Chapter 4

The sunhigh patrol was uneventful, and the three warriors returned to a quiet ThunderClan camp. Brambleclaw broke away from Brackenfur and Rainwhisker as quickly as he could, feeling something strange tugging him back out into the woods.

"I'm going hunting," he lied, almost too quickly. But Rainwhisker and Brackenfur weren't paying enough attention to notice, each off towards the nursery to visit Sorreltail's kits.

Before he knew it, Brambleclaw found himself padding towards the ShadowClan border. Not to ShadowClan territory, however - he wanted nothing to do with the dark Clan since the revelation of his sister's transgressions, but towards the Gathering place. He hadn't an clue why, but it seemed the Gathering place was calling him. He stayed along the lake in case a patrol came through, but their sunhigh patrol seemed to have just passed, so Brambleclaw made his way safely and silently to the fallen tree. He paused, looked around, shook himself to dispell his paranoia, and crossed the lake.

The young warrior sat himself down in the lush grass beneath the leaders' branch, and was immediately immersed in his thoughts. What was he doing? He was plotting murder. He could be tearing apart the very foundations of RiverClan. Mistyfoot was a close friend of Firestar's, as well as other ThunderClan warriors, and she herself was part ThunderClan. The annoying voice in the back of his mind reminded him of what young Mistyfoot had gone through while his father was in power, the way she'd been tortured and forced to watch her brother die right before her eyes, only because of her mixed blood. Brambleclaw verged on trembling with the horrible unfairness of it all.

But then, that time was past, he reminded himself. What he was doing now had nothing to do with his father. Okay, so Tigerstar had helped plan, but that was really all. This was for Hawkfrost's benefit, and all of RiverClan. He respected Mistyfoot as a cat, but she was standing in the way of Hawkfrost's destiny. She was blocking the path by no fault of her own, Brambleclaw reasoned, but he had no choice but to help his half-brother.

And then there was the matter of Reedwhisker. The mere thought of the handsome black tom send angry shivers down his spine. Who did he think he was to break down the life Tawnypelt had so painstakingly built up? He needed to die, that was for certain.

"A sparrow for your thoughts?"

Brambleclaw looked up, startled that there was another cat on the Gathering island when it wasn't even near the full-moon, and tried to find the source of the voice. It took him a moment to locate Hawkfrost, settled atop the leaders' branch, his hanging tail swaying thoughtfully. A tasty looking sparrow dangled from his jaws, and he almost dropped it as he leapt down to join his brother.

"How long have you been watching me?" Brambleclaw asked quietly.

Hawkfrost dropped the sparrow at his paws and lay down next to him. "A good few minutes," he admitted. "You look a bit..."

"Lost?"

"Yeah."

Hawkfrost pointedly pushed the sparrow towards his brother. "Eat some. It helps."

Brambleclaw pushed it back. "No, it's yours."

"It came from this island, not RiverClan territory," Hawkfrost insisted. "So technically, it's for everyone."

Brambleclaw's traitorous stomach chose that moment to growl, and the ThunderClan warrior reluctantly gave in. The sparrow was the most delicious bird he'd ever tasted, and before he knew it, he'd devoured it in four mouthfuls.

Hawkfrost laughed quietly. "Looks like you enjoyed it."

Brambleclaw licked his lips, and flashed Hawkfrost a grateful look. "So, what are you doing here?" the ThunderClan warrior asked.

"Meeting you, of course."

Brambleclaw was taken aback. "How did you know I was coming?"

"I had a feeling."

Brambleclaw didn't reply.

"We need to talk."

A grin tugged at the dark brown tabby's muzzle. "We sound like a love-sick couple, you know that?"

Hawkfrost laughed lightly, something his brother hadn't known him to be capable of. "Maybe. But, speaking of love-sick couples..."

Brambleclaw let out a low growl. "Tawnypelt."

"Yes. That's what I believe we need to discuss." Hawkfrost met his brother's eyes. "We need to act, and soon."

"How soon?"

"Tonight."

Brambleclaw's ears leapt up in surprise. "Hawkfrost, I'm not ready -"

"When will you be readier?" Hawkfrost's challenge gleamed in his icy gaze. "We both know the plan. Why should we wait?" He smirked. "We can't wait anyways, even if we wanted to. I've already convinced Mistyfoot and Reedwhisker to join me on dusk patrol."

Brambleclaw swallowed. The more real it seemed, the more he regretted it. He knew he could still turn back -

"Brambleclaw, please." Hawkfrost looked to him pleadingly, his icy eyes warmer than ever. "You know you want this. You know we need this. Don't let your doubt get in our way."

"I -"

"Think of Squirrelflight."

Brambleclaw's resolve hardened instantaneously. His eyes darkened, and his unsheethed claws dug into the earth.

"That's right," Hawkfrost crooned. "If we are successful tonight, then Father and I can focus on helping you bring Squirrelflight back to her true path."

Brambleclaw nodded numbly. "You're...right," he whispered.

"I know." Hawkfrost stood up, brushing his brother lightly as he did so. "Be at the river cliffs at sunset. You should be able to find them easily. Disguise your scent, but not so much as to hide traces of ThunderClan, then hide yourself in the brush. When I pass with the patrol, wait for my cue - I'll push one of them off without warning - and then you can help me fight the other." He paused. "Everything clear?"

"Yeah," Brambleclaw murmured.

"You can do this," Hawkfrost assured him. "We're strong, descendants of Tigerstar himself. Nothing can stop us. Alright?"

"Yeah. Alright." Hawkfrost's words did little to reassure him. But it didn't matter - there was no way he wouldn't be at the river cliffs at sunset.

x

"He's infuriating!" Huge claws swiped at the earth as though it were an archenemy's throat, effortlessly tearing up skeletal plants and their helpless roots.

"Please, father. Calm down." Hawkfrost's form was still as stone, but his light eyes danced around the dark clearing.

"Don't you see his doubt? It's written so clearly in his eyes, and the air around him reeks of cowardice!" Tigerstar paced back and forth in rage. "I've had enough of being kind to him -"

"But don't you see? Your kindness worked -"

"Don't interrupt me!" Tigerstar hissed, spitting the words in his youngest son's face. "It half convinced him, but not enough to keep him bound to us. What he needs is a show of my power -"

"Father, don't -"

"DON'T interrupt me!" Tigerstar slammed his monstrous paws into the ground, so hard Hawkfrost could have sworn he felt the earth beneath him shake. "Even you seem to have trouble with respect. I believe you two need to see what I am capable of."

Hawkfrost was pretty sure he didn't want to know, any more than he wanted to know exactly how his father would show them. "Please, father, give me this chance." His face broke into a confident, yet somehow disturbing grin. "Once Mistyfoot and Reedwhisker are gone, Tawnypelt will be free, and I will be deputy. Brambleclaw will find pride in having contributed to this, and then he'll come around. I still stand by my theory, that he will respond better to kindness than fear."

"And what if he steps out of line tonight?" Tigerstar challenged. "Did you not consider this? His conscience has too much control over him, and that kittypet has affected his morals. He could back out and give you away. Everything we've worked for would be lost."

Hawkfrost smirked, that evil snicker that the cats of his Clan knew him so well for but his brother had never seen. "Of course I've considered that, father. If that happens, then... let's just say I'll abandon my theory."

x

"Squirrelflight!"

Ashfur bounded up to the ginger she-cat, a newfound spring in his graceful gray steps. Her eyes lit up as she saw him coming.

"Wanna go hunting?" They asked at exactly the same time. Pause. Then Ashfur nearly fell backwards laughing. His sweet, pure laughter was contagious, and though Squirrelflight had never been one to laugh out loud, she found herself giggling with him.

"Sure," she replied, once her fit of laughter had subsided. She felt giddy, and knew he did too, as if they had eaten too much and were having an insane energy rush. She knew they were acting like kits just out of the nursery, but she loved it.

Her bubble was bursted as her eyes landed on Ashfur's flank, matted with cobwebs and dry blood. "Has Leafpool cleared you to leave camp?" she asked with concern.

Ashfur's deep blue eyes shone with amusement. "Just a moon ago, you were the one scolding me for worrying too much. Don't worry, I'm fine."

"You do worry too much," she grumbled, shaking off his criticism, "I can defend myself -"

"I know." He brushed her pelt softly. "And so can I." He purred. "Still want to go hunting?"

All traces of offense disappeared from her features faster than she could spring at a sparrow. "Of course," she mewed.

They passed Leafpool on the way out of camp. "Yes, he's healthy enough to go hunting," Squirrelflight could have sworn she heard her sister whisper. "Well, he may not be, but how can I deny these two wonderful cats the opportunity to hunt together?" Squirrelflight simply ignored her. If Ashfur wasn't healthy enough to leave, she knew Leafpool wouldn't let him. If her goal was simply to provoke a response, she wasn't going to get one.

She did allow her sister the satisfaction of seeing their tails melt together as they disappeared into the brush.

The beautiful blend of ginger and gray fur spiraled Leafpool into an unwanted memory. She longed to be allowed to love like her sister. She was so lucky, that the cat of her dreams was part of her own Clan and there was nothing stopping her from being with him forever.

Had Leafpool been more the envious type of cat - certain ones came to mind - she would have unbearably jealous of Squirrelflight's discovery of love. As it was, though images of Crowfeather danced around in her head taunting her, she didn't feel anything but infinite happiness for her sister.

For once there was nothing trying to kill them, nothing out to get them, no badgers or tyrants to destroy their affection. It seemed to Leafpool that for the first time in many, many, many moons, all was right in the world.

She had no idea how wrong she was.

--

A/N: Terribly sorry for any typos and grammar mistakes. My computer is going psycho (I know you hear this all the time)...but it actually is. And at least I'm not using it as an excuse not to update :). I have to use dial-up to get online and it won't let me load anything Microsoft, so I'm stuck with Wordpad... and no spell check. I've proofread it, but obviously stuff gets by me... so, my apologies.

Now, to review replies. Yes, individual this chapter. Yay...?

I Be Guest: I completely agree with your assessment of Brambleclaw. First of all, I do think he's a good cat at heart... we'll see how that comes into play. (clamps moth shut) And in normal circumstances, he'd probably act exactly as you said about Tawnypelt, and he might even be happy for her. But poor Brambly isn't exactly thinking straight at the moment, and he was already upset... so it just made him more upset. Anyways, thanks for the long and insightful review. They're my favorites. :)

DarkwolfKnight: I agree, I love these RiverClan cats. They're adorable. But obviously, I can't say what happens to them. ...I feel so evil.

Painted Inkblot: you got Brambleclaw's character down perfectly. Love the constructive reviews, by the way. It's amazing how few there are anymore, and they're helpful. :)

crowfeather51: again, loving the ashxsquirrel enthusiasm. Didn't know it existed. :P

Shellheart: you hit Brambleclaw right on the nail. Figuratively, of course. I think. And you stole my line. Hmph... I might have to resort to one my annoying health teacher uses. "Food for thought; you do the dishes." Corny and thought provoking. Or not.

Windy Darling: that's a new one. Plenty of people hate poor Ashfur, but Squirrely? I can see where it comes from, though. I guess she can be incredibly annoying, but who in Warriors isn't now?

Starkit: ughh. Homework. Needs. To. Die. ...Forever. Glad you agree. :)

Feathercloud: yep, us over here like Ashy. Fun, huh?

Nothing to ponder this time. What sadness.