Part 3

It was moon-high, and the two tabbies were still following the trail of stars. Brambleclaw looked anxiously at Leafpool. It had only been a few hours since her kitting and her short ragged breaths worried him.

"Perhaps we should rest," he suggested gently through a mouthful of kit fur. Leafpool stopped and looked at him worriedly, gently putting down Sparrowkit.

"Do you feel OK?" she mewed concerned, "Are you tired?" He put down Bramblekit. He stared at her in shock. Even though they had stopped she was still panting, her breathing uneven, yet she could only feel worry for him!

"I'm fine," he mewed, pressing his flank to hers, "Its you I'm worrying about. Its not long since you kitted, are you sure you can cope with this journey?" She nodded and he saw a spark of disbelief in her eyes.

"I'm fine," she sighed, "Don't fret so much, but if it makes you happier we can rest for the night." He sighed with relief. Atleast she would rest even if she didn't like it. They found a tree with a gap in the roots at the bottom. Brambleclaw left Bramblekit with Leafpool and stretched forward, giving the hole a cautious sniff.

"I can't smell anything," he mewed, "I'll check it out first though." He padded into the hole before she could object, hearing her hiss with agitation. He padded around the small cave. It was large enough for them to sleep comfortable and there was no scent of badgers, foxes or Twolegs. There was even a little stream running through the back of the cave. Good, he thought, we can all have a drink and I'll catch Leafpool some prey in the morning. He padded back out expecting to see Leafpool waiting for him. But she was gone, her two kits, abandoned asleep on the floor where he'd left them.

"Leafpool!" he called scared that the she might have wandered off somewhere and gotten into trouble. What would make her abandon her kits?

"Up here!" he heard her reply and he looked up into the branches of the tree. And there was Leafpool, staring up to the stars with wide eyes. Her coat glittered like Moonstone in the moonlight and he felt his heart flutter at her beauty. Slowly and elegantly, almost like she was in a dream world, she slithered down from the branch. He admired her grace, being stuck in the camp learning how to heal certainly hadn't made her any less graceful. She landed softly on the floor and padded over to him.

"StarClan is trying to tell me something," she mewed distantly, "But their not being clear." Brambleclaw shock his head. He was no medicine cat, he didn't understand the mystery that they called StarClan.

"I'm sure they'll share what they want with you when their ready," he mewed gently, licking her behind the ear. He felt her shiver and his touch and she purred, nuzzling his cheek.

"Is the cave safe?" she asked with soft eyes.

"Yes," he mewed, "Theres even a little stream at the back. We can drink from it." She smiled at him and nodded. She picked up both her kits and followed him in. He stood in the entrance as she padded around the cave eagerly. She gently put down her kits and moved towards the corner of the cave. What was she doing? He saw her tear something from the wall and he realised it was moss. She purred with laughter at his dumbfounded look.

"What did you think we were going to sleep on," she mewed cheekily, "The cold hard floor, no thanks!" He purred. Her ragged breathing still troubled him, but atleast her fiery spirit had returned. He watched her make a nest for herself and the kits and then one for him next to hers. She got into her nest, circling around in it a few time before finally settling down in it. He laid down in the nest next to her and laid his head on her shoulder. He watched as Bramblekit woke up and started crying for milk. That woke Sparrowkit and he started to cry to. Leafpool nudged them towards her belly mewing to them softly.

"Its OK my beloveds," she mewed softly, "I'm here." Her eyes were soft and loving as she watched her two precious bundles suckle. Then she turned to him, the same warmth and love in her eyes for him.

"They will be the first kits for MoonClan," she mewed, "I want them to think you're their father." She looked out of the entrance, a look of disgust entering her eyes. "I never want them to know of Crowfeather. He has nothing to do with my kits." He heard anger in her mew. Did she hate Crowfeather for turning his back on her? He couldn't say he blamed her. Hearing what he'd said yesterday replay in his head he unsheathed his claws. Leafpool is right, he thought, these innocent kits don't need to know anything about that traitor. But Leafpool's shallow breathing brought him back to the present. He noticed with alarm, that her breath was now coming in shallow gasps. Was her anger making her worse? He covered her in licks, in an attempt to calm her down. Was she sick? Leafpool turned to him, her eyes shining with an emotion he could not read. She licked his cheek.

"Goodnight Brambleclaw," she mewed lovingly laying her head on her paws.

"Goodnight Leafpool," he mewed softly, hoping his thoughts of her illness were wrong. Surely being a medicine cat she would know if she was sick! Shaking those thoughts away he let his eyes fall, feeling sleep wash over him.

Brambleclaw's eyes fluttered open and he yawned. He lifted his head and realised it wasn't on Leafpool's flank. Infact Leafpool wasn't there! He leapt to his paws in alarm as the memories from last night flooded over him. Had her breathing gotten worse? The two kits were fast asleep. He padded quickly out of the cave and bumped into Leafpool. She was carrying a rabbit and a pigeon in her jaws. She let out a yowl of shock as they both feel into a heap.

"Your up!" she mewed mischievously, "Atlast! Not all of us can sleep the day away you know!"

"How did you catch that prey when you were never taught?" he asked impressed. As a medicine cat she would never have learned to hunt, relying on the clan to feed her instead.

"I've seen warriors do it enough times," she mewed, "Its not really that hard to learn." He hoped his eyes reflected how impressed he was. She was so clever, so beautiful, everything he'd ever dreamed of. She nudged the pigeon over to him.

"Eat," she commanded, "We still have along journey."

"How do you know?" he asked curiously, "Did StarClan share something with you?" Her eyes clouded with an emotion he could not read and she looked away.

"Yes," she mewed staring down at her rabbit, "I know where to go now."

"Did they share something else with you?" he asked, her strange behaviour confusing him.

"No," she mewed, far to quickly. She was hiding something. He sighed, he couldn't make Leafpool tell him what StarClan had shared with her. He munched on the pigeon she'd caught for him and he noticed she didn't start to eat hers. She just sat watching him, with burningly beautiful amber eyes.

"You should eat," he mewed, clearly jolting her out of her thoughts, "You have to eat for those two kits too you know. And their definitely not light eaters!" She purred with amusement and started to eat the rabbit, though he noticed, rather reluctantly. Something was definitely wrong.

"Our territory is a days trip away," she told him thoughtfully, "Cinderpelt told me to follow the direction we travelled in last night and we should be there by Sunset if we don't stop." Don't stop! He thought in horror. But we'll need to stop. Leafpool could barely cope with the small distance they had travelled last night.

"I'm perfectly able to travel for a day," Leafpool snapped reading his thoughts, "Like I told you last night, I'm fine! Now stop fretting!" She stood up, leaving the rabbit half eaten and padded into the cave for her kits. She gave his chin an affectionate tickle with her tail as she passed to show she wasn't that angry at him. But he still felt confused about her behaviour and as she padded out of the cave with the two kits in her mouth, he resolved to find out what it was by Sunset. She put the two kits on the ground and laid down to allow them to suckle.

"We'll leave once these two have finished," she mewed and then turned to him, "And you of course. You'll need all your strength to lead us to the new camp." He stood up and picked up the rabbit she'd left and dropped it by her.

"I want to see you eat that though," he mewed softly, licking her behind the ear, "You need your strength to." She looked up at him and then down to the rabbit.

"I'm not very hungry," she mewed, "I already ate while I was hunting." And with that she started to groom herself, clearly the conversation was over. He flicked his tail agitatedly. Why wouldn't she confide what was wrong with him? He sighed resignedly and finished the pigeon she'd caught him. She picked up Bramblekit this time and he carried Sparrowkit.

"Do you know where to go?" he asked her through a mouthful of kit fur. She pointed towards what looked like a forest far in the distance with her tail and they padded side by side in the direction she'd signalled.

It was almost Sunset, and the pair hadn't stopped once. The green mass they'd seen from a distance was a forest, and now, they were standing right infront of it. Leafpool's eyes glistened with excitement.

"We made it!" she mewed breathlessly through Bramblekit's fur. Brambleclaw looked at her worriedly. Her breathing had gotten a lot worse now, even Bramblekit could tell something was wrong. He was crying with fear. She put him down clearly unaware. He put Sparrowkit down next to his brother and knew the time had come. Leafpool had to be straight with him.

"Leafpool are you sure your not sick," he mewed and she turned to him, "Your breathing isn't right."

"I'm fine," she mewed sighing, "Honestly there's nothing wrong with me!"

"Come on Leafpool," he mewed more angrily than he'd intended, "Even your kits can tell something is wrong! Do you think so low of me that I have less sense than they do?!" At first, she seemed about to tell him what was really going on, but at his last words her head snapped up, her eyes blazing with anger. She snarled at him, standing protectively over her kits, her haunches raised.

"How dare you!" she hissed, he'd never seen her so angry, "How dare you suggest my kits are stupid! Crowfood-eater!" He flinched as though she'd struck him, feeling hurt. She picked up her two kits.

"Stay away from me!" she spat through kit fur and she charged into the forest without looking back, her tail fluffed up with hostility.

"Wait Leafpool!" he called dashing after her, "Please wait! I'm sorry!" But she was gone, only her scent lingered. He felt a tear run down his cheek. He'd never thought they would argue so bitterly. How could he have been so stupid! Leafpool was so much like Squirrelflight, she didn't want to be fussed over too much. She wasn't as strict about it and liked the fuss sometimes but he'd pushed her too far. He felt miserable. Now what would he do? He tried to track her but by the time the sun had sunk, he still hadn't caught up with her. He knew then he needed somewhere to spend the night. He searched around but couldn't find anywhere. He just hoped Leafpool had. He couldn't bare the thought of her alone with the kits, lost…he shivered. He had to find them, he'd never be able to sleep if he didn't. Suddenly her scent seemed stronger. Was she trying to find him?

"Leafpool!" he called but there was no answer so he called again, this time louder.

"Leafpool!" he yowled but there was still no answer. He heard a snarl from behind him. He spun around and there were two amber eyes glowing through the bushes. He took a step back.

"Leafpool?" he mewed scared, was she still angry with him? But it wasn't Leafpool who stepped out of the bushes, it was a fox! He gasped in terror. Now what? It was staring at him hungrily with what looked like an expression of satisfaction on its face. It must smell my weakness! He thought with a jolt. Snarling the fox leapt at him. He crouched down and closed his eyes, preparing to meet StarClan. But the attack never came. He heard a yowl of anger and the fox whimper.

"Move you useless lump!" he heard a she-cat yowl at him. He opened his eyes in shock, could it be? He saw an elegant tabby with her fur fluffed out standing protectively infront of him, snarling at the fox. Leafpool! He spotted Sparrowkit and Bramblekit in the corner of the clearing. He got up and stood beside her, puffing himself out fiercely. The fox quickly realised it was outnumbered and shrank angrily back into the shadows. Quickly Leafpool grabbed her kits and brought them back to him.

"Thanks," he mewed gratefully, "I would have been crow-food without you." She gave each of her kits a lick on the head before she looked up at him.

"I would die for you," she mewed simply and he felt choked with emotion. Had she forgiven him?

"Listen Leafpool," he mewed gently, "I'm really sorry about what I said. I don't know what came over me."

"So you should be," she mewed looking down at her kits. He pressed his flank against hers and to his relief, she didn't pull away. "I know I shouldn't have reacted so angrily, but my temper got the better of me." He licked her gently behind the ear to show her she was forgiven. He noticed her breathing had gotten worse but said nothing, he didn't want to provoke her. He breathing was now coming in irregular gasps. But he couldn't smell any sickness on her. Was she just tired? Had he got it all wrong?

"Lets find somewhere to sleep," she mewed tiredly, backing up his thoughts. He nodded in silent agreement and picked up Bramblekit. Together they walked through the strange forest, their tails twined. Brambleclaw felt better now. She was safe, and they were back together again. They found a cave not to far from the edge of other side of the forest. This time Leafpool charged in without waiting for Brambleclaw to check it. What was she doing? He thought, there could be a fox in there! He hurried after her bumping into her. She was rooted to the spot not to far into the cave. He realised with a jolt the cave was a lot darker than the one they'd sheltered in last night. Had Leafpool sensed danger through the darkness.

"Brambleclaw," her heard her muffled mew, "I sense StarClan's presence here! Maybe this is where we're supposed to contact them from!" He felt Leafpool pad forward cautiously. They padded slowly through the cave, which travelled father underground than he's first thought. Surely they couldn't have found something like the Moonpool already! Just then he saw a glow of white light around the corner from where they were standing. He felt waves of excitement coming from the medicine cat as she looked around the corner.

"Come look at this!" she mewed, the awe clear in her mew although her mouth was full of kit. He moved to stand beside her and looked around the corner. His eyes widened with shock. There was a giant rock in the centre of the cave, glowing like a star. He stared at it in awe. StarClan had really come with them! Leafpool padded eagerly towards it and he followed her. She put Sparrowkit down and he copied her.

"Its clear who's to be the leader of MoonClan," she mewed to him turning around to face him, "I think its time you received your nine lives from StarClan."

"Me?" he mewed startled.

"Yes you," she mewed laughing, "You will be Bramblestar, leader of MoonClan. Now come, sit by the rock and touch you nose to it. Then StarClan will send you dreams in your sleep."

"But I'm not ready yet!" he mewed in horror. How could he receive his nine lives now! He didn't even have a clan to return to!

"I will be with you at the ceremony," she mewed gently and instantly he felt a weight lift, "Don't be afraid." He nodded picking up Bramblekit and putting him near Leafpool who had already token her position by the rock. He touched noses with the stone, it was as cold as ice. Instantly his head filled with stars and he fell asleep. Everything was dark. Where was StarClan? He felt so cold, as cold as the rock he'd just touched with his nose. What was happening to him? He felt panic rise like bile in his throat. He opened his eyes a fraction and his eyes flew open with shock. He was back at the Moonpool in the home they'd left behind. How in StarClan did I get here? He wondered and turned to look around. Behind him was Leafpool, looking at him with excited eyes. She nodded at him reassuringly and he turned back to where the Moonpool was. Just then a crowd of cats emerged from the water. He recognised a few, Cinderpelt, his mother Goldenflower and he thought he saw a familiar ginger pelt but he couldn't be sure.

"Greetings Brambleclaw," the starry cats mewed as one, "Are you ready to receive your nine lives?" He nodded.

"I'am," he mewed trying to keep the nervousness he felt out of his mew. First of all Cinderpelt padded towards him, her blue eyes shining gently. She touched noses with him.

"With this life," she mewed, "I give you compassion. Use it well to look after all the cats in your care." He felt his body spasm at the bolt of energy that seared through his body. He almost yowled in agony. But then the pain ebbed away, and Cinderpelt padded back to her starry companions. Next, Goldenflower padded towards him. Had his mother died while he'd been away. He felt a stab of grief and guilt that he'd not been with her.

"With this life," she mewed, "I give you protection. Use it to protect your clan-mates as a mother would her kits." Brambleclaw had to dig his claw into the ground to stop himself from yowling at the agony that seared once again through his body. Once Goldenflower had moved away another she-cat took her place. Bluestar!

"With this life," she mewed, "I give you wisdom. Use it well to look after your new Clan." By the time she moved away Brambleclaw felt battered and exhausted. How will I survive six more?

"Don't be such a baby," he heard a rough mew from infront of him. No! He thought, It couldn't be. He looked up. Tigerstar!

"What are you doing here?" he hissed.

"StarClan has allowed me to give you a life," he mewed touching noses with his son, "With this life I give you strength, courage and fearlessness. Use it to defend your clan from attack and to keep your own cats in line." He saw him glance at Leafpool as he spoke. He felt himself bristle, so angry at his fathers words that he didn't even notice the agony in this life. The next four lives where given by Feathertail who gave him love, Speckletail who gave him quick thinking, Willowpelt who gave him loyalty and Brindleface who gave him justice. Now there was only one more life left to go. But who would give it to him. He gasped with horror as he saw and he heard Leafpool cry with grief. Firestar!

"No!" Brambleclaw mewed in horror, "You can't be dead!" Firestar looked sadly at Brambleclaw and then to his daughter.

"I died not long after you left," he mewed, "I named no new deputy. So the clan choose Brackenstar to replace me. But that is not why I'm here." He touched noses with him. "With this life I give you selflessness, determination and endurance. Use it well to become the great leader I know you'll be." Brambleclaw drank this life in eagerly. He wanted all of Firestar's strength and leadership. He wanted to be just like him. It was over far to quickly. Firestar stepped back signalling with his tail that he should rise to. He did as he was told, his body felt battered as if he'd fought the hardest battle of his life, but his spirit soared with the strength of the lives he had been granted.

"I hail you by your new name, Bramblestar," Firestar announced, "Your old life is no more. You have received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you to the guardianship of MoonClan. Defend it well; care for the young and old; honour your warrior ancestors and traditions of the warrior code; live each life with pride and dignity."

"Bramblestar! Bramblestar!" the starry cat chanted , Leafpool joining in as loud as they were, welcoming him just like the forest cats would, "Bramblestar! Bramblestar!" Bramblestar swelled with pride. He was a leader! He felt Leafpool nuzzle his cheek her eyes soft and he licked her behind the ear. That made him realise. Leafpool was a medicine cat! Would they still accept her even though she had broken the warrior code so badly?

"Can Leafpool still be a medicine cat?" he asked Firestar, "Even with the kits and me as her mate?" Firestar looked at his starry companions.

"We have discussed this intensely," he mewed to them, "And we have decided to get rid of that part of the warrior code for this clan. As a test if you like. If it works then we will allow it to continue. But we must watch discuss this in a few moons." Bramblestar nodded. He just hoped it would work.

"Now you two need to rest," Firestar mewed gently looking worriedly at his daughter, "Its time you found your camp."

"But how?" Leafpool asked but Bramblestar wasn't listening. Had Firestar noticed Leafpool's funny breathing?

"Follow the trail that leads from the MoonCave and the MoonRock," Firestar continued, "You'll know it when you see it." With that he felt the feeling return to his paws as he woke into the real world. He blinked the sleep out of his eyes and sat up. He saw Leafpool do the same thing, adding a large yawn. Then she burrowed her head into his flank. He felt her tears stain his fur. He tried to lick her comfortingly but she raised her head and let out a wail of grief.

"What have I done?" she cried, "I've killed my own father!"

"Nonsense," Bramblestar snapped touching noses with her, "Firestar's death is not your fault!"

"But it is!" she cried, desperate to blame herself, "That's what StarClan was trying to tell me! I should have listened, maybe…maybe he would still be alive then!" She was shaking with grief and Bramblestar felt horror fill him as he saw how ill she seemed. He covered her in licks, mewing comfortingly. She had to calm down. Slowly, she stopped crying and calmed down.

"Sorry," she mewed her gentle amber eyes shining with tears, "But it really is all my fault. If I hadn't of left, he would be safe and you'd be happy with Squirrelflight, safe and warm. Rather than here with me, cold and tired. I've destroyed so many lives, I should have gone alone, I'm the only one that deserves to suffer."

"No!" he mewed getting to his paws, "I'm better here than with Squirrelflight, you're the cat I love Leafpool. What will it take for me to prove that to you?"

"I know you do," she mewed with her head down, "You don't have to prove anything to me. I just want you to be happy, even if it means not being with me." Bramblestar let his fur lie flat. He'd reacted to snappily. She only had his best interests at heart. He sighed.

"We're both tired," he mewed agitatedly, "Lets go find this camp." He bent down to take Bramblekit but Leafpool scooped up both her kits. What was going on? He wondered, hurt. She'd just told him how he didn't need to prove himself to her but now she wouldn't let him carry her kit anymore? Was Leafpool truly the cat he thought she was? They padded together for a long time and the moon was high in the sky by the time they found something that looked like it could be a camp.

"This could be it!" Bramblestar mewed and Leafpool nodded tiredly. They pushed through the brambles that stood in their way and emerged in a clearing bathed in moonlight. In the centre there was a cave in the ground. A den! Bramblestar thought excitedly. Leafpool saw it to and dashed as fast as her tired legs would allow towards it. She disappeared inside it and he followed her in. She was already tearing moss from the walls to make nests for them both. Taking what she'd already ripped away and made himself a nest. It didn't take long for them both to make nests and curl up in them. The two kits suckled hungrily as Bramblestar laid his head on Leafpool's flank. Leafpool licked him behind the ear and laid her head on her paws, her eyes fluttering shut. Feeling just as exhausted he fell asleep after a few moments. He last thoughts were of Leafpool and what Firestar's worried look had meant for her.

Bramblestar let out a huge yawn. The sunlight was streaming through the entrance to the cave. Leafpool and her kits were still fast asleep and he didn't have the heart to wake them. Surely sleep would be good for her. He gave himself a good wash. He was covered in leaves from last nights trek. As he groomed himself he noticed he had something stuck between his claws. Pulling it out he realised it was a clump of tabby fur. He sniffed it, it wasn't his, Leafpool's or Bramblekit's, so how did it get there? A dark thought entered his mind. Had Leafpool met another cat while they had been seperated? Sniffing the clump of fur again he realised it was the scent of a she-cat, not a tom. He sighed with relief realising he'd been far to quick to judge her. She wasn't that sort of cat and he knew it. Then what sort of cat is she? He wondered remembering her odd behaviour.

"Bramblestar," he heard Leafpool mew and he looked up from the clump of fur, "Good morning my love." He purred. This was more like the old Leafpool.

"Good morning," he mewed softly licking her flank, "Did you sleep OK?" She nodded and yawned, getting to her paws slowly.

"Not so bad," she mewed, "You?"

"Fine," he mewed twining his tail with hers, "I was just wondering how were going to get more warriors for MoonClan."

"We'll do what Firestar and Sandstorm did when they went to re-build SkyClan," she mewed, "Recruit loners, rogues and kittypets." He nodded although he didn't much like the sound of leading a clan of rogues, loners and kittypets. But he didn't say it out loud. Firestar was a kittypet and was the greatest leader that ever lived, why couldn't the

ones they found be the same? Just then Leafpool sat bolt upright.

"Intruder!" she hissed, "I can smell her!" Bramblestar dashed outside the cave, prepared to defend Leafpool and the kits with all of his nine lives. But the she-cat he saw didn't look hostile, only curious. She was a light brown tabby with two white front paws, a white tail tip, white left ear and forest green eyes. His heart fluttered when he saw her. There was no denying her beauty. He heard Leafpool come out of the den after him, snarling.

"What do YOU want?" she hissed.

"You know each other?" he asked.

"She attacked me yesterday," she growled not taking her eyes of the stranger, "I don't know what you want but you won't find it here!"

"Are you Bramblestar?" she asked him and he nodded, and she looked at Leafpool, "And Leafpool?" She nodded warily.

"How do you know who we are?" she asked suspiciously, "Who are you?"

"My name is Birch…" she faltered, "I mean a starry cat told me I was to be Birchwing, deputy of MoonClan."