I DON'T OWN WARRIOR CATS WHATSOEVER CREDITS TO ERIN HUNTER

{BRAMBLECLAW'S P.O.V}

Brambleclaw woke up to a bright beam of light coming directly at his eyes, as if trying to annoy him on purpose. Brambleclaw groaned, wishing he had slept in a position where his tail was over his eyes. But he hadn't and he knew he wouldn't be able to go back to sleep.

He got up and got into a luxurious stretch until his legs trembled and he sat back down and groomed his pelt a bit from the moss that still clung to it and the fur that stuck out weirdly.

He scanned the den to see who had already woken up. And his gaze spotted a achingly familiar pelt, with one elegant white paw,

and a fluffy tail that was so feathery soft that you would choose her fur over moss and feather,

and so big that if it wrapped around an apprentice you would no longer see the apprentice.

Even though he couldn't see her eyes he knew they were a brilliant green that shone when pleased, but glittered when sad.

He knew the she-cat way too well… Squirrelflight… the cat that had broken his heart, had lied that 3 kits were his and hers. It was all a lie. His heart ripped open every time he saw her.

But it seemed that his brain and his heart were always in a constant battle. His heart wanted her. Wanted her so badly. But his brain growled inwardly everytime he remembered what she had done. His brain hated her. And his brain always took charge of his emotions. And ever since the treacherous gathering, he had given her the cold shoulder, always turning his back on her and never putting her on the same patrols as him.

He growled at himself for always overthinking and he padded outside and started putting cats into patrols, and went on the hunting patrol soon after

{TIME SKIP A FEW DAYS}

He padded into camp a few voles in his mouth and he heard coughing come from the dirtplace, and from the sound of it, the cough was nasty, he placed his voles on the fresh-kill pile and went to the entrance of the dirtplace and sure enough he smelt sickness wafting from the entrance. "Who's there?" he meowed gently and a cough was given back as a reply. Then a husky voice croaked, and he instantly recognized the voice as squirrelflights.

"I'll be right- *COUGH* … out" Squirrelflight rasped out

"Squirrelflight it's me Brambleclaw and I order you to come out and go to Jayfeather. And by the smell and sound of it, a bunch of poppy seeds won't help" He said with authority as he smelled a slight smell of poppy seeds from the dirtplace,

and he guessed that Squirrelflight was trying to cure herself with poppy seeds to numb the pain.

Silence met his words. And she let out another few coughs then reluctantly came out, and he was stunned by how she looked. Ribs showing, eyes drooping, pelt matted and unkempt, and the usual shimmer to her eyes was gone and was now dull.

Squirrelflight stared at him and opened her mouth as if to say something but uncertainty flashed in her gaze and she shook her head, as her tail and head drooped uselessly.

"Squirrelflight! What happened to you!? You have to go see Jayfeather!" he said, unable to contain his shock. But Squirrelflight didn't answer and only made her way to the warrior's den.

He growled all sense of shock gone and only replaced it with anger. If she wanted to act mouse-brained and avoid getting treatment, so be it. He advised her how to be healthy, but she just ignored him, and he wasn't prepared to do more.

{ONE DAY LATER}

As he was sleeping he was woken by a loud commotion outside of the den, and he felt waves of shock and horror from the gathering cats. He quickly got up and went to see what was happening, and as he shoved himself through the crowd he picked up murmurings and whispers.

"What happened to her"

"Squirrelflight passed out"

"Do you see how scrawny she looks…"

"She looks dead!

Squirrelflight passed out…? The thought finally processed in his head. As he made it to the front he saw Squirrelflight's dull fur in a heap in the middle of camp with Jayfeather and Leafpool around her. And finally Squirrelflight gasped awake. And quickly got up, even though she was weak, she was still determined and capable.

Anger surged through him as he marched forward and shoved his face into hers.

"I told you to go to Jayfeather and get checked out, but you were too mouse-brained to listen!." He snarled at her, making her flinch. And what he said next surprised everyone including himself.

"You go around ignoring everyone, Especially the warrior code. Maybe you are useless, maybe it's true that no one wants you here."

Then he remembered the battle moons before, when Squirrelflight had gotten a deep belly wound, and went into a deep sleep unable to wake up for a while. He remembered how he pressed against her and told her that he would be there when she woke up, and that he would never leave her. He remembered she was on the brink of death, but Starclan had spared her.

He snapped back to reality, and saw Squirrelflight looking at him with eyes wide with Horror. And Brambleclaw choked out a final whisper.

"Maybe you should have died in that battle…"

{SQUIRRELFLIGHT'S P.O.V}

"Maybe you should have died in that battle…" The dark tabby warrior whispered his eyes betraying his feelings mirroring her horror

"No…" She gasped with horror. Then rage seeped through her sick-crippled body.

"You know what you good for nothing traitor, I should have died, But Starclan wants to punish me, they want to RUIN me." She snarled. "I never wanted to hurt you! I wanted to protect my sister! I don't regret ANYTHING. Jayfeather and Lionblaze are strong and healthy cats. In my opinion they're a blessing from Starclan. But I'm Not!"

She finished with a snarl of heartbreak and gathering all her strength she fled out of the clearing and through the thorn barrier running blindly through the forest, thorns snagging her fur, and tears blurring her gaze. She couldn't believe it… he wanted her dead! And the thought that crossed her head terrified her but she had to. As she ran all the way to the ravine. She stared in front of her. Where the ground fell steeply. With a promised quick death.

She wasn't ready yet. She decided at dawn she would end her life. She couldn't bear the thought of being hated in the clan anymore. Brambleclaw was better off without her complicating his life. She had to do this. As a last goodbye to the clan she had once loved. At dawn they would be freed of the burden they never wanted… her.

She lay down and pressed her paws against her eyes as she choked out tears of grief, her paws quickly soaked from her tears, her whole body trembling with every sharp inhale, And she watched the sunset that was probably her last ever.

Good bye Brambleclaw… I always loved you. No matter what you do, I will forever watch over you, my forever love…

{BRAMBLECLAW'S P.O.V}

After Brambleclaw's outburst, he had shouldered his way through the crowd that was staring at him with horror and accusing gazes, but he ignored them and made his way through the warriors den, and slumped down in his nest and instantly fell into a troubled sleep.

Then he woke up to a starry forest with the sharp tang of starlight and mist, he looked around and saw trees with star's dripping off the leaves instead of dew. Was this… Starclan..? Was he… dead…?

He looked around, and he saw a familiar she-cat approaching, she had a pale golden pelt, and the scent of milk and warmth on her pelt, and amber eyes that he could get lost in.

"Goldenflower!" he meowed in happiness as he bounded over to her but to his surprise she dodged him and looked at him with anger, and he couldn't be more dumb-founded about why she was mad at him.

"You absolute idiotic mouse-brain. What is wrong with you?!" she scowled at him. "Why would you say that to Squirrelflight, she's out there doing something horrible because of you." She didn't let him talk, as she started to fade, desperation flooded her gaze.

"Save her Brambleclaw, she needs you more than ever." And as he could start to see the trees through his mothers fading pelt, she yowled two more words that echoed in his ears.

"SAVE HER!" He woke up and the words were still echoing in his ears. How do I save her? I don't know what she's doing, or where she is.

Brambleclaw padded out of the warriors den. And saw that it was pouring rain, the clouds were furious and lightning shot through the sky like a claw made of iron.

He looked around, maybe Squirrelflight was somewhere in camp. When his gaze circled the clearing he saw a cat on top of the ravine in the background that stretched high above the stone wall of the camp, and he saw the familiar white paw stained with mud, the cat's hair being pressed back from the furious rain and wind. The cat stepped forward with their paws one mouse-length away from an unforgiving fall.

Squirrelflight! His breath caught in his throat as understanding of what she was about to do struck him harder than a badger's claws.

"Squirrelflight!"

He yowled as he broke off into the fastest sprint he had ever run, he shoved his way through the thorn barrier. He sprinted not stopping for breath, he couldn't let Squirrelflight do something she will regret, especially when he was the reason.

As he reached the ravine he halted a few fox length's away from Squirrelflight, he stared at her as she gazed back at him, the wind buffeting her fur, her eyes blurred and drowned in tears, as she stared at him with shock and horror.

"Leave me alone! Let me go, you're better off without me" she cried over the angry storm desperation drowned her voice.

"No Squirrelflight!" he began, matching her desperation. "I'm not better off without you, I need you, I didn't know what I was saying, I care about you more than I care about myself! Don't do this..!"

"No…" She whispered as she stepped back, one of her hind legs on the edge and dust and small rocks fell off the edge. "You don't love me but I always will…" she whispered and without warning she slammed her front paws making the ground around her start to crack and the ravine edge started to shift and Brambleclaw yowled in shock and he lunged forward but the ground had already snapped and Squirrelflight fell with it but Brambleclaw quickly stretched his fore paws and grabbed her shoulders with his long claws. Squirrelflight looked up with shock.

"What are you doing! You'll fall with me!" she cried her eyes wide with horror, "I'm saving you" he gasped out with gritted teeth. "I need you Squirrelflight, if you die I will go with you. I was stupid for turning away from you, I need you!" he cried with desperation and grief in his voice. Squirrelflight's eyes became more emotional with grief. And she nodded, and Brambleclaw tensed his muscles as he brought her up to him so he could get a grip of her scruff with his teeth.

As soon as he grabbed her by the scruff he shot backwards and tumbled backwards and landed on his back with Squirrelflight landing on top of him. He let go of her scruff and let out a huge gasp of disbelief.

"You saved me…" Squirrelflight whispered her eyes filled with grief. Then she let out a loud sob and she pressed herself against him. "I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have done that," she sobbed with grief, her whole body trembling. Brambleclaw, laid his tail on her flank and wrapped a paw around her neck pressing her closer.

"It's ok, I'm sorry as well…" he meowed softly, licking her forehead, and he heard pawsteps pounding at the forest floor behind him and as Squirrelflight instantly shot up and looked nervously at Brambleclaw. And he got up and saw a group of cats shoot through the undergrowth and he saw Firestar in the lead with Graystripe, Brackenfur, Sandstorm, and Thornclaw. Running behind him.

Almost instantly Firestar bowled over Brambleclaw and pinned the tabby warrior and snarled at Brambleclaw's face.

"What were you trying to do to my daughter you mange-pelt" he snarled at him, and Brambleclaw only stared with wide eyes at his leader and he saw familiarity cross Firestar's eyes that were smoldered with green fire.

Wait… familiarity…? The realization hit him like a monster on the thunderpath

His voice got caught in his throat, but he managed to choke out a sentence. "You think I'm Tigerstar… don't you…?" he whispered and he saw uncertainty cross Firestar's gaze almost instantly, but his eyes stayed guarded.

Brambleclaw looked over to look at Squirrelflight, pain in his amber eyes. And he saw Squirrelflight push away from Sandstorm that was grooming her daughter frantically as if her life depended on it.

Squirrelflight jumped away from her mother and shot herself at Firestar, bowling her father over.

"Stop! He saved me! I almost fell from the ravine!" she yowled with desperation in her voice "he risked his life for me…" She choked out and Firestar's gaze instantly changed to deep regret, as his leader lay there stunned for a few moments before he heaved himself up and looked at Brambleclaw with deep apology, and uncertainty, and his mouth was open, trying to say something but nothing came out.

Brambleclaw didn't let his leader tumble over his own paws and cut him off.

"It's fine, I was horrible in camp, it's my fault, don't apologize… I'm sorry," he meowed, dipping his head in respect and he was caught off guard as Sandstorm pressed her head against Brambleclaw's shoulder.

"Thank you, thank you, Thank you, You just saved so many cats from the hardest heartbreak, and most importantly you saved my daughter."

Brambleclaw kind of stood there dumbfounded, thinking desperately how to respond.

"I would die for Squirrelflight" he meowed at last. Sandstorm looked at him gratefully then padded over to Firestar and pressed against him.

Graystripe, Brackenfur, and Thornclaw padded over from where they were watching the commotion and said comforting words and said different praises to Brambleclaw with approval. As Graystripe padded over to Firestar and whispered a few words, Firestar nodded then beckoned with his tail to start going back to camp.

Brambleclaw almost instantly went to Squirrelflight and let her lean on his shoulder as they gazed at each other lovingly for a few moments before heading off with the patrol back to camp pelts brushing and hearts warmed with love.

{A Few Moons Later}

Squirrelflight lay in the nursery gazing at her two surviving newborn kits kneading at her belly for milk, and she sighed as she looked over to two lifeless bundles of fur. She had had a tough birth and two of the kits died. with grief and exhaustion, she lay her chin on her paws and almost instantly Jayfeather poked at her and she looked at him with drooping eyes. "I know you had a tough birth but you have to stay strong for your remaining kits" He meowed with a reassuring note in his voice. Squirrelflight sighed and nibbled at the borage that was at the edge of her nest reluctantly.

Jayfeather padded outside and informed Brambleclaw of what had happened and the tom instantly pushed him aside and made his way inside of the nursery stopping for a moment looking at the two bundles of fur on the edge of the nursery, and he swerved giving both of them swift licks then made his way to Squirrelflight.

"Hi brambleclaw," she whispered, nuzzling her muzzle against his. "Hello love," he whispered back and he gazed at the two kits that were in the curve of her belly.

"They're beautiful," he whispered. She had had a tom and a she-cat, the she-cat was flame-coloured like Squirrelflight and the tom was a sturdy dark ginger time with a white tipped tail.

"What should we name all of them…?" she meowed gazing at her two lifeless kits at the edge of her nest.

"How about DandelionKit for the pale ginger she-cat?" Brambleclaw suggested as he picked up the lifeless kit by the scruff and placed her at his paws. And reached over for the second kit "And JuniperKit for the dark brown and white tom"

She nodded with approval, liking the names her mate had chosen and looked at her two kits that were kneading her belly. "And how about AlderKit for the tom, and SparkKit for the she-cat," she suggested and was answered by Brambleclaw's muzzle against hers and a purr of approval.

"Those are beautiful names," He then gazed at his four kits with love in his amber eyes. Have an easy journey, DandelionKit and JuniperKit, and wait for us in Starclan, And welcome to Thunderclan AlderKit and SparkKit."

After burying the two kits, Brambleclaw had made his way into the nursery and curled around Squirrelflight and his two surviving kits and groomed his mate's neck fur.

"I love you Squirrelflight…" He whispered to her with love.

"And I love you too, Brambleclaw," she whispered back as she leaned against him and gazed at her kits with love.

THE END