After the apprentices' warrior ceremony, night fell, and Hollyfrost was buried without a vigil. Brambledusk and Adderstripe had been ordered to take her body away to the furthest reach of WindClan territory and drop it there. Stars draped the night sky, the brilliant white lights glowing starkly against the indigo back drop, each one of them a warrior of StarClan.
Just as Adderstripe covered the grave with the last of the dirt, the ginger-and-white tabby tom let out a heavy sigh. Anger blazed in his orange eyes as he glared at the grave, and his lashing tail brought up some of the fallen dirt, nearly flicking it into Brambledusk's face.
"What's the matter?" Brambledusk asked. A sudden pulse of agony flashed through his body, and the pale tabby tom gritted his teeth. Violetheart had warned him not to move for at least a day or so, but Brambledusk had grown up with Hollyfrost, and it only felt right that he was to bury her, especially if she wouldn't be sent off to StarClan.
"Hailstep could have told me he was in love with a WindClan cat," Adderstripe growled. "Maybe I'd have been able to protect her."
"There was nothing you can do," Brambledusk told his friend.
"Sure there wasn't." Adderstripe snorted. "And now Hailstep is exiled from his Clan. Who knows where he is now? My father will be suspicious if I leave to track him down. Maybe I can send a runner to tell him when the rebellion is happening."
He's still on about the rebellion? Brambledusk felt his ears flatten. "Adderstripe, I—"
A yowl cut the two cats off, and they whipped around, their eyes wide. Did anyone overhear us? Brambledusk thought, panic making his heart race as he searched for the origin of the voice that split the night air.
"Brambledusk! Brambledusk!" cried out the cat, and over the crown of the hills, Brambledusk could spot Waspberry's gray-and-white pelt, outlined by the predawn sky. Her gaze caught Brambledusk's, and then she pelted down at full speed. Brambledusk stepped back, half expecting her to leap on him and pin him down with the way she was racing towards him.
"Waspberry, what is it?" Brambledusk asked his denmate. The shock and distress in her pale amber eyes had his heart skip a beat. "What's going on?"
"It's your father," Waspberry gasped. "Swiftstar accused him of treason. Some cat told him that Oakcloud had refused to fight a young cat in yesterday's battle, and now Swiftstar forced him to attack another ThunderClan cat! But when Oakcloud was on his way to ThunderClan territory, one of his wounds reopened and he collapsed. Hawkfeather brought him back to camp. He's in bad shape, and Violetheart told me to find you. Spottedwing is in there, too."
"What?" The sudden flow of information Waspberry had given him in a matter of seconds made Brambledusk freeze in his tracks. My father? Accused of treason? What happened to him? Fear caused Brambledusk's heart to sink to the pits of his stomach and every muscle in his body to tense. His throat tightened, and he was beginning to find it hard to breathe. "Is he going to make it?"
"Violetheart doesn't think so," Waspberry confessed. "I'm so, so sorry, Brambledusk."
Brambledusk couldn't move, his limbs turning cold. Although Waspberry's mouth still moved, he couldn't understand the words coming out from it. No… Father…! He's not a traitor! Why would Swiftstar do this?
Adderstripe padded up to Waspberry, his orange eyes narrowed. "You say my father made him go out and attack a ThunderClan cat?" he asked. "What in all of the hells did he think he'd gain from that?"
"I guess to do what he didn't," Waspberry replied, disregarding Adderstripe and focusing her pleading gaze on Brambledusk. "Please, Brambledusk. He's been asking for you."
His kits haven't even been born yet! He's never going to meet him if he dies today! He can't die! Brambledusk was finally snapped out of his trance by Adderstripe prodding him in his side. Brambledusk turned over to look at his friend.
"Go to him," Adderstripe told him, his intense eyes earnest. "I'll say my goodbyes to Hollyfrost. Please, Brambledusk. You don't want your father to die without you."
Brambledusk nodded, unable to say anything. Waspberry flicked his shoulder with her tail and raced away, the rising sun illuminating her pale shoulders with its golden rays. Brambledusk followed her, quickening his stride. Even though he was sure he should be in pain from running so quickly with his wounds from last night, he couldn't feel any of it. The pain was gone. There was just a cold, sharp fear settling itself in his heart, accompanying his rapid breathing.
The two young warriors reached the tip of the hollow that harbored the WindClan cats, and Waspberry scrambled down the walls until she landed into the clearing. Brambledusk followed her absent-mindedly as his Clanmate led him into the crevice in the rock that made the medicine den. As Brambledusk entered the cleft, an entire grassy clearing spanned around him. The scent of herbs was fragrant and tickled his nostrils, and in front of him laid his dark brown father, curled up in a nest made of sheep wool and moss. Brambledusk's mother, Spottedwing, laid on his side, and her breathing was ragged.
"Spottedwing, think of your kits," Violetheart was urging the spotted tabby. The gray she-cat sat near them, her blue eyes focused on Oakcloud's body, and she pushed a few black seeds in front of Spottedwing. "They'll be born any day now."
"And their father won't be there to see them!" Spottedwing wailed, tears swelling in her eyes as she threw her head and yowled to the roof of the medicine den.
"Mother…" Brambledusk rasped, unable to move his paws forward as his mother sobbed in Violetheart's chest. Spottedwing turned her head to weakly gaze at Brambledusk.
"Brambledusk," Spottedwing rasped. "Thank the gods you're here."
"W-what happened?" Brambledusk padded over to his barely moving father and nudged his side with his chin. "Father. Father, can you hear me?"
Oakcloud lifted his head shakily, blinking his green eyes several times until they finally focused on Brambledusk. Brambledusk heaved a swallow as he examined the festering wounds on his sides. He could see the life, slowly but surely, evaporating from Oakcloud's eyes. The tom feebly gestured with his paw forward. Brambledusk took a few steps towards his father.
"Father," Brambledusk croaked out, nuzzling his father's shoulder with his lithe, striped head.
"I'm… so proud… of you," Oakcloud croaked out.
"Don't talk like that," Brambledusk chided his father. "You'll be fine! See? Mother is expecting kits, you have to be there to see them! To watch them grow! You can't die!" Despair made his voice turn into a high-pitched mewl. As he stared at his father, barely moving, using the last of his life to utter his last words, the entire world started to crash down. The tightening of his heart was contributing to his trouble breathing. Surely his father couldn't die? How had trying to obey Swiftstar's order led to his demise?
"Defend your Clan," Oakcloud whispered, his voice breaking into a cough. "Do the right thing. Fight for justice and truth." The dark brown tom rested his head on his paws, letting out one more cough, before his eyes slowly began to shut. Brambledusk skidded back in horror as Oakcloud's breaths became slower and slower, until eventually, he moved no longer. Spottedwing let out a horrible wail, and Brambledusk was frozen in his spot, focusing his gaze on his father's unmoving body.
His paws turned numb, and for a moment, he couldn't speak. He couldn't say the words necessary to comfort his mother, and he had been unable to say goodbye in his father in his last moments, instead holding onto a false belief that he wouldn't die. Just as the numbness threatened to render him broken, a cold, rough sensation, something he had never felt, swamped over him. Brambledusk recognized it immediately.
It was anger.
Fury.
Resentment towards Swiftstar boiled in Brambledusk's blood as he realized that, if it hadn't been for his leader demanding the unnecessary, his father would still be alive. He had accused him of treason, and that had been what killed him. Brambledusk stared at his dead father, feeling his lip curl. I will avenge you, he thought. His thoughts became clear – there was no hesitating anymore. Resolve steered his mind and hardened his heart. I swear it.
"Goodbye, Father." Brambledusk hung his head and touched his nose to Oakcloud's pelt. "I will see you again, I swear." The pale tabby lifted his chin, watching his mother sob into Oakcloud's fur. But he didn't know what to say to her. There was nothing he could think of that would ease her pain. His heart hard and cold, he turned on his heel and strode out of the medicine den, ignoring his mother's wretched expression and Violetheart's sorrowful gaze.
Just as he exited the den and entered the clearing, he felt all eyes on him. Brambledusk lifted his head, ignoring their curious stares. They should know. They should know that their Clan leader was responsible for the death of his father. Not bothering to say a word, Brambledusk turned away and headed for the warriors' den.
"Brambledusk!" called out Adderstripe. Brambledusk stiffened and stopped in his tracks, feeling the tip of his tail twitch back and forth. Adderstripe jogged up to him and halted, lowering his head. "I'm so sorry for your loss."
"Thanks," Brambledusk said, his voice flat.
"Are you going to be okay?" Adderstripe asked.
"Eventually." Brambledusk focused his gaze on the morning sun. He finally found the strength to speak, and the frigidness of his voice surprised him. "If Swiftstar hadn't accused Oakcloud of treason, he'd still be alive today."
"Yeah." Adderstripe nodded. "There's no telling who's going to die next because of him." Torment shadowed the amber eyes of the tabby tom. Just as Adderstripe opened his mouth to speak, heavy pawsteps in the clearing made both toms stiffen. They both turned their heads to see Swiftstar staring at the medicine den, his ears twitching in confusion. Adderstripe immediately got to his paws.
A day ago, Brambledusk would've called Adderstripe back and held him down, not wanting him to cause a scene with his Clan leader and father. But now, Brambledusk simply watched Adderstripe stride over to the clearing and stop in front of his father. Adderstripe's eyes were blazing with fury as he met his father's glare.
"What is it?" Swiftstar demanded.
"You killed Oakcloud!" Adderstripe barked at him.
"I did no such thing." Swiftstar's ears flattened. "He died because of his wounds."
"His wounds reopened because you accused him of treason and forced him to go attack another ThunderClan cat!" Adderstripe's words were overflowing with outrage. "You are the cause of his death!"
Swiftstar narrowed his eyes. "You sound like that whining Flintstar."
"Good," Adderstripe growled, fixing his furious stare on his father, never once wavering. "He wasn't wrong when he accused you of killing Finchwing."
"Silence, boy," Swiftstar snapped at Adderstripe. "You won't speak to me like that in front of our guest."
"Guest…?" Adderstripe echoed, staring at the entrance of camp. Just as Swiftstar nodded, a massive, bright golden tom forced his way through the gap and lifted his head, his forest-green eyes scanning the WindClan camp. Brambledusk gasped, recognizing the tom's colossal frame and thick fur around his neck. Lionstar!
"This is Lionstar from ShadowClan," Swiftstar introduced the ShadowClan leader.
"I know who he is," Adderstripe growled at him, disgust and disdain coating his voice as he looked at the ShadowClan leader. "What in all of the hells is he doing here?"
Whispers of confusion spread through the camp. Hawkfeather's golden eyes narrowed into slits, and Grayflight got to his paws, unsheathing his claws. Petalspring squared her shoulders, and Berrysplash immediately began to approach the ShadowClan leader, but was stopped by a twitch of Swiftstar's tail. A snarl escaped Scorchclaw's lips, and Russetstripe lashed her thick dark ginger tail.
"Lionstar of ShadowClan is here today because we have forged an alliance," Swiftstar announced, his voice resonating through the camp, not bothering to address them through the Tall Branch. "Together, we will join forces and crush ThunderClan like the measly little pest it is. When we have complete control over the Clan, we will incorporate them into ours and share control of the forest."
Lionstar nodded in agreement, unfazed by the hostile glares the WindClan cats were shooting at him. "Swiftstar and I have been discussing this for quite some time, and we have finally agreed to terms that benefit the both of us." Just as Waspberry was starting to approach the golden tabby tom, her claws unsheathed, he sent her staggering back with just a shove of his back leg. Swiftstar did not react.
Adderstripe's amber eyes were blazing with fire. "How dare you, Father?" he barked at Swiftstar. "This is utterly ridiculous! You cannot trust ShadowClan for a second! They're treacherous snakes! The moment you turn your back on them, they'll stab you!"
Lionstar flattened his ears. "ShadowClan is known for its strength and honor!" he snarled at Adderstripe, and even though the thunder of his roar made Brambledusk step back, Adderstripe returned the ShadowClan leader's glare. "Swiftstar is a cat I know I can trust. I see no reason to turn on him."
"As I see no reason to turn on you," Swiftstar said. "So, complain all you want, son. I've made my decision, and if you don't like it, then you're welcome to leave the Clan." These were the same words Swiftstar gave to Rabbitfur when the gray-and-white tom protested against the orders. So, his response to every cat who doubts his orders is telling them to leave the Clan. How noble.
"Damn it," Adderstripe hissed, clicking his tongue and turning on Swiftstar. Swiftstar watched Adderstripe stalk away with narrowed amber slits. Then he turned to Lionstar and gave him a small nod.
"Sorry about that, Lionstar," Swiftstar told the ShadowClan leader. "My son has a big mouth."
"So I can tell," Lionstar remarked flippantly, shaking out his thick golden tabby fur. "It's decided. I'll give your Clan some time to recover from your previous battle, and I'll need some time in working out some steps and strategy. Then, when the time is right, we'll strike at ThunderClan, and utterly annihilate them."
Brambledusk gasped at the ruthlessness in Lionstar's voice. Annihilate ThunderClan? But… there has to be four Clans by the lake! Not three! Chagrin flooded through Brambledusk's body and caused him to unsheathe his claws. I can't let this abide. He had tried to ignore Adderstripe's plans for so long. He didn't want to get caught up in them, but he finally realized that he'd been a part of it since day one. He'd doubted his ideals, hoped that he wouldn't go through with it, but it was clear to Brambledusk now.
Adderstripe was right. His father was a dangerous tyrant that had to be stopped. If he was allowed to continue as he was, there would only be death and destruction for WindClan ahead of them. Brambledusk watched as Lionstar and Swiftstar exchanged hushed words, and then he slipped through the crowd to meet Adderstripe, who sulked in the corner, his ginger-and-white ears flattened.
"Adderstripe," Brambledusk addressed his friend, standing from behind him. "You're right."
"Right?" Adderstripe asked, turning his head around, confusion in his eyes. "What do you mean?"
"Your father must be stopped." Brambledusk was surprised at the disdainfulness in his voice, but it didn't matter to him. Oakcloud's death had been in vain. Lionstar wanted to destroy ThunderClan with Swiftstar's help. More cats would die if something wasn't done. What if the next cat was Spottedwing? Or her kits? How can my siblings live in a world full of war?
"I'm glad you agree," Adderstripe meowed, getting to his paws and giving his friend a nod. "Some things are clear only in hindsight. You must see things through the end." There was a hint of a warning in his voice, as if testing Brambledusk's tenacity. But it wouldn't waver. He had made his decision, and he would stick by it.
Brambledusk fixed his gaze on his friend. "Tell me the plan."