Bramblestar’s Storm

Bramblestar gulped. I hadn’t looked at it quite like that before. “Great StarClan, that makes me feel old!” he mewed.

Squirrelflight flicked her tail at him. “Don’t be mouse-brained.”

Bramblestar gazed at her, stifling a small mrrow of amusement. Then he remembered the badgers, and his amusement faded.

“At sunrise tomorrow, don’t organize any more battle-training patrols,” he told Squirrelflight. “Just the usual hunting and border patrols. They’ll need to save their strength for the end of the day.”

Looking suddenly somber, Squirrelflight nodded. “Your warriors are ready, Bramblestar. And may StarClan be with us all.”

Chapter 30

Dusk was gathering under the trees as the last glance of sunlight faded from the sky. The air was warm and filled with the fresh scents of newleaf. The whole forest seemed full of hope and recovery, and yet Bramblestar knew, as he leaped onto the top of the mudpile, that he was about to lead his Clanmates into another deadly battle. Looking down on them, seeing the gleaming eyes of every cat turned toward him, Bramblestar’s courage wavered and for a moment he didn’t know what to say. Then he met Squirrelflight’s calm, trusting gaze, and he felt stronger again.

“Cats of ThunderClan,” he announced. “I know what I’m asking of you, and I want you to know that I trust every one of you to fight with courage tonight. Remember that we’ve taken on badgers before and won. We defeated the Dark Forest cats, and they were far more dangerous than a few badgers! StarClan fought alongside us then, and they may be not with us in the same way now, but they’ll be watching over us, just as they always have. ThunderClan warriors, to victory!”

“Bramblestar! Bramblestar!” his Clanmates yowled.

Bramblestar realized with a stab of relief that after their earlier hostility they were all with him now, ready to risk their lives to save ShadowClan and to rid the forest of the threat from badgers.

Jessy and Frankie looked as enthusiastic as the Clan cats, joining in to call his name. Jessy’s eyes were sparkling with excitement. Bramblestar nodded to her, inviting her to walk beside him as he sprang down from the mudpile and prepared to lead his cats out of the camp.

Leafpool, Jayfeather, Purdy, and Sandstorm were clustered together just outside the tunnel. Minty and Daisy were with them, while Graystripe, Thornclaw, and Cherryfall, who had agreed to stay behind and defend the camp, took up positions around the edge of the clearing and stood there watchfully.

As the rest of the Clan began to move off, Cinderheart bounded up to Lionblaze and touched noses with him. Lionblaze gave her a tender lick around the ears, and briefly twined his tail with hers.

“Please be careful,” Cinderheart begged. “Think of our kits and stay away from danger.”

“I can’t promise that, but I promise I’ll come back to you,” Lionblaze murmured.

Bramblestar led his warriors out of the clearing, hearing the voices of the cats who remained echoing through the trees behind him.

“Good-bye! Good luck!”

“Give the badgers a few good scratches from me!”

“We’ll keep the camp safe!”

At last the voices died away, and the ThunderClan cats padded in silence through the darkening forest. The moon appeared above the tops of the trees, shedding a silver light over the open spaces, while the shadows of the undergrowth seemed even darker. The warriors crossed the top border into the wild woods, and along the line of the ridge to the invisible border with ShadowClan’s extended territory.

Here Bramblestar paused. He could feel that his cats were tense and anxious as the moment of the battle drew closer. Turning to face them, he spoke to them again, his voice lower so that they had to gather around tightly to listen.

“Remember that this is ShadowClan’s battle first,” he meowed. “Our help is unexpected.”

“More like unwanted,” Dustpelt muttered, glaring into the darkness.

Bramblestar ignored the interruption. “Whatever happens,” he went on, “however ShadowClan reacts, we do not get into fights with them. We’re here to drive out badgers. Nothing else.”

Murmurs of agreement rose from the assembled cats. They waited, quivering with anticipation, a few tail-lengths inside ShadowClan territory. Bramblestar’s ears were pricked for the first sounds of battle, but he was still aware of Dovewing by his side. She was shaking from ears to tail-tip, and working her claws frantically into the loose earth.

“Are you okay?” Bramblestar whispered, pressing himself against her for a heartbeat.

Dovewing gazed up at him, her blue eyes wide and scared. “I don’t know how I can fight without being able to see or hear,” she confessed.

“Like any other cat,” Bramblestar told her. “Dovewing, you’re an amazing fighter. I know you can do this. You won’t let ThunderClan down.”

To his relief, his words seemed to calm Dovewing. Her trembling died away and her chest heaved as she took deep breaths.