Bramblestar’s Storm

Chapter 20

The first cat Bramblestar spotted when he reached the makeshift ThunderClan camp was Jayfeather, padding up from the opposite direction with Brightheart. Both cats were carrying bunches of herbs in their jaws. Jayfeather halted in front of the tunnel entrance, turned toward Bramblestar’s patrol as though he could see them. Then he dropped his herbs and bounded over to them.

“Where’s Leafpool?” he demanded.

“She stayed behind to help Littlecloud,” Bramblestar explained. This isn’t going to go well.

Jayfeather’s neck fur stood on end. “And you let her? What about ThunderClan? Don’t you think I’ve got enough on my paws, looking after the cats with whitecough?”

“You have Brightheart to help you,” Bramblestar pointed out.

“It’s not the same,” Jayfeather hissed.

Brightheart, who had followed him over, blinked at him, completely unoffended. “I’ll do whatever I can,” she mewed.

Jayfeather gave a disgusted snort and stalked off. Brightheart shot an apologetic glance at Bramblestar and hurried after him.

Across the clearing, Squirrelflight was organizing Mousewhisker, Dovewing, and Thornclaw into a hunting patrol. On the way out she halted beside Bramblestar.

“How did the meeting go with Rowanstar?”

Bramblestar described his offer to help ShadowClan cope with the fierce kittypets, and how Rowanstar had refused.

Squirrelflight shrugged, though there was compassion in her green eyes. “That’s Rowanstar’s decision to make,” she commented.

As Squirrelflight headed off with her patrol, Bramblestar noticed Jessy standing close by, listening to his account of the visit. He was about to beckon her over when Rosepetal, who was spreading the bits of Twoleg pelt on a holly bush, called out to her.

“Hey, Jessy, come and help me freshen up these pelts!”

Jessy bounded across to her immediately. Bramblestar was pleased and a little surprised to see how well she was settling in.

“You’d almost think she was a Clan cat,” he remarked to Graystripe, who was padding past him with a starling in his jaws.

Graystripe nodded, dropping his prey to reply. “We should have learned by now not to be surprised by kittypets,” he mewed with a wry twist to his mouth.

“Hey, Bramblestar!” Cherryfall popped her head out of the tunnel. “Look what we’ve done with the new dens!”

Bramblestar headed toward her, leaving Graystripe to carry his prey to the fresh-kill pile. Inside the tunnels, he saw that each section had been marked out by low walls of interwoven branches that would give even more protection from drafts. Within each wall were several nests of moss and bracken; stretching out a paw, he felt that they were hardly damp at all.

“How do you like it?” Cherryfall prompted.

“It’s great,” Bramblestar replied. It looks almost comfortable.

“It’ll be even better once Rosepetal gets the Twoleg pelts back in,” Cherryfall mewed. “Dustpelt and Brackenfur worked out the breaks, and Mousewhisker and I helped build them.”

“Good job, all of you,” Bramblestar purred. “I think we’ll all sleep better from now on.”

He padded farther down the tunnel, spotting Purdy curled up asleep in the den he shared with the apprentices, and lastly reaching the section where Jayfeather and Leafpool had their den, next to the sick cats. Jayfeather and Brightheart were arranging their newly gathered herbs in cracks in the rock.

Berrynose and Molewhisker were both sleeping; their breathing sounded almost back to normal. Amberpaw looked much better too, helping Briarlight with her exercises by tossing a ball of moss for her to catch. Bramblestar noticed uneasily that the injured cat couldn’t manage more than a couple of throws without having to stop to catch her breath.

Sandstorm was curled up in her nest, but she raised her head and greeted Bramblestar as he approached. “How did the visit to ShadowClan go?” she asked.

“Not good,” Bramblestar admitted. “Rowanstar wouldn’t let us help him with the kittypets.”

“But he was quick enough to accept our medicine cat,” Jayfeather put in with a snarl.

“Leafpool will be back soon,” Bramblestar told him, hoping that was true. A cough from Sandstorm drew his attention back to her, and he thought how ill she looked, her green eyes bright with fever. “How are you feeling?”

“Oh, fine,” Sandstorm replied. “This fern dust gets in my throat, though. I’m going outside for some fresh air.” Rising to her paws, she shook some scraps of bracken out of her pelt and padded off.

“How is she really?” Bramblestar asked Jayfeather, unable to stifle his anxiety about the ginger she-cat.

“She doesn’t have greencough,” Jayfeather answered, “so she should be okay. But living in a cold, damp tunnel doesn’t help.”

I wish we could go back to the hollow, Bramblestar thought. Aloud he mewed, “I think I’ll go check the water levels, and see if they’re starting to go down.”

“I’ll come with you.” Jayfeather pushed a few stems of tansy into a crack and turned to Brightheart. “Stay and finish up here. I won’t be long.”

Outside in the clearing, Bramblestar spotted Lionblaze and Daisy on their way back into the clearing with a load of moss. “We’re going to check the water levels,” Bramblestar called. “Do you want to come with us?”

Lionblaze paused, his bundle of moss tucked under his chin.

Daisy gave him a nudge. “Go on,” she urged him. “I’ll sort out the bedding.”

“Thanks!” Lionblaze dropped the moss and bounded over to join Bramblestar and Jayfeather.

Heading into the trees, Bramblestar caught a whiff of ThunderClan scent, and came upon Squirrelflight’s hunting patrol, already heading back to camp. Squirrelflight was carrying a thrush, while Dovewing and Thornclaw both had mice.

“You’ve done well!” Bramblestar purred.

Squirrelflight nodded. “I think the prey is starting to come back,” she mumbled around her mouthful of feathers.

“Why don’t you come with us to check the water levels?” Bramblestar suggested.

“Sure.” Squirrelflight dropped her catch at Mousewhisker’s paws. “You can take that in. And Thornclaw, you can lead the patrol out again. It seems like the prey’s running well, so we ought to make the most of it.”

As the rest of the patrol headed for the camp, Bramblestar led the way down the slope with Squirrelflight at his side, and Lionblaze and Jayfeather just behind. He suddenly felt at ease, comfortable and happy to be with these cats he knew so well. The others seemed to feel the same, their tension and anxiety relaxing as they trotted through the trees.

Scuffling broke out behind them with a mock growl from Lionblaze. “Die, ShadowClan trespasser!”

“Get off, you great lump!” Jayfeather protested, though there was laughter in his voice.

Squirrelflight whipped around. “Honestly! How old are you both?”

The two brothers broke apart. “Sorry,” Lionblaze muttered, though his eyes glimmered with mischief. “I don’t know what came over me.”

“I’ll get you later,” Jayfeather promised as they set out again.

It’s almost like they are kits again… our kits, Bramblestar thought. A pang of sorrow pierced him as he pictured Hollyleaf. She should be with us. I hope she found peace in StarClan.

Reaching the top of the hollow, the four cats peered over, scanning the floodwater that covered their dens.

“It’s just as deep as it was before,” Bramblestar meowed, discouraged.

“I’m not so sure.” Lionblaze pointed with his tail to a tangle of soggy roots that stuck out of the cliff above where the nursery had been. “See those? They look as if they might have been uncovered recently.”

Bramblestar nodded slowly, trying to remember whether the roots had been visible the last time he looked.

“When we went down into the tunnels,” Lionblaze meowed, “you scratched on the floor to mark the water level. Maybe we could do the same here.” He frowned. “Though I don’t see how we could make scratch marks on the side of the cliffs.”

“Maybe we don’t need to,” Squirrelflight put in. “We could go to the edge of the flood among the trees, and mark the water level there with sticks instead.”

“Great idea!” Bramblestar agreed.

Following the top of the hollow, the cats reached the water’s edge and paused for a moment, gazing out across the lake and the drowned forest. Bramblestar felt his paws sinking into mud.

“Mouse dung!” Jayfeather cursed. He had taken an extra pace forward, and now the mud was creeping up his legs, hampering him as he tried to backtrack.

Lionblaze leaned over and grabbed his brother by the scruff, hauling him back. “Use your nose, mouse-brain!” he hissed.

Jayfeather shrugged him off, and raised each paw in turn to shake off sticky clots of mud. Lionblaze jumped back to avoid the shower.

“The scents are all different,” Jayfeather mewed after a moment. “And the air feels weird on my fur.”

For a few heartbeats longer Bramblestar stood still, contemplating his flooded territory and realizing how much had changed—perhaps forever. I wonder if we’ll ever hunt in that part of the forest again.

Then Squirrelflight gave him a shove. “Wake up!” she meowed. “Let’s look for some sticks.”

She and Bramblestar and Lionblaze scattered up the slope, searching for long, thin sticks that would be easy to drive into the mud as markers. They brought them back to Jayfeather, who chewed one end into a point.

“This tastes disgusting,” he muttered, spitting out bark.

“I wish we could mark the level in the hollow like this,” Squirrelflight meowed as she drove the first stick into the marshy ground.

“So do I,” Bramblestar agreed. “We’ll just have to take note of where the water reaches up to on the cliffs.”

They continued to set markers along the water’s edge between the hollow and an ash tree that stood with its roots washed by floodwater.

The training clearing is under there, Bramblestar thought sadly. Then he spotted Jayfeather creeping up on Lionblaze, who was busy pushing a stick into the mud with his back turned. Bramblestar opened his jaws to warn Lionblaze, then closed them again, watching to see what would happen.

Jayfeather sneaked up until he was a tail-length away from his brother. Then he slammed his paws down into the water, throwing up an enormous splash that showered Lionblaze from ears to tail. Leaping backward, Jayfeather avoided the worst of it.

Lionblaze spun around with a hiss of fury. “Stupid furball!”

“I said I’d get you.” Jayfeather licked one paw complacently and drew it over his ear.

“You wait!” Lionblaze bared his teeth and leaped for his brother, who dashed away into the trees.

Bramblestar listened to them crashing about, and suppressed a mrrow of amusement.

“It’s good to see them having fun for once,” Squirrelflight observed, padding up to him. She gave another push to Lionblaze’s stick. “There. We’re all done.” She broke off, and Bramblestar realized that she was staring over his shoulder. Turning, he saw that Jessy was watching them from a few tail-lengths away.

“What does she want?” Squirrelflight meowed.

Bramblestar felt slightly uneasy. “I don’t know. I’ll go and ask her.” He padded up to the kittypet, wondering whether some disaster had overtaken their temporary camp. “Is everything okay?”

Jessy blinked at him, her eyes gleaming. “I’m sorry if I’m interrupting,” she mewed. “Everything’s fine. This can wait until later if you’re busy.”

“No, now’s a good time,” Bramblestar told her. Glancing back at Squirrelflight, he called, “Round up those two daft furballs and go back to camp.” Then he led Jessy along the top of the flood, heading toward the ShadowClan border. “What can I do for you?” he asked.

Instead of replying, Jessy stopped and looked out over the drowned forest. “I wonder what it was like here before the floods came,” she murmured.

“It was beautiful,” Bramblestar replied at once. “There was long grass, and patches of fern and bramble where the prey could hide. In greenleaf the sun would shine through the branches and make patterns on the ground. The air would be full of scents—fresh green growth, and the warm scents of prey. And then in leaf-bare, in the frost and snow, the cold would make your pelt tingle, and you’d feel so alive!”

“You love living here, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do,” Bramblestar meowed, walking on. “I can remember our old home, and I still walk there in my dreams, but—but I have always believed that StarClan has led us to the right place here.”

“Are you quite sure about that?” Jessy pressed, picking up the note of doubt in his voice.

“I have to have faith that the floods will go down,” Bramblestar told her. “But come on, Jessy,” he added. “You didn’t come looking for me just to chat about the forest.”

Jessy narrowed her eyes. “No, I wanted to talk about the kittypets who are giving ShadowClan all that trouble. I think I know who they are.”

“You do?” Bramblestar felt suddenly excited. “Who?”

“There’s a gang of kittypets and a few strays who like to claim that part of the forest for themselves,” Jessy replied. “They hunt there—not that they ever catch anything,” she added with a sly sideways glance at Bramblestar.

Will she ever forget that I said that to her? “Go on,” he mewed.

“I don’t know these kittypets well,” Jessy continued. “I think one’s called Ziggy, and another one is Riga. But I know where they live and where they like to roam.”

Bramblestar felt the fur along his spine start to rise. “Are you suggesting we attack them without ShadowClan’s approval?”

Jessy shrugged. “It’s a possibility.”

For a moment Bramblestar was filled with admiration for Jessy’s courage, and for how she was willing to help wild cats who were completely unknown to her.

“I can see how much your sister means to you,” Jessy added. Taken aback by her perceptiveness, Bramblestar couldn’t think of anything to say before she went on. “Do lots of cats have kin in other Clans?”

“Great StarClan, no!” Bramblestar exclaimed. “Cats are supposed to stay in the Clan where they were born. Clan loyalty is very important to us. A cat who changed Clans would be thought of as a traitor, and it would be hard for their new Clan to trust them. Tawnypelt only went to live in ShadowClan because our father became their leader.”

“Wow!” Jessy’s eyes stretched wide. “Why didn’t you go with her?”

Bramblestar hesitated. I can’t tell her about Tigerstar! We’d be here all day! “It’s… complicated,” he meowed at last. “ThunderClan has always been my home. I miss Tawnypelt, but I’ve never regretted my decision.”

He and Jessy padded on in silence for a few moments, until Bramblestar began to pick up the scent of ShadowClan border markers. “We should turn back here,” he mewed.

“Okay.” Jessy bounced on her paws. “But we’re going to attack these kittypets, right? I can show you where to find them. They often go out at night, and that would be a really good time to sneak up on them.” She jumped up and swiped one paw at a head of cow parsley, scattering the tiny white flowers on the grass. “We’ll soon teach them to stay away from Clan cats!”

“Hang on,” Bramblestar warned. “I haven’t said we’re doing it yet. I have to speak with my Clanmates first.”

For a moment Jessy looked wounded. “But—”

She broke off at the sound of cats brushing through the undergrowth. Bramblestar stiffened, then relaxed as he picked up ThunderClan scent. A patrol came into view with Cloudtail in the lead, followed by Birchfall and Whitewing, with her apprentice, Dewpaw.

“Bramblestar!” Cloudtail ran up to his leader with his ears flattened. “Those mangy crow-food eaters from ShadowClan have been trespassing again!”

Bramblestar saw that all the cats in the patrol were bristling with anger, their eyes glittering.

“We picked up their scent several tail-lengths inside our border,” Birchfall confirmed.

“Those kittypets you heard about must be attacking them on their other border,” Whitewing meowed, “so they’re trying to hunt on our territory.”

“We can’t let them get away with it!” Cloudtail growled.

“No, we can’t,” Bramblestar agreed. Turning to Jessy, he meowed, “It looks like we need your plan.”

The evening was clear and calm, with a few gaps in the clouds that let through stray gleams of red sunlight. Long shadows stretched across the clearing outside the tunnel, and a fresh breeze stirred the branches.

This is the best weather we’ve had since the floods came, Bramblestar thought hopefully. Maybe things are changing.

Jumping to the top of the mudfall, he gave a yowl. “Let all cats who are old enough to catch their own prey come here outside the tunnel for a Clan meeting!”

Surprised mews burst from the cats nearest the tunnel, who were trying to warm their fur in the last of the sunlight. The apprentices broke off their fighting practice at the far side of the clearing and pattered eagerly across to the bottom of the mudfall, followed by their mentors. Daisy, Cherryfall, and Blossomfall popped out of the tunnel. Purdy appeared a moment later, his pelt stuck all over with moss, and plopped himself down beside the apprentices. Jessy bounded over to Frankie and Minty, who were sharing a blackbird under an arching clump of fern, and chivvied them over to join the rest. Jayfeather came to sit at the mouth of the tunnel, with the sick cats clustered around him.

“Cats of ThunderClan,” Bramblestar began when all the cats were assembled, “and our guests.” He dipped his head to the three kittypets. “You all know that kittypets have been harassing ShadowClan in the woods beyond their top border. Tomorrow I’m going to lead a patrol to get rid of them.”

“What?” Dustpelt sprang to his paws. “Have you got bees in your brain?”

“You offered ShadowClan our help and they turned you down,” Graystripe pointed out. “Rowanstar won’t thank you for interfering.”

Several other cats echoed their protests. Bramblestar looked down on their bristling fur and twitching tails. It’s just as well I haven’t told them this was Jessy’s idea.

“If the kittypets are allowed to keep attacking ShadowClan,” he went on, forcing himself to stay calm, “then ShadowClan will start to hunt in our territory, or in the woods beyond our border. It’s in our own interest to deal with the kittypets.” He was relieved to see that several of his cats were looking interested, but he knew that he hadn’t won them over yet.

“Why can’t ShadowClan deal with their own problems?” Mousewhisker protested. “These are kittypets, for StarClan’s sake! How dangerous can they be?”

“Well, we’ve met fierce kittypets in our time,” Sandstorm pointed out from her place just inside the tunnel. “And ShadowClan is weakened by the floods.”

“So are we,” Rosepetal retorted. “Why should we risk injury to help ShadowClan? What have they ever done for us?”

“Yes, we didn’t survive the Great Battle to fight on behalf of ShadowClan,” Brackenfur agreed.

Bramblestar glanced down and caught Jessy’s eye. She looked shocked by the strength of the objections to the plan. He noticed that Squirrelflight was watching Jessy, too; then she fixed her green gaze straight on him. She hadn’t spoken yet.

One by one the warriors turned to look at their deputy, waiting for her to give her opinion. Squirrelflight kept her eyes fixed on Bramblestar for a long moment, then rose to her paws. Bramblestar found himself holding his breath as he waited for her to speak.

“I think we should take action,” she meowed. “We can’t let a bunch of kittypets force ShadowClan onto our territory. If ShadowClan isn’t strong enough to deal with them, then we’ll have to!”

Bramblestar saw a ripple of enthusiasm pass through the Clan in response to his deputy’s rousing words. Loud caterwauls rose into the air from almost all the cats, Mousewhisker and Rosepetal among them.

“That makes sense,” Graystripe declared.

“Yes! Let’s drive them off!” Thornclaw yowled.

Blossomfall worked her claws into the ground. “The forest is for warriors, not for kittypets!”

Bramblestar noticed that Frankie and Minty were looking a bit unnerved by the protests against kittypets. Millie leaned over to them and Bramblestar heard her whisper, “Don’t worry, they don’t mean you. They get like this sometimes.”

“Then that’s settled,” Bramblestar announced. “Warriors who are prepared to fight, join me now.” He slithered down from the mudfall, with mud sticking to his fur and clogging his claws. At the foot of the pile he met Cloudtail, Thornclaw, Cinderheart, Lionblaze, Blossomfall, Ivypool, and her apprentice, Snowpaw, all pressing forward to volunteer.

“I can’t let apprentices come,” Bramblestar meowed with a glance at Snowpaw.

Snowpaw took a pace back, looking hurt.

“Why not?” Ivypool asked Bramblestar. “They have to fight sooner or later, and a battle against kittypets won’t be as dangerous as fighting another Clan.”

Bramblestar tipped his head on one side. “Good point. Okay, Snowpaw, you can come.”

Snowpaw let out a squeal of delight and leaped straight into the air, while his sister, Amberpaw, slid out of the tunnel and ran forward. “Me too!” she begged.

Jayfeather snaked his tail around her neck and hauled her back. “Don’t even think about it. You’re far too sick.” He ignored Amberpaw’s protests and herded her back into the tunnel.

“What about you, Dewpaw?” Bramblestar prompted, seeing the third of the litter hovering close by. His eyes were wide and his gray-and-white fur looked ruffled.

“I’m going to stay and help guard the camp,” Whitewing announced before her apprentice could reply. “Dewpaw can come with you if he likes,” she added, glancing at the little cat beside her.

Dewpaw shook his head. “It’s okay, I’ll stay and help you, Whitewing. You might need me.”

Bramblestar noticed that Lilypaw had crept closer to the front of the crowd of warriors, and he shook his head firmly at her mentor, Poppyfrost. Lilypaw is still too vulnerable to fight, so soon after Seedpaw’s death. Poppyfrost nodded agreement and bent her head to speak gently to Lilypaw.

Squirrelflight thrust her way through the crowd of warriors around Bramblestar. “When do we leave?”

“You don’t,” Bramblestar told her. “I need you to stay and take charge here.”

Squirrelflight’s green eyes widened in surprise. “You mean you’re going yourself? This is just a minor skirmish. It doesn’t need the Clan leader!”

“It was my suggestion,” Bramblestar reminded her. “I have to take part and share the risks with my Clanmates.”

Squirrelflight nodded reluctantly. “All right, I’ll stay.”

Bramblestar glanced around until he spotted Jessy sitting with Frankie and Minty. “Jessy,” he called to her, “will you come with us, please? We need you to show us where to go.”

Jessy nodded and rose to her paws to make her way over to Bramblestar.

“A kittypet fighting kittypets?” Squirrelflight hissed into Bramblestar’s ear.

“Actually, this was Jessy’s idea,” Bramblestar whispered back. “She knows these kittypets.”

Squirrelflight’s eyes narrowed to green slits. “Why does she want to help ShadowClan?” she asked suspiciously. “Are we settling an old score for her against her enemies?”

Bramblestar realized that was a fair question. “No, I trust her,” he replied. “And I respect her for having the courage to suggest it.”

Squirrelflight let out a snort. “Just be careful, and remember that we don’t really know her at all.”

Frankie had followed Jessy over to the Clan leader, and now he spoke up. “I’ll come too, Bramblestar, if you like.”

Bramblestar looked at him, and at Minty, who was peering around his shoulder, her eyes wide with horror at the thought of going into battle. “No,” he meowed. “Thanks for offering, but you stay here and go on with your training. You too, Minty.” His gaze swept around his assembled warriors. “The rest of us leave at dawn!”