A/N- Ok, I'm so so so so so so so so so so so so (you get the picture) sorry that it took so long. I swear the world was against me writing. First I had all the stuff I had already told you about, but then for the past two weeks, I was in the weirdest mood. I couldn't write, and if I got a decent idea, it was gone the minute I tried to write it down. It stunk. I'll stop rambling now and let you read.

Disclaimer- The only things I own are the Harry Potter books, the Warriors books, my insane mind, my torch and pitchfork, and finally, my procrastination. Once again, sorry.

Chapter 15- Grief

'My brother is dead…' Beechpaw thought as he stumbled through the undergrowth after Spiritstar. His eyes drifted to Beetlepaw's body, which was being carried back to camp by Darkclaw and Brackenpelt.

His normally dark red fur looked brown because of all the blood and his head, which he had always held with such and air of confidence, lolled to the side. Beechpaw tore his gaze away from the brother he no longer recognized, only to notice the thin line Beetlepaw's limp tail left as it trailed through the dirt towards camp, the only sign that anyone had passed through the silent forest.

OOOoooOOO

Burningpelt watched, horrified, as the mournful battle party stumbled into camp. Her heart lurched as she noticed two bloody bodies being carried through the gorse tunnel. One was laid down in the middle of camp and she stared, transfixed, as Flamepelt flung herself over the body of Beetlepaw, her cries muffled by his long fur.

Burningpelt looked to Silverpelt, searching desperately for an answer her ancestors refused to give.

"Great StarClan," she murmured under her breath, "What is happening to us?"

She was snapped out of her revere as Jewelpool nudged her gently, concern in her eyes.

"It's Swiftpaw," she whispered, "Please, save her."

She turned and gestured to the unconscious apprentice, and Burningpelt's eyes widened at the sight of her blood soaked fur. After a moment, her eyes seemed to harden and she whipped around, beckoning Jewelpool into her den with a sweep of her tail.

OOOoooOOO

As the moon rose to its peak in the star-strewn sky, Beechpaw slunk out of the medicine den and pressed himself against his mother's side. Digging his nose into Beetlepaw's fur, he allowed his eyes to fall closed as he immersed himself in the past.

OoO

"Hey Jewelpaw! What are you doing with Sunstripe today?" an excited Beetlepup called, running up to the young apprentice with his brother right behind.

"I don't know guys. I'm not sure if I can tell you." Jewelpaw said slowly, glancing slyly at the pups.

"Come on, please!" Beechpup whined.

"Well, I guess I can tell you-"

"Yay!" they cheered.

"Sunstripe said," she said slowly, pausing for suspense. Finally she whispered, "Battle practice."

The .pups' eyes widened and Beetlepup pleaded, "Will you teach us? Please?"

Soon Beechpup joined in, but Jewelpaw shook her head, "Your mentors will teach you all about it when you become apprentices."

"But that's ages away." Beetlepup whined.

Then they heard their mother's voice from the nursery, "Beechpup, Beetlepup, stop bothering the apprentices and come back inside."

"Awww, but mom-"

"No buts. Now come inside and let Jewelpaw go to training."

As they turned, tails down, Beetlepup boasted, "It's a good thing mom stopped us. I would have creamed you easily."

"In your dreams!" Beechpup growled, pouncing on his brother. They rolled in a bundle of legs until Beechpup broke away and ran, laughing, toward the nursery with Beetlepup right behind.

OoO

"Beechpaw! Beetlepaw! Beechpaw! Beetlepaw!"

Beechpaw bounded up to Beetlepaw as the Clan cheered their new names.

"We're apprentices!" he burst out.

Beetlepaw looked at him coolly and gave a noncommittal snort. Confused, Beechpaw asked, "Are you okay?" No answer. "Beetlepaw, we're apprentices! This is what we've been waiting for since, I don't remember when! Aren't you excited? We get to go hunting and have battle-"

"What makes you so special, huh?" Beetlepaw snarled, whipping around and glaring at Beechpaw, "Why do you get to have Darkclaw as your mentor? I should. I've wanted to have him since before he even became deputy, and you took that."

Beechpaw's face slowly turned from stunned to disbelief to hurt as he realized what his brother was implying, "You think I planned this? I didn't choose who my mentor was going to be, okay? Spiritstar did. You're my brother, Beetlepaw; I would never do anything like that on purpose."

Beetlepaw merely stalked off to the apprentice den, never looking back.

OoO

"Swiftpaw might be in the nursery. She likes playing with the pups."

As Spiritstar set off to look, Beechpaw heard a scornful voice ask, "Why does it matter if she's missing? She's just some stupid half-breed."

Whipping around, he wasn't surprised to see that Beetlepaw was the one speaking. He glanced at Leafpaw, who nodded and padded off towards the nursery.

He then turned to Beetlepaw and demanded, "How can you say that? If Swiftpaw hadn't found them, Whitefeather, Blackpup, and Hazelpup would be dead."

"Oh please. She got a lucky break, but explain this to me. Why was she out in the first place? Probably going to give ThunderClan secrets away to her filthy kin."

"Why can't you just accept the fact that she's different from the rest of them?" a look of realization crept over his face, and he said, disbelief coating every word, "You're still jealous. That's it, isn't it? You can't forgive her for getting Spiritstar as a mentor just like you can't forgive me for getting Darkclaw." Beetlepaw looked away, "Why can't you just let it go? You're my brother and-"

"I have no brother!" Beetlepaw burst out angrily, "Much less one like you."

Beechpaw almost attacked him, but at that moment, Leafpaw burst into camp, howling, "Half-breeds! Attacking Swiftpaw and Hazelpup! Help!"

OoO

The last memory faded away, leaving behind blackness. Grief welled up inside of Beechpaw, 'I'm sorry Beetlepaw!' he thought frantically, trying to lessen the weight on his heart.

Suddenly a figure formed out of the darkness. His dark red fur shone slightly with an unearthly glow, and his dark eyes held the slight glint of star shine. Beechpaw's head sprang up and his eyes opened, but his brother was once again nothing but a cooling body in front of him.

Then he felt slight warmth that seemed to be calling his towards the gorse tunnel. He obliged, and when he got outside, he found Beetlepaw waiting for him once again.

"Beetlepaw," he whispered, "I'm so so-" he was cut off by his brother's tail.

"Don't." he said simply, "You have nothing to be sorry for, and you can't let grief consume you. There is another who needs you right now." He moved forward to touch his nose to Beechpaw's flank and murmured, "I may not be in StarClan just yet, but I can already tell they have planned a great destiny for you, brother. Don't be afraid of it when it comes."

He pulled away as a deep voice spoke, "It's time, Beetlepaw."

Beechpaw's heart gave another painful jerk as he recognized his father. Burningheart nodded once and said, "Take care of Flamepelt, and remember what your brother said." He then turned to Beetlepaw, who nodded, and they both faded from sight, leaving Beechpaw looking to Silverpelt, watching a new star twinkle merrily to him.

A/N- So…yeah…not my best work. It's kind of a filler chapter…a rather long filler chapter. I just had to get them from the battlefield back to camp. And I wanted to give a bit more on Beetlepaw and Beechpaw's relationship, and give Beechpaw some angst time. I finally got to writing it because I went on vacation and had a two-and-a-half hour car ride and forgot to charge my DS and everything else. Anyway, please don't flame, but still review! It's my Easter present!