Hey y'all! Here's the next chapter! Sorry it took to long…I was…distracted. -Kicks books underneath bed-
There was a vote, and I am pleased to say, DAISY WILL DIE! I know, harsh, but she is EVIL!!! –Shifts eyes-
Happy Merry New Year! (a little late, I know, but I'm kinda hyper right now…BECAUSE I GET A RAT!!! Does victory dance.)
Alright, on to the responses….
Chakrasrings: Okay! OKAY!!!
Balck Heart Red Death: Okay! Thanx!
Readingfan14: Yeah, you probably do. Have you read sunset yet? I could let you borrow it.
Bluepelt: Yey! Ashfur will be the good guy in m story for a while….-shifts eyes- cough cough. He was being a brat in Sunset, though. I'm glad she didn't chose him!
JaBoyYa: I'm sorry! I meant JaBoyYa! Oops. Thanks! I was mad at Erin Hunter!!! He was my favorite character!!!
Oceanwind: I know! Me too. It's been kinda weird…
Firewolf: I was expecting some big battle at the end! Instead it was just…I wont say, cuz it is a major spoiler. It was good, but I thought it could've been better.
Spiritwind of Fireclan: I CHOSE ASHFUR!!! JK…
Horsetail: Okay!
Skyfeather123: Ok!
Flamespirit: You sound like you ate chocolate! I likey chocolate! And, no, I never have had a cardboard cut. Don't Die!!!
Cinderfoot: Mebe, mebe not…
Wildpaw's Legacy: Cliffy's are fun!!! Anyway, I think that you are outnumbered here…I think she might die. Srry:)
WildTotodile: Thanx! Me too. Birchclaw! Birchclaw! Chocolate! Hyperness! Hehe…
Skypaw: Why the hesitation? Oh, yeah, you still haven't told me of you are SFLP. But I think you are. Bring in Leafpool, and how she has troubles with Crowfeather! (just a suggestion!)
On to the disclaimer: Don't Own. Don't Sue.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"I love," she began. "I love Brambleclaw"
She saw his amber eyes widen with pleasure and anger, the last she couldn't guess why. Looking towards Ashfur, she saw pain and anger as well, although she could understand his emotions, though it hurt her. Without a word he turned and stalked away.
Squirrelflight turned to Brambleclaw once more, and was surprised when he asked, "Why did you choose me?"
"Because, stupid furball. I love you," Squirrelflight purred, uncertain. She pushed her muzzle against his own, almost like a question. She saw him out of the corner of her eye close his eyes and sigh. Opening them again, Squirrelflight saw them so full of anguish that she felt her heart break.
"What's wrong, Brambleclaw?" She asked.
Instead of answering, Brambleclaw thrust his head into her side forcefully, as if he was saying goodbye, like he would never see her again. Entwining his tail with hers, he purred loudly. In a pained voice he asked, "Squirrelflight, for tonight, can we just forget anything happened, that we are still on the sun-drown-place? Just for tonight?"
Confused, all Squirrelflight could said was, "Okay, Brambleclaw."
OOOOOOOO(Brambleclaw's POV)OOOOOOOO
Her sweet scent, her warm green eyes, made him want to forget about Tigerstar, Hawkfrost's warning about doing the job of disposing the distraction.
She wanted him as her mate, despite everything she knew about him, and didn't know, he thought, she still wanted him as her mate. The thought filled him with intense joy, and he let himself feel it.
Only tonight. I'll pretend I never walk with Tigerstar in my dreams tonight. Just for tonight. Then never again. Never again.
It's to protect her, he tried to convince himself.
It's to protect her.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
A starry figure watched from above as two cats started sharing tongues. Shaking her long pelt, she snapped her jaws in the air angrily.
"Stupid piece of mouse-dung," she growled to her self.
"Calm yourself, Comet. He will choose his path when he is ready."
"Why can't he be ready now?" Comet snapped at the blue-gray she cat.
"Because it takes time. You dogs are so impatient."
"You cats are too patient," Comet snarled. The cat sat, unfazed, staring calmly at the pacing dog. Comet continued. "If he just got his head out of the clouds,-"
"I don't think his head is actually in the clouds," Bluestar pointed out.
"It's a figure of speech, cat!" Blue eyes flashed, seeming to turn red, and her hackles raised, making her look twice as big as she normally was, and even the cat felt a flash of fear.
Abruptly she flopped down on her side and lowered her head to the cat's level.
"I'm over reacting. I'm sorry, Bluestar."
Bluestar blinked, surprised. Dogs, Comet in particular, never gave apologies easily.
"My son is waiting. I must leave now." She stood, and Bluestar made a quick decision.
"In order to accept your apology, you must take me with you."
Comet grinned, showing her sharp fangs.
"You cats are so predictable," she growled.
"So are dogs," Bluestar retorted.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Brambleclaw fell asleep in the warriors den, Squirrelflight at his side. Almost immediately, and for once to his displeasure, he was in the dark forest. He walked towards the clearing when familiar smell reached his nostrils. Like Squirrelflight's, but…
"Brambleclaw!" A voice called, and he turned towards his half-brother, the scent forgotten.
Tigerstar was already there, grooming his shadowy pelt. It had started to turn into that shadowy fur slowly, but now it was more apparent as it waved in the calm air. He was turning more and more into his true form.
"The troops have been delayed, a misfortunate event happened that stopped half of the clan from coming here, and then from here to your home." He meowed, his amber-red eyes gleaming in the night. "The fool who caused all this trouble has been removed. I took that burden on myself."
He smiled, showing just how much he enjoyed the burden, and Brambleclaw shivered. This cat was his father?
Almost like Tigerstar could here his thoughts he whipped his head towards Brambleclaw, snarling, "cast such thoughts from your mind? What have you done that made you think like that? Are you still spending time with that spawn of the filthy scum? Does Hawkfrost need to remove her?"
Brambleclaw took a deep breath and opened his mouth.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Leafpool listened, her heart still pounding from when Brambleclaw had stared right at her. Thank Starclan Hawkfrost was there.
She listened intently to what Brambleclaw would say next, fearing for her sister. She had seen the happiness that had lit Squirrelflight's face when she had returned with Bambleclaw, and could only guess what had happened between them. Don't cause her pain. Please, Brambleclaw, don't cause her pain!
"No, you do not need to bother. I vow to you, father, I won't spend anymore time with her."
Leafpool felt her breath catch in throat. He couldn't! He was her mate! If he knew this was going to happen, why did he tell her yes? Such a stupid piece of foxdung!
Her thoughts surprised herself, but she couldn't help herself. She was about to go down and claw him herself.
"But, no harm must come to her. Should any, I promise I will never forgive either of you," Brambleclaw warned.
Hawkfrost flicked his tail on his shoulder, calming him. "Keep your claws in."
Abruptly the scene turned black, and Leafpool found herself in a starry clearing, one with Comet, Bluestar, and to her surprise, young Silverpaw.
"I expect that Daisy's kit's warrior ceremony will come up soon," Bluestar began, but was interrupted by Silverpaw's growl. Leafpool shivered, the sound making her want to run.
"What is it?" Comet asked gently, and Leafpool saw her eyes shine with pride, and something else.
"Mousepaw is always taunting me about my dog heritage. If only I could show him exactly what a dog can do."
Leafpool was surprised at his cold voice, and almost felt like she needed to warn Mousepaw.
Comet nuzzled him with her long snout. "That sounds like a pack leader, but not one you should want to be. Calm yourself. He must be reminded of his heritage too."
Silverpaw, nodded, his silver eyes glowing.
Bluestar spoke up, "It's quite rude to listen in on conversations. Where ever did you learn to do that, Leafpool?"
Leafpool took a tentative step forward, but relaxed when she saw the starry warrior was joking. Dipping her head to Comet, she asked, "Why am I here?"
"I don't know. Maybe you wanted a change of scenery?" Comet growled. Silverpaw cocked his head, a trait that seemed to be among all dogs.
"How did you get here, Leafpool?" Silverpaw asked, all traces of anger quickly gone. Another trait.
"I sometimes travel in forests that aren't in the real world." Leafpool said, knowing it was partial truth. Try every night.
"Are you going to watch me fight?" Silverpaw asked, now exited.
Leafpool nodded, unsure of what to say, and glanced at Bluestar. Their previous leader's eyes betrayed nothing.
Crouching, Silverpaw studied Comet, who just lazily watched him. His eyes swept over her position, and without warning sprang at her tail. With a flash Comet moved from under him, tried to pin him down, but Silverpaw used his strong back legs to rake Comet's belly. At least that was what Leafpool first thought, until she noticed he was pushing Comet away, his blunt claws not having any effect on her thick belly fur. With one last strong push he flung Comet off him and went for her throat. Comet opened her jaws and both dogs snapped at each other's face. Leafpool flinched, and watched as scratch above Silverpaw's eye knitted itself back, fur growing quickly over it.
Silverpaw lunged for the tail once more, but as Comet turned to dodge he quickly snapped his head back to snap at her face, managing to tear Comet's ear.
The two dogs fought, their snarls and howls seemed to be the only thing in the world. Finally Comet managed to hold Silverpaw down, but with some difficulty. Snapping her teeth by his ear, she let him up, and Silverpaw wagged his tail, all sign off aggression gone.
Comet was panting heavily, and finally managed to growl, "you fight like your father."
Too late, Comet missed the warning glance from Bluestar, and Leafpool widened her eyes. Silverpaw widened his eyes and asked, "you knew my father?"
Comet looked away, but Silverpaw pressed on. "Who was he? What about my mother? Did you know my mother? Is she still alive?"
The last question made Leafpool's heart break, knowing Comet would have a tough time, inside and with her answer.
"Your mother is dead," Comet snarled. "Died to save you. You were the runt, the one that wasn't expected to be the strongest. The one that wasn't the one that was supposed to live. But now you can almost beat me, and, if I do say so, is a feat in itself. I know your mother is proud of you."
Leafpool flinched at her harsh words, but saw no change in Silverpaw. He just stared intently into Comet's guilty eyes.
Bluestar rose to her paws, and flicked her tail. Comet stood without saying a word, and walked away. Bluestar nodded to Silverpaw, then Leafpool, then followed the dog.
Leafpool stood in the clearing with the dog that was three times as big as her, and just waited.
"She didn't tell me everything, didn't she?" Silverpaw finally asked.
"No, I don't think she did." Leafpool meowed quietly.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"Let all cats old enough to cat their own prey gather beneath highledge for a clan meeting," Firestar yowled, his voice waking Squirrelflight from her slumber. Brambleclaw's nest was empty, his scent stale, and she guessed that he had already left. Exiting the den, she saw Silverpaw barely manage to squeeze though the apprentice den opening. He might have to sleep outside from now on, she thought.
She spotted Brambleclaw sitting far off from the rest of the clan, and Squirrelflight was surprised and slightly innerved at how cold he looked.
She walked over to him and brushed her muzzle against his own, but got no response. Confused, she sat next to the tom, not touching him. She was pointedly ignored.
Hurt raged through her, but she forced herself to pay attention to the meeting. Daisy was here, although Squirrelflight couldn't remember when she had come, and her three kits were standing beside her, freshly groomed and all three of them quivering wit excitement.
"Mousepaw," Firestar was saying. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do," he replied.
Then from now on you will be known as Mousepelt, for your mouse colored pelt, and are welcomed as a full warrior of Thunderclan."
Resting his head on Mousepelt's shoulder, Mousepelt responded with a respectful lick.
Turning to Berrypaw, he asked the same words. Berrypaw answered with a strong "I do."
"Then, from this moment on, you will be known as Berryfur. Thunderclan welcomes you as a full member."
Berryfur quivered with excitement, and almost couldn't sit down once more. Hazelpaw, the last of the litter, stepped forward gracefully.
Firestar repeated the ritual once more, and Hazelpaw responded in same.
"Then from this moment on you will be known as Hazelheart. You are all now a full member of this clan."
The whole clan started up with chanting, and all three horse-place-cats raised their tails hapilly.
"Tonight is the night of the gathering, and I will Hazelheart, Mousepelt, and Berryfur as their first gathering as warriors, along with Squirrelflight, Leafpool, Brackenfur, Ashfur, Sunpaw, and Silverpaw."
Badgerpaw, Cinderpaw, and Sootpaw all sent Sunpaw and Silverpaw coveting glances, but wished them luck, knowing their turn would come.
Squirrelflight turned to Brambleclaw, only to find him gone and talking with Cloudtail. Confused, she saw Leafpool send her a glance, although the emotion in her eyes she couldn't guess.
She saw Ashfur glare at Brambleclaw, although he pointedly ignored Squirrelflight. Now completely hurt, she turned and went to find Silverpaw.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Good Chapter, Okay Chapter, Horrible Chapter. Chose one!!!
BlindSeer
Happy Merry New Year!!!
Oh, yeah. Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight are a perfect match. Therefore, the outcome of this story "might" be a perfect match. I'm not gonna give anything away, but Brambleclaw is just being dumb because that's what he does for right now. Like Comet said, his head is in the clouds…