The Better Choice

by Omegathyst

What if Bramblestar chose Jessy over Squirrelfight? What would happen to the characters of Warriors? Who will die because of this decision? Read as Jessy and Bramblestar's relationship grows and many cats fall. Contains OOCs based on my former hate of certain characters, poorly-executed dark themes, and other trollfic plotlines I wrote when I was a teenager. The Better Trilogy #1

13. Thorn in the Waves

My apologies to those who were disturbed by the last chapter, warning is now in summary. Thank you.

UPDATE: In this story and several others, I had not portrayed rape/dark themes in a thoughtful way. I appreciate people who've liked this story despite that, but I recognize that I need to improve on this in future stories. As a teenager writing this, I was immature. Thank you for the constructive criticism and kindness from several of the reviewers.

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Allegiances

ThunderClan
Leader: Bramblestar-dark tabby with amber eyes
Deputy: Gemlight-dark brown she-cat with brown eyes
Medicine Cats: Jayfeather-gray tabby tom with blind blue eyes
Apprentice, Fernpaw(dark grey she-cat)

Warriors
Brackenfur-golden brown tabby tom
Cloudtail-long-haired white tom with blue eyes
Apprentice, Hollypaw(black she-cat with amber eyes)
Brightheart-white she-cat with ginger patches
Spiderleg-long-limbed black tom with brown underbelly and blue eyes
Birchfall-light brown tabby tom
Whitewing-white she-cat with green eyes
Berrynose-cream-colored tom
Mousewhisker-gray and white tom
Rosepetal-dark cream she-cat
Poppyfrost-tortoiseshell she-cat
Briarlight-dark brown she-cat with sky-colored eyes, paralyzed in her hindquarters
Blossomfall-tortoiseshell and white she-cat
Bumblestripe-very pale gray tom with black stripes
Ivypool-gray and white tabby she-cat with blue eyes
Cherryfall-ginger she-cat
Molewhisker-brown and cream tom
Lilyheart-tortoiseshell and white she-cat
Amberdrop-pale ginger she-cat
Apprentice, Sorrelpaw(tortiseshell she-cat with green eyes)
Dewshade-gray and white tom
Snowlight-white, fluffy tom

Queens
Daisy-cream, long-furred cat from the horseplace
Millie-striped gray tabby she-cat with blue eyes(mother of Crowfeather's kits: Beetlekit, a jet black tom, Icekit, a white she-kit with blue eyes, and Silverkit, a gray tabby she-kit with green eyes. 1/2 moon old.)
Dovewing-pale gray she-cat with blue eyes(mother of Tigerheart's kits: Petalkit, a dark brown tabby she-kit, and Ripplekit, a light gray tabby tom with amber eyes. 1/4 moon old)
Gemlight-dark brown she-cat with brown eyes(expecting Bramblestar's kits. Due in 2 moons.)
Hollypaw-black she-cat with amber eyes(expecting Thornclaw's kits. Due in 3 moons.)
Sorrelpaw-tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes(expecting Thornclaw's kits. Due in 3 moons)

Elders
Sandstorm-pale ginger she-cat with green eyes

ShadowClan
Leader: Rowanstar-ginger tom
Apprentice, Maplepaw(cream furred she-cat. Training for 1 moon)
Deputy: Crowfrost-black and white tom
Medicine Cat: Littlecloud-very small tabby tom
Apprentice, Milkpaw(white she-cat. Training for 1 moon)

Warriors
Tawnypelt-tortoiseshell she-cat
Apprentice, Lilypaw(light brown she-cat. Training for 1 moon)
Owlclaw-light brown tabby tom
Scorchfur-dark gray tom
Apprentice, Pinepaw(dark grey she-cat. Training for 1/2 moon)
Tigerheart-dark brown tabby tom
Dawnpelt-cream furred she-cat
Ferretclaw-black and gray tom
Spikeclaw-dark brown tom
Stoatfur-tortoiseshell and white she-cat
Apprentice, Flamepaw(orange tabby she-cat. Training for 1/2 moon)
Pouncetail-brown tabby tom
Snowbird-pure white she-cat
Pinenose-black she-cat

Queens
Grassfeather-light brown she-cat(expecting Snaketail's kits. Due in 1/4 moon)

Elders
Snaketail-dark brown tom with tabby-striped tail
Whitewater-white she-cat with long fur, blind in one eye
Ratscar-brown tom with long scar across his back
Oakfur-small brown tom
Smokefoot-black tom
Kinkfur-tabby she-cat with long fur that sticks out in all angles
Ivytail-black, white, and tortoiseshell she-cat

WindClan
Leader: Onestar-brown tabby tom
Deputy: Harespring-brown and white tom
Medicine Cats: Kestrelflight-mottled gray tom

Warriors
Crowfeather-dark grey tom
Featherwisp-gray tabby she-cat
Nightcloud-black she-cat
Hootcall-dark gray tom
Gorsetail-very pale gray and white she-cat with blue eyes
Apprentice, Barkpaw(dark brown tabby tom. Training for 4 moons)
Weaselfur-ginger tom with white paws
Leaftail-dark tabby tom, amber eyes
Oatnose-pale brown tabby tom
Emberfoot-gray tom with two dark paws
Breezepelt-black tom with amber eyes
Apprentice, Littlepaw(pale gray tom with blue eyes. Training for 4 moons)
Crouchfoot-ginger tom
Larkwing-pale brown tabby she-cat
Apprentice, Skypaw(light gray she-cat with brown paws. Training for 4 moons)
Sedgewhisker-light brown tabby she-cat

Queens
Furzepelt-gray and white she-cat(mother of Harespring's kits: Toadkit, a dark brown tabby tom, and Ryekit, a light brown tom. 2 moons old)
Heathertail-light brown tabby she-cat with blue eyes(mother of ?'s kits: Lionkit, a orange tabby tom, Goldenkit, a cream colored she-kit, and Blazekit, a white kit with orange splotches. 1 moon old)

Elders
Whiskernose-light brown tom
Whitetail-small white she-cat

RiverClan
Leader: Mistystar-gray she-cat with blue eyes
Deputy: Reedwhisker-black tom
Medicine Cat: Willowshine-gray tabby she-cat

Warriors
Mintfur-light gray tabby tom
Apprentice, Softpaw(white she-cat with orange spotches. Training for 2 moons)
Minnowtail-dark gray she-cat
Mallownose-light brown tabby tom
Perchtalon-gray and white she-cat
Shimmerpelt-silver she-cat
Apprentice, Turtlepaw(dark brown tabby tom. Training for 2 moons)
Lakeheart-gray tabby she-cat
Heronwing-dark gray and black tom
Petalfur-gray and white she-cat
Duskfur-brown tabby she-cat
Apprentice, Frogpaw(light gray tom. Training for 2 moons)
Havenheart-black and white she-cat

Queens
Icewing-white she-cat with blue eyes(mother of ?'s kits: Hailkit, a light gray tom with white flecks, and Oakkit, a dark orange tom. 4 moons old)
Mistystar-gray she-cat with blue eyes(mother of ?'s kits: Bluekit, a gray-blue she-kit, Stormkit, a light gray tom, Firekit, a light orange tom, Streamkit, a light brown she-kit, and Mosskit, a brown tabby she-kit. 1 moon old)
Mosspelt-tortoiseshell she-cat with blue eyes(expecting ?'s kits. Due in 3 moons)

Elders
Pouncefoot-ginger and white tom
Rushtail-light brown tabby tom

Cats Outside Clans
Ziggy-ginger and white tom(kittypet)
Victor-pale brown tabby tom(kittypet)
Scarlet-ginger she-cat with bright eyes(kittypet)
Riga-slender black tom(kittypet)
Jocelyn-dark grey she-cat with amber eyes(kittypet)
Squirrel-orange she-cat with green eyes(rogue)
Cinder-gray and white she-cat(loner)
Thorn-large golden brown tabby tom(loner)

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Bramblestar looked from his spot at the two she-cats, then at Thornclaw.

"I, uh, see." Bramblestar muttered.

"I have a great idea!" Thornclaw snarled with a smile. "Make them still hunt and train while they're expecting kits!"

"NO!" Gemlight roared. "They will be in the Nursery till their kits are apprentices. Thornclaw, this is not the punishment we were expecting from you!"

"I know." Thornclaw shrugged his shoulders. "That's why it was very easy to sneak past you two."

"Thornclaw, you are banished!" Bramblestar growled. "GET OUT!"

"You don't tell me what to do!" Thornclaw lashed his tail. "FINE! I'll leave your dumb Clan!"

The huge tom got up and shoved both Hollypaw and Sorrelpaw before breaking into a sprint out of the Territory.

Cats began yowling as Rosepetal and Bumblestripe escorted the two apprentices to the Nursery.

"Bramblestar, how could you?! They're apprentices!" Millie screeched.

Gemlight's ears flattened as several cats glared at her.

"This is her fault!" Spiderleg snarled, pointing a ragged claw at Gemlight. "She got them in trouble! Who knows, her and Thornclaw were probably working together!"

No, but yes, it was my fault...

"I...I'm leaving this Clan, Bramblestar." Cinderheart meowed. "My mate is dead and who knows what will happen to Hollypaw and Sorrelpaw. But I do not wish to find out. Fernpaw, you can come with me."

"No, mother." Fernpaw said firmly. "I'm going to be by my siblings's side, if you want to be a coward and give up on what's left of your family, be my guest."

"I'm not being a coward." Cinderheart meowed dully. "I...I just need to live off on my own...maybe find some new cats, or live with some twolegs..."

"Mom! You can't leave!" Sorrelpaw gasped. "What about your grandkits?!"

"I have no kits, therefore I have no grandkits." Cinderheart turned to Bramblestar. "I will be leaving now, goodbye ThunderClan."

Cinderheart turned and left the camp, walking away until she disappeared from view.

Millie approached Hollypaw and Sorrelpaw and slowly lead them both back inside the Nursery.

"I don't want to go to the Gathering, Bramblestar." Fernpaw meowed. "I'm staying with my sisters."

"Very well." Bramblestar meowed, still numb from shock. "Is there any other horrible news that I have to deal with, Gemlight?"

"Sandstorm has really bad greencough." Jayfeather approached Bramblestar. "And if I don't stay here, she might not be alive by the next sunrise. Losing a lot of her kin has, well, taken a toll on her."

"Great, so I'll take Gemlight, Brackenfur, Spiderleg, Rosepetal, Ivypool, Cherryfall, and Molewhisker with me." Bramblestar sighed. "It'll be a small group to the Gathering, but many of you need to spend the night taking care of each other. Bumblestripe, take a patrol soon to make sure that Thornclaw and Cinderheart have left the territory."

"Yes, Bramblestar." Bumblestripe meowed.

"Gemlight, walk with me. I want you to be careful with our kits." Bramblestar looked at the sky and his eyes glared. "StarClan is against us..."