(Here it is! Sorry to those who clicked on the new chapter and only saw "BRAMBLESTAR!". I also went through all my chapters and found out that I'm missing a chapter, chapter 17 is suppose to be chapter 18. ^^" But eh, it wont really make a difference in the story. If you want to see the actual chapter 17 then by all means, pm me and I will post it as an extra or just for you to see.

As always, read and review pweeze? X3)

"BRAMBLESTAR!"

Bramblestar twitched and trembled before he laid still. All cats in the area stopped and turned to him. The Thunderclan leader lay motionless. Squirrelflight wailed in grief as she ran and buried her nose into his fur. "No no please! Wake up! We still have to fight." She pleaded, but the tabby tom stayed still, lifeless.

An evil crackle filled the air. The cats all turned to look up at a nearby bush. A small silverfish white she cat walked out, white claws gleaming under the sunset light. Icy blue eyes gleamed maliciously as she glared holes into the grieving she cat's face. "For a leader with nine lives he is pitifully powerless, weak, scum. You cats don't deserve this forest." From behind her more cats slunk out of the shadows, amber, gray and blue evil eyes winking in the darkness. From somewhere afar Blackstar, Mistystar and Ones tar rallied their warriors. Close to the small silver she cat walked Whitethunder and Cherryblossom, and beside Cherryblossom Ocean, Luna, Sakura and Raven.

Whitethunder was dragging a body a body with him, dropping it in front of his paws and baring his fangs. The golden fur marred with light tabby stripes was covered in blood, green eyes just as lifeless as their father's. Two more followed; a tabby male and a light ginger one both amber eyes following that for the former.

"Flamefrost," Rosepetal whispered. "Sungrass? Gingertree?"

"No," someone whispered evilly. Thornclaw slunk out not the other side of Whitethunder, eyes boring into Squirrelflight. The body he carried with was dropped carelessly. Squirrelflight screamed. Leafpool lay there lifelessly, dull green eyes staring at nothing and her head twisted in an awkward angle and bloody.

"I warned you, Squirrelflight. I would get my revenge." He sneered eagerly.

"Moonclan, attack!"

~ooo~

Jayfeather snapped his eyes open, panting wildly and shivering uncontrollably. He quickly snapped his head from side to side, claws clawing at his moss bed and fur up on ends. Someone on was in his den, who? Who would go in his den without notifying him first?

"Jayfeather? What's wrong?" Gingerkit asked.

Jayfeather breathed a sigh of relief. It was only him, and if he was there that meant he snuck into his den again. "Gingerkit, Squirrelflight will have your hide if she catches you in here again."

"But Leafpool said to get her some cobweb!"

Cobwebs?

"Why would she want cobwebs?"

"Oh, Cinderheart clawed mommy in her shoulder."

Wait.

WHAT?!

"Why didn't anyone wake me up?!" He screeched. Gingerkit shrugged and hummed.

"Leafpool said you were dreaming important things for the clan. She said that Yellowfang said to leave you be." He then tilted his head cutely. "Who is Yellowfang?"

"No time just grab the cobwebs." He ordered and rushed back to his herb stock as fast as his sleep legs could take him, taking some leaves before rushing out. Gingerkit was quickly behind him, stumbling horribly along the way. It was now that he heard the yowling and spitting.

"You mange!"

"Say it again and I'll rake your eyes out!"

"Hey, calm down you two!" Icecloud yowled, pushing Cinderheart back with her tail. Mousewhisker had his tail secured around Squirrelflight's neck just so she couldn't lunge at his mate and hurt her.

"Why didn't anyone wake me?!"

"Jayfeather? I assume you're a done with your sleep then?" Jayfeather narrowed his eyes, ears twitching. Leafpool sounded tired, really tired. Surely dealing Cinderheart and Leafpool didn't strain her that much. "Hey, cut it out!" The gray medicine cat snapped, lightly sniffing the air and making his way over to Squirrelflight.

"Icecloud, Mousewhisker." Bramblestar mewed, walking over with agitated steps.

"We're sorry Bramblestar," Icecloud whimpered.

"We didn't even know what happened! One minute they were fine and the next they were at each other's throats!"

"They didn't even say anything to each other! Mousewhisker added.

"Instead of complaining to me about it do something?" The leader stressed.

Mousewhisker sniffed before turning to Squirrelflight. "Let's go."

"What?" She asked, tail twitching as Jayfeather dabbed away the blood on her shoulder and started smearing poultice on it.

"We are going to hunt for ticks."

"WHAT?! That's an apprentice's job!"

"This is how you are acting. I'm sure if your kits were to grow up to be paws and be fighting like you and Cinderheart are then they would face the same punishment."

"No!"

"Squirrelflight, listen to your mentor." Bramblestar chided. Mousewhisker watched with satisfaction as she turned her head and grumbled. Cinderheart purred as she watched Jayfeather finish with her and the ginger walked walk off. She hmphed mockingly at her.

"Oooh no you don't Cinderheart, you and I are going to get moss." Icecloud said with narrowed eyes.

"I can't do that, I have kits." Cinderheart defended.

Icecloud tilted her head. "Jayfeather said you can walk around as exercise, plus the moss is really close to here, just outside the barrier."

"You aren't taking my mate out there!" Mousewhisker hissed. Growls came from two different places, one being from Icecloud in annoyance and another from Lionblaze behind him.

Icecloud raised her nose at him. "She is in perfectly good paws Mousewhisker; she's not even going far. If it worries you so much then Rosepetal can come with me." She looked to Lionblaze. "Can she?"

"Of course. Take Dustpelt with you. Jayfeather, you can go with them in case something happens. I'm sure you need more moss anyway." Jayfeather nodded his head in agreement, turning when small fluffy paws racked against his left hind leg.

"I'll watch your den until you come back Jayfeather!" Gingerkit promised eagerly. A collective amount of awes filled the clan, followed by Squirrelflight giving her kit a loving lick on his head.

"You will make a great apprentice and become the best medicine cat this clan has ever had, Gingerkit."

"Really?" He said excitedly.

Bramblestar purred down at his son. "Your aunt and cousin are medicine cats and they have had some of the best mentors, of course you will. But, you have to wait until your apprenticeship in order for it to happen. That means you cannot help Jayfeather with the den yet. Go back to the nursery and wait with Sorreltail and Poppyfrost."

Gingerkit jumped up and down and joy and rushed to the nursery with his sleeping siblings. Leafpool sighed and shook her head. "I'll watch him." She padded after the kit. Jayfeather groaned and shook his head. Icecloud then led them outside. All the cats watched as Jayfeather led Dustpelt outside. It was quite amusing to see a blind cat leading another.

Once outside Icecloud ordered them to split up into two and search for cobwebs and moss. Cinderheart seethed as she watched Jayfeather and Dustpelt trot off somewhere, hearing Jayfeather talking to the other blind tom softly. The last thing she heard was Jayfeather telling him to use his hearing and scent before they were too far out of distance. Cinderheart narrowed her eyes as Icecloud tapped her lightly on the shoulder with her tail ad led them only a little ways away from the entrance of the camp.

They both started to gather moss and cobwebs with stick, the only sound being the call of birds and the squeaks of squirrels and little mice. Icecloud looked over at Cinderheart from the corner of her eyes with hesitation. The Queen was tense by the way her shoulders and back hunched slightly, and her tail flicked to and fro in agitation. 'And Lionblaze expects me to handle this?!'

Flicking her ears she turned her eyes to the moss ball she was making. "Cinderheart?"

"I hate her!" the gray tabby spat suddenly.

Icecloud barely contained a shocked yowl. From the entrance Bumblestripe ran to the, bristled slightly. "What's wrong?"

"Uh, nothing. A mouse just jumped out of the bush and shocked me is all, I'm fine."

Bumblestripe gave them both a quick look over before he turned and walked away. Icecloud quickly turned back to her. "Little warning next time?"

"Well it's true! I hate Squirrelflight!"

"Why?"

"You know why! She's a corrupted cat, smart mouthed and quick to pick fights. She put her sister before the clans, she lied-"

"Cinderheart, they are siblings. Yes I understand the clan comes first but come on, seriously? You have to learn to let go of things that are moons old!" she pawed at the moss ball.

"But that doesn't excuse her from the things she's doing now!" Cinderheart argued. "She keeps picking fights with me! I'm with kits, I get stressed out easily! That harms my kits!"

"You can't act innocent, Cinderheart. You pick fights with her too. Aaaaand you did permit Foxleap to kill her sister, aaand you stood up Lionblaze who she believes in her heart as her son…." She paused for a second. "Why did you do that to Lionblaze? I'm just curious." She added quickly after seeing Cinderheart's face twist up in annoyance.

"Well," the queen started, "I did like Lionblaze, I really did, but…"

"Buuuut…?"

"Well, his mother betrayed the clans. His mother is a medicine cat. I didn't want that for my future kits, for them to be shunned upon because of their heritage."

"How could they be shunned upon? Their great grandfather is Firestar!"

"Who was a kittypet!" Cinderheart snapped, making Icecloud freeze.

"What does that have to do with it?"

"I understand that Bluestar made the decision because of the prophecy, I really do, but the clans and the clan code…"

"Nobody thinks bad on us, if anything they should be thanking us." Icecloud said lowly. "Stop thinking about what Thornclaw said, he doesn't have any influence here anymore. He's gone and not coming back."

Cinderheart looked up at her, eyes wide in shock and fright. "He isn't?"

"Nope! We are Thornclaw-free! If he does come back I'm sure out foreign friend would kill him before his sent is even permanently in the forest, and if not them then Lionblaze and Squirrelflight. He won't be troubling us again and you won't be looked down upon as his supporter anymore. All you have to do is make up with Squirrelflight and prove to the clans that you are loyal." She nudged her cheek softly. "That's all Cinderheart, that's all you have to do."

"That's all," Cinderheart muttered to herself. She nodded her head slowly. "I'll try, but I'm not making any promises."

"Good!" Icecloud piped happily. "We're almost done here, just a few more left!" Cinderheart nodded and smiled before starting to gather up more moss and rolling them into balls, inwardly purring as they wrapped around her claws.

~ooo~

Squirrelflight hissed in disgust as a tiny drop of mouse bile flicked on her nose. She glared as her mother chuckled and shook her head. "I don't want to do this…"

"You should've behaved," Mousewhisker called out, picking thorns out of the moss beds. Squirrelflight was glad that when she got in trouble he did as well, otherwise she was sure he would be smirking down at her. Her face twisted up in a wicked grin, one that made Sandstorm give her a sharp look.

"It was her fault; I don't know why I'm getting in trouble for it." Squirrelflight mewed airily

"Don't blame my mate for your kitten actions." Mousewhisker retorted lightly, though the way his fur bristled slightly gave away his tension. Squirrelflight snickered and shook her head, glaring when Sandstorm smacked her across the face with her tail and mouthed 'behave' to her. Snorting she continued to pick out the ticks and fleas.

After they were both done they took the bile soaked moss to wash it. Mousewhisker glanced sideways at Squirrelflight, watching the she cat grumble under her breath as she rubbed her paws furiously against the moss.

"Why do you hate Cinderheart so much?"

Squirrelflight stopped what she was doing and turned to give him a glare. "Why ask such a stupid question? She wanted to kill my sister. You wanted to kill my sister! I have every right to hate her!"

"Uh," he started, tail twitching uncomfortably. "Other than that... No, not because she followed Thornclaw either. We both did that."

Squirrelflight narrowed fire blazing green eyes at him. "Lionblaze."

'Oh, forgot about that.' He thought sheepishly.

"Listen," he said sitting up and drying his paws, "I know that her rejecting Lionblaze and all was a completely fox-hearted thing to do, but you got to get over that."

"You want me to forgive the she cat who caused my son emotional torture and damage?" Squirrelflight scoffed and tossed her head. "You've completely lost your mind."

"He isn't your son, and I'm not saying yes…but I'm not saying no either. Try to, I don't know; at least tolerate her a bit? Don't pick fights, stuff like that…"

"You are only doing this because you don't want me to hurt your precious mate," Squirrelflight hissed dangerously.

Mousewhisker gulped and nodded his head. "Yes that, and so my kits can have an actual place in the clans when they are born, and to earn my trust back to my clan."

"I won't ever hurt your kits, if that's what you think Mousewhisker. Ill treat them like my own actually," she looked off with a sigh, "I can't wait for my babies to become Paws. I'm so excited! Three more moons!"

Mousewhisker watched her squeal and was wondering whether he should be surprised by her sudden mood change but then drifted off in his mind. What would his kits look like? How would it feel to watch his kits turn into paws, and then warriors? 'If we live long enough,' he thought nastily. Shaking the thought away he turned back to Squirrelflight, who was now glaring angrily at him. What did he do?

"Uuuh…? What happened?"

Squirrelflight wrinkled her nose and growled. Mousewhisker bristled and moved back slowly, puzzled when her gaze didn't follow. Who…? He turned around and gasped in shock. What was Kestrelflight doing on this side of the border?

"Mousewhisker, Squirrelflight," the Riverclan medicine cat mewed as she dipped her head to them. "I need to speak to Bramblestar."

"What for?" Squirrelflight asked.

"That is for him to know and you to find out," Kestrelflight replied smartly, tail lashing. Squirrelflight growled lowly in her throat and looked at Mousewhisker.

"Well mentor, what should we do?"

Mousewhisker sighed at her and led the WindClan medicine cat to the clan. Upon their arrival cats stared, some in shock. Jayfeather, apparently back from escorting Dustpelt and following Cinderheart and Icecloud around, shot out of the den with a twitching nose and Leafpool calmly sat in front of the nursery. Kestrelflight sent Leafpool a look, who then went to Jayfeather.

"Kestrelflight? Why are you in ThunderClan?" Bramblestar rumbled. The medicine cat dipped her head shortly before giving him an urgent look.

"This is private…"

Jayfeather and Leafpool walked over switching curious gazes between the two and the other fidgeting in his place. Bramblestar nodded, flicking g his tail in dismissal to Squirrelflight and Mousewhisker and led the three in.

Squirrelflight had a very curious look on her face. "What do you think that was about?"

"Eh, maybe it has to do with those foreign clan cats coming our way."

Squirrelflight wrinkled her nose but said nothing. Sakura padded over to them with excitement. "What going on?"

"Dunno, we will have to wait and see." Mousewhisker muttered absently. Sakura sighed and tilted her head.

"How was washing the moss?" Squirrelflight hissed and Sakura laughed. "Your fault for being such a kit!" she teased. Sakura tossed her a challenging glare before turning and d running off to Raven. Squirrelflight watched her with amusement.

"That cat, she's so nice and so well kempt. I can't wait to see how Flamekit will be when she grows up!"

Mousewhisker looked at her. "Sakura?"

"Yea, and if I must admit she is a beautiful feline. It's a wonder why she hasn't found a mate yet."

"Maybe it's because she just got here?" Mousewhisker said matter-of-factly.

"Or maybe it's because no tom has the courage to step to her because of her Guardian, father, and other family surrounding her." Squirrelflight shot back, a small smirk on her face.

"Who would want to stand up to Whitethunder?! He's a dog, not a cat!"

Squirrelflight hummed. "Yes, and after the little claw work Raven did on Foxleap, I don't blame them for not stepping up." She was quiet for a second before she snorted and tossed her head. "Cowards."

"What?!"

"Nothing," she answered innocently. "Is my punishment done now? I really want to get back to my kits, that or be available for hunting patrol."

Mousewhisker grumbled and looked away. "Yea yea, get out of here…" Scoffing, Squirrelflight ran to the nursery.

~ooo~

When they returned Cinderheart was tired, but pleasantly so. Walking around and picking moss was a bother, but it did give her the chance to take all of her rage out on it. She sighed in relief when she entered the nursery and sunk down on her moss bed. Flamekit, Gingerkit and Sunkit were wrestling in the middle of the den, Sorreltail and Poppyfrost chatting quietly but watching them out the corners of their eyes. Leafpool had her back towards all of them as she watched the clan from outside the nursery, sitting in front of the entrance like a bodyguard. The only time she moved was to allow Cherry to come inside. As soon as she was close enough the kits stopped and pounced on her, squealing in delight of having another RiverClan cat to fight. When the red she cat called out surrender they cheered and climbed off her. Cherry smiled down at them.

"Very good, excellent team work you three," Cinderheart heard the red she cat say. Narrowing her eyes she strained her ears to listen to more.

"Papa said to always stick together in a battle!" Sunkit mewed proudly. Cherry chuckled and nodded her head to him.

"And he was right. Why fighting alone might be good for you, it can also be very dangerous."

"Even to you?"

"Yes, we Moonclan cats may be strong, but we still rely on teamwork. Without it the clans would fall apart and everyone would angry, mean."

"This is why we have clan leaders to keep order!" Flamekit shouted.

"And medicine cats! They're the most neutral cats in all the clans!" Gingerkit added.

"Exactly." She swept the three with a savvy gaze. "If you have the right heart, strong mind and little self-doubt you could be that leader or deputy, if you love everyone you could be that medicine cat."

"Mama and papa told us this yesterday before we went to sleep." Gingerkit said as she sat down. "They said that I have to love every cat in the clan and not let rivalry affect me if I'm going to be a good medicine cat."

"They also said that we have to be dedicated warriors with loyalty to the clan if we are to be great warriors." Sunkit said also.

"I can't wait to be a warrior!" Flamekit mewed excitedly.

Cherry chuckled and swept them all lightly over their ears with her fluffy tail. "But in order to become a great warrior, you need patience. A great warrior is not compelled to act rashly and are patient, neither in a rush nor leisure in their time. And like before, you need confidence. Enemies fear a warrior who has a great aura of confidence around them."

"Like Whitethunder?" Flamekit asked in awe.

"Yes, like Whitethunder. That aura intimidates them, makes them second guess themselves, makes them fear."

Cinerheart was appalled. Why was she telling the kits how to be a warrior? 'How to be a Moonclan warrior,' she thought bitterly, anger coursing through her. 'She's turning the kits against our custom!'

Leafpool chuckled at the entrance. "It does. How do you think I took on those three WindClan cats by myself? I was enraged yes, built up tension coursing through me, but I had confidence also. I knew I was going to win…" she gazed off. "Or maybe that was the rage speaking…"

"The best warrior is a patient warrior," Flamekit muttered to herself, determination on her face as she tried to burn the words into her mind. She tilted her head, as though listening to someone. Then she looked up and giggled. "Cherry, Flameblood is about to pounce on your tail!"

Shock crossed everyone's face in the den, and the next sound was the sound of Cherry's tail swinging through the air and curling around her body. Before she moved her tail she felt something brush her it. "Flameblood," Cherry started uncertainly. She wasn't't use to talking to the air, it made her feel crazy. "Behave and stop acting like a kit."

It was silent after that.

Flamekit giggled and shook her head. "He's sulking."

Leafpool smiled lovingly and purred. "Well don't sulk," she grinned evilly. "Go pounce on Leafpool's tail."

"WHAT?! Leafpool screeched, tail curling up beside her protectively. "No!"

"Lower your voice!" Cinderheart snapped. Leafpool fixed her a blank stare, her eyes narrowing only slightly before she turned back to look outside.

"Kestrelflight is here," she told them suddenly and walked a little further away from the nursery, then sat back down. After a while she up and left, her, Jayfeather and Kestrelflight following Bramblestar into his den. Cinderheart looked up to find Cherry gone as well and the kits were wrestling again. She growled lowly in her throat, glaring at Mousewhisker as he came by to give her a thrush.

"What's wrong Cinderheart?" he asked as he rubbed his cheek with hers lovingly.

Cinderheart hissed quietly, "I don't trust these foreign cats."

Mousewhisker backed away in bewilderment. "What? But they are here to help us!"

"Cherry just left here after teaching the kits how to become warriors!"

"How is that bad?"

"She told them the Moonclan way!"

Mousewhisker's eyes widened. "Oh…" he turned and walked away.

"Where are you going?"

"To tell Squirrelflight." He paused for a moment. "And tell Bramblestar."