Brambleclaw surveyed the camp from outside the warriors den. The cliffs protecting ThunderClan's home were showing no signs of wear, and the wall that drove away invaders was all patched up. Last moon, there had been a blizzard. It had blown all of the twigs and bracken away, leaving the suffering Clan with nothing. Sickness had raged through the camp, Jayfeather doing his best to make sure everyone had survived. The dark tabby gave a silent thanks to StarClan that the unfortunate luck did not continue.

Hazeltail had recently brought back some prey from a hunting patrol she had led. It was her first time at the head of such a patrol, and she was young. But Brambleclaw did not discourage her. He calmly made sure that she was not picked on by Birchfall, who wanted to lead a patrol as well. The deputy had vowed not to follow in his father's footsteps, and he was going to keep that promise. Tigerstar, if he was alive, would have mercilessly murdered Hazeltail by now.

For a clan requiring time to heal, prey was just what they needed. Birchfall, meanwhile, had padded off to the nursery, probably to visit his mate. He carried a sparrow in his strong jaws. Brambleclaw, for the first time in moons, smiled. According to Jayfeather, Whitewing would have her kits in two moons.

Firestar, however, was still in his den. For days, he had refused to come out of his den. Some believed that he was sick with greencough. Others reported that he had received a prophecy he had to ponder about. Either way, Brambleclaw had temporarily replaced the fiery tom as leader. He was deputy, wasn't he? In a way, it was right. In another way, it really wasn't. Firestar didn't look like he was going to lose a life anytime soon. He was still strong, just like in the old days. The dark brown tom believed in him, even if others had long given up.

Just then, a dark ginger head popped out of the warriors' den. It was, you guessed it, Squirrelflight. She passed by Brambleclaw, coolly, without daring to bestow a glance in his direction. It was as if he didn't even exist. Squirrelflight continued, she was eventually sharing tongues with Spiderleg.

Brambleclaw felt pain in his heart. Something like jealousy was also there. Once again, the kits came to his mind. If only he could have kits with his mate, real kits. But Squirrelflight had lied. Brambleclaw, who believed honesty was the best policy, couldn't remember how he had even fallen in love with her. Maybe it would have been better just to let Ashfur have her. Yet a part of Brambleclaw wasn't about to let her go either.

Spiderleg didn't suspect a thing. After yet another argument with Daisy, the poor tom had nobody to talk to. Squirrelflight was the only one around, and he was in no way going to talk to Brambleclaw! The deputy had condemned him to a moon of apprentice service, checking the elders for ticks. He didn't like it, even one bit!

"So, how's Daisy?" Firestar's daughter asked.

"Fine," Spiderleg replied gloomily. "Rosekit and Toadkit can't stop following me around!"

Squirrelflight nodded in understanding. "They'll make great apprentices, and then warriors."

A flash of pain flashed in the dark tom's expression. Squirrelflight, although she didn't notice Brambleclaw or pretended to ignore him, noticed this. She quickly changed the subject. Hadn't Spiderleg been through enough? She was sure happy she didn't have to relive her apprentice life again, complete with the chores!

Brambleclaw stared suspiciously at them, he was too far away to hear the conversation. This couldn't be his mate talking, it couldn't be!

As if what he was already going through was not enough, Thornclaw appeared.

"RiverClan are invading the east side of the territory!" he exclaimed, after catching his breath. He seemed to have run a long way. The deputy remembered that the RiverClan border was farthest from the camp.

Cloudtail, who was standing next to him, did not seem too happy.

"And you came here?" the longhaired white tom snapped,"an apprentice job, if you ask me."

Brambleclaw didn't try to hide his irritation with both Squirrelflight and her kin.

"Very well," said Brambleclaw moodily. "I will take a patrol to help you fight them off."