Bramblestar’s Storm

“There’s this Twoleg pelt,” Bramblestar meowed, pointing with his tail at the sodden object Lionblaze and Poppyfrost had dragged up.

“That?” Squirrelflight wrinkled her nose. “You went all that way and put your Clanmates in danger for that? It’s disgusting!”

“No, it might not be so bad,” Daisy mewed, looking up from where she and Leafpool were sniffing the pelt. “We can stretch it over a bush to dry it.”

Squirrelflight just let out a snort.

Even though Bramblestar had to agree with her, he was hurt by his deputy’s dismissiveness. Before he could reply, Jessy pushed her way forward.

“Who do you think you are?” she snarled at Squirrelflight. “You should be grateful to Bramblestar. He risked his life to get that!”

Squirrelflight seemed too taken aback to match the kittypet’s aggressiveness. “I know how brave Bramblestar is,” she responded, then added, “I’m going to sort out patrols. Bramblestar, you need to rest and eat.”

Jessy watched Squirrelflight as she stalked off. “Wow, is she always like that?”

“Yeah, pretty much,” Bramblestar replied.

Jessy went over to join Frankie, who was still shivering. Minty poked her head out of the tunnel, then picked her way carefully over the muddy ground to touch noses with the other two kittypets. It seemed as if they already knew one another, but it was hardly a joy-filled reunion.

“Thanks for getting the pelt.” Graystripe had padded up while Bramblestar was watching the kittypets. “It looks like the floods are more dangerous than we realized,” he commented with a nod at the three.

Bramblestar murmured in agreement. All three kittypets were huddled together, small and hunched against the wind. Even Jessy looked out of place and miserable. What are we going to do with them? Bramblestar wondered.

Chapter 16

Bramblestar woke from a restless sleep, feeling the cold of the tunnel floor striking through his pelt all the way to his bones. Staggering to his paws, he picked his way among his sleeping Clanmates until he could slip past the mudfall and into the open. He padded forward a couple of tail-lengths and stood watching as the sky paled toward dawn and the last warriors of StarClan winked out.

A light rain was falling, swept across the forest by a chilly breeze, but the cloud cover seemed thinner, as if the storm might be over at last. Looking downward through the trees, Bramblestar could just make out the silver shimmer of the lake. Behind him in the shadowy tunnel he could hear rasping coughs coming from Amberpaw. Another cat stirred and muttered something grumpily.

“Here, Amberpaw.” Bramblestar’s ears twitched at Leafpool’s whispered words. “Have a drink from this wet moss. It should help your throat.”

A loud snore drowned any response from Amberpaw. Purdy, Bramblestar thought, pleased that the old cat was getting some rest. But his relief died away a moment later as he heard a whimper from deeper in the tunnel.

“Seedpaw… I want Seedpaw.”

“I’m here, Lilypaw.” That was Dewpaw, his voice comforting. “Lie closer to me. Seedpaw’s in StarClan now.”

Bramblestar’s heart felt as heavy as a rock. Too many cats have been lost… There are too many scratches on the Stick of the Fallen. And now the stick itself had caused the death of a young apprentice. Urgent questions swept through Bramblestar’s mind like leaves driven by the wind. Will the waters ever recede? Will the Clans be forced to look for yet another home? What would Firestar have done?

He was still vainly searching for answers in his thoughts when he heard soft paw steps behind him. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Jessy emerge from the tunnel, shivering as the rain spattered against her pelt. I bet Firestar wouldn’t have filled the Clan with kittypet mouths to feed, he thought ruefully.

Jessy’s jaws gaped in a yawn; her tail was drooping, and she was clearly tired. Her gaze darted from side to side as she left the safety of the tunnel. But her paw steps were firm as she walked over to stand beside Bramblestar.

“You don’t live in this tunnel all the time, do you?” she asked curiously.

“No, our real camp is much better than this,” Bramblestar replied. “Do you want to see it? I could show you some of the territory if you like.” We’ll be back before patrols have to go out, he told himself, feeling slightly guilty at the thought of going off alone. And we could both do with a brisk run to warm up.

“Okay,” Jessy agreed. “Lead the way, wild cat.”