Chapter 8

Squirrelflight's P.O.V.

Squirrelflight woke up to find Brambleclaw padding out of the den to set up the patrols. Squirrelflight longed to go with him, but she couldn't until her wound healed. She growled in frustration.

She slowly got up and limped into the clearing, out into the forest and into the stream. Squirrelflight plunged straight into the icy cold water, and shivered. She took a deep breath, and quickly put her head under water. She stayed under the water until she was running out of air. She put her head above the water and gasped for air.

When she caught her breath, she did it one more time. As soon as she put her head above the water, she limped to shore, shook herself, and limped into the forest and back into camp, her dark ginger fur plastered to her body, clean and still dripping wet from the water.

Squirrelflight limped across the clearing to Leafpool's den. She smelled a familiar scent and looked up to see Ashfur padding toward her. Squirrelflight narrowed her eyes. Suddenly the Prophecy came to her mind: The squirrel will take flight, but with the claw of a bramble, they have a wing of a dove, a cloud of blue, a storm of an ivy and a heart of an oak. The fearful ivy will take down the gentle dove, but only the jay, lion, oak, squirrel and bramble will be able to save her. Beware of the ash that seems not to mind, but is jealous and will do anything to seek the squirrel's affection and love. The bramble and ash will fight to the death.

Squirrelflight snapped out of her reverie as Ashfur stood in front of her. "Hey, Squirrelflight. When you feel better, how about we go hunting?"

Squirrelflight flattened her ears, but nodded. Perhaps, if I go with him alone, I can find out some answers.

Ashfur's dark blue eyes brightened up and he mewed in delight. He turned and, tail high, padded across the clearing.

Squirrelflight hissed, half exasperated, half angry. "Stupid tom," she muttered under her breath. She turned and limped the rest of her way to Leafpool's den. She stuck her head in to see Jayfeather in there, but no Leafpool. "Where's Leafpool?"

Jayfeather turned his sightless blue eyes on her and growled, "Out collecting herbs. What do you need?"

"I need you to tend to this scratch that I received yesterday when I was captured. What's got your tail in a knot?"

Jayfeather narrowed his sightless eyes. "Do you want me to answer that?" Squirrelflight flicked her tail uneasily and shook her head; she knew the answer. "I thought so. As for your wound, well, I'll get marigold, juniper, coltsfoot, and cobwebs to treat it."

Squirrelflight twitched her ears. "What the coltsfoot for?"

It's to make sure it doesn't start bleeding again; to help cure infection, like marigold, but more powerful."

Squirrelflight nodded. "Oh." She stood as still as possible. Only when Jayfeather gave her the cue to go and come back tomorrow, did she leave.

Squirrelflight huffed. She was bored; she couldn't go on patrols, go hunting of have fun until her wound was healed completely. Squirrelflight just hoped that was soon.

Squirrelflight went over to the fresh-kill pile and picked out a vole. She padded to the bramble bush and sat down to eat. As she chewed, she figured she should find Cloudtail and tell him to meet her at Firestar's den so their apprentices could earn their well-deserved warriors name.

She got up and tasted the air; she picked up her cousin's scent immediately. She limped across the clearing, following Cloudtail's scent. She found the white warrior training Foxpaw. She heard him huff, half exasperated, half amused. "Foxpaw, keep your tail up! For StarClan's sake, how many time do I have to tell you?"

Squirrelflight padded out and purred, amused. "I thought I'd find you here."

Cloudtail whipped around and saw Squirrelflight, her green eyes sparkling with laughter and amusement, purring. He flattened his ears. "Aren't you supposed to be in the camp, resting?"

"I thought I'd come to find you and see how your apprentice is coming along. After hearing that, I'd say, not so good. Foxpaw, try this." She crouched down, tail up so her bushy tail didn't brush the undergrowth. Foxpaw copied her and started to stalk softly forward. Squirrelflight purred. "Excellent. That's all you had to do, Cloudtail. Just show him."

Cloudtail narrowed his eyes and growled. "I don't need your help training my apprentice, but I have to admit, you're good. You train apprentices like you're a senior warrior. And your wise like one."

Squirrelflight flicked her tail and ears in embarrassment. Then she heard a noise. She tensed, remembering that was how she got caught and she whipped around and growled.

Brambleclaw came out, and he meowed, amber eyes brimming with amusement, "Don't worry, Squirrelflight. I'm not Russetfur coming to capture you and torture you."

Squirrelflight hissed. "Then what are you doing here?"

"I followed you. I could ask the same question you know."

"I came to get Cloudtail and see how his apprentice is doing. I helped him out a little too. Satisfied?"

Brambleclaw's whiskers twitched. "Exceptionally. Now what did you want to tell Cloudtail?"

"It's none of your business. It only concerns me and Cloudtail. Now go back to your deputy duties!" Squirrelflight hissed, the fur on the back of her spine rising.

Brambleclaw flinched as if she had struck him across his muzzle. He back away, fear in his amber eyes.

Once he was gone, Squirrelflight let her fur flatten and she turned to Cloudtail. "Foxpaw, go hunting and bring back fresh-kill for the Clan."

Foxpaw nodded and trotted across the clearing and disappeared a heartbeat later. Once his scent faded, Squirrelflight meowed, "Cloudtail I think we should talk to Firestar."

"Why?"

"So Foxpaw and Icepaw can get their warrior names. For StarClan's sake, how mouse brained can you get?"

"Okay. Meet you there?"

"Yeah. I just have to find Brambleclaw and apologize. I didn't mean to get angry. I was just trying to tell you something and I didn't want to be interrupted."

Cloudtail's whiskers twitched. "I understand. I used to be just like you."

Squirrelflight purred. "I know. Firestar told me." Squirrelflight limped back into camp.

When she emerged, she saw Brambleclaw at the bramble bush where she had eaten earlier, rating a mouse. She limped up to him. Brambleclaw looked up when she approached him. He narrowed his eyes and flattened his ears, but said nothing.

"Brambleclaw, I'm sorry. I just wanted to tell Cloudtail something before I told you. I didn't mean to get so angry with you. I love you and I can't be without you."

"Well, you sure do show it! But nevertheless, why did you want to tell Cloudtail first?"

"He's Foxpaw's mentor."

"Then what did you tell him?"

"I told him we should talk to Firestar about making them warriors. They're way overdue."

Brambleclaw got up and rubbed his face against hers, purring. "I forgive you. I love you, too. We will have kits as the Prophecy says."

Squirrelflight flicked her ear as she remembered something. "Oh, that reminds me. I promised Ashfur that I'd go hunting with him as soon as I'm fit."

As she expected, Brambleclaw growled. "What? I thought we could go hunting! Why did you agree?"

"I didn't want to, but he's my friend. He was there for me when you insisted on your relationship with Hawkfrost was harmless! I can't just abandon him!"

Brambleclaw flinched when she reminded him of his relationship with his half-brother Hawkfrost. She had tried to stop him, but he insisted it wasn't doing any harm. But it had hurt Squirrelflight and led her to Ashfur and Brambleclaw would never forgive himself for that.

"But, I'm your mate. We're supposed to be having kits together. Did you promise?"

"Well, I didn't say "I promise to go hunting with you when I fell better' if that's what you mean."

"Then call it off and come hunting with me!" His amber eyes pleaded for her to give it up and Squirrelflight couldn't bring herself to say no to such a face, so she nodded. Brambleclaw squealed in delight and licked her face frantically. "Oh, thank you, thank you! I love you!" He mewed between licks, purring.

Squirrelflight laughed. "Your welcome, my love. Now I gotta go." Brambleclaw stopped licking her face and stared into her eyes, then he nodded. Squirrelflight purred. She turned and headed to Firestar's den.

On the way there, she spotted Ashfur following her with his gaze. She changed direction and limped her way over to him. "Ashfur, something came up. I can't go hunting with you when I'm better." Ashfur's face fell and she added quickly, "But not because of Brambleclaw. It's because I'm expecting kits."

Ashfur narrowed his eyes. "His kits, I suppose?" Squirrelflight nodded. Ashfur growled. "Why are you his mate, Squirrelflight? His father killed my mother! In my eyes, he's everything like his father; his greed for power will only turn him into a murderer like Tigerstar. Be my mate instead. I'll make you happy. Happier than you've ever had." He glanced at her belly, stood up and stalked over to her. He unsheathed his claws and clawed her belly, deep.

Squirrelflight wailed in pain. She collapsed on the ground, her vision blurring. She heard Sandstorm's, Firestar's, Leafpool's, and Brambleclaw's voice. She writhed in pain, her breaths becoming gasps.

"Squirrelflight? Squirrelflight! Wake up, come on, don't give up on me! You promised I wouldn't lose you!" She heard Brambleclaw wail. "We have a prophecy to fulfill!"

Squirrelflight blindly nodded her head and rasped, "Bye Brambleclaw. I hunt with StarClan now. I love you." Then she breathed her last breath.

Squirrelflight woke up to see starry cats by her that smelled of leaf-bare, newleaf , greenleaf, and leaf-fall. She looked around and spotted Shrewpaw. She flicked her tail in greeting, but kept silent.

"Welcome, Squirrelflight." It seemed as if one voice said it, yet all of StarClan said it as one.

She dipped her head respectfully and asked, "Am I dead?"

A blue-gray she-cat stepped forward and meowed, "No, Squirrelflight. Ashfur only wounded you. Lionblaze, Hollyleaf, and Jayfeather are grieving right now. Even though you aren't their birth mother, they can't lose you. Neither can Brambleclaw. As he balances you out, he needs you to balance him out."

"If I'm not dead, why am I here?"

"I understand you know the prophecy you and Brambleclaw must fulfill?" Squirrelflight nodded. "Well, I have grave news. We have trouble coming. We need you and all the Sun-drown-place cats, your adopted kits, and you mom and dad to make a journey. There's a prophecy that is about to come true:

As darkness fills the skies,

the stars need help from sky,

river, thunder, wind, shadow,

and water. Together they must

unite and fight as one. Fire and

tiger must help the forest once more

as darkness spread over the stars. "

Squirrelflight blinked, confused, but she nodded. Bluestar spoke once more. "Repeat the prophecy to your father. You will know what it means when the time comes. Goldenflower will visit Tawnypelt. Oakheart will visit Stormfur and tell him. Tallstar will visit Crowfeather and tell him too. We've healed your wound. Go, now Squirrelflight. Be strong. Stop Ashfur and Brambleclaw."

The StarClan cats disappeared and Squirrelflight fell into blackness.

Squirrelflight heard snarls and hisses. She gasped as she breathed in air. She opened her eyes and saw every cat look at her with surprise and relief.

Firestar padded up to her and pressed his muzzle into her side. "Squirrelflight, what happened? How are you alive? We thought you were dead."

"I will tell you everything, but lets go to your den, daddy. It's important. Bring Graystripe, Brambleclaw, mom, Leafpool, and my adopted kits. I'll be waiting in the den."

Firestar nodded and Squirrelflight limped her way into her father's den. She bared her teeth and growled at Ashfur as she passed him. He flinched and flattened his ears in discomfort.

When Squirrelflight scrambled up to Firestar's den, she was panting. She limped inside and sank gratefully to the ground. She twitched her ears as she heard Firestar, Sandstorm, Brambleclaw, Graystripe, Jayfeather, Lionblaze, Hollyleaf, and Leafpool come in. Firestar padded to his nest and settled in it. He looked at Squirrelflight expectantly.

"What's this about, Squirrelflight?"

"I had a dream, from StarClan."

Firestar flicked his ears in surprise, the others murmured in disbelief.

Brambleclaw asked, "How? I thought you were dead? And why?"

Squirrelflight glared at Brambleclaw and Firestar answered, "Brambleclaw, it's not unusual for a regular warrior to have dreams from StarClan, at least if they have my blood running in their veins. I had them when I was just an apprentice. Spottedleaf still comes to me now to tell me the future as she has in the past. That's how we me and Sandstorm left that one season, to find SkyClan."

Squirrelflight pricked her ears. "SkyClan, did you say?" Firestar nodded. Squirrelflight gasped as the prophecy came into her mind:

As darkness fills the skies,

the stars need help from sky,

river, thunder, wind, shadow,

and water. Together they must

unite and fight as one. Fire and

tiger must help the forest once more

as darkness spread over the stars.

"That's it! The star, sky, thunder, river, wind and shadow are the Clans! And the water must the Tribe of Rushing Water! Great StarClan!"

Someone cleared their throat. "Squirrelflight we're still here. Now what are you talking about?"

"Bluestar came to me and told me a prophecy:

As darkness fills the skies,

the stars need help from sky,

river, thunder, wind, shadow,

and water. Together they must

unite and fight as one. Fire and

tiger must help the forest once more

as darkness spread over the stars.

"She told me that all of us, including the cats from the journey to Sun-drown-place and minus Graystripe, have to make a journey. I'm guessing its to bring SkyClan and the Tribe of Rushing Water here to fight and save StarClan from the darkness. But I still don't understand what she meant by Fire and tiger must help the forest once more as darkness spread over the stars."

Firestar pricked his ears. "Leafpool, tell them the sign you had when Cinderheart was Cinderpelt."

Leafpool nodded and padded up to Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight. "Me and Cinderpelt saw fire and saw a tiger leaping out of the fire on fern. At first we thought it meant you too would destroy the forest, but it meant you would save the forest."

Squirrelflight flattened her ears and tensed then she rounded on her father. "No wonder why you tried to keep me away from Brambleclaw! I knew something was up! You never once tired to get me away from Brambleclaw, even when we were fighting!" Squirrelflight hissed and continued, "But I outsmarted you and clearly we didn't destroy the forest, we saved it, from being destroyed by the Twolegs! How could you be so ungrateful? We saved your pelts! If not for us, you'd be crowfood and we wouldn't be here today!" Her whole pelt bristled so she looked twice her size, even her bushy tail was bristling. Her father looked the same. The cats stared in shock as father and daughter looked alike.

Firestar took a deep breath and forced his fur to relax. "You're right to judge me, Squirrelflight. I assumed wrong. Like you said, if hadn't gone, you'd probably still be known as Squirrelpaw and you and Brambleclaw would never have been mates. It must have been StarClan's will. But me and Sandstorm have something to tell you." He cast an uneasy glance at the pale ginger warrior.

Sandstorm stepped forward and announced, "I'm expecting kits. But I can still go on the journey." Firestar shook his head, but Sandstorm hissed, "I won't be having them in a moon or so and we have Leafpool and Jayfeather with us, so I'll be fine."

Every cat, except Squirrelflight and Sandstorm, as they recognized Squirrelflight anger in the pale ginger warrior. Brambleclaw called out, "Like mother, like daughter." Everyone purred harder at this, while Squirrelflight and Sandstorm exchanged a furious glance and bristled.

Squirrelflight retorted, "And I expect you to be like your father? No, you're nothing like him! So don't compare us!"

Sandstorm hissed, "And I know she had my hunting ability, but is faster and stronger at fighting, but seriously, she look like Firestar!"

Brambleclaw stopped purring and shot a glance at Squirrelflight' he knew how she hated being compared to her father.

Squirrelflight whipped around and growled. "Never compare me to my father! I hate looking like him! It's bad enough that the Clan expects me to be like him, but now everyone expects me too? Great StarClan, will this never end?" With that, she raced as fast as her wound would allow her, tail up.