Elsi: So, I'm just on an Elemental roll! This won't last for long, I'm afraid, but while I'm on meds and sitting in bed all day, I can write TONS. So, I've got Chapters 1 and 2 ready for you! More Lionblaze! Hoorah!

Trek: This is a quality plot twist for the first chapter of a story, Elsi. I'm kind of impressed.

Elsi: Yes, yes, I am awesome. By the way, guys, there IS character death in this chapter. Also, I don't own Warriors. That's why this IS Fanfiction. Her characters are the new generation of cats. Those guys and the rogues (including Fountain the wolf!)

Trek: I get a death friend? Sweet.

Chapter 1: Shaking

Lionblaze crouched at the foot of the Highledge, excited. He loved ceremonies, and he loved happiness in the Clan. It had been only a quarter-moon after Jayfeather and Birdpaw had discovered a cure to save most of their sick Clan-mates. Though they had lost Birchfall, Cherrymist, and, saddest of all, Runningpaw, their other cats were safe. That thought brought peace to Lionblaze's mind. Rarely did he live in peace.

Even when he was young, peace had been hard to find. He and Jayfeather had grown up side-by-side with the prophecy, the one calling out their powers. They had fought many battles, the two of them and their sister Hollyleaf. They had discovered their parentage: Lionblaze was the illegal kit of Leafpool, former medicine cat, and Crowfeather of WindClan, but he had gotten over the betrayal. He'd been forced to. He was just relieved that Bramblestar and Squirrelflight, who he had believed to be his parents for much of his life, had made amends. But he had lost Hollyleaf, and he and Jayfeather had been forced to deal with the oppression and hatred from the other Clans.

Doveheart's arrival into his life had changed that. They had done a lot together as well, but not much of it had occurred in peace. He had been her mentor, and they had fought off beavers together to bring water back to the lake. They had trained side by side, and Lionblaze had pulled Doveheart away when her closest friend and littermate had turned to the Dark Forest. Lionblaze, Doveheart, and Jayfeather had fought hard in that battle against the Dark Forest. During that time, he had met Icecloud, his mate, the only cat that could make him happy every time she tried. Also, they had managed to save the good in Ivypool's soul, and Jayfeather had admitted that Ivypool was a fourth cat in an extended version of their prophecy.

But that prophecy didn't matter much now, except to define the links between them. Now, they had other things to worry about. According to Ivypool, there was a rift in StarClan, and neither Hawkfrost nor Tigerstar was actually dead. That thought infuriated him: he had killed Tigerstar himself. Realizing that his actions had been for nothing made him want to go in there and kill him over and over again, until it actually worked. Worse, they were using his own kit to make Tigerstar stronger! Were it not for Ivypool, Lionblaze would have already stepped in to yell at Mountainpaw. Doveheart told him crossly that that particular idea was just stupid; maybe it was. Secretly, he was relieved to be in charge of Skypaw and Littlepaw. Out of all of his kits, those two were the easiest to handle, in his opinion. For the most part, they could take care of themselves.

"This is exciting," purred Icecloud, nudging him fondly. Lionblaze turned to her, glad to see his mate. He loved Icecloud nearly as much as he did the Clan – which was saying a lot for the deputy. "I'm glad to see Molewhisker getting his first apprentice."

"He deserves it," Lionblaze agreed. There was a silence, and Lionblaze nosed his mate. "I know you're sad about Cherrymist. You shouldn't worry. She's happy in StarClan."

"I know," answered Icecloud, a sad lilt to her mew. "She was just my first apprentice. Because of her, I had the courage to talk to you again."

"I'm glad you did," sighed Lionblaze. He didn't know what he'd do without her. Both of them looked up towards Bramblestar, who had already gathered on the Highledge to make his special announcement. Most of the Clan knew what was in store for the day; maybe it was the cute little kits bouncing around that gave it away, or maybe it was Blossomfall trying to get them to calm down. Lionblaze smiled to himself – they wouldn't be kits for much longer.

"Cats of ThunderClan!" boomed Bramblestar. His eyes directed down onto Honeykit and Snowkit, who were now beaming. "We are here to make two young kits into apprentices, so they can join our ranks of warriors. Honeykit and Snowkit, step forward."

They did, and the Clan turned to watch. Blossomfall gave a purr of amusement, and Toadstep stood proudly. Lionblaze tilted his head – he was glad that everything had worked out for the young pair. It was just a shame that Rosepetal hadn't found a similar ending as her littermate had. Bramblestar's amber eyes focused down on Honeykit.

"Honeykit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Honeypaw. Your mentor will be Sorreltail. I know that Sorreltail will pass all that she knows on to you." He turned to Sorreltail, who approached Honeypaw. The golden-furred she-cat bounded over to her new mentor, her eyes glowing. Sorreltail purred something, and Icecloud warmed next to Lionblaze. He pressed into her pelt.

"Snowkit," Bramblestar went on, turning to Honeypaw's littermate. "You, too, are six moons old. It is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Snowpaw." His gaze changed. "Molewhisker. You were trained by Rosepetal, and you have proved your loyalty and your courage. I hope that you will train Snowpaw, and that you will pass on your knowledge unto her." Snowpaw squeaked in excitement, scampering over to Molewhisker. They touched noses, both excited. Snowpaw was Molewhisker's first apprentice, but Lionblaze knew that he would do a good job. He had come to respect the young warrior. He was always ready to serve the Clan, and he had worked hard. Even losing Cherrymist hadn't taken away Molewhisker's determination, which made Lionblaze confident that Snowpaw was in good hands. As for Honeypaw, well…Lionblaze had complete respect for Sorreltail. She was one of the senior warriors that he trusted completely, and one who had always supported him.

Bramblestar now turned his eyes to StarClan, and Lionblaze looked up into the sunny sky. It seemed that StarClan had blessed the apprentices.

"I, Bramblestar, Leader of ThunderClan, offer up these two apprentices to StarClan. Guide their paws as they become warriors, and allow their mentors to teach them your ways." His amber eyes rested there, and Toadstep boldly led the call for his daughters.

"Honeypaw! Snowpaw!" ThunderClan answered the cheer, and the two young apprentices seemed to glow. Lionblaze added his voice, overjoyed. Everything was so, so right. The world spun around him in a lazy fashion, slowed down, almost. He could hear his Clan-mates cheering, and he could feel his own body vibrating from the sheer noise of it. Something caught his eye, and Lionblaze turned his head slowly, finding Doveheart's amber eyes. She mouthed his name, her eyes wide with fear.

Then everything happened at once.

The vibrations from the cheering turned into a shake of fury, and Lionblaze jumped to his paws as the world began to rotate. Cats screamed in confusion, backing together at trying to figure out the source of the shaking earth. Doveheart and Ivypool staggered towards him, their eyes wide.

"What's going on?!" Lionblaze roared at them. The two she-cats shook their heads. Lionblaze turned to Icecloud beside him, but she was already bounding across the clearing, seeking out Mountainpaw, Littlepaw, and Skypaw. Lionblaze rounded on Doveheart.

"Check on Jayfeather and Birdpaw," he ordered. Doveheart nodded, jumping off. Lionblaze cast his eyes upwards, seeing rocks from their camp come crashing down. One slammed off the edge of the Highledge, and Molewhisker dived to shove Honeypaw and Snowpaw out of the way of the falling rock. Lionblaze leaped after them, but all three sat up, shaking their heads.

"Get out from under the ledge!" Lionblaze ordered the cats. "Go to the middle of the camp!" He turned to Ivypool, who was still there. "Make sure the elders know what's going on."

"What about you?" Ivypool demanded. Lionblaze didn't answer, but she ran off anyways, charging across the clearing. Lionblaze wasn't worried about Doveheart or Ivypool – they would survive. He did a quick head-count of his Clan-mates. All of his warriors asked hurried questions or gathered around their families, but Lionblaze didn't say anything. He had all the warriors, and all seven warrior apprentices. Poppyfrost had her newborn kits, Nightkit and Marshkit, beside her – that was good. He found Ivypool guiding the elders from where they had gathered, and he found Doveheart leading Jayfeather and Birdpaw towards the others.

Now Lionblaze turned towards the Highledge to find Bramblestar. The ThunderClan leader dug into the Highledge as the camp continued to fall apart around him, and Lionblaze found his own claws digging into the earth. Bramblestar's amber eyes flew up to meet his, and fear covered his face as a giant part of the Highledge gave out. Lionblaze launched himself forward, trying to reach Bramblestar, but dust and rocking earth knocked him onto his side. Lionblaze looked up, reeling, and gasped as larger rocks fell towards him. He rolled out of the way, trying to regain his balance as he stood. Dust rose towards him, and Lionblaze turned towards the fallen Highledge.

"Bramblestar!" he cried. There was no reply from his leader, and Lionblaze tried to stare through the dust. With the entire world shaking, it was all too hard. He tried to take another step forward, but it was too dangerous. Doveheart reappeared beside him, pulling him back forcefully.

"We can find him when things calm down," she insisted. Lionblaze looked at her in despair, but Doveheart's eyes were set. He backed down slowly, finding himself back with his terrified Clan. The senior warriors surrounded him suddenly, knowing that it was their duty to help their panicking deputy.

"Where is Bramblestar?" Squirrelflight demanded, pacing up beside him. Lionblaze looked at his foster mother, his eyes giving away his bewilderment and fear. Squirrelflight gave him a supportive nod.

"You're doing fine, Lionblaze," Thornclaw reassured him. "We just have to wait out this…omen."

"Is it an omen?" asked Cloudtail, looking at the others. "Why would StarClan curse the apprentices?"

"It doesn't have anything to do with the apprentices," protested Sorreltail – she had left Honeypaw with Toadstep and Blossomfall. Thornclaw and Cloudtail gave her doubting glances, and the tortoiseshell she-cat fell silent, her eyes falling to the ground.

"Jayfeather," Lionblaze said, turning to find his littermate. "Do you know anything?"

"Nothing, Lionblaze," Jayfeather admitted. Lionblaze beckoned Doveheart, which surprised some of the senior warriors. Doveheart shook her head, but her eyes were wide. It was probably the enhanced hearing, thought Lionblaze.

Several tense minutes passed, until, finally, the earth stopped very abruptly, sitting upright. Dust rose up towards the ThunderClan cats, but Lionblaze didn't even stop to observe the damage.

"Thornclaw, Cloudtail, help the Clan," decided Lionblaze, and he bounded forward towards the fallen Highledge. He had to find Bramblestar. Squirrelflight and Doveheart were right behind him, and Jayfeather called Birdpaw. Lionblaze pushed through the dust, climbing over fallen pieces of rock to try and find his leader, and the cat he had once thought to be his father.

"BRAMBLESTAR!" he roared. The sound echoed over rock, and Lionblaze's heart constricted. Where was the cat he had looked up to? He jumped down, pushing away blocks of rock, each heavier than the one before it. Where was his leader? Doveheart filtered to his side.

"Mountainpaw could help us," she suggested. "If he has any power left. You know that we can't lift some of these rocks, Lionblaze." Lionblaze looked back towards the crowd of ThunderClan cats, who were watching his search with wide eyes.

"Mountainpaw!" he barked. His kit pushed out from his Clan-mates, and Skypaw muttered something after him. Lionblaze's heart skipped a beat at the sight of his growing son. Mountainpaw was coming into his own. He would have to become a warrior soon – Lionblaze desperately didn't want to be the one conducting that ceremony. It had better be Bramblestar.

"What is it, Lionblaze?" asked Mountainpaw, his eyes worried. "Did you find Bramblestar?"

Lionblaze sadly shook his head, and Mountainpaw deflated.

"I need you to help me move some of these rocks," Lionblaze replied. "Bramblestar is under here somewhere, and I need to find him. You can move some of them with your powers, can't you?" Mountainpaw looked around, surprised at the request, and nodded carefully. He focused on the largest sheet of rock, and Lionblaze beckoned Squirrelflight and Doveheart. Both she-cats bounded over, and they took up positions on the lifted end of the boulder. Lionblaze flicked his tail at Thornclaw and Cloudtail, who barked an order and rushed over to help.

"On the count of three, then," Mountainpaw said quietly. "One, two…three." Lionblaze pushed off of the earth as hard as he could, clenching all of his super-charged muscles. He had to rescue Bramblestar, even if it took all of his energy. The cats around him gasped with effort, but Lionblaze just kept straining. Bramblestar had done everything for him. They had fought Tigerstar's shadow-cat army together, and eventually, they had fought Tigerstar himself, side by side, avenging Firestar. Lionblaze had looked up to Bramblestar. He was the best cat Lionblaze knew.

Finally, Mountainpaw gave a gasp, and Lionblaze felt the rock give a wobble and shift backwards. To Lionblaze's immense relief, he made out the dark tabby pelt of his leader. Another, smaller rock pressed down on the great leader's chest, and Lionblaze bounded over, his small band of cats around him. As Lionblaze reached Bramblestar, he signaled to the others. Mountainpaw settled a paw on the rock, making it quiver. The other cats, some more bewildered than others, helped to hoist the rock off of Bramblestar's chest.

"Bramblestar?" mewed Squirrelflight hopefully. The ginger she-cat crouched next to her mate, her whiskers twitching hopefully. Lionblaze couldn't move, exhaustion pressing in. He couldn't be dead. There was no way.

A small shiver ran through Bramblestar's body, and Lionblaze could make out the faintest outline of Bramblestar escaping his leader's body.

"He's losing a life," Jayfeather reported. "Quickly. Let me see the damage."

"How many lives has he lost?" Cloudtail asked, horrified. "Could StarClan really get rid of the damage? Would he only lose one life?"

That thought hadn't occurred to Lionblaze. He bounded forward with his brother. Bramblestar stirred slowly, gasping painfully. His entire body shivered, and the energy it took to breathe seemed too much for ThunderClan's great leader.

"Bramblestar?" Jayfeather asked. He gently rested the pad of his paw on Bramblestar's chest. "Can you take a deep breath for me?" Bramblestar did as he was told, but the breath caught painfully. Lionblaze winced, and Jayfeather crouched to think and listen.

"How did StarClan not fix this damage?" he demanded, furious. "Unless…but he didn't lose the life until after the rock was taken off."

"What's the matter?" Lionblaze demanded.

"His ribs have been crushed," Jayfeather reported, gently pressing down with his paw. Bramblestar groaned, making the medicine cat recoil. "His lung must have been punctured."

"Can you fix that?" asked Lionblaze. Jayfeather didn't reply, and Lionblaze read the silence as the worst. He sat back, horrified. Surely Bramblestar had plenty of lives to lose, though. He'd had five before this incident. At least, he had at least two left. Maybe StarClan would heal him next time?

"How many lives did he have left?" asked Thornclaw, terrified. "This sounds like Tigerstar's death." Lionblaze knew the story, and he hated the comparison.

"Five, before this," Jayfeather muttered darkly. "Bramblestar! How many lives did you lose?" They all hesitated, listening for the answer. It took Bramblestar a minute to catch his breath, and Lionblaze waited, his heart compressing in his chest. Please, StarClan.

"Four." That was a painful word, and Lionblaze wished that he could escape it forever. It was a symbolic number to him, even worse. Bramblestar's amber eyes flickered, and he looked up at Lionblaze, Doveheart, and Jayfeather. If Ivypool were there…

"They were a good four," continued Bramblestar between painful breaths. "But I know that StarClan needs five. A great five."

"All Five?" gasped Squirrelflight. She buried her muzzle in her mate's fur. "No, Bramblestar!"

"I'm sorry…" sighed Bramblestar. He shook his head. "I wanted to serve my Clan for as long as Firestar did. I thought that's what StarClan wanted from me. But now I see that they are going to need a new leader soon." He looked up at Lionblaze. "You have to be the one to lead him."

"Me?" whispered Lionblaze. What was Bramblestar saying? So he wouldn't be the leader the Clan was looking for. "What do you mean?"

"I took my pick," Bramblestar sighed. "I was wrong. It's your turn. Find the one who can restore the Clans to glory." He gave a elongated moan.

"Bramblestar!" cried Mountainpaw, bounding forwards and crouching by his mentor. "Please don't! I need you."

"You need yourself," Bramblestar choked. His amber eyes opened again, and Bramblestar spoke his final words. "This is your quest now, Mountainpaw. It won't be Skypaw's, or even Littlepaw's. But you cannot take theirs. Understand that."

"Yes, Bramblestar," whispered Mountainpaw. Bramblestar sighed, and Lionblaze understood that those words were it. Bramblestar had no more instructions to give out.

He bowed his head with grief as the end of his leader came over him.

I took my pick, Bramblestar had said. Lionblaze carefully lifted his eyes to Mountainpaw. Bramblestar had always known that one of the Great Five would lead the Clans – he had picked out Mountainpaw as that great leader. But he had been wrong…so who was it? Was that his quest now?

Elsi: I'm actually really sad. I love Bramblestar in the books. He was always one of my favorite main characters. And I love writing about him. I'm sad he's gone away.

Trek: Please. Warriors revolves around the afterlife.

Elsi: I suppose that's true. Ha! We'll see Bramblestar soon, then! Say hi, if you're reading! Or just read on to chapter 2!