Chapter 5

"Brackenfur! Brackenfur!" the cats chanted. Brackenfur was now a warrior. He was quite happy but also sad. He saw his sister sitting next to Sandstorm. Too bad she wasn't becoming a warrior like him.

"Congratulations Brackenfur!" Cinderpaw meowed.

"Thank you. But I wish you were with me. Now I have to do the vigil alone." He mumbled.

"You can do it. You're brave." She nudged his cheek.

"You're leaving in a few days to Mothermouth, right?" he asked.

Cinderpaw nodded. She heard Yellowfang call her name, she gave Brackenfur a lick then turned away and trotted off. Again, Brackenfur was alone.

"You'll make a fine warrior." Fireheart meowed.

The golden-brown tom turned his head towards the gingery tom. "Thank you."

Fireheart walked away. Brackenfur sat there for a few moments, the crowd of cats dispersed and went back to doing their chores. Brackenfur watched as Whitestorm organized a patrol, Tigerclaw was talking with Darkstripe and Fireheart was taking a piece of fresh-kill from the pile.

"You'll be alone tonight." A sweet, calming voice sounded behind him. He turned his head, it was Bluestar.

"Yeah. I'm a bit nervous." He meowed. "I wish Cinderpaw would be there with me."

"She has a different destiny now." Bluestar meowed. "Did you tell her about your father."

"No, I thought it was best to leave it as a secret."

Bluestar understood. "I must attend to business now, good day." She parted.

Brackenfur watched her leave. It was time to follow the road he was destined to follow.

It was a dark, cold night. Brackenfur sat in the clearing alone. Everything was quiet, not a mouse was heard. Suddenly he heard a sound, it was large and clumsy. He could hear the dirt shift as the creature walked.

Brackenfur wanted to warn everyone but he must keep his silence. He went over to go investigate the sound. Suddenly he could scent it…it had an awful stench. Brackenfur knew what it was, it was a badger.

His fur bristled and his tail was raised. The badger was walking a few fox-lengths away from him. Prepared to pounce at any moment, he remained still and quiet. The badger had no interest in him, it walked right by. There was going to be no danger that night.

In the morning, Brackenfur was greeted by his sister.

"Good morning Brackenfur." She meowed.

"Good morning." He replied.

A few moments later Tigerclaw came up to them. "Brackenfur, you're on Sunhigh patrol." He meowed roughly. Brackenfur's heart began to pound faster. He gave a quick nod. Tigerclaw turned around and walked off. The young warrior took a sigh of relief.

"I better be off." He meowed. Cinderpaw nudged him. Brackenfur padded over to the fresh-kill pile and got a mouse. He sat down and began to chew on it.

When Sunhigh came he went on patrol with Mousefur, Willowpelt and Sandstorm. They inspected Sunningrocks then walked along the Riverclan border. Nothing new today.

Once they returned something was going on. Fireheart quickly ran up to Brackenfur. He was panting and bloody.

"Go guard Brokentail." Fireheart ordered.

Without questions, Brackenfur dashed off to go guard the former Shadowclan leader. Rogues were attacking, attempting to free Brokentail. Even the blind former leader swung a few swipes at Brackenfur.

"Watch out!" Longtail meowed as a rogue pounced on Brackenfur. The young tom stared into the rogues eyes, he knew who it was. It was Clawface, his uncle.

"It's you, Brackenfur." The large tom got off of him.

"What're you doing here?" Brackenfur was shocked.

"I'm here on a mission. Tigerclaw wanted us to free Brokentail."

"Leave." Brackenfur hissed.

"Look, their are some things that I have to do."

"Destroy my clan?"

"Not exactly." Clawface sighed. "I don't want to hurt you. Pretend that I knocked you unconscious or something."

"No." Brackenfur responded with a strong, stern voice.

"Fine. I'm sorry Thistleclaw but I have to do this." He meowed looking up into the sky. He faced towards Brackenfur, ready to fight. "I'm going to have to kill you if you don't move out of the way."

Brackenfur stood still. Right as Clawface was about to pounce Darkstripe came to help. Clawface backed away and headed for the clearing. He was stopped by Fireheart and the two fought each other. Brackenfur was about to help until her heard a cry for help.

"Help!" Cinderpaw meowed.

Boulder, another rogue, was attacking Yellowfang and Cinderpaw.

Brackenfur turned around and charged for the large tom. "Get away from my sister!" he yelled.

Boulder was about to crush Cinderpaw but Brackenfur pummeled into him. The large tom went flying off his feet, hitting the ground on his side. Brackenfur tried to bite into his neck but Boulder used his massive paws to push Brackenfur off, then he fled.

"Cinderpaw, are you alirght?" Brackenfur walked over to his sister.

"Just a few scratches, but nothing permanent." She responded. "Quickly Brackenfur, the clan needs your help, don't worry about me." She meowed.

Brackenfur nodded and dashed off into the clearing. Clawface was still fighting Fireheart. Suddenly Fireheart took the finishing blow and killed Clawface. Graystripe ran up to him to check on him.

"He killed Spottedleaf." Fireheart meowed to Graystripe. The gray tom nodded then the two went off to fight some more.

Brackenfur sat next to Clawface's body. His uncle tried to kill him, how could he? He even killed the old medicine cat, Spottedleaf.

"You fool." Brackenfur muttered, then he turned away and left the body.

Once the battle was over, Bluestar walked out of the den. Tigerclaw was slowly moving behind her with Fireheart and Graystripe by his side.

"You betrayed us, Tigerclaw." She meowed. "You led these rogues here and you tried to kill me. You must leave."

All the cats gasped. Brackenfur knew there was something about Tigerclaw that he didn't like. He watched the large tom leave camp. Then he turned to his uncle's dead body and sighed. Cinderpaw came running up to him and nudged his shoulder.

"Let me see those wounds." Cinderpaw meowed.

Brackenfur nodded. He felt more relaxed now that Tigerclaw was gone. But little did he know that dark times laid ahead….

Yes, yes, I know...boring chapter. but it'll get more interesting. Coming up: Snowkit, Bloodclan, love, traveling...and much much more. Just a reminder, this story contains a lot of spoilers...soooooo read at you own RISK!