Emberpaw's presence in the camp was the only thing that the WindClan warriors were discussing. Brambledusk chewed on a rabbit bone crossly as he angled his ears towards a crowd of warriors who were huddled deep with each other. Even though their conversation was clearly supposed to be private, their voices were so loud that Brambledusk was able to catch wind of their words.

"Do you think Rootstar will come and retrieve Emberpaw?" Cloverwhisker asked, her green eyes dark. "I'm a parent, and I don't know how I'd like my son being held hostage."

"It's necessary," Hawkfeather argued with his mate. "It's not like we're hurting him. We just need him to attack ThunderClan."

Thrushwing nodded. "The scrap is in a burrow, anyway. No cat is getting to him. he may not have the luxurious life he has in ThunderClan, being the pampered son of Rootstar, but no cat is hurting him. You need to stop complaining."

Cloverwhisker's lips were pressed in a tight line. Brambledusk scoffed in irritation. Of course Swiftstar is going to be holding a kit hostage! he thought, ripping off a chunk of rabbit and chewing roughly. Adderstripe was right! About everything! And that's what he died for!

The scent of Spottedwing drifted in Brambledusk's direction, and he looked up to see his mother's soft amber eyes. Brambledusk had no idea what to say to her – he hadn't spoken to her since before the rebellion. He had been imprisoned after, unable to speak to any cat. But the pity in his mother's eyes made him want to go back in his prison and close his eyes for the rest of his life.

"What do you want?" Brambledusk asked as his mother settled next to him. "You shouldn't be seen with me. They'll think you're a traitor, too."

"Then let them think that," Spottedwing said. "I don't care. I'll always side with you."

"Well, you shouldn't," Brambledusk growled. "I'm bathed in sin. I've betrayed so many cats just to end up providing nothing to any of them."

"Oh, Brambledusk," Spottedwing murmured. "I see how much pain you're in… and I just want to tell you that I'm here for you. No matter what. What you did doesn't change my view of you – you are my son, and I will always love you."

Brambledusk turned his head away from his mother, guilt twisting his heart until it felt like he could no longer breathe. His mother shouldn't love him. He had betrayed his Clan – and his best friend. He had promised loyalty to both of them, but failed to come through with his promise. I'm a traitor. In the end, he had accomplished nothing. He hated himself more and more every day – each time he thought about his failures, his betrayal, everything he lost, a pair of sharp claws pierced his heart and twisted it, harder and harder until he could no longer hear his heartbeat anymore, drowned by the pounding of blood in his ears.

"It doesn't matter," Brambledusk choked out the words, getting to his feet. He didn't want to be near anyone. No cat should trust him again. He didn't deserve it. He had let down every cat he knew, by being the pathetic cat he was. A traitor. He was no better than a rogue. The pale tabby hitched a breath, aware of his mother's pitiful gaze burning in his body as he left. From behind him, he could hear his sibling's calls to their mother, and Spottedwing's purrs as she replied to them. Bitterness stung at Brambledusk's heart. She doesn't need me, either. She's got her other kits. They'll make her proud. But I won't.

Just as Brambledusk stopped in front of the rabbit burrow that housed Emberpaw, a racket inside the tunnel caused him to arch his ears forward. A loud hiss resonated through the walls of the tunnels, a hiss Brambledusk associated with one cat only. He could picture the anger radiating from Swiftstar in rays.

"Who told you that you could talk to any of my Clanmates?" Swiftstar was snarling. "You insolent brat!"

"I didn't—"

"If you cannot follow simple rules as they are told to you, then you are nothing more than a miserable good-for-nothing!" Swiftstar's fury was palpable, even from where Brambledusk was standing. He felt his paws shake as he listened to the exchange going on.

"But!" Emberpaw clearly was trying to defend himself, but the WindClan leader was having none of it.

Swiftstar didn't give the brown tabby any room to speak. "Why is it that you can't do as you're told? Answer me when I ask you a question, Emberpaw!"

Brambledusk bounded away from the tunnel, knowing that Swiftstar would just continue to abuse the brown tabby apprentice. Adderstripe was right all along, the tabby thought miserably. And I betrayed him. Brambledusk stopped in his tracks, flopping down on the ground and letting out a long sigh. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a flash of ginger tabby fur, and shame flooded Brambledusk's pelt as he recognized his brother and apprentice, Buzzardpaw. Oh, gods, I haven't been giving him any attention, have I…

Buzzardpaw walked over to Brambledusk, lowering his head respectfully, a manner that a brother should never do. He feels like I'm a stranger to him. Brambledusk got to his paws, watching the ginger tabby, who cleared his throat and spoke.

"Brother, I was just wondering…" Buzzardpaw looked at his paws and then back to Brambledusk. "I saw that Waspberry and Sandfall just came back with Lightningpaw and Cinderpaw, and I was wondering if maybe… maybe you'd take me out to train."

"Oh." Brambledusk looked the ginger tabby up and down. When had he grown so big? The last time Brambledusk had truly examined him had been when he was just a small kit. "Uh, yeah, sure." I've got to take my duties as a mentor seriously. Even though grief and anger made his head spin, he couldn't let down this young cat – his brother. Brambledusk flicked his tail to the tabby and led the way out of camp.

As the two cats walked through the moorland and headed towards the training clearing, Brambledusk couldn't help but recall the memories he and Adderstripe had created here. This had been the spot where they sparred with each other, making the other's moves better by pointing out their weaknesses and helping them improve it, where their mentors had watched and remarked how they moved in sync. Brambledusk clenched his jaw and tried to ignore the tears swelling in his eyes. He turned to look at Buzzardpaw, and his mind spun. He couldn't even remember what he taught him. "What do you know so far?"

"Um… I know how to chase and catch a rabbit," Buzzardpaw replied, twitching his ears. "But… not much else."

"Right." Brambledusk shook out his short pelt. "I guess I'll start with some basic battle moves, then." What did Petalspring teach me on my first day? He shut his eyes, straining his head as he tried to recall his first day as an apprentice. Wait… I remember now… she taught me that if you know your enemy, and you know yourself, you will never lose a battle.

"Let's figure out what your strengths are," Brambledusk said after a few moments of lamenting. "Attack me."

"Attack you?" Buzzardpaw echoed. "How?"

"Just go at it any way you think is right. And don't hold back. I may be your brother and your mentor, but you don't have to go light on me. Pretend I'm an enemy warrior." Brambledusk flicked his tail as he watched Buzzardpaw circle him. Any moment now, Brambledusk thought as he watched Buzzardpaw clench his jaw and tense his muscles.

Just as Brambledusk had predicted, Buzzardpaw launched himself on his mentor at lightning speed, crashing into his side. But there wasn't nearly enough strength in his blow, and Brambledusk stood still as Buzzardpaw crashed into the ground, sending up dirt and grass. The tabby heaved as he got to his paws, glancing at Brambledusk with shame in his eyes.

"So, I think I've figured out your first weakness," Brambledusk said, looking down on his brother. "You're not putting enough force in your blow. I know you can do better than that. I felt it just as you crashed into me."

"I don't want to hurt you," Buzzardpaw said.

"I've been hurt enough in this life," Brambledusk countered dryly. "Some apprentice crashing into me won't make it any worse."

Ignoring the shock in Buzzardpaw's gaze, Brambledusk meowed, "Right. Come at me. Again. With all your strength."

Buzzardpaw nodded, and Brambledusk stood in place. Although an enemy wouldn't stand still in battle waiting to be hit, he just wanted to see how strong Buzzardpaw was. Buzzardpaw narrowed his eyes, and then lunged forward, crashing into Brambledusk's side. Brambledusk grunted as the force from the ginger tabby sent him to the ground. Brambledusk rolled over, and Buzzardpaw leaped on him again, grabbing his paws and pinning him down.

Brambledusk looked up at his apprentice with wide eyes. Wha…? How did he…? Triumph glimmered in Buzzardpaw's pale green gaze as he held Brambledusk down. Brambledusk couldn't help but let a purr escape from his chest. It reminds me of my first day as an apprentice, when I did the same thing to Petalspring. "Good job, Buzzardpaw."

"Thanks!" Buzzardpaw breathed out, scrambling off Brambledusk and shaking his bright ginger pelt again. "Can we go again?"

"Yeah, of course." Brambledusk wondered what the best move was to teach such a young apprentice. He didn't want to show the tabby the world of death and war that they lived in, but he had to protect him from it, and it wasn't as if he could do it by keeping him at camp. He had to teach him to defend himself – and attack others. "All right. Watch me."

The wind rushed against Brambledusk's stomach as he reared on his back legs. In seconds, he jumped off from the ground and soared over Buzzardpaw's back, landing right behind him and turning on his heel to bat at Buzzardpaw's tendons with his paws. Buzzardpaw collapsed to the ground, the breath being squashed out of him. Brambledusk watched him as he pulled himself to his paws.

"You can imagine the type of damage that would do to a cat if their claws were out," Brambledusk explained. "Why don't you try that on me?"

"Okay." Buzzardpaw scrutinized Brambledusk with a determined gaze, but the moment he reared on his back legs… his knees collapsed underneath him, and he hit the ground again. Brambledusk watched him fall, pressing his lips tightly. I've got to help him with his back strength. How can I do that?

"Try again," Brambledusk encouraged quietly.

"But… what if I can't?" Buzzardpaw protested, scrambling to his paws. "That's the second time I've hit the ground!"

"No cat is perfect on their first try," Brambledusk said. "You have no many idea how many times I fell and Adderstripe laughed at me. But then…" Brambledusk's voice trailed off. "He was always there to pick me off the ground."

Buzzardpaw's green eyes widened.

"Oh." Brambledusk looked down at the ginger tabby tom. All Buzzardpaw knew of Adderstripe was that he was a traitor that had attacked his own Clan leader. "Never mind. Just try again, Buzzardpaw."

His brother nodded, and with his muscles squared, he rose up on his hind legs. Brambledusk saw his legs tremble, but Buzzardpaw gritted his teeth, pushed up, and leaped over Brambledusk. Brambledusk gasped with shock as Buzzardpaw landed on top of Brambledusk and crushed him. Gah…! Buzzardpaw's weight on top of him forced him to the ground, and Brambledusk flailed under his brother's weight.

"Oh, gods!" Buzzardpaw exclaimed, scrambling off Brambledusk. "I'm so sorry!"

"Well, that's a new one," Brambledusk commented wryly as he got to his paws, licking the dirt off his chest.

"I told you I'd fail!" Buzzardpaw gasped, pacing around Brambledusk in circles.

"Hey." Brambledusk twitched his tail in faint irritation. "You may not have performed the battle move correctly, but you did nearly crush the air out of me. That'd definitely work on an enemy, and who knows? Maybe it'll be another version of the move I'm trying to teach you. But, try again, Buzzardpaw."

"Okay." Even though Buzzardpaw was letting out a shaky breath, he shut his eyes and evened his breathing before rearing on his paws. He pushed off the ground with all the strength he had in his little body, and scaled Brambledusk's back. Brambledusk waited for him to land on him, but he was pleasantly surprised when nothing crushed his back, and then he found himself collapsing once more when Buzzardpaw's paws jabbed at the sensitive tendons on his back legs.

Brambledusk got to his paws and turned to look at Buzzardpaw, who gazed at his brother with joy and pride shining in his green eyes. The happiness on Buzzardpaw's face chipped at the stone Brambledusk's heart was made of. I felt that way, once. Brambledusk purred loudly in his chest as Buzzardpaw tilted his head.

"Great job, Buzzardpaw," Brambledusk praised his apprentice, tousling his ginger head with his tail. "Didn't I tell you? All you have to do is try, and you'll get it."

"Yeah!" Buzzardpaw chirped. "I'm so going to show Lightningpaw that move! I'm sure he hasn't learned it, yet. He'll be so surprised!"

"Ha." Brambledusk chuckled. "Well, you may not want to beat your siblings up in front of Mother."

"You think she'll get mad?" Buzzardpaw asked, his face dropping.

I don't know, Brambledusk thought. "Maybe," he said. "Why don't we practice this move a few times, and we'll see what time it is?"

"That sounds good to me," Buzzardpaw meowed.

The two brothers trained from sunhigh until the sun slowly began to set, casting its orange and amber rays across the moorland and dappling their pelts with spots of red. The sky was streaked with tinged clouds that hung over the grassland. Buzzardpaw was breathing heavily as Brambledusk stepped back, noticing the sweat slicking from the tom's fur. I've worked him pretty hard today, Brambledusk thought, feeling a tinge of guilt as he examined his little brother's exhausted face. But it was twinged with happiness and pride.

"You did a good job today, Buzzardpaw," Brambledusk praised his apprentice.

"Thanks, Brother!" Buzzardpaw purred. "It wasn't the same training without you… Waspberry and Sandfall were so focused on their own apprentices that it felt like I was on the outside, just watching as they trained. So I felt I was falling behind. I'm glad you're back, Brambledusk."

Brambledusk swallowed the lump in his throat. Have I really been neglecting my duties as a mentor? he thought. It must have been everything with the rebellion, my feelings, and then being imprisoned. "I'm sorry for neglecting you."

"It's okay," Buzzardpaw meowed. "Can we go home, now?"

"Yeah," Brambledusk said. "Of course we can." He turned on his heel, flicking his striped tail, and darted out of the clearing, the wind rushing against his ears as he pelted through the moorland. His paws kicked up dirt from behind him as he sprinted across the grass, and he could hear his brother keeping close pace behind them. The two cats swerved through the moorland until they reached the hollow that made WindClan's camp.

Brambledusk looked over the hollow and then slipped down the walls, watching as his brother climbed his way down. The two cats landed in the entrance and entered the clearing, and the immediate grim atmosphere made Brambledusk flatten his ears. Hushed whispers echoed through the camp, and the cats wore stern expressions. Brambledusk exchanged a glance with Buzzardpaw and walked over to the closest cat – Songbreeze.

"What's going on?" Brambledusk asked the dappled gray she-cat. He wasn't quite sure how she felt about him, but he didn't bother asking her about it. He just wanted to know what was going on.

Songbreeze's blue eyes were dark. "Gorseflight sent a message to Rootstar this morning stating that Swiftstar had his son, and they had until sunset to come rescue him," she explained. "They haven't come yet."

"And…?" Brambledusk asked.

"Look." Songbreeze flicked his tail to Emberpaw, who was in the clearing, flanked by Hawkfeather and Thrushwing. Swiftstar was sitting on the Tall Branch, looming over the small brown tabby cat, his tail lashing back and forth with unconcealed anger. Brambledusk bounded over to the cats, ready to speak out, but he was immediately caught by Waspberry and pulled back. Brambledusk turned to snap at Waspberry, but the she-cat placed her paw on his tail, prohibiting him from moving further.

Emberpaw's yellow eyes were round with fear, while Hawkfeather and Thrushwing gazed at their leader with a hard light in their eyes. Sandfall shook her head sorrowfully and dug her nose into Aspenstep's pelt. Sunleaf shut her eyes, seemingly wanting to be somewhere else. Larchcloud let out a high-pitched whine, and Cloverwhisker brushed against her friend. Scorchclaw watched the proceedings from the foot of the Tall Branch, his eyes shadowed with worry and fear, and Russetstripe was in the same position as Brambledusk – being pulled back by another warrior to stop her from interfering on Emberpaw's behalf.

"Your father didn't come," Swiftstar half-taunted, half-told Emberpaw. "I thought you said he would."

Emberpaw's fur bristled. "I—"

"Enough!" Swiftstar yowled. "Your Clan caused the death of my warrior! Your Clan assisted in my treacherous son trying to usurp me! Now you all will pay! I will bring Rootstar here, even if it kills me! Thrushwing, Hawkfeather, put him back in his prison and stop bringing him food and water! Let's see how Rootstar thinks when he rots in there!"

Brambledusk's claws sunk into the ground. He wants to imprison an apprentice? he thought furiously as Hawkfeather threw the brown tabby tom into his former prison. Swiftstar watched him go, his yellow eyes cold and unfeeling. The minute Emberpaw disappeared, with the last thing Brambledusk seeing fear in his eyes, Swiftstar leaped down from the Tall Branch.

"Father, if we could just talk about this—" Scorchclaw limped over to Swiftstar, wincing from how fast he moved, but Swiftstar just shook his head.

"I will not reconsider any decision made," Swiftstar hissed at Scorchclaw. "I don't care about the apprentice. But I need him for Rootstar to fight. I have to show Rootstar what happens when a cat decides he can betray me!"

"Father!" Scorchclaw barked as Swiftstar disappeared into his den, his tail lashing back and forth. Scorchclaw watched his father, despair and desperation in his amber eyes. The WindClan deputy swung his head, meeting Brambledusk's gaze. Brambledusk lifted his head, narrowing his eyes. You are the deputy now, Brambledusk thought. It's your job to sort this out. He turned his back on Scorchclaw, snorting in irritation. Adderstripe was right the entire time, he thought wryly. Now Swiftstar has a young cat in his prison. What will he do to him?