Chapter 16
"I have news," announced Tigerstar. "A great change is coming to the forest."
Bramblepaw noticed Tigerstar looking at him. "Bramblepaw, come up here please" he said encouragingly with a fatherly smile.
Bramblepaw nervously walked over to the great rock. Tawnypaw watched her brother going over. She understood that he was nervous about standing in front of cats from all the clans.
Bramblepaw dipped his head at the other leaders and stood next to his father.
"Great change," Tigerstar went on. "Starclan has shown me it is Shadowclan's task to prepare every cat in the forest."
Bramblepaw heard some of the cats muttering "Every cat." He also wondered why Tigerstar wanted him to stand with him before the clans.
"Tigerstar…" Tallstar, the leader of Windclan began to say. But Tigerstar just ignored him.
"Shadowclan has the favour of Starclan," he went on. "We are blessed because we have survived the sickness. I was tasked to restore the clan to make it great again. I've the blessing of the warriors most of all."
Bramblepaw wasn't entirely convinced. He had never seen this arrogant side in his father before. But he could tell from his tone how prideful his voice was.
"All you know changes have already come," continued Tigerstar. "Unwelcome changes that are beyond our control. Last leaf-bare much of the forest was covered by floods, a fire swept on Thunderclan territory and two legs are moving into our territory in greater numbers. Life is growing harder and as the forest changes, we must change to meet the crises."
Bramblepaw looked down at the cats. Shadowclan was cheering, letting out yowls of support. But he noticed some of the Riverclan cats were yowling too. He was surprised. Why would Riverclan support the leader of another clan? Did they really believe joining forces would bring strength to their clan?
"Starclan has shown me the way," declared Tigerstar glancing up at the sky. Bramblepaw looked up, he noticed storm clouds were showing. "To survive we must join together. As four clans we waste our energy striving against one another. As one clan we'd be strong, we must unite!"
Silence went around, even Shadowclan was silent. Tigerstar beckoned his tail at Leopardstar to stand next to him. And she did.
"Leopardstar has agreed to join Riverclan with Shadowclan," declared Tigerstar.
Bramblepaw began to understand why Riverclan had been cheering along with Shadowclan, and why Tigerstar had been going over to Riverclan frequently. He was having meetings with Leopardstar about alliances.
"We shall be joint leaders of a greater clan," continued Tigerstar. "To be known as Tigerclan."
Bramblepaw felt like his stomach was in knots. He didn't really seem to believe his father's claims to be joint leaders. based on the things Firestar told him that Tigerstar had done in the past, he didn't seem like the type of cat who'd wanna share his power with anyone.
He looked over at Firestar. He didn't seem to believe Tigerstar either, nor did Tallstar.
Looking back at Tigerstar, he saw that Tigerstar was looking at him, his amber eyes glistening. He motioned his head telling Bramblepaw to stand next to him. Although hesitant, he walked up to him.
"And someday," announced Tigerstar. "My son Bramblepaw will assume leadership on Shadowclan's part of Tigerclan. Blackfoot," he guided his paw over to Blackfoot and cats turned to look at him. "Will serve as deputy and if anything should happen to me, rule as acting leader until Bramblepaw comes of age."
Blackfoot dipped his head respectfully at his superior's decisions and cats from both Shadowclan and Riverclan cheered at Bramblepaw.
Bramblepaw sunk down a bit, and shook timidly. That was why Tigerstar called him up to the high rock. He wanted to announce him as future leader in front of all the clans.
Though Tigerstar, didn't seem to notice his nervousness, Firestar did. Bramblepaw looked at him giving puppy eyes, begging him to help him.
Firestar felt sorry for Bramblekit, it was very hard for him to stand in front of the clans and his father to announce him future leader.
Before he could say anything, Tigerstar turned look at him and Tallstar.
"I invite you to join the new clan," he said in a charming voice. "Let's rule the forest together with friendship and peace."
Before Firestar could answer, Tallstar spoke up, his pelt bristling aggressively.
"Tigerclan was the name of one of the greatest clans in ancient times," he announced to the clans below. "Tigerstar has no right to use it now, or the right to change the number of clans in the forest. We have lived as four clans for many seasons, following the warrior code laid down by Starclan! If we throw aside the warrior code it'll bring disaster."
He turned to Tigerstar. "I'll die before my clan joins yours!" he hissed.
Bramblepaw's mouth gaped open. That took a lot of guts. It was the first time anyone had ever spoken to his father like that.
But looking up at his father, he saw a dangerous look in Tigerstar's eyes. Ones he had seen when he mentioned Firestar to him as a kit. But he was surprised to see that he was calm and spoke to Tallstar with a smile.
"Tallstar," he said in a voice that he was trying to calm him down. "I understand, these are important matters and being an older cat, you need a little time to see that what I'm doing is for the good for the clans."
"I'm not so old that I've lost my wits you piece of fox dung!" snarled Tallstar.
Bramblepaw was worried his father was going to lose his temper. He really didn't want to see Tigerstar mad.
But he didn't, he just looked calmly at Firestar. "And what does the new leader of Thunderclan think?" he said smoothly. Bramblepaw was surprised his father would ask the cat he hated the most to join his clan.
Firestar was hesitant, he knew if he and Tallstar refused to join his clan, he would have the other clans destroyed.
Thunderclan cats were yowling in protestants. Bramblepaw even heard a pale ginger she-cat from Thunderclan shouting "Never Firestar, never!" Windclan cats on the other hand seemed to look like they were considering Tigerstar's proposal.
"Have you lost your tongue?" asked Tigerstar in a taunting voice.
But like Tallstar, Firestar also got the courage to stand up to Tigerstar.
"I'll never let you take over my clan!" he spat.
"Make us!" joined in Tallstar. "If you can" he added.
Bramblepaw gulped, he wished Tallstar hadn't said that. He knew what a great warrior his father was. He had seen him in battle training, he would take them down and take over their clans in a heartbeat.
But Tigerstar didn't attack. He didn't even get mad. Instead, he gave a hurtful look at the other two leaders.
"Make you?" he said in an innocent voice. "I came to make peace with a plan to help us all. Tallstar, Firestar, it's the right decision, come to me willingly. But don't take too long, Starclan will not wait."
There was an evil grin on his face, as he said the final sentence and even Bramblepaw could notice a bit of menace in Tigerstar's voice.
Not being able to take it anymore, Firestar charged towards the front of the rock and looked down.
"Cats of Windclan, Riverclan and Shadowclan!" he cried. "I cannot stay silent anymore. Tigerstar is not to be trusted anymore than a cornered badger."
Bramblepaw knew Firestar was going to expose his father's dastardly deeds. Looking back at Tigerstar, he had his muscles hunched, ready to attack Firestar. Bramblepaw gasped and got in between the two toms. He looked at his father with a desperate look, pleading him not to attack.
It seemed to work, as Tigerstar looked at his son for a minute, then up at the sky, then back down and started to calm down.
"I know how many of you wonder why Tigerstar left Thunderclan," continued Firestar. "You want to know the truth? This cat is power hungry and dangerous, and he's willing to kill other cats to get what he wants!"
Just then a bolt of lightning lit up the sky! Bramblepaw jumped and ran between his father's legs.
Tigerstar looked up at the sky. "It's a sign," he declared. "Thank you Starclan for your will." He then looked down at the gathered cats. "The gathering is over, Shadowclan follow me."
He hunched his muscles to leap down. "Bad luck kittypet," he taunted. "Think about my offer. It's your last chance to save those miserable cats." He then leapt down.
Bramblepaw started to climb down to follow Tigerstar and the other Shadowclan cats, he looked back at Firestar and Tallstar.
"You have to tell Shadowclan about your father Bramblepaw," said Firestar. "To make them and Leopardstar see how dangerous he is."
"I'll try" was all Bramblepaw said before he ran off to catch up with Shadowclan as the rain came down.
Author's note; Poor Bramblepaw, it must've been hard to stand in front of all the clans while his father presented him as future leader of Tigerclan. He knows he has to stop Tigerstar, but he's very nervous.