Brambleclaw's Nightmare

     Brambleclaw looked at the pathway leading up to the Moonpool, looking somber. It was just after the events of the Great Battle, a battle between life and death, a battle between light and dark, a battle that took the lives of many including the great leader Firestar.

     He took a deep breath, making his way up. He thought he felt a presence, as if it was his father Tigerstar, but that was impossible. Tigerstar was gone forever, killed by Firestar, their long battle from the beginning finally ended when once living leader struck the blow that would erase his evil father for good from the Clans and the Dark Forest. But Brambleclaw knew why he felt like he was feeling Tigerstars presence, it was because it was Brambleclaw time to be leader. It was his time to take charge, to change and lead Thunderclan, just like his father did with Shadowclan.

     Before he could reach the Moonpool, where Jayfeather, the medicine cat, was waiting, Brambleclaw suddenly lurched and fell to a crouch. He gritted his teeth as a vision came to view, and he was no longer at the Moonpool. Brambleclaw was on High Ledge, looking down at Thunderclan. He could hear his own voice "Thunderclan!" He had called out "We will not fall weak after the events of the Great Battle, we will stay strong for the sake of our former Clanmates who have lost their lives to this battle, we will not cower from our enemies, and we will fight our enemies with courage more than ever!" Everyone below looked almost afraid, but one by one began to cheer, until it sounded like a roar.

     Then the vision changed, until it looked like Thunderclan fighting Windclan. Left and right cats of both Clans were locked in a fight, fur flew and blood streaked pelts as yowl after yowl split the air. Brambleclaw looked down at his paws to see a cat, by the looks of it Heathertail, and watched in horror as he suddenly struck down on her head where it would be a death instantly. Heathertails shriek was cut short as she fell limp, her eyes glazing over. Brambleclaw looked up and saw Lionblaze and Crowfeather stop fighting, both looking at Heathertail with horrified expressions before the vision changed once again.

     The last two things he saw were already bad, but this time it was worse. He saw rogues cluster around him, their eyes bright and hungry at the words he was apparently speaking. "Listen closely, because Im only going to say this once" Brambleclaw, as Bramblestar, meowed "My father Tigerstar once had a plan to take over the forest with a group called Bloodclan. The plan had failed, and he was killed, but this time it wont fail. I want to carry on his idea and take over Windclan and Shadowclans territory with your help" The rogues kept listening, glancing at each other with a smirk "Tomorrow, sunhigh, you will meet up at the border between Thunderclan and Shadowclan and I will lead my warriors there as well. Then, we will invade Shadowclan and drive them out for good! After that we move on to Windclan and drive them out too, those scrawny rabbit munchers will regret the day they turned on us" Bramblestars eyes seemed to gleam with ambition to the other cats, and he felt himself grin as the rogues all nodded "We are with you Bramblestar" They nodded.

     Brambleclaw suddenly snapped back to reality, with Jayfeather hovering over him, and took several deep gasps. He looked around and saw that he was back at the Moonpool, not with rogues, not in a battle, and not looking over his Clan. He started to panic a little 'W-what if those happen while Im leader?! Will I just be another Tigerstar? A copy of my father, formerly the most feared cat in the forest?' Then he shakily got to his paws, looking at the Moonpool. He thought of all those visions he saw of himself doing what his father had done, even if they were all different from what Tigerstars really done, and shook his head. 'No, Im not Tigerstar' Brambleclaw told himself 'I may be his son, but I do not carry his power hungry ambition in my blood. I am my own cat, I make my own decisions, and I will be a leader worthy of my title and not some rogue hiding beneath nine lives and a name of authority'

     Brambleclaw looked at Jayfeather and nodded "Im ready" He meowed, and his medicine cat led him to the edge of the Moonpool. The deputy, soon to be leader, proceeded to lap up a few drops of water, and closed his eyes. 'No more nightmares of what will never happen' He thought as he opened his eyes again, standing before the cats of Starclan 'What Ive seen are fake, they are not real, and they wont be real. They are meant to scare me, but they have failed to notice that I am not afraid. I am ready for what lies in the future, to Thunderclan and myself, and I will face it head on'