Chapter 4
Sunlight filtered in through the twisted branches of the warrior's den and seeped into the pelts of the sleeping cats. Brambleclaw was curled up beside Spiderleg, his eyes shut tightly as he slept. Every once in a while his paw twitched but other than that he stayed silent.
He awoke several hours after dawn when he heard more warriors rising from their nests. He opened his eyes just in time to see Ashfur and Thornclaw leaving the den together. Glancing around he saw that only himself, Spiderleg, Squirrelflight, Dustpelt and Cloudtail remained.
Yawning, he pulled himself out of his pile of moss and gave himself a quick stretch. Then he sat down again to groom scraps of moss and twigs out of his tabby fur. Spiderleg, disturbed by his movement awoke and peered up at Brambleclaw through twin amber eyes.
"Are we due for any patrols?" He asked Brambleclaw, his words muffled and disfigured by sleep.
Brambleclaw didn't look up from his washing, "No. Not until sunhigh—we're going on a hunting patrol then.
"Oh…. okay…." Spiderleg yawned. "I'll just go back to…"
"For StarClan's sake!" exclaimed a voice behind them. "Can't you do anything but sleep, you lazy hedgehog?"
It was Squirrelflight. The dark ginger warrior's eyes glittered with annoyance but Brambleclaw detected the amusement too. She strode over to them both and prodded Spiderleg sharply in the stomach. "Get up!" she muttered.
"Hey…" Spiderleg grumbled. "That hurt."
"I know," She responded. "It was supposed to."
Spiderleg shot Squirrelflight a glare as he got up from his nest. He shook his black fur once then stalked out of the warrior's den.
Squirrelflight followed him and Brambleclaw—after a moment's hesitation he padded after the two. He emerged just in time to hear Squirrelflight meowing, "Did it ever occur to you that you should groom your fur when you get up?"
"No, I suppose it didn't," he replied, hardly able to keep the teasing out of his voice. "Anyways," He continued as Brambleclaw came up beside him. "I think I'll see what Whitepaw's up to." With a last meaningful look at Brambleclaw he left.
"Stupid furball," Squirrelflight muttered, not meeting Brambleclaw's gaze. He could tell that she was embarrassed.
"Yes," He laughed, trying to keep the mood light. "I suppose he is."
There was a long awkward silence. "So um…" Brambleclaw mumbled, his paws scuffling in the dust. "Would you like to come hunting this afternoon? With Spiderleg… and me."
Squirrelflight responded only after creating some distance between herself and him. "Sure," She mewed quietly. "But Birchpaw would have to come too—I promised Ashfur I'd take him out today."
Brambleclaw felt jealousy stab him like a thorn in his pad. Of course Ashfur would ruin his day somehow! But he tried not to let his unhappiness show to his… friend…? Would he even be able to call her that?
He only just realised that Squirrelflight had drawn close to him, staring into his amber eyes as though searching for something. She turned away quickly. "Have you seen Sorreltail's new kits?" she meowed, changing the conversation.
"No," Brambleclaw replied, shaking his head. "Not yet."
"Neither have I," Squirrelflight admitted. "How about we see them now? If… if you're not doing anything that is."
"Sure," He meowed. He began to pad off towards the nursery with Squirrelflight close behind.
It was warm and quiet inside and Brambleclaw breathed the air with pleasure. Daisy was sound asleep, her kits tucked beneath her belly. Ferncloud was propped up beside her, looking as though she were only half conscious. Squirrelflight passed by him and both queens to see if Sorreltail was awake.
"Hello Sorreltail…" Squirrelflight murmured softly when the she-cat raised her head.
Sorreltail blinked the sleep out of her eyes and purred a greeting. Then she glanced down to stare at her four kits that were curled up among the downy and moss.
"Wow," Brambleclaw whispered. "I've never seen such beautiful kits…"
"Oh? What about me, Brambleclaw?" Squirrelflight was staring at him, a playful look flashing in her green eyes.
"Well… um…" He muttered trying to remember the day Squirrelflight and Leafpool were born. Finally he found himself back in the old ThunderClan camp, inside the nursery made from a bramble patch. He could see Sandstorm's pale ginger coat now and right beside her were two kits. The first a pale tabby with tiny white paws and the second was a dark ginger she-cat. The same cat that stood before him right now. Squirrelflight.
But he couldn't find the right words to express it and only stood there staring at her, with a dumb expression on his face.
Squirrelflight rolled her eyes, "I'm only joking, Brambleclaw," She sounding exasperated beyond words. "Have you named them yet?" Squirrelflight asked Sorreltail, turning away from Brambleclaw.
"Yes… Brackenfur and I chose them just last night…"
Sorreltail flicked her tail at the smallest kit, a she-cat with a golden ginger pelt and patches of black along her side and on her head. "Finchkit," Her gaze slid across to the next kit—a brown tom with a golden sheen. "Eaglekit," The third kit was a ginger tabby as well, though its pelt was darker and longer. "Flamekit."
She gazed at the last one for a long time, the only one of the litter that had resemblance of her. It was a splashed tortoiseshell and white she-cat—the prettiest of the litter, Brambleclaw thought. "Splashkit."
"It suits her," Squirrelflight commented lightly.
Brambleclaw meowed agreement, his eyes shining as he looked at Splashkit—perhaps he'd have her as an apprentice someday. His pelt tingled with excitement with just the mere thought of it. He pushed the thought aside, knowing it'd take moons for the little kit to be apprenticed. He crouched down beside Sorreltail, and rasped his tongue over her ear once, gave a last glance at the tortoiseshell kit then padded out of the nursery.
He sat down outside, waiting for Squirrelflight to appear. He could hear her inside talking quietly with Sorreltail before she too emerged.
"I'm starving," She complained.
"Me too. I haven't eaten yet… want to go find Spiderleg? It's nearly sunhigh now… we should be going on our hunting patrol soon…"
"Yes," She agreed. "But I'm not leaving until I at least get a mouse!" Her eyes gleamed with wicked amusement.
Brambleclaw grinned. "Sure. Want to pick one out for me too?"
"Lazy furball," She muttered, but she got him a piece of prey anyways.
He trotted over to the apprentice's den, guessing he'd probably find his best friend hiding around there. And he was right. The black tom was helping his little brother, Birchpaw patch up a hole in a bramble patch near the camp wall. Slowly the Clan was beginning to recover from the badger attack.
"Hey!" he called out, as he got nearer. "We're leaving soon!"
Birchpaw's tail flew straight up and he scampered inside the den to get Whitepaw, who was still sleeping. Spiderleg gave a quick nod and continued working on his job.
Brambleclaw padded away and caught sight of Squirrelflight's dark ginger fur. Anger began to rise inside him as he recognised the pale flecked gray tom beside her. He tried to push it off as he walked towards the pair. He shot Ashfur an angry glare as he sat down beside Squirrelflight quietly and dug into the shrew she had got for him. He finished it in famished gulps, then left without a word, flicking his tail to beckon Squirrelflight.
She murmured a single goodbye to Ashfur then leapt forward to join him. "Great StarClan!" she heaved a noisy sigh. "There's no need to get so jealous!"
"I don't know what you mean!" Brambleclaw protested, knowing that it was true.
Squirrelflight narrowed her eyes. "You're as stubborn as always, Brambleclaw."
"Yes, now why wouldn't he be?"
It was Spiderleg, finished with his patching job and coming up to talk with his friends. Behind him came the two apprentices Whitepaw and Birchpaw.
"Let's go!" Whitepaw suggested enthusiastically, green eyes bright.
"Right," Spiderleg meowed, nudging the she-cat forward. "I'll race you?"
The snowy-pelted apprentice grinned, took a pace forward then broke into a run. Spiderleg sprinted after her, clearing distance easily with his long black limbs.
"It must be time for Whitepaw's warrior ceremony…" Brambleclaw started, trying to make up for their bicker heartbeats before.
"She's gotten quite big," Squirrelflight agreed, nodding her head.
She leaned into him further, seeking for the warmth that always came off his tabby pelt. She blushed under her ginger fur and quickly pulled away.
Brambleclaw stared at her curiously but she just laughed, instead of answering him. She flicked his nose then padded off steadily into the forest, after Whitepaw and Spiderleg. He followed her, his heart raising every pawstep.
But little did he know that a pair of eyes was watching him in the shadows. They were lurking, watching and waiting for the chance to strike…
Looks like Brambleclaw's lovelife is getting better--but will it last:P Review please! Thanks! Hollybranch