Chapter Twelve. Time for a random fact(s)!
Did you know that...?
Today is August 24rd, 2014.
Now you know.
Did you know that...?
August 24rd, 1305 is when Sir William Wallace was executed for high treason at Smithfield in London.
Now you know.
Bramblestar's back was slightly arched, his legs crossed as if he were running. His tail was limp and his breathing was gone. There wasn't even a twitch of a whisker.
"Br-Bramblestar!" Squirrelflight was the first to react to the leader's fall from the Highledge.
She nudged through her Clanmates and bent over the tabby, pushing her nose into his fur. The Clan stared in shock. What had happened. Jayfeather pushed his way through and knelt down by his foster father.
Handsomehandsome looked down. His father was still and his mother was whimpering. ThunderClan was too surprised to move. He leapt down by the medicine cat and touched a paw to Bramblestar's shoulder.
The tabby was slowing losing warmth. The golden-blue tom looked at Jayfeather. The white tom's blue eyes were swirling with an odd pattern.
Jayfeather suddenly sat up and addressed the Clan. "Bramblestar has died."
They all gasped, but still did not move. Squirrelflight whipped around and snarled at Jayfeather.
"He's been leader for only almost two moons. He will come back to life!" She said harshly.
Jayfeather shook his head. "Firestar did not retire at the Moonpool. Bramblestar had only recieved the three of the nine lives."
"B-but, he has three, how can he be dead?"
Jayfeather shook his head. He knew so much, but revealed so little.
Handsomehandsome stared down at his father. He pressed his blue nose into the dark brown fur.
"You have been a wonderful father." He murmured, forcing himself to silence a cry of grief.
Squirrelflight and Jayfeather turned on their paws and stared at the young golden tom in surprsie.
Slowly, the Clan moved forward to share tongues with Bramblestar for the last time.
Lionblaze sighed and flicked his tail over the tabby's head. "You were never my real father, Bramblestar. But in my heart you are the most true and real father in all the Clans." He turned away and ran to his nest in the warrior's den. He could be heard whimpering into his paws.
Ferncloud padded forward, her dappled pelt hanging limply off her shoulders. "I always knew you would make a fine leader ever since you were born." The queen nodded to the tabby before returning to the nursery to tend to Foxleap.
Mousefur came to the tabby body next. She pressed her muzzle to his shoulder. "You were always a bit ambitious, you rat-tail. But... You have made even an elder like me respect you." She was then reluctantly led away by Purdy back to their den.
Berrynose rested a paw on his mentor's flank. "Aw, Bramblestar. Why'd you have to leave so soon?" He shook his head.
"I am glad you and Firestar took me and my kits into ThunderClan." Daisy said, resting her tail on Berrynose. "I will never forget your generosity."
Daisy pulled Berrynose away to let the rest of the Clan speak their parting words with Bramblestar.
Squirrelflight took her place ontop of the Highledge. She looked down at her Clan that was shocked and grieving. Slowly, they lifted their heads to look at the ginger deputy. It was time for her to appoint a cat in her place.
"I say these words before StarClan so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of ThunderClan is Birchfall." She meowed, looking over at the light brown tabby tom.
"Thank you, Squirrelstar. I will honor this new position well." Birchfall nodded.
"I am not Squirrelstar yet." Squirrelflight shook her head, jumping back down to the body of Bramblestar.
Slowly, the sun set, and the Clan had paid their respects. Squirrelflight chose to make Handsomehandsome's vigil also count for the vigil for Bramblestar. He, his mother, Lionblaze, Berrynose, and Birchfall sat down by the tabby's body, pressing their noses into his striped fur.
And then a whisper, faint and soft, rang through the camp. "You are my father, Bramblestar. Welcome to StarClan."
