Chapter 3

Crowfeather's P.O.V

I had been sleeping in the warriors den, when Ashstar summoned me to her. As I approached her den, I could smell Thunderclan. I hurriedly rushed inside her den to see why Thunderclan cats were here.

When my eyes adjusted to the light, I saw Firestar, and a young she-cat sitting across from Ashstar.

"Yes, Ashstar?" I asked to my Leader.

"Crowfeather, as my new Deputy of Windclan, you have a say in all this." She said, as I took a seat next to her.

"What is going on, Firestar?... And who is that?" I asked, astonished such a young cat would be in a discussion with clan leaders.

"This is my Apprentice, Skypaw" he answered me. "She is here on behalf of the clan's strength, but also the need for help."

Strength?! This apprentice didn't seem like she even had 3 moons of training! How could she show strength? Although, as I looked her over, she held her head high, and her ears up, and alert. Her nose was flaring with smelling her surroundings, but her fur laid flat on her skin, she was not scared. She looked more... intrigued, and excited.

"Help?... help for what?" I said, looking at Firestar once again.

"Help for us. Blackstar is planning a massacre. He wants Thunderclan gone."

I had noticed Skypaw's ears go down in disgust. I wasn't surprised. I had herd of when Brokenstar had chased Windclan out of the Marshes in the forest. I knew what Shadowclan was capable of.

"What do you think, Crowfeather?" asked my leader, Ashstar.

Out of every cat I knew, I respected Firestar the most. It wasn't right. I was breaking the warrior code. But I could not watch as the father of Leafpool was chased out of our new home.

"Ashstar, with all respect I believe we owe it to Thunderclan... Especially to Firestar and Greystripe, to help them now."

"Yes," she nodded "I still remember the time when you and Greystripe helped us back to the forest, when we were drove out by Shadowclan." Ashstar seemed content with my answer.

"Ashstar, I ask that you allow me to take a few warriors and apprentices to Thunderclan to assist." I asked her.

"No apprentices take 4 warriors of your choice." She declared

Brambleclaw's P.O.V

I padded out the camp with Hazeleyes, Squirrelflight, Hollyflower, icepaw, and foxpaw at my side. We were the next patrol heading towards Shadowclan. I was lost in my thoughts as we patrolled the border. No one had seen Firestar, or his new apprentice Skypaw, since the naming ceremony.

"Brambleclaw!" Squirrelflight had jumped in front of me, and was now yelling. "Wake up you mouse-brained fool!"

"What? I am awake!" I hissed back.

"Then stop padding around in a daze!" she yowled, her ears flickered, and then I realized she was just worried about me.

I took a long, deep breath, and nodded. "Ok, let's hunt. It'll be good to get the fresh-kill pile full with leaf-bare so close."

Hazeleyes nodded, and headed off in the brush with her apprentice, Foxpaw on her heals.

Hollyflower looked doubtful but, nodded and turned to her apprentice, Icepaw to give her another small hunting assessment.

Squirrelflight and I followed the boundary line further up the territory. The Shadowclan border was stronger then usual, so I refreshed Thunderclan's border. Squirrelflight was watching me with her piercing eyes "Brambleclaw... why are you so worried? Firestar isn't one of your kits, he'll be fine. He probably took Skypaw on a tour of the territory."

"I know Squirrelflight, but Firestar's getting old, and it's not like him to go off on his own and not tell anyone." I mewed and sat next to a broken tree branch in front of Squirrelflight.

"Yeah, ok! It's not like him at all!!" She said, and sat down. Firestar's life was a legend, even though he was still alive.

He had saved the clans, all Five clans, from destruction. He's an amazing leader, and I'm honored to be his deputy.

"Alright, I know. Still... it worries me a little, with the whole Shadowclan thing." I said, shuffling my paws.

"You furball." She said, as she touched her nose to my cheek. "He's our leader, you should trust what he's doing is for the best of the clan."

I breathed in her sweet sent, and nodded once. I had to believe what my mate said.