Bramblestar’s Storm

“Now get out and stay out,” Rowanstar growled. With a nod of his head he gathered his patrol and headed back into his own territory.

“The ungrateful, mange-ridden furballs!” Snowpaw’s words exploded from him as soon as the ShadowClan cats had vanished into the undergrowth. “We were helping them! They should be thanking us!”

“Hmm…” Ivypool flicked her ears. “Maybe we should have waited to be asked before we helped.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t have helped at all,” Thornclaw mewed.

“I can’t believe they were so angry,” Jessy murmured, her eyes still wide with shock. “I’m sorry, Bramblestar. I didn’t mean to get you into trouble.”

“It’s not your fault,” Bramblestar told her. “I made the decision, and if it keeps ShadowClan patrols out of our territory, it was the right one.”

I wish I was really convinced of that, he thought to himself. Gazing at his battered warriors, he wondered if he had gone into battle for the right reasons, or if he had allowed himself to be swayed by Jessy’s bold ideas.

It was after sunhigh by the time Bramblestar led his cats back into their camp. Most of the cats were stretched out in the clearing, trying to warm themselves in a few pale gleams of sunlight that pierced the ragged cloud. Squirrelflight, who was talking to Brackenfur near the tunnel entrance, sprang to her paws as soon as she spotted the returning patrol.

“Great StarClan!” she exclaimed, bounding over to them. “What happened?”

“The kittypets happened,” Bramblestar responded briefly.

“But… you’re so badly hurt!” Squirrelflight’s green gaze was filled with horror as she turned and raced back to the tunnel. “Jayfeather!” she yowled. “Come here! You’re needed!”

Immediately the medicine cat popped out of the tunnel. His jaws parted to taste the air; Bramblestar realized he would recognize the reek of blood at once.

“I knew this was a mistake,” Jayfeather mewed as he approached the patrol and began to sniff at their wounds. “Especially when Leafpool is still in the ShadowClan camp. I need her here!”

Oh, StarClan! Bramblestar thought. I hope Rowanstar isn’t taking out his anger on my medicine cat!

Frankie and Minty bounded across the clearing to Jessy, looking shocked when they saw the blood welling from the scratches on her shoulders.

“Did you really fight?” Minty asked, her eyes stretched wide.

“Did you chase off the kittypets?” meowed Frankie.

Bramblestar listened while Jessy described the battle, apparently relishing the danger and pleased that they had defeated Victor and his friends. Frankie and Minty listened breathlessly.

“Wow!” Frankie looked more impressed than scared. “I wish I’d been with you.”

Minty shuddered. “I don’t.”

“It was great!” Jessy’s eyes glowed with the memory. “I know we got hurt, but it was worth it to teach those arrogant kittypets a lesson!”

Bramblestar realized that while the kittypets were talking, Brackenfur had padded up to his side. “Are you sure you weren’t settling kittypet scores?” he murmured.

For a heartbeat, Bramblestar wasn’t sure. No, he told himself firmly. Jessy was only trying to help.

Before he could reply to Brackenfur, a groan from Lionblaze distracted him. The golden-furred warrior staggered and flopped over on his side. “The pain…” he gasped.

“I told you so!” Cinderheart shrieked as she ran to his side. “When will you learn that you’re not invulnerable anymore?”

She nudged Lionblaze to his paws while Jayfeather helped to support him on the other side. Together the two cats half carried, half dragged him into the tunnel to have his wounds treated. The rest of the patrol followed.

“Mouse-brain!” Jayfeather muttered angrily as he went. “You’re all mouse-brained. And all over a bunch of kittypets!”

Discouraged, Bramblestar watched them go. He could sense the depression among the Clan, the sense that although they had won the battle, it was a hollow victory. Only the kittypets seemed to be happy.

“Come on,” he meowed to Jessy, touching her shoulder with his tail. “You need to go to Jayfeather and have your wounds treated.” As she turned away from her friends and followed him to the tunnel, he added, “Thank you for your courage, Jessy. I know the battle was harder for you than for any of us.”

Jessy halted, gazing into his eyes. “I just copied what you did,” she mewed. “I had the best teacher.”

For a moment Bramblestar didn’t know what to say to her. But before the silence could stretch out, Squirrelflight came padding up. Jessy dipped her head to Bramblestar and headed inside to see Jayfeather.

Bramblestar braced himself for a scolding from his deputy, ready to defend himself. But to his surprise, Squirrelflight’s gaze was sympathetic.

“You had to do something,” she meowed. “We can’t have ShadowClan hunting in our territory, and this was a way to stop them.”

“That’s what I wanted to do,” Bramblestar responded.