Two worlds collide
Chapter 5 Bramblestar's past part 1
A week had past since the introductions, Bramblestar and Squirrelflight would introduce cats from Thunderclan to Simba's pride.
Bramblestar and Kovu had started to develop a brotherly relationship because they both knew what it was like to be judged by their appearances. Their kin and friends all had to agree they were quite alike in a lot of ways. Kiara and Squirrelflight had also become very close, for they too were quite similar, kind hearted, yet headstrong.
Bramblestar, Squirrelflight and Graystripe were visiting pride rock. Vitani and her guard were on patrol, Kion and the guard were talking with the cats, Simba, Nala, Kiara and Kovu. The gray cat watched as Bunga was eating a handful of insects.
"And I thought I was the biggest eater" he chuckled.
The others all laughed.
"Graystripe could even eat in his sleep" Squirrelflight whispered in Kiara's ear and the two giggled.
Kovu had told the clan leader and deputy the story of how he and Kiara met and fell in love. Bramblestar often felt bad for Kovu because of the harsh treatment he had gotten from his mother and being misjudged for his appearance.
"So pride rock has all these dens, yet you're whole pride sleeps in the same den?" Bramblestar asked the royal family.
"Don't you all sleep in the same den?" asked Nala.
"Each clan has seven dens," explained Bramblestar. "The nursery where the queens and the kits sleep, the apprentice den where the apprentices sleep, the warriors den is where the warriors sleep, the medicine cats den is where the medicine cats work and sleep in along with cats who get sick or hurt. The elders den is where warriors who are retired sleep and as leader I sleep by myself."
He tried to sound proud about that, but they could tell he felt lonely having a den to himself.
"It must be nice having a den to yourself" said Kion humorously.
"I am proud to be leader," said Bramblestar smiling. But then he sighed. "But you know," he said admittingly. "Sometimes it does get lonely."
"Doesn't the family of the leader sleep in the leaders den too?" asked Bunga.
Bramblestar shook his head.
"We're allowed to have guests," he said. "But it's usually just for one night."
"We cheetahs usually live alone," shrugged Fuli. "So I really don't see any difference."
"I still can't believe rule 5 in the warrior code is that kits can't leave the camp until they become apprentices at six moons," exclaimed Kiara. "I could never stand to be stuck in pride rock for that long."
"Kits kind of can leave the camp," said Squirrelflight. "They just have to have a grown cat with them to supervise them."
"It certainly would've kept Kiara out of trouble," chuckled Simba. "She was always causing mischief when she was a cub."
"Kind of reminds me of Squirrelflight," teased Graystripe. "She never did as she was told either. Her mentor Dustpelt once threatened to shred her fur off if she didn't behave."
"Doesn't always seem to do so now" agreed Bramblestar flicking his mate with his tail.
"Don't cubs have to stay in pride rock?" asked Squirrelflight.
"Well, they kind of have to stay in pride rock till they're old enough to go out alone too," admitted Kiara. "But we do have more freedom than the kits in the clans do."
Just then, Leafpool arrived.
"Squirrelflight, Graystripe," she said. "Can you two go back to Thunderclan. I need to talk to Bramblestar and the royal family, alone."
Graystripe nodded.
"Okay," said Squirrelflight. "I told Twigbranch and Dewnose I'd do boarder patrol with them."
The two cats said goodbye and left.
"What do you want to talk about Leafpool?" asked Simba.
"I had a visit from Starclan last night," explained Leafpool. "They'd like to meet the royal family and the lion guard."
The pridelanders all exchanged confused looks.
"Why?" asked Kovu.
"They said they've been watching you since Bramblestar and Squirrelflight discovered the tunnel that leads between the forest and the pridelands," replied Leafpool. "They felt it was time you met."
"How can we see Starclan?" asked Beshte.
"We're not cats" added Ono.
"Would Starclan visit us?" asked Fuli.
"How could we go to Starclan?" added Kion. "We can't necessarily go into the clans forest so we can't use the moonpool."
"Starclan can walk in your dreams," reminded Bramblestar. "Tonight, I'll go to the moonpool and you can just fall asleep in you're dens."
The royal family and the lion all agreed.
…
That night the royal family and the lion guard all went to sleep, Leafpool had given them poppyseeds to help them fall asleep. Long after sunset, they had eaten the seeds and one at a time all fell asleep.
Kovu was the first to open his eyes and saw he was laying on lush grass out on a moor with beautiful flowers and forested areas, and up in the sky filled with shiny stars. Sweet scents were everywhere.
As Kovu got up, he noticed Kiara appeared next to him. She too opened her eyes and noticed the world around her.
Simba, Nala, Kion and the rest of the guard all woke up.
"Are you seeing this Ono?" asked Bunga.
"It's like we're all having the same dream" muttered Ono.
"Amazing" said Beshte breathlessly.
"Simba? Kovu?" called a voice.
They all looked to see Bramblestar walking up to them, Leafpool wasn't far behind.
"Bramblestar?" said Kiara. "Is this Starclan?"
"Yeah" replied Bramblestar.
"Welcome" said a voice.
Everyone looked up to see a tom cat appear in front of them. A she cat appeared next to him. The tom's had the same ginger pelt and green eyes of Squirrelflight and the she cat had pale ginger fur and green eyes and their pelts shone like stars like Bramblestar's. It didn't take the pridelanders long to realize who this cat was.
"You must be Firestar," said Simba bowing down. "Squirrelflight and Leafpool's father, the former leader of Thunderclan."
"I am," said Firestar with an amused smile, returning the bow. "And this is my mate, Sandstorm."
"We've been looking forward to met you" said Sandstorm kindly.
"It's nice to meet you as well," said Simba. "Bramblestar's told us so much about you."
"Why have we been summoned to Starclan?" asked Kovu.
"Because," purred Firestar. "I think it's time you learned the whole story about Bramblestar's and my life."
Bramblestar dipped his head acceptingly towards his former leader. Firestar and Sandstorm led the others up to a pool of water.
"This is the pool Starclan uses to watch the living world," explained Firestar.
Everyone stared down in the pool. An image appeared in the water, it looked like the inside of a den, everyone looked to see a pair of kittens feeding against their mother a gold furred she cat. It was a kitten version of Bramblestar and Tawnypelt.
"That's me and Tawnypelt when we were kits," explained Bramblestar. "And that's our mother Goldenflower."
They saw Firestar walking into the nursery carrying a pair of other kittens.
"Those are Graystripe's kits from Silverstream," added Firestar. "Stormfur and Feathertail. Goldenflower looked after them until they went back to Riverclan."
They watched as Firestar asked Goldenflower if she could feed the other two kits and she nodded.
"As you might've known," said Firestar. "I was fearful about Bramblestar's appearance, afraid that he and Tawnypelt would grow up to be killers like their father. I always pictured Tigerstar whenever I looked at him."
The royal family saw Firestar lowering his head in shame at the though of his misjudgement.
"It wasn't just you," said Bramblestar reassuring. "A lot of the other cats thought that too."
The image in the pool changed to a fire raging across Thunderclan and saw cats fleeing towards a river.
"This happened after Tigerstar's banishment," explained Firestar. "He had killed Redtail the deputy of Thunderclan before I joined so he'd become deputy. He tried to kill Bluestar the leader before me so he could be leader, but Graystripe and I caught him and stopped him."
"A lightning storm caused a fire on Thunderclan's territory," explained Bramblestar. "I got separated from my mother and Firestar went to look for me and some others who had gotten separated."
They all looked at the image they saw Firestar running through the burning forest and then stopped in front of a tree, they saw Bramblekit hanging from a branch yowling for help. The pridelanders gasped in horror as they watched Firestar climbing the tree, quickly grabbing Bramblekit by the scruff and leaping back down to run.
Simba watched the image for a moment and then looked up at Kovu. He wondered if he had been the one hanging from a burning tree as a cub, if he would've saved him too.
Of course, I would have, he decided to himself. Heir of Scar or not, he'd still be a cub and leaving a cub for dead wouldn't make me any better.
"After Firestar saved me from the fire," said Bramblestar. "I felt quite grateful to Firestar for saving me. Goldenflower tried to protect us from the truth of Tigerstar by telling us good things about him."
The image changed to see Bramblekit and Tawnykit walking through the forest with a black cat.
"Who's that?" asked Kiara.
"That's Darkstripe," explained Firestar gravely. "He was Tigerstar's most loyal follower."
The pridelanders all stared down at the image of Darkstripe with grave looks or glares.
"What's he doing?" asked Ono.
"That's the day Tawnypelt and I first met our father," explained Bramblestar with a sigh.
"I'm tired. My paws ache" complained Tawnykit.
"A strong kit like you?" said Darkstripe. "Don't be silly. It's not that far now."
Bramblekit walked over to his sister and nudged her. "Come on," he said supportively. "It'll be worth it."
The pridelanders watched as Darkstripe led them over a stream.
"Yuck!" exclaimed Tawnykit. "What's that?"
"Is it a fox?" asked Bramblekit.
"No, it's shadowclan scent," replied Darkstripe. "Come on, we're nearly there."
Just then to the pridelanders surprise another cat appeared from a bush. To their surprise, he looked like Bramblestar. The same dark fur and amber eyes, the same broad shoulders. The only difference was he had a scar along his snout and his left ear had a v mark.
"Woah, Bramblestar was right," whispered Bunga. "He really does resemble Tigerstar."
"Easy Bunga" Fuli whispered back.
Tigerstar bent down to nuzzle his kits.
"Do you know who I am?" he asked in a charming voice.
"Darkstripe said he'd take us to meet our father" said Bramblekit.
"Are you our father?" asked Tawnykit. "You smell a bit like us."
Tigerstar nodded. "I am."
"This is Tigerstar, leader of Shadowclan," Darkstripe announced.
The kits eyes beamed excitedly.
"You're really a clan leader?" asked Bramblekit
"Why can't we come live with you in your clan?" added Tawnykit. "You must have a really nice den."
"You're place is with your mother in her clan now," said Tigerstar shaking his head. The unusual tone of caring in his voice reminded Simba of Scar. "But that doesn't mean I'm not proud of you. They seem like fine, strong kits. When will they be apprenticed."
"In about another moon or so," replied Darkstripe. "It's a pity I already have an apprentice, then I could mentor one of them."
"Can you hunt?" Tigerstar asked his kits. "Can you fight? Do you want to be good warriors?"
Both kits nodded.
"I'm gonna be the best warrior in the whole clan" Bramblekit boasted.
"And I'll be the best hunter" added Tawnykit.
"Good, good," said Tigerstar licking his kits.
"Please tell us Tigerstar," Bramblekit said excitedly. "Why are you the leader of Shadowclan when our mother's a Thunderclan cat."
"They don't know?" asked Tigerstar. Darkstripe shook his head. "It's a long story, sit down and I'll tell you."
Several worried glances exchanged around the pridelanders. They wondered what Tigerstar would say. They knew he would never admit to being a traitor. Just then Firestar appeared in the image.
"Good day Tigerstar," said past Firestar. "You're a long way from the camp. And so are you Darkstripe." His toned sharpened as he turned to Darkstripe. "What are you dong here with these kits."
"This is our father," announced Tawnykit. "We came all the way from the camp to meet him."
"Why did no cat tell us he was a leader?" added Bramblekit.
Firestar didn't answer, he just glared at Darkstripe.
"How did you know we were here?" demanded Darkstripe.
"I saw you crossing the stream," replied Fireheart. "You were making enough noise to wake the whole forest."
The pridelanders saw a look of embarrassment on Darkstripe's face.
"Fireheart," said Tigerstar in a civil tone, dipping his head. "Blame me, not Darkstripe. I wanted to see my kits. You wouldn't deny me that surely."
"That's all very well," replied Fireheart. In a confused tone. "But Darkstripe shouldn't have taken them without permission. It's dangerous to let kits wander so far away from the camp."
"They're not wandering, they're with me" Darkstripe pointed out.
"What if a hawk attacked? There's still little cover in of the forest, have you forgotten what happened to Snowkit?" Fireheart ranted. He then calmed down. "Take them back to camp, Darkstripe. Now."
Tigerstar turned to his kits. "Come on, Fireheart has spoken. We must obey."
"Say goodbye to your father before you go," said Fireheart. "You'll see him again when your apprentices and can go to gatherings."
"Goodbye," called Tigerstar. "Work hard and I'll be proud of you."
The image then changed to a clearing where many cats were gathered around a high rock, they continued watching as Bramblekit and Tawnykit walked across the clearing towards the rock. They noticed how radiant Tawnykit's tortoiseshell fur looked, and Bramblekit's dark tabby fur had a glossy sheen.
"I remember that day," sighed Bramblestar with a small smile. "Goldenflower worked hard grooming us for our apprentice ceremony."
They saw a she-cat with bluish-gray fur standing on the rock. They recognized her as Bluestar, the leader of Thunderclan before Firestar. The two kits went up to join her.
"Brackenfur," she announced. "Fireheart tells me you are ready to take on your first apprentice. You will be mentor to Tawnypaw. You have shown yourself to be a warrior of loyalty and forethought. Do your best to pass on these qualities to tawnypaw."
Tawnypaw walked down the rock to meet her mentor.
"Fireheart," she continued. "Now that Cloudtail is a warrior, you are free to take on another apprentice, you will mentor Bramblepaw. You have shown yourself to be a warrior of rare courage and quick thinking. I'm sure you will pass all you know on to this young apprentice."
Bramblepaw stepped down from the rock and walked up to Fireheart and touched his nose with his own.
"I could see that Bramblestar was gonna make a great warrior," said Firestar. "But I couldn't get over that he was Tigerstar's son."
"I did take it pretty hard when I learned about the bad things my father had done," agreed Bramblestar admittingly. "But I worked hard to gain the clans respect and proved them wrong."
Another image appeared in the moonpool; Firestar was sitting on a fence. He looked back to see Bramblepaw starring at him.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I followed you from camp Firestar," stammered Bramblepaw. "I was curious about where you were going and I wanted to practice my tracking skills."
The pridelanders could see Firestar had a look of surprise and impressiveness on the leader's face.
"Can I trust you?" asked Firestar.
"Can I trust you?" Bramblepaw countered.
"You can trust me," replied Firestar after a minute. "I chose to leave my life as a kittypet. No matter what happens I'll always put my clan first. But I do come here now and again to see my sister sometimes. I wonder how things would've been if I stayed and I always leave knowing my heart always lie in Thunderclan.
Bramblepaw nodded.
"How do you get on with the other apprentices?" asked Firestar.
"They're okay," said Bramblepaw. "But I know some of the warriors don't like me and Tawnypaw because Tigerstar's our father. But I know where my loyalties lie, and I'll prove that one day."
"I realised that Bramblestar and I had more in common then I thought," said Firestar. "I wasn't always the respected leader you know. When I joined the clan not everybody welcomed me warmly."
Nala saw Sandstorm look down with guilt as Firestar said that. She had a feeling that Sandstorm had been one of them. But she didn't say anything.
"Tigerstar planned on taking over the whole forest," continued Firestar. "He convinced Shadowclan and Riverclan to join him, but Tallstar and I refused and we alliance our clans together to stop him."
The imaged appeared to the day of the battle between Lionclan and Tigerclan. They saw Tawnypaw was standing next to her father. Bramblepaw walked up next to Firestar wailing at her to come back to them.
"No Bramblepaw," said Tigerstar. "You come to us. Your sister made the right choice. Tigerclan will rule the whole forest, and you can share our power. What do you say, Thunderclan is finished, there is nothing there for you."
"Join you?" said Bramblepaw softly. "Join you?" he said loud enough for everyone to hear. "After everything you've done? I'd rather die!"
"Are you sure?" growled Tigerstar. "I won't make this offer twice, join us now or you will die."
"Then at least I'll go to Starclan a loyal Thunderclan cat declared Bramblepaw.
The pridelanders all glared in disgust at how Tigerstar would execute his own son, but at the same time proud that Bramblestar chose to be loyal to the warrior code.
"Did you kill Tigerstar?" asked Kion.
"No," replied Firestar. "Tigerstar allied himself with these rouge cats called Bloodclan. But the leader turned on him and killed him."
Another image appeared in the moonpool, Firestar was standing on top of the rock with Bramblepaw, he now looked like a young adult. Thunderclan cats were gathered around.
"Bramblepaw," announced Firestar. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do" announced Bramblepaw.
"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. From this moment you will be known as Brambleclaw. Starclan honors your courage and loyalty. We welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan."
The cats started cheering Brambleclaw's name and Brambleclaw stepped down.
"That was my warrior ceremony," explained Bramblestar. "I was determined to shake off the legacy of my father and I proved my loyalty."
The next images showed Bramblestar, Squirrelflight, Tawnypelt, Crowfrost, Stormfur and Feathertail gathering together and journeying to the sundrown place. And how they met Midnight, and how Feathertail sacrificed herself to save the tribe of rushing water. And then the clans all travelling together to the lake.
The image then showed Brambleclaw entering what looked the old Thunderclan camp. They all looked at Bramblestar who had lowered his head in shame. And to their surprise, they saw Tigerstar standing there and motioned himself closer with a flick of his tail.
"Welcome," he said in a low growl. "I've waited many moons to speak to you. I have seen you're courage and strength I'm proud to call you kin."
"Th-thank you," stammered Brambleclaw. "Why did you come here? Did Starclan send you?"
"I do not hunt with Starclan," said Tigerstar. "There's more sky then silverpelt and there are hunting grounds not even Starclan knows of. Welcome," he said again. A second dark brown tabby showed up. He looked like Brambleclaw and Tigerstar but he had blue eyes and a white underbelly. The royal family and the lion guard all recognized him as Hawkfrost, Mothwing's brother and Bramblestar's half brother.
"I've looked forward to meeting you," said Tigerstar softly.
"Are you my father?" asked Hawkfrost.
"I am," replied Tigerstar nodding. "How are your new territories?"
"It's hard being somewhere different" admitted Hawkfrost.
"We all miss the forest" added Brambleclaw.
"Soon the land by the lake will seem like home," said Tigerstar. "Establish your boundaries and guard them with tooth and claw, because territory is what binds a clan together."
He looked up and saw the sunrise.
"I must go now," he said. "Goodbye Brambleclaw, Hawkfrost. We'll meet again soon."
The image then faded. Bramblestar looked up at the Pridelanders, he could tell they were starting to half their doubts in him, they looked at him with suspicious conflicting thoughts.
"Tigerstar started walking in my dreams shortly after we arrived," explained Bramblestar guiltily. "From the place of no stars."
"The place of no stars?" asked Kovu.
"The place of no stars is where the bad cats go when they die," explained Firestar. "Cats who broke the warrior code and showed no loyalty to their clans. All they care about is power."
"Like Starclan, the dark forest cats can also walk in the living cats dreams," added Bramblestar. "Tigerstar sensed my desires to become deputy, so he started walking me in my dreams, I thought he was trying to teach me to be a better warrior. I was a younger warrior in those days, I did foolish things I'm not to proud about."
Kovu looked at Bramblestar sympathetically. He had almost fell for the same deception that almost made him kill Simba.
"Squirrelflight and I didn't always get along," Bramblestar continued. "We didn't necessarily hate each other, but we weren't exactly each other's favourite cat either. I felt her annoying and thought I was a bossy know it all, but as we journeyed together and she began to mature, we started to fall in love. Our relationship became strained though because she had bad feelings about Hawkfrost, but I didn't believe her. however the clan got attacked by badgers, and we fought along side and we made up. That's how I got this scar on my shoulder."
The royal family and the lion guard all looked at the scar on Bramblestar's left shoulder that went along his shoulder and stopped at his chest. That had never really paid much attention to it before.
Another image appeared in the moonpool, Brambleclaw was with Tigerstar and Hawkfrost in the dark forest talking.
"You need to make sure Firestar remembers how bravely you fought and how hard you've worked during the attack," said Tigerstar. "That will serve you well when it comes to choose a deputy."
"I still haven't had an apprentice," Brambleclaw replied unsurely. "And Firestar won't choose another deputy till he's sure Graystripe is dead."
"Then you need to delay his decision for as long as possible," declared Tigerstar. "So that you have time to be given an apprentice. How are you going to do that? Hawkfrost what do you think?"
"Encourage him to think Graystripe is alive," replied Hawkfrost. "It can't be true of course. But it's what Firestar wants to believe, so it shouldn't be too hard to convince him."
"What else?" asked Tigerstar looking at Brambleclaw.
"Make sure I take care of the deputy's duties," said Brambleclaw nervously. "That'll make a good impression on Firestar and at the same time make him feel it's not urgent to choose a new deputy yet."
"And make friends of those kits of Daisy's," added Hawkfrost. "They'll be the next apprentices, won't they? If one of them asks for you as their mentor, you'll be all set."
"Sure, I can't do that," said Brambleclaw. He then looked at his father unsurely. "Do you think it matters that their mother came from the horseplace?"
"Their mother should go back to where she came from," growled Tigerstar. "She'll never be any use to the clan. But her kits will do well enough if properly trained."
"Don't forget my mother wasn't clanborn either," replied Hawkfrost his whiskers twitching. "Riverclan won't let me forget that, but it doesn't make me weak or stupid."
Tigerstar nodded.
"Your mother was a rouge, but dedicate yourself to the code and you will be good as any of those who despise you. I became leader of a clan where I did not belong by birth. And Daisy's kits are too young to remember anything but being part of Thunderclan. Being clanborn is important, but we all work with what we're given on the path to power."
"So even a kittypet like Firestar…" Brambleclaw began. But was interrupted with a furious hiss from his father.
"Firestar will never lose his filthy kittypet scent!" he snapped. "It only weakens him. Look at the way he let that whining horseplace cat stay. Her kits may grow up more clan than kittypet, but she will never be any use as a warrior. And now he welcomes that Riverclan cat that abandons his clan and his mate wo belongs to no clan and never will!"
Bramblestar looked up to see the surprised and furious looks on the pridelanders faces. Simba was growling and looked like he wanted to shout down in the pool to give Tigerstar a piece of his mind.
"What nerve of him to tell you too to dedicate yourselves to the warrior code when he's got no respect for it himself" huffed Kiara.
"I can't believe he'd talk about the potential of cats who are not clanborn when he thinks Firestar will never be special" added Beshte.
They looked down and saw Tigerstar giving them a fighting lesson for a while and eventually told them to stop. The scene then changed to show Brambleclaw waking up in his nest and they looked concerned for him to see that he looked like he hadn't slept at all and his scar had been reopened!
"Bramblestar!" exclaimed Kiara worriedly. "You're shoulder!"
"How?" added Bunga. "You were only fighting in a dream!"
"It may have been a dream," sighed Bramblestar. "But it's still real."
A new image appeared in the pool, Brambleclaw was talking to Firestar.
"Every cat in Thunderclan is loyal," said Brambleclaw. "They would all die for Thunderclan if they had too. But Dustpelt and Mousefur feel every cat has to make a stand for the sake of the clan. they're worried about the clan looking weak."
"Then what do you suggest?" asked Firestar.
"You have to show them that Thunderclan has strong leadership, that there's nothing to worry about. That we're strong and whatever happens the clan will stick together."
"And how do you suggest I do that?" asked Firestar.
"You need to appoint a new deputy" said Brambleclaw after a minute.
Firestar stared at him and asked why.
"Because a united leadership, two loyal cats in charge will show the clans that we're strong again despite of the badger attack. Don't you know that leaders like Blackstar sneer at us call us weak."
"Weak," growled Firstar. "I wish Blackstar would say that at my face."
Then Sandstorm entered.
"Starclan can't see everywhere," she said. "I know it's hard. Graystripe was my friend too. But it might be time to accept that he isn't coming back."
"That was when I had that omen that Bramblestar should be deputy," Leafpool spoke up. "And Firestar appointed Bramblestar deputy."
The image changed to show Firestar caught in a fox trap and Brambleclaw and Hawkfrost were near him.
"This is our chance to take revenge on our Firestar and avenge our father," said Hawkfrost. He could have tried to stop Scourge, but he just stood there and watched him die over and over."
Brambleclaw just stood there for a minute thoughtfully.
"No," he declared. "I won't do it."
He then started trying to dig up the stick that held the trap.
"Keep still Firestar," he cried. "I'll have you out of there in a heartbeat!"
But then Hawkfrost pounced on him, the two brothers fought.
"Traitor!" snapped Hawkfrost. "You're a traitor to everything our father planned! You were never strong enough to be like him!"
"I don't wanna be like him!" retorted Brambleclaw.
"Then you're a fool," growled Hawkfrost. "And stupid too. You never realized this was a test. This was Tigerstar's idea. He said that if you really deserved power, you would do anything to get it!"
"Even kill my clan leader!" cried Brambleclaw.
"Especially that. But you are as weak as Tigerstar feared!" said Hawkfrost. "We had great plans for the forest he and I. And you could've been part of them, but we don't need you."
"Go back to Riverclan! You're my brother," said Brambleclaw. "I don't wanna hurt you,"
"Because you're weak," taunted Hawkfrost. "You care more for kin then for power, but I don't."
Brambleclaw then grabbed the stick from the fox trap in his teeth and stabbed Hawkfrost in the neck with it. Hawkfrost collapsed to the ground.
"Hawkfrost," gasped Brambleclaw. "I-I didn't want this!"
"Fool," Hawkfrost rasped. "Do you think I did this alone? Think again!"
"What?" asked Brambleclaw.
"What do you mean Hawkfrost? Tell me! who do you mean?" demanded Brambleclaw.
But Hawkfrost was dead.
Brambleclaw then finished realising Firestar from the trap and as Firestar stood up, he looked down in shame preparing to accept exile.
"Brambleclaw," said Firestar. "You did well. Your path has been hard, harder than most. But you fought a great battle and you won. You're a worthy deputy of Thunderclan."
The pridelanders looked at Bramblestar their suspicion and doubt in him gone now that he had once again proven his loyalty.
But as he had watched the image and heard Firestar say those words to him, Simba looked at Kovu with guilt.
Author's note; that's the end of the first part, I'll put up the second part in a few days.
