Chapter 8

The next day, Bramblekit went through like he did any other morning. His father left to do his patrolling as usual. The season was changing to leaf fall. The leaves were changing color, but the weather was still warm.

Bramblekit spent the morning playing with the other kits and when he saw his father coming into the clearing, he ran happily over to him.

The two cats nuzzled and then Tigerstar pulled Bramblekit close to him and then started grooming him. Bramblekit smiled comfortably as Tigerstar ran his tongue across him.

"There, a clean, handsome young warrior," said Tigerstar with a smile.

Bramblekit giggled at his father's compliments.

"Come with me," said Tigerstar. "I have a surprise for you."

Bramblekit beamed happily and followed his father into the woods. He pranced gingerly along, though cautious not to get to far ahead of Tigerstar.

It wasn't long before he took notice of the area it looked familiar. He remembered that Tigerstar pointed to him once about the Thunderclan boarders.

He then heard a voice complaining about the scent of Shadowclan getting on her paws. The voice sounded familiar to him. Out in the open he could see a black tom cat. Behind him was a tortoiseshell she-kit. She looked familiar to him, but he was too hidden to get a good look at her.

The kit collapsed. Bramblekit watched Tigerstar walk forward, he didn't look afraid of the cats. Did he know them? Without asking Bramblekit started to follow Tigerstar as he didn't tell him to stay hidden.

The she-kit sprung to her paws in alarm as Tigerstar came out into the open. She didn't seem to notice Bramblekit as he was hiding behind his father.

Tigerstar inspected the she-kit she was trying to look brave; she didn't flinch as he bent down and touched her nose with his like he did with Bramblekit all the time.

"Do you know who I am?" he asked the kit.

"Darkstripe said he was taking me to see my father and that he had a surprise for me," said the kit. "Are you my father? You smell a bit like me."

Bramblekit's ears rose in surprise as he heard what the she-kit said. He got a bigger surprise when Tigerstar nodded and answered.

"I am."

Bramblekit had an amazed look, it was his sister Tawnykit! She had the same amazed look as the cat named Darkstripe added "This is Tigerstar the leader of Shadowclan."

Bramblekit came out from behind his father excitedly.

"Tawnykit!" he cried.

Tawnykit was surprised to see Bramblekit, she was quick to recognize him as the brother she had who the clan thought was dead.

"Bramblekit!" she cried happily.

The two kits wrapped their arms around each other.

As they hugged, Bramblekit looked over at their father who had a smile and he returned it, it was a great surprise.

"This is Darkstripe Bramblekit," he explained. "An old from of mine from Thunderclan. I asked him for a favor."

"Everyone in Thunderclan thinks you're dead!" exclaimed Tawnykit. "Why didn't you come home after the fire? And why couldn't I come live with you too?"

"Your place is with your mother right now Tawnykit," explained Tigerstar in a fatherly voice. "Just as your brother's is with me. But that doesn't mean I'm not proud of you, I love both of you just as much. And you both seem like strong kits."

He looked over at Darkstripe.

"When will she be an apprentice?" he asked him.

"In another moon or so," replied Darkstripe. "Pity I do have an apprentice already or I could mentor her myself."

Tigerstar looked at his kits; "Can you hunt?" he asked Tawnykit. "Can you fight? Do you want to be great warriors?" he asked them both.

Both kits nodded vigorously.

"Someday I'm gonna be a leader and the best warrior just like father," Bramblekit declared to his sister proudly.

"Well, I'm gonna be the best hunter" declared Tawnykit trying not to be outdone.

"Good, good" said Tigerstar licking each of his kits on the head.

"Why are you the leader of Shadowclan when our mother is a Thunderclan cat?" asked Tawnykit.

"She doesn't know?" Tigerstar asked Darkstripe, who just shook his head. Bramblekit stood silent when Tawnykit asked that. He wondered if Tigerstar was going to tell her the same things, he just told him the previous day.

"Well it's a long story," he said. "Sit down and I'll tell you."

Before he could say anything, a flame-colored tabby tom came out of a hawthorn bush. "Good day Tigerstar" he said in a civilized voice.

Bramblekit held his breath. That must be Fireheart, he thought to himself. Though he didn't seem like the troublemaking cat his father told him about.

"You're a long way from the camp," said Fireheart. He then glared at the Thunderclan warrior. "And so are you Darkstripe!" he said sharpening his tongue. "What are you doing her with Tawnykit?!"

Bramblekit was worried if his sister was going to be in trouble.

"This is my father," cried Tawnykit excitedly. "And Bramblekit is still alive! My mother will be happy when she finds out about this."

Fireheart looked over at Bramblekit, he had seen Bramblekit with Tigerstar while spying on them, so he didn't look so surprise to see him up close. Neither of the two cats were sure of what to make of each other.

"Your mother misses you" he said softly.

"I miss her too" replied Bramblekit admittingly.

Fireheart looked over at Darkstripe his eyes narrowing.

"Well?" he asked firmly.

"How did you know we were out here?" he asked in a flustered voice.

"I saw you crossing the stream," explained Fireheart. "You were making enough noise to wake up the forest!"

"Fireheart," said Tigerstar dipping his head which surprised Bramblekit. "It was my idea, Bramblekit's been living in Shadowclan for so long, he's been missing his sister and I wanted to see her my self, blame me for this, but surely you can't deny me that."

"That's all very well," said Fireheart admittingly. "But Darkstripe shouldn't have taken her without permission. It's dangerous to be wandering in the forest alone."

"She wasn't wondering, she was with me" pointed out Darkstripe.

"What if a hawk attacked?" asked Fireheart. "Have you forgotten Snowkit?"

Tawnykit mewed worriedly, though Bramblekit was confused.

"Take her back to Thunderclan Darkstripe, now!" he ordered.

"Come on Tawnykit," said Darkstripe. "Fireheart's orders and we must obey."

Tawnykit and Bramblekit looked at each other sadly. Both of them wished to could go back to the same clan.

Fireheart didn't bother to ask Bramblekit if he wanted to come back to Thunderclan with them. He was considering Shadowclan his home now, and that he had a bond with his father.

"Say goodbye to your father and brother Tawnykit," said Fireheart. "You can all see each other when you two are apprentices and can go to gatherings."

Tawnykit rubbed her body against Bramblekit.

"Goodbye," said Tigerstar. "Work hard and I'll be proud of you."

Tawnykit and Darkstripe then walked over the stream.

Fireheart looked at Bramblekit and then followed them away.

As Bramblekit and Tigerstar walked back to the camp, Bramblekit thought to himself and then chuckled softly.

Tigerstar heard him and stopped in his tracks.

"What are thinking about?" he asked.

"That's the Thunderclan deputy you claim I'm destined to help you destroy?!" asked Bramblekit laughing. "He looks like a harmless tom to me."

Tigerstar kept a worried feeling inside of him, his son was having doubts about Fireheart which could spoil his plans.

"Don't underestimate Fireheart," he said firmly which made Bramblekit flinch. "He's a scheming and cunning cat, that's how he turned the rest of Thunderclan against me and he probably tells lies about you and your sister too. Remember I didn't kidnap you Bramblekit, I saved you."

Bramblekit thought about what his father said. Maybe it was true, but he still had his doubts about Fireheart.

"I was born to rule the forest," said Tigerstar wrapping a paw around Bramblekit and pulled him next to him. "And you're also destined to rule with me."

Bramblekit smiled at his father and nodded in agreement, he did look forward to ruling with his father one day. Tigerstar gave Bramblekit a badger ride back to the camp, as he thought about the day he had.

"Thank you, father," he whispered in his ear. "For a really great day."

Author's note; Bramblekit is starting to have doubts about his father. The next chapter is going to take place at the next gathering. What do you think is gonna happen?