Chapter 13

Sorry for the extremely long updateless period. I just really didn't feel like writing anything, and I don't know why. As well as that, I've been pretty busy lately. It's normal for teachers to load homework on us in May, but this year it's the worst. I also had to prepare for Arts Night, which I was performing in with the band, and I have a tonne of projects due. So, yeah… spare me!

Foxstar24 - I dunno if you would call the death I have planned for him worse… but I'm going to make sure it's long and painful. Mwahahaha!

Tigerstar-Demon - Yay, I'm finally evil! w00t! And yessers, Bramble is dead, and I'm glad for it. I didn't really like him as Brambleclaw either.

Wild Ninja Paige - XD, Bramblebutt, that suits him well. Yeah, poor everybody. Especially BrambleClan. They thought Bramblestar was bad… now they have to face Hawky.

AliKatNyah - Noooo, not fair! I want Outcast, but I don't have anything to buy it with. I did hear that Mousepaw became Mousewhisker, which made me happy because that's what I wanted him to be named.

Avian.American - Yes! XD I don't like Brambley. He bugs me, and he did as Brambleclaw as well. Thanks!

Hawkstar hissed angrily and whirled around to face Dustpelt. Nightpaw winced at the ferocity in the leader's ice blue eyes. He looked as if he had been the one insulted, not the camp.

"Yes, I expect you to live here," he snarled. "Unless you'd rather begin another Great Journey."

Dustpelt's eyes widened and he shrunk under Hawkstar's gaze. By the way all the warriors were shaking their heads warily, Nightpaw had to wonder how hard the journey had actually been.

"Good," the tom snarled when no other cat said anything. He lifted his tail and padded towards the stepping stones. Instead of actually crossing them, he and the other HawkClan cats slipped into the river. Ashfur was the first to go across, his head lifted defiantly. He was followed by Kestrelwing, and then the rest of the BrambleClan cats.

As Nightpaw stepped onto the first stone, she heard Tigerstar's rough voice in her ear. You will respect Hawkstar like you respected Bramblestar. He is his brother's equal, if not even greater.

She shivered, though it wasn't because she was cold. She didn't want to obey Hawkstar - he had killed Bramblestar as if he were merely a piece of prey - but if Tigerstar told her she must, then she had no other choice.

Once every cat had clustered together on the island, Hawkstar stood in front of them, and seemed to examine each and every one of them before finally speaking in a loud voice.

"Cats of TigerClan," he began, making many cats shift uncomfortably. They obviously didn't like being called TigerClan. "HawkClan and BrambleClan are no more. With Bramblestar's defeat, so is the defeat of his Clan, and the beginning of a new era. We will live together as one, with no boundaries nor petty conflicts. We will live in peace."

It was Crowfeather's turn to protest now. From somewhere in the front, Nightpaw heard him snort disbelievingly before speaking up.

"Live in peace?" he growled angrily. "There isn't even enough room for us to sleep in the dens! How can you expect us to live in peace?"

Hawkstar chuckled mirthlessly. "You will not be sleeping in the dens. Instead, you will be sleeping outside. Those who show their loyalty to TigerClan will be given the privilege of sleeping inside."

The former BrambleClan cats began muttering amongst themselves worried about what was to come.

"Now, you are excused. Get some sleep. Russetfur, you're on night watch."

With that, the crowd of cats separated, tension crackling in the air like lightning. The BrambleClan cats settled themselves in the center of camp, and even though the night was warm, they huddled up against each other, shivering.

Nightpaw, Firepaw and Blackpaw settled down together. Nightpaw could see Breezepaw laying down nearby, his eyes on her. The two of them had grown closer over the past few days, and she was beginning to think she actually kind of liked him.

"I don't like this, Blackpaw," Nightpaw mewed quietly to her brother. He sighed.

"Neither do I. But what can we do about it?"

After that, they said no more. Nightpaw rested her head on the cold, uncomfortable soil, and closed her eyes, trying to sleep. It was no use. The she-cat lay there for what seemed like hours until she finally drifted off into unconsciousness.

As usual, she found herself into the Dark Forest, gnarled trees towering over her, moss glowing abnormally on their trunks.

"It took you long enough," a voice snorted from behind her. The apprentice turned to see Tigerstar staring at her with piercing amber eyes.

"Where's Bramblestar?" she asked, fully expecting the tom to be here with his father. Tigerstar growled contemptuously, his tail tip twitching. Even his fur bristled slightly.

"That pathetic piece of fox-dung was sent to StarClan," he grunted. "According to little Spottedleaf, he wasn't actually evil. He only did what he did because I had… possessed him, I guess you could say."

"What?!" Nightpaw stared at Tigerstar, her deep blue eyes wide with shock. She hadn't even known it was possible to possess a cat. The tabby tom smiled cruelly.

"You heard me right. I would have taken over your father's mind as well, if he hadn't gone to Hawkstar on his own, asking for revenge against Bramblestar. It was so simple after that."

"Ashfur…?"

Tigerstar still had that vindictive smile plastered on his face. "Yes, Ashfur. Close your eyes."

Shakily, the she-cat did as she was told, and she immediately found herself standing in the forest. It was almost like she was dreaming. Standing before her were Ashfur, and a much younger Birchfall.

"Go find Firestar, Birchpaw," her father meowed to the tabby warrior. "Tell him Blackstar has been scented by the lake."

Birchfall nodded, his eyes wide. As quick as he could, he turned and sped off through the trees. When he was out of sight, the undergrowth rustled, and Hawkstar dipped his head to the leader.

"It has been done, Hawkfrost," he meowed. Hawkstar nodded.

"Once Firestar has been caught in the trap, find Squirrelflight and Leafpool. Brambleclaw will be along shortly."

The two of them began to head in the direction of the lake, triumphant smiles on their faces. Nightpaw followed them cautiously, making sure she was as silent as she could possibly be. She didn't know whether they could even see her or not.

When the three cats finally reached the lake side, the gray apprentices noticed something glinting coldly in the undergrowth. She blinked in horror as she realized the object was a fox trap.

A few moments later, a ginger pelt flashed in the trees, and a cat who looked almost exactly like Firepaw appeared, his green eyes flashing angrily, his claws unsheathed. Firestar was heading straight towards the lethal metal clamp.

"No, Firestar, don't! It's a trick!" Nightpaw screeched, leaping forward. The leader didn't hear her. Of course he didn't. This was the past, something that no cat could change.

"Blackstar, where ar-" Firestar was cut off as he gasped in pain, stepping right into the trap. Nightpaw watched helplessly as he fell to the ground and the snare closed on his neck.

Surprisingly, he didn't even lose a life. Instead, he lay there, gasping for breath, the noose cutting into his neck. Even in his weakened state, it only took Firestar a few moments to spot Hawkstar, standing over him with a twisted grin on his face, Ashfur by his side.

"Brambleclaw will be here shortly, and your murder will begin," the dark tabby snarled. Ashfur growled, though his face was wary, as if he hadn't realized it would be like this. Hawkstar turned to him.

"Find Squirrelflight. Let her witness Brambleclaw's treachery."

Nightpaw's father nodded obediently and bounded off in the direction of camp. There was a heartbeat of silence before Firestar spoke, his voice choked and ragged.

"Brambleclaw will never do it. If you want me dead, you may as well do it now," he gasped, his eyes narrowed in pain.

"Brave words for a kittypet," Hawkstar sneered. "But they won't do you any good. If Brambleclaw doesn't kill you by himself, Tigerstar will make him."

Despite his condition, a growl rumbled up in Firestar's throat at the sound of his enemy's name. "Tigerstar can do nothing. He has long passed on to a place where he can do no harm."

Tigerstar's son snorted. "Oh, you'd be surprised what the dead can do."

Behind Firestar, the ferns rustled and Bramblestar appeared. There was something strange about him, something different from the Bramblestar Nightpaw knew -a sort of light in his eyes, a twinkle.

The ThunderClan leader gasped as he spotted Firestar's body, and he stared at Hawkstar. As they spoke to each other, Nightpaw couldn't make out their words, but it was obvious they were discussing the fallen tom.

Finally, Bramblestar stepped towards Firestar. He stood over his leader, staring down into those pleading green eyes. At first he looked wary, undecided. It was as if he were fighting his own battle in his head. It looked as if he were about to step away, when that light in his eyes suddenly disappeared, as did the doubtfulness.

Just as Bramblestar leaned forward to tighten the noose, Squirrelflight burst through the bushes, her eyes wide.

"Brambleclaw, what are you doing?!" she cried. It was no use. She too watched with the same helpless expression as Nightpaw's as Bramblestar tugged on the trap - Tigerstar had possessed him.

Firestar convulsed, and just as Bramblestar had that night, he lost every life before the stunned cats' very eyes. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the ginger tom fell still, his once fiery green eyes dull and lifeless.

With that, the scene before Nightpaw's eyes dissolved, and she found herself back in the Dark Forest, Tigerstar standing before her.

"So you see, Nightpaw," the tom growled softly. "Your precious father betrayed his Clan and his leader."

The she-cat was glaring at him with a new hatred in her eyes. She couldn't believe she had listened to this tom for so long, taken his advice and even learned his way of fighting. What had she been thinking?

"Now, you will obey Hawkstar on your own. If not, I'll force you to anyways."

A/N: Meh, I didn't like that chapter. It wasn't too great. At least I got it over with.