Guys, I know that last chapter was really wimpy, so I'm going to try to make it up with an extra-long chapter this time, kay? It's 1166 words, including these.

Before the chapter starts, I would like to thank someone.

My thanks go out to Shira the Mage for my first review, a really positive one. Thanks, Shira!

Bramblestar was pacing. He did not know what to do. He had just fought with Squirrelflight and she had stormed off because of something he said. He didn't even know what. Now she wouldn't talk to him and he had absolutely no idea why.

He decided to talk to Sandstorm. He exited his den, and made his way over to the elder's den. He entered and, seeing that she was awake, walked over to her.

He explained the problem to her and asked if she could help. Sandstorm pondered for a moment and then said, "Recount your entire conversation with Squirrelflight."

Bramblestar said, "First, I was trying to figure out hunting and border patrols. Then, I called over Squirrelflight and asked her if this would be a good hunting patrol setup for tomorrow. First, she would go with Spiderleg and Amberpaw. Then, when her patrol got back, I would go with Rosepetal and Icecloud. And finally, Brackenfur would lead a patrol consisting of Dovewing and Cinderheart. As for the border patrols, I would lead a patrol consisting of Lionblaze, Lilyheart, and Whitewing, and after they got back, Thornclaw would lead a patrol of Toadstep, Foxleap, and Mousewhisker, and then she would lead a patrol of Dovewing, Birchfall, and Hazeltail."

Sandstorm thought for a bit. Then she responded, "I think I know why she won't talk to you."

"Why?" Bramblestar asked.

"I think that Squirrelflight is afraid because you and her are not in camp together at all during the day. She probably thinks that you are trying to get rid of her. You should probably go tell her that you don't mean anything like that," Sandstorm responded.

Okay," replied Bramblestar, and headed out of the elder's den to go find Squirrelflight.

After exiting, he looked around outside and saw Squirrelflight sharing tongues with Sorreltail. He approached them. As he got closer, Squirrelflight noticed him, got up, and walked away.

"Ouch," said Sorreltail.

Bramblestar sighed.

"By the way, she told me why she's mad at you," Sorreltail said.

"Yeah, I know. She's afraid that I'm trying to get rid of her," said Bramblestar.

"Try to catch her alone," said Sorreltail. "That way, it'll be harder for her to ignore you."

"Okay," said Bramblestar, and followed Squirrelflight sneakily outside of the camp.

"Squirrelflight," he called, once they were a few hundred tail-lengths from the camp.

"What do you want?"

"I wanted to say something."

"Well, say it and get it over with."

"I wanted to say that I didn't mean anything by those patrols. I'm not trying to get rid of you. You're my mate and no other cat can replace you."

Squirrelflight's shoulders visibly relaxed. "Do you really mean that?' she asked.

"Yes," Bramblestar replied.

"Okay," she said, "We can keep the patrols the way they are."

"No, it's fine," said Bramblestar, "I'll switch my hunting patrol with Brackenfur's.

They looked at each other, silent.

Squirrelflight broke the silence. "I'm going hunting. Would you like to come with me?"

"Sure," Bramblestar replied, "Let's go by the Sky Oak. Dewpaw, Amberpaw, and Snowpaw are actually being assessed by Whitewing, Spiderleg, and Ivypool. If we hunt over there, once the apprentices are done, I can quickly talk their mentors about the assessment, and if it went well, I will make them warriors. Also, I might be able to see a little myself."

"Okay," said Squirrelflight, and started toward the Sky Oak.

Once they reached the Sky Oak, Bramblestar went over to the mentors, and asked them about the assessment so far. All three said it was very good so far.

Bramblestar walked a few tail-lengths away, and Squirrelflight did as well. Bramblestar then recognized the scent of mouse. He followed it carefully, to make sure not to scare it away, and then, something moved in the shadows. Bramblestar saw it out of the corner of his eye, and whipped his head around. He had barely stepped toward it when he saw it come out of the bushes. It saw him and roared. Bramblestar backed away slowly, hoping that it would see that he was not a threat. It didn't work. The thing launched itself at Bramblestar. He dodged aside, but the creature's large paws clipped him on the tail. He stumbled and fell. He got up as fast as he could, but he was not fast enough. The creature swatted him and he flew backward into a tree and crumpled. The last thing he heard was Squirrelflight's yowl, "Bramblestar!'"

He woke up and looked around, confused. The cats who gave him his nine lives, Firestar, Goldenflower, Bluestar, Mousefur, Lionheart, Ferncloud, Cinderpelt, Feathertail, and Ravenpaw, were standing in front of him. Firestar came forward.

"You have lost your first life," he said.

Bramblestar got up. "I need to get back to fight that… thing."

Bluestar chuckled, amused. "Firestar said the same thing when he lost his first during the battle with BloodClan," she said.

"We will get you back as soon as possible," Firestar said, "But first, you must here this.

"We give you a prophecy," the nine cats chanted in unison.

When the first light falls, the monster shall wake

First ravaging through the stars

Then many shall be taken

One by one

And four cats shall avenge them

But not by force

"What" said Bramblestar.

Then his eyes snapped open. He leaped up. He was astonished at what lay before him. Squirrelflight, Dewpaw, Amberpaw, Snowpaw, Whitewing, Spiderleg, and Ivypool were fighting the thing, yet they still were outmatched. It seemed like the thing had not even gotten injured, while Squirrelflight was bleeding from a gash on her flank, and Ivypool had one on her right foreleg.

Bramblestar yowled defiantly, and then charged at the thing. Squirrelflight turned around for a second, and Bramblestar saw a flash of relief in her face before she turned around again and kept fighting.

Bramblestar fought as hard as he had ever done before in his life. But they could not harm the monster at all. It was like it was invincible. It was fast, strong, and skillful.

"Everyone," Bramblestar cried out, "RETREAT!"

They wasted no time following his orders. Everyone turned tail and pelted toward the ThunderClan camp.

When they reached the camp, Bramblestar went straight to his den, trying to connect the prophecy and this monster somehow.

"The monster must be this thing," he thought, "So, we must defeat it before 'the first light falls.'

The realization dawned on him: it had defeated a leader, deputy, 3 warriors, and 3 apprentices without suffering the slightest bit of harm. They would have to have all of the 4 clans to maybe even touch it.

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