I woke up to the sound of Tigerclaw's yowl. "Leopardstorm! Wake up, you're on hunting patrol!" he snapped. I grumbled and padded out the den. Fireheart and Brackenpaw were waiting for me by the entrance. I followed them out into the forest. Fireheart led the way through the brambles and sniffed among the roots. I pricked my ears as I heard scuffling in the leaves above me. I looked up to see a squirrel hopping from branch to branch. I smiled and climbed up the tree. I crept onto the branch until I was a mouse length away from the squirrel. I licked my lips and crouched low. Then the squirrel's ears pricked and it looked at me. I scrambled to catch it but it jumped to another branch. I growled and leapt after it. I chased the squirrel in the trees until I heard a yowl.
"Nice jumping, you Thunderclan squirrel!" a snicker sounded below me. I stopped mid leap and looked down. I widened my eyes and dangled from the branch. Shadowclan and Windclan! I climbed up onto the branch and glared down at them with bristling fur.
"What are you doing in our territory?" I snarled. Nightstar and Tallstar were in the lead of the cats.
"Come down here and find out!" Nightstar spat. I looked over and saw Brackenpaw in the bushes. He caught my gaze in fear and I nodded my head to the camp. Brackenpaw shook his head and I narrowed my eyes.
"You're trapped. I'm not leaving you." he mouthed. I growled and stomped my paw. The two clans got curious and looked at Brackenpaw in the bushes. I widened my eyes.
"Go!" I snapped. Brackenpaw darted away as Shadowclan and Windclan cats ran after him. Nightstar looked at the remaining warriors.
"Stay here in case she comes down. She'll have to sooner or later." he ordered. Then he gave me one last glare and ran after the cats. I looked down at the warriors gathered around the tree. I rolled my eyes and bunched my haunches.
"What is she…?" a warrior muttered below. I leapt to the other branch and stuck my tongue at them.
"I'm a Thunderclan squirrel, remember?" I sneered. Then I jumped the trees to camp.
"Get her!" a warrior snarled. I leapt to the ground and ran to camp. Thundering paws sounded behind me and screeching filled the air as I got closer to camp. I burst through the entrance to see fighting and tussling cats everywhere. I growled and ran to the medicine den. Yellowfang was fighting three cats while Brokentail licked his paw and drew it over his ear in amusement. I growled in fury. That ungrateful, rotten tom! I leapt at one of the warriors and took my anger out on him. The tom let out a yowl and turned on me. I slashed his muzzle over and over.
"Get out!" I snarled. The tom clawed my flank then fled. I turned to see Yellowfang pinned by the throat while the other warrior ran to Brokentail. I crouched down and bunched my haunches.
"Help Brokentail!" Yellowfang hissed. I ignored her and tackled the warrior off of her. Yellowfang scrambled to her paws and ran after the other warrior. Me and the tom tussled around in the dirt. I looked at his face and recognized him. Onewhisker!
"You attacked a medicine cat!" I hissed.
"You're sheltering a murderous rogue!" Onewhisker retorted. We clawed at each other and tussled out of the medicine den.
"Retreat!" Nightstar yowled.
"Windclan, fall back!" Tallstar added. I kicked Onewhisker off and chased him to the entrance. I stopped and spat after him as he fled with his clan. I turned away and padded back to the medicine den. As soon as I got near the entrance, Yellowfang tackled me to the ground. I gaped at her in shock as she pinned me down.
"You let Brokentail get attacked by that cat!" she snarled. I struggled to my paws but she kept me to the ground.
"You needed my help!" I exclaimed.
"I could've taken care of him! You were supposed to protect Brokentail and you let him get attacked!" Yellowfang hissed.
"I'm supposed to protect my clanmates! Brokentail is a rogue who doesn't care about the way we protect him! I saw him when you were fighting those three cats! He sat there and groomed himself!" I spat. Fireheart pulled Yellowfang off of me. I scrambled to my paws and shook the dirt out of my fur. Bluestar walked up to us.
"Leopardstorm is right. And you shouldn't have attacked her after she saved you." she meowed calmly. Yellowfang glared at me then sighed.
"Sorry." she muttered. Then she turned back to the medicine den and went to Brokentail. Fireheart followed her in. Bluestar rested her tail on my shoulder. I looked at her and saw her eyes filled with exhaustion.
"Are you alright?" I asked.
"I'm fine. I guess my age is catching up to me." she murmured. Then she walked over to Tigerclaw and I padded into the medicine den. Yellowfang was standing over Brokentail with Fireheart beside her.
"You were terrible at fighting off those cats! I could've died!" Brokentail snapped. I bristled and struggled not to claw his throat out. All in good time. Fireheart looked angry too.
"She did the best she could." he said calmly through gritted teeth. Brokentail scoffed and flicked his ear.
"Well her best wasn't good enough. Maybe it's time for you to join Starclan. You're too old to do anything useful around here." he muttered. My fur fluffed out to twice it's size and I stomped over to him.
"Now listen here you ungrateful, stupid excuse of a cat!" I snarled as I shoved my snout in his face. "You have no right to talk to Yellowfang like that after everything she's done for you! She was the one who took care of you in Shadowclan yet you chased her out. She was the one who convinced Bluestar to let you stay in our camp and get treated. If it wasn't for her, you would be feeling my claws tearing your throat out! Or if you're lucky, you would be starving in the forest and left to rot! I haven't forgotten how you catnapped me when I was a kit. You should be worshipping Yellowfang after all she's done for you. Now don't let me hear you say that again or I swear by the love of Starclan, you will feel my claws no matter who stands in my way." Brokentail flattened his ears but he didn't back down.
"She's the reason I'm blind!" he complained.
"Well keep talking and I'll be the reason you can't hear." I snapped. Fireheart looked at me with approval and smiled.
"I'll make sure not to get on your bad side from now on." he chuckled. I rolled my eyes and padded out the den.
"Leopardstorm, wait!" Yellowfang's voice called. I halted and looked to see her running to me. She looked at me with hesitation and avoided my gaze. "Thanks." she muttered. I looked at her in surprise.
"Did you just thank me?" I asked in shock. Yellowfang rolled her eyes and flicked my ear.
"Don't get used to it." she chuckled. I purred as she turned away back to the den. Tawnypelt padded over to me.
"Was that you snarling in there?" she asked.
"You heard that?" I asked.
"Leopardstorm. The whole clan heard it." Tawnypelt chuckled.
"Oh." I chuckled nervously. Tawnypelt beckoned me over to Brambleclaw and I padded over to him. Brambleclaw's head was low and he stared at the ground with a troubled gaze. I narrowed my eyes. "What's wrong, little brother?" I asked. Brambleclaw shook his head.
"Nothing." he muttered. I sat beside him and looked at his face.
"It doesn't look like nothing to me." I mewed. Brambleclaw sighed. "Come on, Brambleclaw. I'm your big sister! You can tell me anything!"
"I already tried that." Tawnypelt said. I huffed and looked at Brambleclaw. Brambleclaw flashed me his fake side smile.
"I'm alright, sis." he murmured. I gave him a look.
"I know that smile too well for you to use it against me." I chuckled. Brambleclaw rolled his eyes and flicked my ear.
"Well… I don't think you'll like it." he said. I narrowed my eyes and urged him on. Brambleclaw took a deep breath. "I saw Riverfang at Sunning Rocks. He told me that his mate Goldwing is expecting his kits." My throat tightened and my heart skipped a beat. Tawnypelt looked at me expectantly. I kept quiet for a while as I thought about my response. Let him go. Ocean Breeze's voice rang through my ears. I sighed and looked at Brambleclaw.
"Ok." I mewed casually. Tawnypelt rested her tail on my shoulder.
"You ok?" she asked. I scoffed and flicked my ear.
"Of course! That's great he's expecting kits." I forced myself to say with a smile. What is the world coming to? "I'm happy for them." I want to crawl into a hole and die. "I hope their kits have good health and happy lives." Those were supposed to be our kits! "I'm sure Goldwing is happy." I will crush her. How dare she steal Riverfang like that? Brambleclaw and Tawnypelt shared a look.
"Are you sure?" Brambleclaw asked.
"Of course!" I exclaimed. That's the most stupidest question you have ever asked. Of course not, you furball! I licked my paw and drew it over my ear. Brambleclaw smiled.
"Good! I thought you were going to be depressed and eat mice in your sorrow all day." he purred. I shared a blunt look with Tawnypelt. "Well I'm glad we had this talk. Bye!" Brambleclaw exclaimed as he walked away.
"Toms." Tawnypelt muttered. I scoffed in agreement. "You're not alright, are you?"
"I want to bury myself in the ground and live as a worm for the rest of my life!" I burst out. "He's having kits! With a cat other than me! Why is the world so cruel?" Tawnypelt rolled her eyes.
"Everything will be ok. You don't need him to be happy." she murmured.
"If I don't need him to be happy, then why am I still not over him?" I retorted. Tawnypelt rolled her eyes.
"You got us! Who's the cat who helped you feel better after you got stuck in a tree?" she mewed.
"You." I muttered.
"And who helped you after getting attacked by that mouse?" Tawnypelt pressed.
"I didn't get-"
"Who helped you?" Tawnypelt interrupted. I rolled my eyes.
"Brambleclaw." I muttered.
"And who made you feel better after every nightmare?" Tawnypelt asked. I smiled at the memories.
"Goldenflower." I mewed.
"And who helped you feel brave in battle?" Tawnypelt pressed. I lifted my chest higher.
"Tigerclaw."
"Exactly! As long as you got us, you'll never be alone. We're like our great ancestors. We have the strength of Tigerclan, the courage of Lionclan, and the love and loyalty of Leopardclan." Tawnypelt purred. I purred and licked her ear.
"Thanks." I murmured. Tawnypelt flicked her ear and padded over to Brambleclaw and Graystripe. Tawnypelt's right. My family's the only one who can keep me sane and happy. Riverfang was never there for me. My family's been by my side since birth. I will always cherish them. I purred and padded over to Goldenflower. Goldenflower licked my ear as I came closer. I nuzzled her chin and felt as if I was a kit again.
"You're happy." Goldenflower chuckled lovingly.
"I just want to say thanks for always being there." I mewed. Goldenflower purred and nuzzled my head. Then we sat down and bathed in the sun as my siblings and Tigerclaw padded over to join us. We all sat together sharing tongues in the sun as the clan went back to their daily routines. I settled my head on my paws as Tigerclaw's soothing licks comforted me into sleep.