Hey, all! New chappie's UP. Still Brambleclaw's POV. Thanx to all new reviewers. And while you're not reading my stories (tehe) I'd recommend Ravenpelt's A New Beginning (same topic as mine, but taken differently and ver ver good) Rainpath's Tawnypelt (they're totally right, there need to be some more stories about Tawnypelt, and theirs is totally awesome!) and Dewflower's The Story of Sparkle (also awesome, well-written, and includes RAVENPAW and BLOODCLAN, so it's on my list).
Oh yeah, the actual story...
The night was eerily still as Brambleclaw trudged through the forest, under the watchful eye of the waning moon. He looked up at it warily and then looked back down at his paws. Thoughts swam through his mind like fish through a stream- and they were just as hard to keep a hold on.
He was afraid of what he would find when he did reach the end of Hawkfrost's trail. Obviously his half-brother had been meeting with the rogues. But what was he planning on doing with them? It was so like a trick Tigerstar had once pulled. He had gathered a group of Brokentail's old followers and used them to attack the ThunderClan camp. He was going to kill Bluestar under the cover of the battle. Luckily Firestar had found him out.
But Firestar's not here now, Brambleclaw realized. He's not going to save me this time. Not going to save the Clan. He's done his part.
But does that mean it's my turn? Or will I not be able to do anything at all?
He shook his head and plodded on. For a while he had considered telling his leader of what he had smelled, but he knew Firestar would be quick to turn against Hawkfrost. And if he could stop his half-brother before he did any real harm, he might be able to save him from that harm. Brambleclaw knew first-handedly how hard it was to prove yourself as Tigerstar's son, and he found himself wanting to make it easier for Hawkfrost, rather than harder.
But what if he really is planning to do something evil with the rogues? wondered Brambleclaw. Then what will I do?
He had no answer, so he stopped thinking and continued walking. All too soon he had reached the place where he and Sunpaw had found Hawkfrost's scent. Brambleclaw looked carefully around him before he brought his nose to the ground, getting a good sniff of his brother's smell. Then he began to track, even more cautiously than before, if possible.
Graystripe had been guarding the camp when Brambleclaw had sneaked out. Brambleclaw was just as glad as everyone else to have the deputy back, but he couldn't help wondering if there was a chance that, if Graystripe hadn't come back, he would be made deputy. That ambition was cold and hard inside him, like ice that would never melt. He did his best to push it aside, but he couldn't really. Hawkfrost had been right. It was who he was.
The rogue scent was strong around him now. He was nearing the edge of ThunderClan territory, into the lands where the Moonpool lay. Brambleclaw had never been this far before, and he unconsciously noted the amount of prey, wondering if Firestar would want to use it later as part of ThunderClan's land.
A soft mew broke the thin stillness, and Brambleclaw's claws sank instinctively into the ground. Up ahead he saw a flash of tabby fur that could have been his own. Hawkfrost! He dove into a holly bush just in time to watch his half-brother pass by ahead of him, looking just as careful as Brambleclaw had been while walking.
What are you doing here? Brambleclaw almost voiced the question aloud. Instead he narrowed his eyes and crept out of the holly bush, resuming his stalk as he followed his kin. Hawkfrost's scent was mingling with the rogue's now. So they had met up. The telltale flash of ginger fur in the undergrowth confirmed it- he remembered the black-and-ginger she-cat from the battle.
Hawkfrost, the rogue leader, and several others were walking ahead. They ducked into a shallow clearing lined with thick ivy, and Brambleclaw flattened himself in the dark leaves, peering out to watch them, his heart pounding worriedly as the last hope that this might have all been a mistake flooded away.
"Why should we attack?" growled the rogue leader. "What would be in it for us?"
"A share of the territory," replied Hawkfrost promptly. "And no argument with it. You would mark it yourselves, and the prey would be yours for the taking."
"No more wandering?" mewed a rogue behind the black-and-ginger she-cat, a thoughtful flash in his orange eyes. She turned on him with a sharp hiss, commanding silence, and then looked back at Hawkfrost. "And how do we know that we can trust you?"
"I've come to speak to you, haven't I?" Hawkfrost meowed. "You could have easily killed me."
She tipped her head to one side, considering. "And you say that this...Clan...that you wish for us to attack, they are weak?"
"Definately." Hawkfrost's blue eyes glinted coldly. "They've suffered hardships lately."
Which Clan is he talking about? Brambleclaw thought. WindClan's had trouble, with Mudclaw and all. RiverClan and ShadowClan both lost warriors during that last battle. Or, he added with a surge of fear, it could be ThunderClan. Every Clan suffered on this journey, after all.
"I tell you, Ginger," Hawkfrost meowed, "This is a good offer. I will be fighting with you, and as many cats of my own Clan that I can persuade."
Ginger's tail lifted, and her lip curled. "Hawkfrost," she meowed, "I think you may need to consider what you're doing with another cat first."
"What?" There was a challenge in Hawkfrost's growl. "What are you talking about?"
"Why, that cat in the ivy," meowed Ginger innocently. "He seems quite interested in what you're doing, to follow you all the way here."
Brambleclaw's entire body turned as rigid as ice, for her revealing of his postion had been completely unexpected. He wondered if he could run, but Hawkfrost was already heading towards his hiding place, curious and hostile. "Who is it?" he snarled. He sniffed at his half-brother's hiding place, and then his eyes snapped open wide. "Brambleclaw? How'd you ever get here?"
"I smelled your scent on patrol today." Brambleclaw pushed his way out into the open, figuring there was no sense in hiding anymore. "And I followed it tonight." Anger and the cold feeling of betrayal hit him in the heart, urging him on. "How could you do this, Hawkfrost? Attack a Clan and turn it over to rogues? This is the kind of thing that got Tigerstar exiled! This is breaking the warrior code!"
Before answering him, Hawkfrost whipped around to face Ginger. "I'll deal with him," he promised. "And meet you back at your dens. Go on."
Ginger's black-surrounded eye gleamed in a cold way, like a star, and Brambleclaw was sure she did not quite turst him as if she did not quite trust him. But the tabby warrior's muscles bunched beneath his pelt, and she decided to leave, taking her rogue warriors with her. Brambleclaw faced Hawkfrost once they had disappeared beyond the ivy, his tail lashing around his hindlegs and waitng for what his half-brother would say.
"Brambleclaw." Suddenly Hawkfrost sounded pleading, desperate. "I'm not trying to do anything wrong."
Brambleclaw snorted, and Hawkfrost kneaded the ground with his paws. "Listen to me. Every cat knows how cold ShadowClan is. They had Brokentail, who was one of the worst leaders ever known. They had Tigerstar. And Blackstar isn't much better, you know he isn't. You told me how he murdered Stonefur!"
Brambleclaw flattened his ears. It still wasn't adding up to him. Hawkfrost shook his head. "With the rogues we can drive them out, Brambleclaw! Get rid of them forever, so that there'll be peace. Without ShadowClan, the Clans could all live without battles. ShadowClan start all the trouble, all the wars, all the prety theft .And on the journey? How many times did Blackstar snarl or snap to get his way?"
"So you'll turn their territory over to rogues?" Brambleclaw spat. "How would that solve anything?"
"No, listen." Hawkfrost bent close, as if in precaution in case the rogues were still watching. "As soon as they help us, we'll get rid of them too. All of RiverClan will help with that. ThunderClan too...if you persuade them."
Brambleclaw's eyes widened, and he stared at his kin as if seeing him for the first time. "You sound like Tigerstar," he whispered. "That's what he tried to do with BloodClan. It won't work, Hawkfrost. And it's far too dangerous. And Leopardstar would never approve of you trying to force out another Clan."
Hawkfrost took a pace back, and he sat down. His eyes lifted to the stars. "I have to do this, Brambleclaw," he mewed. "Something like this, anyway. I have to make a name for myself. Make myself great, a legend. I have to."
In the ivy, another cat saw Brambleclaw's eyes flash with a deep understanding that went beyond his thoughts, into his heart. The cat in the bushes felt their own heart clench with dread as the ambition that had claimed Hawkfrost, had claimed Tigerstar, swam over Brambleclaw's eyes. And the cat in the bushes couldn't help wondering if the ambition would take Brambleclaw too.
"No, StarClan, no," whispered the cat.
But neither Hawkfrost nor Brambleclaw heard them.
Another cliffie, and another guess-who type of situation. Who can guess who the cat is? Go on- guess!
Reviews are appriciated, too!