Chapter 34

Bramblestar stalked through the undergrowth, his eyes locked on a plump squirrel. As he watched his prey, his mouth began to water and his pupils grew large. Slowly, the ThunderClan leader pulled himself forward, before pouncing. As his claws sank into the squirrel's flesh, he silently thanked StarClan.

Sitting up, he licked the rodent's blood from his lips, before kicking earth over his catch.

Turning away from where he had buried his squirrel, Bramblestar headed deeper into the undergrowth, hoping to catch some more prey.

It had been two moons since the Clans had arrived at the gorge, and things couldn't have been better. All five Clans were getting along wonderfully, and several adjustments had been made to the Clans. After many meetings, the leaders decided that half-Clan relationships were no longer against the warrior code. Since borders had been done away with and many cats had been killed by the storm, they decided this decision had been for the best if the Clans were to survive. The leaders also decided that half-Clan kits had the option of what Clan they wanted to live in the day of their apprentice ceremony. The last adjustment that had been made was that medicine cats were now able to have kits, however as soon as the kits were able to eat fresh kill, the medicine cat must return back to her duties while another queen keeps watch over her kits.

The scent of rabbit shook Bramblestar out of his thoughts, and he began to look for his prey. Finally he caught sight of the rabbit, which was cleaning itself under a clump of ferns. Dropping into the hunters crouch, Bramblestar stalked towards his prey.

Right as he was about to pounce, a blur of black fur raced past him.

Alerted by the sudden noise, the rabbit sat up and bolted away. The black cat, who Bramblestar now recognized as Hollypaw, didn't give up. The young she-cat eagerly raced after the rabbit.

Right as Hollypaw was about to leap onto the rabbit, Leafstar jumped out of the undergrowth and knocked her over. In one quick movement, the SkyClan leader pinned the apprentice down.

"What are you doing?!" Hollypaw demanded, looking quite angry.

Leafstar stepped off and said, "You were about to chase that rabbit right into dog territory." Glancing in the direction the rabbit had escaped to, she meowed, "Many seasons ago, my son Harrypaw was killed by dogs when he chased a piece of prey into their territory."

Hollypaw's green eyes were wide with fear, and she pressed herself to the ground.

Stepping forward, Bramblestar said, "I'm so sorry to hear that, Leafstar. Why didn't you mention this when we first arrived at the gorge?"

Leafstar shrugged. "Since SkyClan had abandoned this part of the forest, I didn't think of telling you about it."

"It's okay. At least you were here in time to save Hollypaw," Bramblestar answered. Turning to look at the young apprentice he asked, "Where's Seedwhisker?"

"She stepped on a thorn, so she went to see Leafpool. Before she left, she told me that I could try hunting on my own," Hollypaw replied, sitting up.

Bramblestar nodded his head. "Ah, I see. Did you manage to catch anything?"

Hollypaw shook her head. "No."

"Well, that's okay." Glancing up at the sky, Bramblestar realized it was almost sundown. "I think we should head back to camp now." Together, Bramblestar and Hollypaw walked to where Bramblestar's squirrel was buried. After he had dug it up, the two cats headed for camp.

When they arrived, Bramblestar turned to Hollypaw and meowed, "Take this squirrel to Dovewing."

Hollypaw nodded, and scurried over to the nursery. Poking her head inside, she called for Dovewing. Seconds later, a heavily pregnant Dovewing appeared at the entrance. As Bramblestar looked at her, he realized her kits would arrive any day now.

"Thank you," Dovewing purred, before grabbing the squirrel and going back inside her den.

Hollypaw dipped her head, before padding over to the fresh-kill pile herself. As she approached, Seedwhisker's voice rang out, "Hollypaw! What are you doing back? I thought I told you to go hunting?"

"It's okay!" Bramblestar called to the golden-brown she-cat. "I told her she could come back to camp with me. After all, it's almost dusk."

Seedwhisker nodded. "I see. Sorry about that Hollypaw," the young warrior meowed, before limping away.

The sound of the bramble barrier alerted Bramblestar, and he turned to see Squirrelflight and Rosepetal walking into camp. Behind them stood Sorrelpaw and Fernpaw. Sorrelpaw had been apprenticed to Squirrelflight, while Fernpaw had gone to Rosepetal.

"Hello!" Rosepetal purred as she strolled past him. All signs of her injuries were gone, and the young she-cat looked was lively as ever. Turning away from her leader, Rosepetal beckoned for Fernpaw to come with her. "I was thinking we could change the elder's bedding," she meowed.

Fernpaw looked slightly disappointed, but didn't argue. "After we're done can I get something to eat? All this battle training has got me starved!"

Rosepetal laughed and said, "Sure thing."

"I see you've had your paws full today," Bramblestar meowed as Squirrelflight walked past.

"Oh yes," his deputy responded, her green eyes twinkling. "Those two have so much energy. But you should see two of the apprentices ShadowClan has recruited! I've never seen apprentices like them – not to mention, they were both former kittypets."

Bramblestar's eyes widened. "Really? What are their names?"

"Fuzzypaw and Ravenpaw. Apparently they ran away from their Twolegs and were recruited by ShadowClan. Despite their young age and background, I have to say they're going to end up being formidable warriors one day," Squirrelflight answered.

"It's good to hear ShadowClan is finding recruits," Bramblestar meowed. "They've lost a lot of cats due to the storm." Glancing over at his sister, he sighed. Tawnypelt still hadn't bothered talking to Rowanstar, despite the fact that the ShadowClan leader had made several attempts to apologize. Tawnypelt's stubborn, but I've never seen her like this!

Yawning, Bramblestar turned away from her and headed for his den. While his new den under a holly tree wasn't as nice as his old one back in the hollow, he was pleased with how it had turned out. The warriors had worked together to break off branches from the inside of the tree, allowing Bramblestar to have a little space in the center. They had then taken the discarded branches, and weaved it on the outside, so no air drafts would get in. Over all, it was very nice.

Curling up in his nest, Bramblestar drifted off to sleep.

When he opened his eyes, he was sitting on the Sky Rock. Beside him stood Cloudstar, who had a pleased look on his face. "Thank you for reuniting the five Clans," the ancient SkyClan leader purred.

Bramblestar shook his head. "You act as though I've done this alone," he argued.

Cloudstar sat down and wrapped his tail around his paws. "I know you weren't the only cat, Bramblestar. However, eventually there will come a time when you will have to lead all five Clans on your own. Dark times are coming, Bramblestar. You must be prepared for what lies ahead, and remember that death does not always mean the end of things."

Anger pulsed through Bramblestar's body. "What do you mean? Are we going to be hit by another hardship in life?" When Cloudstar didn't answer, Bramblestar growled, "Tell me what you mean!"

The ancient SkyClan simply shook his head. "I'm afraid not even I know what lies ahead. I am simply a messenger, and nothing more. Just be prepared for the worst." And with that, he vanished.

When Bramblestar woke up, he was furious. As he sat up, he began to rip his nest apart.

"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you angry," Fernpaw's scared voice spoke up.

Glancing down, he realized the young she-cat had brought him something to eat. "No, it's not you. I'm sorry for scaring you like that," Bramblestar apologized.

Fernpaw awkwardly ducked her head, before scurrying out of the den.

Sighing, Bramblestar laid back down and began to eat the mouse Fernpaw had brought him. After a couple of bites, Bramblestar pushed the mouse away before padding out of his den and towards the medicine cat's den. There he spotted Jayfeather organizing herbs towards the back of the den.

Upon hearing his leader's paw steps, the blind medicine cat looked up. "What can I help you with?" he questioned, before looking back down at the herbs he was sorting.

"I need to speak with you in private," Bramblestar began.

Jayfeather pushed his herbs away, before getting to his paws. "That serious?" the gray tabby tom asked.

"I'm afraid so," he muttered, before turning to pad out of the den. With Jayfeather on his heels, Bramblestar headed into the forest. When he found a peaceful clearing to settle down in, he took a seat.

"I received a dream from StarClan warning me about dark times ahead. Cloudstar didn't say what these dark times would be like or what would cause them, but he told me, 'Death does not always mean the end.'" Bramblestar meowed.

Jayfeather was quiet for a few moments. "This doesn't sound good at all," he whispered. Looking at Bramblestar he said, "I'll inform Leafpool of this omen, and if either of us receive a similar dream, I'll tell you right away."

"Thank you, Jayfeather." The ThunderClan leader stood to his paws, before padding away. Not wanting to return back to camp, he instead headed for the clearing where the apprentices trained.

To his annoyance, none of the apprentices were training. Sighing, he figured that he would just have to return back to camp anyways. As he walked, the sound of rustling alerted him.

Finally, Leafstar stepped out of the undergrowth and padded towards him. "We keep running into each other," she meowed, her eyes gleaming with happiness. When she noticed his glum expression, the SkyClan leader asked, "What's wrong?"

"I received a troubling dream last night," he confessed.

Leafstar's eyes widened. "Care to talk about it?" she asked him, before taking a seat next to him.

"Yeah," he replied, nodding his head. "I was told in a dream that deadly times are coming. Honestly, I don't know what to think. After all we've been through, you'd think we'd finally get a break!"

The cream-and-brown she-cat wrapped her tail sympathetically around Bramblestar's shoulders. "Many seasons ago, I thought the exact same thing. My Clan was hit with a terrible greencough epidemic, and we lost many. I thought that this sickness would wipe us out completely, but we pulled through. I know that whatever this darkness is that's coming, we can all over come it." Leafstar pulled away, before standing to her paws. "I have to return to my Clan, but remember that if you ever need to talk to me, just come visit."

Bramblestar shuffled his paws in the sand. "But you're SkyClan's leader!"

"Borders don't exist anymore, remember?" Leafstar pointed out. Without waiting for Bramblestar to reply, Leafstar meowed, "Well, I'm off. And just remember what I've told you!" The SkyClan she-cat turned and darted into the undergrowth.

Shrugging, Bramblestar decided it was time to go back to camp. When he arrived back to camp, he saw that the cats were sharing tongues.

"Hello," he meowed to Cherryfall and Dewfrost, who were sharing tongues with one another.

Dewfrost dipped his head. "Hi, Bramblestar. How are you doing tonight?"

"I've been better," he grunted, giving his chest fur a couple of licks.

Cherryfall frowned. "I'm sorry to hear that. Maybe you'll feel better after getting some sleep?" she suggested.

Sleeping is the last thing I feel like doing, he thought angrily. "I'm not really tired," he admitted, continuing to groom his fur.

"Ah, I see. Well, I hope you feel better." Cherryfall smiled at him, before returning to grooming Dewfrost.

Deciding to leave the two alone, Bramblestar stood to his paws and padded into his den. Realizing his nest had been changed and his mouse had been taken away, Bramblestar concluded that Fernpaw had told someone about what had happened earlier.

Settling down in his nest, Bramblestar closed his eyes in an attempt to sleep. His efforts were useless though, and the ThunderClan tom laid there wide awake. Sighing, he rolled onto his back and stared up at the ceiling of his den.

Why do you keep doing this to us?

There is only one more chapter left!

Also, what do you think of the Clan's new rules? Do you think things will work out, or do you think they will create problems in the future? Also, if you had to guess, what couples do you think will be established in the future? I ask because I'm curious to know what you all think. As always, thank you so much for reviewing/favoring/following this story. It means so much to me.