Ok... before i start this chapter i'm just gonna clear up the Crow x Leaf stuff. There will be some love scenes in this story--the pairing has not completely vanished! But they will not have kits. I am totally against that so please don't even ask. Well here we go--chapter 3! Please Read and Review! It'd be much appreciated.

Chapter 3

Brambleclaw plunged his patrol deeper into the marshy territory near the ShadowClan border. It had only been a few days since the gathering and Firestar was nearly driving every cat to death with the patrols he'd been sending. There were nearly five patrols a day now—compared to the usual three.

"He's probably just making sure the badgers are all gone." Rainwhisker meowed, echoing his own thoughts.

Spiderleg who had been dragging behind the two lifted his muzzle to taste the air. "Looks like a ShadowClan patrol just passed." He meowed, his amber eyes narrowed.

"Or maybe one was just coming," Meowed a tortoiseshell she-cat who emerged from the bushes behind them.

"Tawnypelt!" Brambleclaw exclaimed. He wanted to go up and nuzzle his sister in greeting but stayed planted in spot when two more cats followed. The first was warrior, Oakfur the second was a small pretty tawny she-cat.

"Her name's Applepaw." Tawnypelt meowed quietly. "She's Oakfur's new apprentice."

Applepaw came bouncing up to the border, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Is Birchpaw an apprentice yet? Who's his mentor? Toadpaw and Marshpaw are apprentices too!" she chattered eagerly. "Can you tell them tha—"

She broke off when Oakfur gave her a sharp cuff over the ears. "Honestly!" he growled. "We don't have time to sit and gossip with ThunderClan warriors all day!"

Applepaw ducked away, her ears flattened while Tawnypelt purred with amusement.

"She's very enthusiastic as you can see," Tawnypelt laughed as her patrol padded further into her own territory.

Brambleclaw cast a last glance over his shoulder at the tortoiseshell warrior before turning back to his patrol. Rainwhisker seemed unreasonably hostile, his dark gray fur bristling and his blue eyes blazing.

He was about to say something but Spiderleg cut him off, flicking him lightly with his black tail. "Honestly, Rainwhisker!" he sighed. "Just because your brother's dead doesn't mean other cats shouldn't have siblings either!"

Rainwhisker recoiled from him, as though an enemy warrior had struck him down. But instead of making a retort he just swung around and stalked off into the undergrowth.

Spiderleg's amber gaze followed him then it turned to Brambleclaw glimmering with sympathy. "Don't worry about him," He murmured softly. "He's just upset, that's all."

"I realised," Brambleclaw muttered, not knowing seeing his sister would cause the warrior such grief.

When they returned to camp, the first thing Brambleclaw caught sight of was Rainwhisker padding into the nursery, a shrew hanging from his jaws.

"Good!" Spiderleg sounded pleased, his tail curling up in delight. "Seeing Sorreltail and her kits will cheer him up for sure!"

Brambleclaw agreed, pride running through his veins once more as he thought of the brave she-cat. Sorreltail was one of his good friends—or at least when they were younger and to think of her with kits of her own to raise made his heart soar with glee.

The two toms headed over to the fresh-kill pile, which slowly grew bigger as the heat of the day increased. Brambleclaw chose a mouse for himself, while Spiderleg picked a plump starling. His friend settled down comfortably but it took Brambleclaw longer to lie down so his shoulder didn't scrape against the hard earth. Even though it had been several sunrises since the badger attack, the gash in his shoulder still refused to heal.

"You should get Leafpool to look at it," Spiderleg suggested. "It looks as though it's swelling—probably was too far of a patrol today.

Brambleclaw grunted agreement before tearing ravenously into his fresh-kill. When he had finished he quickly said good-bye to his friend then limped off towards Leafpool's den, hoping to find the medicine cat.

To his relief she was there, sitting in her mossy nest staring off into the distance. Her mouth seemed to form the word Crowfeather, though no sound came out of her. Her eyes were flat with no emotion, as though she had inherited a great pain. Brambleclaw almost reconsidered visiting her but the ache in his shoulder changed his mind.

"Um… hi Leafpool." He meowed hesitantly, taking a couple paces forward.

The tabby she-cat sprang to her paws the minute the words left his mouth. "Y-yes?" she stumbled. "What is it, Brambleclaw?"

"It's just my shoulder," He replied. "Do you have something to take down the swelling?"

"Oh… of course!" she meowed, gaining some of her lost composure. "I'll just get some nettle leaves!"

She padded away softly only to come back a minute later, a wad of leaves stuck in her jaws. She began to apply the juice to his wound and Brambleclaw could already feel the inflammation go down. He glanced up at the medicine cat, trying to see her expression. But only saw gentle, amber eyes on a pretty smiling tabby face.

"There," She murmured. "You should be good for now. Just call me if you have any more trouble."

"Of course," Brambleclaw purred, giving her a quick lick on the cheek to show his gratitude.

Leafpool blinked at him then walked past him out of the medicine cat's den. Brambleclaw followed her out into the open, stretching gratefully as the afternoon sun poured down on his tabby pelt. His tail waving, he strolled over to Spiderleg who was lying down with Whitepaw in the shade.

The snowy coloured she-cat was stretched out; her eyes were dazed, a sleepy purr rising from her. Spiderleg ran his tongue over her fur in calm, soothing motion. Brambleclaw sat down quietly beside the black-and-brown tom.

Spiderleg stopped with his licking to raise his head and whisper. "Is your shoulder better?"

Brambleclaw nodded and replied in a quiet manner. "Yes. Leafpool sure is a talented medicine cat, I can hardly feel the pain anymore."

Spiderleg's only reply was to keep grooming Whitepaw's fur. Brambleclaw could see the loving look in the black tom's eyes when he gazed at the apprentice. He knew that Spiderleg cared a lot about her.

"But does she like me back?" he would always wonder. Brambleclaw knew that it caused him much pain to see Whitepaw grow close to his brother, Birchpaw.

And Brambleclaw could relate to that suffering. He remembered that close bond he had shared with the ginger she-cat on their long, treacherous journey. He remembered the time when they were both friends. The time when they were in love.