts Chaper 1
I do not own Warriors
Enjoy!
A bright-amber she-cat watched as a brown tom and an orange she-cat left a pair of starry pawprints on the mossy forest floor. They were slowly padding towards a great lake, were a bright, full moon was reflected in its water. The two cats prints now emerged into one as they sat down by the lake. The moonlight flickered around them, making them look like they glowed. Their glow suddenly became brighter and brighter, eventually growing as bright as the moon. It seemed that they were destined for one enother… forever…
"No!" Squirrelflight wimpered as she was startled from the dream. Many moons ago, she would of purred in delight of having such a dream as that. Now, it was her worst nightmare. It was still dark out, not even close to dawn. With a sigh, Squirrelflight glanced across the den, over the bodies of sleeping cats, to the one cat she loved. Brambleclaw. Just thinking his name made her heart ace, remembering the love they once had, before Hollyleaf let out her darkest secret, turning her mate and her clan against her.
Two seasons ago, Leafpool had called her sister into the forest, her belly heavy with kits. She had explained to Squirrelflight that during her daring escape with her forbidden love, Crowfeather, she had somehow become pregnant with kits. Since Leafpool was a medicine cat, she was forbidden to have a mate, let alone kits. Leafpool had then given birth to kits, and thinking, that her sister was dying, Squirrelflight had agreed to take the kits as her own. Then Ashfur had almost killed the kits, forcing Squirrelflight to tell them, not expecting that one would tell the clan, and ruine her life.
Brambleclaw had been heartbroken when he found out, and instead of letting his anger out, as the she-cat would have preferred, he had given his former mate the cold shoulder, and for the last five moons, he had made sure that their paths never passed. The past five months had been complete torture for Squirrelflight. Even her adopted kits hated her. The only cats that seemed to like her were her parents, Sandstorm and Firestar, and her sister Leafpool.
Brambleclaw shifted in his sleep, rolling to his other side. Squirrelflight recalled how she had loved that side, and every other part of the dark brown tabby, and, she realized with a sigh, she still did. She had to end this soon. She was tired of avoiding his amber gaze, tired of feeling so sad, so abandoned. She gulped. It was time to confront Brambleclaw, and finally end the tourture. The she-cat would of confronted him sooner, but she was afraid of what his answer may be. Squirrelflight didn't know what she would do if they couldn't be mates again… She shuddered at the very thought. 'I'll tell him tommorow." She decided, as she drifted off to sleep.
Squirrelflight stretched as she padded out of the den. Today was the day she'd talk to Brambleclaw, today was the day she'd make things right. The dark tom stood under the highledge, organizing the patrols. As clan deputy, It was his duty to do these things. The she-cat padded towards the group of cats that surrounded the deputy, hoping that her former mate would allow her to be on the same patrol as him. "Graystripe, Lionheart, Cinderheart," He addressed three of the cats around him, "You take the first hunting patrol. "Berrypaw, Rowanfur, Sandstorm and I will go on a border patrol." He concluded, turning towards the camp entrance. "Wait!" Squirrelflight demanded, racing to the tom. "Can I come?" She pleaded. Brambleclaw hesitated for a moment, then realising that she didn't have anything else to do, he sighed. "Fine." He replied gruffly. He then turned and stalked into the forest. Squirrelflight felt a pang of sadness. Even after five moons, Brambleclaw's additude towards her hadn't changed.
Brambleclaw pounced on a mouse. It was an excellent catch, and Squirrelflight was tempted to say so, but, given current circumstances, she decided not to. She waited till he had buried the mouse. "Brambleclaw." The deputy turned at the sound of his former mate's voice. "We need to talk." The tabby narrowed his eyes. "Why should I want to talk to you?" His voice was harsh. Squirrelflight winced at his harsh words. "Please." She pleaded, and for the first time in her life, she thought she was going to cry. No, Squirrelflight didn't cry. Brambleclaw widened his eyes in shock. He clearly was as surprised as she was as his former mates' sudden change in character. "Ok. What do you want?" He replied, sitting down. Squirrelflight took a deep breath. "Brambleclaw, I am so sor-" She was suddenly cut off as Rowanfur raced into the clearing. "Brambleclaw! Shadowclan scent on out boarder!" Her eyes were wide in shock, but something was off. False. Squirrelflight's pelt bristled in suspicion. Brambleclaw took no notice of this and leaped up.
"Where?" He asked. Rowanfur pointed with her tail. Brambleclaw raced off in the direction. Squirrelflight prepaired to do the same, but was startled to see the other she cat sitting, licking her paws. "Lets go!" She hissed, annoyed at the tan cats ignorance. Rowanfur laughed. "There is no trouble." She mewed. "WHAT!" Squirrelflight hissed in shock. Rowanfur suddenly got an evil look in her eyes, and Squirrelflight found herself pinned to the forest floor. "Rowanfur…" She mewed in shock. The other she-cat leaned closer to the amber cat. "Brambleclaw will be mine, and if you even try to interfear, I will rip you inch by inch." Squirrelflights shock turned to fury. "Mousebrain, Brambleclaw is my mate not yours!" Rowanfur brought her face only inches from Squirrelflight's. "He loves me now." Squirrelflight could only stare in shock. Was it possible that Brambleclaw had found another mate? She gulped. Was Starclan trying to kill her?
Just then, Brambleclaw rushed into the clearing. Rowanfur lept off of Squirrelflight. "The sent was stale." He panted. " Rowanfur pretended to look ashamed. "Sorry. Lets go back to camp." Rowanfur paded out of the clearing. Brambleclaw turned to Squirrelflight. "What did you want to tell me?" He asked. "Nothing."Squirrelflight murmered, lost in her thoughts. Was the mouse-brained she-cat lying? Brambleclaw looked at her disbeleivenly, but reductuntly nodded and padded back towards cammp. With a sigh, Squirrelflight followed him. What am I going to do now? She wondered. If what Rowanfur says is true, then… Has starclan truly abandoned me?
Squirrelflight awoke again that night, plagued by that horrible nightmare. Now, It filled her with sadness. There was no way that dream could come true now, if what that horrible she-cat said was true. Her stomach growled. Rowanfur had accused her of having a second meal now for the 12th night in a row, and with the clan distrusting her, there was nothing she could do. She'd managed to keep herself alive by eating prey when she went hunting, but even with that little food, she was growing skinny and weak. She knew that the next battle she got into would be her last. Again, as she was beginning to do every night, she opened her eyes and checked on Brambleclaw. What she saw made her gasp.
Brambleclaw was curled up with Rowanfur, just like they were… mates. Squirrelflight felt her heart break and let her tail droop. Tears were brimming in her eyes. The worst had happened. Brambleclaw doesn't love me. The amber she-cat realised. Then, in violation of all the rules she'd made herself, Squirrelflight broke. With a sob, she fled the den, and ran into the woods. She would not let him see her cry. She ran and ran, then collasped, letting sadness engulf her.