#5 Challenge for SolarClan...this one is about Brook! Hope you enjoy! This one took a while and a lot of musing...XD

FYI: It takes place just after the Last Hope, and the Clans are already recovering from the battle against the Dark Forest.

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Dilemma

Brook often wondered whatever became of the Clans. She had known about the prophecy foretelling a battle against their starry ancestor's darker counterparts. Stoneteller had found out in a dream. He had told Stormfur, since he had been a Clan cat himself. The only reason he didn't go running back to the lake territories were the kits. Lark and Pine were growing into strong to-bes.

Brook peered out of the cave that she called home, and gazed past the mountains, in the direction of the lake. She felt a pang in her heart as he visualized all her Clan friends getting slaughtered. Squirreflight lying in a pool of blood, Brambleclaw's mangled body, Firestar's blood staining the ground…

Brook stopped herself from thinking even worse thoughts. The Clan's had great warriors, who were more than capable to defend their home. But the amount of evil cats born into the world was uncountable. They would be fighting warriors born seasons and seasons ago. Brook suddenly felt the urge to go and visit the Clans. Her gaze flitted to Lark and Pine playfighting next to their nest. No, I can't. I need to look after the kits. Stormfur padded over, placing his tail on her shoulders.

"Are you OK?" He meowed. "Is something bothering you?"

"It's just…" Brook nodded in the lake's direction. "What ever happened to them?"

Stormfur was silent for a moment. "I-I don't know."

"Don't you want to know?" Brook pressed. "See how Graystripe is?"

"I guess I do."

Brook licked his cheek. "Then maybe we should."

Stormfur looked at his mate incredulously. "What about Lark and Pine? They still need to train! Pine is doing his best training to be a cave-guard and Lark is really happy that she has started her prey-hunter training! We can't just bring them to the Clan just like that!"

"I know. That's why we can't go."

Stormfur rolled his eyes. "Brook, make up your mind."

"No. I can't. But I want too! I want to know, but I won't go to find out."

Stormfur heaved a sigh. This was going to take a while. "Brook, figure it out. I will do what you will." He touched his nose to her cheek affectionately, before padding off to fix Pine's attacking stance.

Brook looked at the screen of water that shielded the cave entrance from view. The water had always had a calming effect on Brook. The lithe she-cat slunk out of camp, and started towards the mound of dirt and rocks tucked away beside the waterfall. She stopped a mouse-length from it, eyes glimmering with anguish.

"I want to find out, Feathertail," she murmured to the mound. "I want to know how the Clans are faring. But I still have my kits to look after. Help me Feathertail. I feel so confused. I hurts me so much not knowing what happened to my friends. Is there anything wrong with that?"

Brook crouched by the mound for a while, thinking over her choices. Stay…or leave. Just for a little while. Half a moon or so. But what if something happened to the Tribe, or her kits? Those two kits complicated everything. Brook felt like she had a duty to always be there for them, to help them when they needed help, to look after them. She had been the one who had brought them into this world, and it was her job to make sure they were not brought out of it. Her kits were her life, they were the single most important thing to her, aside from Stormfur. She flopped on her side, burying her face in her paws. Think, Brook, think. Think. Brook hardly realized some cat's warm breath on her ear.

"Brook, get up."

Brook recognized that voice. It had been moons since she had heard it.

"Feathertail?"

"Yes, it's me."

The voice came from a hazy outline of a cat. Brook could see the darker tabby markings on the cats pelt, and Feathertail's kind blue eyes. Brook felt a warmth in her heart at seeing the dead she-cat. She felt an urge to call for Stormfur, so he could see his sister.

"There is no need," Feathertail meowed, as if reading Brook's thoughts. "I just want to say that the Clans are safe. You do not have to worry."

"How are Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight?" Brook asked tentatively, bracing herself just in case there was bad news.

"It's Bramblestar, and is Squirrelflight his deputy."

"Leader? That's wonderful!" Brook purred. Brook stopped. "What about Firestar."

"He was killed in battle. He died bravely."

"I am so sorry. He was a great warrior."

"It was his time to come to StarClan." Feathertail meowed. "He is happy in StarClan."

"I am glad he is."

"Don't worry anymore, Brook. I understand your inner struggle. It hurts me too not knowing how Stormfur is faring when I am in StarClan, and it is painful for me to not know how Crowfeather is doing when I walk in the Tribe of Endless Hunting. It is a chore to be part of two groups of ancestors."

"Thank you, Feathertail." Brook meowed. "The Tribe of Rushing Water still honours you."

"I am honoured."

"Goodbye, Feathertail."

"Goodbye, Brook. Maybe the Tribe of Endless Hunting light your path."

Brook watched as the she-cat faded away into nothingness, and before long, she was staring at the mound that was Feathertail's grave. Brook got to her paws, and started to head back to camp. Stormfur greeted her at the entrance.

"Have you decided?"

"Indeed, I have." Brook smiled. "We're staying."

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Hope you enjoyed!

-Cloud(y)