Chapter 1: A final goodbye..

(UPDATED)

Well as some of you may know, this is the same book as before, however I am updating it, I am keeping the chapters just editing them slightly so they have my current level of writing, it may not be as good as my current book but it's the best I can do without re writing the whole thing!

But for you who have never read it well you're in luck to see better writing than before!

However if you read on some chapters may not have been updated yet, so please bear with my older writing!

Thanks!

Enjoy!

"Squirrelflight! Squirrelflight!" The clan shouted joyfully, their mews rising up into the darkening sky. The new deputy of thunderclan ducked her head in embarrassment. Brambleclaw purred and jumped off the high ledge, surprised by the strength he had. "Thank you" Squirrelflight purred to Brambleclaw.

"You deserve it" Brambleclaw replied truthfully.

"It's not just being deputy; it's that...I know you trust me again" Squirrelflight's leaf green eyes stared intently at Brambleclaw filled with relief and happiness, but a faint glow of grief of their broken relationship. She has missed me terribly... I must have hurt her so much Brambleclaw thought, his heart becoming strangled by guilt. "I do trust you Squirrelflight, and I am sorry, I know now that what you did was for your sister, our kits and the clan" Brambleclaw whispered quietly, his muzzle brushing her own dainty one.

Brambleclaw's head shot up when Jayfeather appeared, his bright, blind blue eyes looking a little uncomfortable at the affection between his former parents. "We must go to the Moonpool" the blind cat growled. His stare serious and blank as usual.

"But what about-" Brambleclaw started.

"You can grieve when you get back" Jayfeather interrupted him, his mew slightly pitiful.

"Look after the clan while I'm gone" Brambleclaw sighed to Squirrelflight, his paws suddenly feeling heavy and his head spinning with the responsibility he was about to face.

"Of course" Squirrelflight replied, knowing that Brambleclaw felt broken, so much had been lost that day.

Jayfeather inspected Brambleclaw, "Hmmmm, I will quickly treat your wounds then we will leave." He growled, stomping off to his den to find the correct herbs.

Brambleclaw licked a long scratch on his shoulder, it stung terribly, he took a sharp intake of air, his tongue reddening with his own blood. Jayfeather had disappeared into the murky shadows of his den and Brambleclaw padded over to Hollyleaf. Her night black fur was stone cold now, resembling ice, her spirit had joined Starclan. "I'm sorry my daughter, for not being there for you when you needed me most. Just because you never shared my blood, could never mean I was not your father. I love you. I wish you good hunting in Starclan where you will be happy forever." Brambleclaw touched her cold pelt with his nose and breathed in her scent for the last time. His heart ached for his lost daughter, feeling the true love and pain for his kits, knowing he loved them more than life. She shouldn't have died, she sacrificed her life like a true hero, just like she always aimed to be. Brambleclaw looked up when Lionblaze came forward, his eyes were dark and his pelt messy with blood and mud. "I-I can't believe that she's gone..." he whispered, his voice heavy with grief. "Just when we got her back" his head when down, to lick Hollyleaf's ear. Brambleclaw resisted the urge to wrap himself around Lionblaze like he was still a kit, protecting him from the horrors of the world.

"I'm sorry, Lionblaze." Brambleclaw looked at his adopted son, and saw the strong, brave warrior he had turned out to be, pride lit up his heart slightly, easing the pain of grief for a split second.

"I'm sorry too, for rejecting you when I found out you were not my father. Deep down, you will always be my father." Lionblaze looked at him with his identical amber eyes, hesitantly, still unsure and his mind slowed by the shock of Hollyleaf's death. Eventually he padded away to Cinderheart and sat beside her, his head hanging low while the gentle she cat groomed his fur, trying to comfort him.

Jayfeather appeared at the mouth of his den with herbs stuffed in his jaws, he looked slightly overwhelmed with the amount of them, his cheeks puffing out. He put a police of marigold on Brambleclaw's flank then he covered it with cobwebs, the sharp tang of herbs comforting and reassuring to the new leader, since it was a smell he was greatly accustomed to. "That's the most serious done, I will give you a better check later on." His son's blind blue eyes fixed on Leafpool, resentment flashed in them, Brambleclaw seized up with expectation for the clash between the mother and son. She padded over, looking unsure herself. "Can you treat the other cats while I am gone?" He meowed, keeping his tone flat.

Leafpool flicked her tail. "Of course" She then looked to Cinderheart. "Cinderheart! Can you come here please?"

Brambleclaw noticed whenever Leafpool looked at Cinderheart; she had a flash of pain and regret in her eyes. She clearly blamed herself for her former mentor; Cinderpelt's death. Cinderheart was the reincarnation of Cinderpelt. Cinderheart had recently discovered this, and all of Cinderpelt's memories were in her head, just like her own. Meaning she could remember the herbs that Cinderpelt used as a medicine cat. Leafpool looked awkward, knowing how Cinderheart disliked using anything from her past life, she wanted to be a warrior, just like Cinderpelt had always desired.

"Don't worry Leafpool, of course I will help you." Cinderheart purred, sensing the she cat's hesitance.

Leafpool gave a sigh of relief, "Thanks, can you see what cats are injured most badly and I will get the herbs?"

Cinderheart nodded and bounded off, leaving a distressed Lionblaze with a quick lick on the ear. Jayfeather looked at Brambleclaw and nudged a pile of leaves towards him, nodding to him expectantly. Yuck, travelling herbs... Brambleclaw sighed and chewed them up. Jayfeather nodded and got up and started to pad out of camp, swishing his tail, he glanced at Hollyleaf's body momentarily, Brambleclaw heard him quietly murmur, obviously avoiding any cat's earshot. "Im sorry sister for being so cold. But for the clan's sake I must, I will miss you dearly and will mourn for the great seasons you would have had. We would have had. I will see you in starclan Hollyleaf…"

Brambleclaw's tail dropped to the ground when he heard the medicine cat's heart breaking speech.

However, all the cats noticed that Brambleclaw was leaving and they all spoke their goodbyes, Brambleclaw sighed he wanted to leave unnoticed, clearly that wasn't going to happen.

"Good luck Bramblestar!"

"Travel safe!"

"Say hi to Firestar for me!"

Brambleclaw suddenly felt privileged and also regretful, most of the cats in the camp will never see Firestar again until they joined Starclan, Brambleclaw would see him quite often. His heart ached when he remembered that Dustpelt had lost his mate Frencloud today, and Purdy had lost his best friend, Mousefur, leaving him isolated and lonely. Then Brambleclaw had lost his adopted daughter Hollyleaf to Hawkfrost. Brambleclaw dug his claws into the ground when he remembered his evil half- brother. I'm glad that I killed him

Cold resentment froze in his gut as he remembered the relish of digging his claws deep into his half brother's neck, still smelling the blood that poured out the ghastly wound.

The journey to the Moonpool was peaceful and quiet, Brambleclaw and Jayfeather didn't talk. When they finally reached the pool, Brambleclaw gave a sigh of wonder, the stars were reflected in the pool as they began to light up the growing dark sky, the moon shone in the still water and turned it and the two cat's pelts silver. Jayfeather sat beside the pool. "Settle down, relax and drink some of the water." He ordered. Brambleclaw nodded and did as he was told. He got a shock when he lapped up the water; it was ice cold and tasted strange. Almost the same second he was asleep.

Thanks for reading! Please review!

Till next time!

Neon xxxxx (nemo)