Chapter 1
Disgrace of Brambleclaw
Gingerstar14: Hey, This is being rewritten. Now that I'm like way older and have taken special writers classes, I'm gonna rewrite my first fic. Won't that be exciting??? I'm adding Gingerpelt in just for fun.
It was a cool, clear day. The sun was high in the sky, and ThunderClan's camp was busy. Ashfur and Spiderleg were returning from their hunt with Birchpaw. Sandstorm and Firestar were talking by the halfrock, and Dustpelt was visiting with Ferncloud in the nursery. Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw were sitting a little ways away from Firestar.
"Brambleclaw," the ThunderClan leader called. "Didn't I hear Brackenfur tell you go on a patrol?" he snapped at the young warrior.
Brambleclaw looked up sharply. Was Firestar detirmined to still keep him from Squirrelflight after all this? "Yes, Firestar. But I was just-"
Firestar cut in, rising to his paws and strutting over angrily. "Just wasting time. And I don't see you doing anything to help the Clan either!" he rounded on his daughter, who spat angrily. She took a pace forward.
"Can't we even say a few words?" Brambleclaw asked peacefully, nudging Squirrelflight. "We aren't doing any harm, you know." he dipped his head to his leader. Even if Firestar wasn't going to give him any respect, Brambleclaw would show it to him.
"I don't know what your problem is! Brambleclaw just stopped to tell me he wants to eat with me. And you sure are doing good to the Clan too! Sitting with my mother doing nothing! You yowl at us for chatting, when it's exactly what you're doing! You've got no right!" Squirrelflight spat. Firestar bristled angrily and leaped forward. The two ginger cats stood nose-to-nose, though Firestar was a good bit taller than her.
Brambleclaw had a burst of courage. "Well, if you can't trust me to go on a patrol, why bother making me a warrior? And I don't see it helping to yell at us when we could be patroling by- now" His voice faded as Firestar whipped around, his green eyes smoldering. He shranaway with a faint hiss. What was wrong with Firestar?
Squirrelflight let out a snarl, but Brambleclaw whipped around and stalked over to where Gingerpelt , Brackenfur, and Whitepaw were waiting. "Let's go," he muttered, and led them down the entrance.
In the forest, they skirted the ShadowClan border. Gingerpelt fell in step with him. "Hey, Brambleclaw. What did you do to ruffle Firestar's fur? He's madder'n a bull in a red room!" Brambleclaw stared at her for a moment, mystified, then Gingerpelt shrugged. "Nothin'. Just somethin' they usedta say back home."
"Well, I just don't know anymore," he waved his tail to Brackenfur to take the lead. Brackenfur called to Whitepaw and they dashed ahead. "Firestar is not fair!"
"I'll talk to him. We were great friends 'fore-" Gingerpelt turned away abruptly. "'fore he became leader." she straightened up suddenly. "C'mon. Let's get goin'. Don't give him any more reason to be angry with you." They hurried back.
Once entering the camp, it was mostly empty. Brambleclaw was heading toward Squirrelflight when Firestar headed toward him. His heart sank. "Brambleclaw," Firestar's voice was quiet. "What are you doing now?"
"I just-"
"No, you were WASTING TIME!" Brambleclaw shrunk back and closed his eyes as Firestar continued. "I ask you to lead a simple patrol and you have Brackenfur leading it. Then you waste time gossiping with Gingerpelt when you could be hunting for the Clan. As it seems, you are unable to preform even the simplest tasks, so I will demote you to being an apprentice for a moon."
Brambleclaw opened his eyes. "I'm sorry Squirrelflight." he muttered. "But, Firestar, you deserve it!" he leaped up, lashing his tail in the air and landed on his leader. Firestar had pushed him too far. He dug his claws into Firestar's ginger fur, and the leader yowled and rolled over. He struggled for a moment before Firestar overtook him. Claws dug into his haunches, and teeth met his ear. He scented Brackenfur, Sandstorm, and Dustpelt. Ashfur leaped forward and dragged him across the ground.
The last thing he saw was Squirrelflight's horrified face before he fell into darkness.
