Bramblestar’s Storm

“I don’t know,” Jessy admitted. “They might not come back. Our den was very badly damaged. But I’ll go that way first, and then see where my paws lead me.” She raised her head, her eyes suddenly brighter. “Living with ThunderClan has given me a taste for adventure, and the life of a kittypet might be too tame for me!”

“You would have made a great warrior,” Bramblestar told her.

“Oh, I know I would,” Jessy assured him with a gleam in her eyes.

“I’ll never forget you,” Bramblestar mewed.

“Nor I you.”

Bramblestar pressed himself closer against Jessy’s side, breathing in her scent for the last time. I wish things could have been different, he thought. It’s hard to believe I’ll never see her again.

Looking over Jessy’s head, he saw the lake turned scarlet by the setting sun. He remembered his vision of Yellowfang, the blood rising to meet her paws, and realized that blood ran deeper than anything else.

Jessy is right. Whatever I have felt for her, whatever might have been, Squirrelflight and I share a bond that cannot be broken.

Chapter 35

Bramblestar woke to find his Clanmates already heading outside. Two sunrises had passed since Jessy and Minty left, and the tunnel seemed oddly empty without them. He sat up, gave one ear a thorough scratch, and followed the others into the clearing outside the tunnel.

The rest of the cats were crowding around Squirrelflight as she sorted out the early patrols. “Cloudtail,” she meowed, “I want you to lead the WindClan border patrol. Take Lilyheart with you, and… yes, Ivypool and Snowpaw. And can you take Stormpaw, too? It’s time he learned what happens on a border patrol, and I have other things to do this morning.”

Cloudtail dipped his head. “No problem.”

Ivypool beckoned Stormpaw over with a twitch of her ears. “You can set the scent marks.”

Stormpaw looked alarmed. “I don’t know how to do that!”

“Don’t worry.” Lilyheart brushed her tail over his shoulder. “We’ll show you what to do.”

“We’ll all help.” Snowpaw looked delighted to be on patrol with an apprentice who knew less than he did. “It’s easy!”

Bramblestar noticed Graystripe and Sandstorm standing to one side, looking a little sad as the patrols formed up and moved off. He could guess how hard it must be for them to adjust to their new life as elders. But Sandstorm was already looking plumper now that she had the chance to rest, and Bramblestar hadn’t heard her coughing for the last day or two. Now she and Graystripe settled themselves in a patch of sunlight where Purdy was already dozing, and began sharing tongues.

When the last of the patrols had left, Squirrelflight padded over to Bramblestar. She hadn’t mentioned Jessy at all, except to say that she would be missed, on the morning after the brown she-cat had left.

“It’s the night of the full moon,” Squirrelflight meowed, sitting beside Bramblestar and wrapping her tail around her paws. “Every cat is excited at the thought of going to the Gathering. Do you think the water is low enough?”

Bramblestar nodded. “The lake is almost back to its normal level. The island will be muddy, but it should be dry enough for us to meet.”

“Good!” Squirrelflight purred. “Who should we take with us?”

Bramblestar blinked. “Sandstorm and Graystripe will have to come. And Lilyheart and Stormpaw. I’ll be mentioning them in my report. And either Jayfeather or Leafpool: We can let Jayfeather decide which.”

“Jayfeather will decide, whether we let him or not,” Squirrelflight commented, with a glint of amusement in her green eyes.

“True. What about Cherryfall and Molewhisker?” Bramblestar suggested. “They’ve worked so hard on rebuilding the camp; they deserve to come.”

“Good idea,” Squirrelflight agreed. “Brackenfur too, then.”

“Right. And there should be a few more… Give me some time to think about it. Oh, and could you tell Stormpaw what happens at a Gathering? He’ll enjoy it more if he knows what to expect.”

“The other Clans will know he used to be a kittypet,” Squirrelflight pointed out.

“Yes,” Bramblestar responded. “But he’s not anymore.”

Squirrelflight’s eyes gleamed. “I’ll go let Sandstorm and Graystripe know about the Gathering,” she meowed, rising to her paws.

“Squirrelflight…” Bramblestar called as she turned away.

His deputy swung around, an inquiring look in her eyes. “Yes?”

“I just wanted to say…” Bramblestar struggled to find the right words. “I wanted to thank you for everything. For supporting me over the badger battle. For welcoming the kittypets I brought back. For—for raising three wonderful cats that I’m so proud of.”

Squirrelflight stepped closer and her scent swept over him. “We did it together.”

“Maybe,” Bramblestar murmured. “I wouldn’t have wanted to do it with any other cat.”