Chapter 6

"So what do you do today?" Brambleclaw asked through mouthfuls of vole.

Spiderleg shrugged, "I don't know. Whatever Firestar asks me to do, I guess." He seemed less talkative than usual

Brambleclaw mumbled agreement, trying to shake off the thought as he licked his muzzle and whiskers clean of traces of vole. Glancing over he saw Spiderleg about to burst. Different from his appearance moments before "Guess what?" his friend meowed at last.

Brambleclaw blinked, "What?"

The black warrior could hardly contain his excitement. "Whitepaw's going to be made a warrior at moonhigh!"

"That's great," Brambleclaw purred, then paused. "But what about Birchpaw? He'll be the only apprentice."

"Oh," Spiderleg mewed, just realising it. "I guess so… but it shouldn't be long till Daisy's kits are apprenticed."

"True," Brambleclaw replied. Then it hit him! He didn't have to wait until Sorreltail's kits were apprentices—when Daisy's kits were already 5 moons old. That means I'll have a chance being made deputy, the voice in the back of his head said. Brambleclaw felt a deep purr at the back of his throat rising but he cut it off quickly.

Spiderleg licked his foreleg once then jumped up, "Well I should go!" he meowed. "I'm sure Sandstorm's sending out patrols by now."

Brambleclaw watched him go but didn't say anything; he couldn't when ambition was choking his throat.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the highledge for a Clan meeting!" ThunderClan leader, Firestar yowled. The moon shone silver light down upon the ginger tom making his pelt turn unearthly gray.

Brambleclaw emerged from the thorn tunnel with the rest of his hunting patrol when Firestar's call rang out. Most of the cats were already seated beneath the highledge, murmuring anxiously to each other while the rest were just appearing from their dens. Brambleclaw saw Leafpool pad out from the nursery with Sorreltail and Daisy. While Mousefur and Goldenflower walked slowly over to sit near the back of the cats.

Putting his prey on the fresh-kill pile Brambleclaw leapt over to sit by Ferncloud and Dustpelt. The tabby tom gave him a quick nod while Ferncloud glanced at him with warmth brimming in her green gaze. Although the couple were friendly to him Brambleclaw would have much rather have sat by Squirrelflight or Spiderleg. Near the edge of the cats he could see the ginger she-cat lying down beside Ashfur who was grooming her fur.

Trying to ignore it he watched as Whitepaw and Brackenfur emerged from the apprentices den. Brackenfur's gaze was proud as he led his apprentice to the front of the Clan. Whitepaw too looked swollen with pride. Her fluffy white pelt was freshly groomed so it shone like a patch of snow in leaf-bare; while her green eyes glimmered like two twin emeralds.

As she stood before Firestar, the tom began to address the formal words, "I Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn." There was a pause then, "Whitepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan even at the cost of your life?"

A shudder passed through Whitepaw body as if she were remembering all the dirty bedding she had cleared away, all the prey she had caught all the times she had defended her Clan—"I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Whitepaw from this moment you will be known as Whiteshadow. StarClan honours your courage and your spirit, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

He bent down to rest his ginger head atop of Whitepaw's while in return she gave his shoulder a respectful lick.

"Whiteshadow! Whiteshadow!" The Clan cheered. Whiteshadow's mother, Brightheart nuzzled her cheek while her father, Cloudtail abandoned his seat by Daisy to meow congratulations and rasp his tongue over her ear. Brackenfur flicked his tail across Whiteshadow's shoulder while her friend, Birchpaw bounced around her, mewing things excitedly. To his surprise, Brambleclaw didn't see Spiderleg anywhere.

As soon as the sound died away Firestar meowed, "Tonight you must sit silent vigil and guard the camp. Meeting dismissed." Firestar leapt down from the highledge and disappeared into his den with Sandstorm at his side.

The rest of the Clan seemed to take his lead and began to disperse into little groups, walking into their dens to sleep or to talk quietly amongst themselves. Brambleclaw walked past Whiteshadow, touching his nose to her flank as he passed. He was about to go join Rainwhisker and Thornclaw outside the warrior's den when he caught sight of Spiderleg's distinctive black shape.

He was slinking up to Whitepaw's side, his ears flat with embarrassment. Brambleclaw heard "I'm sorry," and a "Congratulations." among his mumbled words. But by the way Whiteshadow's eyes shone with happiness Brambleclaw guessed that Spiderleg had admitted to more than just that.

His heart flying with happiness for his friend, Brambleclaw skipped the conversation between Thornclaw and Rainwhisker and headed straight for his den.

"Brambleclaw…." The voice whispered. "Brambleclaw… come to me… come into the dark."

"No…" Brambleclaw murmured back. "I, I don't understand. Who are you?"

The first thing he saw as he opened his amber eyes was a cat sitting in the moonlight. The cold, black night swirled all around the cat and once or twice a star shone in the midnight sky. The cat leapt down from the boulder he was sitting on and as he came closer Brambleclaw knew who it was.

"Tigerstar!" he gasped, unsheathing his claws.

"Yes, my dear son," the dark tabby replied. "I've been trying to reach you for so long."

"I thought I told you to leave me alone!" Brambleclaw snarled, taking a pace backwards.

"Did you?" He replied, surprise in his eyes. "I don't think you did when you know that darkness swarms your heart."

Brambleclaw watched as his father padded forward to stand nose to nose with him. As much as he wanted to run, Brambleclaw's paws stayed planted in the soil.

"You are a part of me. Don't try to run from it—don't try to hide." He hissed menacingly. "Remember who you are."

Brambleclaw's head lowered, "I know who I am, father." He couldn't resist the powerful tom and somehow his words made sense. All the times he tried to prove that he wasn't like his father was useless. Pure stupidity.

They stood together a reflection of the other--pelts that were brown, with stripes as dark as the night, tinged golden paws and amber eyes that gleamed with ambition.

"But you're wrong," Brambleclaw meowed at last. "I have the choice to lead my own life—or your life. And somehow I actually want to enjoy freedom."

A deep throaty growl escaped Tigerstar and he lashed out at his son, scoring his claws down the side of his face. Brambleclaw cried out with pain and crouched on the ground waiting for the next blow. But it never came—nor did Tigerstar's voice. It came from Hawkfrost.

He stood over his half-brother, his blue eyes glaring cold fire. "Just wait till next time," He spat. "Just wait until the day I kill you."

Whiteshadow and Spiderleg's love is doing great! WoOt! I never realised how cute they could be until i started writing this story. But poor Brambley... :( Well i hope you guys like it so far. Please keep reading and reviewing! Leafpool's POV next!nya!