This is set in the first chapter of Twilight. Ashfur just woke up from his dream.
Chapter three- continued
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!"
Ashfur struggled out of sleep. Where am I? Where's Bramblepaw?
Then he remembered. The battle was over. They were in their new home. He and Bramblepaw- now Brambleclaw- were enemies now.
He got up, his legs wobbly, as if he really had just killed Bone. But that had been seasons ago. It had just been a dream.
He licked his ruffled fur- he must have been writhing in his sleep- and winced at the injuries from the recent battle. Thank StarClan Mudclaw was dead! It was no more than he deserved.
He wandered out of the warrior's den. The air was crispy with cold, but soft fragrances of flowers that had not yet bloomed drifted through the frigid air.
The Clan was gathering under the Highledge. Ashfur sat down at the edge of the crowd, watching the dawn patrol pad in through the tunnel. Brambleclaw was among them. He was a much different cat than the one that had been with him in the battle with BloodClan. He was bigger, and he had a haughty look on his face that had not been there before. And he had Squirrelflight under his paw now.
Ashfur pushed Brambleclaw to the back of his mind, and continued washing. His injuries stung a bit, but they were healing well. He noticed Leafpool and Squirrelflight across the clearing. He got up, stretched magnificently, and went to join them.
"Hi Squirrelflight!" he exclaimed with courage Rainwhisker would be proud of. "Come sit by me!"
Leafpool nodded to Ashfur as Squirrelflight made her way over. She was looking over her shoulder, and Ashfur was not surprised to see Brambleclaw, his amber eyes dark with malice as he watched Squirrelflight settle down next to Ashfur. He quickly turned away as he noticed their gazes, and sat uncertainly by Brackenfur. Ashfur could feel Squirrelflight's unease, he guessed that he was still friends with Hawkfrost, even after the attack. He looked at his paws.
Firestar began to speak. "Cats of ThunderClan, three sunrises have passed since the battle with Mudclaw. Two dead warriors still lie outside our camp. Now that we have rested, they must be returned to ShadowClan."
Ashfur wasn't really paying attention. His dream was still in his mind. What had it meant? Was it just a nightmare? Or was it a dream from StarClan? Probably not, he wasn't a medicine cat.
The patrol that Firestar appointed got up and left through the thorn tunnel, waking Ashfur out of his reverie. He began to rise to his paws, assuming that the meeting was over, but Firestar was not done.
"Last night Onewhisker should have traveled to the Moonpool to receive his nine lives and his name. But his leadership won't be secure unless he is accepted by every one of his Clanmates. I'm going to lead a patrol to WindClan to check."
Mousefur looked up from grooming her paws. "Surely that's WindClan's problem! ThunderClan warriors have already had their fur ripped off once helping Onewhisker. Haven't we done enough?"
Squirrelflight fixed her green gaze on Mousefur. "But if we risked our lives for Onewhisker, why not make certain it was worth the effort?"
Mousefur glared as Cinderpelt got up. "Whoever leads this patrol, it won't be you, Firestar. You wrenched your shoulder in the battle, and you need to stay in the camp until it's healed."
Firestar frowned. "Very well, Cinderpelt."
"I'll lead the patrol!" Brambleclaw was on his feet, looking excited. Was he thinking leading a patrol would make him deputy?
"Bossy furball," muttered Spiderleg, as Firestar gave Brambleclaw instructions. "Who does he think he is? Clan deputy?" Ashfur noticed that the phrase 'bossy furball' was used to describe Brambleclaw quite a lot, but he didn't want to be too hostile. Being openly hateful about Brambleclaw would surely bother some cats. "Brambleclaw is a good warrior. There's nothing wrong with wanting to be deputy."
"Except ThunderClan already has a deputy," said Spiderleg.
"But Graystripe isn't here, and sooner or later Firestar is going to have to decide how long he's prepared to wait for him."
Graystripe was a much better deputy than Brambleclaw could ever be, Ashfur thought, but he didn't say it.
"Squirrelflight, you can go with Brambleclaw to WindClan. You too, Ashfur and Rainwhisker." Ashfur got up, excited about a patrol, but disappointed that Brambleclaw, of all cats, had to lead it.
"Let's go!" exclaimed Squirrelflight.
"Not yet," grunted Brambleclaw. "I want to hear the rest of the meeting."
Bossy furball!
The rest of the meeting was mainly about hunting patrols, and angst over Whitepaw's training.
" . . . . we need one cat to be responsible for battle skills." At this, Brambleclaw, sat bolt upright. Of course, Brambleclaw thought he was obligated to be in charge of everything! Ashfur opened his mouth to volunteer, but Brambleclaw was faster. "I can do that Firestar."
Ashfur glared at him. He really must think he was Graystripe!
"Starting tomorrow, I can spar with two or three cats every morning." His voice was full of authority he didn't have. "Ashfur, I'll start with you and Spiderleg." Oh, of course, the two toms closest to Squirrelflight! He probably hopes we'll finish each other off!
He narrowed his eyes at Brambleclaw. "Claws sheathed?"
Brambleclaw looked steadily at him. "Claws sheathed, but that's all. We're not kits playfighting."
Squirrelflight sprang up, her pelt bristling. "Ashfur never said we were! I'll fight you, and see if you think I'm playing!"
Brambleclaw was unperturbed. "I'm sure Ashfur doesn't need you to fight his battles, Squirrelflight. Why not let him speak for himself?" His voice dripped with malice. Ashfur laid his tail on her shoulder warningly.
"You think you're so great, Brambleclaw—" Squirrelflight was spitting in her fury.
"That's enough!" Firestar was staring at his daughter angrily. Under his stern gaze, she sat back down.
"Told you he's a bossy furball," whispered Spiderleg.
"Thank you, Brambleclaw. Make sure every cat has a chance to practice as soon as possible." Firestar looked around at the Clan and their injuries.
Brightheart got up. "There's a sheltered clearing not far from here. I was hunting there yesterday. The ground is flat and mossy, and it could be a good place to train, like the sandy hollow back in the forest."
"Sounds ideal. Show me after the meeting. Brambleclaw, don't forget to report to me as soon as you get back from WindClan."
"We can go now, if you're ready," Brambleclaw said, nodding to Firestar.
"Don't tread on my tail, Brambleclaw." hissed Squirrelflight.
"Then start behaving like a warrior, not a mouse-brained apprentice. Unless you think Firestar should have chosen another cat to lead this patrol?"
Birchkit could lead a patrol better than you! thought Ashfur, but he kept it to himself.
"Firestar can choose whichever cat he likes. You are one of his senior warriors after all."
"But that's not what you really think. You think I'm disloyal because I have kin in another Clan. I saw you watching me when I was with Hawkfrost by the lake."
Brambleclaw had been with Hawkfrost? Why hadn't he slashed Hawkfrost to bits? Or why hadn't Hawkfrost slashed Brambleclaw to bits?
"It's a good thing I did! Otherwise no cat would know that Hawkfrost was plotting to become WindClan deputy and then take over RiverClan. I heard what Mudclaw said."
Brambleclaw was plotting with Mudclaw too? And Hawkfrost was going to take over two Clans?
"Mudclaw was lying! Why should we believe that traitor?"
"Why should we believe Hawkfrost?"
"Why shouldn't we? Because Tigerstar was his father? Like he was my father too?" Brambleclaw looked ready to attack. Ashfur felt it was time to intervene.
"That's not fair," he said, standing by Squirrelflight. "Squirrelflight didn't say-"
Brambleclaw rounded on Ashfur, eyes blazing like fire. "Keep out of this! It's got nothing to do with you!"
Ashfur unsheathed his claws, and he noticed Squirrelflight's slide out too. Then she took a deep breath, and dug her claws into the soil. "I don't care who his father was!" she breathed. "I don't trust Hawkfrost because he plotted to kill Onewhisker. He'll do anything for power. A blind hedgehog could see it."
Brambleclaw was still insistent. "You say that, yet you don't have any proof. Hawkfrost is my brother. I'm not going to turn my back on him when he hasn't done anything wrong!"
Squirrelflight narrowed her eyes. "Fine!" she spat. "You're so besotted with him, you wouldn't know the truth if it sat up and bit you. Why not join RiverClan too, if it makes you happier? You obviously don't care about ThunderClan- or me."
Brambleclaw's jaws parted, about to throw a retort at her, when Birchkit tumbled out of nowhere into Brambleclaw's front paws. He stared up and the dark tabby, expected a smiling face like the ones he was used to in the nursery, but instead was met by a scalding glare. His pupils diluted, and he scrambled away, squealing "Sorry!" He disappeared into the nursery.
Brambleclaw stepped away, obviously realizing what a terrifying figure he made. "Come on, we're wasting time. We won't reach WindClan before nightfall at this rate." He stalked towards the thorn tunnel, tail waving, not looking back.
Squirrelflight's fur stopped bristling as she looked at Ashfur. "Are you all right?" he asked.
"I'm fine," she said insistently. "Hurry up, or we'll never catch him." Ashfur could see other cats staring at them as they ran after Brambleclaw, who was still not looking behind him.
Ashfur had never looked at Brambleclaw and seen Tigerstar, as many cats had- but now- for the first time, he could really tell that Brambleclaw was Tigerstar's son.
That one came out really long! Whew!
