Chapter 6 Bramblestar's past part 2
The pridelanders smiled at Bramblestar.
"I'm glad you didn't do it" said Kiara softly.
"I wanted to lead my clan," declared Bramblestar. "But not like that. I realized listening to my father was wrong and stopped visiting him in his dreams."
"You really proved once and for all where your loyalties lie" declared Simba.
"Did Squirrelflight ever find out about your visits with Tigerstar?" asked Ono.
"Leafpool is the only one besides Firestar who knows about my experience in the dark forest," said Bramblestar looking down at the ground. "I never told anyone about my visits with Tigerstar. Not even Squirrelflight."
"I saw him and Hawkfrost once during a training session," explained Leafpool. "Bramblestar saw me watching. I did question his loyalty for a while, but he proved himself after killing Hawkfrost."
"I know it's gotta hard for killing Hawkfrost," said Kovu. "Even if you were just defending your leader."
"It's not something I like to talk about," sighed Bramblestar. "Most cats just think he died from the fox trap."
"So after that Lionblaze, Hollyleaf and Jayfeather came along?" asked Nala.
"Yes," replied Bramblestar. "As you know Squirrelflight claimed they were our kits to protect Leafpool from her relationship with Crowfeather. But she never told anyone even me. When they were forced to tell the truth, I took it pretty hard."
A vision appeared in the moonpool. They saw a black she-cat with green eyes staring down at cats from all the clans. The pridelanders recognized her as Hollyleaf. Brambleclaw was looking at Squirrelflight looking hurt.
"Why?" he asked.
"I had to!" cried Squirrelflight. "She's my sister!"
"And you couldn't trust me?" cried Brambleclaw. "You couldn't trust me. don't you think I would've helped you if you had told me the truth? But it's too late now."
"Brambleclaw…" said Squirrelflight.
But Brambleclaw was already walking away.
The pridelanders looked up at Bramblestar who was looking down with guilt.
"I broke up with Squirrelflight," explained Bramblestar. "I never really punished her for what she did, but we always tried to avoid each other and didn't talk much. It wasn't until Lionblaze, Jayfeather and Dovewing told me, Squirrelflight and Leafpool about the prophecy when I started to forgive her."
The image in the pool changed Brambleclaw, Squirrelflight and Leafpool were with Firestar, Lionblaze, Jayfeather and a gray she-cat with green eyes. They realized she was Dovewing.
"Why didn't you tell me?" snapped Brambleclaw glaring at Squirrelflight. "Was it because I'm not their true father? Did you know? Is that why you lied about them being your kits?"
"No!" said Squirrelflight.
"None of you knew," said Lionblaze stepping between the too. "Only Firestar and us."
"We had to fulfill our destinies alone" added Jayfeather.
"But we could have helped you," said Leafpool. "You didn't have to carry this burden alone."
"We wouldn't have had to carry it at all if you hadn't broken the code!" growled Lionblaze.
"Would you rather never been born?" snapped Squirrelflight. "Who would've saved us from the dark forest then?"
"We haven't saved you yet" muttered Jayfeather.
"But you will," declared Leafpool. "You were born to save the clans."
"Did there have to be so many lies?" asked Brambleclaw. "Couldn't you have told me the truth?"
"It was never my secret to tell," declared Squirrelflight. "Leafpool had so much to lose."
"She lost it all anyway" hissed Brambleclaw.
"Brambleclaw I'm sorry," said Squirrelflight. "You have to understand that I never intended to hurt you. I loved you, and was proud to raise these kits with you. You were a wonderful father."
"But I wasn't their father"
"Yes you were," said Squirrelflight her muzzle against his own. "Don't throw away everything just because your angry with me!"
"I was proud to be your son" added Lionblaze.
"And I couldn't have asked for a better son," added Brambleclaw softly. "And you Jayfeather. Or a better daughter Hollyleaf. You played no part in the deception, I know that. Whatever you did, it was because of the lies you that you have been told with when you were born."
"So it was all meant to be?" asked Fuli.
Bramblestar nodded.
"Tigerstar and the other dark forest cats were planning to destroy the clans and take over the forest" explained Bramblestar.
"I was on my final life," added Firestar. "But I knew I had to help save the clans. The dark forest warriors were training some of the clan cats. But fortunately the dark forest trainees all saw sense of how bad they truly were."
"That was also the battle Hollyleaf died in," said Bramblestar sadly. "She was killed by dark forest cats, including Hawkfrost.
The vision showed Hawkfrost's spirit walking into the camp.
"The battle's over" declared Firestar.
"Not for him!" declared Brambleclaw following behind him. "I found him in the forest trying to run back to his clanmates."
"Let me return to my clan" snapped Hawkfrost.
"You killed Hollyleaf!" screamed Ivypool flinging herself at Hawkfrost. "You murderer! Liar! Betrayer!"
"You're the traitor," declared Hawkfrost throwing Ivypool to the ground. "And this time I'll kill you."
"No you won't!" declared Brambleclaw.
The pridelanders watched as Brambleclaw jumped on Hawkfrost and sunk his teeth into his neck. To their surprise not only did Hawkfrost's body collapsed, it faded away!
"Well done Brambleclaw" said Tigerstar stepping in front of Brambleclaw. Brambleclaw looked up in horror at his father.
The pridelanders felt disgusted that Tigerstar didn't seem to care that the one member of his kin that was loyal to him was gone forever. They watched as Firestar and Tigerstar fought. Firestar weakly collapsed and Tigerstar faded away.
Cats including Brambleclaw, Squirrelflight and Sandstorm were gathered around Firestar's body.
After a moment all the cats started cheering their new leader's name.
"Bramblestar!" said Sandstorm.
"Bramblestar!" Lionblaze joined in.
And then all the other cats started cheering Bramblestar.
Bramblestar stepped up on the high ledge.
"I will honor my ancestors in Starclan," he announced. "But not those who have ever walked in the dark forest. Guide my steps wisely warriors of the past and warriors of now."
"It's time to chose a deputy" said Jayfeather standing next to Bramblestar.
"Will you be my deputy Squirrelflight?" Bramblestar asked.
"Why me?" asked Squirrelflight.
"There is no cat I trust more," explained Bramblestar. "Everything you do is for the best reasons. I understand that now."
"Then I accept" declared Squirrelflight.
The image then changed to Brambleclaw entering Starclan.
"This is when I got my nine lives," explained Bramblestar.
Firestar was the first one to approach Brambleclaw.
"Welcome to Starclan Brambleclaw," declared Firestar. "I give you a life with the courage to make the hardest decisions, not just for Thunderclan, but all the clans. The lake needs four clans; with this life serve them well."
He then touched Brambleclaw's forehead with his nose.
The next cat who walked forward, the pridelanders recognized as Bramblestar's mother Goldenflower. They remembered that Bramblestar had told them that she had died a while after he became deputy.
"Goldenflower," said Brambleclaw in surprise. "Is that you?"
"Yes my son, it is," she said. "I'm so proud of you. And so honored to give you this life. I give you a life for understanding the love of a mother. But then, you have already known what it is to love as a father. Keep that knowledge, feel it's power and use it to keep all your clanmates safe."
The next cat to step up was Bluestar.
"Brambleclaw," she declared. "You have walked a long and difficult path to reach this point. But you have proven your loyalty to Thunderclan more times then I can count. I am proud to see my clan pass into your care. I give you a life for clear judgement of character, for the ability to see the value of some cats and the threat of others."
The next cat to walk was an old cat. The pridelanders realized that it was Mousefur one of the cats who had died in the battle against the dark forest.
"I give you a life for listening to your elders, for taking advice when it's not expected. The oldest cats have seen the most, and there is precious little is new, even beside the lake. Trust their wisdom, learn from their mistakes and remember that without them, you would have no clan to lead."
The next cat was a golden tom. The pridelanders remembered Graystripe's stories about his mentor Lionheart who was one of the first cats who met Firestar when he joined Thunderclan.
"I give you a life to have the greatest pride in your clan, to honor the legacy that has been left by the leaders who have walked this path before and to have the courage to lay down your paw prints over theirs. This is your chance to shape Thunderclan's destiny. Use it wisely and make us proud.
The next cat was a pale gray she cat. Bramblestar explained that her name was Ferncloud. She was one of the queens in Thunderclan and another one of the cats who died in the battle.
"My life is for understanding that it's not only warriors play a part in protecting the clan," she said. "She-cats who choose to live in the nursery do just as much as those who patrol boarders and stock the fresh kill pile. We raise new apprentices, feed every small mouth and teach every kit the importance of the warrior code. Honor the mother cats Brambleclaw, for we give them life."
The next cat, the pridelanders were quick to guess who it was. It was Cinderpelt the medicine cat before Leafpool. Who had died in the badger attack.
"I give you a life for offering second chances," said Cinderpelt. "If a plan fails, if a clanmate disappoints you, if destiny seems the wrong way around, never despair. Have faith to try again, learn from what happened before and success may come. The best things come to those who wait, Brambleclaw. Trust me."
The next cat was a silver tabby she-cat.
"That must be Feathertail, Graystripe's daughter" Kiara whispered to Kovu remembering Graystripe's description of Feathertail.
"I give you a life for exploring beyond the boarders of your clan," said Feathertail. "For seeing possibilities in unexpected places. You are not trapped by your invisible boundaries. If you cannot find the answers within them, then look farther off. There is always hope somewhere."
The last one was a black cat. The pridelanders recognized him as Ravenpaw who had been Tigerstar's apprentice and became a loner to escape Tigerstar's abuse.
"I give you a life for speaking against injustice," declared Ravenpaw. "For pursuing the truth above all else. Lies bring shadows in which darker things can hide. Never fear the truth Brambleclaw, however binding it may be."
"It is over," announced Firestar. "You have done well. Welcome Bramblestar."
And all the Starclan started chanting Bramblestar.
"Go well Bramblestar," said Firestar. "I will be with you always."
The image faded and the pridelanders looked up at Bramblestar.
"So that's how you became leader?" asked Ono.
"Yes," replied Bramblestar. "But being a leader was pretty hard sometimes at first. I tried to do things the same way Firestar would've done. A few moons after I became leader the clan got flooded. It was newleaf and it had rained a lot so the lake overflowed. It affected all the clans. And some of the twoleg dens were affected from the flood. We had to take in kittypets. There was a young cat named Minty, her twolegs left her behind by accident. Then we met two other kittypets."
The image in the pool appeared, Bramblestar was with a dark brown she-cat with amber eyes.
"What's wrong?" asked Bramblestar. "Can I help?"
"Stay out of this!" snarled the dark brown she-cat.
There was a gray tabby tom stuck in a narrow opening.
"There must be a way to get him out of there" cried Bramblestar.
What would you know about that flea pelt?" hissed the she-cat.
"I've seen stuff like this before" replied Bramblestar. He pressed his paws against a transparent barrier, it swung and opened a narrow gap. The she-cat joined in and the gray tabby pushed from the bottom and he was able to crawl out.
"Thanks," he gasped. "I thought I was going to drown."
"Yeah, thanks," the dark brown cat said in a grudging tone. "I'm Jessy and this is Frankie."
"I'm Bramblestar," replied Bramblestar. "You were pretty brave for a kittypet."
"Really?" said Jessy. "Well, you keep your tongue pretty civil for a wild cat."
"Jessy and I became very close," explained Bramblestar. "I kind of hoped she'd stay in Thunderclan."
"You were in love with Jessy?" exclaimed Bunga. "I thought you had gotten back together with Squirrelflight."
"I had forgiving her," Bramblestar replied. "But we weren't officially mates again. Blackstar had died in the flood and Tawnypelt's mate Rowanclaw became leader. They were having trouble with kittypets and badgers. We helped them, but Rowanstar wasn't too happy about our interference and compared me to Firestar. I wondered if he would've done the same thing."
"I understand how it feels to have new responsibilities," Kion spoke up. "Being leader of the lion guard as a cub. I never thought I'd be a hero."
"And I had my doubts about being king when I first became king," added Simba. "I think what he said about you being like Firestar's a good thing. It shows you're a good leader."
"I never needed to walk in Bramblestar's dreams," Firestar jumped in. "I trusted him in being leader. I did need to tell him an omen."
Everyone looked down in the pool.
Bramblestar was by the lake and had a look of horror when he saw there was blood in the water. He jumped in to go rescue the dead cats, when he was suddenly dragged back out. He looked back and saw Firestar.
"Firestar!" he cried. "There's a cat in trouble! Look, it's bleeding into the water. I have to find it!"
"It's okay," reassured Firestar. "Your clanmates are safe. There are no cats in the lake. "
"Then am I… am I dreaming?" asked Bramblestar in relief. "Oh Firestar, it's so great to see you."
"It's good to be back in my old territory" said Firestar dipping his head.
"I've tried to look after your clan," said Bramblestar in a shaky voice. "But I-I lost Seedpaw. I'm so sorry. If only I'd kept a closer watch on the apprentices."
"Seedpaw is safe in Starclan," said Firestar. "And you need to learn that you can't guard everyone of your clanmates all the time. As their leader, they'll look to you to make the big decisions, and to keep them safe from outside enemies, but they have to make their own decisions as well. I promise you, you're doing a good job."
"But what about the visitors? the kittypets?" asked Bramblestar. "Would you have brought them into the clan? and would you…" Firestar interrupted with a raise of his paw.
"You know the answers already," he told him. "They are in your heart. This is not my clan anymore, you are clan leader now. Trust the cats who gave you your nine lives, they all knew you would do well. Including me."
Bramblestar bowed and saw Firestar was starting to fade.
"I have come to tell you something very important," he meowed. "When water meets blood, blood will rise."
"What does that mean?" asked Bramblestar.
"Look at the flood water," said Firestar. "See how the blood can't be drowned?"
Bramblestar looked at the water and then back at Firestar.
"I can't tell you anymore," said Firestar. "Just remember."
And he was gone.
"When water meets blood, blood will rise?" asked Fuli.
"It means that Tawnypelt and I share the same blood," explained Bramblestar. "It gave us the strength to overcome the challenges of the flood and help both our clans. I knew the reason why Squirrelflight lied, to protect her sister, I realized I'd done the same thing for Tawnypelt."
"What happened to Jessy?" asked Kiara.
"She and Minty went back to their owners," said Bramblestar. "Frankie stayed in the clan. he had a brother who passed away in the flood and we renamed him Stormcloud in honor of the storm that brought him to us. I had wished Jessy would stay in Thunderclan and become my mate, but she made me realize that Squirrelflight was my true love. I even made a new rule for the warrior code."
An image appeared in the moonpool. It show cats gathered at the gathering Bramblestar stood with the other leaders.
"I wish to create a new rule for the warrior code," announced Bramblestar. "That each clan has the right to be proud and independent. But in times of trouble, they must forget boundaries and fight side by side to protect the four. Each clan must help the others so no clan will fall.
"It's always Thunderclan that decides to interfere," hissed Rowanstar. "Any cat would think Firestar wasn't dead."
"Firestar is dead," said Bramblestar. "I am leader of Thunderclan now. And I am proud to uphold his legacy of preserving all the clans in the forest. No clan was left behind on the journey to find the lake. No clan was left behind to fight alone against the dark forest. No clan will be allowed to fall now, not if the rest of us can protect them.
"Yes," Mistystar spoke up. "We should do as Bramblestar says. It's for the good of every cat."
"You don't really leave me much of a choice," said Onestar begrudgingly. "Okay, I'm in."
"Rowanstar?" Bramblestar said turning to face the Shadowclan leader.
"I suppose I'm outvoted," sighed Rowanstar. "Let it be so."
"I think it's a great rule" declared Kovu.
"Out of all the rules in the warrior code, that new rule is my favourite" agreed Kion.
"Now you know about how I became leader," said Bramblestar.
"It's been nice meeting you all," said Firestar. "But it's time for you all to get some rest."
Everyone agreed and started to walk away, Simba stayed back with Firestar.
"I understand how you felt about Bramblestar," Simba said admittingly. "I thought the same about Kovu due to being raised by the outsiders and his resemblance to Scar. I think you're a better leader than me, you never showed any hostility to Bramblestar, even after that incident with the fox trap. When the outsiders attacked me, I didn't even let Kovu have a say. I probably would've banished Bramblestar without letting him explain himself if that had been me."
"We all make mistakes Simba," said Firestar kindly. "And just because I didn't show any hostility towards Bramblestar doesn't mean I didn't have my fears of him. I would look at him and see Tigerstar looking at me. but I learned to see him for nothing more than Bramblestar. Like how you learned to see Kovu for only him. You know," he added in amusement. "I've been watching you since the cats discovered the pridelands. Your daughter quite reminds me of my daughter."
"Headstrong and courageous," chuckled Simba.
"I think you're a great leader Simba," said Firestar.
Simba watched as Firestar walked away.
Firestar's right, he thought to himself. Bramblestar mentioned Firestar was like a father figure to him and he got him on the right path. And I've got to do the same thing with Kovu.
