Bramble's Return
"What do you mean Unite or die?" Onestar snarled. "Is this Thunderclan's way of threatening us?"
"I swear by Starclan I am not lieing. I did not lie when I told Breezepaw that I would kill him if he entered our territory, I am not lying now." Lillybright told Onestar, "Skystrike told me that The clans will die if we do not unite."
"Yellowfang told me the same. My suggestion is All four leaders and Their Medicine cats go to the Moonpool tonight, But I won't go, that journey is too much for a blind cat two nights in a row. Lilybright will go instead."
"I will?"
"Yes you will." Jayfeather's voice said there was no argument.
"How do I know that This is not a trick to kill me?" Onestar seemed confused
"'Since when did Firestar make plans to kill other leaders? He was your friend, Onestar." Lilybright projected a comforting feeling, and Onestar immediately relaxed.
"Ok, But I will be bringing a warrior with as well."'
''that is justified, Onestar. We shall return home now." Jayfeather dipped his head and turned leading Lilybright out. Onestar followed. Weaselfur and Tornear stood to escort them back to the border.
"What your just going to let the fox dung go?" Breezepaw glared at Lilybright.
"Why wouldnt I?" Onestar asked.
"She threatened to kill me!"
"But only if you entered her territory." Onestar pointed out. Breezepaw snarled and leaped at the smalle She Cat. Lilypaw snarled and turned, kicking him away from her. She glared at him,
"I will not start a battle in the middle of a camp. Especially when we need to be allied in this horrific time." Lilybright sneered.
"She is right you know. As much as I hate to agree with a thunderclan cat, I must. We have had an omen from Starclan! We must Unite or die. This evening, I, Owlwhisker and barkface will return to the Moonpool to speak with starclan together. Weaselfur, Tornear, escort these cats to the Riverclan border if you will."
"Thank you, Onestar." Lilybright dipped her head. Jayfeather followed after silently. Weaselfur and Tornear each stood at their flank,
"What was the omen about?" Weaselfur, the younger of the warriors asked quietly. Lilybright frowned,
"It smelled like sickness. I don't know what it meant. But The leader will tomorrow."
"Oh... ok." Weaselfur nodded. they walked in silence. when they got to the border Weaselfur dipped his head and Tornear said, begrudgingly;
"Starclan be with you."
"And you." Jayfeather returned.
They walked through the moist Riverclan territory peacefully for a while until Mosspelt and Rippletail came upon them.
"What are you two doing here?" Mosspelt asked smoothly. Rippletail lowered her head.
"we have a message for Leopardstar." Jayfeather dipped his head respectively.
"Alright I see you only have a young warrior, I believe we can trust you." Mosspelt nodded and began to lead them through the reeds near the river. they entered the camp and were escorted to the leaders den. Lillybright was astonished and fearful to see the decimated form of Leopardstar. Jayfeather recoiled at the smell of sickness.
"What do you need, Thunderclan cats." she Wheezed.
"L-Leopardstar!" Lilybright looked down for a moment, "We have a message. Starclan has decreed once again, "Unite or Die."
"What does that mean?" Leopardstar croaked.
"We don't know yet." Jayfeather paused "The leaders are all going to the moonpool tonight with medicine cats, as I am blind and it takes too much a toll on me to travel twice,, Lilybright is going in my place." Jayfeather explained.
"I'll go for you Leopardstar, you are too weak to make the journey." Mistypelt offered.
"I never thought I'd see the day when I was too weak to help my clan when it is in peril." Leopardstar coughed
"M-Maybe i can help…" Lilybright said. "May I approach Leopardstar?"
"Yes…" Leopardstar said tentatively. Lilybright padded forward, and touched her nose to Leopardstar's shoulder, she poured her feelings of strength towards Leopardstar. her breathing evened and Leopardstar began feeling a little better. Lilybright opened her eyes, and backed away
"How did you do that?" Leopardstar asked softly.
"I had the vision because I have certain powers. I can influence the way you feel.. so I made you feel stronger. please, though keep this to your self." Lilybright explained. Leopardstar nodded. "Mistypelt, please fetch Willowpaw. tell her that we are going to the /Moonpool this evening. have Rippletail come too. you can bring these two to the border, as the stretch of Shadowclan territory is shorter, I suggest you go through there."
"Yes Leopardstar." Mistypelt nodded. she lead the two thunderclan cats to the border,
"Lillybright, I know you've only prolonged the inevitable by giving Leopardstar some strength, but, thank you."
"I try to help." Lilybright purred. she and Jayfeather moved silently through Shadowclan and back to the border. they found Crowfeather and Nightstorm waiting.
"They agreed?" Nightstorm asked. Jayfeather nodded. Lilybright noticed he was shaking and his head was down.
"Jayfeather, lets get you to camp so you can rest." Lilybright purred.
"I'm fine." he snapped.
"Jayfeather… you do look tired." Crowfeather rumbled. his blue eyes were concerned. Jayfeather grumbled about him not being a kit.
"Its alright Jayfeather, you've been up for ages, its only normal for you to be tired." Lillybright purred. Jayfeather grumbled in agreement. the rest of the journey was silent, and Jayfeather immediately retired to his den when they returned. Foxpaw bounded forward and nosed Lillbrights fur to be sure she was alright
"I'm fine foxpaw." she purred.
"You went through all the territories in one day!" Foxpaw fretted.
'I'm alright, "She licked Foxpaw's head and purred "I need to rest for my trip to the Moonpool tonight."
"You're going to the moonpool too!" Foxpaw asked excitedly. Lillybright nodded
'Jayfeather has made a large journey so he must rest, I'll be going in his place.
Nightstorm yawned, he was tired after the journey though he didn't travel nearly as far as lillybright and Jayfeather. There was a sudden warning caterwaul and he woke up immediately, he spun around and watched the entrance as a sinewy scarred tabby tom entered the clearing.
Brambleclaw!" his mother hissed. she had been laying with Raventhorn and Ashfur, the mottled warrior had been lethargic and dark for the last day or so, it had been hard to get him to do his warrior duties, he missed Skystrike.
"Whose Brambleclaw?" Nightstorm heard icepaw ask in a hissing tone.
"Firestar." The tabby tom said respectively and dipped his head.
"Brambleclaw." The russet tom returned
'Just Bramble." The tabby replied. "I come with a warning."
"Oh?" Firestar sat and waited. Bramble's fur prickled nervously, he glanced around at all the cats. Nightstorm assumed the rouge was unused to so many cats.
"A sickness is tearing through the outer reaches of the forest. every cat who gets it dies, no matter their age or stature." Bramble sighed sadly, 'Just the other night my mate Echo died from it. I also ask you, to help me, care for her kits. please" brambles bright orange eyes were pleading, Firestar's green eyes softened.
"Where are they?"
"They are hidden outside the camp. I was… unsure whether they would be safe. I know you all, but its been a while, i was unsure."
"Retrieve them, Bramble." Firestar ordered. the tabby dipped his head and left the camp. whispers immediately broke out. Nightstorm searched around and found him mother. he pushed through the throng of cats and found Squirrelflight.
"Who is he?"
"He was once my best friend." Squirrelflight's voice cracked "Then he changed. he left the clan after I wouldnt be his mate."
'Oh." Nightstorm looked over at Lillybright. she had shoved herself defensively in front of Foxpaw, her eyes were wide. he padded over to her
"Whats wrong?"
"His emotions are such a knot… longing hate anger fear and utter distraught pain." she shook her head "It scared me."
"Its ok." Foxpaw nosed Lillybrights face 'he won't hurt you."
Bramble then returned with a dappled ginger and white she-kit in his jaws and a black tom with a white tail tip behind him. he set the she-kit down and she struggled to her paws and opened wide bi colored green and blue eyes and looked at firestar.
"Are you Firestar?" she squeaked. Firestar's face went soft
"i am, young one. What is your name?"
"I'm Feather. the big kit is my brother Blaze. our sister Tawny died with our mama two nights ago."
"I'm sorry to hear that young one. But you can live here with us." Firestar assured her. she immediately perked up, but then it faded
"Daddy… you're not coming are you?" Feather mewed at Bramble. He looked at her sadly with golden eyes. Bramble went to open his mouth, but Firestar cut him off
"Your father used to live with us, Feather, thats why he brought you here, you will be given clan names, and Brable can stay one night to get you situated." Firestar looked up "Foxpaw! Lillybright! Come and show the kits to a nest in the nursery please?" the two older cats obeyed.
Firestar then looked at Brable, "You shall come with me into my den and tell me about this sickness." Jayfeather crept closer and listened as the rouge and the leader went into the den, he couldn't wait to hear what they were dealing with.
I know it's been a long while, so i figured I'll make it up by a twist and a long chapter? I hope you like Bramble's return... I'm not sure If I'll have Grey return... or it wont be untill after the sickness hits. So tell me what you like, no flames please.
-Ari The Fox