Bramblestar’s Storm

Squirrelflight said no more, but her shoulder fur was bristling, and Bramblestar felt as if the air between them had become as cold as ice. “Dovewing, Lionblaze,” she meowed, ignoring Bramblestar, “take a patrol each and check the ShadowClan border. Start at opposite ends and meet in the middle—and make sure the scent marks are good and strong,” she finished.

Lionblaze dipped his head. “Which cats should we take?”

“Let’s see…” Squirrelflight glanced around. “Blossomfall, Dustpelt, and Birchfall can go with you. Dovewing, take Spiderleg, Brightheart, and Cherryfall.”

Unseen by his deputy, Bramblestar gave a nod of approval. She was right to double the patrols on the ShadowClan border. We can’t trust those cats to stay inside their own markers, and we know how badly their territory has been affected!

“I’ll help by going on patrol if you like,” Frankie offered, padding up to stand beside Squirrelflight.

Bramblestar twitched his whiskers in surprise. The gray tabby tom was looking brighter and more determined this morning, very different from the shrinking, moaning creature who had come to the camp the night before. Good job, Jayfeather! Your herbs have really helped him.

Glancing at the gathering patrols, Bramblestar realized that all the warriors looked distinctly unimpressed at the idea of Frankie taking part. “No, thanks, Frankie,” he meowed. “It’s a bit soon for that. Get some rest today, and we’ll find you something to do soon.”

“Patrolling with a kittypet?” Blossomfall muttered. “I’d sooner eat fox dung!”

“Yeah,” Spiderleg agreed. “He’d really scare ShadowClan.”

Bramblestar glared at them, hoping that Frankie hadn’t heard. “The sick cats shouldn’t go out,” he mewed to Squirrelflight as the ShadowClan patrols moved off. “Sandstorm and Amberpaw need to rest and stay dry.”

Squirrelflight nodded, her previous annoyance seemingly forgotten. “Mousewhisker has started coughing,” she reported. “And Berrynose is looking pretty sorry himself. I think they should stay in camp, too.” She flicked her tail toward the tunnel entrance, where Berrynose was crouched miserably, his cream-colored fur ungroomed. Poppyfrost sat beside him, giving his ears a comforting lick.

“Okay, fine,” Bramblestar meowed, trying to push down a swell of anxiety. How many more of us will get sick before this is over?

“I’m going to lead a patrol along the WindClan border,” Squirrelflight went on. “Poppyfrost, Cloudtail, and Thornclaw, you can come with me.”

Poppyfrost quickly said good-bye to Berrynose. She and the other cats gathered around Squirrelflight and set out. They had gone several fox-lengths down the slope before Bramblestar remembered what he had seen that morning.

“Hey, Squirrelflight, hold on a moment!” he called.

Squirrelflight turned and padded back up the slope toward him. “What?”

“When I was out with Jessy I spotted a WindClan patrol on our side of the stream,” Bramblestar told her. “You should keep a lookout for—”

“What, you only think to tell us that now?” Squirrelflight’s tail lashed and her green eyes narrowed in fury. “There are trespassers on our territory and it slipped your mind?”

Bramblestar forced his neck fur to lie flat, knowing that his deputy had some reason for her anger. I should have come straight back here and sent out a patrol.

“Those crow-food eaters! How dare they?” Thornclaw exclaimed, following Squirrelflight back up the slope.

“Let’s chase them off!” Ivypool hissed, coming to join her Clanmates with Bumblestripe just behind.

“They’re probably back in their own camp by now,” Squirrelflight snapped with another flick of her tail.

“You know,” Bumblestripe began thoughtfully, “they must have had trouble crossing the stream. Now that it’s flooded, it’s too wide to jump across for the whole length of the border, and the current is far too strong for them to swim. They must be crossing farther up. If we could find the place, there might be a way to guard or block it.”

“That’s a great idea,” Bramblestar mewed. “I’ll lead a patrol upstream right away and check it out. You can come with me to investigate, Bumblestripe, and you too, Ivypool.”

“I’ll get Snowpaw,” Ivypool mewed, racing back to the tunnel mouth and calling for her apprentice.

“Can I come too?” Jessy asked, bright-eyed. When Bramblestar hesitated, unsure about taking a kittypet on what could be a dangerous patrol, she added, “I’d like to help, and I know I can’t hunt.” Blinking, she shot him a look of exaggerated innocence, and Bramblestar knew she was reminding him of their earlier conversation.

“Okay,” he agreed. “But do exactly what I tell you.”