The Secrets of WillowClan: A Warrior Cats Choose your own adventure

Page 37

A/N: What do you think is the main difference in the results from the choices of last chapter? Be sure to upvote, it really helps me out. Don't forget to reply with what your character does. Thank you for reading, it means a lot that there are people out there who appreciate my work.

"Y/Nkit, come here. Tell Brindleclaw vhat is wrong," comes the oddly sympathetic voice of your mother. You barely process it, to you everything still feels like a dream. "Fine zen. If little kit vill not come to Brindleclaw, Brindleclaw vill come to little kit." You here a shuffling behind you, and feel the prickle of Brindleclaw's long unkempt fur against your pelt. Her orange eyes are suddenly staring into yours. "Now explain."

You shrink back involuntarily, reminded of the giant red eye. You let out a small mew, then clear your throat. "I had a... scary dream. It was terrible."

Brindleclaw laughs loudly. "Oh, vas zat all? Not to worry, little kit. Real vorld is much more terrible place than dream could ever be."

"Wow, thanks for cheering me up. I feel so much better now," you say sarcastically, getting to your paws.

"Of course you do. Vith Brindleclaw, you have nothing to fear but me, little kit." She looks you up and down. "No, zhat's wrong. You are not such little kit anymore. More like Bigkit. Perhaps I should change your name." You chuckle despite yourself. You shift your weight from one paw to another. You realize Brindleclaw is right. Standing up, you're nearly as tall as her.

"It is good that you awake now, sleepyhead," says Brindleclaw. "Brumestar says she vanted to talk vith you, although Brindleclaw can't imagine why." You easily cross the floor of the nursery den and peer outside. The ceiling of the nursery den presses done at the entrance, forcing you to bend your head way down to see into camp. You stick your head out, sighing as a gentle breeze blows through your pelt.

The sun is warm but gentle, unlike some of the harsher days in Greenleaf. Now your pelt doesn't feel like it's turning into a small stream every time you step outside. You like this new season so far, what the elders call leaffall. The grass growing around camp has grown a little brittle, but the cheerful bright yellow sunflowers and the pink little crocus peeking out from the shade of the willows more than make up for it. The sweet vanilla smell mixes with the tangy scent of fresh kill sitting on the pile.

Maybe it's just nostalgia, but the pile looks smaller compared to what you remember from earlier on in your kithood. After the scare with the two rogues nearly hurting Sparrowkit, Brumestar had to assign more and more cats to border patrols. Gradually sightings died down, but tensions never receded due to Maplestrike's clamouring about the threat the rogues posed to the clan's kits. Thankfully prey is so abundant in Greenleaf, or WillowClan might have been facing more than a little hunger. A few mice are all that remain on the "pile" at the moment, but it still makes your mouth water to think you'll almost certainly get to eat today.

The cats who pass seem gaunt and harrowed, occasionally stopping to his or growl in your direction. Abandoning Sparrowkit seems to have made you very unpopular with many of your clanmates. It's often limited to just glares or cold looks, but some cats will stop talking and move away when you approach then. Maplestrike is the worst of all. You shiver as you catch sight of him returning from yet another border patrol. Before you can rush pack into the nursery den, he fixes you a sour glare and stalks over to you.

The grey and brown tabby tom looms above you, his stern yellow eyes full of real malice. "You," he spits. "You've got some real nerve showing your face around camp after what you did to my son."

"S-sorry Maplestrike," you squeak, starting to back into the nursery den. You hope Brindleclaw will hear this and do something, but she doesn't seem to have heard it just yet.

"Sorry isn't good enough. This clan doesn't need mousehearts like you dragging us down," sneers Maplestrike. He takes a step forward.

"Maplestrike, what is the meaning of this?" demands an icy voice from nearby you. You look up, only to see a dusty yellow-cream tabby sitting atop the nursery den, looming above you and Maplestrike. Her large copper eyes focused intently on the angry warrior. Your breath catches in your throat as your mind races. Why is Brumestar defending you?

"With all due respect, Brumestar, this is between me and Y/Nkit," snapped Maplestrike, glaring up at Brumestar.

Brumestar abruptly jumped from her perch, landing between you and Maplestrike. "Is this what the great warrior Maplestrike is reduced to? Bullying kits in the nursery?" She gives Maplestrike a scornful look, and the larger tom seems to shrink.

He bows slightly to Brumestar, and takes two steps back. "I meant no offense. I only wish to defend my son from false friends, Brumestar.".

Brumestar takes another step forward. "This cat was a better friend than your dungbrained son deserved. If it hadn't been for their wisdom in running for help instead of picking an unwinnable fight, both kits would be with StarClan now. You should be showering Y/Nkit with thanks instead of this foxhearted posturing. Get out of my sight, you ingrate." Maplestrike glares ineffectually at you and Brumestar, but bows his head, slinking away into the Warrior den.

"Uh, thank you Brumestar," you say. You can't decide whether you're more surprised at Brumestar for being nice for a change or you for daring to speak to her. "Why'd you help me?"

Brumestar looks at you strangely with an almost maternal expression. "I know what it's like to be judged unfairly for hard choices," she murmurs wistfully. She shakes her head and the facade of the stern leader returns. "Besides, I can't abide bullies."

You open your mouth to say something more when Brindleclaw rushes out of the nursery den, almost running into Brumestar "Oh Brumestar! Many pardons! Brindleclaw vas busy removing Ravenkit from strange hole." Brindleclaw turns towards you, and looks at you as if she's reading your wind. "Vhat happened vhile I was den, little kit? You look as if you just eat fox dung." You quickly explain the confrontation with Maplestrike. Brindleclaw growls fiercely. "ZAT MOUSEHEARTED SNAKE! ZAT FILTHY PILE OF FOXDUNG! I VILL SHRED HIM INTO CROWFOOD IF HE MUCH AS LOOK AT YOU AGAIN!" she yowls, drawing the frightened attention of many of your clanmates.

Brumestar quickly suppresses a smile "I can understand the sentiment, but there will be no threatening clanmates on my watch" she scolds. Brindleclaw mumbles an apology, but winks at you as soon as Brumestars back is turned. Brumestar turns to you with an inquisitive look in her eyes. "You there, Y/Nkit. Stand up so I can get a proper look at you."

Reluctantly, you leave the nursery den, mindful of the watchful eyes of some of your clanmates after all the commotion. Brumestar seems to size you up, pushing your muzzle up for closer with one of her paws. She mutters approvingly to herself, then turns to Brindleclaw. "Well, you've raised a fine cat. They seem to be in good physical condition, and from what I've seen today they have more common sense than certain WillowClan warriors. They have the potential for greatness."

You smile proudly at Brumestar's rare praise. Brindleclaw seems caught off guard. "Da," agrees Brindleclaw hesitantly. "Now you vill let Brindleclaw go back to being varrior? Zis kit is no Villowstar, but zey are very cute."

"Gee thanks," you murmur.

"Yes Brindleclaw, you may go back to being a warrior now that your queen duties are done," said Brumestar. Then she turns back to you. "But maybe a warrior's path isn't for you. Would you rather choose the way of medicine cat?"

1.Hunting cunning and tasty prey, fighting the clan's enemies with fang and tooth, and even the chance to rule the clan some day as leader? The Path of the Warrior Cat is just what you're looking for! (Go to page 38.)

2.No, healing your clanmates, speaking to StarClan in your dreams, having the leader's ear in all important decisions and being able to travel wherever you want in the clans is a much better deal! The life of a Medicine Cat is the one for you! (Go to Page 39.)

3.Neither! Raising/baring the next generation, finding the cat of your dreams, raising future leaders and medicine cats that will do whatever their loving parent tells them to do. Best of all, getting all the perks of clan life without having to hunt or fight. The life of the Queen is the one for you! (Go to Page 40.)

4.You don't want to grow up! Why can't you just stay a kit forever instead? (Go to Page 41.)