Kyoya padded beside Sandra as Bramblepaw led them through ThunderClan territory. He still didn't like the idea of being shown around by an apprentice but he kept his mouth shut, knowing Sandra would say something.
The three halted beside a road just as a car went by. "This is the Thunderpath," Bramblepaw meowed. "Monsters fly by on it all the time so we try to stay well away from it. Cats have died when they got hit by those monsters. It's also the border between our territory and ShadowClan's." Bramblepaw then leaped back into the trees before anyone could say anything else. He seemed eager to get away from ShadowClan's territory. I don't blame him. Tigerstar could be watching us right now if he wanted. Nobody wanted to hang around a murder.
They then reached a clearing with four large oak trees in it. Four different scents mingled together here. "This is Fourtrees. All four Clans gather here in peace under the full moon," Bramblepaw explained. "It also serves as part of the border with WindClan. Now I'll show you RiverClan's border." The young tom led them to a river with stepping stone leading to the other side. "The river serves as the border between ThunderClan and Riverclan, however one place on our side of the river is always in debate as to which Clan it belongs to. It's called Sunningrocks. Many battles have been fought there and many warriors lost. Once both ThunderClan and RiverClan lost their deputies."
Redtail and Oakheart, Kyoya thought. He could tell Sandra was thinking the same thing. He then caught a scent that had a faint trace of ThunderClan in it masked over with ShadowClan scent. "Bramblepaw do you smell that?" he asked.
Bramblepaw tasted the air and he froze, his eyes wide. "Tigerstar! We've to get out of here!" he meowed urgently.
"Too late," Sandra whispered. Kyoya turned around to see an adult version of Bramblepaw with a scarred muzzle.
"Greetings Bramblepaw," the large tom meowed.
"Hello, Tigerstar," Bramblepaw answered cautiously.
"I didn't expect to see you here while I was on my way to see Leopardstar," Tigerstar meowed. When Bramblepaw didn't reply he continued. "I hope that kittypet hasn't softened you."
"Firestar is no kittypet! He's the Clan's leader now! He's the best cat for the job!" Bramblepaw snapped, clearly outraged that Tigerstar had insulted his mentor as well as his Clan leader.
"He makes the Clan weaker than Bluestar did," Tigerstar meowed, flicking his tail dismissing the old ThunderClan leader.
"Bluestar didn't make the Clan weak," Sandra piped up. "She was a a great leader."
"And what do you know about that? I reconize you or the other one beside you. Don't tell me ThunderClan is taking in more kittypets," Tigerstar mocked.
"Watch your mouth!" Kyoya growled, unsheathing his claws and baring his teeth. He didn't know much about the Clan cats but he did know that kittypets were cats that relied on humans to take care of them and Kyoya never relied on people to take care of him.
"I can say what I want. You couldn't beat me in a fight if you tried!" Tigerstar sneered.
"You want to bet?" Kyoya challenged.
"No," Bramblepaw meowed stepping in front of Kyoya. "We can't fight now. We must go. Tigerstar, take care of your buisness with Leopardstar and get out of ThunderClan territory." Bramblepaw then stalked off with his head held high. Sandra followed. Kyoya shot a warning glance at Tigerstar before he followed them.
"Are you ok, Bramblepaw?" Sandra asked.
"I'll be ok. It's just that...no. It's nothing," Bramblepaw meowed.
"Bramblepaw," Sandra pressed.
Bramblepaw sighed. "Fine. Tigerstar is my father, although I never knew him that well."
Sandra gazed at him sympathedically. "Maybe you should talk to Firestar about it," she suggested.
"But he questions my loyalty," Bramblepaw protested. "I don't want to know about my father. I just want to be trusted by my Clanmates."
"Go talk to Firestar sometime," Sandra meowed. "He's your mentor. No matter what he thinks right now he'll always be there for you." Bramblepaw lowered his head for a moment. Kyoya then saw the camp entrance come into view. A cat was padding out into the trees in the direction of the Twolegplace border Bramblepaw had showed them. It took Kyoya a moment to realize it was Firestar.
"Where's Firestar going?" he asked. Bramblepaw looked up as saw his mentor.
"I don't know. I'll go and see. Why don't you go to the training hollow? Someone is bound to be there by now," Bramblepaw didn't wait for an answer as he dashed off after his mentor.
"Do you remember the way to the training hollow?" Kyoya asked.
"Yep. Come on!" Sandra answered as she dashed away. Kyoya followed. Sandra halted when they reached the training hollow. Sure enough Thornpaw was there with Gingka, Madoka and Alex. "Hey guys!" Sandra greeted.
"Hi Sandra! Where's Bramblepaw at?" Alex asked.
"He went to see Firestar," Sandra answered. "Mind if we join you?"
"Not at all," Alex replied with a smile.
"Ok then. We'll pair up and practice some battle moves," Thornpaw decided. "Madoka, you're with me. Alex, you practice with Sandra and Kyoya can practice with Gingka."
"Oh boy!" Sandra meowed as she heard the last pairing. "I know this'll be a mistake."
"Not to me!" Kyoya said with a smile of pleasure on his face.
"Yep, this is a mistake," Alex agreed.
"Claws sheathed, Kyoya!" Sandra reminded him.
"I know that!" Kyoya growled without looking at her. He kept his gaze fixed on Gingka. Thornpaw just ignored them. They all then practiced the rest of the day.
