Bramblestar’s Storm

Minty watched the squirrel dart across the gap between two pines and scramble up into the branches. “Will we meet any ShadowClan cats?” she asked. “I wish we could. It’d be fun!”

Dovewing rolled her eyes. “Trust me, it wouldn’t. Why don’t you save your breath for walking?”

Minty gave her an injured look, but said nothing more.

Bramblestar was thankful that so far they hadn’t met any ShadowClan patrols. His pelt was prickling with apprehension at the thought of bringing a kittypet into his Clan. ThunderClan doesn’t need more cats. It needs to strengthen and protect the ones it has.

But Bramblestar couldn’t have left Minty to starve. He padded over to the kittypet, who was nervously eyeing a fallen tree in her path.

“Just hop on top of it,” he meowed, “and then jump down on the other side. It’s not that high.”

He leaped up to show her, and grabbed her to help her up the last couple of mouse-lengths as her hind paws scuffled against the trunk.

I just hope my Clanmates understand why I’ve brought a stranger home with me.

All four ThunderClan cats let out a sigh of relief as they crossed the border into ThunderClan territory. Their scent marks were faint against the smell of mud and water, but there were no fresh ShadowClan scents. Following the edge of the flood, Thornclaw led them up the slope until they were just below the ridge. It was hard going, pushing through the soaking undergrowth on paws that were tired and heavy as stone.

“We’re on ThunderClan territory now,” Graystripe told Minty, “and we’re just going past the flooded camp.” He veered down the slope and vanished into a clump of thorns.

Bramblestar followed, nodding to Minty. “Come on, you can see where our home used to be.”

He waited for her to join him at the edge of the cliff. Bramblestar felt his heart beat faster as he stared into the hollow. The sheer gray cliffs now encircled nothing but a pool of black, swirling water. He pictured the dens, the fresh-kill pile, the half stump where the apprentices liked to play. Were they all still there, under the water?

Or had every trace of ThunderClan been washed away?

Chapter 12

“It’s even more flooded than my home!” Minty exclaimed. “Where do you live now?”

“You’ll see,” Bramblestar told her. “It’s this way.” He turned away from the cliff, feeling a stab of grief for the lost camp, and forced his way back through the thorns. It was a steep climb to the tunnel, and he heard Minty puffing behind him, though to her credit she didn’t complain. Bramblestar wondered if she realized he and the others had traveled twice this distance in one day.

Several cats were outside the tunnel entrance. Daisy, Purdy, and Squirrelflight were spreading out bundles of wet moss and bracken to dry in the weak sun. A little farther off, the three younger apprentices and their mentors were watching closely while Ivypool and Spiderleg demonstrated a battle move.

As Bramblestar and his patrol trekked up the last few fox-lengths of the slope, every cat looked up.

Squirrelflight leaped to her paws. “Thank StarClan you’re okay! Did you find out about the other Clans?”

More cats emerged from the tunnel and crowded around the patrol.

“Did RiverClan survive?”

“How far do the floods stretch?”

It was Spiderleg who first noticed Minty. “Who’s this?” he demanded. “Bramblestar, why have you brought another cat here?”

“Another mouth to feed,” Berrynose added with a disapproving twitch of his whiskers. “Haven’t we got enough trouble, providing for our own cats?”

Minty stared around her with huge blue eyes, daunted by the number of cats and the hostility from the two toms.

“Her name is Minty,” Bramblestar meowed, his tone cold as he raked his gaze over Spiderleg and Berrynose. “We rescued her from the flooded Twoleg dens near RiverClan territory.”

“Twoleg dens?” Sandstorm’s ears flicked up in surprise. “You mean this is a kittypet?” She stretched her neck forward and sniffed Minty’s fur. “You don’t smell like one,” she commented.

“I—I’ve been swimming,” Minty stammered.

“Her housefolk left her behind,” Bramblestar explained. “She’d have drowned or starved if we hadn’t helped her.” Then he remembered that he was Clan leader. He didn’t have to justify his decisions. “Take her inside, make a nest for her, and find her something to eat,” he ordered.

“We’ll do that,” Amberpaw offered, pushing through the knot of warriors.

“Yeah, come on.” Snowpaw curled his tail around Minty’s shoulders. “We’ll look after you.”

Bramblestar watched the apprentices lead Minty away. The young cats were bubbling with curiosity.

“Are you really a kittypet?” Dewpaw asked, giving the black-and-white she-cat a fascinated stare. “What’s it like, living with Twolegs?”

“Is it true you don’t have to catch your own food?” Amberpaw mewed.