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 NINE
BRAMBLECLAW
They returned to what seemed like absolute chaos. Cats were darting this way and that, calling loudly to each other in an attempt to speak over everyone else's voice. The result was that noise kept building, forcing them to raise their voices even higher. The clamor was deafening, and both warriors had heard it far in advance.
"What in StarClan's name?" exclaimed Ashfur, though his words were mostly lost in the noise.
"What's going on?" Brambleclaw looked around, but there was no obvious cause for this commotion.
"Why is everyone running about like frightened mice?" his friend added.
"Ashfur! Brambleclaw!" Dustpelt hurried up to the two, raising his voice above the din. "Have you seen Squirrelkit anywhere?"
"Squirrelkit?" Ashfur echoed, ears flicking up in surprise. "No, of course not! Why—oh."
"Yeah," Dustpelt growled.
Brambleclaw looked between them in confusion. "What are you talking..." His voice trailed off as realization dawned. His voice went flat, and not even asking, he said, "She ran off, didn't she."
Dustpelt grunted affirmation. "No cat knows where she is exactly, but she probably left camp. But no cat has managed to get control of them yet." He sighed in frustration and angled his ears at the camp. "Want to give it a shot, either of you?"
Brambleclaw glanced past, swallowing. "I'll try." Ashfur and Dustpelt stood aside as he stepped forward, drawing in a deep breath. Then, as loudly as he could, he yowled, "ThunderClan!" Cats slowly paused, began to turn towards him. "Enough! Calm down!"
Gradually, Brambleclaw brought order to the Clan. "We'll find her," he assured them. "But as a Clan, together, not a flock of startled pigeons." The warriors, looking rather sheepish, heeded their Clanmate, and the tabby tom felt a swell of nervousness break over him. He was just the youngest and newest warrior! It didn't feel like his place to do this. Maybe someday, but certainly not yet! "We'll, uh..." He licked his lips, swallowing. "We'll into groups, search various parts of the territory."
Longtail stood. "Brackenfur, Ashfur, you can come with me. We'll look in the eastern side. Dustpelt, Ravenpaw, Barley, search the west. Cloudtail, Brightheart, Sorrelpaw, and Rainpaw, you four have the southern side." He glanced at Cinderpelt for confirmation, and she nodded; Rainpaw was well enough.
"We can get the north," Graystar suddenly said from behind. Turning, Brambleclaw found the burly leader standing in the camp entrance, looking at Longtail with some emotion in his gaze. Mousefur watched at his side calmly, while Mistlewind hung back just behind both of them, panting heavily.
"That just leaves Willowpelt and Brambleclaw," finished Longtail, glancing uncertainly at the deputy. Brambleclaw flicked his tail, mildly annoyed at the way the pale tom had taken over but giving no protest.
"What about me?" Sandstorm protested.
"You have another kit to think of too," Graystar replied. Sandstorm looked about ready to argue with him, her mouth opening to begin her barrage, but he continued over her, "We can find Squirrelkit. You need to take care of Leafkit."
Sandstorm still looked mutinous, but after a glance at her more reserved kit, staring at everyone with wide eyes, she subsided reluctantly. "Fine." The word was curt, her displeasure obvious.
Mousefur nodded at her and turned to Brambleclaw and Willowpelt. "Stay, guard the camp, keep the other kits safe," she instructed, flicking her tail at Ferncloud and the two kits pressed together at her paws.
"With our lives," Brambleclaw promised, reassured by the authority and steady instructions, despite getting stuck with guard duties.
The four patrols swiftly departed. Graystar paused as he went past, gazing at Brambleclaw with a scrutinizing look. "Was it worthwhile?"
The tabby thought about the dream, about Pinestar, about the message. "I hope so."
"Good." The gray tom gave a satisfied nod. "I know normally we don't share dreams with StarClan with others, but if you think Cinderpelt ought to know..." He shrugged. "I leave that decision up to you. But do it after we find that mouse-brained kit."
"I... alright."
Brambleclaw watched him hurry off after his patrolmates, then fluffed his pelt out against the cold. He and Willowpelt settled down in front of the entrance. Glancing out into the forest, he hoped that they found Squirrelkit soon; it could be dangerous for a kit to be out in the territory alone, especially with the snow and BloodClan out there. Either could kill her.
With luck, Squirrelkit hadn't wandered far. Since WindClan lost their camp and territory, the other Clans had - rather reluctantly and in the middle of leaf-bare - given away portions of their own territories to the beleaguered Clan. Thus, on three sides, ThunderClan had friendly presences.
Brambleclaw gazed into the trees worriedly. If the kit had gone too far, then she would be out of ThunderClan territory. While another Clan would probably be the ones to find her, there was always the horrible chance that she went the direction where BloodClan land lay.
He prayed fervently that that wasn't the case. Brambleclaw knew StarClan was listening; now it was a question of what they would decide to do.
Cats were approaching.
Brambleclaw stood, peering into the undergrowth, claws sliding out. Beside him, Willowpelt pricked her ears, the fur along her spine rising. They both tensed as the sounds came closer; then a voice floated through the forest, loud and clear.
" - and then I shoved the mange-pelt into the thorns! His face when he realized he was stuck was priceless! You should've seen it!"
"I did see it. In case you've forgotten, I was there."
Willowpelt relaxed, and Brambleclaw sat down again, ruffled fur falling flat again. He snorted to himself; the two apprentices sounded in high spirits. They must have found Squirrelkit. The other guard shook her head, amusement flashing in her gaze.
"Still kits at heart," she chuckled to herself.
The patrol appeared from the forest. Sorrelpaw and Rainpaw were first, still bantering cheerfully. Sorrelpaw was beaming, while Rainpaw had a mingled look of fond exasperation and pride gleaming in his blue eyes. Behind them was - to his relief - Squirrelkit, who for once in her life seemed willing to follow along and obey the older cats. Behind them were Cloudtail and Brightheart. The former kept giving Squirrelkit annoyed looks, while the latter smiled at the apprentices.
All four of the patrol members bore signs of being in battle. Sorrelpaw and Cloudtail had several patches of ragged, dirty fur, some clumps missing, while Rainpaw and Brightheart both sported a few fresh clawmarks.
"Willowpelt!" Sorrelpaw exclaimed, bounding forward to meet her. "We found her!" she declared triumphantly.
"Well done," Willowpelt replied, smiling at her daughter.
"She was stuck under a bramble bush, the mouse-brain," added Rainpaw. Brambleclaw quirked a brow at the aforementioned kit. A thrill of alarm raced through him momentarily as the gray cat continued, "We had to fight off some BloodClan cats to save her."
"BloodClan?" Willowpelt looked at her kits with concern and surprise. "Are you all okay?" She sniffed at a scratch on Rainpaw's shoulder, then began to lap at it. "Do you need to see Cinderpelt?"
"We're fine!" Sorrelpaw assured, tail flicking, as Rainpaw ducked away with a noise of protest. "They weren't that tough."
Squirrelkit huffed. "I wasn't stuck!" she protested a little late, sounding indignant. Well, her attitude is definitely intact, Brambleclaw noted.
"Yes, you were," countered Cloudtail dryly. "You couldn't get out from the thorns."
"No I wasn't!"
Cloudtail rolled his eyes at her. Rainpaw leaned over and told Squirrelkit, very seriously, "Of course not. You were just trying out a new hairless style, I suppose?"
"No I wasn't! I could've gotten out—"
"Are the other patrols back yet?" Brightheart asked, looking over at Brambleclaw and ignoring the bickering.
Brambleclaw shook his head at them and turned to her. "Not yet," he answered. He glanced at their signs of battle. "Somehow, you're the first ones back."
She shrugged. "We found her fast, and the BloodClan cats were all fairly young." At his curious look, she confided, "I think they were just your typical young cats looking for battle."
"Except for these cats wanted to kill a kit," growled Cloudtail angrily, overhearing.
"But we stopped them!" Sorrelpaw grinned cheerfully.
Willowpelt smiled but only flicked her tail toward camp. "You should get her inside."
"And somebody go find the other patrols," Brambleclaw added. "I don't think they'd want to keep searching the territory after this."
"Maybe they do want to," suggested Rainpaw with a smirk. "You never know."
"I'll go," Brightheart said. She gave the young tom an amused look. "Maybe you would, but I certainly wouldn't."
She and Cloudtail exchanged quick nuzzles, then she bounded off into the trees. Cloudtail watched her go, then turned and stepped past Brambleclaw into camp. Rainpaw and Sorrelpaw followed, ushering Squirrelkit in before them and keeping a close eye on her.
Brambleclaw snorted softly after they vanished. "I'm glad they found her. And thank StarClan that Leafkit isn't like Squirrelkit. ThunderClan could never handle two of them."
"It can barely handle one," she chuckled.
"I hope this has at least sated her curiosity for the time being," he continued. "We don't need to send out search patrols every other day looking for her because she snuck out again."
"Yeah," Willowpelt agreed, but her mirth was fading quickly, turning to a solemnity and sadness that confused him.
"Is something wrong?" he asked, tail flicking uncertainly.
Willowpelt shook her head. "No, no..." Her voice dropped away, and she was silent for a few seconds. At his concerned look, she finally quietly explained, "She... she reminds me of Sootkit."
It felt like a cat had just sat on him, driving all the air from his chest. All Brambleclaw could muster was a soft, "Oh."
Willowpelt looked down at her paws. "He was always the most adventurous of my kits. Always wanted to explore, you know? More than once, I caught him trying to sneak out." She swallowed, eyes glimmering. "And Squirrelkit is just a lot like him."
"I'm sorry," he murmured.
"Thank you." Willowpelt inhaled raggedly, taking several deep breaths. After a few moments, she shook out her pelt, seeming to force herself to look back to normal, though Brambleclaw could see the sorrow deep in her eyes still. "It's... it's not important right now. Let's get back to guarding, shall we?"
"Yeah, ok..." he replied, not very convinced but not arguing about it.
They didn't say much more after that.
Eventually, Brightheart returned, a patrol in tow. Soon after, the remaining two appeared as well, relief gleaming in their eyes. Brambleclaw and Willowpelt exchanged greetings with them, and they vanished into the camp.
Inside, they could hear cats speaking, their mood exuberant after their success. He heard "Well done!" and "Rainpaw" and Sorrelpaw" quite a few times. Brambleclaw glanced at the other guard, who looked immensely proud, despite not seeing it in person.
"Sure sounds happy in there," he commented idly.
Willowpelt smiled and nodded, but before she could reply, two cats slid out of camp.
"Hey there," Barley mewed. Ravenpaw nodded to them in greeting.
"Oh, hey," Brambleclaw said. He tilted his head curiously at them. "What's up?"
"We're your replacements," Ravenpaw answered.
He and Willowpelt exchanged a surprised look. "So soon?" Willowpelt inquired.
Barley smiled, but it was Ravenpaw again who explained, "Graystar wants you both present in the Clan meeting. We were willing to listen to it out here."
"Clan meeting?" repeated Willowpelt. "What for?" The two toms glanced at each other, eyes bright, smiles playing at their lips.
Brambleclaw's eyes slowly lit up as he figured it out. He grinned and asked, "Is it their ceremony?"
"Yep," Ravenpaw meowed cheerfully. Willowpelt's eyes widened in surprised delight as he added, "So get in there. Don't want to keep them waiting, yeah?"
The she-cat smiled broadly and nodded to him. "Thank you."
"Yes, thanks," Brambleclaw echoed.
"It's not a big deal," Ravenpaw mewed dismissively. "Their mother deserves to watch her kits become warriors. And you're Rainpaw's friend, Brambleclaw."
"Still. Thank you. Both of you."
The smaller tom shrugged. "Probably should get in there," he advised. "Don't want to keep Graystar waiting now."
"Right," agreed the tabby, and he and Willowpelt slipped inside as Ravenpaw and Barley took their places.
Most of the Clan was already gathered in the clearing. They crowded around the successful patrol, offering their praise, especially for the two proud apprentices. Squirrelkit was nowhere in sight, though neither were Sandstorm and Leafkit; a quick glance confirmed they were in the nursery.
Willowpelt strode straight to her kits, while Brambleclaw slipped in beside Ashfur. The pale tom looked up at him in surprise, then his gaze flickered toward Willowpelt.
"I thought you two were guarding?" he asked, tilting his head.
"We were," agreed the tabby warrior, "but Ravenpaw and Barley took our places."
"Already?" Ashfur blinked, startled. "But why such a short shift?"
"What, you don't think a perfect warrior such as I - don't scoff at me, Finchwing agrees, remember? - deserves shorter shifts?" Brambleclaw asked in a faux-wounded voice.
He was rewarded with that common eye-roll. Since his friend decided not to dignify him with a response, Brambleclaw just huffed at him and stuck his nose in the air.
"So?" Ashfur said after a long moment. "Are you going to tell me?"
"Maybe once you stop pestering me," he replied.
"I'm not pestering you." Ashfur scowled at him. "I've asked twice."
"Two too many." He shrugged. The scarred warrior narrowed his eyes at him, and Brambleclaw met his annoyed gaze head-on, adamantly refusing to back down.
A long moment passed.
Brambleclaw's body tensed.
Ashfur's eyes slitted.
The tabby's ears flicked backward.
His friend's tail twitched to the side.
"...Fine." Brambleclaw reluctantly gave in, ceding the win of their staring contest to him.
"Ha!" Ashfur crowed.
Brambleclaw, for once, rolled his eyes back at Ashfur. He sat back and glanced at Graystar. As the gray tom was rising to his paws and heading to the Clantree, he mewed, "Well, on second thought, I'm not going to explain. You're about to find out." A smile curled its way onto his lips.
Victory briefly forgotten, Ashfur followed his friend's gaze, confusion flashing in his own. His attention flickered rapidly between their Clan leader and Willowpelt, now fussing over her kits' pelts and being a general annoyance and source of embarrassment to them, and a grin spread across his face. "Is it their—?"
"Yep," Brambleclaw confirmed, eyes trained on the soon-to-be-warriors. For a moment, a wave of sorrow stilled his paws and quieted his voice, his smile vanishing; he remembered when that had been him, Tawnypelt, and Goldenflower. Mother and kits standing united together.
Back then, all they really had were each other. Tigerstar had left, vanished into the night, leaving his family behind to deal with the ramifications of his betrayal. When Brambleclaw finally began to understand everything that had happened with that, Goldenflower was there for him, comforting him in absence of his father.
He missed his mother more than words could possibly describe.
" - warrior names will be."
Brambleclaw shook himself out of his funk when he realized Ashfur was talking. He blinked back a few tears, taking a deep breath before tuning back in to the real world and pushing the memories and the grief to the back of his mind. That was the past, and right now, it was time to focus on the present, seizing the few happy moments in their time of war.
Turning his attention to the pale gray tom, Brambleclaw only managed to catch the last few words. Still, he was able to guess what his friend had said. There were very few things he could be referring to, after all.
"I wonder," he agreed. "Maybe - "
He cut himself off, right before Graystar announced, "Since we're all here, I'm going to hold a Clan meeting." The ThunderClan leader had forgone climbing all the way, settling for lifting himself up by standing on the exposed roots. His yellow eyes flicked around camp, lingering slightly on Rainpaw and Sorrelpaw. The corner of his mouth twitching, he raised his voice and called out, "Any cats not already in the clearing, come and join us."
After the few in their dens did so, Graystar continued, "As you all know, one of our kits wandered off today." He glanced at Squirrelkit, relief and something like amusement in his eyes. "A patrol found her near the BloodClan border" - a tension that was practically palatable swept across the gathered cats at this - "and had to fight off BloodClan cats to save her."
Now his gaze turned to the two apprentices. "In doing so," Graystar rumbled, voice warm, "I think our two apprentices have proven themselves worthy. Rainpaw, Sorrelpaw, step forward."
Brambleclaw purred softly at the identical looks of shock and delight that washed across their faces. Sorrelpaw's jaw dropped, while Rainpaw twisted around to gape at his mother, realization lighting up his eyes. Pride shining in her face, Willowpelt nudged them forward. After a moment, they did so, Sorrelpaw practically taking a huge leap. Rainpaw followed behind, more sedate, but excitement oozing out of his pelt.
Graystar raised his head to speak to their mentors. Addressing Brightheart first, his voice adopted an official tone as he asked, "Brightheart. Has Sorrelpaw learned the ways of the Warrior Code? Has she proven himself worthy of her warrior name?"
The one-eyed she-car drew herself up proudly, lifting her chin. "She has," she confirmed.
Graystar nodded and tilted his head back to gaze at the sky as he began to speak, the words of the warrior ceremony seeming to roll smoothly off his tongue. "StarClan, I, Graystar of ThunderClan, ask you to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to learn your noble Warrior Code and has shown she is worthy of her name. Sorrelpaw, do you promise to uphold the Warrior Code and to defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do."
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I present to you your warrior name. Sorrelpaw, from this moment forward you will be known as Sorreltail. We honor your compassion and courage, and welcome you to ThunderClan as a full warrior."
After the traditional licking of the leader's shoulder, Graystar turned to Rainpaw and repeated the process. Brambleclaw smiled as the dark-furred tom was awarded the name of Rainwhisker.
Sorreltail was quivering in place, practically bouncing, as the ceremony came to a close. In contrast, Rainwhisker was comparable to a tree, still and quiet, the only movement the slight ruffling of his fur and whiskers. Even so, his eyes glimmered with joy as he stood tall, basking in the moment.
He and Brambleclaw hadn't been friends for long, but nonetheless he was happy for him.
Afterwards, Brambleclaw sought out the newly-christened Rainwhisker. After offering his personal congratulations, he grinned and meowed, "No more lying around anymore! You're a warrior now."
Rainwhisker stared at him, deadpan. "Thanks for the advice. I totally couldn't have figured that out myself. I really needed your help."
Brambleclaw nodded. "You're very welcome."
The new warrior considered him for a long moment, his expression blank, and then a grin finally crept out from behind his façade.
"So. I'm a warrior now."
"Yep."
"And it's all thanks to Squirrelkit. Somehow." Rainwhisker cast a wry look at the kit.
Brambleclaw laughed at that. "Somehow."
The new warrior shook his head. "I don't envy whoever her mentor will be."
"They'll certainly have their paws full," he agreed. And yet, despite her annoyances and constant rule-breaking, Brambleclaw couldn't help but feel a twinge of fondness towards the feisty lookalike daughter of Firestar.