Briarstar’s Journey

Mature Content

This page may contain profanity, violence, mild gore, or other forms of mature content.

In the forest, there are two Clans: WoodClan and DewClan. These two Clans live in peace until StarClan warns them that something threatens their Clans, and only one young cat can save them.

This fanfic may contain violence/death.

Read the prequel here: Ravenstar’s Story

Please do not edit this page unless you are fixing a grammar/spelling mistake. Thank you!

By: Tailbite the SeaWing

Art by Tailbite the SeaWing

Allegiances

Note: toms are male cats and she-cats are female cats

WoodClan:

Leader: Ravenstar - large, pure black tom with startlingly bright green eyes

Deputy: Beeflight - yellow she-cat with black stripes and orange eyes

Medicine cat: Brightcloud - dilute calico she-cat with amber eyes

Warriors:

Redbark - long-furred brown-and-red tom with amber eyes

Blackmoon - black tom with amber eyes

Apprentice: Cranepaw

Squirreltail - ginger she-cat with a bushy tail and amber eyes

Cherryleaf - golden tabby she-cat with white markings and dark blue eyes

Adderfoot - black-and-white tom with yellow eyes

Thorntooth - light brown tom with darker tabby stripes and amber eyes

Flamestripe - long-furred dark ginger tabby tom with amber eyes

Apprentice: Sootpaw

Queens:

Cloverbreeze - sleek white she-cat with dark green eyes (mother to Briarkit)

Dawnfur - white she-cat with gray patches and green eyes (mother to Rosekit and Sunkit)

Kits:

Briarkit - calico she-kit with dark green eyes

Rosekit - dark ginger she-kit with a white chest and paws, amber eyes

Sunkit - cream-furred she-kit with a dappled coat and yellow eyes

Apprentices:

Sootpaw - thick-furred pale gray tom with golden eyes

Cranepaw - light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes

Elders:

Mapleheart - dark ginger and black she-cat with green eyes

Snowpelt - fluffy white tom with blue eyes

Smokefeather - dark gray tabby tom with orange eyes

Molefang - solid brown tom with yellow eyes

DewClan:

Leader: Applestar - light ginger she-cat with amber eyes

Deputy: Frosteye - pale gray she-cat, blind in one eye

Medicine cat: Toadspring - black tom with white patches and lime green eyes

Warriors:

Brackenclaw - dark brown tabby tom with yellow eyes

Apprentice: Ospreypaw

Graystorm - dark gray tom with bright amber eyes

Ivyfrost - silver tabby she-cat with ice-blue eyes

Apprentice: Fawnpaw

Lakewind - dark gray tabby tom with white ears and paws

Queens:

Robinheart - dark brown she-cat with a ginger chest and amber eyes (mother to Foxkit and Darkkit)

Morninglight - tortoiseshell she-cat with amber eyes (mother to Leopardkit)

Kits:

Foxkit - ginger tom with a cream-colored belly

Darkkit - long-furred black tom with green eyes

Leopardkit - golden-brown she-kit with barely visible darker spots

Apprentices:

Ospreypaw - brown tabby tom with a white chest and amber eyes

Fawnpaw - tawny-furred she-cat with green eyes

Elders:

N/A

Cats outside Clans:

Nettleclaw - pale gray tabby tom with green eyes (loner)

Chapter 1

Briarkit pounced playfully after a moth. It flew high above her head until it was a dark spot against the evening sky.

”Briarkit!” Cloverbreeze called. “Come inside. It’s getting dark.”

Briarkit sighed. Nobody ever lets me have any fun! “Coming, mother!”

It was warm and comfortable inside the nursery, but Briarkit longed to be running through the forest, catching prey for WoodClan. She would be an apprentice soon, as she was five moons old, and the thought made her fur tingle with excitement. She knew she belonged here, with WoodClan. She never thought about living as a loner, because she knew that would never be her. She was only a kit, and she already knew she would die for her Clan.

Her father, Nettleclaw, had left WoodClan to become a loner before Briarkit was even kitted. Cloverbreeze had grieved for moons. Brightcloud, the Clan’s medicine cat, had comforted Cloverbreeze, telling her that it was for the best. Briarkit had never met her father, and she didn’t even want to. She was disgusted at the thought that her father was a loner. A boring, disgusting, codeless loner.

Briarkit had three littermates, but they all died from greencough. She remembered them very well. Finchkit, Briarkit’s sister, who was so generous and kind. Spotkit, Briarkit’s other sister, who had the most spots she had ever seen on a cat. And Eaglekit, Briarkit’s brother, who had been so eager to become a warrior. Briarkit missed them so much, but she knew they were watching over her from StarClan.

Speaking of StarClan, the thought of warriors watching over their Clan and protecting them from DewClan made her feel safe. DewClan was the other Clan in the forest. Every moon, WoodClan would meet DewClan at Tall Rocks and discuss how things had been lately. They had been peculiarly hostile to WoodClan lately, most likely because their territory had recently been flooded, devastating almost half of their territory. Now they had much less territory than WoodClan, and they weren’t pleased about it AT ALL.

”Hi, Briarkit!” came a squeak. It was Rosekit, one of Dawnfur’s kits. Her sister, Sunkit, was behind her.

”Hiya!” Briarkit mewed. She was glad Rosekit and Sunkit were here to spend time with her. They were like littermates to her, and they were only a few days older than her.

”We can’t sleep.” Sunkit meowed. “We want to go in the forest!”

”Shhhh!” Rosekit snapped in a whisper. “Cloverbreeze and Dawnfur are asleep!”

”Sorry!” Sunkit mewed apologetically.

”Lets go outside,” Rosekit mewed, and the three kits scampered outside.

”You want to go into the forest?” Briarkit burst out as soon as they were outside. “We can’t do that. The nursery queens would be so mad at us.” However, her paws were shaking with excitement.

”Of course we can!” Sunkit mewed cheerfully. “Everyone is asleep!”

”But Blackmoon and Cherryleaf are guarding the entrance tunnel,” Briarkit pointed out.

”We‘ll have to sneak around them,” Rosekit growled in a high-pitched voice. “Look; there’s a hole in the bramble wall! We can go through there.” With that, she and Sunkit turned and raced toward the hole.

”Okay,” Briarkit mewed, then followed them.

Chapter 2

”Wow,” Sunkit whispered as they gawked at the huge trees looming above them. “The forest is a lot bigger than I thought.”

”It’s amazing,” Briarkit whispered. The cool night breeze tugged at her fur, as though it was urging her to run through the forest all night long.

They sat in silence for a while until Rosekit piped up. “Let’s hunt!”

Sunkit snorted. “Hunt? It’s the middle of the night! There’s no prey.” She shuddered. “Only big owls.”

Rosekit gave an amused purr. “You’re afraid of owls?”

”I’m serious! Remember the story Dawnfur told us? About that apprentice that was taken away by an owl?”

”I’m sure she made that up,” Rosekit mewed. “She was only trying to get us to stay away from owls JUST IN CASE. You know how overprotective she can be.”

”Alright, enough you two,” Briarkit growled. “You’re going to wake up both WoodClan and DewClan making that much noise.” She pricked her ears. “I can hear a stream! Let’s go look at it!”

They ran excitedly to the sound of rushing water. When they reached it, they had to shout over the roar of the water.

”It’s so pretty!” squealed Rosekit. She lowered her head to drink the silver water, then lifted it up. “Tasty, too!”

Sunkit ran up to her. “Tag!” she mewed, then raced away.

”Hey!” Rosekit raced after her.

Briarkit galloped away from Rosekit. “Can’t catch me!” she teased.

”We’ll see about that.” Rosekit growled playfully, bolting after her.

The three kits ran around everywhere, squealing and mewling loudly.

“Hey guys,” Briarkit said. “Look. The moon is going away. It’ll be morning soon.”

”We should be getting back,” Sunkit agreed.

”Alright,” Rosekit said. “This way!”

They padded through the woods for a long time. Every tree looked the same, and Briarkit couldn’t smell any scents she knew.

”Huh,” Rosekit said, looking puzzled. “I thought for sure this is the way we came!”

”I can’t smell camp,” Briarkit said nervously.

The kits looked around fearfully. The only sound they could hear was the crickets chirping. They couldn’t even hear the stream anymore.

The kits were lost.

Chapter 3

”Good job, Rosekit!” Sunkit cried. “You did an excellent job leading us back to camp! Mother and father would be so proud of you!”

”Shut up!” Rosekit snapped. “You didn‘t have to follow me! But you did anyway! It’s your fault, too.”

”Guys, please stop,” Briarkit begged. “We have to find a way to get back. Do either of you smell the stream?”

”I don’t,” Sunkit mewed furiously. “All I can smell is stupid pine.” She shot a dark look at Rosekit.

Rosekit fluffed out her ginger tail. “I think I smelled it that way.” She gestured toward a large pine.

”Don’t trust her!” Sunkit cried. ”She’ll just get us even more lost, if that’s possible.”

Do these cats ever stop arguing? Briarkit thought grumpily. The sun was out now, and the birds were singing. Cloverbreeze and Dawnfur must have realized they were missing by now. We‘re going to be in huge trouble. She glanced behind her shoulder. I hope Blackmoon and Cherryleaf don’t get punished. They didn’t do anything wrong.

”I think we should just wait here,” Briarkit mewed. “The Clan must know we snuck off by now. They’ll follow our scent trail and find us. We‘ll be okay.” She sounded like she was trying to reassure herself.

They did that. They waited for what felt like forever. They occasionally cried out, hoping a nearby patrol would hear them. Finally, they heard a nearby voice.

”Do you hear that?” Sunkit gasped. “It sounds like Adderfoot!”

”ADDERFOOT!” Rosekit wailed. “Help us!”

”ADDERFOOOOOOT!” Briarkit and Sunkit echoed.

A black-and-white cat burst through the bushes. It was Adderfoot. And behind him were Thorntooth and Flamestripe.

”Father!” Sunkit cried joyfully, running over to Flamestripe. She was closely followed by Rosekit.

”Great StarClan!” Flamestripe exclaimed, wrapping his bushy tail around his kits. ”We’ve been so worried about you!”

Briarkit watched, feeling envious. She wished she had a father that lived in WoodClan to watch her grow up and be proud of her.

”Come on, we better get you back home,” Adderfoot said gruffly. “You kits have a lot of explaining to do.”

Chapter 4

Briarkit, Rosekit, and Sunkit sat with their heads bowed in shame as Cloverbreeze and Dawnfur glared at them. Ravenstar had decided to let the kit’s mothers decide what their punishments would be.

“I thought you knew better,” Dawnfur growled. “I thought you were mature, trustworthy kits. What were you thinking?”

”We thought it would be fun to go into the forest...” Sunkit began.

”At five moons old?” Cloverbreeze meowed. She didn’t look as angry as Dawnfur, but her disappointed expression made Briarkit want to wail aloud.

”Yes,” Rosekit said shamefully. “We only planned to stay out there for a little while. But on our way back, we got lost.”

”Hmmmmm,” Cloverbreeze mused. “What do you think we should do to teach them a lesson, Dawnfur?”

”Let me think,” meowed the golden she-cat. Then she smiled. “I know. They can spend the rest of the day looking after the elders. Yes, that would teach them a lesson!”

Both the she-cats purred in agreement.

Briarkit groaned. This was going to be the worst day EVER.

”Go ahead!” Cloverbreeze meowed briskly. “Get to work!”

Rosekit went to go get mouse bile while Briarkit and Sunkit padded into the elders‘ den where the three elders sat.

”Hello,” said Mapleheart. “I see your mothers decided to you should look after us.”

”Only for the rest of the day,” Sunkit mewed, her yellow eyes flashing. “Oh, here comes Rosekit with the mouse bile.”

”Okay, who‘s got ticks?” Rosekit meowed loudly.

”There’s one on my neck,” offered Snowpelt.

”I’ve got a few on my rump,” Mapleheart told them.

”I‘m covered in them,” Smokefeather meowed.

Briarkit got Snowpelt’s ticks, Rosekit got Mapleheart’s ticks, and Sunkit got Smokefeather’s ticks.

“My paws are cracked,” complained Snowpelt. “Can one of you kits get Brightcloud to give you some herbs for me?”

Sunkit rolled her eyes at Briarkit and Rosekit, then sprinted off toward the medicine cat den. When she returned with the herbs, Briarkit was quite surprised when she bent her head and chewed them into a pulp. She continued to watch, fascinated, as she spread it across Snowpelt’s paws.

”Just leave it there until tonight, then wash it off in a puddle or a stream, but not with your tongue. It leaves a foul taste in your mouth, believe me,” she told him.

“Thank you,” he meowed. “You’d make a good medicine cat.”

”Er, thanks,” Sunkit said awkwardly.

The kits cleaned up the mouse bile in silence.

”Now we have to change their bedding,” Briarkit mewed, a little crossly. This was the most boring day ever.

Chapter 5

Almost a moon later...

Briarkit shared a mouse with Rosekit, thinking about the things that had changed in the past moon. Cloverbreeze and Dawnfur had both gone back to their warrior duties. Cherryleaf had moved into the nursery, expecting her first litter of kits with her mate, Redbark. Sunkit spent most of her time in the medicine cat den helping Brightcloud with a new goal: to become a medicine cat.

”Can you believe it?” Rosekit meowed. “Today we’ll be apprentices!”

”I know,” Briarkit meowed. “But I wish Sunkit could be a warrior apprentice with us.”

”Me too,” Rosekit sighed. “But she seems to really want to be a medicine cat.”

“I wonder why,” Briarkit meowed.

Rosekit shrugged. “I dunno. I’ve asked her, and she just said it was her ‘duty’ to become WoodClan’s next medicine cat.” She rolled her amber eyes.

Ravenstar’s yowl sounded from above. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the High Branch to hear my words.”

”Its happening!” Rosekit whispered. “It’s actually happening!”

Briarkit’s fur tingled with excitement as Sunkit appeared from medicine cat den, her face alight with joy.

Cloverbreeze padded up to Briarkit. “You’re going to do great. Your father would be so proud.” She then walked over to sit with the other cats.

Once everyone had gathered around, Ravenstar walked over to the kits. “Rosekit,” he meowed. “From this day until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Rosepaw. StarClan, I ask you to watch over this apprentice as she trains to become a warrior.” He flicked his tail. “Squirreltail,” he continued. “You are ready to take on your first apprentice. You will mentor Rosepaw.”

Rosepaw’s face seemed to be glowing as she padded up to Squirreltail and touched her nose to the warrior’s.

”Briarkit,” Ravenstar meowed. “From this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Briarpaw. May StarClan light your path and help you become a warrior. Thorntooth, you did an excellent job training Blackmoon. You will be Briarpaw’s mentor.”

Briarpaw’s paws were trembling as she walked toward Thorntooth and touched her nose to his. She purred with happiness.

”Sunkit,” Ravenstar meowed. “From this day until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Sunpaw. Brightcloud, I trust you to teach Sunpaw everything she needs to know to be a medicine cat. You will mentor her.”

”I swear by StarClan, I will teach her well. She is in good paws,” meowed the medicine cat.

”Rosepaw! Briarpaw! Sunpaw!”

The three cats purred with joy. They weren't kits anymore. They were apprentices now.

Chapter 6

”Are you ready to start training?” Thorntooth meowed as soon as the ceremony was over.

Briarpaw purred. “Yes!”

”Can I train with you?” Rosepaw meowed.

Squirreltail and Thorntooth exchanged glances.

”I don’t see why not,” Squirreltail meowed.

The apprentices cheered happily.

Thorntooth flicked his tail. “Lets get going.”

As they padded into the woods, Briarpaw remembered, with a purr of amusement, the time she, Rosepaw, and Sunpaw has snuck off into the woods while the queens were sleeping.

”Wow!” Rosepaw exclaimed. “The forest is just as big as I remember! She shot a mischievous look at Briarpaw. “I can’t believe Sunpaw would rather sort through smelly herbs all day than be a warrior.”

”Every cat contributes to their Clan in different ways,” Squirreltail meowed calmly. “Sunpaw simply finds it easier to be a medicine cat than a warrior. And that’s just fine.”

”I know,” Rosepaw meowed quickly.

”What are we going to do today?” Briarpaw asked.

Thorntooth smiled. “First we‘ll show you the territory, then we’ll teach you a few hunting moves.”

”Awesome!” Rosepaw said, bouncing around with excitement.

”Come along,” Thorntooth meowed. The apprentices followed him and Squirreltail.

”This tree is called the Sky Tree because it’s the tallest tree in our territory,” Thorntooth meowed.

”Oooooooo,” the apprentices mewed.

”You‘ll learn to climb in this tree when you’re an older apprentice,” Squirreltail added.

”I’m going to be the best climber in the whole Clan!” Rosepaw meowed, puffing out her chest.

Briarpaw snorted. “We’ll see.”

“I remember this place!” Rosepaw cried when they reached the stream.

Briarpaw nodded. “Me too. It seems smaller now, though. It must be because we’re bigger.”

”No, Briarpaw. Let me explain,” Thorntooth meowed. “It was early new leaf when you kits had your...adventure. Now it’s later in new leaf, and the stream has dried up.”

Briarpaw and Rosepaw padded curiously over to the edge of the water. It really has gotten smaller. She glanced up uneasily. “Will we run out of water?” She asked.

”It happened before, once,” Squirreltail admitted, glancing at the shallow water. “But eventually it rained again. It always does.”

Thorntooth and Squirreltail showed Briarpaw and Rosepaw the rest of the territory. The Fallen Oak, the Squirrel Tree, and they even showed them the DewClan border.

”Never cross the border,” Thorntooth had growled.

”Why not?” Rosepaw had asked, tilting her head.

”Because DewClan isn’t very friendly towards young WoodClan apprentices on their territory. Believe me. We once had an apprentice that went on their territory. We never saw him again.”

Chapter 7

Briarpaw finished cleaning out the elder’s old bedding.

“Thanks, Briarpaw,” Molefang meowed.

”Don’t thank me; it’s my job!” With that, Briarpaw turned and headed towards the apprentice’s den.

Half a moon had passed since Briarpaw was first apprenticed. She had learned many things, including how to hunt and the basics of fighting. She wished her siblings were there to train alongside her.

Suddenly a yowl split the air. “Brightcloud, come quick! Cherryleaf’s kits are coming!”

Briarpaw’s fur tingled with excitement. I can’t wait to meet the new kits!

All of the other warrior apprentices were in the apprentice’s den already. Rosepaw and Cranepaw were chatting about the best way to catch rabbits, and Sootpaw was quietly grooming himself.

”Oh, hi Briarpaw,” Cranepaw meowed.

”Hey.”

”Anyway,” Rosepaw continued. “I use my back legs to boost myself forward. That way I can get a bigger pounce.”

Cranepaw purred with amusement. “That’s what everyone does!”

A pained yowl split the air. All four apprentices jumped.

“What was that?” Sootpaw growled.

”Cherryleaf’s kits are coming,” Briarpaw explained to them quickly.

Rosepaw’s eyes shined. “This will be the first litter of kits Sunpaw gets to help with.”

Briarpaw mewed in agreement. I hope everything goes well.

Thorntooth stuck his head into the apprentice’s den. “Briarpaw, I want you to join this hunting patrol. Sootpaw, Flamestripe wants you to come too.”

”Okay,” Briarpaw and Sootpaw both meowed, then followed Thorntooth.

Cherryleaf’s cries grew louder as they exited the den. No one else said anything about it, so Briarpaw didn’t either.

Flamestripe, Blackmoon, Dawnfur, and Thorntooth were all waiting for the apprentices.

“Let’s go,” Blackmoon meowed.

Briarpaw bounded ahead of the rest of the cats into the forest.

”Briarpaw!” Sootpaw hissed when he caught up to her. “If there’s any prey in this dry season, it will run away ‘cause all the noise you’re making!”

”Sorry!” Briarpaw mewed apologetically, glancing at her mentor.

”It’s fine,” Thorntooth meowed. “Prey wouldn’t come this close to camp anyway.”

The cats continued walking through WoodClan territory.

”I smell crow,” Blackmoon told them, sniffing the air.

”So do I,” Flamestripe meowed. “It smells like there’s more than one.”

They all heard squeaking in a nearby tree and glanced up.

”There’s a whole nest of them,” Dawnfur meowed, her green eyes glowing at the smell of crow.

”Sootpaw,” Flamestripe meowed quietly. ”I want you to climb the tree and get into the nest. I doubt the kits are old enough to fly, but I would try to stay silent anyway. When you get up there, catch them!”

”Yes, Flamestripe!” Sootpaw meowed, then started climbing the tree.

Briarpaw watched in amazement as he climbed up easily, finding places where he could dig his claws in and hoist himself up. She heard a bunch of squeaking that was quickly cut off as Sootpaw killed his prey.

How did he do that? I can barley catch a mouse, let alone climb a tree then catch a bunch of wriggling crow kits! She thought.

”Excellent!” Flamestripe praised his apprentice when he returned with four tiny crows. “The Clan will be well fed today.”

Chapter 8

”Good hunt,” Thorntooth commented on their way back to camp.

”Yeah,” Blackmon agreed. “Look at the size of Briarpaw’s mouse!”

Briarpaw’s ears burned with embarrassment and pride. “It’s not that big,” She mewed.

Dawnfur’s ears pricked. “I can smell hare.”

”There’s no need to catch it,” Flamestripe pointed out.

”Of course there is. You can never have too much prey, especially in a dry season like this,” Dawnfur told her mate.

Flamestripe sighed. “Do whatever you want.”

Dawnfur sniffed the ground, padding under a grassy overhang. She lowered herself into a crouch. As she stalked forward, Briarpaw spotted the hare. It wasn’t a huge one, but it was big enough to feed two cats.

The hare bolted onto the overhang when it realized it was being hunted. Dawnfur leapt onto the overhang with a snarl and galloped after it.

Then the dirt gave away under her paws, and the whole overhang collapsed into a mess of dirt, dust, and rock.

For a moment, everyone was silent. Then Flamestripe yowled “Dawnfur!”

All of the cats bolted over to where Dawnfur lay. She was sprawled out in an extremely awkward position, her fur ruffled and her eyes closed.

“Dawnfur?” Briarpaw’s voice came out as a squeak.

Dawnfur let out a low, rasping noise.

”She’s alive!” Blackmoon meowed.

”We need to get her to Brightcloud, quick!” Flamestripe meowed frantically.

It took them what felt like forever to get back to camp.

When they entered the camp, everyone gasped in surprise when they saw Thorntooth and Flamestripe basically carrying Dawnfur.

”Dawnfur?“ Sunpaw’s voice was full of disbelief. She turned to Briarpaw. “Is she okay?” Before Briarpaw could even answer, she vanished into the medicine cat den to fetch Brightcloud.

Rosepaw bolted out of the apprentices den, and immediately ran to Dawnfur, letting out low murmurs of grief.

“Everyone, stand aside.” Brightcloud meowed. She then dragged the injured warrior into her den, and was quickly followed by Sunpaw.

Ages passed. Briarpaw waited anxiously for Brightcloud to return and tell the cats how Dawnfur was doing. Finally, she padded out, her diluted fur looking gray in the dim light of the evening.

“Dawnfur has been terribly injured,” Brightcloud murmured softly. “I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do for her.” She turned to Rosepaw. “She wants to see her loved ones before she joins StarClan.”

Rosepaw let out a low wail of grief and ran into the medicine cat den, followed by Flamestripe.

Briarpaw’s heart felt heavy. She couldn’t imagine how hard it must be for Rosepaw and Sunpaw to say goodbye to their mother.

Chapter 9

Four moons later...

Briarpaw sat outside the apprentice’s den watching Cherryleaf’s kits play.

“I’ll be the warrior!” Wildkit squealed.

”No! You were the warrior last time! It’s your turn to be the prey!” Minnowkit cried.

Lionkit snorted. “I don’t want to be the apprentice again.”

Rosepaw padded up to Briarpaw. “They’re cute, aren’t they?” She meowed.

Four moons had passed since Dawnfur‘s death. At first, Rosepaw had been extremely gloomy, not wanting to go on any patrols or go hunting. She never laughed and was always frowning. But Flamestripe had reminded her that Dawnfur was watching over her and protecting her and Sunpaw, and that had made her noticeably more like her old self.

”Yeah,” Briarpaw meowed. She was distracted, though. Earlier that day, she and Rosepaw had taken their warrior assessment. They hadn’t been told if they had passed or not yet, and Briarpaw was anxious to hear the results.

Sootpelt and Cranefeather had been made warriors two moons earlier. Briarpaw missed their company in the apprentice’s den, but she reminded herself that she and Rosepaw would soon join them in the warrior‘s den.

Rosepaw leaned in close to Briarpaw. “Don’t tell anyone, but I think Lionkit is just adorable!”

Briarpaw rolled her eyes. “Rosepaw, we‘re almost full grown cats, and you have a crush on a kit?”

Rosepaw licked her chest fur a few times. “I can’t control my feelings!”

Thorntooth padded up to the apprentices. “Good news!” He meowed. “Both of you passed your assessments.”

Briarpaw and Rosepaw yowled with joy.

”Ravenstar will make you warriors soon, so be ready!” With that, he turned and walked toward the fresh-kill pile.

Briarpaw began to groom her pelt. Rosepaw did, too.

I can’t believe we’ll be warriors today! She thought.

Sunpaw walked toward them. ”I heard you two passed your assessments!” She meowed.

”Yep,” Rosepaw mewed proudly, “We‘re going to be the best warriors in WoodClan! No cat will dare challenge us!”

”I’m sure you will,” Sunpaw purred.

Ravenstar’s yowl rang into the air. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the High Branch for a Clan meeting!”

This is it. The moment I’ve worked so hard for.

Once everyone was gathered around, Ravenstar meowed, “Thorntooth, Squirreltail, do you think your apprentices are ready to take on the responsibilities of a warrior?”

”Of course,” Thorntooth meowed. “Briarpaw has trained very hard for moons.”

”Yes,” Squirreltail agreed. “Rosepaw’s hunting and fighting skills are outstanding.”

”Then I, Ravenstar, leader of WoodClan, call upon my warrior ancestors look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and therefore I make them warriors in return. Briarpaw, do you promise to be loyal to your Clan, even at the cost of your life?”

”I do,” Briarpaw whispered.

“Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Briarpaw, from this day forward, you will be known as Briarleaf. StarClan honors you loyalty and intelligence, and we welcome you as a full warrior of WoodClan.”

Briarleaf licked Ravenstar’s shoulder respectfully and went to stand with the other warriors.

”Briarleaf! Briarleaf!” The cats yowled.

”Rosepaw,” Ravenstar continued. “Do you promise to be loyal to your Clan, even at the cost of your life?”

”I do,” Rosepaw meowed confidently.

”Then by the powers of StarClan, I give your your warrior name. Rosepaw, from this day forward, you will be known as Roseberry. StarClan honors your bravery and strength, and we welcome you as a full warrior of WoodClan.”

”Roseberry! Roseberry!” The Clan cheered.

Roseberry went to stand next to Briarleaf, her whiskers quivering with excitement.

”Tonight you will guard the camp in silence, as full warriors,” Ravenstar finished quietly.

Chapter 10

”Hurry up, Roseberry!” Briarleaf called. “We don’t want to be late for the gathering!”

”Coming!” Briarleaf’s friend meowed, quickly catching up to her.

WoodClan was on their way to Tall Rocks to gather with DewClan. Briarleaf was excited, because this would be her first gathering as a warrior.

When the Clan reached Tall Rocks, DewClan was already there. Applestar was perched up on the Great Rock, her wide amber eyes gazing at the Clans like an owl’s.

”Greetings,” Ravenstar meowed curtly, climbing onto the Great Rock.

”Greetings,” Applestar meowed in return, then yowled, “Let the gathering begin!”

”Prey is running well in our territory, despite the dry weather,” Ravenstar meowed, his voice raised so that both the Clans could hear it. “Sadly, one of our best warriors, Dawnfur, has died. Her spirit lives on in StarClan.” He cleared his throat. “We also have two new warriors: Briarleaf and Roseberry.”

Briarleaf’s ears twitched with discomfort as everyone’s eyes landed on her and Roseberry, but Roseberry sat up proudly.

“DewClan is doing well on prey, too.” Applestar meowed. “Our stream is slightly dried up, but there’s still a little bit of water in it. Ivyfrost has four new kits: Badgerkit, Mothkit, Fernkit, and Petalkit. All of them are healthy and strong. I have also made three new warriors: Leopardheart, Darkclaw, and Foxwhisker.”

The cats in the clearing began to stand up, ready to go back to their camps.

”Wait, I’m not finished,” Applestar meowed sharply. “Toadspring has been given a message from StarClan.”

Everyone’s ears pricked as they listened intently. Briarleaf was curious. What did StarClan say?

”It was a dream,” Toadspring began. “In the dream, I was with my mother, Icestorm. Icestorm told me that both our Clans were being threatened by one cat. Then she...showed me the cat.”

All the cats gasped.

”Who was it?” a cat yowled.

”I couldn’t see their face. All I could see was their backside. They had black fur.”

Ravenstar’s neck fur bristled. Blackmoon‘s expression turned to extreme worry. Darkclaw hissed with protest.

”Did this cat have any unique features that could possibly lead us to who it is?” Brightcloud asked. “White paws, a long tail, anything?”

Toadspring shook his head. “No. Just pure black fur.”

Chapter 11

As soon as WoodClan got back to camp, gossip started.

”Is it Ravenstar?”

”No. I don’t believe it.”

”Blackmoon would never harm his Clan!”

”Is Toadspring sure it was a message from StarClan? It could’ve just been a normal dream.”

”I bet it’s Darkclaw. You can’t trust DewClan!”

”Silence!” That was Ravenstar. “Everyone, calm down. No more gossip. We’ll figure out who it is eventually, but guessing’s not going to help! And no wild accusations!” With that, he turned and headed toward his den.

He’s only saying that because his fur is black. Briarleaf thought. He doesn’t want anyone to suspect him.

After that, everyone sat in silence. Blackmoon turned around and stalked toward the warriors’ den.

I wonder who the dream was referring to. Briarleaf thought. I doubt it‘s Ravenstar or Blackmoon but...maybe Darkclaw? His fur is black. And from what I’ve seen, he’s pretty fierce.

Sunpaw walked towards Briarleaf. “Hi, Briar,” She meowed. “You look stressed. What’s on your mind?”

”I’m worried about the message from StarClan.” She admitted. “Ravenstar doesn‘t want us to talk about it, though.”

Sunpaw gazed at her warmly. “Don’t worry,” She meowed. “StarClan will keep us safe; they won’t let anything harm us.”

”They let your mother die,” Briarleaf pointed out.

”Eventually, everyone has to go,” Sunpaw meowed sadly.

”But I don’t understand. Why doesn’t StarClan tell us directly, instead of giving vague messages and prophecies?”

”Only StarClan knows,” Sunpaw sighed.

”Sunpaw!” Brightcloud called, sticking her head out of the medicine cat den. “I could use some help sorting out these herbs!”

”Ok! Gotta go, bye!” Sunpaw meowed, dashing away.

Briarleaf felt hungry, so she got a thrush from the fresh-kill pile. She nibbled on it absently, then padded into the warriors‘ den. Lying down in her nest, she fell into a deep sleep full of nightmares.

Chapter 12

Briarleaf was bored. She sat outside the warriors’ den cleaning herself. Sootpelt padded up to her.

”Do you want to go hunting with me?” He offered.

She nodded. “Sure.”

The walked through the forest in silence for a long time. Finally, Sootpelt meowed, “This looks like a good spot to hunt.”

”Yes,” Briarleaf agreed. “I can smell rabbit.”

”There must be a warren somewhere around here.” Sootpelt meowed. He trotted around silently, sniffing the ground everywhere he went. Finally he began to dig swiftly, and five rabbits shot out of the ground.

Briarleaf lunged after a particularly fat rabbit. She chased it around until she cornered it against a tree. She then killed it swiftly.

Sootpelt was carrying a smaller rabbit in his jaws. He dropped it so he could speak. “Nice catch!” He meowed, admiring her rabbit.

Briarleaf looked away shyly. “Your’s is good too!” She pointed out.

”Its not as fat as your’s though.”

”Flamestripe must have taught you very well,” She meowed. “That was some skilled tracking!”

”Actually, I taught myself how to do that,” He meowed proudly. “Sometimes I come out here to practice. This is my favorite place to hunt.”

”Cool,” Briarleaf meowed. “Maybe you could teach me!”

Sootpelt purred. “Sure. You can come with me the next time I go.”

The two cats continued to hunt. Briarleaf caught a robin and Sootpelt caught a shrew.

”That was a nice hunt.” Sootpelt meowed. “We should be getting back now.”

Briarleaf mewed in agreement and followed him back to camp. When they got there, Minnowkit, Lionkit, and Wildkit were bouncing around in exciment.

”We‘re going to be apprentices! Tomorrow!” Lionkit yowled.

”You turn six moons old tomorrow?” Sootpelt meowed, sharing a glance with Briarleaf.

”Yep,” Wildkit mewed. “And we’re going to be the best hunters ever!”

”Yeah!” Minnowkit squealed. “Wait and see!”

”I’m sure you will,” Briarleaf meowed, and then went to go drop her fresh-kill on the pile.

She approached Roseberry by the pond. Roseberry purred a greeting.

”Did you hear that Cherryleaf’s kits are going to be apprenticed tomorrow?” She meowed.

Briarleaf nodded. “Yeah. Time goes by fast, doesn’t it? It feels like Cherryleaf’s kits were born just yesterday!”

Chapter 13

The whole Clan was panicked. Briarleaf didn’t know why every cat was so scared.

”What’s going on?” She cried.

Instead of getting an answer, a hoarse screech came from above. Briarleaf looked up at the pure black sky. There were no stars; the only light came from the moon. She saw the silver outline of a raven flying against the terrifyingly black sky. She then gasped as the camp lit on fire. Everything was burning. Briarleaf could barely breathe. We’re all going to die...

Then she woke up. She let out a strangled cry of terror. Roseberry, who was sleeping next to her, sat up, her expression alarmed.

”What’s going on?” She cried.

Roseberry’s words were exactly what Briarleaf had spoke in her dream, and that just scared her even more.

”Nothing,” She meowed quickly, shaking the sweat off her pelt. “Just a bad dream.”

Roseberry gave Briarleaf one last concerned look before resting her head on her paws to go back to sleep.

Briarleaf couldn’t sleep, so she padded out of the den into the cool night air. She was pretty sure she would never be able to sleep again after such a horrifying vision.

Vision...

Briarleaf tensed. Was that a vision from StarClan? No. It couldn’t have been. Only medicine cats receive visions from StarClan. It was just a bad dream.

And yet it felt so real. Briarleaf’s fur prickled. If it was a vision, what does it mean? Maybe I should talk to Sunpaw about it...

She padded into the medicine cat den where Brightcloud and Sunpaw were both sleeping. “Sunpaw,” She hissed. “Wake up. I need to talk to you.”

Sunpaw’s eyes flickered open. “What?”

”Come outside.”

Sunpaw reluctantly got out of her nest and walked outside. “What’s so important that you need to wake me up in the middle of the night?”

”I had a dream...and I think it was sent from StarClan,” Briarleaf meowed.

”StarClan?” Sunpaw meowed. “Come on, Briarleaf. Every cat dreams. Not every dream is from StarClan.”

”Sunpaw, listen to me,” Briarleaf meowed.

”Im not Sunpaw anymore,” the she-cat purred. “I’m Sundapple.”

”That’s an amazing name,” Briarleaf purred.

“I know, isn‘t it?” Sundapple meowed, puffing our her chest.

We‘re getting off topic. Briarleaf thought.

Sundapple seemed to guess her thoughts. “What did you dream?” She asked.

”The sky was pure black,” Briarleaf breathed, shivering as she remembered. “There were no stars. Only the moon. I saw the silver outline of a raven flying across the black sky. And then the camp went up in flames. Everything was destroyed...” she trailed off.

Sundapple stared at her.

”What do you think it means? Why did I dream it and not you or Brightcloud?”

Sundapple spoke softly and slowly, as if she was revealing a secret. “Not many warriors have visions from StarClan. But when they do, it means our ancestors have plans for them.”

Briarleaf gasped. “You think it was a dream from StarClan?”

”I know it was. Ravenstar had the same dream.”

Chapter 14

Briarleaf’s fur bristled with shock. “Ravenstar had the same dream?”

Sundapple nodded. “Yes. Come on, let’s go to the forest.”

The two she-cats padded into the forest.

”What do you think the vision means?” Briarleaf asked.

”I told Ravenstar that I didn’t know what it meant. But I think I do.” She paused. “I think it means Ravenstar is the cat that StarClan warned Toadspring about.”

Briarleaf felt lightheaded. “What? Ravenstar is loyal to our Clan! He would never try to harm us.”

”Any cat can cause harm if put under the right circumstances,” Sundapple meowed grimly. “Ravenstar has always been a little...dark.”

“How could the dream mean Ravenstar threatens us?” Briarleaf meowed, still confused.

”Think about it,” Sundapple told her. “The sky was pure black. Just like Ravenstar’s fur. Then a raven flew past, and ‘Raven’ is literally his name. When the raven flew past, the camp set on fire. Fire is a killer. Fire threatens everything.”

”Why did StarClan give me the dream?” Briarleaf meowed.

Sundapple’s eyes met hers. “They believe you can stop him,” She meowed.

Briarleaf began to understand. “What do we do?” She whispered.

”We wait until StarClan tells us what to do,” Sundapple meowed. “Tell me if you have any more dreams. I’ll ask Brightcloud what she thinks. And don’t tell Ravenstar about your dream. It will just freak him out, and he’ll most likely lash out at you. Understand?”

Briarleaf nodded.

”Alright,” Sundapple meowed. “Let’s get back to camp.”

The two cats walked back to camp in silence. Briarleaf could only think the same thing over and over. Why me? Why me?

When they reached the camp, Briarleaf collapsed into her nest in the warriors’ den. Oh, StarClan. She thought. How can I save my Clan? I’m just a warrior. I’m no one special. She then fell asleep.

A yowl sounded from above, making Briarleaf jolt awake. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather below me to hear my words!”

How long was I sleeping? Briarleaf wondered. With a sigh, she heaved herself out of her nest and padded into the clearing.

”Wildkit, Minnowkit, and Lionkit have reached their sixth moon,” Ravenstar announced. “And therefore it is time for them to be apprenticed. Wildkit,” he paused. “From this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Wildpaw. May StarClan watch over you. Roseberry,” he flicked his tail. “You have proven yourself to be a skilled warrior. Wildpaw will be your apprentice.”

Roseberry’s expression was pleased as she went to touch her nose to Wildpaw’s. Briarleaf purred.

”Lionkit, from this day until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Lionpaw. Sootpelt, you are a strong warrior, and I trust you to pass your skills onto Lionpaw.”

Sootpelt nodded and touched his nose to Lionpaw’s.

”Minnowkit, from this day until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Minnowpaw. Briarleaf, you are a hardworking warrior, and I trust you to teach Minnowpaw well.”

Briarleaf’s heart leaped. She padded up to her new apprentice and touched her nose to the younger cat’s.

“I promise I’ll work hard!” Minnowpaw whispered.

”So will I,” Briarleaf promised. Yes. I will work hard. I won’t let my Clan be destroyed, no matter what it takes.

Chapter 15

Sootpelt padded up to Briarleaf once the ceremony was over. “How about we take our apprentices out for training together?” He suggested.

”Oh yes, please!” Lionpaw and Minnowpaw begged.

”Thats fine by me,” Briarleaf meowed, sharing an amused glance with Sootpelt. “Let’s go.”

The four cats padded out of camp. As they walked through the gorse tunnel into the forest, Briarleaf’s flank brushed Sootpelt’s. She’s felt her ears grow hot, and Sootpelt shot her an embarrassed smile.

”Woah! The forest is huge!” Lionpaw cried.

”I thought it would be...dark.” Minnowpaw meowed. “But it‘s really sunny!”

”Yep,” Sootpelt meowed proudly. “DewClan’s territory is terrible. Most of it is made up of thorn bushes!”

”Yes,” Briarleaf agreed. “We’re lucky to live in WoodClan, where the forest is rich and beautiful.”

Briarleaf and Sootpelt guided the apprentices through the forest.

”This is the Sky Tree,” Sootpelt meowed when the reached the huge tree. “It’s the tallest tree in our territory. You’ll learn to climb it eventually.”

”Wow,” Minnowpaw breathed. “It’s so big!”

”Much bigger than the small tree outside the nursery,” Lionpaw agreed.

When they reached the stream, Briarleaf meowed, “This is the stream. When Greenleaf comes, we drink out of it.”

Lionpaw and Minnowpaw bent their heads to drink from it.

“It’s cold,” Lionpaw observed with a shiver.

Briarleaf lapped at it. It is cold. She realized. It’ll be Leaf-bare soon.

The four cats continued through the forest. Briarleaf and Sootpelt showed them the Squirrel Tree and the Fallen Oak. When the reached the DewClan border, they stopped.

”This is the DewClan border,” Sootpelt meowed.

Minnowpaw and Lionpaw stared with wide eyes.

”Never cross this border,” Briarleaf told them what Thorntooth had told her.

”Why not?” The apprentices asked at the same time.

”DewClan isn’t very friendly towards young WoodClan apprentices,” Briarleaf meowed. “When I was an apprentice, Thorntooth told me that there was once a WoodClan apprentice that went across the border and never came back.”

“I don’t believe that,” Minnowpaw scoffed.

”Its true,” Briarleaf meowed seriously.

“Hmmm,” Lionpaw meowed. “Maybe.”

”Whether it’s true or not, don’t go over there,” Sootpelt meowed.

”Lets mark the border,” Briarleaf meowed. “I’ll show you how.”

She and Sootpelt showed the apprentices how to mark the border. As they were marking it, Briarleaf spotted a few DewClan cats coming towards them. Her heart sank. It was Darkclaw, Leopardheart, Lakewind, and an apprentice that Briarleaf didn’t recognize.

”Hello,” Sootpelt greeted them smoothly. “What do you want?”

”We want you to take us to Ravenstar,” Lakewind growled.

”Why?” Briarleaf asked.

”Thats none of your concern, nosy she-cat!” Darkclaw snapped.

How rude! Briarleaf growled, “You come to our border demanding us to take you to Ravenstar. Of course we want to know why.” She bared her teeth. “Unless you’ve come to spy, perhaps?”

The apprentice flinched, and Darkclaw bristled.”No!”

”Tell them, Darkclaw,” Leopardheart meowed calmly.

”Ok,” he snarled. “We‘ve come to ask Ravenstar for more territory.”

”Are you comepletely bird-brained?” Sootpelt growled. “You‘ve got plenty of territory! You don’t need ours.”

Minnowpaw and Lionpaw were staring with wide eyes. This is their first time out of camp, Briarleaf thought. And there’s already a border argument.

”We won’t attack you, or spy,” Lakewind growled. “Just take us to Ravenstar.”

Chapter 16

Briarleaf’s heart was pounding as she and Sootpelt guided the four cats to their camp. What do they want? Even Sootpelt’s tail was flicking anxiously.

”Here we are,” He meowed when they reached camp. “Stay completely silent unless you are asked a question or told to speak. And if you out one paw on one of my clanmates, I swear I will-”

”Yeah yeah, we get it,” Leopardheart interrupted.

Everyone in camp went silent as the cats entered. Briarleaf ran to Ravenstar’s den to fetch him.

”There are some DewClan cats that want to talk to you,” She meowed quickly and quietly.

The old black tom sprang out of his nest and padded into the clearing elegantly.

”Hello,” He meowed warily. “What do you want?”

”Greetings, Ravenstar,” Lakewind said with a dip of his head. “You know me, Lakewind, and Leopardheart and Darkclaw. This is our apprentice, Hawkpaw.” He nodded to the tortoiseshell. “We have come to peacefully ask you to give us some territory. Most of ours has been destroyed, and we need more space to hunt.

”Our Clan is starving, and I don’t know if we’ll make it through Leaf-bare without food. So please, Ravenstar, for our Clan.”

Ravenstar lashed his tail. “No,” He growled. Briarleaf was shocked by the coldness in his voice that had not been there before. “WoodClan needs all the territory it has. If you are too weak to live through Leaf-bare, then thats just too bad. True warriors do not need to beg other Clans for territory!”

True warriors do not ignore other cats that need help. Briarleaf thought.

Hawkpaw stepped forward. “Please,” she mewed softly, to where only Ravenstar and a few others could hear her. “We really need it.”

Briarleaf admired the young apprentice’s courage.

Ravenstar shook his head. “Leave our territory,” he snarled. “And do not return! Beeflight, Squirreltail, Flamestripe, Redbark, Cherryleaf, and Adderfoot. Escort them to the edge of our territory, and make sure they leave.”

Why send so many warriors? Briarleaf thought, shocked. Why didn’t I see this side of Ravenstar before?

When the warriors were gone, Sootpelt padded up to her. “That was...weird,” He meowed, clearly trying to lighten the mood by being humorous.

Briarleaf brushed her tail against his affectionately. “Yes,” She agreed. “I didn’t realize DewClan was so weak!”

”They seemed a little too desperate for Ravenstar to ignore them,” Sootpelt meowed, then added in a whisper, “I didn’t know he was so cold!”

Briarleaf’s heart lurched. It‘s my job to save the Clan from him. Maybe I should tell Sootpelt about my vision...

”Do you want to go hunting?” She asked. “You told me you would show me how to catch rabbits the way you did!”

He nodded. ”Of course. Let’s go!”

The two cats padded into the forest. The air smelled like plants, and the birds sang cheerfully, but Briarleaf felt uneasy. She wondered what was happening to Ravenstar, and why he was being so cruel.

”Let’s stop here,” she meowed when they reached the Squirrel Tree.

Sootpelt wrinkled his nose. “I thought we were going to hunt rabbits,” he meowed, clearly disappointed.

”We will,” Briarleaf assured him. “But first, I want to talk to you about something...a dream I had.” Her heart began to thump in her chest. How will he react? Will he think I’m crazy, or will he believe me? Oh, StarClan, if he thinks I’m making this up, will he leave me? I don’t think I be able to bear that...he’s one of the closest friends I have!

Sootpelt sat down. “Go on,” he meowed.

”In my dream, the sky was solid black. There were no stars. The moon was there, though. I could barely see a raven flying across the dark sky. When it flew past, the whole camp lit on fire. Everything was destroyed.”

Sootpelt stared at her with wide golden eyes. “That’s it?”

”Yes,” Briarleaf confirmed.

”Briarleaf,” Sootpelt meowed gently. “It was probably just a normal dream.”

”No, it wasn’t!” Briarleaf cried. “I told Sundapple about it, and she told me that Ravenstar had the same dream. It was a sign from StarClan. Ravenstar is the cat StarClan warned us about!”

Chapter 17

Six moons later...

Briarleaf dropped her magpie into the fresh-kill pile. Her stomach growled, and she took a rather fat squirrel to eat.

Over by the apprentice’s den, Squirreltail and Thorntooth’s kits, Hazelpaw and Duskpaw, were practicing hunting moves. They had just been apprenticed yesterday, so they weren’t very skilled yet. Briarleaf watched as she ate her squirrel. When she was done, she decided to go visit Roseberry and her newborn kits in the nursery.

”Hi Roseberry,” Briarleaf greeted her friend with a cheerful meow.

”Hey.” Roseberry eye’s were shining.

”How are the kits?” Briarleaf purred.

”They’re great.” Roseberry meowed.

Briarleaf looked down at Roseberry’s four kits. Two small brown tabby toms were curled up next to each other. One of them had white paws. Beside them, a cream-furred she-kit that looked just like Sundapple squirmed restlessly. Next to her was a tiny golden tabby she-kit. She looked just like her father, Lionclaw.

”Have you named them yet?” Briarleaf asked.

”Yes. The brown tabby tom is Shrewkit. The tom with the white paws is Sparrowkit. The little golden she-kit is Flowerkit, and Lionclaw wants to call the cream one Cherrykit.”

Briarleaf felt a prickle of grief when she heard the name Cherrykit. Cherryleaf, the kits’ grandmother, had died from greencough long before they were born. So had Molefang, Adderfoot, Snowpelt, and Mapleheart. Smokefeather said that he had never seen such a bad bought of greencough.

”Those are beautiful names,” She purred.

”Briarleaf!” Briarleaf heard a cat call her name.

”See you later!” Briarleaf padded into the clearing. “Yes?”

Beeflight turned towards her. “You’re needed on patrol. Come to the DewClan border with Minnowfrost, Wildflame, Blackmoon, Sootpelt, and I.”

Briarlef padded up to her mate, Sootpelt. “Let’s go.”

The six cats padded out of camp into the forest. The smell of earth, roots, and plants immediately hit Briarleaf’s nose. She’s purred. She glanced up at the pure blue sky.

Pure blue sky. She couldn’t help but shiver with unease. In her dream, the sky had been pure black. This was awfully similar.

When they reached the DewClan border, they sniffed around.

”No scent,” Sootpelt meowed.

”That’s...weird,” Minnowfrost growled, her silver fur bristling.

”Have they moved their borders back?” Blackmoon asked. He sounded confused.

Carefully, Beeflight took a few steps onto DewClan territory and sniffed the ground. “Nothing,” she told them when she was back on their territory.

”Where do you think it has gone?” Briarleaf asked.

”Maybe DewClan forgot to mark their borders...?” Wildflame meowed.

”No way,” Beeflight snorted. “DewClan never forgets to mark the border. Applestar would not allow that.” She gave the border, or where the border was supposed to be, a quizzical look.

”This can’t be good,” Blackmoon fretted.

”We shouldn’t worry about it too much,” Beeflight growled. “We’ll report this to Ravenstar. He‘ll probably bring it up at the Gathering tomorrow night.”

Briarleaf was impressed by the way she calmed everyone down. She’ll make a great leader when Ravenstar dies.

”Sounds good to me,” Sootpelt meowed.

The other cats murmured in agreement.

They padded back to camp in utter silence. Even the birds seemed to stop singing.

”Why don’t we hunt a little?” Minnowfrost suggested finally, breaking the silence.

”Okay,” Beeflight agreed. “But we must be quick. We have to report to Ravenstar.”

Briarleaf sniffed around, and smelled the juicy scent of vole. Her mouth watered and she dropped into a hunting crouch. She could see Wildflame on the other side of the vole, ready to chase it towards Briarleaf, and Sootpelt and Blackmoon on either side of her in case it tried to escape.

Briarleaf signaled with her tail to show that she was ready, and Wildflame pounced toward the vole. The vole let out a terrified squeal and ran in Briarleaf‘s direction. Briarleaf caught it between her paws and gave it the killing bite. Purring, she picked up the vole and carried it to Beeflight.

”Nice catch,” Beeflight praised. She held a mouse, and Minnowfrost dragged a robin behind her. “The Clan will eat well tonight.”

Chapter 18

Briarleaf was grooming herself in her nest when she heard a yowl of fear come from outside the medicine cats’ den. Heart lurching, she rushed into the clearing to see Sundapple standing over Brightcloud, who was choking and struggling.

”Brightcloud? Brightcloud, hold still,” Sundapple meowed, her voice edged with panic. She put her paw down her mentor’s throat and pulled out a messy glob of red berries.

Briarleaf gasped and watched in horror. Deathberries? I don’t understand. Why would Brightcloud eat deathberries?

Brightcloud continued to choke, trying desperately to breathe.

Over by the apprentices’ den, Duskpaw and Hazelpaw whimpered.

Sundapple darted onto the medicine cat den and came back out with yarrow. “Eat this,” she meowed, frantically shoving it towards Brightcloud’s mouth.

But it was too late. With a final wheeze, Beightcloud collapsed to the ground, her eyes staring lifelessly into the sky. Sundapple leaned over her, feeling her chest for any signs of breathing, but then shook her head silently and closed Brightcloud’s eyes.

Shock and grief seeped through Briarleaf’s fur. Smokefeather padded from the elders’ den and let out a low moan when he saw Brightcloud’s body.

He must have been Brightcloud’s father, Briarleaf realized, grief making her gaze blurry.

Everyone stared in utter shock and confusion, until finally some cat whispered, “What just happened?”

Sundapple mutely padded over to the vole her mentor had been eating.

It’s the vole I caught! Briarleaf realized. Her stomach cramped as though she was about to vomit.

”Someone put deathberries in Brightcloud’s vole!” Sundapple’s eyes flashed with disbelief.

Ravenstar padded out into the clearing. “What’s going on?” He demanded.

”Ravenstar,” Sundapple meowed. “Someone poisoned Brightcloud with deathberries!”

Ravenstar’s dark green gaze traveled to Brightcloud’s body, then to the half-eaten vole next to it. “Who did this?” He snarled angrily.

No cat meowed a word.

Ravenstar meowed, “From now on, check your prey before you eat it. Some cat is targeting the cats in our Clan.” He looked pointedly at Blackmoon. Blackmoon flinched. “Sundapple, prepare Brightcloud’s body for vigil.”

Sundapple dipped her head, her tail drooping sadly, then gently pulled Brightcloud’s body into the medicine cat den.

”Everyone, remain calm. We will eventually figure out who is doing this.” Ravenstar finished, then turned briskly and padded into the leader’s den.

Every cat padded to their dens. As Briarleaf turned to go to the warriors’ den, she heard a voice call out behind her, “Briarleaf, wait.”

Briarleaf turned to see Duskpaw standing behind her. “What?”

”Ravenstar told me to take that vole to Brightcloud. He meowed, ‘Take this vole to Brightcloud. She has been working very hard lately. She deserves something to eat.’” Duskpaw nervously flicked his ears. “I just wanted to let you know,” he added quickly.

Briarleaf stared at him. “Why are you telling me? Why not Cranefeather? She’s your mentor.”

”Because your the bravest and calmest warrior I know,” Duskpaw gazed at her with serious blue eyes.

Does he really think that? ”Thanks for letting me know,” She meowed. “I’ll tell Sundapple. Don’t tell anyone else about this, okay? We don’t want to worry anyone.”

”I won’t,” Duskpaw promised. He looked relieved as he padded into the apprentices‘ den.

Briarleaf gazed out at the setting sun. Stars had begun to glimmer in the sky. Sighing, she padded into the medicine cat den. “Need any help?” She asked Sundapple, her was grooming Brightcloud’s fur and placing mint around her.

Sundapple shook her head. “No.” Her voice was very soft.

Briarleaf sat down beside her and put her tail on her shoulders. “Duskpaw told me that Ravenstar told him to take the vole to Brightcloud,” She meowed. “Ravenstar is the one that poisoned her.”

Sundapple sighed. “I know,” she mewed tiredly.

”How are we going to stop him?” Briarleaf asked.

”We? Only you can stop him, Briarleaf.”

But I don’t know how! Briarleaf wanted to wail aloud. “He has nine lives,” she pointed out. “How in the stars am I supposed to stop him? Great StarClan, am I supposed to kill him?”

“He’s on his ninth life,” Sundapple meowed solemnly. “And if he kills any more cats, then I’m afraid you will have to kill him.”

Briarleaf stared at Sundapple, her heart pounding.

”Come on,” Sundapple meowed. “It’s time for the Clan to sit vigil.” With that, she carefully dragged Brightcloud’s body to the center of the clearing.

Chapter 19

”Nice catch!” Briarleaf meowed.

Sootpelt set his squirrel on the ground. “Your‘s is good, too!” He meowed, gesturing with his tail towards the mouse Briarleaf caught.

“Mice are tiny compared to squirrels,” Briarleaf snorted. ”Come on, let’s bring our prey back to camp.”

As they padded back to camp, Briarleaf noticed the chill in the air. The days were slowly getting colder, and prey was harder to find. We’re lucky to have caught what we did.

”What‘s your favorite prey?” Sootpelt asked curiously.

”Squirrels. What about you?”

”I like rabbits.”

Briarleaf huffed in amusement. “Sometimes I think you are a rabbit, Sootpelt.“

Sootpelt flicked his tail. “Maybe I am.”

Suddenly, Briarleaf smelled a new scent. Sootpelt seemed to smell it too, for he stiffened. The two cats crept around a holly bush to see a young silver tom. He looked as if he were around the age of a young warrior, or perhaps an older apprentice. He had wide white paws, darker tabby stripes, and deep green eyes. Briarleaf noticed that both of the silver cat’s ears were torn and scarred, as if he had got his ears caught on a bramble vine.

Briarleaf stalked forward. “Who are you?” She growled.

The silver tom jumped. “I’m, uh...”

”What are you doing on our territory?” Sootpelt meowed.

The silver tom widened his green eyes. “I didn’t know this was any cats’ territory. I’ll leave now.”

”Wait,” Sootpelt meowed. “You didn’t even tell us who you are and what you’re doing here.”

”Okay...my name’s Storm. I ran away from my group.”

Briarleaf pricked her ears. “Group?”

Storm nodded. ”My group lives that way, near a lake,” he said, flicking his tail in the direction of the sun.

“Is there a cat named Nettleclaw in your group?” Briarleaf asked. She wasn’t interested in finding her father, but she was curious.

Storm shifted his paws. “No.”

”Why don’t you come back to camp with us?” Sootpelt suggested.

Storm backed away. “I can’t,” he meowed. “I’m sorry.”

”Why?” Briarleaf asked.

”I was just passing by,” Storm meowed. “I‘m not going to stay. There’s no need...” he trailed off when he saw Briarleaf and Sootpelt’s expressions. “Um. Okay. I guess.”

”This way,” Briarleaf meowed, turning in the direction of camp. “Follow us.”

Storm followed them back to camp. He didn’t seem happy about it either, because his tail was flicking to and fro.

“Here we are,” Briarleaf meowed when they reached camp. “Stay silent unless you are told to speak. Don’t try to run away either; you’re way outnumbered.”

Storm nodded slowly. “Very well.”

As they entered camp, every cat turned to look at them. Some of them looked suspicious, some confused, and some downright angry.

”Who is this?” Cloverbreeze, who had been grooming herself in the shade, was now stalking towards Storm, giving him an unwelcoming glare. Briarleaf couldn’t help but notice the gray hairs on her mother’s muzzle. She’ll be retiring soon.

”We found him on our territory, near the Squirrel Tree. He says he ran away from his group. His name is Storm,” Sootpelt meowed.

”Why did you bring him to our camp?” Hissed Cranefeather.

”What else were we going to do with him? Let him hunt all the prey in our territory?” Briarleaf retorted.

”I wasn’t hunting,” Storm informed them.

”He looks pretty fat,” Redbark meowed. “He’s obviously a good hunter. He would probably be a good warrior.”

”Did you even hear what Sootpelt said?” Blackmoon growled. “He LEFT his group. He’s disloyal.”

”You’re one to talk about loyalty, Blackmoon,” Lionclaw hissed. “You’re probably the cat StarClan warned us about!”

Blackmoon bristled. “I have served my Clan for many moons,” he snarled. “I would never be disloyal to my Clanmates!”

”Storm wouldn’t last long in Leaf-bare,” Flamestripe meowed. “Look at his short fur. It’ll never protect him from the snow.”

Suddenly Ravenstar appeared out of his den. “Enough,” he thundered.

Everyone went silent.

”Who are you?” Ravenstar growled, staring at Storm.

Storm licked his chest a few times before clearing his throat. “I am Storm. I’m from a group of cats that lived near a lake. I ran away from them, though. I didn’t like living with them.”

Ravenstar flattened his ears. “What were you doing on our territory?”

”I didn’t know it was your territory,” Storm meowed meekly. “But I was looking for somewhere to stay, instead of wandering around aimlessly.”

Ravenstar pricked his ears, suddenly interested. “If you’re looking for somewhere to stay...would you be interested in joining WoodClan?”

A few muffled gasps came for the watching cats. Briarleaf was surprised, too. Ravenstar wasn’t usually so welcoming to trespassers.

Storm looked around the camp. The tip of his tail twitched frequently. “Um...it depends what you do here.”

”We survive.” Ravenstar growled. “You’ll have to learn the warrior code. A Clan cat must know the warrior code by heart.”

Storm hesitated. For a heartbeat, Briarleaf was sure he would say no, but then he saw Duskpaw and Hazelpaw. His gaze immediately softened. “Yes. I’ll join your Clan.”

Chapter 20

Ravenstar blinked, then leapt onto the High Branch. “Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the High Branch for a Clan meeting!”

Most of the Clan was already in the clearing, but a few cats weren’t. Smokefeather padded clumsily out of the elders’ den. Sundapple poked her head out of the medicine cat den. Roseberry walked slowly out of the nursery.

”A loner has decided to join our Clan,” Ravenstar announced. ”We needs as many warriors as we can get, especially with Leaf-bare on the way. From this moment until he gets his warrior name, this apprentice will be known as Stormpaw. Briarleaf, you trained Minnowfrost well, and I expect you to do the same with Stormpaw.”

Briarleaf flinched. Me? But I don’t want another apprentice. Especially one that knows nothing about the warrior code. However, she dipped her head in agreement. “I’ll do my best.” With that, she touched her nose to Stormpaw’s.

”Stormpaw! Stormpaw!” The Clan yowled.

Briarleaf noticed Duskpaw and Hazelpaw looking pleased, and Stormpaw looking confused.

Once that yowling died away, Ravenstar padded back into his den. The Clan meeting was over.

”So...my name’s Stormpaw now?” The silver tom asked.

Briarleaf nodded. “Yes. You’re my apprentice now. That means I‘ll be teaching you how to hunt and fight like a Clan cat.”

Stormpaw nodded. “Okay. Which den will I be staying in?”

Briarleaf pointed with her tail to the apprentices’ den. “There. I’ll go ahead and show you the rest of the camp, too.” She’s padded over to the warriors’ den. “This is the warriors’ den. I sleep in there.” She led him to the huge, hollow stump that was the medicine cat den. “This is the medicine cat den. If you‘re ever injured or sick, Bright— er, Sundapple will take care of you.” She padded over to the nursery. “This is the nursery. You probably shouldn’t go in there. Roseberry won’t be happy if you wake up her kits.”

“I’m going to have to get used to all these names,” Stormpaw meowed. “They‘re pretty complicated. Stormpaw...how strange!”

Briarleaf purred. “You’ll get used to it eventually.” She turned to the leader’s den. “See the huge crack in that boulder? That’s the leader’s den. Ravenstar sleeps in there. He’s our Clan leader.”

Stormpaw nodded. “Okay.”

”Hey, Stormpaw!” An excited mew made Briarleaf turn around. Hazelpaw and Duskpaw were running up to Stormpaw.

“Finally, another apprentice to train with!” Duskpaw meowed. “It’s hard to get all of Smokefeather’s ticks with only two of us.”

”Ticks...?” Stormpaw meowed, puzzeled.

Hazelpaw grimaced. “Sadly, we have to get rid of the elders’ ticks every so often. All apprentices do.” She meowed.

”Yuck!” Stormpaw spat.

Hazelpaw let out a mrrow of amusement.

”I can’t wait to become a warrior,” Duskpaw meowed excitedly. “What about you, Stormpaw?”

“What’s a warrior?”

Hazelpaw and Duskpaw exchanged glances.

“It’s what we’re training to become!” Duskpaw purred. “I’m Duskpaw, by the way. That’s my sister, Hazelpaw.”

”Not trying to interrupt,” Briarleaf meowed. “But I need to show Stormpaw the forest.”

”Of course,” Hazelpaw meowed, dipping her head respectfully.

Duskpaw nodded, his eyes gleaming.

”Come on,” Briarleaf meowed, motioning with her tail.

Briarleaf and Stormpaw padded into the forest. Briarleaf shivered at how cold it was. Leaf-bare was almost upon them.

”This is the Sky Tree, the tallest tree in our territory,” She announced when they reached the huge tree. “You won’t need to learn how to climb it until you’re an older apprentice.”

”Thank goodness,” Stormpaw’s eyes sparked with humor. “I don‘t think I’ll ever be able to get back down right now.”

A new thought dawned upon Briarleaf. Does he know what StarClan is? If not, should I tell him? I’m sure the other apprentices will mention it to him.

”This way,” Briarleaf meowed, leading him to the Squirrel Tree. “This is the Squirrel Tree. It‘s infested with squirrels.”

Stormpaw reached out with his paw and touched the bark with his pad. “It’s hollow,” he meowed.

Briarleaf nodded. “Yes. That’s why the squirrels love it so much.”

Stormpaw flicked his tail.

When Briarleaf was finished showing him the forest, they padded back to camp.

“Which is the apprentices’ den again?” Stormpaw asked, sounding embarrassed.

Briarleaf flicked her tail at the large bush that was the apprentice’s den. “Hazelpaw and Duskpaw should have made you a nest beneath the branches,” She meowed, then padded to the nursery to visit Roseberry. She found Roseberry curled around her kits with Lionclaw looking down on them proudly.

”Hello,” Roseberry dipped her head.

”Hey,” Briarleaf meowed, touching her nose to Roseberry’s. “How are the kits?”

”They‘re great, thank you,” Lionclaw meowed.

”Have they opened their eyes yet?”

”Shrewkit has,” Roseberry meowed proudly, then gestured to the little tabby tom. He blinked up at Briarleaf with tiny blue eyes.

Briarleaf purred, “Well, I guess I’ll leave you two in peace now.” With that, she padded out of the nursery and into the clearing. She was about to go to the warriors’ den, but she heard a cat call her name.

”Briarleaf!” It was Sundapple.

Briarleaf turned around to find her standing just outside of the medicine cat den. She’s trotted up to her. “What?”

“Come inside,” Sundapple mewed. She sounded stressed. She must be having trouble being the only medicine cat.

Briarleaf followed her inside the medicine cat den. She let out a mewl of surprise when she saw Beeflight sprawled out on a nest, sleeping. Her breath rasped noisily. “What happened?”

”She has greencough.” Sundapple’s gaze was dark with worry.

”Greencough!” Briarleaf gasped. “Have you given her catmint?”

”I don’t have any,” Sundapple meowed, her voice dead serious. “There is none on our territory.”

”Have you asked Toadspring to give you any?”

”I have. He says he has a little, but not much at all. He told me he must save it for his Clanmates.”

”Is there anything I can do?” Briarleaf whispered.

”Organize patrols while Beeflight is ill. Please? Some cat must do it.”

Briarleaf hesitated. “Surely you should ask Ravenstar before making me temporary deputy?”

Sundapple’s eyes sparkled. “I told him about Beeflight, and he said to have Beeflight decide who would organize patrols. She chose you.”

Briarleaf let out a sigh. “If that’s what Beeflight wants, then yes. I will take her place until she recovers.”

Chapter 21

The moon hung high over the forest as WoodClan made their way to Tall Rocks for the gathering. When they got there, DewClan was already there. Ravenstar lept onto the Great Rock next to Frosteye and yowled, “Let the gathering begin!”

I wonder why Frosteye is on the Great Rock instead of Applestar? Briarleaf thought.

”Who will start?” Ravenstar meowed.

”I will.” Frosteye rose to her paws. “It is with great sadness that I must say that Applestar has lost her ninth life.”

A murmur swept through the Clans.

”StarClan has given me my nine lives and my name. I take her place as leader now,” Froststar meowed solemnly. “Lakewind is my deputy.” She nodded down at the gray tabby tom. “We have also lost an apprentice due to a fox attack. Fernpaw.” She paused for a moment, her whiskers quivering. “Prey is running well in DewClan, despite the freezing weather.”

She’s lying. Briarleaf thought.

“Graystorm and Ivyfrost have retired to the elders’ den,” Froststar continued. “We also have three new warriors, Badgerclaw, Mothpelt, and Petalbreeze, as well as three new apprentices, Dovepaw, Snowpaw, and Kestrelpaw. Dovepaw is training to become a medicine cat.”

Briarleaf relaxed. For a second there, I thought DewClan was falling apart!

“Leopardheart has also given birth to two healthy kits, Leafkit and Larchkit,” Froststar meowed.

Ravenstar stood up to his full height suddenly. “What about your border?” He challenged. “You didn’t mark it! My warriors say there was no scent at all.”

Froststar‘s blind eye glinted in the moonlight. “I was about to mention that, actually. That territory no longer belongs to us.”

Meows of surprise rose from the WoodClan cats.

”Instead, we have taken more territory from behind our original border. You WoodClan cats can do whatever you want with that useless territory. It’s all been destroyed by the weather anyway. That’s all I have to report,” Froststar finished.

Ravenstar flicked his tail. “Our medicine cat, Brightcloud, has died.”

Several meows of grief rippled through the Clans.

”We have three new apprentices, Duskpaw, Hazelpaw, and Stormpaw.”

Briarleaf noticed that the three apprentices puffed out their chests proudly.

”Roseberry has also given birth to four new kits, Sparrowkit, Shrewkit, Cherrykit, and Flowerkit,” Ravenstar continued. “Beeflight has unfortunately caught greencough. Until she recovers, Briarleaf will be the temporary deputy of our Clan.”

All eyes turned to Briarleaf. Briarleaf simply nodded uncomfortably.

”Prey is running well in our territory,” Ravenstar announced, he tail-tip twitching. “That’s all I have to say.” With that, he kept off the rock and guided his Clan back to their territory.

Sootpelt padded to her side. “You must be proud. You’re the officially the deputy of WoodClan!”

”The TEMPORARY deputy,” Briarleaf rebuked him. “Beeflight isn‘t dead!”

”But how will Sundapple be able to cure her without catmint?” Sootpelt meowed softly.

Briarleaf looked away. “She‘ll find a way,” She muttered.

”I hope so,” Sootpelt meowed, then bounded ahead.

Briarleaf glanced up at the stars that were twinkling above her. She tried to imagine the faces of all the cats she had once known, watching her, making sure she was safe. However, she couldn’t. She felt so alone, so lost. When they reached they reached the camp, Briarleaf immediately darted into the warriors’ den and flung herself into her nest. Twisting and turning in her nest, she eventually fell into an uncomfortable sleep.

That night, Briarleaf dreamed.

She was in a sunny meadow. Flowers dotted the grass, and bees hummed softy as she trotted along happily. She felt free from all her worries in the beautiful place. Rabbits hopped past, nibbling on grass seeds. She didn’t even try to catch them. Purring, she sniffed at a bright purple flower, then sneezed. Suddenly, a bright light shone in the middle of the meadow, brighter than the sun. Briarleaf wasn’t afraid. She padded up to the light, her ears pricked curiously, her eyes narrowed against the blinding glow.

The light dimmed and a she-cat stepped forward. Stars glimmered in her midnight-black fur. Her fluffy chest was a milky white color. Her emerald-green eyes were warm and kind, and a purr rumbled in her throat.

Blinking, Briarleaf padded up to her. “Who are you?” she asked.

”My name is Nightleap. I am here to help you.” Her ear twitched as a butterfly fluttered close to it.

”Are you a StarClan cat?” Briarleaf asked.

Nightleap nodded solemnly. “Yes.”

That wasn’t a surprise to Briarleaf. “What are you going to help me with?”

”I have a message for you,” Nightleap meowed. “Listen carefully. There is a cat that you will meet. He will help you defeat Ravenstar.”

Briarleaf’s tail-tip twitched angrily. “I don’t want to harm Ravenstar. Why can’t you choose a different cat to defeat him?”

”This is your destiny, Briarleaf,” Nightleap meowed gently. “You must trust your ancestors. We know what is best.”

”And what if I don’t defeat him?”

Nightleap’s expression turned serious almost immediately. Briarleaf flinched. She looks like Ravenstar! Are they kin?

”I’ll show you what will happen if you don’t,” Nightleap meowed. Angling her ears to the bottom of the slope, she trotted away. Briarleaf had no choice but to follow her.

When they reached the bottom, Briarleaf saw a small lake in the distance. Nightleap was already sitting at the shore, the waves lapping calmly over her paws. Briarleaf padded to her side and sat down next to her.

Nightleap motioned with her tail at the water. “Look,” she told Briarleaf gently.

Briarleaf gazed the clear depths. At first, she couldn’t see anything but her reflection, but then she saw many cats in a clearing. They were fighting. At first, she couldn’t make out any of them, but then when recognized her mother, Cloverbreeze. She was fighting with a dark brown tabby tom. The tom suddenly grabbed her throat between his jaws and snapped it. Briarleaf let out a screech of horror. Then she spotted Ravenstar. He was drenched in blood, and there was a crazed gleam in his creepy green eyes. Briarleaf couldn’t tell whether the blood was his own or some other cat’s.

”Are you happy now, Flintstar?” Ravenstar suddenly yowled at the sky. “I did this for you!”

Feeling sick to her stomach, Briarleaf backed away. The battle scene turned into a lake again, its waves rolling onto the shore.

”Do you see now?” Nightleap asked. She looked calm, like she wasn’t bothered at all by the battle scene.

”I do,” Briarleaf meowed, horror-stricken. “Who is...er, was Flintstar?”

”Ravenstar’s mentor,” Nightleap meowed. “She was just as bad as Ravenstar, if not worse.”

“You look kind of like Ravenstar,” Briarleaf meowed. “Your eyes aren’t as bright, though. They‘re darker and less intense than his. Are you his kin?”

“I am his sister,” Nightleap replied honestly. “And therefore, I know him well enough to know that he can be more cruel than you can imagine.”

Chapter 22

”Give me another badger ride!” Cherrykit demanded.

Briarleaf growled. That was the third badger ride she had done in a row. “No,” she panted. “It’s Sparrowkit’s turn.”

Cherrykit glared at her. “He’s had two badger rides today!” She spat. “I‘ve only had one!”

Briarleaf stared at her tiredly.

Sootpelt padded to her side. ”I‘ll give Cherrykit another badger ride,” he meowed. He sounded cheerful, which somehow made Briarleaf in a worse mood. How can he be so happy? Half the Clan has greencough!

Shrewkit and Flowerkit both had greencough. So did Roseberry. Beeflight wasn’t any better, and Smokefeather was close to death. Cloverbreeze, who had retired to the elders’ den in the past moon, had whitecough that would most likely turn into greencough. Hazelpaw and Stormpaw also had the deadly illness, so Duskpaw was exhausted, as he was doing all the apprentice duties by himself. Briarleaf was terrified that Roseberry’s two healthy kits would catch greencough, and made them play near the warrior’s den, far away from the medicine cat den.

”Okay, Sparrowkit. Hop on,” Briarleaf meowed.

Sparrowkit attempted jumping onto her back, his white paws flailing for a hold. Briarleaf grabbed his scruff gently between her jaws and pulled him onto her shoulders. The small kit squealed happily as she stomped around the clearing. Sootpelt was doing the same with Cherrykit.

When the badger ride was over, Sootpelt looked at Briarleaf with shining eyes. “We should have kits of our own,” he suggested.

Hmmm. Do I have time to have kits? I’m supposed to kill Ravenstar, after all. “Maybe in New-Leaf,” She meowed. Long after Ravenstar is gone.

Sootpelt flicked his tail in acknowledgement.

”Erm,” She meowed awkwardly. ”I’m going to see how Sundapple’s doing.”

”Just don’t get too close to the sick cats,” Sootpelt told her.

“I won’t,” she assured him. She walked quickly over to the medicine cat den.

Sundapple, who looked as nervous as an apprentice during their first assessment, barely even glanced at her when she walked in.

”How are the sick cats?” Briarleaf asked, standing at the entrance of the den.

”Shrewkit is getting better,” Sundapple meowed, her tail-tip twitching. “But Flowerkit...” She trailed off.

Briarleaf stared, horror-stricken, at the golden she-kit. Flowerkit was one moon old, but she looked barely older than a one week old kit. She looked tiny against the moss nest. Her tail hung limply at the side of the nest, her fur was matted, her eyes watering. Her chest barely moved.

“Is she okay?” Briarleaf stammered.

”She’s too weak to even cough,” Sundapple meowed sadly. “I’ve tried everything, but without catmint, I can’t do much.” She closed her eyes.

”Does Roseberry know?” Briarleaf whispered.

Sundapple shook her head. “I’ll tell her now,” she’s meowed, getting up and padding over to another nest, where Roseberry sat up drowsily. Briarleaf couldn’t make out what Sundapple told the red she-cat, but Roseberry began to moan in grief.

Briarleaf came over to Sundapple’s side. “A litter of three is still good,” she meowed, stroking her friend’s side with her tail.

”So she’s...dying?” Roseberry meowed hoarsely.

“Not yet,” Sundapple meowed. “But she’s so weak, I don‘t know what to do...”

”Bring her to me,” Roseberry told her. Her eyes were wide and desperate.

Briarleaf would have given Roseberry a few comforting licks, but she didn’t want to catch greencough. Instead she gave her friend a reassuring look as Sundapple brought the golden she-kit to her nest.

”I’ll leave you in peace,” Briarleaf meowed. She backed out of the medicine cat den, and decided to go for a walk in the forest. She needed to clear her head.

She wandered aimlessly for a while. She wasn’t even looking for prey, and she didn’t care when a few cardinals took flight when she walked past. The air was chilly, and the sky was pale. A sheet of frost coated everything, and snow had softly began to fall. However, she felt oddly peaceful. She was away from the cats that looked up to her. Away from the moaning, coughing warriors.

Away from the burden of her destiny.

She sat down by a puddle that had began to freeze over. She stared into her blurry reflection. It is my destiny to save my Clan. StarClan chose me. I have to stop avoiding it. I have to start taking action. And to do that, I must figure out what Nightleap meant.

She sat quietly for a long time. Breathing. Thinking. Finally, she meowed aloud, “I must find that cat that Nightleap was talking about.” Her words faded away into chilly silence.

Then, suddenly, the fattest cardinal Briarleaf had ever seen landed on the ground near her, picked up a nettle, and flew off.

Briarleaf couldn’t ignore prey that fat, especially during leaf-bare. She darted after it, flailing her paws into the air. She ran after it until she was in the territory behind WoodClan territory. Nobody had ever explored this territory, so she decided not to go far into it. She was so focused on the cardinal that she completely didn’t realize that a new scent had greeted her. She ran straight into another cat.

She looked up, feeling disheveled. “I’m sorry...” When she saw the tom’s face, she trailed off, completely shocked.

He looked just like her.

His fur was a pale gray color with hints of white hear and there, along with darker stripes. His left ear was completely shredded, to the point where it flopped over like a dog’s. His tail-tip was also missing; he had clearly been in some nasty fights. His face was the part that looked like like Briarleaf. His eyes were a few shades paler than her’s, but they were the same shape and size. His muzzle was short and rounded at the edges, just like Briarleaf’s. He even had the same pink nose as her, along with the exact same startled expression.

”Who are you?” She blurted out. “Why are you so close to my territory?”

The tom blinked a few times. “I’m Nettleclaw,” he meowed finally. “I’m just going to leave now.”

Briarleaf didn’t know what to think of that. Her head reeled. My father. He’s still alive. What’s he doing here? ”Nettleclaw?” She meowed, pretending he had never heard of him. “That’s a warrior name!”

“I used to be a part of WoodClan,” Nettleclaw explained quickly. “Um. I’m assuming you’re from WoodClan?”

”That’s right,” Briarleaf meowed. “I’m Briarleaf. I think I’ve heard of you before.”

“Ah. So. How is the Clan?”

I shouldn’t tell him. He’s not a part of the Clan.

But he looks genuinely worried, like he truly wants to know. “The Clan’s fine,” She meowed smoothly. “A few cats have died, but nothing huge.”

”Who died?” he meowed, sounding a little panicked.

”Dawnpelt, Brightcloud, Cherryleaf, Snowpelt, Mapleheart, Molefang, and Adderfoot.” Briarleaf meowed reluctantly, mostly because of the desperate look on his face.

Nettleclaw winced, but he looked a little relieved. “Adderfoot was my closest friend when I was a warrior of WoodClan.” He rasped.

“Why did you leave?” Briarleaf blurted out, suddenly realizing that she should be angry. ”Do you know how much pain you caused Cloverbreeze and her kits? What kind of cat are you?”

Nettleclaw flinched. “I’m sorry...” he meowed wretchedly. “I would come back, but I doubt Ravenstar would let me. Not after what I did.” He paused. “Ravenstar is still leader, right?”

”Yup.” Briarleaf meowed. “What did you do? Why did you leave?”

”I’d prefer not to talk about it. Cloverbreeze and her kits... are they alright?”

”Some of them,” Briarleaf meowed curtly.

“What are their names? What do they look like? Are they toms or she-cats? I want to know everything!” Nettleclaw burst out.

Briarleaf paused. Okay. Here goes nothing. “One of them lived,” She meowed softly. “The other three died as kits. There were four kits, three she-cats and one tom. The three that died were named Finchkit, Eaglekit, and Spotkit.” She suddenly felt the same pain that she had felt when her littermates died. “Finchkit was a pale calico she-kit. Her eyes were like tiny lakes. She was so pretty and kind and so, so sweet. She was a bit naive, but she never had a bad thought in her life. She was the first one to die. She was only one moon old.

“Eaglekit was a gray tabby tom. He looked a lot like you. He was pretty annoying, but he had a good heart. He wanted to be a warrior so badly. It’s a shame he never was able to follow his dreams of being the strongest warrior in the Clan.” She paused. “He was the second to die. Spotkit was a gray-brown tabby she-kit, and wow, she had so many spots! She always dared me to count them. She was funny, and feisty too. She was the last to die. She lived quite a bit longer than the other two.”

”What about the living one? Is she alright?” Nettleclaw asked. His tail drooped.

Briarleaf wondered what she should say. “She’s fine...she’s talking to you right now.”

Nettleclaw stared at her. “Your my daughter?” He rasped.

”Yes,” Briarleaf meowed. Her voice cracked. “I am.”

Chapter 23

Nettleclaw’s eyes glittered with sudden warmth. “I thought you looked like Cloverbreeze,” he meowed heartedly. “You have the same eye color as her. And you ears are shaped like her’s. You’re beautiful, just like her.” He twined his tail around Briarleaf’s.

”I hope you know how much you hurt her by leaving her,” Briarleaf meowed seriously.

Nettleclaw winced again. “Please don’t tell her you saw me,” he begged.

”What? Of course I’ll tell her that I saw you! She’ll want to know you’re alright. She still loves you, even after you left her.”

”No,” Nettleclaw rasped. “It’ll only cause pain and confusion. I don’t want anyone to know that I’m living at the edge of WoodClan territory. I don’t even want anyone to know that I’m alive.”

”Not even Ravenstar?”

”Especially not Ravenstar.”

”But I’ll have to report this,” Briarleaf worried. She shook snowflakes off her pelt. “If I don’t report you, what if Ravenstar finds out and kicks me out of the Clan? He won’t tolerate disloyal warriors.”

”Your Clan doesn’t have to find out about me,” Nettleclaw meowed sadly. “As soon as leaf-bare is over, I’m leaving this territory. I don’t want to put anyone in danger.”

“Danger?” Briarleaf asked. Questions flew through her brain. What are you talking about? What danger? Why did you leave when Cloverbreeze was expecting your kits? How have you stayed hidden for so long? Why can’t you come back? What in StarClan did you do that was so bad that you had to leave the Clan?

Nettleclaw sighed. “It’s best Irma you don’t know. Anyway,” he meowed, clearly changing the subject. “I want to know more about you! Did Cloverbreeze do a good job raising you on her own? Do you have a mate or kits? Are you a senior warrior? Have you had your first apprentice yet?”

Briarleaf shuffled her paws awkwardly. I never thought I‘d have this conversation. Well, I never thought I would meet my father either. “Cloverbreeze is the best mother any cat could ask for,” She meowed. “She always tried to make me as happy as possible when I was a kit.”

”Did she find another mate?” Nettleclaw asked.

”No,” Briarleaf meowed. “She’s an elder now.”

Nettleclaw nodded. “Carry on.”

”I have a mate,” Briarleaf meowed. “But no kits. We don‘t feel ready for kits yet.” She suddenly felt a prickle of doubt. Why am I telling him all of this?

Because he’s my father. He deserves to know. And he seems like a nice cat.

”I’m just a warrior,” she continued. “Well. Erm. Kind of. I’m sorta the temporary deputy, but only until Beeflight gets better.”

”You‘re the temporary deputy?” Nettleclaw cried. ”That’s amazing! I never would have thought Ravenstar would make my kit deputy. He really hates me.”

“He let Beeflight choose,” Briarleaf meowed. “And he didn’t seem so happy about her choice. Anyway, I’ve had my first apprentice already. Is that all you want to know? Because I should be getting back to camp. I’m supposed to lead the sunhigh patrol.”

”Oh. Yes.” Nettleclaw meowed. “I understand. You have duties. Of course.” He dipped his head to her. “Be safe, Briarleaf.”

”You too,” Briarleaf meowed, and she meant it. She trotted through the snow, and kept looking over her shoulder at the shape of Nettleclaw, who was watching her leave. She eventually couldn’t see him anymore through the blizzard.

She felt oddly disappointed. She’d wanted to talk to her father some more. However, she continued to travel through the storm until she arrived at camp. Minnowfrost, Lionclaw, and Cranefeather were standing around in the center of the camp. They seemed to have been waiting for her.

”Ready to go on patrol?” She meowed.

The cats nodded.

“Alright.” Briarleaf meowed, leading them out of camp.

As the patrol moved through the edge of WoodClan territory, the storm got worse. Minnowfrost shouted over the wind. “Maybe we should go back. We might freeze to death out here.”

”No,” Briarleaf meowed determinedly. “All we have to do is mark our borders, and check for DewClan scents. It‘s not hard.”

”Briarleaf’s right,” Cranefeather agreed. “It won’t take long.”

Minnowfrost and Lionclaw exanged a glance. Lionclaw shrugged. “I guess.”

Briarleaf led the patrol through the blizzard until they reached the DewClan border. She sniffed around the check for any DewClan scents. Their weren’t any.

Of course there’s not, Briarleaf realized. They moved the border. How could I have forgotten?

Minnowfrost rested her tail on Briarleaf’s shoulder. “Don’t worry,” She meowed cheerfully. “I forgot, too. Let’s go check their new border. It’s not far from here.” Tail high, Minnowfrost trotted away.

Briarleaf’s tail drooped. I’m such a bad deputy. Why would anyone ever listen to me? I’m so foolish. However, she walked quickly so that she could be at the head of the patrol.

The snow grew worse as the patrol moved on, until Briarleaf could barely see her paws through the flakes. When they finally arrived at the new border, they marked it and quickly turned back toward the direction of camp.

“I don’t expect we‘ll find any prey in this weather,” Lionclaw meowed wryly. “I hope leaf-bare passes quickly. I’m tired of all this snow.”

”Me too,” Minnowfrost meowed.

Cranefeather meowed in agreement.

Right when they were about to enter camp, Briarleaf spotted a black pelt moving slowly through the snow. The cat was larger than Blackmoon, so Briarleaf knew it must be Ravenstar.

“Um, you guys can go back to camp,” Briarleaf meowed. “I have to go make dirt.”

The patrol cats all nodded and padded into camp.

Briarleaf needed to know what Ravenstar was up to. He rarely left his den, let alone in a blizzard like this. She could barely see his pelt through the snow, but she did her best.

The snow began to clear as Ravenstar passed the Fallen Oak. Briarleaf’s ears pricked curiously. They were now at the edge of their territory, and were near Nettleclaw’s territory. Briarleaf felt a prickle of fear as he crossed the border. What if he sees Nettleclaw?

Ravenstar continued to trot confidently through the forest, as if he’d walked rough this territory many times before. It was now only snowing lightly. Briarleaf shook tiny flakes off of her pelt.

Ravenstar finally stopped near a patch of flowers. Or, at least what looked like it had been a patch of flowers. Now they were all dead, their drooping petals turned black, their stems dried. The black tom turned his gaze toward the ground near the patch of dead flowers. Briarleaf followed his gaze.

A pile of stones sat peacefully on the ground. Each stone seemed to have been placed with perfect care, as if the cat who had made it had done their best to make the pile look perfect. Briarleaf was confused. What was Ravenstar doing here?

Ravenstar sat completely still. The only part of him that was moving were his ears, which twitched frequently. He laid down on his belly and licked one of the stones, cleansing it of dust and dirt. Finally, he began to speak.

“When...when I first met you, many moons ago, I had a vision. I vision of a peaceful future, where DewClan and WoodClan lived in peace. Brightcloud told me that I was the only one who could make it true.” He paused. “I didn’t believe her at first...I though she was crazy. But it turns out she was right.” He glanced over at the dead flowers, his gaze clouded with memories. “After Flintstar was leader, I was the only cat who could lead WoodClan into a peaceful future.” His whiskers trembled.

“But I didn‘t. I tried my best to escape the horrible nightmares. I wanted to get away from the Dark Forest, I really did.” He thoughtful gaze turned, suddenly, into a soul-piercing glare. Briarleaf flinched backward, wincing as she backed right into a thorny branch. She felt a thin trail of blood run down her hind leg where a particularly sharp thorn has stabbed her.

Ravenstar continued, “But they wouldn’t leave me alone! Flintstar was always nagging me, telling me how pitiful I was. I proved her wrong. I am strong now. I know you don‘t like it, Sorrelshine, and I’m really sorry.” He mew grew gentler, less angry, as though he was talking to a cat that he had loved. “But I have to do this. And before I leave you again, I just wanted to tell you that I’ll never forget you, or stop loving you.” With that, he rose to his paws, and padded slowly back to camp, shaking snow from his pelt.

Briarleaf felt as though she had hit her head on a rock. Who was he talking to? Was that a cat’s grave? He seemed like he loved the cat that is buried there... is that the grave of his mate? It made sense, but at the same time, it didn’t. Then a new horror dawned upon her. Ravenstar said that he was going to do something...and if he was apologizing to his dead mate, then it must be something bad. Terror flowed through her whole body, making her limbs go numb. Trembling, she raced back to camp, the icy wind freezing her fur.

Ravenstar was about to do something terrible.

And she had no way to stop him.

Chapter 24

As soon as Briarleaf got back to camp, she looked for Sootpelt. She wanted to talk to someone that knew about Ravenstar, but she didn’t want to talk to Sundapple. Sundapple would just tell her, once again, that she had to stop Ravenstar.

She spotted Blackmoon near the warriors’ den and padded quickly toward him. “Where’s Sootpelt?” She asked urgently.

Blackmoon tilted his head. “He went to look for you when you didn’t come back with the rest of your patrol. Why? Where did you go?”

Briarleaf ignored his questions. “Go find him,” she meowed. “Tell him I’m back.”

Blackmoon flicked his tail irritably but didn’t argue.

Briarleaf spotted Ravenstar grooming himself by the leader’s den. He was clearly getting ready to call a Clan meeting. Sundapple padded up next to him and sat down. Briarleaf guessed that she was telling him about how the sick cats were doing.

A moment later, Sootpelt padded through the entrance with Blackmoon close behind him. The pale gray tom bounded over to Briarleaf and pressed his muzzle against her’s. “Where were you? I was worried.”

”Listen,” Briarleaf meowed urgently. Her voice sounded squeaky and anxious. “Ravenstar’s about to do something awfu—”

“Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath me for a Clan meeting.”

A fresh wave of alarm flooded through Briarleaf’s body.

The whole Clan gathered around the High Branch. Sparrowkit and Cherrykit tumbled out of the nursery, bouncing excitedly. To Briarleaf’s surprise, Shrewkit padded confidently out of the medicine cat den with Roseberry close behind him. The brown tom-kit had green crust at his nostrils, but his eyes were brighter and his breathing was more regular. Roseberry just looked exhausted, and her eyes were glazed with grief and fear. Sundapple stood beside her, resting her tail on her sister’s shoulder.

“Huh,” Sootpelt murmured. “I wonder what this is about.”

Briarleaf shrugged, her heart thunping wildly in her chest.

Once every cat had gathered beneath the High Branch, Ravenstar began to speak.

“Smokefeather has died.”

A murmur swept through the gathered cats. A few cats let out meows of grief, but otherwise, the clearing was silent. Briarleaf‘s ears flattened.

Ravenstar continued, “The Clan is at a very weak point. DewClan refuses to give us some catmint. They’re greedy fox-hearts.”

Cherrykit let out a mew. “That’s a bad word! We‘re not supposed to say it.”

“Be quiet!” Sparrowkit hissed.

Ravenstar eyed his Clan silently for a moment. Then he swished his tail. “Tonight at sunset, we will take the catmint by force, claws unsheathed. We‘ll do whatever it takes to save our Clanmates.”

Several cats meowed in approval, but Briarleaf was horrified. WoodClan was about to go to war with DewClan. There was no way this would end well.

When Ravenstar ended the meeting, Sootpelt turned to Briarleaf. “We can’t battle DewClan!” He cried. “Half of our warriors are sick! They’ll win for sure.”

Briarleaf felt sick. Suddenly the camp felt too stuffy. She had to get away. She spun around and fled from camp. She kept running until she was by herself in the forest. She sat down and stared at the sky. The world seemed so much more quiet when it was snowing, almost as though all the sounds had been swallowed by the flurry of snowflakes.

A few moments later Briarleaf heard pawsteps behind her. She turned around to see Sootpelt shaking snow off his pelt.

He looked up and met her eyes. “What?” He meowed. “Did you expect me to let my mate run off in the snowstorm by herself? No way. That’s not happening.” He trotted over to her and smoothed her pelt with his tail.

Briarleaf sighed. “I shouldn’t have ran off, but I’m just scared. Why would Ravenstar do this? I don’t understand...” She shook her head, unable to speak.

Sootpelt blinked. “No cat wants war with DewClan. I’m sure everyone in the Clan is scared. But with StarClan by our side, we can get through this! With a strong deputy like you, the Clan is sure to make it through.”

Briarleaf looked at her paws. “But how? I’m not even sure StarClan is on our side anymore. Everything is going downhill. I’m not even supposed to be deputy. When Beeflight recovers, I’ll just be a normal warrior again, and, to be completely honest, I wouldn’t mind that.”

Sootpelt looked at Briarleaf in confusion. ”Why wouldn’t you want to be deputy? It’s pretty obvious that StarClan trusts you. They sent you that dream to warn you about Ravenstar. You’re a very strong cat, Briarleaf. There’s no better warrior that Beeflight could have chosen to be deputy.”

Briarleaf pressed against him. “I hope you’re right...”

Chapter 25

Briarleaf paced the camp, making sure every cat was strong enough for the battle. The sky had cleared, and sun was starting to go down, casting a dark red glow across the sky. A few days ago, Briarleaf might have thought that the sunset was pretty, but now it just reminded her of the blood that would be spilled during the battle. She shivered as the cold wind blew fiercely through her pelt.

Roseberry appeared at her side. “I am willing to fight for my Clan,” the ginger she-cat meowed bravely. She held her head high, though Briarleaf could see that her fur was dirty, and her eyes were tired.

Briarleaf shook her head. “No, Roseberry. You’re not strong enough to fight. You must stay here and take care of your kits.”

Roseberry’s voice wavered. “If I stay here, what would the rest of the Clan think? They would think I’m a coward. My greencough is almost gone. It would be selfish and cowardly for me to not fight.”

”Your kits need you. Think of Flowerkit. She‘s so weak. Without you, she might not survive.”

Roseberry lashed her tail. “But the Clan needs me! I am a warrior! I have to protect the Clan.”

Briarleaf shook her head again. “Every cat has a role in the Clan. Yours is not to fight. You have to stay here and watch your kits. It‘s what is best.”

Roseberry bristled, turned, and stalked back toward the medicine cat den.

She’ll understand eventually, Briarleaf thought as she turned and padded toward the apprentice’s den, where the three apprentices were sitting outside, their tail-tips twitching nervously.

”Are you all ready?” Briarleaf asked gently.

”I am,” said Duskpaw and Stormpaw together. Hazelpaw looked down at her paws.

”It’s okay to be afraid.” Briarleaf rested her tail-tip on the brown she-cat’s shoulder. “I think the whole Clan is afraid, including me. But we’ll get through this battle.”

Hazelpaw nodded silently. Briarleaf turned away.

Briarleaf turned and saw the healthy warriors, Sootfur, Lionclaw, Blackmoon, Wildblaze, and Squirreltail, along with the elders, Cloverbreeze and Flamestripe, all gathered in the clearing. They all seemed to jump at the slightest of sounds, and Briarleaf honestly couldn’t blame them. She too felt extremely nervous and edgy.

Ravenstar, who had been sitting on the High Branch, leapt down to meet Briarleaf. “Is everyone ready?” He asked eagerly.

”Yes,” Briarleaf meowed. “I’ve just told Roseberry to stay here, and—”

”Stay here? No, we need all of our warriors! She can’t stay here.”

Briarleaf looked at him in shock. “Roseberry is not capable of fighting!” She burst out finally. “WoodClan is much weaker than DewClan! There’s no way Roseberry can fight a DewClan warrior. She’s much too weak, and she’s only just gotten over her greencough, not to mention she’s still shaken over her kits’ sickness!”

Ravenstar scowled. “I am your leader!” He hissed. “If I say she should fight, then she will fight!”

Briarleaf’s pelt burned. She was completely aware of everyone’s gaze on her. “Yes, Ravenstar. I will tell her now.”

She turned and ran toward the nursery. When she arrived, she found Roseberry curled around her kits, stroking them with her tail and murmuring to them. “Please, Flowerkit, you must eat,” Briarleaf heard her mew.

”I’m not hungry!” Flowerkit croaked.

”Roseberry, Ravenstar wants you to fight, after all.” Briarleaf meowed quietly.

Roseberry looked up in surprise.

”Who will watch our kits?” Growled a voice at the entrance. Briarleaf turned and saw Lionclaw, the thick-furred golden warrior, standing at the entrance with narrowed eyes that seemed to glow like fire.

”Erm... I suppose Sundapple will,” Briarleaf meowed.

”That’s right.” Briarleaf immediately recognized Sundapple’s voice. “You’d better go, Roseberry,” growled the dappled she-cat. “I won’t let anything happen to these kits.”

Roseberry got to her paws and hurried silently out of the den. Lionclaw shot one last scorching look at Sundapple and Briarleaf before following his mate into the clearing.

”Well... I must go, I guess.” meowed Briarleaf.

Shndapple’s eyes shone with concern. “Please be careful, Briarleaf.”

”I will,” Briarleaf sighed. With that, she left the nursery and padded into the freezing clearing.

”Let’s go,” growled Ravenstar.

”Stay close to me,” Briarleaf whispered to her apprentice, Stormpaw.

The patrol stalked out of the clearing and into the frozen, snowy forest. The sun’s last bleeding rays shone through the trees. The entire forest was silent, as though the creatures in it were holding their breath, waiting to see the fate of the WoodClan cats. The sky directly above them was as black as Ravenstar’s fur, with no stars and no moon. Cold, sharp snow fluttered softly to the ground as the cats made their way through the forest, through the snow, and toward their certain deaths.

Chapter 26

There were two DewClan warriors guarding the entrance to their camp.

Briarleaf recognized Mothpelt and Badgerclaw, two young warriors. She glanced toward Ravenstar, and saw him using his tail to signal his warriors. Briarleaf crept forward silently, then leapt forward, barreling into Mothpelt. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Blackmoon and Wildblaze wrestle Badgerclaw to the ground.

Once both cats were unconscious, the WoodClan patrol padded silently into the camp.

DewClan’s camp was in a large space under a rocky overhang. It was quite shadowy, and much more rocky than the WoodClan camp. The only light was from the cracks in the rocks. The entrance was blocked by a thick holly bush, making it hard for snow or rain to get through the prickly leaves.The dens were woven from thin, supple branches. It was very warm, much warmer than the icy storm outside.

”Which one do you think the medicine den is?” Briarleaf heard Wildblaze whisper.

Ravenstar looked around for a moment, then pointed his tail at one of the smaller dens. “Go in, and try to get the catmint without Toadspring noticing. Be quick and silent. If he sees you, we will fight.”

The WoodClan cats nodded and walked into the den. Inside, there were rows of herbs stacked rather messily in the corner. And there, at the very bottom, Briarleaf could see the catmint.

The cats crept forward, toward the catmint, careful to avoid the sleeping forms of Toadspring and his apprentice.

Closer.

Closer.

Briarleaf could now smell the catmint.

And then, suddenly, a dry leaf cracked beneath one of the WoodClan warriors’ paws.

Toadspring sat up. He looked confused for a moment, but when he saw the enemy warriors in his den, he was immediately alert.

“Intruders!” Yowled the black-and-white cat.

And then chaos erupted around Briarleaf.

DewClan warriors came rushing out of their dens, yowling to each other and springing toward the WoodClan cats. Briarleaf could see a spotted queen ushering her two kits into a den. She could see three apprentices looking at each other in horror. A heartbeat later, the DewClan warriors were fighting the WoodClan warriors.

Springing into action, Briarleaf met Darkclaw. She sliced her claws across his pelt, biting into his black fur.

Darkclaw howled and twisted around. He snarled, and then turned toward her, baring his teeth and hissing. Briarleaf felt his claws slice through her side, and she let out a gasp as she felt warm blood spurt from the wound. She rolled under him and sprang to her feet behind him. He advanced toward her, and she took a clumsy blow to his muzzle.

Darkclaw snarled at her, but then turned around to go help his Clanmates. Briarleaf now saw Lakewind advancing toward her, hissing. He was a large tom, much bigger than Briarleaf, and he looked rather fierce, too. He immediately bit down on her neck. Briarleaf let out a pained yowl and tried desperately to throw him off. Finally she managed to heave him off and spin around to face him.

He hissed at her again, but Briarleaf could hear pained gasps behind her. She turned tail and ran to see what was going on. Her heart lurched. She saw Roseberry fighting with the young warrior, Hawkfeather. And Hawkfeather was clearly winning. Roseberry was crouched down, panting. Because of her ginger fur, it was hard to tell how much blood was on her, but Briarleaf could see splotches of dark red on her white chest. Briarleaf screeched and leapt toward the tortoiseshell she-cat, but Hawkfeather didn’t fight back. The she-cat was staring at Roseberry in horror.

Briarleaf raced toward her friend. Roseberry looked up at her it’s wide, fearful eyes. Then, suddenly, she went limp. Her eyes became blank and her face became expressionless.

”No...” Briarleaf whispered.

Hawkfeather came to her side. The tortoiseshell she-cat’s face was full of horror and guilt. “I’m sorry...”

Briarleaf glared at her. Snarling, she sliced her claws across Hawkfeather’s pelt. Hawkfeather gave her one last guilty look and then raced away, toward the other side of the camp.

Briarleaf remained crouched beside her friend until she saw something out of the corner of her eye. Ravenstar was backing toward the exit of camp, his gaze uncertain. He clearly knew that WoodClan was losing. He I turned around and fled, through the holly bush and out of sight.

Briarleaf stared after him, wondering what she should do. He was their leader, and he shouldn’t be fleeing the battle. She raced after him.

It was snowing hard outside now. Through the icy blizzard, Briarleaf could see Ravenstar’s pelt. She followed him for a long time until he abruptly stopped.

Briarleaf could just barely hear him growling at another cat.

”-Thought I told you to stay away from the Clans,” Ravenstar hissed.

”You did...but I had to come back. I had to make sure you all were okay.”

Oh no... Nettleclaw!

Ravenstar’s tail-tip twitched. “Why would you care about WoodClan?”

Nettleclaw lowered his head. “I never would have left, but you made me leave.”

”You have been living as a loner for many leaf-bares. You must be utterly miserable. Luckily, all the pain will be gone...”

Before Briarleaf could do anything, before she could cry out of try to stop Ravenstar, the WoodClan leader slashed his claws across the pale gray tom’s throat.

Nettleclaw lay on the ground, making a horrible gurgling noise. His limbs spawned, and his chest heaved up and down. After many moments of struggling, he stopped moving.

“No!” Briarleaf yowled. She raced toward her father’s side. Fierce grief pulsed through her fur. First her best friend, and now her father. Then, suddenly, rage stabbed through her anguish. She wanted to yowl her rage at StarClan, and Ravenstar. She wanted to fight someone, kill someone, anything to make the pain go away, anything to get revenge for the cats that had been lost because of Ravenstar.

She rose to her paws, glaring at Ravenstar. He was looking back at her with rage and horror warring on his face.

”How—dare you,” Briarleaf panted. “You killed him! And you killed Roseberry, and Brightcloud!”

”This cat deserved to die,” Ravenstar yowled. “He was a disloyal traitor! He left WoodClan!”

“The only cat that deserves to die is you,” Briarleaf growled. Suddenly, words echoed in her mind. Something that Sundapple had told her, a long time ago. If he kills any more cats, you’ll have to kill him.

”You will never harm any cat, not ever again,” growled Briarleaf. She leapt toward him, pinning him down. He slashed his claws clumsily, growling and trying to push her off desperately. One of his claws caught on Briarleaf’s left ear, leaving a painful nick in the corner. Briarleaf sank her teeth into his throat. She felt him go still under her, felt his heart stop beating. She got to her paws, chest heaving, paws aching, triumph and guilt and grief and pain all warring inside her. For a moment she did nothing. She simply stared down at Ravenstar, the cat that had killed his own Clanmates, the cat that she used to respect. A thought rang loudly in her head, though, giving her a sudden jolt of alarm.

Beeflight must get her nine lives, before it’s too late.

Chapter 27

Briarleaf raced through the forest, the freezing wind flowing through her fur.

I must get to camp. I must get to camp.

She had quickly hid Nettleclaw’s body and rushed toward WoodClan’s camp to tell Sundapple what had happened. She knew she had to lie to the Clan about how Ravenstar had died. A fox killed him. Briarleaf had tried to save him, but had failed. She felt so guilty thinking of lying to her Clanmates, but she couldn’t tell them the truth. Not yet. Probably not ever.

She skidded to a halt in the camp to find all of WoodClan there.

Sootpelt rushed up to her. “We had to retreat,” he meowed, and there was grief in his voice. “Squirreltail and Roseberry are gone.”

Briarleaf swallowed. She could see Lionclaw shaking from grief.

Flamestripe looked at her. “Where is Ravenstar?” He asked.

Briarleaf cleared her throat, her stomach churning. “Ravenstar is dead,” she meowed, loud enough for the whole Clan to hear.

Yowls of shock echoed around the walls of the camp.

”He was killed by a fox.” Briarleaf saw Sundapple raise her tail. “I tried to save him, but I couldn’t. His body is in the forest.”

Meows swept through the entire camp.

“Beeflight must get her nine lives!”

”But she’s so sick...she’s close to death.”

”Can she even make it to the Moon Arch?”

Sundapple beckoned Briarleaf over to her. ”Come here.”

Briarleaf followed her into the medicine cat den, where she her eyes traveled across the sick cats. Cranefeather was curled up in a nest, asleep, her breathing ragged. Thorntooth was sitting up, his eyes glazed over with grief. It appeared that he had heard about Squirreltail’s death, and was grieving over losing his mate. Minnowfrost looked confused and worried. Flowerkit was coughing weakly. Redbark was grooming himself.

Beeflight looked the worst. She was laying limply in her nest, her eyes half open. Her striped fur looked as though it hadn’t been groomed in a very long time. A runny green liquid was streaming out of her mouth and nose.

Sundapple gently draped her tail over the she-cats flank. “Beeflight. You have to travel to the Moon Arch to get your nine lives. Ravenstar is dead.”

At first, it appeared that Beeflight hadn’t heard her. However, a second later, her eyes opened wider. “I am no leader,” she gasped. “Briarleaf...is the leader.”

Sundapple’s eyes widened. “No, Beeflight. You are our leader.”

Beeflight shook her head then let out s faint gasp. Her head jerked, then she fell still. Her chest stopped moving. She was dead.

Briarleaf stared at her in shock. So did Sundapple. Finally, Sundapple turned to Briarleaf. “Do you want to be leader, Briarleaf?”

”I—I don’t know.” Briarleaf stammered. “I did when I was a kit, but I was really young. Now...I don’t know. I don’t think I can do it.”

Sundapple stared at her. “I won’t force you to become leader, Briarleaf. But I think you can do it. You made a good deputy. And the Clan would have your back.”

Briarleaf thought for a moment. Leader of a whole Clan? That was a ton of responsibility. And she was still a young warrior.

But maybe if I became leader, StarClan would forgive me for what I did to Ravenstar. Or, no... maybe I would forgive myself.

”Alright.”

”Then we better hurry while the moon is still up.”

The two she-cats left the camp quickly. The Moon Arch was a big stony Arch that was over a creek. Briarleaf had never been on it, but she had heard nursery stories about how it was so high that when a cat climbed to the top, they could see both territories. When a cat fell asleep on the top, they would communicate with StarClan in their sleep.

Sundapple stopped abruptly. “Here we are.”

Briarleaf stared up in amazement.

It really was beautiful. A smooth, stony arch with a crystal clear stream beneath it, along with a full moon hanging directly above it. Even when it was coated in snow, it was still gorgeous.

”Are you ready?” Sundapple asked.

Briarleaf nodded. “Yes. I am ready.”

The two she-cats climbed up to the top of the arch. The stones felt smooth and cool beneath Briarleaf’s paw pads.

Briarleaf laid down, curled her tail over her nose, and fell asleep immediately.

Chapter 28

Briarleaf opened her eyes to a bright light. At first, she thought she was alone in a starry meadow, but then she realized that there were starry pelts all around her. She recognized nearly all of them. “Roseberry!” She cried. The ginger she-cat was standing next to a cat that Briarleaf hadn’t seen in a very long time: Dawnfur.

A voice spoke to her. “Welcome, Briarleaf. Are you ready to receive your nine lives?”

Briarleaf answered confidently. “Yes.”

A golden-and-white she-cat with bright blue eyes padded up to her.

”Cherryleaf?” Briarleaf meowed.

The she-cat modded, and then touched her nose to Briarleaf’s. “I give you the life of patience. Use it to train apprentices and raise kits.”

A strange swooping sensation came over Briarleaf. It lasted for a few heartbeats, then started to fade away, leaving her feeling dizzy with a slight headache.

Cherryleaf padded back to join the others. A moment later, Adderfoot appeared in front of Briarleaf.

He dipped his head to touch his nose to hers. “I give you the life of courage. Use it well in battle, and in threatening situations.”

This life was painful. It sent waves of fear and agony down her spine. It made her want to wail like a little kit, but it also made her want to run, and never stop running. Eventually, the pain faded away, leaving her cold and shaking.

Now Dawnfur was walking up to her.

“With this life, I give you remembrance.” The gray-and-white she-cat touched her nose to Briarleaf’s. “Even after your Clanmates leave you, you will still remember them, as they will live forever in your heart.”

Briarleaf felt a wave of grief pass through her. The pain was awful, but Briarleaf was frozen in place. The life ended with a flash of fear and, oddly enough, peace.

Mapleheart appeared in front of her. The tortoiseshell looked much younger and healthier than she ever had in life.

”With this life, I give you readiness to help the weak,” meowed Mapleheart. Even her voice sounded younger and less croaky with age. “Use it well to remember that all lives matter, even those of cats outside of your Clan.”

Briarleaf was prepared for the pain that rippled through her pelt. She winced and dug her claws into the ground until it finally stopped. Mapleheart turned and padded back toward the other StarClan members.

Brightcloud padded up to her and touched her nose to Briarleaf’s. “With this life, I give you selflessness. When leading your Clan, always think of others before thinking of yourself.”

This life felt much more peaceful than the others. It made Briarleaf feel like it was okay if she got hurt or sick or even died, as long as her Clanmates were safe.

Now a tiny kit was scrambling up to her. Briarleaf drew in her breath.

”Oh my goodness—Finchkit?”

”Hello, Briarleaf!” mewed the kit cheerfully.

Briarleaf crouched down. “I’m so sorry, Finchkit. You and our other siblings. Nobody deserves to have their life taken away from them before they even live.”

Finchkit looked at her brightly. “It’s okay, Briarleaf. We have Dawnfur.” She touched her tiny pink nose to Briarleaf’s. “With this life, I give you love. Always remember that your Clanmates are your kin. Love your Clanmates like you love your blood kin.”

A warm feeling spread through Briarleaf, and for a moment, she felt like she was a kit in the nursery, begging Cloverbreeze to tell her a story. The feeling faded quickly though, and it left Briarleaf feeling empty.

”By the way, Spotkit and Eaglekit say hi,” Finchkit mewed. Then she turned away.

A very familiar cat padded up to Briarleaf.

”Roseberry,” meowed Briarleaf, and a fresh wave of grief came over her.

Roseberry stared at her with a mixture of pity and affection. She then touched Briarleaf’s nose. “With this life, I give you determination. Never give up on what you feel is best.”

Ferocity and determination came over Briarleaf. She knew she would do anything for her Clanmates, and she wasn’t afraid.

Once the life faded away, Briarleaf blurted out, “I’m so sorry you died.”

”I know. I’m going to miss you, Sundapple, and Lionclaw. I am definitely going to miss my kits. But I will watch them from here, and I will always be proud of them.”

Briarleaf nodded and Roseberry turned away.

Nettleclaw appeared in front of Briarleaf. Briarleaf’s breath caught in her throat.

“With this life, I give you loyalty. Whatever happens, you will always stay loyal to your Clan, no matter what.”

The life was painful, more painful than any other life Briarleaf had gotten so far. She shut her eyes tight, biting her tongue to keep herself from yowling. Finally, the pain faded away, and Nettleclaw returned to the other StarClan cats.

Briarleaf didn’t recognize the last cat. She was a pale, sandy-brown she-cat with dark amber eyes.

“With this life, I give your heart the grace to forgive those who wronged you. Everyone, even the cats with the darkest of hearts, deserve second chances. Never forget that.”

This life gave Briarleaf a very strange sensation of fondness, peace, and anger all warring together. The life faded, leaving Briarleaf confused.

The cat started to turn away, but Briarleaf called after her. “Wait—who are you?”

The she-cat looked at her with those amber eyes. “My name is Sorrelshine.”

Sorrelshine...? Where have I heard that name before?

All of the StarClan cats began to speak as one.

“I hail you by your new name, Briarstar. You old life is no more. You have received the nine lives of a leader, and StarClan grants you the guardianship of WoodClan. Defend it well; care for young and old; honor your ancestors and the traditions of the warrior code; live each life with pride and dignity.”

Epilogue

Briarstar sat on the High Branch, watching over the warriors of WoodClan. She could see Stormfang, Hazelsong, and Duskheart chatting by the fresh-kill pile. Across the clearing, the elders were laughing with each other while sharing a rabbit. By the apprentice’s den, Cherrypaw, Sparrowpaw, and Shrewpaw were play fighting. By the medicine cat den, Sundapple was showing Flowerpaw how to properly pick borage, while Flowerpaw watched with a serious expression.

Sootpelt came to sit beside her. “Hello, beautiful. I see your taking my advice and not doing anything crazy.”

Briarstar looked at him in amusement and exasperation. “Just because I’m expecting kits, that does not mean that I can’t do anything.”

”Right, but just in case you can’t do anything—”

Briarstar swatted him playfully.

”Alright, alright, I’ll stop.”

Briarstar twitched her tail. “I have been thinking, though,“ she meowed. ”Since you’re old and wise, can you temporarily lead the Clan while I’m nursing our kits?”

Sootpelt looked at her. “Of course,” He meowed. “Anything for you. But do you really think I’m old?“

Briarstar’s whiskers twitched. “Maybe. You’re older than me.”

Sootpelt snorted. “Once the youngsters get here—wait, youngsters? Great StarClan, maybe I am old!”

Briarstar laughed. It felt good to finally be free of her destiny. She felt peaceful now, and much happier. She had managed to make an agreement with Froststar, and had given DewClan prey in exchange for catmint. Now, all of the sick cats were better.

Finally, Newleaf is here. And I don’t have to worry anymore. I know I can lead WoodClan into a peaceful future.

The end.