Silence met her words, and then a chorus of disbelief erupted from the clan, but not from Redtail or Spottedleaf, Mudstorm and my friends were too shocked to say anything.

"She can't have the name of the great warrior, Brambleclaw!" Darkstripe called out.

"What gives her the right to take that name!?" Speckletail was equally shocked.

More protests were shot at Bluestar's decision, but I sat there calmly, I had finally re-earned my name.

Bluestar jumped back to the Highrock and let out a yowl to silence the clan. "I know that some of you don't think that this young cat deserves this name," she began. "But, there's something you all need to know." I sighed, the truth had to come out sooner or later. I caught the eyes of Tigerclaw and I looked at him before turning back to my leader. "But the great warrior never joined Starclan."

"What!?"

"That's impossible!"

The chorusing of shock rose up again.

"It's true!" the clan fell silent as the gentle medicine cat pushed her way to the front and jumped up to the Highrock to stand beside Bluestar. "Our great warrior, Brambleclaw never went to Starclan, because our warrior ancestors knew that she had a job to finish, and she never finished it. If you have ever wondered why this cat looks exactly like our great warrior," she met the eyes of every cat in the clan. "Take a closer look. Brindleface had only one kit, only one, and it was exactly after our great warrior died. If you ever stopped to realize that she looks so much like our great warrior, did you ever stop to think, why?"

I still sat there, watching Spottedleaf make her statement, and I heard the murmur rising.

"Starclan sent her back," Spottedleaf continued, making the clan silent. "Because she was the only one to stand in the way of Brokenstar, and he struck her down. They sent her back because they want her to stop him, to bring an end to his evil ambitions. So this cat that stands before you, is your great warrior."

All eyes turned to me and I turned to meet them. "Cats of Thunderclan, I swear it by Starclan that this is true," I meowed. "I can remember everything from my past life, every hunting trip, every training session with my mentor, every battle, every scar. I am who I look like."

"So who can now say that this cat does not deserve the right to have this name?" Bluestar challenged. "Brambleclaw was her name, and will be again."

This time, there was a chorus of cheering as they called the new warrior names. "Ravencry! Mudstorm! Brambleclaw! Ravencry! Mudstorm! Brambleclaw!"

I purred as warriors congratulated us, Redtail trotted over to me. "Well, now everybody knows."

I nodded, I was glad everyone knew. It didn't matter that Tigerclaw knew, whether I trusted him or not, because even if he was against the clan and wanted to tell Brokenstar, it would serve no purpose. The evil rogue already knew.

Mudstorm bounded over to me. "There's no way! Why didn't you-" I brushed my tail over her mouth for silence. On this night, Ravencry, Mudstorm and I were forbidden to speak.

"In tradition," Bluestar called so I didn't need to explain. "Thunderclan's newest warriors must sit a silent vigil, guarding the camp along while we sleep."

I looked at Mudstorm and she sighed, but she would ask me tomorrow.

"Good night," Redtail brushed past me and padded across to the warriors den. Brindleface looked at me and bowed her head, I bowed my head in return.

I slowly padded across to the center of the clearing and sat down, looking at the gorse tunnel, it would be a cold night. Mudstorm sat on my right side, Ravencry on my other side. Tomorrow I would be fulfilling warrior duties again, just like I was more used to.

The night was indeed cold, a breeze blew gently, ruffling our fur, but we said nothing. The whole point of a silent vigil was meant for the new warriors to reflect on their life, and to think about the duties and difficulties that lay ahead. But instead of reflecting, my mind traveled to Brokenstar. Where would he go now? Would he leave the forest and stay living as a rogue? Or would he rebel and attack the clans for driving him out?

I shrugged. Either way, I needed to find him again one day, so then I could finally kill him and stop his evil ambitions, because I knew this wasn't the end. Brokenstar would return, and he would be even more fierce than before. He needed to be stopped, no matter what the case, and I was the only one who could stop him.

The whole night was quiet, there was no sign of attack, we just waited for the sun to rise.

But my thoughts traveled across to Tigerclaw too. I looked over my shoulder at the warriors den, I could just see his dark tabby pelt through the entrance among the other warriors. I knew he didn't like me, not in my last life, and not in this life. For him to find out that I was back, I didn't know what he thought about that. What would he do? Would he use this information and go to Brokenstar about it? Not that it mattered in the least, but still...

And if I was killed before the death of Brokenstar, would Starclan send me back again? Would they send me back a third time to complete my task? If they didn't, would they get another cat to do it? I growled, I would be the one to kill him, and Clawface. That mangy furball killed Mousefur, I would be the one to kill him and get my revenge!

The whole night was quiet, and I was glad when I finally saw the tip of the sun rising above the trees.

"Glad to see the sun, you three?" I turned to see Redtail, we all nodded. "It's okay, you can speak now. Your vigil is over."

"Thank you, Redtail," I nodded and I looked past him to see the elders bringing Mousefur's body out into the clearing, so that the clan could say their goodbyes before her burial.

I saw the clan beginning to wake up and they padded over to Mousefur's body, whispering words of goodbye. I would wait until everyone was finished before I said my goodbye.

"So, this whole time..." I heard Mudstorm meow and I looked at her. "This whole time, you've been acting like any other apprentice?"

I dipped my head. "I only knew the time when we traveled to Highstones," I replied. "That's why Spottedleaf kept me back. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you. It didn't seem like the time."

Redtail nodded. "Brokenstar would have guessed by now, so now it is okay for everyone to know. And the clan would have found out anyway from the warrior ceremony."

Mudstorm blinked at me, and I was waiting for the look of betrayal, I was ready to hand out any sort of apology I could think of if I hurt her trust in me. But instead of that, I saw a light shining in her eyes. "Wow. I actually had the chance to train alongside a warrior that the whole forest knew about, and honored. The elders tales, all the stories, they were all about you... This is so amazing!"

"I should have told you earlier," I purred. "But I couldn't. But it was an honor to train alongside you as well. But that doesn't mean you need to think of me as a higher rank, you are still my friend."

Mudstorm nodded. "I'm glad."

"Well, at least we get to know the old legend face-to-face," Ravencry piped up. "It truly is an honor."

I dipped my head in embarrassment. "I'm still me."

"Yeah, we know," Mudstorm purred.

Redtail purred in amusement. "Well, are you going to pay your respects to Mousefur?"

I nodded and we followed the Thunderclan deputy across the clearing to where Mousefur's body lay. Mudstorm and Ravencry stood back so I could go first. I felt all eyes trained on me from the clan, but it was not of mistrust, they all seemed glad to know the truth, to know I was still around.

I was not used to seeing Mousefur so still. I remembered how Mousefur and I had grown to be the closest friends there could be, we hunted together in my other life, we fought side by side, and we shared our meals and helped each other get out of trouble. I remember running with her the most; the way we used to race through the forest with the breeze blowing our fur flat, her eyes shining into mine. In this life, when she had been my mentor, I remember how she showed me the forest and taught me about the other three clans. We had raced down the slope to Fourtrees and it had felt so normal, and I felt like I could run beside my friend forever. But now, looking down at the fallen warrior, I felt a rush of grief sweep over me when I thought of how I would never run beside her again, never hunt with her, never fight side by side with her. It was all over, and she never had the chance to know who I truly was, she never knew, and now she could only watch from the ranks of Starclan as I fought to complete my task. I only wished that she had known who I really was before she was killed, so that maybe we could run together one more time, hunt together one more time, and fight together... one more time. But no, it was the end, that would never be done, and I had Clawface to blame. I bent my head and licked Mousefur's forehead. "I was your mentor, I trained you to become a well-respected warrior with great loyalty to Thunderclan. And then it was your turn to train me," I whispered. "I will never forget you, my friend. Thank you for everything you have done. Thunderclan will honor you, and so will Starclan."

I backed up and watched the rest of the clan pay their last respects, then the elders took up Mousefur's body and carried her out of the camp. The last I saw of the dusky brown warrior was her tail trailing in the dust before the gorse tunnel swallowed her up.

The clan was in silence and they slowly went to complete their duties. Bluestar retreated to her den once more. Runningwind came over to me. "So, it's really you?" he asked.

I nodded. "Yes, Runningwind. It's really me. I'm sorry for the loss of your sister."

Runningwind dropped his head. "And to you, Brambleclaw. I never got to properly thank you for training Mousefur when she was an apprentice, because until last night I thought of you as dead."

"I know," I sighed. "But it was nothing. I only wish that this had never happened, that Mousefur could still be here."

The tabby tom nodded his head and went away to his warrior duties.

"So, what do we do now?" Mudstorm asked, coming up beside me with Ravencry.

"Get something to eat, and then rest," I told her.

"Are you coming?" Mudstorm asked.

"I'll be there later. I want to talk to Bluestar first," I meowed and she nodded before padding off with Ravencry to the fresh-kill pile.

I turned and headed for Bluestar's den. I called a greeting, and when I heard the reply, I pushed past the curtain of lichen and entered the den.

"What is it, Brambleclaw?" Bluestar asked me as she sat up in her nest.

"I just wanted to ask," I began.

"Ask what?" she looked confused.

"What will the reaction be when the other three clans find out about me? Thunderclan didn't take it too well before the explanation..."

"Everything will work out," Bluestar purred. "Once I explain, they'll accept it. Remember, you were respected in all four of the clans, and you will be again."

"Thank you, Bluestar," I bowed my head.

"You should rest," she told me. "And get something to eat."

I nodded and was about to walk out, but I looked over my shoulder. "Bluestar?"

"Yes?"

"When will there be more apprentices?" I asked. "I mean, Sandpaw and Dustpaw look like they have nearly reached the end of their training, themselves."

"Goldenflower's kits will be made apprentices in another moon," Bluestar nodded. "There is nothing to worry about."

I nodded once more and walked out of the den. I saw Mudstorm and Ravencry over at the nettle patch where the warriors ate, they were waiting for me. I trotted over to the fresh-kill pile, but Tigerclaw was there.

He looked at me as I picked up a shrew in my jaws. "Just because you were reborn doesn't mean anything!" the dark warrior hissed quietly to me so that no other warrior heard him.

I put the shrew down. "Tigerclaw, whether or not you like me doesn't matter either. I still don't trust you," I hissed in return. "So don't think that even for a moment that I would trust a single hair on your pelt even if my life depended on it!" With that, I picked up the shrew and flicked my tail over his muzzle rudely before stalking across the clearing to join the two new warriors that helped rescue Frostfur's kits the night before.

"What was that about?" Mudstorm asked as I settled down beside her with my shrew. She had been waiting patiently with her squirrel in front of her paws, Ravencry had chosen a plump vole.

"I've never trusted him," I meowed. "I have always judged his loyalty to the clan."

"Why?" Ravencry asked me but I knew that the black warrior had always been jumpy around his former mentor, he had never trusted Tigerclaw either.

"Because," I shrugged. "Remember our trip to Highstones?"

"Yes," Mudstorm nodded. "What about it?"

"The night before, Bluestar must have told Tigerclaw about the journey," I explained. "Did you ever stop to think how Shadowclan had made such great timing in their attack when we were traveling home?"

"Are you suggesting that Tigerclaw told them?" Mudstorm meowed with disbelief. I nodded.

"And numerous times in my life before he had always been strange, acting overly cautious whenever a cat mentioned something. I had never shared these suspicions with Bluestar but it's only a matter of time before I do."

"Well, if you say so," Mudstorm shrugged. "I trust you. And you're right... Tigerclaw always made me suspicious."

"And he always frightened me..." Ravencry meowed quietly.

"Exactly," I concluded and started eating the shrew, Mudstorm tucked into her squirrel and Ravencry chewed on the vole slowly.

When I was finished eating, I sat up and groomed myself, waiting for my friends.

"Hey, Brambleclaw!" I heard a cat calling my name and I looked up to see Whitestorm. "Could you lead a patrol up near Sunningrocks?" I was about to reply, but then he cut in. "Oh yeah, sorry. You should get some rest..."

"No, it's fine," I purred. "I can take a patrol. I'll just go find some cats to come with me." I turned and pushed into the warriors den, Fireheart and Graystripe were in there. "Hey, do you two want to come on patrol?"

They looked up at me and nodded. "Sure, we'll come," Fireheart dipped his head and I sighed.

"I'm still me, you know. Stop with the high respect thing," I rolled my eyes.

"Okay," Graystripe purred. "Let's go."

"I'll just go get find another cat to come with us," I ducked out of the den and looked around.

"Do you want me to come?" I looked at Mudstorm who had finished her squirrel and was grooming her fur.

"Are you tired?" I asked.

"No."

"Then sure, you can come," I looked at Ravencry. "But you need the rest."

Ravencry nodded and finished off his vole, squeezing into the warriors den.

Fireheart and Graystripe slipped out of the den and joined me and Mudstorm. I turned and led my three friends towards the gorse tunnel and out of camp.

We headed over to Sunningrocks, padding calmly through the trees. When we reached the end of the forest, we looked down at the river; it was still flooded, but it was slowly going down, the stepping stones were no longer submerged in water.

"So, you really jumped in that to save a kit?" Mudstorm looked at me.

I nodded, it was only yesterday too. "Mistyfoot, a Riverclan cat, taught me how to swim in my other life. My first lesson was a total fail," I purred. "But yes, I jumped in that." And Spottedleaf had told me to rest, and I haven't done any resting so far, I added silently.

"Wow," Fireheart meowed.

"It was amazing to watch," Graystripe pointed out, I almost forgot that he had been there. "She literally dived in and she looked like a Riverclan cat as she swam strongly across to the poor scrap of a kit."

"Well, we still need to patrol this border, then we can go back to camp and report to Bluestar about the river," I meowed and we padded down the slope.

"Brambleclaw, wake up."

I lifted my head. "What?" I blinked at Willowpelt.

"Bluestar's called a meeting," the pale gray she-cat meowed.

I yawned and rose to my paws.

"I'm glad you're back, too," I heard her purr. Every cat in the clan was still only just getting over the fact that I had been reborn, it had been a full moon, the gathering was in two more nights.

"Thanks, Willowpelt," I purred in return. "It's good to be back as well. I wouldn't have been able to do much about Brokenstar if I had of gone to Starclan."

Willowpelt nodded her agreement and ducked out of the den, it was then that I remembered what Bluestar's meeting was about and my paws tingled with excitement. I followed Willowpelt out of the den and over to where the clan was gathered beneath the Highrock. I nosed my way to the front to sit beside Mudstorm, who was with Graystripe and Fireheart. In front of us sat four kits, Goldenflower's kits that were finally able to become apprentices.

I remembered what Tigerclaw had said when Bluestar summoned me to her den. She had asked me to mentor one of the kits, and told me to tell the three warriors sitting with me, that they would be mentors too. Tigerclaw had protested of course.

"All of them?" he had growled. "But they are inexperienced warriors! Of course not Brambleclaw," he had shot me a look of hatred. "But the other three. Surely more experienced warriors would be more suitable to mentor Thunderclan's kits!"

"So you think that they aren't fit to be mentors, is that it?" I had hissed at him. "They would make excellent mentors, I'm sure!"

"Brambleclaw is right," Bluestar had insisted. "They are more than ready to take on an apprentice. And Brambleclaw could help them if they are struggling, and any of the other senior warriors."

"But-"

"My mind is made up," Bluestar had interrupted Tigerclaw. "They are the chosen mentors, I will not change my mind."

I purred, I was going to be a mentor again. I looked at the four kits, one of the two she-kits was gray, the other was tortoiseshell. One of the toms was a ginger and the other was dark brown. I wondered which one I would mentor.

"From this day, until they earn their warrior names, they will be known as Cinderpaw, Brackenpaw, Eaglepaw and Meadowpaw," Bluestar announced.

"Cinderpaw!" the little gray she-kit echoed her name. When Goldenflower hissed at her to be quiet, she shut her mouth instantly, her brothers and sisters looked amused.

"Fireheart," Bluestar went on. "You are ready for your first apprentice. You will be mentor to Cinderpaw." Fireheart stepped forward to stand in front of the little gray kit, she looked back up at him with excitement shining in her eyes. She looked like she would be a pawfull to train. "You have become a great warrior, and I expect you to pass on all the skills that I taught you." Fireheart nodded and craned his neck to touch noses with his new apprentice. She returned the gesture and he led her back into the crowd.

"Graystripe," Bluestar meowed. "You are ready for your first apprentice. You will be mentor to Brackenpaw." The gray warrior stepped forward to stand in front of the ginger tom. "Lionheart was a great mentor to you, and I hope you pass on some of the excellent skills he taught you."

Graystripe nodded and touched noses with his apprentice. Brackenpaw was more calm than Cinderpaw had been, but I saw the excitement shining in his eyes just like his sister. Graystripe led the young cat over to where Fireheart sat with Cinderpaw.

"Mudstorm," Bluestar went on and I knew that when Mudstorm's apprentice was named, I would know which cat I would train. I looked at both of them, the brown tom's fur was prickling with excitement, his tail twitching and his paws kneading the ground, and the tortoiseshell she-cat's eyes were bright, her tail kept closely to her side. "You are ready to take on an apprentice. You will be mentor to Meadowpaw." Mudstorm stepped forward, in front of the tortoiseshell cat and waited for Bluestar to speak again. "Runningwind was an excellent mentor and he trained you well. I hope you will pass on all the skills he taught you to Meadowpaw."

Mudstorm nodded solemnly and bent down to touch noses with the young cat, both of them quivered with excitement, Mudstorm had always wanted to be a mentor, even when she was an apprentice. She led the tortoiseshell she-cat over to to crowd and I looked up at Bluestar, the brown tom suddenly looked scared that he was left all alone, but that didn't stop him from fidgeting.

"Brambleclaw," Bluestar spoke proudly. "You are finally ready to take on another apprentice. You will be mentor to Eaglepaw."

I rose to my paws and slowly padded over to the fidgeting new apprentice, he looked up at me, his eyes shining with awe. I stood in front of him. "You're doing fine," I whispered with encouragement.

"Brambleclaw," I looked up at Bluestar. "Thistlestorm was your mentor in your life before, and he was among the first to die during Brokenstar's bloodthirsty reign."

That's right! I remembered. That was the whole reason that I had tried extra hard to bring down Brokenstar; because he had killed my mentor, Thistlestorm! I wanted revenge against Brokenstar for killing him!

"You were also mentor to Mousefur," Bluestar meowed, bringing me out of my thoughts. "But she was killed by a Shadowclan warrior. You taught her well and she became a great warrior under your noble watch. I expect you to pass on those excellent skills to Eaglepaw."

I nodded and looked down at the apprentice, his eyes were wide with shock, and who could blame him; he was going to be mentored by a legendary cat who died and came back. I bent my head down and Eaglepaw lifted his nose. We touched noses and I saw him quiver, his tail twitching even more.

I led Eaglepaw over to the crowd and the clan gathered around them, congratulating them on their new status. Tigerclaw was the most reluctant cat among them, but even his said his good-lucks.

When the clan dispersed to go to their daily activities, I turned to my apprentice. "Do you want to see the territory today?" I asked.

"Can we?" he looked up at me.

"Of course," I purred.

"Can we go with Meadowpaw and the others?" now that he was no longer waiting below the Highrock, he was bursting with questions and energy.

"If they want to come," I nodded. "I'll go talk to their mentors. You should go get something to eat before we leave though."

Eaglepaw nodded and rushed off after the other three new apprentices to the fresh-kill pile. I watched them take some prey for themselves and go over to the tree stump where Mudstorm, Ravencry, Fireheart, Graystripe, Sandpaw, Dustpaw and I used to share our meals. Sandpaw and Dustpaw were going to be named as warriors today, as Bluestar had told me.

I went to take a rabbit from the fresh-kill pile and padded over to the nettle patch where Mudstorm, Fireheart and Graystripe were already eating. I settled myself beside Graystripe and started eating.

"So what are you doing with your apprentices today?" I asked.

"Showing them the territory, I guess. It's what Bluestar did with me," Fireheart shrugged. Mudstorm and Graystripe nodded.

"Well, do you's want to come with Eaglepaw and I?" I suggested. "I suppose he wants his first day as an apprentice to be with his brother and sisters."

"That sounds like fun," Mudstorm agreed. "Alright."

"Cinderpaw will be raring to go," Fireheart purred. "So, okay."

"Count me in," Graystripe nodded. "Brackenpaw would like that."

When we had finished, I trotted over to the apprentices den where the four apprentices were grooming themselves.

"Are you four coming or what?" I asked. They all looked up. "You're all going to be touring the territory together."

They jumped up and I led them over to where my friends were waiting near the gorse tunnel.

"Are you all going together?" came a voice and we turned around to see Redtail.

"That was the plan," Graystripe blinked. "Why?"

Redtail purred. "Bluestar just thinks it would be best if you split up. You could patrol the territory as well."

The apprentices sighed, but I should have seen that coming; the group was far too big to travel together.

"Don't worry, you'll get the chance to train together," Redtail told them. "But can't always be together, you're not kits anymore. And Thunderclan need brave cats like you to patrol our territory to make sure it's safe," he added with amusement in his eyes.

"Alright!" Cinderpaw squeaked. "Let's go!"

"Mudstorm, you and Meadowpaw can come with me and Eaglepaw," I meowed and looked at Fireheart and Graystripe. "You should start with the Shadowclan border. But be careful," I added darkly. "I still don't trust Shadowclan."

Fireheart and Graystripe nodded and led their apprentices out of the camp. "Are you ready?" Mudstorm looked down at Meadowpaw.

"Yes," Meadowpaw nodded, her tail swishing back and forth.

"Be careful near the river," Redtail warned me. "Don't get too close."

"Yes, of course," I nodded and led our little group out of camp.

We headed up towards Tallpines where I rarely went, it went all the way to Twolegplace, and I didn't like that place so I kept away from it as much as I possibly could.

"Why is there so many thin trees?" Eaglepaw asked as we padded through Tallpines. The needles on the ground were prickly, but they felt soft against my pads. Another thing I didn't like about Tallpines; there was barely anywhere to hide if you needed to.

"It's because this is Tallpines," I answered. "In greenleaf, the Twolegs tear down the trees, and then they take them to the Treecut place where a big monster eats them. The fumes are enough to make a kit go blind."

Meadowpaw paused, expecting to hear the monster roaring in the distance.

"You won't hear it for a long time," Mudstorm meowed, noticing her pause. "Greenleaf will be gone until leafbare finishes."

"And that will be soon?" Meadowpaw asked.

"Yes," I nodded. "Leafbare is a hard time for the clan, because it means the prey will hide away in their burrows until newleaf returns, and that means that prey will be hard to find."

"And that also means that we have to work extra hard to support the clan," Mudstorm added.

"We'll work even harder to support the clan!" Eaglepaw vowed. I purred at his optimism, and then I looked into Mudstorm's clear gaze and for a second, I mistook her for Mousefur. Both she-cats were brown with amber eyes. But then I shook my head to clear it, this was Mudstorm, not Mousefur.

We left Tallpines, I was getting uneasy about being in the open. We headed for Sunningrocks, the river had gone right down, and it was no longer flooded. As we padded through the forest, our paws crunched against the fallen leaves that had fallen from the trees. Leaf-fall was here, and in another moon, leafbare. The leaves in the trees had been turned red, brown and golden and I could feel the cold breeze blowing gently, leafbare was definitely coming.

We walked over to the Sunningrocks and Meadowpaw and Eaglepaw jumped onto them, accepting the warmth of them from the sun.

"This is the Sunningrocks," I explained. "Thunderclan and Riverclan have been fighting over them for generations, but they belong to Thunderclan."

"Er... Take a good sniff," Mudstorm suggested. "Tell us what you can scent."

Eaglepaw and Meadowpaw obediently started sniffing the air. "A fishy smell," Meadowpaw answered. "Is that Riverclan?"

"Yes," I nodded. "Riverclan cats are the best swimmers out of all the clans, they do not fear water. They are also the best fishers. Most of the time they catch fish as their prey, but they catch other woodland creatures like mice and voles over in the fields on the other side of their territory." Mudstorm glanced at me and nodded.

"Don't tell me that Riverclan cats are part fish?" Eaglepaw commented. "If they can swim then they must be related to fish!"

"Brambleclaw can swim too," Mudstorm pointed out, a hint of a growl in her tone. "Just because Riverclan can swim doesn't mean you should show disrespect to them."

"Go easy on him, Mudstorm," I soothed the brown warrior. "I thought that too when I was an apprentice in my other life." I looked at Eaglepaw. "But Mudstorm is right, you must show respect to all the clans, not just Thunderclan. Each clan has their own unique hunting way. Riverclan has fishing, and they know how to swim from falling into the river numerous times while learning."

Eaglepaw and Meadowpaw purred with amusement.

"What about Windclan?" Meadowpaw asked.

"I will explain that when we reach their border," I purred.

"Look, a vole!" Eaglepaw hissed and I looked further on to see a water vole dashing back and forth, collecting grass stems. Eaglepaw dashed after it, not thinking of stalking it first.

"You're not a Windclan cat!" I called after him. "You won't catch it!"

Eaglepaw dived into a bush and was gone for a few heartbeats, then he reappeared, trudging back to us with no vole.

"I told you," I purred when he reached us and I cuffed him over the ears. "I'll teach you how to hunt tomorrow, and then you can have another shot at catching a vole."

Eaglepaw brightened up. "Okay!"

We continued along the Riverclan border and eventually came to Fourtrees.

"It's so big," Meadowpaw commented, looking up at the four great oak trees. "How old are they?"

"Older than the clans," Mudstorm replied. "But this is where the four clans gather every full moon to share news."

"But wouldn't the clans fight each other?" Meadowpaw asked.

"No," I shook my head. "Whenever there is a Gathering, which of course is every full moon, that night has a truce, which means that the clans can gather in peace. You'll see when you eventually go to a gathering."

"There's one soon though," Eaglepaw pointed out. "Can we go to that one?"

"I'll ask Bluestar," I shrugged. I was tense about the Gathering, Bluestar insisted that I went so that I when she told the clans about me, I would be proof, because to the other clans, I looked exactly like their legendary warrior. Little did they know, I am their legendary warrior.

"What clan lives over there?" Meadowpaw asked, looking up at the moors.

"Windclan," Mudstorm meowed.

"But there's barely any trees that I can see," the young tortoiseshell she-cat strained her eyes to try and see more than one tree together. "How can they hunt with so little trees?"

"They don't need the trees," Mudstorm purred. "Windclan cats are faster than any other clan because they are specially built to run across the moor and chase the moorland rabbits as their prey."

I nodded. "With so little places to hide, they adapted to their territory, that's why only they can catch the rabbits that live on their moors. They don't like living in a forest like we do because they can't dodge the trees like we can. They prefer the moors where they can sprint as fast as they can without the trouble of trees."

"So, if you put a Thunderclan cat in a race with a Windclan cat, the result would be Windclan winning?" Eaglepaw looked up at me and I nodded. "I want to test that one day," he purred. "I'll make a friend in Windclan and race him!"

Eaglepaw was definitely determined. "Sounds like you have some motivation then," Mudstorm meowed. "But you'll have to be a strong warrior before you can do that. Windclan cats are born fast."

Eaglepaw nodded. "I'll train extra hard!"

"Well, anyway," I brushed my tail over his ears. "Beyond Windclan territory is Highstones, that's where the Moonstone is. A clan leader or medicine cat goes there to share tongues with Starclan."

"How?" Meadowpaw asked.

"Because at Highstones, there's a place called Mothermouth, and it's a very long tunnel that leads underground where the sun had never shone," I didn't miss the look of shock that crossed the faces of the two apprentices. "At the end of the tunnel there is a giant stone, and when it is moonhigh, the light shines through a hole in the cave and it lights up, it looks like a fallen star. A clan leader or medicine cat touch their noses to the stone and Starclan send them sleep, and then they speak to Starclan in their dreams."

"Wow," Eaglepaw murmured. "Have you ever seen the Moonstone?"

"Yes," I nodded. "Me and Mudstorm went into the tunnel with Bluestar and we got to see it. But you have to make the journey to Highstones before you can even become warriors, so maybe you two will get to see it one day."

"I hope so!" Meadowpaw purred. "I'll bet it's pretty."

"It is," Mudstorm agreed.

I was about to speak, but I heard a loud, high-pitched wailing sound.

"Help! Help!" we spun around and saw a little gray cat streaking down the slope towards us.

"Cinderpaw!" Eaglepaw exclaimed.

Cinderpaw skidded to a stop when she reached us, she was breathing hard. "Help!" she squeaked again.

"What's happened?" I asked the young cat.

"We were passing the Shadowclan border and we were attacked!" Cinderpaw cried out in fear. "Fireheart told me not to come find you, he said you needed to stay away, but I had to come get your help!"

I turned and looked at Eaglepaw and Meadowpaw. "Back to camp, both of you!"

The two apprentices were wide-eyed with shock, their fur was fluffed up with fear. They nodded at my command and raced up the slope towards the camp.

I turned to Cinderpaw. "Show us where they are. Then you can get Brackenpaw and run back to camp."

Cinderpaw nodded and turned, racing back up the slope towards the Shadowclan border, Mudstorm and I ran after her, having to slow down to keep behind the scared apprentice.

This is just perfect, I thought with a growl. A tour of the territory with our apprentices and things have to go wrong. I knew we should have stuck together!

Cinderpaw stopped at a bush and we halted beside her, peering through the branches to see familiar shapes, Fireheart and Graystripe were cornered and Brackenpaw was being held down by a dark brown tom with golden eyes.

I growled. "It's Brokenstar!" I hissed.

"Brackenpaw!" Cinderpaw shivered with distress.

I looked at the apprentice. "Race back to camp, tell Bluestar that Brokenstar is here and say we need more warriors," I whispered.

"But what if I'm not fast enough?" she asked, her voice shaking.

"You'll have to be," I looked into her yellow eyes. "For your brother's sake you'll have to be."

Cinderpaw shook one more time before she nodded and spun, racing back towards camp.

"When is she getting here?" I looked back and saw Brokenstar demanding Fireheart. "I know that little gray scrap went to get her!"

"No!" Fireheart growled. "She's not coming! Cinderpaw went back to camp!"

Brokenstar wasn't happy. "Don't lie to me, it might just cost you your life!"

Scarpelt, the dark gray tom, spat at Graystripe. "I know she will come. And when she does, we're going to kill her!"

Mudstorm looked at me. "Don't go out there!" she warned.

"I have to," I growled. "They might get seriously hurt!"

"But they'll kill you!" Mudstorm squeaked.

"Then I'll just have to be careful," I took a deep breath. Brokenstar was on our territory, he was the one that killed my mentor, Thistlestorm, Clawface was the one that killed Mousefur. They were all going to pay.

"Tell me where she is!" Brokenstar hissed at Fireheart, swiping a claw at him.

"Right here!" I snarled, leaping out of the bushes and onto Brokenstar's back, my claws sinking into his shoulders. "Get away from my friends!"

Brokenstar screeched in surprise and tried to throw me off.

"Finally," Blackfoot growled and was about to jump at me, but Mudstorm was ahead of him, she dashed out of her hiding place and knocked him off his paws. Fireheart leaped at Scarpelt and Graystripe ran to attack Clawface and get him away from Brackenpaw.

The small clearing was alive with screeching cats and I jumped off of Brokenstar's back, landing on my paws and turning to face him.

"So you've come," he purred. "I knew you would. I knew you were out in the forest, Brambleclaw."

I stopped. "How did you know I was a warrior now?" I asked.

"A little mouse told me," he let out a mrrow of laughter. "And it's time to end this! I'll get rid of you once and for all!"

He leaped at me and I mirrored him. I landed on the ground and jumped up, clawing at his belly.

He landed unevenly and rolled on the forest floor, spinning to face me. He ran at me and I attacked him head-on, bowling him over. It was a whirlwind of teeth and claws. I bit down on his shoulder and he scored his claws across my cheek. Then he bit down on my hind leg. I reared up and came back down on him, but he surged upwards and knocked me over, pinning me down.

I twisted and tried to get free, but he laughed even more. "This is the end, Brambleclaw," he growled and bent his head down, his jaws parting, ready to bite into my neck and deal the death blow. I reached my paw up and scored my claws over the bridge of his nose. He reared up in surprise and I dashed to my paws. Blood blinded him for an instant and I jumped up at him, my claws cutting across his shoulder and he howled in pain.

"Brambleclaw, look out!" I heard Mudstorm cry and I looked to my right, and in that same heartbeat, I was knocked off my paws and held down by Blackfoot, a smile on his face.

"We're going to end you," he growled. "That way you can't stop us."

"I'll fight until my last drop of blood!" I snarled and my claws caught his muzzle. He growled in defiance and lifted a paw, ready to give a hard blow to the head.

His paw came down and I realized that it was over, everything I worked for was over. It was never possible for me to be stronger than Brokenstar and be able to bring him down. Revenge blinded me, and it put me on a path that Starclan made my destiny. It was never truly me that could defeat him, he was too strong, him and his warriors. I watched as the massive black paw came down, Starclan would not send me back, even they knew it was the end...

Before the paw hit me, I glimpsed tortoiseshell fur, and then a splash of orange and Blackfoot was knocked away from me. I got to my paws and saw Thunderclan cats filing into the clearing; Tigerclaw, Runningwind, Whitestorm, and of course Redtail, my savior. Last came Cinderpaw, she was exhausted and out of breath.

Brokenstar looked at our reinforcements and growled, glaring at me. I snarled in return and ran at him, despite my doubts of defeating him. I had vowed to kill him, and so I would!

But instead of fighting me, he turned and ran, his followers running after him, even Blackfoot. I watched Scarpelt wriggle free of Fireheart and tear after Brokenstar, Clawface following closely behind.

I breathed a sigh of relief and I padded back to the patrol. "Thanks for coming," I meowed.

"Cinderpaw told us what happened," Whitestorm replied gravely. "It was brave of you to jump in, but foolish."

I blinked at him. "I had to! Fireheart, Graystripe and Brackenpaw were in danger!"

"But it's you they're after," Redtail told me. "With you out of the way they think that they can attack Thunderclan and take over."

"I had no choice," I said calmly.

"We know," Redtail sighed.

I looked at Tigerclaw, he was sitting there, watching me, his eyes burning with fury. Then it hit me.

"A little mouse told me," echoed Brokenstar's voice in my head. My eyes narrowed as I glared back at the dark tabby warrior. It was him. He told Brokenstar that I would be out of camp today and that I would come. He wanted me to get killed!

"Cinderpaw, I told you to go straight back to camp!" Fireheart told the little gray apprentice. "I told you not to go get Brambleclaw!"

"I'm sorry!" Cinderpaw murmured quietly. "But... I knew Brambleclaw was close by, so I thought... I didn't know..."

"It's okay," I looked at her. "I'm glad you came to get me. And of course you didn't know, it's not your fault."