New chap! And the one after it's already in the works...anyway, Brambleclaw's POV.

Danke sehr to my editor, Dewflower, saving you all from reading some of the crap I come up with.

And...the chap:

Brambleclaw jumped as a twig crackled underneath his paws. He was near the island now, and he could hear the meows of cats there. So Tawnypelt and Ceadarheart had been right- they were gathering there tonight. The realization only filled him with more anxiety, making his neck fur prickle. There was no more denying it now. They really were planning something. And Hawkfrost was their leader.

Where was his sister and the ShadowClan tom? He looked around, scenting the air, but couldn't catch a trace of them. He was just starting to take a couple of pawsteps forward when he heard a hiss behind him. "Brambleclaw!"

Tawnypelt's green eyes opened in the darkness, and she twitched her whiskers. "I thought you would have at least smelled us by now."

Cedarheat was beside her, and he eyed Brambleclaw more critically. "Come on."

He came forward to take the lead as they began to head towards the log that led to the island. Brambleclaw grimanced as he felt his paws sink into soft mud and shivered as it touched his fur, but the two ShadowClan cats didn't seem bothered. They were used to the swamps of their own territory. Ceadarheart's tail brushed Tawnypelt's flank as they went. Brambleclaw narrowed his eyes, wondering just how close they were. He was unable to be completely happy for his sister, not when he had always thought of her as fierce and independant. How much would having a mate change her?

Squirrelflight isn't any different with me, he reminded himself, but only succeeded in making himself feel a twinge of guilt for not telling the she-cat what she was doing. We haven't changed, have we?

Cedarheart lowered his belly into the sludge, his ears pricked up. "You can hear what they're saying," he whispered. Tawnypelt crouched beside him, Brambleclaw on her other side. They were just behind the log, safely concealed in its shadow. Fuzzy images moved on the nearby island. Their eyes reflected the light of the moon like cold stars, and Brambleclaw knew one of them was Hawkfrost.

What is he doing? Even now, he wasn't able to believe that his half-brother was doing something truly evil. If he thought it was for the best, like he had with Mudclaw...like it had seemed during the last meeting. Maybe Brambleclaw could talk him out of it. Or maybe he's doing something good, and I can help him? He couldn't bring himself to voice his doubts.

The deep, rumbling growl was familiar as it met his ears, and, squinting, Brambleclaw thought he could make out the massive shoulders of his half-brother, on top of the Great Tree. "...for a long time they have been the source of trouble. When there is prey theft, who is the first to be blamed? ShadowClan. Who starts the most border fights? ShadowClan. And who, even now, still causes the most trouble between the Clans?"

Another cat that Brambleclaw identified as Rowanclaw growled, "Are you blaming my Clan for all trouble that comes to the forest?"

"Not at all," meowed Hawkfrost smoothly. "ShadowClan has fine warriors,like youself, Rowanclan, and they are not to blame.You and your companions are the ones that keep Clan alive and well.Your leader, however…"

A murmur rippled through the cats, and Brambleclaw, Tawnypelt and Cedarheart exchanged surprised glances. What was Hawkfrost planning to do about Blackstar?

"Why are they listening to him?" demanded Cedarheart. "Rowanclaw-"

"He's been talking to them for a moon now," Tawnypelt murmured. "Poisoning their minds. Making them believe what he does." She glanced sideways at her brother and added in an even quieter voice, "Just like Tigerstar did."

Brambleclaw winced. As much as he would have liked to deny it, the same blood that fueled Tigerstar was inside him and his siblings. Clearly Hawkfrost had embraced it, but what about him and Tawnypelt?

"Am I the only one who remembers how many time Blackstar challenged the other leaders on the journey to our new home?" came Hawkfrost's voice. His shadowy form leaped to a new branch on the tree. "And what about his history? He followed Brokentail, a leader that stole and murdered kits. He followed Tigerstar- surely I don't have to explain what he has done."

Brambleclaw's tail twitched in surprise. This was an unexpected reference to their father. But if Tigerstar came to Hawkfrost in dreams...if he believed what he said, why would he be criticizing him?

"Am I right in saying that Blackstar is a troublemaker?" Hawkfrost called. A ripple of ascent came from the cats below him, weak at first and then growing stronger as they accepted the conviction in Hawkfrost's voice.

"Would we be doing the forest a favor in getting rid of him?" The dark tabby wondered aloud, never taking his eyes off the crowd.

Tawnypelt's ears pricked up indignantly and Cedarheart let out a growl before he could stop himself. Brambleclaw felt his limbs freeze inside the mud. He forced himself to keep listening as he fought the growing urge to run all the way back to ThunderClan and reveal his information to Firestar. Was Hawkfrost really talking of murdering a Clan leader?

"Yes," Hawkfrost meowed, over the discontented rumble of the warriors below. "I've been wondering, is it not our duty to serve the forest? Aren't we fulfilling that duty by rooting out the cats that are not worthy Clan leaders?"

"Blackstar has been a good leader, Hawkfrost," meowed Rowanclaw. "ShadowClan has done well with his leadership."

"In spite of, you mean," Hawkfrost spat. "It is only because of strong warriors- like you, Rowanclaw, that ShadowClan has survived. Blackstar refused an alliance with Firestar when both ThunderClan and ShadowClan were suffering from the Twoleg monsters. Any wise leader would have agreed to work with him."

"And you can't forget how much trouble he caused on the journey!" A cat at the very front of the crowd reared up, his large frame dark against the glare of the moonlight. "Ordering everyone around, arguing about mutual hunting patrols! He only cared for himself and his pride!"

Brambleclaw froze when he saw bobbing heads and thoughtful gazes locked with the branch on the Great Oak. They were agreeing with him! But then again, he did have a point, as much as Brambleclaw tried to deny it. Everything the dark tabby was saying made sense, and it infuriated Brambleclaw.

Cedarheart's blue eyes were filled with malice. "Badgerclaw," he muttered to his companions, nodding at the large framed cat. "If Hawkfrost were to come across a mud puddle, he'd lay in it so Hawkfrost's paws wouldn't get wet."

Hawkfrost paused to nod at Badgerclaw's words. "You see?" he meowed. "Friends, the times of our secret gatherings are over. Tonight will will rid ShadowClan of it's undeserving leader, and show cats of every Clan the strength in coming together! We will be better TigerClan. But a new TigerClan, stronger, better, and wiser than it ever was under Tigerstar's leadership. We will learn from his mistakes, and we will be unstoppable!"

He reared up, claws slashing at the air. The other cats echoed his yowls, their cries ringing through the island so loudly that Brambleclaw thought it impossible that none of cats back at their respective camps could hear. His body was ridged with horror; the very mention of TigerClan had set his heart pounding.

Tawnypelt's teeth were bared in anger, but there was a spark of amusement in her eyes, too. Was she enjoying this act of defiance? Brambleclaw stared at her. "What?"

"Don't you get it?" she mewed softly. "That's what these meetings were about- to make himself an army! An army that'll rid the Clans of any cat that he doesn't like. Blackstar's first because Blackstar's hated him ever since his four warriors died the night of Mudclaw's betrayal."

Though he was happy his sister wasn't going to join them, Brambleclaw shook his head slowly from side to side, feeling overwhelmed with the unshakable evidence of his brother's betrayal. He really was Tigerstar all over again- worse than Tigerstar, because he was smarter than his father had ever been. He'd found some way to do everything he wanted without appearing suspicious until he had to.

Cedarheart's eyes were stretched wide with disbelief. "I don't get it," he meowed. "Even if he does what he wants tonight and gets rid of all nine of Blackstar's lives- then what? None of the other Clans will follow him- Onestar and Firestar and Leopardstar. No one would follow a murderer..."

"What if he makes Blackstar's death look like betrayal?" wondered Tawnypelt. "What if it looks like Blackstar attacked him? Russetfur will listen to him, too- she's mouse-brained enough. Then he'll have ShadowClan on his side. And then-"

"-His cats would keep meeting like this, worming their way into the Clans..." Brambleclaw shivered. Then, someday, Hawkfrost will control all the Clans. And if he doesn't, he'll wait until he has enough cats to battle for control.

"What can we do?" Cedarheart mumbled.

"I was wondering the same thing."

Tawnypelt actually turned to Brambleclaw, half-opening her mouth, thinking that it was him that had spoken. Then her green eyes widened, her muzzle still hanging open. Brambleclaw did not have to turn around; he could feel the ice-blue eyes searing into his back, so much colder and crueler than they had ever seemed before. But this time he could not relate to the cruelty; this was a hatred that he had only ever seen in the eyes of Tigerstar.

He took a breath, steadying himself, and then turned around, pulling his paws out of the sludge to rest them on the log. His voice was calm; a leader's. But he didn't feel as calm as he seemed as he struggled to keep his neck fur down.

"Hello, Hawkfrost."

&&&

"So, what are you doing here?" Crowfeather glared at Squirrelflight. He had half a mind to rip her apart right then and there, but he knew he could never do so with Leafpool intently gazing them both. Squirrelflight's green gaze was cold as she watched him, and he suddenly wondered if she was remembering Feathertail. Did she judge him for finding another love after her death?

Squirrelflight lashed her tail, and glanced at Leafpool, and then sighed, apparently making up her mind. "Like I said, I'm following Brambleclaw. He went out tonight without telling me, and I want to find out where he went. I have a couple of others with me." Alarm flashed in Leafpool's eyes, and she quickly assured her, "I told them to scout ahead without me. They're farther away; they don't know."

She was quick to tell Leafpool that, Crowfeather thought, catching the flicker of warmth in the ginger she-cat's eyes as she looked over her sister. She's not as angry about it as she wants Leafpool to think. Not enough to make her worry about other cats knowing.

"We'll come with you," Leafpool offered instantly. Crowfeather opened his mouth to protest, but was surprised into silence when Squirrelflight meowed, "Okay."

"It's just because you don't want to leave us alone, isn't it?" Crowfeather growled, taking a step towards Leafpool.

Squirrelflight's eyes seared into him the same way they had when they had been apprentices, arguing on the journey to the sun-drown place. "Yes."

She narrowed her eyes. "I'll tell them that I found you, Crowfeather, patrolling the border, and Leafpool collecting herbs."

"So you're not going to tell them the truth?" Leafpool mewed, scuffing a paw in the dirt, her expression unreadable.

Squirrelflight didn't answer as she whipped around, leading the way back to her patrol. Leafpool looked hopelessly at Crowfeather, who put his tail consolingly on her shoulder. "Don't worry. She won't tell. I was right; she cares too much about you to get you in trouble like that."

Her amber eyes soft, Leafpool pushed her muzzle into his gray-black fur before she set off after her sister. Crowfeather padded after her, thinking. First Nettleclaw, now Squirrelflight...it seemed impossible that their secret would stay that way for much longer. But then again, did he want to keep it a secret anymore?

Of course we do! What will happen if we're found out? Can I still be deputy? Can Leafpool be a medicine cat?

He doubted it, but forced himself to push the thoughts away from now, and concentrate on Brambleclaw. The rational part of him said that Squirrelflight was overreacting- it was not unusual for Squirrelflight to do so. But another part of him wondered if the tabby warrior really was up to something.

It's none of my business if he is. WindClan is my problem. Not ThunderClan.

His eyes rested on Leafpool ahead of him, and he knew that wasn't true. Not anymore.

&&&

Squirreflight's fellow warriors didn't object to Leafpool and Crowfeather's joining of their patrol, and seemed to accept Squirrelflight's lie as to where she'd found them. As they continued on, the WindClan deputy fell into step with the ginger warrior behind the others.

"Why don't you just stay away from my sister?" Squirrelflight demanded under her breath.She had fallen into step with the black warrior, letting Rainwhisker continue to lead.

"Why don't you just stay out of our business?" Crowfeather retorted.

"Your breaking of the warrior code is everyone's business! Why shouldn't I just tell Firestar? Or Onestar?"

Crowfeather blinked and answered immediately, with all seriousness, "You won't."

"Why not?"

His gaze locked with hers. "Because Leafpool's your sister, and you won't get her into trouble that way. If it were me or any other cat you would- but not Leafpool. You care for her too much."

Her green eyes flashed indignantly. "You really do know her well, don't you?"

"Yes."

Squirrelflight snorted. "And what about Feathertail?"

"I'll never forget Feathertail." Crowfeather's voice shook. Images of her falling figure raced through his head, the rocks crushing on the ground and booming in his ears. The never-ending plash of falling water that he hated so much. "Never. But Leafpool- we've both had signs from StarClan. We have to be together."

"You've both probably been stuffing yourselves with too much fresh-kill and sleeping too often," Squirrelflight spat, but her tone wasn't nearly so harsh. She glanced sideways at him. "Fine. I won't tell. But she's my sister, Crowfeather. If you ever hurt her..."

"I love her, Squirrelflight."

He felt her eyes on him, and made himself look at her. For a long time they stood like that, each defiant, equally angry and equally stubborn. They would never be real friends; they were too different; had too many arguments.

Squirrelflight flicked her head toward her sister, then back at Crowfeather. She nodded, slowly, hesitantly, the fire still not gone from her green gaze. "Okay."

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