A Fork in the Path

Chapter 1

At last, the three cats arrived at Sunningrocks.
As soon as Brambleclaw and Squirrelpaw stepped foot into the new camp, all gazes were on them.
Suddenly, Shrewpaw bounded to Squirrelpaw’s side.
“Squirrelpaw, you're safe!” Shrewpaw exclaimed, nuzzling Squirrelpaw’s cheek.
  “Shrewpaw, they left us! They couldn't handle being starved to death so they left us!” Yowled one of the warriors in the crowd.
“We didn't leave you guys! We will explain once we come back from talking with Firestar!” Brambleclaw explained, trying to soothe the tension.

   Dustpelt pushed his way through the crowd, glaring at Squirrelpaw. "Why don't you tell us instead? Do you know the trouble you put the clan through," Dustpelt hissed.
The orange she’s fur prickled, could they convince the clan that they didn't abandon them?

   Silently, both Brambleclaw and Squirrelpaw were escorted to Firestar.
Firestar’s pelt was dull and damp. You could see his bones between his fur.
“Squirrelpaw? Squirrelpaw!” Firestar rushed towards his daughter, putting his chin on her head. Squirrelpaw smiled, nuzzling her father’s neck with her cheek.
Both, father and daughter, pulled away from each other.
“Where have you two been?” Firestar questioned, narrowing his eyes.
Something told Brambleclaw that Firestar is troubled by something.
  “We have been sent on a journey from Starclan. We were told ahead of time that the clan would be in danger, so we rushed here as soon as we could!” Brambleclaw explained, trying to clarify that he didn't betray the clan.

  Graystripe jumped down from one of the slopes, “did Feathertail and Stormfur come with you guys? Are they safe?”
Squirrelpaw and Brambleclaw looked at each other with eyes filled with grief.
“Yes, Feathertail is, but Stormfur is dead..”
As soon as Brambleclaw told this, Graystripe broke down.
“No, no! He can't be!” Hissed the Thunderclan deputy.
Firestar pressed his head in Graystripe’s fur, trying to comfort him.
“He was a brave warrior, Graystripe.” Firestar muffled through his deputy’s fur.
Graystripe nodded, keeping himself from crying.
“Yes, I know Firestar.”
Suddenly an outburst broke out from the clan.

  “So, you left your clan to be with other cats that are not from your clan?!” Yowled Ferncloud, wrapping Birchkit and Larchkit around her tail.
“Traitors!” Screeched Mousefur from next to Dustpelt.
   Firestar flicked his tail, silencing the clan.
“Please, let's hear them out before jumping to conclusions!” Yowled the orange tom.
   “Brambleclaw, you can explain right?” Firestar asked his warrior with wide eyes.
Brambleclaw then felt all the pressure on him.
“Y-yes, I can Firestar!”
Before any cat could object, Squirrelpaw jumped into an explanation.
“Well, Brambleclaw got this dream from Starclan! It told him to go to this place and how 1 cat from each clan would come with him!” Squirrelpaw meowed quickly, barely making it clear.
“Starclan?” Sandstorm, Squirrelpaw’s mother echoed the word everyone must be thinking.
No cat objected, they all stared at each other.

  “Now, Firestar, may I speak to you in private?” Brambleclaw asked once everything seemed at ease. Firestar nodded, leading Squirrelpaw and Brambleclaw behind a large rock.
     “So, what happened once you two arrived at the special place?” Asked Thuderclan’s leader with eyes of concern.
“We met a badger named Midnight. She was different though. She could understand us and read the signs Starclan gave her!” Brambleclaw begun, feeling his fur prickle with uneasiness by Graystripe’s gaze.
   “Graystripe, if you're going to watch, at least come down here with us!” Firestar exclaimed, aware of Brambleclaw’s feeling. As soon as Graystripe reached the ground, he bombarded Brambleclaw with questions.
“How did Stormfur die? Is he still with our ancestors? Did Feathertail get hurt? Oh, my kits…” Graystripe meowed quickly, which then turned into slow mumbling.
The ThunderClan deputy eyes were wide, his fur was spiked in great and alarm.
Brambleclaw put his tail on Graystripe’s shoulder, “Feathertail is safe. Stormfur died like a hero,” Brambleclaw reassured Graystripe gently.
“He saved a whole group of cats because of his death!” Squirrelpaw put in, trying to calm the worried father.