The day was warm as the sun reached its full height and birds in the forest were singing happily. The forest was quiet except for the slight rustle in the trees as the gentle breeze blew it back and forth, everything seemed calm in the forest.

Suddenly, a high-pitched wail broke the silence of the forest and startled birds flew into the air.

Down in the forest stood a small, dusky brown she-cat next to a light brown tabby she-cat with jet black stripes like a tiger and amber eyes.

"Brambleclaw, please hold on! Let Spottedleaf treat your injuries!" she dusky brown cat meowed in distress.

"No, there's nothing Spottedleaf can do for me now," the tabby known as Brambleclaw replied quietly, lying on her side with a deep gash on her shoulder and blood flowing out onto the forest floor and staining the dried leaves around her.

The dusky brown cat looked panicked. "There has to be something!"

"No, I'm off to join Starclan," Brambleclaw purred. "I have no regrets, just that I wasn't strong enough to stop Brokenstar....."

There was a rustle in the bushes and two more cats appeared, a blue-gray she-cat tinged with white around her muzzle and a lovely tortoiseshell she-cat carrying herbs in her mouth.

"How is she, Mousefur?" the tortoiseshell cat asked the dusky brown cat, gently dropping her herbs onto the ground.

"Not good," was the reply. "She's giving up..."

The blue-gray she-cat stood over Brambleclaw. "You were a great warrior of this clan. Starclan will honor your courage and your bravery for what you have done for your clan. They will welcome you amongst their ranks."

Brambleclaw nodded. "Thank you, Bluestar...."

"But, Bluestar, we have to try and help!" the tortoiseshell insisted.

Bluestar shrugged. "It's up to Brambleclaw."

Brambleclaw let out a rusty purr. "Leave me. I am ready to join Starclan. My injuries are too severe to stop now. No use wasting your herbs."

The tortoiseshell was struck by grief and it showed clearly on her face, but she bowed her head. "You served Thunderclan well, Brambleclaw."

"Thank you, Spottedleaf," Brambleclaw replied. "Good bye to you, and to the rest of the clan. I am only sorry that I failed to stop Brokenstar, I wasn't strong enough."

"It wasn't your fault," Bluestar purred and rested her muzzle on Brambleclaw's head like she had at the young warrior's warrior ceremony. She lifted her head and they gazed into each others eyes. "You tried your best, and Thunderclan couldn't have asked for a braver warrior."

"Thank you, Bluestar," Brambleclaw purred.

"We won't forget you," Mousefur promised.

Brambleclaw purred again and let her tabby head rest against the forest floor, taking her last breath before her life ended.

All three of the cats bowed their heads in grief and stayed where they stood for a very long time.

After a while, there was a rustle in the bushes and a small tortoiseshell tom with a distinctive ginger tail jumped out. "Spottedleaf! Brindleface is having her kits, now!" he meowed urgently.

Spottedleaf nodded. "Redtail, can you help Mousefur carry Brambleclaw's body back to camp?"

The red-tailed warrior was struck by grief and shock for a moment, blinking at the tabby warrior's body. His head bowed and he slowly nodded. Spottedleaf and Bluestar brushed past him and ran through the forest and back to camp.

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"It's okay, Brindleface, Spottedleaf is on her way!"

After a few moments, Spottedleaf rushed into the den with a bunch of herbs. The ginger queen left the den so the medicine cat could help Brindleface.

"How is she, Goldenflower?" Bluestar asked as the ginger queen came out of the den into bright day.

"She's coping well," Goldenflower replied, seating herself beside her clan leader.

They waited a very long time, and at last, Spottedleaf popped her head out of the den. "There's something you need to see," was all she said and went back in.

Bluestar was shocked by the strained voice of the Thunderclan medicine cat, it was urgent, important, serious.

Goldenflower and Bluestar followed Spottedleaf back into the den and saw Brindleface, one kit beside her belly, searching around for milk, meowing quietly.

"Only one kit?" Goldenflower murmured.

"Her name is Bramblekit," Brindleface replied. "Spottedleaf told me about Brambleclaw....."

"This kit looks exactly like Brambleclaw!" Bluestar exclaimed. "Spottedleaf, could this be a sign from Starclan?"

"I am not sure," Spottedleaf murmured calmly. "But we'll find out soon enough."

Bluestar eyed the kit, thoughts racing through her mind, questions buzzing all around her.