Bramblestar’s Storm

The tiny incident reminded Bramblestar that the Clans needed to live separately now. He would always be proud of the cats for coming together to fight against the Dark Forest. I’m honored to have fought alongside them, but that time has passed. We need to reinforce the borders of our territories, and the boundaries that we can’t see, the ones between cat and cat.

On his way across the clearing he paused to chat with Pouncetail, a RiverClan elder, who began telling him a long, complicated story about catching fish. Maybe I should introduce him to Purdy, Bramblestar thought. He was distracted from the tale by a sharp prod in his side, and turned to see Squirrelflight.

“You need to give the signal to leave,” she hissed. “WindClan and ShadowClan have already gone.”

Embarrassment stabbed through Bramblestar. I forgot that’s my job now!

“You’re the leader now,” Pouncetail teased him gently. “You have to make all the hard decisions. You’re lucky to have Squirrelflight to keep you in line!”

“I certainly am,” Bramblestar agreed. Watching Squirrelflight as she began efficiently rounding up their Clanmates, he added to himself, I’d be lost without her as my deputy.

Bramblestar returned to camp with the dawn patrol just as the sun burned off the last of the early mist. It’s going to be another warm day, he thought.

As he emerged from the thorns, Bramblestar was surprised to see Daisy pacing nervously in front of the nursery. As soon as she spotted him she came bounding over.

“Bramblestar, I’m so worried!” she burst out.

“What’s the matter?” Bramblestar asked, resting his tail on the she-cat’s shoulder.

“It’s Smoky and Floss at the horseplace,” Daisy replied. “I think Smoky was waiting for us when we were going to the Gathering, but he was too scared to come and talk to us.”

Bramblestar wasn’t convinced. “He might just have been watching—”

“No, why would he?” Daisy interrupted, working her paws anxiously into the earth. “Those cats stay out of the way of the Clans. Please, Bramblestar, let me go to the horseplace and make sure everything’s okay.”

Bramblestar hesitated for a moment, gazing into Daisy’s eyes and seeing her fear for her friends. “Okay, but I’ll go with you.”

“You don’t have to!” Daisy meowed. “You’re the leader of ThunderClan. You must have more important things to do.”

“This might be important too,” Bramblestar insisted. “We’ll go together, after sunhigh.”

Daisy let out a long purr, blinking up at him gratefully. “Thank you, Bramblestar.”

As she headed back to the nursery, Graystripe joined Bramblestar.

“What did Daisy want?” the gray warrior meowed. He looked surprised when Bramblestar explained. “She wants to go back to the horseplace? Do you think she’s considering leaving ThunderClan?” He puffed out a brief sigh. “Maybe the Great Battle scared her too much.”

“That was several moons ago,” Bramblestar pointed out. “If Daisy was scared, she would have left right away.”

“Then maybe it’s because the nursery is empty,” Graystripe suggested, flicking his tail toward the deserted bramble-covered den. “Maybe Daisy feels there’s no place for her here anymore, with no queens or kits to care for.”

Bramblestar dug his claws into the ground. Why is every cat always talking about kits? “Wait until newleaf,” he meowed. “The nursery will fill up then.” He cast a hopeful glance at Millie, who was eating a sparrow beside the fresh-kill pile. “I don’t suppose…?”

Graystripe shook his head. “Our days of having kits are gone,” he replied, sounding amused. “There are plenty of young cats around to do that duty.”

But none of the she-cats are expecting kits, Bramblestar thought bleakly.

Sunhigh was just past when Bramblestar and Daisy set out toward the edge of the lake. Before they were halfway down the slope to the lake, Bramblestar noticed that Daisy was limping. Her paws are sore after the long walk to the Gathering, he thought. She’s not used to traveling far outside the hollow.

“Are you sure you don’t want to put this off to another day?” he asked.

“Oh, no, I’ll be fine!” Daisy assured him. “I don’t want to wait before I see Smoky and Floss again.”

On the lakeshore, Bramblestar spotted Ivypool, Spiderleg, and Whitewing practicing battle moves with their apprentices. As he and Daisy drew closer, the three young cats dived into the undergrowth that edged the stones.

What are they up to? Bramblestar wondered.