Bramblestar’s Storm

Telling Leafpool to carry the troublesome branch a long way away, he headed briskly after the apprentices. They shouldn’t be wandering about by themselves, even if they haven’t gone to the lake. They’re still very inexperienced. He tried to remember exactly where they had seen the stick, then realized he would do better to follow the apprentices’ scent trail. In spite of the soaking ground and undergrowth, he soon managed to pick it up. His apprehension increased as he realized it was leading straight for the edge of the floods.

As he drew closer to the lake, the unnatural silence of the forest was split by a terrified screech.

“Help!”

Lilypaw!

Bramblestar broke into a run, crashing through the brambles, oblivious of the thorns that tore at his fur. As he broke out of a thicket beside the edge of the flood, he spotted the half-submerged oak tree and Lilypaw thrashing desperately beside it. Peering closer, Bramblestar realized that she was caught up in the ivy that twined around the tree, and she was being pulled underneath the water.

Seedpaw was crouching on the bank, and as Bramblestar charged toward her, she straightened up and leaped into the water. “I’ll help you, Lilypaw!”

“Seedpaw! No!” Bramblestar yowled.

But the young cat didn’t hear him. Flailing her paws, she swam toward her sister. When she reached the oak tree, she dived underwater to reach Lilypaw, who had given up struggling and disappeared.

Bramblestar pushed as hard as he could, but he felt as if he was wading through mud. Reaching the nearest point of the shore to the submerged tree, he plunged into the water and swam out in a frenzy of fear. Both apprentices bobbed up for a moment, then vanished again. As Bramblestar reached the tree, Lilypaw reappeared alone. Bramblestar grabbed her scruff and supported her, thrashing his paws to keep them both afloat.

“Are you still trapped?” he gasped, speaking around the mouthful of fur.

Lilypaw shook her head. Bramblestar adjusted his grip on her scruff and started to swim back toward dry land, dragging the apprentice with him. She was too exhausted to swim, and by the time Bramblestar hauled her out of the flood, her eyes were closed.

“Lilypaw! Wake up!” he begged, shaking her.

Lilypaw twitched, then rolled over and coughed up several mouthfuls of water. “Where’s Seedpaw?” she rasped. “She freed me… She bit through the ivy…”

Bramblestar looked over his shoulder. The water around the oak tree was ruffled but there was no sign of the other apprentice. “Stay there,” he ordered. “I’ll get Seedpaw.”

Back at the oak tree, Bramblestar dived down, barely able to see in the murky water. Unseen tendrils grappled with his legs and head and twined around one paw; he had to wrench hard to pull it free. Then he bumped into a lump of sodden fur, clamped his jaws hard on it, and hauled it to the surface. Seedpaw was a dead weight, motionless and heavy as Bramblestar dragged her back to dry ground.

As he laid Seedpaw beside her sister, Bramblestar heard movement from among the trees. He looked up to see Brightheart and Cinderheart break out from the bushes.

“We heard the yowling,” Cinderheart panted. “What happened?”

Brightheart said nothing, just pounced on Seedpaw and began pressing her belly with rhythmic thrusts. Every so often she paused to put her ear to Seedpaw’s chest, before opening the little cat’s mouth with one paw to check it was clear. Then she started pounding at Seedpaw’s belly again, her face grim. Lilypaw watched, her claws flexing in the sodden ground, while Bramblestar thanked StarClan for all the times Brightheart had helped Cinderpelt, Leafpool, and Jayfeather in their medicine-cat duties.

But this time Seedpaw didn’t stir. Water trickled from her jaws, but her eyes didn’t open. At last Brightheart sat back, her gaze clouding. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “She’s gone.”

“Oh, no, no!” Lilypaw flung herself down beside her sister. “It’s all my fault! It was my idea to get the stick. I just wanted to be helpful!”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Cinderheart told her gently. “Come with me. We’ll go find your father.” She urged Lilypaw to her paws and began to lead her away. Lilypaw went with her reluctantly, looking over her shoulder at the limp body of her sister.

Horror coursed through Bramblestar as he gazed down at Seedpaw. It’s not Lilypaw’s fault; it’s mine. Why didn’t I listen more carefully to Jayfeather and Leafpool? A stick that caused trouble? It should have been obvious!

A sudden yowl pierced through the air and Brackenfur came hurtling through the trees. “What’s going on?” he demanded.

Lilypaw broke away from Cinderheart and flung herself at the golden-brown warrior. “It’s Seedpaw!” she sobbed.