Spotfur's Rebellion/Chapter 6

==Chapter description==
:Spotfur stretches lazily, enjoying the warmth of the sunlight. She sees Stemleaf, Eaglewing, and Plumstone sharing a squirrel, and Spotfur thinks to herself that prey was plentiful now. Cinderheart leads a hunting patrol into camp, and Squirrelflight praises them for their good catch. Bramblestar is behind her, and Spotfur is now anxious, as the leader had been unpredictable recently. He looks at Lilyheart and asks where her prey is, and she nervously states that she didn't catch anything. The leader asks why she did not, but Cinderheart defends Lilyheart, saying that a patrol hunts together. However, Bramblestar answers that Lilyheart had let the Clan down and was not following the code. The small tabby she-cat is scared, and Squirrelflight tells Bramblestar that they have plenty already, but he narrows his eyes saying that a true warrior would keep hunting. He continues, saying that Lilyheart will sleep on the moor tonight. The Clan protests as Lilyheart exits the camp, and Spotfur wonders why he was being so harsh. She meets Stemleaf's eyes and knows that they feel the same way.
:Spotfur convinces her parents to come on a patrol with her, and Cinderheart meows that they had to have faith in their leader. They start going for rabbit, but Spotfur is frustrated that they do not seem to be worried. She tells them that Bramblestar had even gotten Bristlefrost to do Squirrelflight's duties. Cinderheart says that it was natural he would want his mate to be with him, but Spotfur is still doubtful. She thinks to herself there should have only been a few moments between the two lives. Her mother is sad, and says that perhaps Bramblestar had trouble finding his way from StarClan. She is sympathetic, but argues that the leader is acting much harsher now. Lionblaze replies that he does not like it either, but Bramblestar had proved to be a good leader in the past, and Cinderheart adds that they had to give him some time. Spotfur realizes that her parents are right, and agrees that she will give him a chance.
:It is raining, and Spotfur shakes her pelt. Lionblaze and Bristlefrost are also wet, but Spotfur thinks to herself that it is still better than being in camp. The previous day, Bramblestar said that he and Squirrelflight would eat first, and Spotfur wonders why he would ever want to change things when the code said otherwise. Her father had argued, and the other cats were also angered. Bristlefrost suggests that they hunt under the trees, and Spotfur says that the gray she-cat is right. Her father answers that they should check the border, and Spotfur says that at least it is not snowing anymore. Lionblaze answers that prey is returning, and she thanks StarClan. However, Lionblaze says that she was wasting her breath, because StarClan may not even be listening. Spotfur is horrified, and says that the thaw had set already. The golden tom replies that it may take a while for StarClan to reach them. Bristlefrost then cuts in, saying that perhaps they were waiting for them to follow the code, and Lionblaze coldly answers that they had always followed it, at least some of them did. The two cats stare at each other, and Spotfur meows that she smells rabbit. She and Lionblaze run after the rabbit, and the animal veers away. However, they trap the rabbit, and Lionblaze brings it down. She purrs, but Bristlefrost yowls that they had caught it on WindClan territory. The tom says that they couldn't help it, and Spotfur adds that it was only because they chased it there. The two other cats argue, and Lionblaze decides that StarClan would never be angry at a cat for feeding their Clan. Spotfur wonders if her father is right and if they would be punished.
:After they return to camp, Bramblestar is furious, and snarls at Lionblaze, who points out that Border are sometimes accidentally crossed. Spotfur sees Bristlefrost, and she thinks to herself that she definitely told him, and that the new Bramblestar is erratic and untrustworthy. The leader hisses that they should be following the code so StarClan would come back, and her father growls that StarClan would not abandon them for a small thing. The two toms argue, and Spotfur becomes angry at how the leader was treating Lionblaze. She feels she can no longer hold back, and glares at Bramblestar, saying that everybody had broken the code before, just some worse than others. The leader flexes his claws, asking what she means. Spotfur answers that Squirrelflight had lied about her sister's kits for moons, while they had just crossed a border. She knows that it is unfair to bring it up, but she has to make the leader realize how he is acting. Spotfur thinks to herself that StarClan had forgiven Leafpool and Squirrelflight, and they would never turn on good warriors. The leader steps back, and meows that Squirrelflight had served the Clan well. He then begins that no cat is to talk to Spotfur for a quarter moon, and the she-cat is shocked. The leader continues that Lionblaze is exiled for a quarter moon, and her eyes widen.
:A few days later, Stemleaf whispers that the punishments are not right. No cat had spoken to her since Lionblaze left the camp, but Cinderheart and Bristlefrost both looked at her sadly. They lay facing away from each other, and Spotfur murmurs that it was like he wanted to drive them apart. She wonders why Bramblestar would treat Lionblaze so harshly, and Stemleaf whispers that there has been something wrong with the leader ever since he got his new life. She agrees, and says that something must change.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Trivia==
*This chapter aligns with chapter eight of The Silent Thaw.
==Notes and references==
Category:Novellas
Category:Spotfur's Rebellion
Category:Chapter subpages