Disclaimer: I don't own warriors.
Brambleclaw's Best Friend
Chapter two: Berryfrost wants her too
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highledge for a clan meeting!" Firestar called out.
Brambleclaw uncurled himself and stretched. He nudged Poppyclaw. "Firestar called a meeting, Poppy." He said, using her nickname he'd given her.
The tortilshell she-cat lifted her head. "Hey, Bramble." She purred. "What does Firestar want?"
"I don't know,"
"Well, let's go then. We won't find out by standing here." she stood and twined her tail with Brambleclaw's. He licked her head.
They headed into the clearing. Brambleclaw sat down with Ashfur, while Poppyclaw sat down with Thornclaw, her old mentor. Ashfur looked at him. "Hey, Brambleclaw." He said.
"Hello, Ashfur." Brambleclaw said curtly.
Firestar began talking again. "We are gathered here today for the apprenticing of two kits." He nodded and Icekit and Foxkit, Ferncloud's kits, padded forward. "Icekit!"
The young she-cat padded forward. "From this day until you receive your warrior name, you will be Icepaw." He paused as everyone chanted her name. "I ask StarClan to watch over you and guide you until you find in your paws the strength and courage of a warrior." His gaze looked around the clearing. "Poppyclaw," he said. "You have just finished your apprenticeship. Though young, you are a strong warrior at heart and I'm sure you'll be a great mentor to Icepaw. Help her be a warrior we can all be proud of."
Coming up beside Icepaw, Brambleclaw's to-be mate dipped her head. "I promise you that I won't let you down."
The two touched noses then padded back to Thornclaw.
"Foxkit!" he called out. The little tom padded forward and stopped beside his leader. "From this day until you receive your warrior name you will be known as Foxpaw." Again he waited as everyone chanted the new apprentice's name. "I ask StarClan to watch over you and guide you until you find in your paws the strength and courage of a warrior." Firestar looked around him at his clanmates, searching. "Brambleclaw," he announced. "You were mentored by me when I was Bluestar's deputy, and I wish for you to pass on all you know to this young apprentice."
"I won't disappoint you." He mewed defiantly. He touched noses with Foxpaw then headed back to Ashfur.
"I wish both of you the best in training your apprentices; these two are quite the trouble makers." Firestar purred.
Brambleclaw smiled. Firestar dismissed the clan, and Squirrelflight padded up to Brambleclaw. "Can I take a patrol and hunt?" she asked.
"Sure. Take Spiderleg and Thornclaw." Brambleclaw snapped.
Squirrelflight walked away, calling the toms to her as she went. Spiderleg launched into a conversation with the ginger she-cat as soon as he was at her side.
Brambleclaw looked down at Foxpaw. The little tom was shifting uneasily. "What it is?"
"I…" Foxpaw sniffed the air. "I smell something that's not ThunderClan." He met Brambleclaw's gaze.
Brambleclaw tensed as he smelled it too. He glanced out the tunnel and saw a group of shadows moving forward. He sprang forward and crouched in the entrance way.
A she-cat stepped out of the bushes. Brambleclaw bared his teeth, recognizing Russetfur, the ShadowClan deputy. "What do you want?" he snapped.
Russetfur padded past him. The two warriors with her followed her; Oakfur and Tawnypelt. They padded into camp. "Firestar!" Russetfur yowled.
The tom leaped down the rocks and stood in front of the deputy. "What do you want?"
She laid her ears back. "I come with a message from Blackstar. He says that he needs herbs. Our medicine cat can't find any."
Leafpool appeared out of her den. Behind her came Thornclaw. Brambleclaw narrowed his eyes. Thornclaw didn't appear to have any scratches. Why was he visiting Leafpool?
The medicine cat walked back into her den and came back out with a few herbs. "Here." She said calmly. Russetfur dipped her head. She grabbed the herbs and walked out of camp.
Leafpool returned back to her den. Thornclaw followed. Brambleclaw shrugged and padded to the warriors den to find Poppyclaw. He found her in her nest, half asleep.
"You okay?" he asked.
She nodded and stood. "Well, do you want something?"
"No. I was just looking for you."
"Good." Poppyclaw left the den and sat down outside in the sun. Brambleclaw was about to follow when Berryfrost sat down beside her outside the den. Poppyclaw glared at him slightly. "What do you want?"
"Nothing really." Berryfrost purred. "I just wanted to sit here with you." He sat next to her, so that their flanks were touching and twined her tail in his. Brambleclaw tensed. He padded out of the den and glared openly at Berryfrost.
But his former apprentice wasn't phased. He just stood and trotted away. Poppyclaw looked at Brambleclaw. He glared at her through narrowed eyes. "Was I interrupting?" he snapped.
"No!" the young warrior stood. "I'm sorry! Berryfrost just-"
"I understand." Brambleclaw's eyes glittered with anger. He turned and headed out of camp, calling Foxpaw as he went.
Squirrelflight watched in satisfaction as Berryfrost twined his tail with Poppyclaw. She stood in a tree above the camp. Spiderleg and Thornclaw were hunting somewhere nearby. Suddenly, Brambleclaw appeared behind them and Berryfrost walked away. Poppyclaw said something to the dark warrior before he left camp with Foxpaw behind him. She jumped out of the tree and met Brambleclaw at the entrance. Her eyes shown with an unspoken plan. Brambleclaw stopped in front of her.
"Hello. Would you like to hunt with Thornclaw, Spiderleg and me?" she asked sweetly, looking down at him (she's standing on a higher level of grass).
Brambleclaw's eyes seemed to light up with a plan of his own. He closed the distance between them by pressing his muzzle into her flank. Squirrelflight almost fell in surprise.
Thornclaw and Spiderleg appeared behind them. "Squirrelflight, we need to get our prey!" Spiderleg smiled at her.
Squirrelflight returned the smile. "Okay. Brambleclaw's coming too."
Thornclaw nodded, and then spun around with the other four on his heels.
Squirrelflight smirked to herself. If all continued to go well, her plan would work perfect, and Brambleclaw would once again be around her paw, caught in the trap he'd once escaped.
But this time he wouldn't be able to get out.
She'd make sure of it.
Yes, Brambleclaw, she thought, falling into step beside Spiderleg. Berryfrost wants her too.
