Welcome to the second installment: Brambleclaw! Hope y'all enjoy!
You had been born just a few days ago and you had finally opened your eyes. And the first thing you saw, was another cat, but it didn't smell anything like your mother. In fact, it smelled male. He was dark brown, with darker stripes. He had kind amber eyes. He looked older than you by his size, and then you realized he was staring back at you. You were both silent for a while, but you both decided that you would be friends. Then you went back to you mother cuz it was feeding time.
~~~~Time Skip~~~~
You had finally become an apprentice, and your mentor was Sandstorm. You two had finished hunting practice, and you had returned with two mice, a rabbit, and a thrush. You took the squirrel to Cinderpelt and her current patient, then got something for yourself, a mouse. You saw Bramblepaw sitting alone. Ever since his sister, Tawnypelt went to Shadowclan, he's been down. So you went to talk with him.
"Hey Bramblepaw! Wanna share?" You asked, cheerfully. He smiled at you and nodds, and you two happily share a meal together while talking and joking about the day.
~~~~Longer Time Skip~~~~
You had noticed your best friend's been acting strange recently. Ever since he and Squirrelflight, Squirrelpaw back then, had returned from their journey through the mountains, the two had been inseparable. But now, she was always with Ashfur, leaving Brambleclaw comfused and argry looking all the time. You hated seeing him like this. You had a slight crush on him for a while now, but even when he was with Squirrelflight, you were just happy he was happy. Now she had gone and broken his heart. One day you were lying next to him in the sun at camp. It was leaf-fall and you had decided to get as much sun as possible. You felt Brambleclaw stiffen up next to you, so you turned from lying on your back, to your stomach to see what had startled him so. You followed his gaze to see two cats talking. You recognized them as Squirrelflight and Ashfur. You snarled at them. Brambleclaw suddenly stood up.
"I gotta go." He said and took off towards the exit of camp. He had done this before, and you were sick of it. He always left as soon as he saw them and it was time you put an end to it. You got up and ran after him. You followed his scent trail to find him sitting under a tree. You wondered why, until you saw what he was doing. He was taking his anger off on the tree. He would leap and claw it, and there were marks from previous visits. You stepped out of the trees not bothering to stay quiet, and he turned around in alarm.
"Oh! Uh, Hey (Y/W/N)!" He said nervously. "What are you doing out here?"
"I should be asking you the same thing." He sighed as you walked closer.
"When we got back from the mountains, Squirrelflight and I had gotten very close. And we had stayed like that for such a long time. Then out of the blue, she's ignoring me! Then she starts hanging out with Ashfur! It just made me so angry! I couldn't keep it all bottled up, so i found this old tree and used it." You walked up to him and gave him a comforting lick on the ear.
"You could've talked to me." He sighed.
"Yeah, i should've known you'd figure it out eventually."
"I am your best friend after all." You smiled at him, but on the inside, you cried at this.
"Thanks, (Y/W/N), i don't know where I'd be without you." He said as you both went back to camp.
"Probably be miserable." You both laughed at this as you entered camp. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Squirrelflight looking this way. She glared at you, and you glared back. You better stay in your place Squirrelflight. You thought viciously. With Ashfur. You dont deserve to be with Brambleclaw. He's too good for you. It was getting late, so you turned in. Brambleclaw wasn't far behind. His nest was right next to your's and Squirrelflight's. But tonight, he curled closer to you and away from her. You were internally screaming. The next morning Firestar put you and Brambleclaw on patrol with Squirrelflight and Oakheart (that's me!:D). The leader still believed Greystripe was alive, so he was doing his duties currently, and you felt bad for him. You all gathered and went into the forest for the patrol. This is the worst! You thought. Well, at least Ashfur isn't here. Bet Squirrelflight is wishing he was, so she could have some back up. Oakheart seemed to sense the tension and walked more in the middle. They reached the border in silence and got to work. After a while, Oakheart decided to just hang back, and as they walked, she would freshen the markers, seeing the way Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight eyed each other. You think that this is something the two of them should work out, so you stick with Oakheart. After a while, shouting could be heard up ahead and the two of you went to see what was happening. You and Oakheart saw Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw yelling at each other, probably causing a hunting patrol bad luck.
"I just dont understand why you just up and left me like that!" Brambleclaw said. You could hear how he was fighting back tears.
"Mabye, because Ashfur isn't talking with Tigerclaw!" She spat. You and Oakheart's eyes widened.
"Its not my fault! He visits me! Wether I wanted him to or not! Sometimes i lay awake at night, getting no sleep, so I can escape him! I never asked for him to be my father! I never asked for him to be so ambitious, that he would kill the deputy or leader to gain power, or try to take over the whole forest! And I never asked him to break into my dreams, into my mind, to teach me how to be like him!" Everyone grew quiet.
"Brambleclaw i-" Squirrelflight tried to say, but she couldn't finish because he ran off, and no cat knew what to do.
"Way to go Squirrelflight!" You say before chasing after him. You found him back at the tree, ramming his head against it. Before he could do it again, you pushed him out of the way. He looked at you as if he'd never seen you before, then he shook his head.
"Let me guess. You heard are arguing, huh?" You nod. You didn't bother asking if it was true, you could tell it was by how he answered. "Go ahead. Tell the clan my dark secret. I'm just gunna go." He turned and walked off, but you cut in front of him.
"Look Brambleclaw. You are a strong and loyal warrior. You may have ambitions, but unlike your father, you would put them aside if necessary. Unlike your father, you wouldn't kill an innocent cat, just to gain power. You wouldn't lead dogs or rouges into the camp. You are nothing like your father. You may have gotten lessons from him, but I know you were just doing it for the clan." He turned away.
"What if I wasn't."
"Were you?" He sighed and ran up to you, putting his head on your shoulder, crying softly. You lifted your paw and patted his back.
"Thanks again, (Y/W/N). You're a life saver. And i just realized something, Squirrelflight was never the one for me. You are." Your eyes widened as you stared at each other. "Do you, uh, wanna be my mate?" For a moment nothing happened. Then, a smile crept across your face as you shouted 'yes!' Over and over again. The two of you walked back to camp, tails entwined. Oakheart and Squirrelflight had already returned, the latter saying something to Ashfur. He looked upset, then suddenly furious. They paid no attention to you and Brambleclaw as you went into the warriors den. Until, Squirrelflight walked in.
Ooh what happened with Squirrel-girl there? Who knows? I certainly dont. I might make a second part, but no promises! Anyways, see ya later!
