Bramblestar's Storm Part 23

"So why didn't you go back?" Jessy went on.

Ouch! Bramblestar knew that Cloudtail would find that hard to answer. When Cloudtail was an apprentice, he had kept sneaking into a Twoleg nest to eat kittypet food, until the Twolegs shut him inside to stop him from straying. The whole Clan knew how Firestar and some of his Clanmates had risked their lives to rescue him. But Cloudtail became a loyal warrior, Bramblestar reminded himself. He earned his place in ThunderClan.

"I got used to it," Cloudtail replied. "I wouldn't live anywhere else now."

"Are there a lot of kittypets in the Clans?" Jessy went on.

Cloudtail's tail-tip twitched as if he was getting irritated by the flow of questions, but he answered readily enough. Maybe he's relieved not to be talking about himself anymore, Bramblestar thought.

"No, the Clans don't usually welcome kittypets," the white warrior meowed. "Firestar was different, because he'd been a kittypet himself."

"That's right," Thornclaw added, bounding forward to catch up to them. "And they're very unpopular in the other Clans. Whatever you do, don't cross the border into any other Clan's territory. They'd chase you off as soon as look at you. And you might end up leaving some of your fur behind."

Jessy halted, staring in shock at the golden-brown tom. "Really? But I'm not their enemy!"

"The warrior code says that we have to challenge all trespa.s.sing cats," Poppyfrost told her as she turned from setting a scent marker.

Jessy looked puzzled. "What's the warrior code?"

"It's the rules we live by," Bramblestar mewed. "Without it, we'd be no better than rogues."

"So you broke the code to give me shelter-and Frankie and Minty too?" Jessy sounded even more astonished.

Bramblestar s.h.i.+fted his paws uncomfortably. "The code doesn't allow me to watch cats die for no reason," he responded after a moment's pause. "I have to keep you safe until you can go back home."

Jessy nodded and padded on thoughtfully, her stream of questions silenced.

Squirrelflight moved closer to Bramblestar and spoke softly into his ear. "I'm not sure that the code can be stretched to include kittypets," she murmured. "You know that Firestar would always put his Clanmates first."

Bramblestar shrugged. "I know. There are really good reasons why I shouldn't have brought those three into the Clan. But I didn't feel I had any choice. I think Firestar would have done the same," he finished.

"Maybe you're right," Squirrelflight meowed.

Back at the temporary camp, Bramblestar discovered that Brackenfur and Cinderheart had each led a hunting patrol into the woods beyond the border, and brought back a good catch. The Clan had begun to eat well since they extended their territory.

Bramblestar could sense relief spreading throughout the Clan as he reported on the successful expedition to the WindClan border and the destruction of the tree-bridge. There was a mood of celebration as he and his Clanmates settled down to tuck in to the fresh-kill. Even Frankie and Minty looked more relaxed, Bramblestar noticed, as they settled down to share a blackbird with Millie and Graystripe. The positive mood survived when every cat had finished eating.

"Let's see if we can't get the nests sorted out," Bramblestar suggested. "We should be able to organize the sleeping places so every cat gets better rest."

There was a murmur of agreement from the cats around him. Cinderheart led the three youngest apprentices into the undergrowth to look for anything that could be used for extra bedding. Daisy supervised while Molewhisker and Rosepetal clawed and chewed at the Twoleg pelt to divide it into smaller pieces. Dustpelt and Brackenfur dragged a branch into the tunnel and began using the end to mark out the limits of dens on the floor.

"This will help a lot," Bramblestar mewed as he padded into the tunnel to watch. "Better put Purdy and the sick cats farthest from the entrance to keep them out of the wind."

"Good idea," Brackenfur responded. With Dustpelt's help he maneuvered the branch to trace a half circle next to the tunnel wall. "Leafpool and Jayfeather should sleep down here, too," he added. "Then they'll be close to the cats who need their help."

Dustpelt angled his ears toward a niche in the tunnel wall where the earth and stone had crumbled away. "That could be useful," he meowed. "The medicine cats can store their herbs in those cracks."

"Look!" An excited squeal came from the entrance to the tunnel.

Bramblestar turned to see Dewpaw and Snowpaw dragging a huge bundle of bracken inside. It was Snowpaw who had called out.

"We found this really dense patch of fern," Dewpaw added. "There's lots of dry bracken inside. Cinderheart and Amberpaw are bringing some more."

"That's great news," Bramblestar purred.

The bracken wasn't entirely dry, and even with the second bundle there wasn't enough to make a dry nest for every cat, but it was a big improvement on what they'd had until now.

"Bring one bundle down here for the sick cats," Bramblestar directed, "and then divide the rest among all the nests."

"Where do you want to put your . . . uh . . . visitors?" Dustpelt asked Bramblestar, while the apprentices scrambled around them making nests from the bracken.

"The kittypets? They'd better go with the apprentices," Bramblestar replied after a moment's thought. "After all, they'll be learning how we do things, too."

"We won't have to do yucky stuff, will we?" Minty had poked her head inside the tunnel to watch what was going on. Her pink nose was creased in disgust. "I mean, I saw Amberpaw searching Purdy's pelt for fleas. I haven't got fleas," she insisted, giving her shoulder a lick.

"I could find you a few," Dustpelt muttered.

"Every cat has to pull their weight," Bramblestar told her, with a flick of his tail at Dustpelt.

Minty blinked at him, wide-eyed and unhappy.

"I don't mind helping out where I can," Frankie meowed, looking over Minty's shoulder.

"Thanks, Frankie." Bramblestar flicked his tail at him. "And as for you, Minty, don't worry. You'll soon get used to living in a Clan."

Minty's only response was a long sigh.

Bramblestar watched as the remaining dens were marked out and the bedding organized. The pieces of the Twoleg pelt had almost dried out on the bush where Daisy had spread them, and the nests suddenly began to look comfortable.

Squirrelflight padded up to his side and the two watched their Clanmates working for a few heartbeats. "You know," she mewed, "I'm starting to believe that we will get through this."

Bramblestar nodded. "I'm sure we will. It takes more than a storm to destroy ThunderClan."

CHAPTER 18.

Bramblestar padded through his territory, weaving a path among the trees. The line of floodwater glinted silver a couple of tail-lengths away. Above his head the full moon shone down, so bright that the night was almost as clear as day. Walking to the water's edge, Bramblestar looked out across the lake. At first the surface rippled with a pure, pale light. Then a scarlet stain began to spread, stretching its tendrils toward the sh.o.r.e. Bramblestar's belly cramped with horror as he caught the tang of blood and saw thick red coils floating to the surface and swirling through the depths.

No! A cat must be injured. . . . I have to get them out of the water before they drown!

Bramblestar jumped into the lake. Silver droplets splashed around him, but before he could dive below the surface, he felt the teeth of another cat sink into his scruff. He let out a yowl and flailed his paws, but he couldn't break the grip. The unseen cat dragged him back to the sh.o.r.e before it let go.

Bramblestar whirled around and froze, his mouth falling open as he recognized the tom with the flame-colored pelt who stood in front of him.

"Firestar!" he gasped. "There's a cat in trouble," he blurted out. "Look, it's bleeding into the water! I have to find it!"

Firestar's green eyes glowed in the moonlight. "It's okay," he rea.s.sured Bramblestar. "Your Clanmates are safe. There are no cats in the lake."

Bramblestar took a long breath. "Then am I . . . am I dreaming? Oh, Firestar, it's so great to see you!"

Firestar dipped his head. "It's good to be back in my old territory."

"I've tried to look after your Clan," Bramblestar meowed, struggling with a mixture of joy and guilt that made his voice shake. "But I-I lost Seedpaw. I'm so sorry! If only I'd kept a closer watch on the apprentices."

"Seedpaw is safe in StarClan," Firestar told him. "And you need to learn that you cannot guard every one of your Clanmates all the time. As their leader, they'll look to you to make the big decisions, and to keep them safe from outside enemies, but they have to make their own choices as well. I promise you, you're doing a good job."

Bramblestar began to feel soothed by his former leader's confidence in him. "But what about the visitors? The kittypets?" he asked. "Would you have brought them into the Clan? And would you-?" The words began to spill out of him; he wanted to ask about every single thing he had done since Firestar died.

Firestar raised a paw to silence him. "You know the answers already," he mewed gently. "They are in your heart." As Bramblestar blinked at him, he went on, "This is not my Clan anymore. You are ThunderClan's leader now. Trust the cats who gave you your nine lives. They all knew you would do well-including me," he added with a glint in his eyes.

"Thank you, Firestar." Bramblestar bowed his head. When he raised it again, he was startled to realize that the ginger cat was beginning to fade, and Bramblestar could see the stones on the sh.o.r.e through his starlit pelt.

"I have come to tell you something very important," Firestar meowed. "When water meets blood, blood will rise."

Bramblestar stared at him. "What does that mean?"

"Look at the floodwater," Firestar urged. "See how the blood cannot be drowned?"

Bramblestar turned his head to gaze at the lake again. The strange upswelling of blood still shone scarlet among the waves.

Firestar spoke from behind him. "I can't tell you any more than this. Just remember . . ."

His voice died away. When Bramblestar turned back, he was gone, and the forest was dark and silent. The moonlight too was blotted out, and Bramblestar was alone in the dark.

Somewhere nearby, a cat sneezed. Bramblestar knew that he was back in the tunnel, surrounded by the warm scents of his sleeping Clanmates. The strangeness of his dream still wreathed around him, and Firestar's mysterious words echoed in his head.

When water meets blood, blood will rise. . . .

What kind of prophecy was that? It can't mean that no cats will drown, because Seedpaw has already died. So what does it mean?

After a long time wrestling with different meanings, and discarding them all, Bramblestar gave up and curled deeper into his nest. He slipped back into sleep to the sound of Graystripe's m.u.f.fled snores.

The voices and movement of cats around him woke Bramblestar. He lifted his head to see pale light spilling into the tunnel as his Clanmates headed out to start the new day. Yawning, he scrambled to his paws and followed them. For once it wasn't raining, though the sky was still gray and there was a damp, chilly breeze.

Squirrelflight was already outside, choosing cats for the dawn patrols. "Greetings, sleepyhead," she mewed, dipping her head to Bramblestar.

With a jolt Bramblestar remembered his dream. "I have to talk to you," he told her. "Leafpool and Jayfeather, too. This is important."

His deputy gave him a worried look but didn't ask any questions, just called Lionblaze and asked him to take over sorting out the patrols. Meanwhile Bramblestar headed back into the tunnel to find the two medicine cats.

When all four cats were gathered it took a while to find a spot where they could talk without the rest of the Clan overhearing them. Not for the first time, Bramblestar missed the privacy of his old den on the Highledge. Finally they found a hollowed-out spot among the roots of a nearby oak tree.

"Firestar came to me in a dream last night," Bramblestar told his Clanmates once they were settled around him. "He told me, 'When water meets blood, blood will rise.' But I have no idea what that means."

Leafpool's gaze lit up. "Firestar is watching over us!" she exclaimed.

Jayfeather looked less impressed. "He might have been a bit clearer," he grumbled.

"And told us what we need to do," Squirrelflight agreed, looking frustrated.

"Jayfeather," Leafpool began, "you know as well as any cat that omens and prophecies are often difficult to understand at first."

Just like the troublesome stick, Bramblestar thought, guessing that the tabby she-cat had deliberately not mentioned it. If only we'd understood that a bit sooner.

"Often prophecies are only clear after they've come true," Leafpool continued.

"Then what's the point of having them?" Bramblestar asked, exchanging a glance with Squirrelflight.

"Keep the prophecy in mind as you listen to your instincts," Leafpool advised him. "Then the meaning should appear."

Bramblestar still wasn't sure that he understood, but he realized this was the best advice he was going to get. "Tell me right away if StarClan speaks to either of you," he ordered the two medicine cats. "And if you have any more ideas about this prophecy."

"Of course," Jayfeather responded. "Come on, Leafpool. We have herbs to sort."

As the medicine cats padded away, Squirrelflight turned to Bramblestar. "Thanks for sharing the prophecy with me," she meowed. "I promise to keep watch for what it might mean."

Her support warmed Bramblestar as he led the way back to the other cats, but before he could tell Squirrelflight this, Jessy emerged from the tunnel and came bouncing up to him. The other two kittypets followed more slowly.

"Hi, Bramblestar," Jessy chirped. "I had a great time yesterday. What are we doing today?"

Bramblestar was slightly taken aback by the brown she-cat's enthusiasm. "If you really want to help the Clan," he meowed, "you need to learn how to hunt. Frankie and Minty, too."

Frankie, who came up in time to hear what Bramblestar said, looked interested, but Minty blinked doubtfully and took a step back.

"Minty, you have to learn," Frankie told her, touching her shoulder with his tail-tip. "You can't stay here and expect these cats to feed you."

"But as soon as the water goes away, we'll be able to go home," Minty objected. "My housefolk will be so worried about me. Perhaps we're too far away from them up here," she fretted. "Maybe we should move closer to our homes, so when our housefolk come back they can find us quickly."

Millie, who was standing nearby with Graystripe, turned to the kittypet with a compa.s.sionate look in her eyes. "I don't think the floods will go away for another quarter moon," she mewed gently. "You're safe here, safer than you would be in any other Clan's territory, and you'll be able to see when the water starts to go down. Then you can go home-but not before, not when it isn't safe."

Minty's eyes clouded with sadness. "We might be stuck here for ages," she wailed. "My poor housefolk!"

"I know it's not ideal," Frankie comforted her. "I want to go back and look for Benny. But we have to keep away from more risks. Surely that's what our housefolk want most of all: for us to survive?"

Minty sighed, but she didn't argue any more.

Bramblestar felt a pang of sympathy for the kittypets. It had been a shock for them to lose their homes, and even Minty was trying to be brave and sensible. "I'll take you hunting myself," he meowed. "Dovewing, will you come too?"

Dovewing, who had been waiting to join a patrol, spun around at the sound of her leader's voice. "Me? But Ivypool is much better at hunting than me." She sighed. "In fact, every cat is better than me now. . . ."

Bramblestar knew that she was still regretting the loss of her special powers, which had helped her to pinpoint prey more accurately than any cat in the Clan. "And that's what makes you the best cat to train these kittypets," he told her briskly. "You know what it's like to learn from the very beginning, when you're feeling blind and deaf and lost in the trees."