Spiritkit had never felt so desperate to escape the camp. His father crouched near the entrance, his real pelt no doubt melding into the darkness like a shadow. None of the other cats seemed to notice him unless his tail-tip moved. There was no escaping.
Was SunClan okay? It was improper for a ThunderClan cat to worry about SunClan but Spiritkit couldn't help himself. His thoughts constantly turned to Foxstar. How would she feel knowing her former apprentice was out to get her new Clan? He imagined his former mother would have been outraged, at first, but then she would be understanding, somehow. She was beautiful like that, always understanding and never confused for long, able to turn any situation to her advantage. Spiritkit almost felt like a traitor thinking of her at all, but he reminded himself that Foxstar had adopted him.
Spiritkit picked at the thrush. It was the same one he had caught earlier. No one had touched it, too caught up in the drama surrounding Brackenfur and SunClan to care about one little piece of prey that their mostly blind kit had caught.
He tried not to imagine Forestpaw tearing her claws through his own mother's pelt. Spiritkit's whole world was turning upside down. What could he do to save SunClan?
He was relieved to see a fiery red pelt emerging from black leaves and bushes. Firestar nodded to Ravenfeather, but Spiritkit felt a stab of disappointment when he headed for the leader's den, Sandstorm following dutifully behind him. Her ears were pinned back and whiskers dripped in fury. With growing dismay, Spiritkit realized Firestar wasn't going to send anyone after Brackenfur.
It was sunhigh when the patrol finally returned. Spiritkit noticed them first, watching their gray spirits between the black leaves and tree trunks. They made their way carefully down the sharp walls of the ravine, the warriors bearing a wounded Oceanpaw between them. Ravenfeather rose to his paws, yowling a warning.
Firestar emerged out of the leader's den, Sandstorm right behind him, just as Brackenfur emerged from the bramble tunnel. When he spotted Firestar, he gave a tiny flinch of surprise before smoothing out his features and raising his head.
Spiritkit jumped when a pleased Ashfall emerged behind them, his faded spotted gray pelt nearly merged with the blackness behind him, and teeth bared in barely contained joy at victory. "We showed those SunClan cats whose boss!"
A cat Spiritkit had never seen before emerged. She was a she-cat with black and dark brown tiger-striped fur with a paler underbelly. Her eyes were yellow rings in pitch blackness, glittering with barely concealed excitement at her victory. She smelled exactly like blood…
Viperpaw! Spiritkit looked at the she-cat in dawning horror. The she-cat had finally taken a turn for the worse, following in her mentor's footsteps. He had never seen a cat's spirits change like that before.
Behind her emerged Forestpaw, and another cat Spiritkit didn't immediately recognize. The tom was no longer a gray spirit but a glowing star-filled tom cat, more beautiful and stronger than Spiritkit remembered him looking like. Graystone glanced guiltily around the camp before his eyes landed on Snowstorm. He looked down at his paws.
At least Forestpaw hasn't changed, thought Spiritkit, reassured that his old friend was as green as ever.
"Brackenfur," mewed Firestar, his mew sounded colder than ever before. "Report."
This time Brackenfur did flinch. He still kept his head and tail high. "ThunderClan was victorious, Firestar. Viperpaw fought well against Freezepelt, Forestpaw fought and survived against Foxstar, and Oceanpaw fought bravely against Flamefoot. We have gained a tree-length of territory passed the western Thunderpath."
ThunderClan erupted into surprised mews, but most sounded pleased with this development. Spiritkit saw Ravenfeather glance helplessly up at Firestar.
The fiery red spirit flicked an ear. "Have Mistleleaf and Ravenpaw look over your wounds."
Spiritkit couldn't believe it. Firestar wasn't going to punish the cats for basically mutiny. Even Brackenfur seemed unsettled by this turn of events. He turned to the other cats, who seemed hesitant to moved, and waved his tail for them to follow. Then he led the way into the medicine cat den. The moment they were gone, Ravenfeather bolted for the leader's den, Goldenflower and Brindleface right behind him. Soon, Firestar and all the senior warriors had vanished into the den.
Spiritkit hurried over to the medicine cat den, pausing when he spotted Viperpaw's faded spirit standing over her wounded brother. He felt like he was facing an enemy warrior.
"Hey Spiritkit," mewed Forestpaw. He lifted his head from where he was curled up in a nest, looking tired.
"Did you really fight Foxstar?" Spiritkit whispered.
"Brackenfur and I did," he admitted, grimacing. "It didn't feel like much of a fight. I don't think…" He paused, glanced towards Brackenfur, who was sitting next to Mistleleaf and conversing lowly. Spiritkit wished he could hear them. Forestpaw lowered his voice. "I don't think Brackenfur was using his claws."
Spiritkit looked up at Brackenfur, confusion curling his whiskers. But Brackenfur wanted the attack to happen… why would he…? The whole world felt like it had turned upside down. Spiritkit felt like he was going to collapse.
"I wish I never spoke out," mewed Forestpaw, pressing into Spiritkit's neck fur. "This whole thing is my fault."
Spiritkit kept his voice low, speaking straight into the tom's ear. "No one could have expected Brackenfur to take advantage of this."
The green tom gave a quiet sigh. "How am I going to apologize to Dustpelt?"
Spiritkit pressed into Forestpaw's side, his mind drifting to Foxstar.
Forestpaw nudged him off. "Ravenpaw's coming," he quietly mewed.
A flash of hot anger made Spiritkit's fur stand on end as his gaze turned towards the ancient spirit in a young cat's body. He hadn't forgotten what Ravenpaw said about being good enough to be a medicine cat apprentice. Ravenpaw suddenly hesitated, glancing between the two of them, his lips peeled back like he was holding herbs.
"I should go," mewed Spiritkit, frustrated with himself. He touched Forestpaw's ear with his nose. "See you later."
"See you," mewed Forestpaw, sounding about as disappointed as Spiritkit felt.
When Spiritkit stepped out into camp, he saw that the entire Clan was split in half. Most of the senior warriors were lined up underneath the Highrock. Cloudtail, Dustpelt, Snowstorm, Brambleclaw, Harrierflight, and Slatefang were opposite them. Spiritkit wondered if this is what it looked like when two patrols were facing off against each other on either side of the border. The sight unnerved him, making his hackles rise.
"I'm not surprised you would side with them," mewed Brindleface to Slatefang and Harrierflight. "My kits, you have never had kits of your own. War is a terrible thing."
"But necessary," growled Brambleclaw, arching his back so he looked big as he looked to their leader. "With each passing sunrise, more and more restrictions have been placed on what we are allowed to each. We can't have fish from our own stream. We can't have rabbits from our own territory. Now that we have treecutplace back, we can't even eat there because the only prey left are rabbits."
Firestar bristled. "Squirrels and birds are for ThunderClan. All other prey belongs to the other Clans."
"Even when they're on our territory?" Cloudtail snarled. "Foxstar wouldn't have turned up her nose at prey!"
"Foxstar!" Harrierflight spat the word. "Foxstar is not ThunderClan's leader! If she was, we'd be allowed to hunt whatever we wanted!" The young warrior turned accusatory eyes on Thornclaw. "I can't go on patrol without someone reminding me that I can't hunt rabbit even though it's just sitting there, asking for it! What's the point of owning territory if we can't even hunt the prey that's on it!"
Sandstorm hissed. "If WindClan heard we were hunting rabbits-"
"WindClan won't hear about it at all! We have the right to eat what's on our territory - and every other Clan knows it! Do you think ShadowClan isn't going to eat squirrel? Or WindClan mice? Or RiverClan vole?" Slatefang licked her long fangs and stared down at Sandstorm. "When Fox Slayer was here, we could eat owls and foxes just like they were prey. Now we can't even eat crowfood."
Fernspots stepped forward, scooping her paw across the ground. "I vote for Firestar." She glared down at her former apprentice. "Firestar's leader of ThunderClan. His word is the warrior code."
Slatefang glared back, undaunted. When Spiritkit looked up at Firestar, the fiery red tom was pointedly not looking at either she-cat.
"I think the oldest warrior can remember," began Dustpelt slowly, his words bringing some calm to the other warriors. Foxstar's mate blinked at Firestar. "That part of the warrior code is exactly what put monsters in charge of ShadowClan."
Firestar dipped his head. "I cannot disagree with that, Dustpelt. Ravenfeather and I saw first paw what happened in ShadowClan. I am not condemning Brackenfur's actions because he broke the warrior code - I am condemning him because he did this behind my back. He did not ask for my input, and it may have resulted in war. I can no longer trust him." He looked at each of his warriors, meeting their gazes. "How can I be leader if I give an order only for it be disobeyed? How can any cat in ThunderClan trust that he will follow other rules of the warrior code? That is why I have to do this."
The camp grew quiet. Spiritkit crouched under the weight of silence, crawling carefully towards the apprentices. Unlike Forestpaw, they all looked like various shades of gray, some with stars and some without. One of them was a faded dark brown, his eyes were twin piercing amber rings in a black void.
"What's happening?" he asked Earthpaw, the largest she-cat in the apprentice's den.
"The senior warriors are voting," Earthpaw mewed softly, as if she was hiding - which seemed impossible, given her size, "on whether or not to kick Brackenfur out of the Clan."
"To demote Brackenfur," Marshpaw corrected with a exasperated glance at Spiritkit. He responded with an amused twitch of his whiskers.
Oakpaw snorted. "This meeting shouldn't even be happening. Firestar should have just demoted Brackenfur the moment he came back."
"And alienated half the Clan?" Doepaw's sweet mew sounded scathing.
Oakpaw gave him a dark look. Oakpaw was the second cat in ThunderClan who had an older spirit, grizzled and battleworn, with the same dark quality of Ashfall's… and now Viperpaw. He always had trouble understanding current Clan politics.
Spiritkit scanned the gathered cats and realized Nightkit and Cottonkit were among them, despite not being apprentices. It made him feel less self-conscious.
"I hope Viperpaw, Oceanpaw, and Forestpaw become warriors because of this," mewed Nightkit.
"They'd be lucky if they were allowed to go to the Gathering," mewed Thistlepaw. "Am I the only cat here with any sense?"
"It's not their fault that Brackenfur ordered them to come with him," mewed Marshpaw with a sniff. "I think they deserve a promotion."
I wish they were promoted, Spiritkit thought before remembering what Viperpaw had said about him. "I don't think Viperpaw deserves anything. Her mouth is too big."
To his surprise, nearly half the apprentices erupted into loud mrrows of laughter. Earthpaw pushed him gently in the shoulder, but she was so big that he nearly fell over anyway.
"You could say that again," Brockpaw mewed, sounding far more serious than his fellow apprentices did.
"She'd definitely deserve it," agreed Thistlepaw with a loud sniff.
"I don't believe they'd make her a warrior," mewed Amberpaw with a tiny giggle. "She can't even defeat a blind kit."
The apprentices started laughing again. Spiritkit shot Amberpaw an angry look. Sitting next to her sister, Scarletpaw looked like she wanted to crawl under a nest and die.
"That's not funny," growled Fawnpaw, loudly and pointedly. He glared accusingly at Amberpaw.
"Yeah!" Umberpaw mewed loudly before flushing in embarrassment. Fawnpaw didn't need to look at his brother, brushing his tail comfortingly over Umberpaw's nose ridge, encouraging him.
"It is funny," mewed Marshpaw, her eyes narrowing in a sort of clever way, "that an apprentice that old would even think to pick a fight with a blind kit." She sighed loudly. "Just goes to show you that there's something not right in her head."
As the laughter faded, some of the apprentices murmured quietly in agreement. Spiritkit felt a rush of relief, and Marshpaw gave him a wink.
"Looks like they've dragged Brackenfur out," mewed a relieved Scarletpaw, pointing with her tail.
Every apprentice fell silent and turned, ears pricked forward to hear what the verdict would be. Brackenfur stood before the Highrock, head held high. Before him, all of the senior warriors stood united, the younger warriors hanging around the edges, facing him with silent calm. Spiritkit couldn't help but admire Brackenfur as he faced down his Clanmates.
"Brackenfur," mewed Firestar, his tone once again cold and detached. Spiritkit shivered at the cold fury that the leader must have been fighting to swallow. "You have lead a battle patrol against one of our fellow Clans and provoked them. You have cause their warriors to shed blood and our warriors to fight a pointless battle. You might have even started a war with them, one that may cost our Clan precious lives. Worst of all, you did this without any input from your leader. You incited a rebellion. You've caused me to doubt my decision to make you the ThunderClan deputy. What do you have to say for yourself?"
Brackenfur didn't seem at all surprised at these accusations. His gaze never strayed from Firestar, as if trying to read the cat's mind. "I only wish to say this; when your leader lets your Clanmates starve, when your Clanmates encourage your apprentices to starve themselves, when it's not even leafbare yet, what would you have done?" He finally looked down at his fellow warriors, gaze so intense that a few had to look away. "We all know that Brokenstar would have gladly forced his cats to starve themselves because of his belief that a stronger warrior focused only on hunting for themselves."
"Are you saying I'm worse than Brokenstar?"
Brackenfur locked eyes with Firestar. "When a leader uses a broken part of the code to ensure he's obeyed, he is not better than Brokenstar - or Tigerstar. And it's the right of the warrior to stop them."
Firestar looked stricken. For a couple of heartbeats, he couldn't even speak. "You think so little of me?"
"I have told you! Many times!" Brackenfur let out a frustrated snarl. "We need prey. For moons, you denied it. You kept saying StarClan wants us to eat only birds and squirrel. We grow slimmer and slimmer, every moon, because of how many mouths we have to feed with so little sources of prey. We have even caught a mouse in a moon! They're all gone from the forest!" Brackenfur lashed his tail. "What else could I do?"
Firestar opened his mouth, closed it. He looked like he was warring with something inside of himself. Spiritkit wondered if he was going to overturn the vote - if he was going to let Brackenfur stay as a deputy.
"If we cannot trust StarClan," mewed Firestar at last, before he stopped himself. The young leader's gaze dropped to the freshkill pile, his face expressionless. Then he shook himself. "Brackenfur, I understand why you did what you felt you had to do, and I hope you understand that your actions have forced me to ask you to step down as deputy of ThunderClan."
The whole forest seemed to have become as quiet as a grave. Spiritkit followed some of the warrior's gazes skyward, wondering if they could see Silverpelt's warriors watching them.
"This is a request?" asked Brackenfur, his voice having gone sharp.
Spiritkit felt his heart sink into his paws.
"Yes," mewed Firestar. "I am allowing you to choose to stay."
Brackenfur was frozen, staring at Firestar, his face expressionless. Finally, he shook himself and straightened. "I refuse. My concerns have never mattered to you, Firestar. I cannot trust a leader who refuses to see reason. I am stepping down from the deputy position."
Spiritkit fought the urge to wail in grief.
Firestar dipped his head, whiskers heavy. "I understand. I hope that you may approve my choice; Sandstorm will be the new deputy of ThunderClan."
Said cat's head whipped around in surprise, eyes wide. Spiritkit barely spared the surprised she-cat a glance, his eyes fixed on Brackenfur.
A changing Brackenfur. Despite the heavy atmosphere and the loss of his position, Brackenfur seemed to stand taller than anyone around him, his spirit growing so bright it was startling. The cloudy fog of StarClan no longer reflected in him, not even the many stars of Silverpelt. Instead, he seemed to transform into a pale solid silvery light, a pale white beacon in the darkness, before it started to turn a deep and beautiful blue. Around him, part of the ground seemed to reveal itself as a dark blue texture.
Spiritkit's eyes were wide and his mouth hung open in shock. Her barely heard the sound of his Clanmates congratulating Sandstorm.
Firestar, Foxstar, Forestpaw, and now Brackenfur had become something more than cats that walked with StarClan. Just as Viperpaw, Oakpaw, and Ashfall had fallen from the light entirely. Spiritkit wanted to ask a question but there was no one around to ask. His thoughts turned to Foxstar, the one cat who seemed to know everything.
When the forest became silent once more, Spiritkit's jaw snapped shut and he looked around at his Clanmates as if seeing them for the first time.
Beside him, Oakpaw stretched, looking bemused. The old faded spirit looked like he was still trying to puzzle out what had happened. When his gaze fell on Ravenpaw, he shook himself and padded down into camp to congratulate Brambleclaw.
Spiritkit wondered if he should do the same and decided against it. He skirted around the crowd, halting when he noticed that Brackenfur wasn't alone and a few warriors had gathered around him. Both Harrierflight and Snowstorm frowned at the other warriors, pressing close to Brackenfur in silent support. Thornclaw glanced at them before he pointedly turned away from his brother.
With a last glance at Brackenfur, Spiritkit padded towards the medicine cat den. Forestpaw looked up at him. Spiritkit quickly padded over and brushed his whiskers up against Forestpaw's fur, trying to find the wound and herb wrap. It was wrapped carefully around his leg, which was tucked under him to keep it all pinned together. Satisfied he wasn't going to accidentally brush it off, Spiritkit settled down next to the green tom and started sharing tongues, explaining what had happened just outside.
"It's wrong," mewed Forestpaw when Spiritkit had finished. "All of it. I can't understand why Brackenfur would attack SunClan and then step down from being deputy. It makes no sense for a traitor to do that."
Spiritkit nodded. "Maybe he really was doing it for the Clan's benefit."
"Maybe," mewed Forestpaw, sounding doubtful. "I just don't understand why he would go through with it and then refuse to claw Foxstar up like that." He twitched his whiskers. "I feel like I could understand if I really thought about it."
Spiritkit licked his ear. "You should rest," he mewed. "There's no telling what's going to happen to you, and them." Spiritkit glanced at the sleeping giant, Oceanpaw.
Forestpaw wrinkled his nose. "I hope nothing happens. I don't really feel like I earned it."
"You deserve it more than them," mewed Spiritkit, nuzzling into his chest.
The green spirit gave a soft purr. Spiritkit closed his eyes, absorbing the warmth. He didn't notice he'd fallen asleep until Forestpaw roused him with his nose.
"Hey," he mewed softly. "You know, Cinderheart might be looking for you."
Spiritkit blinked at him drowsily and looked around the den. Ravenpaw had his back turned to them, busily shuffling through herbs. Mistleleaf was asleep deeper in the den. Forestpaw stared at Ravenpaw with a frown. Spiritkit almost wanted to stay, just to ruffle Ravenpaw's whiskers, but swallowed his anger and rose to his paws.
"See you later," he mewed softly, padding towards the den entrance. His belly rumbled and he remembered he'd only eaten the thrush in the last two days. His nose guided him towards the freshkill pile and he slowly padded his way towards the nursery.
He saw Brackenfur's blue spirit hovering in the mouth of the warrior's den, watching him. He kept walking, pretending to not have seen him. He chewed the freshkill thoughtfully, slowly turning around. Brackenfur's tail disappeared out the bramble tunnel entrance. The former deputy started to make the climb up the steep ravine walls. Freshkill forgotten, Spiritkit bounded after him, slowly creeping silently through the tunnel entrance. When he emerged, Brackenfur had already vanished over the top of the ravine but his scent lingered.
Head down, Spiritkit carefully climbed up the steep ravine, remembering the path Foxstar had taken long ago. His whiskers brushed the branches, leaves, rocks, grass, and trunks, the scent guiding him unerringly across empty blackness. Pretty soon, he was watching Brackenfur's blue shine disappearing in leaves of blackness. It was a relief to see.
A sixth sense told Spiritkit that he was heading towards the SunClan border. Surprised, Spiritkit began to quicken his pace. Was Brackenfur planning to attack the Clan by himself? Was he going to try and steal some SunClan prey? His mind raced with possibilities, while his paws silently skirted around twigs and rocks. He stopped when a sharp wind told him Brackenfur was very near. He carefully tucked himself behind a tree, preventing the wind from blowing his scent the tom's way.
A strange glowing light entered the forest, golden and bright. Spiritkit felt his heart clench at the sight. He padded carefully around the tree trunk, his ears perked forward.
Foxstar emerged from SunClan territory, padding calmly towards where Brackenfur hid. Spiritkit wanted to cry out but some sixth sense told him not to. Foxstar halted in front of Brackenfur's hiding spot and gave a short mew. Brackenfur straightened and leaned forward, his head emerging out of the darkness. Foxstar's whiskers twitched in amusement. Feeling his heart start to sink into his paws, Spiritkit tried to sneak forward, hoping to hear them.
"…you said." Brackenfur sounded tired.
"He was made a leader too young," mewed Foxstar. "And he never learned to curb his noble side."
Brackenfur's nose wrinkled. "He made Sandstorm the new deputy."
"An… interesting choice," Foxstar admitted, lashing her tail. "That old mousebrain has the best chance considering what's she's been doing for the apprentices."
"Didn't stop them from running off to kill the dogs."
"True." Foxstar looked up, and for a heartbeat her eyes burned through Spiritkit's fur. "You did everything you could, Brackenfur. Now it's my turn."
"Go easy on him," murmured Brackenfur.
Her eyes flashed. "He's my responsibility, and I will deal with him the best way I know how. Besides, this will be good for my own Clan." She butted heads with Brackenfur. "Thank you, my apprentice. I'll make sure your sacrifice wasn't in vain."
Brackenfur purred. "I trust you with my life, Foxstar. And my Clan. Make me proud."
"Make me proud," growled Foxstar, whiskers bushed up in a grin. "I expect you to be a loyal warrior of ThunderClan from this day onward. Good-bye, Brackenfur. Stay safe."
"Good-bye, Foxstar. Stay sharp."
Foxstar's whiskers twitched in amusement. Then she turned and raced across the empty blackness before disappearing into the dark. Brackenfur watched silently until she disappeared, then turned and began the journey back to the Clan. Spiritkit backed off, eyes wide.
He's going to catch my scent. Oh, I should have rolled in mint or something!
He waited, scanning the forest for any sign of Brackenfur's blue glow. Nothing appeared. He scanned the forest again. A light breeze ruffled the leaves high overhead. Spiritkit slowly unwound himself, carefully plotting his way through the forest.
Brackenfur hadn't followed his own trail back home. He'd gone off into the darkness and the unknown, leaving Spiritkit to follow his own path back. Spiritkit's whole pelt gave a twitch of relief. He padded quickly towards home, assured in his own trails' scent. When he felt he was getting closer to the steep ravine, he slowed to a stop and hooked his paw out over the edge to check how steep it was. Using his nose, he quickly found the path back down. A wave of relief filled him as he padded back through the camp entrance.
"Where have you been?"
Spiritkit nearly jumped out of his fur. Ravenfeather frowned down at him. He'd been hiding to the left of the tunnel, behind a wall of thick bramble leaves. "Cinderheart has been worried."
Sure she is, thought Spiritkit doubtfully but refrained from speaking. "I was-"
"Outside of the camp despite being a kit." Ravenfeather sighed in exasperation. "Spiritkit, if you can't follow one simple rule, they won't ever make you an apprentice. I'm sorry, but that's how things are. The Clan needs to know it can trust you."
Spiritkit flattened his ears, flicking his ears in guilt. "I'm sorry."
Ravenfeather licked his forehead. "Go to the nursery."
"Actually, I wanted to-" The look Ravenfeather was giving him had his mouth snapped shut. He dipped his head. "Yes, Dad."
He could feel Ravenfeather's eyes following him up to the nursery. He fought a yowl of frustration. He'd just seen Brackenfur conspiring with an enemy leader, even if that leader was Foxstar, and he couldn't even tell Forestpaw about it! No doubt it would help Forestpaw figure out what was going on with Brackenfur and maybe the green tom could help.
Spiritkit's eyes suddenly went wide. Shame washed over him. He'd been so glad to see Foxstar in the middle of her legendary scheming that he hadn't even registered she was scheming against his Clan! What kind of Clanmate could he be when he wasn't even concerned that his Clanmates might be in serious danger?
A/N: Between covid and family drama, it's surprising that I managed to update at all. Sorry for the LONG wait guys!
Merry Christmas!