Disclaimer: When will my life begin(as the owner of Warriors). From Tangled, When Will My Life Begin. The answer? Never. 'Cause I'm not an Erin;(

Chapter 1: I Declare War on the Moonstone

"i'm going to be an overprotective dad someday, i know it. my kids are going to know i care."- Wonder, R.J. Palacio

When I was an apprentice, Graystripe had neglected me for Silverstream. A RiverClan warrior, of all cats. But I tried not to grudge him for it, and I was perfectly fine with Fireheart unofficially mentoring me. He was my hero, after all, though I didn't make it as obvious as Cinderpaw did then. She was the one with a crush, not me.

When he left ThunderClan to live with his kits, I wasn't too sure how I felt. But when I asked Graystripe about it later, he told me that she loved him for who he was. Not his strength and loyalty, though she admired those qualities in him. Not the fact that he had given RiverClan prey when they were starving. She loved him. The actual Graystripe. And when I asked him if he would do it all again, he said, "In a heartbeat."

"Did you love her, though?" I remember asking. A pointless question, now that I think about it.

And he replied, "Every time I looked into her eyes, I knew I would give her the entire forest, give her the river itself, and die for her for the light in those sparkling blue orbs."

I admit, I didn't know what to think after that. I mean, the only cats I've ever felt attached to are my siblings and parents. Never in a million season-cycles would I imagine leaving ThunderClan for a single cat.

But as I saw my Clanmates settling down around me, I felt sort of lonely. Cloudtail, who had always been padding after Brightheart, finally convinced her to have kits. Firestar and Sandstorm had their own after they returned from that quest. Dustpelt and Ferncloud became a couple as well.

Thank StarClan for Thornclaw. He hadn't gotten a mate, and he had no qualms for it. We were the bachelors of ThunderClan. Cinderpelt didn't count, though I appreciated her unaffected view of life.

When Graystripe disappeared, I buried my grief. Instead, I concentrated on my duties. I was a strong candidate for replacement deputy, and I knew it. I couldn't let anyone take the spot. Cinderpelt tried to convince me to go easy on myself, but I couldn't do it.

She had an apprentice, sweet little Leafpaw. She was a little too mild, but eager to learn, and afer a day, I knew my sister had chosen well. Squirrelpaw got Dustpelt. It figured, since he was the only cat stern enough to train her. But I didn't get an apprentice until a moon or so later.

A Treasure for the Ages

"Brackenfur, Graystripe-" Firestar's meow cracked a little at the name of his old friend-"trained you well, and I hope you will pass on all your skill to Rainpaw."

I had an apprentice! True, Rainpaw was quiet and peaceful, not the wild, rambunctious cat I had expected him to be, but when I saw those blue eyes blaze with fierce delight, I knew this was it, my chance to prove myself. And I also knew this was the best apprentice I could have gotten. He was the flame I was meant to tame. He was calm, but he had a bit of the fire in his siblings as well.

What I didn't expect was that training could be so confusing.

"Rainpaw! We're going to the Sandy Hollow with Sorrelpaw and Squirrelpaw! Meet me outside!"

The pale gray tabby nodded, and raced off to find the two she-cats. I padded up to the medicine-cat den, hoping to find my sister.

Instead, Leafpaw and Sorrelpaw were there. Chattering away, when they were supposed to be doing their stopped when they saw me push through the screen.

"Oh, hi, Brackenfur," Leafpaw said awkwardly. "Cinderpelt went out to get more comfrey. Did you need anything?"

Sorrelpaw didn't even bother to say hello. She just got up and stalked out. I suppressed a hiss of annoyance. What right did she have to ignore me?

"As a matter of fact, I was hoping to take Rainpaw and Sootpaw...and her to the Moonstone. I already asked Firestar, and he told me to ask you for travelling herbs later. Well, he said ti ask Cinderpelt, but you're pretty good at this stuff, so I just thought I'd ask now, so you would get a heads-up." That wasn't a complete lie. He did say that, and I had been planning to ask. I just hadn't thought I'd find two apprentices gossiping. Especially not Sorrelpaw. I had no idea why she hated me so much, but she evidently did.

"Sure, Brackenfur!" Leafpaw chirped, scuttling over to the neatly stacked herbs. Her amber eyes glowed as she worked, just like Rainpaw's did.

"She's not a bad cat, you know," Leafpaw said suddenly.

"Who?" I asked absently, though I suspected I knew the answer.

"Sorrelpaw," was her deft reply. "You know what I'm talking about! She might not like you that much, but she isn't bad or anything."

"But why does she hate me?" I growled. "I haven't said more than five words to her and already she hates me! Why?"

"She has her reasons," the light brown she-cat murmured. "Just... don't let your feelings get the better of you."

What did that mean? I didn't know. So I just went out to meet my apprentice, regretting my idea to have the other two come along.

We headed deep into the territory until we came to a small hollow, just right for battletraining. We had Sorrelpaw and Rainpaw do a mock battle while Dustpelt tried to hammer some sense into Squirrelpaw.

I soon discovered that Dustpelt was a great mentor. He had an infinite supply of patience for his hot-headed apprentice, and a supply of water to quench the fire she had inherited. At least Rainpaw wasn't like that.

"No, Squirrelpaw, you don't twist your body to meet them," he explained for the fifth time. "You're supposed to slide under them while raking their belly. You don't pretend to eat them, and you definitely don't say that you saw a purple pigeon with a yellow tail."

"Actually," I interjected, grinning, "I think that's a brilliant tatic. Thornclaw and I once played that prank on Cinderpelt and she actually believed us. We used a squirrel, though. Poor Firestar spent the entire morning trying to convince her that they didn't exist. So go ahead. It could save your life someday."

Sandstorm came between us before Dustpelt could shred me. "Now, I think that's enough for today," she said. "Brackenfur? Refrain from giving my daughter and my apprentice-and let's not forget about Rainpaw-any more ideas."

But I noticed the corner of her mouth was twitching, and I suppressed a mrrow of amusement.

Rainpaw whispered something to Sorrelpaw, who sniffed and said something I couldn't comprehend. But from the way she turned her back on me, I knew it wasn't anything good. My good mood vanished in an instant.

"Let's go home," I muttered, and we walked back single-file, none of us saying a word.

"Your traveling herbs are ready," said Cinderpelt when I stopped by.

"Thanks," I said as I took a bite of bitter leaves. "On second thought, no thanks."

She laughed. "They may be bitter, bit you'll be thankful once you try the journey without any herbs! By the way, how is Rainpaw's training?"

"Pretty good," I replied. "He's a quick learner, and an excellent hunter. I guess he does have a little fire in him."

"But are you sure you're not too hard on him?"she asked quietly.

"No!" I quickly replied. "Why would you think that?"

She rolled her sky-blue eyes. "Because he's always coming to me to get thorns out of his paws, or asking if he can help around when he knows perfectly well that he has training, almost as if he's trying to avoid you? Because he's ridden with scars down his flank and you don't even seem to notice?"

"He has scars?"I asked. I couldn't believe this. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I knew you would react like this. I know you have ambitions. It's not a secret to any of us who know you. And that includes Rainpaw. He seems to think you don't trust him."she raised her tail when I tried to protest. "Now, you know and I know that's not true. You sincerely care for him. Because you've always liked him. He's a lot like you, after all. And he's smart. Very smart, smart enough to see a lot of things. But would it hurt you to leave him alone a little? Imean, the only times you're not prying into his life

is when you're talking to me, or playing pranks on everyone with Thornclaw."

"Am I supposed to ignore him completely?"I asked angrily.

"No, but try to restrain yourself," she replied, unfazed. "Graystripe may not have been the most attentive mentor in the world, but you don't have to do the opposite of what he did. Don't be so overprotective. You don't need to know what he ate, or whether he played a little with the kits or not. And compliment him if he does well. You're too strict on him."

"I am not too strict," I said through gritted teeth. StarClan, she was starting to sound like Frostfur.

"Yes, you are. When was the last time you joked around with him the way you do with Thornclaw? When was the last time you let him eat what he wanted with who he wanted?"she challenged. I thought for a moment.

"Well, maybe you're right. But-"

"Last time, you pulled him away from Sorrelpaw, right? Listen, Stripes, I don't know what you have against her and I don't care. But she's his sister, and you have no right to keep them apart. You understand?"she said, her eyes sharp and piercing.

"All right," I said at last. Anything to keep her from lecturing.

As soon as I said it, the fight seemed to go out of her. "Well, then, why don't you go outside and bring Thornclaw in, from where he's been eavesdropping? I'm sure he's dying to state his own opinion."

"Hey!" a muffled voice protested. "Cinderpelt! You're supposed to be on my side!"

Her blue eyes glinted. "I side with no one."

And she left our brother at my mercy. I decided to dare him to help Leafpaw, who had just returned, with the mouse bile. You should have seen the look on his face.

A Treasure for the Ages

The Moonstone was as looming as ever. I heard all three apprentices catch their breath. It was beautiful, I supposed. Once, I had thought it was the most beautiful thing in existence. Now I knew better.

"Lie down, with your nose pressed against it," Sandstorm said quietly. They obeyed, Sootpaw without any hesitation, Sorrelpaw with a lot. Rainpaw was calm, as always.

I decided to copy the other mentors and sat next to my apprentice. Heck, who cared? I settled down awkwardly on the hard, cold ground, and waited for dreams.

None came. Great. Even StarClan was ignoring me. I stayed awake till the sun rose. As the others stretched and yawned themselves awake, I muttered under my breath, "I declare war on the Moonstone." Not loud enough for any cat to hear. The daylight was an insult, and so was Sorrelpaw. Life was wonderful.

A/N

Who knew Brackenfur was an inexperienced, prankster once? Me neither. But the "purple squirrel" story, I read in one of TheShadowedWarrior's stories. I forgot which. But I thought it was funny.

Yep. It's a Sorreltail-and-Brackenfur story. I love that couple;)

Not much news. I like stories with quotes, so I made one here. The capital letters are left out on purpose, since that's the way R.J. Palacio wrote it. You have got to read Wonder, by the way. It's to die for.

I updated One Last Chance and two new stories: Shadowed Night and When You Wish Upon A Star. Check them out and please, somebody, some criticism. I started this so I could be better at writing, not to read other people's extremely well-written stories and despair when I see mine.

Have fun, and let's make the most out of this crappy situation we're stuck in. At least we get to write and read! But still...f*ck you, corona virus.

Signing off before anyone asks me why I'm cursing,

Iris