Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors or many characters featured in this story. The only things I own are the storyline and the original characters featured in this story.
CHAPTER THREE
BRAMBLECLAW
"Intruders!"
The call pierced Brambleclaw's mind as he dozed lightly, and he shot upright, eyes wide. Graystar was already calling to Mousefur. His eyes were focused on the entrance. Sorrelpaw and her mentor, Brightheart, were the ones on guard at the moment, and the former was the one who had called out. He narrowed his eyes, pricking his ears. There were no yowls, hisses, thumps of bodies as they fell. No sign of a scuffle at all. Just then, Brightheart appeared. She looked completely calm, her fur unruffled.
"What happened?" Dustpelt demanded, pelt bristling, teeth bared in the start of a snarl.
"It's okay," Brightheart meowed loudly. She waved her tail to someone behind her. Two cats emerged: a black tom with a couple white patches, and a black-and-white tom. "Ravenpaw and Barley have come." Brambleclaw relaxed, a purr rising in his throat. They were friends, and had been for a while.
"Graystripe," Ravenpaw greeted. "Or are you Graystar now?"
Graystar nodded. "I'm Graystar." He strode forward to meet his old friend, touching noses with him, and Brambleclaw edged around Brackenfur to gaze at the two loners.
"What's wrong?" Graystar asked.
Barley shuffled his paws. He looked awkward among the many ThunderClan cats, seeming unsure as to what to say. Ravenpaw stepped forward, nodding respectfully at Graystar. Barley looked relieved as the attention shifted to the black tom.
"BloodClan has taken over our barn," Ravenpaw announced. His eyes flicked around from cat to cat, meeting Brambleclaw's amber gaze for no more than an instant before moving on. Ravenpaw opened his mouth to continue, but was cut off by Graystar.
"I wish ThunderClan could help, Ravenpaw, but we don't have enough cats to help take back your barn." He furrowed his brow. "I have to put my Clan first, and it would only be endangering my Clan if I led them into battle to take back the barn, when I know that we have no chance of winning."
Ravenpaw blinked, surprised, but Brambleclaw had a feeling that he wasn't surprised by Graystar's refusal to help. He had a feeling it was the fact that Graystar had jumped to that conclusion so quickly. He didn't know Ravenpaw that well, but he knew that the loner still had some loyalty to ThunderClan, and would never ask for them to fight for his barn if it meant his former Clanmates were put in danger because they were fighting a battle they couldn't win.
Graystar saw Ravenpaw's startled look, and meowed, "I'm sorry, Ravenpaw, but ThunderClan—"
"That's not why we're here," Barley interrupted. He took a step forward to stand beside his friend. Brambleclaw saw him swallow as every cat looked at him. "We've lost our barn, so we've come to help ThunderClan, not to ask for their help taking it back."
"When all's said and done," Ravenpaw added, "we'll ask for your help if we need it, once BloodClan has been driven away and ThunderClan has recovered."
"Oh." Graystar blinked, then nodded. "Oh, of course! Apologies for thinking otherwise." The two cats nodded, accepting the apologies. "Welcome, Ravenpaw and Barley, to ThunderClan's new camp, then," he told them formally.
A slight trace of amusement crossed Ravenpaw's face as he meowed back, "Thank you."
Graystar looked at his warriors. "Cloudtail," he decided, "show our new members around camp and our territory, would you?"
The white warrior dipped his head, padding forward to touch noses with each of them, purring. Cinderpelt limped forward, and the two loners hurried forward to greet the gray she-cat. Being the medicine cat, she traveled to the Moonstone every half-moon, so she was best acquainted with them—besides for Graystar, of course. She touched noses with them, then turned to her leader.
"Graystar," she began, "I need to check them for wounds. I don't think you gave it up without a fight," she added, turning to the two cats.
Barley shook his head firmly. "No way we would go without a fight!" he exclaimed.
"That's our barn," Ravenpaw put in.
"That being said, I need to make sure none of your wounds get infected," Cinderpelt meowed.
Graystar nodded. "Alright. Cloudtail, after she's looked them over, then show them around." Cloudtail nodded. The ThunderClan leader glanced around, then meowed, "Dismissed!" and returned to the thrush he had been sharing with Dustpelt.
Ravenpaw and Barley followed Cinderpelt into her den. Brambleclaw fidgeted, unsure as to what to do. Then a sharp yowl from Mousefur made him turn to get his assignment.
Brambleclaw pounced on the mouse. It squealed in terror, and that squeal deepened to a furious growl. Suddenly he was back at the battle, a BloodClan tabby writhing beneath his paws. Beside him fought Tawnypelt, Stormfur, Feathertail, and a black WindClan apprentice named Hoppaw, the first three all apprentices. The screeches of battle echoed in his ears, and fur flew through the air. Brambleclaw flattened his ears.
Roaring with pain, the cat under Brambleclaw's paws struggled free and fled. The other tabby followed quickly. Brambleclaw dropped lightly to the ground, rolling his shoulders, hissing after the tabbies' backs.
"Who should we fight next?" he growled.
Feathertail began to respond, but then a bloodcurdling shriek cut her off. Cats froze as the turned to see what had happened. Dread settled in his stomach like a stone. He knew what was coming. But he couldn't stop himself from following their gazes.
"No..." Brambleclaw rasped. It was happening all over again.
At Scourge's paws was a writhing mass of ginger fur. Scourge's eyes were colder than ice as he watched blood pump out of Firestar. Brambleclaw shoved his way through the cats, horror pounding through him.
Down Firestar's belly was a long gash, exactly like the gash that had killed Tigerstar. Brambleclaw watched helplessly as Firestar fell limp for a moment, then arched his back again in agony, claws shredding the grass, screeching that unearthly cry.
Firestar was dying nine times over.
"No," Ashfur whispered from beside him. "This can't be happening."
The cats watched in stunned silence as Firestar died over and over. Scourge raised his muzzle, but the words that came from his mouth were not in his voice.
"WindClan is under attack from BloodClan!"
Brambleclaw jerked awake. WindClan apprentice Eaglepaw's voice rang in his ears. WindClan... under attack... BloodClan... BloodClan! Brambleclaw scrambled to his paws, racing out of the den. He narrowly avoided colliding with Dustpelt as the tabby ran out with him.
It had been roughly a half-moon since the Gathering. Each day since Mudstar had announced that BloodClan were targeting WindClan, Brambleclaw had woken up wondering, Is this the day? Yet until now, each day had passed mostly peacefully and uneventful. A few small attacks from BloodClan, a couple raiding parties to steal prey, but that was it. Minor stuff, just like what had happened to ThunderClan ever since they moved here. Nothing new. Now, it was time to fight.
Graystar was emerging from his den, broad shoulders shoving aside the lichen that hung there. His teeth were slightly showing as he came entirely into the open, looking around. His yellow eyes came to land on Eaglepaw, then he bellowed, "ThunderClan! Wake up!" Mousefur darted from the warriors' den, going to stand by the long-haired tom.
ThunderClan warriors emerged from their dens and crowded around them. Brambleclaw joined them and came to a stop in front of Graystar, bouncing on his paws eagerly. Ashfur joined him, sliding up neatly, yawning. The pale warrior flicked his ears in greeting.
"BloodClan's finally launched a major attack," he murmured. Brambleclaw nodded in agreement, eyes fixed on the ThunderClan leader. Excitement pulsed through him. Say I can go, say I can go. He had a lot of rage bottled up in him, with no one but BloodClan to take it out on. After all, the were allies with the other Clans now. This was his chance!
Graystar looked around at the gathered cats. "WindClan is under attack from BloodClan," he announced. Some cats looked startled; the cats who had heard Eaglepaw's first cry simply flicked their ears. All of them looked expectantly at their leader, waiting for him to go on. "Longtail, Brightheart, Cloudtail, Brackenfur, Ashfur, Brambleclaw, Ravenpaw, and Barley, you will come me with me to aid WindClan. Dustpelt, Sorrelpaw, Rainpaw, you will stay here with Mousefur guard the camp."
Excitement pulsed through him. His first battle as a warrior! He grinned at Ashfur, and the pale warrior grinned back. Brambleclaw's claws itched to be raked down some dishonorable BloodClan cat's pelt, and he dug them into the ground, almost tasting the metallic tang of blood in his mouth already. He padded over to the selected cats, trying to appear calm and dignified. Once there, he shifted his weight impatiently, waiting for what felt like moons as Graystar nodded to Eaglepaw.
Graystar stepped forward. "Let's go!" he yowled. His eyes were bright, both with eagerness and worry. Brambleclaw felt a rush of strength as he leaped out after his leader, Ashfur running easily by his side.
The ThunderClan leader led the way out of camp, Eaglepaw darting by his side. Brambleclaw noticed that the WindClan apprentice was managing to keep up with Graystar, despite being in unfamiliar terrain, and forest at that. Must be his WindClan speed, he thought. Cinderpelt limped behind them, Brackenfur helping his sister keep up. Brambleclaw lengthened his stride until he was just behind his leader, racing beside Cloudtail and Brightheart.
The warriors raced through the forest, leaping over logs, darting around bushes, in one case, ducking under a low tree branch. The forest was quiet, as the cats raced through it. Brambleclaw felt a flash of pride for his Clan. They were swift and silent, determination pulsing through them. They were ThunderClan.
Soon before they cleared the woodland, they heard other paws drumming the ground. Russetstar burst into view, Rowanberry running at her side. Behind the two she-cats were the ShadowClan warriors, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. They gave the ThunderClan warriors yowls of welcome, which were returned immediately. The ShadowClan cats joined the ThunderClan cats, running side-by-side with their allies, some with friends, some just with any cat. Brambleclaw dropped back a little to run alongside Tawnypelt.
The ShadowClan tortoiseshell purred in welcome, nodding at her brother. Brambleclaw purred back. Neither of them spoke. As they ran, a sort of peace settled over Brambleclaw. It was nice to just run companionably beside his sister, not speaking, before confronting the chaos and savageness that was BloodClan. No screeching cats, no pain, none of the wildness of battle. Just the breath and steady calm of his Clanmates, and paws thumping against the ground in a steady rhythmic pattern.
The time passed all too quickly, and before he knew it, he was standing at the rim of WindClan's new camp, staring down into the fierce battle that raged within. For all the peace the run had brought, it was now replaced by a fierce burning hatred for the cats who wore teeth on their claws and collars. Looking down, he could see the BloodClan cats' scrawny, ragged pelts, with teeth augmenting their claws and curving around their neck, brawling with the wiry WindClan warriors. Looking closer, Brambleclaw saw that RiverClan's sleek pelts were among the fray already, and he thought he spotted a flash of Mistystar's dark pelt. He was confirmed a moment later when the RiverClan leader tumbled into view, locked in battle with a small BloodClan she-cat. Glancing around, Brambleclaw saw that Loudbelly was wrestling with a tabby about his size. Mudstar was reared up against the medicine den, claws lashing the area in front of him, while Onewhisker helped one of his Clanmates out by distracting their opponent.
Graystar held his tail low, sweeping it out from side-to-side. Russetstar copied him, and Brambleclaw got the message. All warriors knew their leader's tail signals. It was part of their training. Brambleclaw crept to the right, Tawnypelt stalking quietly beside him. Her green eyes were narrowed fiercely. He took his place beside Tawnypelt and a gray ShadowClan warrior named Wolfstep. Graystar swept his gaze around at the cats, making sure that all of them were in position, then let out a roar. Russetstar lashed her tail, raising her muzzle, and bellowed, "ShadowClan, attack!"
"ThunderClan, attack!" Graystar echoed with a yowl, charging into battle, his fur fluffed up to make him look bigger. In fact, with his long fur all puffed out, he actually looked close to three times bigger than he actually was. All in all, he now appeared huge. Russetstar raced beside him, ears flat. Rowanberry, ShadowClan's deputy, launched herself into the fray.
The Clan cats flooded down the hill after their leaders, swamping the BloodClan cats. RiverClan and WindClan yowled in triumph, redoubling their fighting with new strength, while the BloodClan cats yelped with surprise and fury as the ThunderClan and ShadowClan cats launched themselves with outstretched claws at them. Lunging for a black-and-white tabby, Brambleclaw latched his claws onto the tabby's shoulder, hauling him off a black WindClan tom. The black tom scrambled to his paws as the tabby wriggled out of Brambleclaw's grip and rose onto his hind legs, flailing his paws at them.
"Side-by-side!" the black tom hissed, whom Brambleclaw now recognized as Bristlepatch. The two Clan warriors reared up, marching the BloodClan cat blow-for-blow. The cat was skilled, but he couldn't match the two cats' power. He managed to get in a lucky hit on Brambleclaw's muzzle, and rip a tear into Bristlepatch's already scarred ears, but then a particularly strong blow from the ThunderClan cat sent him sprawling. Bristlepatch leaped after him, landing smack on top of the tabby's back. After several moments of tearing into the tabby's back with his claws, he let him go. The tabby bolted, shoving his way out of the fight.
Bristlepatch nodded briefly to Brambleclaw to show his thanks, before racing off to help the two elders fight off a big gray she-cat. Brambleclaw spun, searching for new enemies. He saw a ShadowClan she-cat pinned under a snarling black tom, and hurtled over to help. He sank his teeth deep into the BloodClan tom's, wrapping his paws around the tom's throat and pulling him away from the she-cat, whom, now that she was no longer blocked by the black BloodClan cat, he saw was Tangleburr. Throwing the cat to the ground, the tom twisted to rake teeth-covered claws over his shoulder. Pain exploded in it, but he ignored it, ramming his front paws into the cat's chest.
The tom gasped as the wind was forced out of him, but that didn't stop him from twisting his head and biting down hard on Brambleclaw's leg. The ThunderClan warrior yelped with pain, releasing him and stumbling away, and the cat leaped nimbly to his paws, glaring at him with eyes dark with hatred. Claws gleaming, he lunged for Brambleclaw's throat, as the dark tabby warrior was still recovering from the sudden burning pain in his leg.
But by now, Tangleburr had recovered. The ShadowClan she-cat came at the cat from behind, jabbing her paws into the tendons in his legs. The cat's back legs gave out beneath him, and he landed heavily on his side. Instantly, Tangleburr pounced on him, ripping and tearing, her claws flashing. The cat screeched in pain, managed to turn and sink his teeth in Tangleburr's leg, and throw her off him with a mighty jerk of his head, his neck muscles bulging. Scrambling to his paws, he fled, and seeing the black cat flee, a huge ginger tom roared insults after him, before swinging around to confront the two cats. His eyes were slits as he prowled closer, teeth bared. They burned with hatred. Brambleclaw scrambled to Tangleburr's side, preparing himself for the massive tom's attack.
Just then, Feathertail and Stormfur erupted from the battle, expertly fighting side-by-side. As one, they pounced on the cat's back; he roared in fury and twisted to reach them. His teeth sank into Stormfur's tail, pulling him off with a mighty jerk. The gray warrior screeched in anger. Feathertail dug in her claws, churning her hind claws against the tom's back as Graystar appeared and joined his kits. He hooked his paw around the tom's leg, and jabbed a tendon, making the tom stumble and collapse. The tom bellowed, shaking himself like a dog shedding its coat of water. Graystar went flying, and Feathertail launched herself after her father. Stormfur distracted the BloodClan warrior while the two cats recovered and resumed their offense.
Certain that the ginger tom was occupied with the three warriors, Brambleclaw turned away, Tangleburr bounding away to aid a gray tabby tom. He saw Longtail struggling to beat back two BloodClan cats and bounded forward to help. His target whipped around as he approached.
Smashing into the cat, Brambleclaw rolled him into the ground, battering the cat's muzzle. The BloodClan warrior hissed, catching Brambleclaw's paw in his teeth as he struck again. Pain lanced through his paw as the cat bit down, and he wrenched his paw away with a yelp. Rearing up, he brought his other paw slamming down onto the cat's head, and his eyes went slightly cross-eyed from the impact. The tabby warrior hit him again, this time with both paws, ignoring the pain that ripped through him.
The cat falling limp beneath his paws, Brambleclaw tensed, wondering if this was a trick, keeping his grip tight on the cat. But the BloodClan warrior was well and truly out. Two cats darted out; one went and dragged the unconscious cat away, and the other lunged at Brambleclaw, hissing and spitting. He met her mid-air, snarling a challenge. Both cats crashed to the ground.
Jumping to his paws, Brambleclaw managed to get the upper-paw on the BloodClan cat, clawing her angrily. With a screech, she bucked him off and fled. Not the strongest, he thought, looking for yet another enemy.
His eyes widened as he saw a small creamy-brown RiverClan apprentice battling desperately against a BloodClan tortoiseshell twice her size. Primrosepaw! Mistystar's daughter crashed to the ground as the tortoiseshell hit with a strong blow. The tortoiseshell raised a paw, claws unsheathed, her other forepaw holding Primrosepaw down. Her eyes were wide with fear. He glanced around; Mistystar was battling a dark brown tabby, completely oblivious to her daughter's crisis, and Loudbelly was struggling against two identical black-and-white toms, his eyes flickering to his daughter with a desperate look. Most other cats were busy, distracted by other BloodClan cats.
Brambleclaw surged forward, knocking a pale brown tabby out of his way as he hurtled toward the apprentice. He pounced on the tortoiseshell before she could deal the killing blow, throwing her off to the side. His fangs pierced the tortoiseshell's neck; she yelped and shoved him off.
Brambleclaw landed easily on all four paws. He backed away, hissing to Primrosepaw, "Stay behind me!" Sparing a glance at Loudbelly, he saw that the dark warrior's eyes were clouded with relief; he was now focused on his own fight. This moment of distraction cost him; he was sent reeling as a heavy paw slammed into his side. Recovering swiftly, he threw himself backward as claws swiped at his throat. Put on the defensive, he barely managed to keep those dog tooth-augmented claws from ripping out his throat. Ducking under a vicious blow aimed for his face, he darted forward and managed to claw her leg, but retreated quickly as claws scythed down where his head had been a heartbeat before. Brambleclaw darted to one side, but the tortoiseshell heaved herself into him, knocking him to the ground. As he scrambled back onto his paws, pain ripped through him as the claws sliced through his chest like a paw through water. He howled with pain.
Falling to his knees, his shoulder burning, he struggled to rise, but sank back down. The world was fading, darkness tugging at the edges of his vision. Through his failing eyes, he saw Brackenfur coming to fight the tortoiseshell in his place, Primrosepaw pouncing on her back. He felt a nose probe his fur, and Grassfur's scent washed over him. The RiverClan warrior's voice murmured in his ear, "You'll be okay, Brambleclaw. Just hold on. Help is coming."
His chest felt tight, and it was as though he was breathing with moss pressed against his face. Brambleclaw could barely get any air in, but was growing too weak to fight for breath. The pain in his shoulder was searing him, engulfing him in a haze of pain and darkness. His eyes flickered closed, but not before he saw Tawnypelt racing toward him, looking horrified. Grassfur's paws pressed against the wound in his chest, making it feel harder to breathe, but definitely helping staunch the blood flow.
"Brambleclaw, stay awake!" Grassfur urged him. His voice was like a murmur, a faint whisper of a half-forgotten conversation. It didn't seem important. Nothing seemed important anymore. His world was dark and pain-filled. "Stay awake! Don't die on me! Runningnose is coming! Just hold on!"
Runningnose's scent swamped him, but Brambleclaw barely recognized it, wracked with pain as he was. Grassfur's pass were removed, and something stretched across his chest injury. Faintly, like his ears were plugged with moss, many of the words lost to the mist filling his mind, he heard a she-cat's voice say, "Will... okay?"
A slight frown played across his lips. It sounded so familiar, yet the knowledge was just out of reach. He had a strong sense he should know this voice, but had no strength left to find the memory. Everything was cold and numb now; he could just feel the blood-soaked ground beneath his pelt, or the paws probing his chest. Only his wound had any feeling; it flared with agony, enveloping him in its folds. Maybe he should just give in to the darkness... The pain would end, at least.
A tom's voice answered, "...Don't..."
A cat pressed against him, but he couldn't feel the warmth coming off her pelt. "Stay... Bramb... aw... die... ThunderClan..." The rest of her words were lost to him.
ThunderClan... ThunderClan... Suddenly, he remembered ThunderClan. His Clan. The Clan that he had been born in. The Clan that had accepted him as one of their own despite Tigerstar. The Clan that needed him. The Clan that was currently battling BloodClan.
He made an effort to rise, to return to the fight, but his limbs refused to cooperate. Brambleclaw fell back into darkness.