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 SIX

BRAMBLECLAW

The two-moon-old daughters of Sandstorm tussled just outside the clearing. Though both of their fighting was subdued, Leafkit's was even more so. Squirrelkit was more energetic. She has enough energy to burn down the whole forest, Brambleclaw thought amusedly.

Squirrelkit was the most energetic kit he had ever seen. Her pelt matched her personality well. Her fur was the color of fire, and he had never met a more rambunctious and fiery kit. Leafkit, in contrast, was calm and laid-back. Ever since meeting Cinderpelt a few days ago, she spent almost every waking hour in her den, sorting herbs and treating minor injuries. I think we found our next medicine cat.

Brambleclaw glanced at the sky. He had agreed to watch over the kits while Sandstorm stretched her legs, but he had no idea how long she was going to take. It was late, and he wanted to get to sleep. Even Squirrelkit was yawning, though every time Brambleclaw suggested they go to sleep, she vehemently insisted she wasn't sleepy at all—and was promptly proved wrong by a massive yawn. Still, she wouldn't let him boss her around, even though he was a warrior and she was a kit, and even though Sandstorm had told her kits to obey Brambleclaw while she was gone. Whenever he had suggested that, Leafkit had started to go in, but he allowed her stay out if her sister was too.

He had to say, Leafkit was the more tolerable one and his favorite of the pair. While Squirrelkit's energy and excitement would lift any cat's mood, she then immediately afterwards would make any cat extremely annoyed. She also made him feel old with all her energy, despite the fact that he had only been a warrior for three moons in total, which meant that he was one of the youngest cats in the Clan. He was the youngest warrior of ThunderClan, and was nowhere near old.

One thing he had to admit, though, was that ThunderClan needed lightening up, what with the threat of BloodClan hanging over their heads like a storm cloud. Squirrelkit provided that, giving a different thing to focus on. Although when they focused on her, their first thoughts usually went to, "Go away, Squirrelkit." Not to say that she was hated. Sandstorm loved her and Leafkit, managing to keep them in line, and Graystar doted on the pair. The kits of his deceased best friend, he must have felt an obligation to them. Brambleclaw shrugged; he didn't know for sure.

He sat there with his tail curled around his paws. Shifting, he smiled slightly at the fact that his wound didn't bother him. With two-and-a-half moons since he had received it, it had formed into a scar, and while strenuous tasks would strain it, for the most part of was completely healed. A sound at the camp entrance made him turn his head, and he saw Sandstorm padding in. She came over to Brambleclaw, her eyes fixed on her two kits.

"Thank you," she murmured in his ear. She gazed at her daughters. "Any trouble with Squirrelkit?"

The ThunderClan warrior shook his head. "There was one time where she tried to convince Leafkit to sneak out," he admitted, "but I stopped it before it actually went anywhere."

Sandstorm purred. "Thanks." Her eyes darkened, and her voice dropped. "I miss him so much," she whispered. "I wish he could have seen them."

Brambleclaw laid his tail on her shoulders. "I'm sure Firestar is watching from StarClan," he reassured her.

Sandstorm gave herself a shake. "Of course he is!" she mewed, sounding more like her old self. "If he isn't, I'm going to give him a scolding that will shake the forest!"

Brambleclaw purred and rose to his paws. "I assume that's all?" he asked.

Sandstorm nodded. "Yes. Thanks again, Brambleclaw. I know they're a pawful, but it was nice of you to watch over them and make sure they—namely Squirrelkit—behaved themselves. Leafkit! Squirrelkit!" she called to them. The two kits scampered toward the ginger queen. She licked each of their heads, then led them Ito the nursery. Brambleclaw watched the queen disappear into the den, her two little bundles of fur scampering at her paws, then got up and padded over to the warriors's den.

It was dark and full of shadows inside. Brambleclaw stepped carefully, making sure not to step on a stray tail. Finding his nest by scent, and the fact that Ashfur was already curled up in his own, he settled down, sleep washing over him as he closed his eyes.

Seconds later, a disgusting scent made him open his eyes, wondering what it was. Brambleclaw's eyes widened as he took in his surroundings, and he jumped to his paws, fur bristling and claws sliding out.

The forest around him was dark and gloomy. The sky was black and empty, no stars in sight, and the tree trunks were twisted and dark, and their branches appeared to be filled with dead leaves. But the forest wasn't what made him so shocked and hostile.

Before him stood Tigerstar.

"Brambleclaw." His father's voice was warm. "I'm glad to see you're healing well. I've been watching you for the last half-moon."

"How are you here?" Brambleclaw hissed. "I saw you die, nine times over."

Tigerstar's eyes darkened at the mention of his brutal death. "You should know Brambleclaw, that just because a cat is dead, doesn't mean they're gone forever."

"But StarClan wouldn't accept you," Brambleclaw protested. "You're evil!"

"This isn't StarClan." Tigerstar sat down. "This is the Place of No Stars, where cats like myself go, cats who just want to make their Clan stronger." The tabby warrior bristled at that. Tigerstar wanted so much more than to make ThunderClan stronger! He wanted power over all the Clans!

"What do you want, Tigerstar?" Brambleclaw snarled.

Tigerstar tilted his head. "Can I not just visit my son and see how he's doing?"

"Not after all you've done!" Brambleclaw spat.

Tigerstar growled softly. "Back to your original question. I want to offer you training for against BloodClan. I knew more than you do now in life, and I've learned even more in death. It would help the Clans immensely if you had my knowledge."

Brambleclaw narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "What do you care about the Clans?"

Tigerstar rose to his paws and began to circle his son. "Brambleclaw, I don't want BloodClan ruling the forest anymore than you do. I never intended for it to turn out this way. Once I had all four Clans at my paws, I would have driven out BloodClan. They wouldn't be getting a single pawstep of the forest without a fight."

"You wanted to destroy the Clans!" Brambleclaw hissed. "You tried to destroy ThunderClan, and you brought BloodClan to the forest. You lied and lied to gain power. How do I know you're not lying now?"

"I wanted to rule the Clans. There's a difference." Tigerstar paused in his circling. "Brambleclaw, I've always been a Clan cat at heart. I always will be. I've only wanted to rule the Clans, not destroy them. BloodClan is different. They just want to kill you all. I'm here to help you stop them."

"And why should I trust you?" Brambleclaw growled.

"Death has given me time to think," Tigerstar meowed. "And whatever you may think, I have always been loyal to the Clans. They will be wiped out if BloodClan is not stopped. You will find this out eventually."

Brambleclaw paused. Wiped out? "Do you promise that this isn't something you're doing for personal gain?"

Tigerstar's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Brambleclaw, what would I have to gain by teaching you battle moves? All I want now is to see BloodClan out of the Clans's homes. Just like you."

Just like you. Tigerstar's words echoed in his head. Brambleclaw bristled. "I am nothing like you, Tigerstar," he growled.

His father shrugged. "So you say." His eyes sharpen. "I promise you Brambleclaw, that as long as BloodClan resides in the forest, I will do nothing for personal gain. I will only try to drive them out. The Clans will have nothing to fear from me while Scourge lives. Do you accept my training and knowledge?"

Brambleclaw glared at him, then pawed the ground sullenly. The way he phrased it... Tigerstar truly was a master with words. Plus, he had sworn that he wouldn't do anything to the Clans while BloodClan was around, and knowing how to fight better... ThunderClan could use that.

"Two conditions," Brambleclaw growled.

"Very well."

"First: until my wound is fully healed, you will not make me do anything that could open it again. I don't need Cinderpelt breathing down my neck asking how it happened, and if it gets infected, I can't do anything." Brambleclaw paused, his eyes hardening. "Second: you will not make me do anything against the Warrior Code. Anything."

"Agreed." Tigerstar dipped his head. "We begin tomorrow night."

He turned and padded into the gloom.

"Who goes there!" Brackenfur's challenging yowl was loud and clear, ringing around the camp. Brambleclaw spun around from where he stood waiting to be assigned a patrol. His claws slid out, and he itched to try out some of Tigerstar's moves. His father was a skilled and talented warrior, with a wide variety of moves in his possession. The problem was that he used his skill and power for his own personal gain.

A moment passed, then eight cats padded in: the dawn patrol, consisting of Cloudtail, Rainpaw, Mistlewind, and Ashfur, three RiverClan cats, and one ShadowClan warrior. Brambleclaw gazed at them for a moment, trying to remember who they were. Then he remembered: the dark brown tabby she-cat was Swallowtail. The light gray tabby tom was Reedtail. The gray she-cat was Streamcloud, and the silver-and-black ShadowClan cat was Rookwhisker. With a start, he realized that he hadn't seen these four cats in moons.

All three of the RiverClan cats looked tired and worn down, but their eyes gleamed. Rookwhisker was no different. All of them were sporting scratches. Reedtail had a nasty-looking wound down his shoulder, although it had scabbed over, and Streamcloud was limping, favoring one paw.

"Greetings," Graystar mewed, ducking out into the open from his den. "Is RiverClan in trouble? Has Mistystar sent you? And why are you"—he addresses the last part to Rookwhisker—"with the RiverClan cats?"

The patrol exchanged shocked looks. "Mistystar?" Rookwhisker echoed. "You mean Mistyfoot? I thought she was exiled from TigerClan. And I'm TigerClan, aren't I?"

"What happened to Leopardstar?" Swallowtail asked. "And where's Firestar?"

Now it was ThunderClan's turn to look at each other in confusion. "How do you not know what's happening?" Willowpelt asked.

Reedtail shrugged. "We've been away from the Clans for moons now. Leopardstar sent us to look for a new place for TigerClan to live after Tigerstar died."

These cats have no idea what happened after Tigerstar's death, Brambleclaw realized.

Graystar clearly realized the same thing. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he meowed, "Long story short, BloodClan drove us out of our homes, so we set up our territories here. This is ThunderClan's camp." He paused, his eyes drifting over his warriors. "You'll need an escort to RiverClan and ShadowClan territory. Longtail, Ravenpaw, and..."

"I'll go," Brambleclaw offered, stepping forward.

Graystar glanced at Cinderpelt; when she nodded assent, he meowed, "Alright, then. You can go too, Brambleclaw."

Reedtail's eyes narrowed. "We can take care of ourselves," he growled. "We don't need babysitters."

Graystar met his angry gaze calmly. "No, you don't. But with the threat of BloodClan hanging over us, I don't want to risk the chance of you getting attacked. Plus, you don't even know the way to RiverClan's and ShadowClan's camps."

The RiverClan tom said nothing more, just let out a snort. The three ThunderClan cats moved to their side. Longtail took the lead, but Reedtail quickly stepped up to pad beside him. Brambleclaw ended up next to Rookwhisker; the silver-and-black tom nodded to him before focusing his gaze on the path ahead. Out of all four of the non-ThunderClan cats, he looked most at home. Because ShadowClan lives in a pine forest, Brambleclaw guessed.

They arrived at the ShadowClan camp first. Rookwhisker looked around uncertainly, but his gaze brightened as he saw the guards of the camp: Deerfoot's and Fernshade's eyes lit up as they recognized their lost Clanmate.

"Rookwhisker!" Deerfoot exclaimed, bounding forward to meet him. Rookwhisker touched noses with each of them.

"Dawncloud and Stumpytail will be so happy to see you!" Fernshade meowed excitedly.

Rookwhisker purred with delight. "How is Dawncloud? And how's it between Houndpelt and Applefur? Are they mates yet?"

Fernshade hesitated. "Applefur is dead. She died in the battle with BloodClan."

Rookwhisker's eyes misted over. "I'm so sorry to hear that. She was a good warrior."

Deerfoot nodded.

"We'll just be going now," Brambleclaw interrupted. He angled his ears toward the RiverClan cats, standing silently by.

Rookwhisker spun around and bounded over to his travel-mates. He touched noses with each of them. "Bye Reedtail! Swallowtail, keep working on Heavystep. Eventually, he'll come around. And Streamcloud, don't forget to practice that move I showed you."

"Next Gathering, I'm going to win in our mock-fight," promised Streamcloud.

"And hedgehogs fly!" Rookwhisker retorted.

Deerfoot and Fernshade looked surprised by how friendly their Clanmate was to the three RiverClan cats, but they didn't comment on it as Rookwhisker entered the camp. Brambleclaw's whiskers twitched in amusement as he heard ShadowClan give loud yowls of surprise and happiness.

"Let's go to RiverClan's camp now," Swallowtail mewed. She was shifting her weight from side-to-side, and he could tell she was anxious to see her Clan again.

Reedtail nodded.

They arrived there pretty quickly. Blackclaw and Silverpine were the guards for RiverClan at the moment. Blackclaw sprang to his paws when they appeared, staring at Streamcloud.

"Thank StarClan you're okay," he mewed. Silverpine padded forward and nodded a greeting to Swallowtail and Reedtail.

Longtail explained things to them, and Silverpine meowed, "You can go."

Longtail shook his head. "We want to hear about the report. Graystar will want to know."

Blackclaw and Silverpine exchanged uncertain looks, but Streamcloud stepped in. "Nothing to lose. There's no secret in the report. Leopardstar will tell the other Clans anyway."

Blackclaw and Silverpine exchanged looks, and Brambleclaw shifted uneasily. The seven cats went in, Blackclaw staying outside to keep guarding the camp. There were loud exclamations when the three RiverClan cats were seen. Loudbelly sprang forward to touch noses with Reedtail, and Ravenfur and Flowerwing circled Streamcloud in delight. Swallowtail edged forward to greet Heavystep; the thickset tabby looked thrilled. Stormfur and Feathertail looked up from where they were sharing tongues, nodding to the ThunderClan cats. Stormfur got to his paws and touched noses with Brambleclaw.

"Hey," he murmured.

Brambleclaw nodded in return. Stormfur returned to his sister.

Mistystar padded out, her eyes brightening when she saw the three cats. "Reedtail! Swallowtail! Streamcloud! You're back!"

Reedtail turned to the RiverClan leader, his expression guarded. "Mistyfoot."

"Mistystar," Weedfoot growled, stepping forward to thrust his muzzle into Reedtail's.

Reedtail looked at her uncertainly. "But Tigerstar exiled you from TigerClan, and Leopardstar hates half-Clan cats."

"Tigerstar and Leopardstar are both dead," Ravenpaw meowed.

Mistystar turned to the ThunderClan cats and dipped her head. "Thank you for bringing them to us."

Longtail nodded, and Skyheart meowed, "You may go now."

Brambleclaw shook his head, but let Longtail do the talking.

"Graystar will want to know about the report," he meowed simply.

Mistystar shrugged. "Stay, then." Then her eyes narrowed. "What report?"

"Leopardstar sent us out to look for a suitable place for Tig—RiverClan and ShadowClan to live," Streamcloud meowed. Hope began to rise in Brambleclaw. If they had found a place... well, then, at least they would have a place to fall back to.

"Alright then. Reedtail, report."

"First," demanded Swallowtail, "tell us what's going on. What happened while we were gone?"

"Scourge killed Tigerstar, claimed the forest," Loudbelly explained, sitting down next to Mistystar. "We fought BloodClan and... lost. All the leaders and deputies were killed."

Streamcloud's voice cracked. "Who did we lose?"

"Leopardstar, Voleclaw, Dawnbright," Grassfur began.

Mallowtail continued it. "Sedgecreek, Vixentail, Beetlenose." Brambleclaw shot a swift look at Reedtail; the tabby tom's face was filled with anguish.

A dark brown she-cat with a red mark on her chest stepped forward. "Frogleap, Greenflower, Pikepaw," she finished.

Swallowtail gave the last cat a curious look. "Who are you? I don't recognize you."

"My name is Sunflash," the she-cat introduced. "I, uh... I was, um..."

"Sunflash was once part of BloodClan," Ravenfur growled, padding to her side and pressing his pelt against hers. "But not anymore. She's a loyal RiverClan warrior now. Any cat who thinks differently can take it up with me."

A look flashed into Sunflash's eyes, but it vanished just as quickly. She leaned into Ravenfur, and Brambleclaw couldn't help noticing how close the two looked. Clearly he wasn't the only one. Streamcloud was staring at her brother with wide eyes, and Blackclaw had a disproving look on his face.

"Now, Reedtail, report."

"Our patrol went out beyond ShadowClan territory," Reedtail began. "We also had Rookwhisker of ShadowClan with us, but he's with his Clan now. We looked for suitable territories for RiverClan and ShadowClan, but there were none. They either didn't have the right landscape, not enough prey, not enough herbs, too many hostiles or Twolegs, etc." He paused, taking a breath and readjusting, then continued. "We searched for several moons, because Leopardstar told us not to come back unless we've found a place. Eventually, we gave up, and began to come home, but we were attacked by a mother badger."

He paused again, and Swallowtail stepped in. "Fortunately, Rookwhisker had learned how to use some herbs, so he treated us." She nodded towards the scar on Reedtail's shoulder. "The badger gave him that, and also gave Streamcloud a limp." She grimaced. "We had to stay in one spot for a moon or so before everything was healed enough to go on. Didn't want to make anything worse. And after that, we had to take it slow."

"To simplify it," Streamcloud interrupted, "there are no places for a Clan to live. Let alone two or all four. Maybe they could stay for a half-moon, possible a moon, but not live there."

"I see." Mistystar's eyes were dark. Brambleclaw felt hope leave him. He realized that they had only one option, unless they wanted to travel for moons, searching and searching for a new place, which would eventually destroy the Clans. They had to defeat BloodClan, or else the Clans would be destroyed. Their only hope was to take back the forest.

Don't read too much into Tigerstar's appearance. Any plans he would make would not be put into action until after BWRTF ends and are currently something I have no intention of writing.