A Thief in ThunderClan/Part 2

==Chapter description==
:The next day, Cloudtail and Brackenfur hurriedly guide Longtail into camp, his eyes bleeding. Longtail yowls in pain that he can't see as Brackenfur explains to Firestar how a rabbit scratched Longtail's eyes. The tabby warrior is rushed into Cinderpelt's den for treatment while the rest of the Clan worries about Longtail. Two days later, Brightheart prays to StarClan to help Longtail and sneaks into the medicine den to check in on him. Longtail despairs about not being a contributing member of the Clan again since his sight is gone, but Brightheart comforts him, using her own experience recovering after the dog attack to reassure Longtail that he'll always be a member of ThunderClan and can still help out in other ways. Longtail insists that he never stole ThunderClan's prey, recalling their previous argument, and Brightheart believes him.
:As she walks out of the medicine cat's den, Brightheart notices that the fresh-kill is mysteriously empty with strange markings in the dirt where it used to be. She asks the guard for the night, Dustpelt, if he noticed anything strange, but he replies the rest of the Clan is away at the Gathering. When the ThunderClan cats return, Brightheart points out the strange markings to Cloudtail, but they can't detect any enemy Clan scent, suspecting it must be a ThunderClan cat after all. Brightheart suggests informing Firestar, but he's away at the Moonstone. Firestar returns in two days, though Sandstorm prevents any cat from speaking with him since he needs to rest. However, Firestar disappears from a patrol to speak with a kittypet, and Sandstorm defends Firestar when the rest of the Clan questions his decision.
:Firestar disappears for another night, and Cloudtail confides with his mate about his concerns about Firestar leaving the Clan to become a kittypet again. However, Brightheart fiercely defends Firestar's honor, describing him as a loyal and strong warrior, though she comforts her mate for worrying about their kits' futures. The next morning, Brightheart notices prey missing from the fresh-kill pile again and the strange markings. She wonders if the markings were created by a cat's claws, so she asks Thornclaw, Ashfur, Willowpelt, and Sootpaw to dig up some burdock root in the camp for her. However, Graystripe soon calls them away for the dawn patrol. Brightheart examines the scratches and notices that they don't match the ones left by the fresh-kill pile. She drops off the burdock root to her sister Cinderpelt and praises Longtail for helping Cinderpelt by sorting herbs. Brightheart suddenly feels the kits moving, but her happy moment is interrupted by cats yowling for help in the camp clearing: Willowpelt is dead.
:Willowpelt's three kits wail and comfort their mother's body as the rest of the Clan gathers. Firestar explains from Highrock that Willowpelt was killed by a badger, and Cloudtail is leading a patrol to track it. Brightheart worries for her mate's safety. Suddenly, she realizes she isn't able to fix all her Clan's problems on her own: Longtail's eyes, the fresh-kill thief, Willowpelt's death, and her grieving kits. But she knows where she can start. Brightheart gathers up Rainpaw, Sootpaw, and Sorrelpaw into the nursery and comforts them. After Willowpelt's vigil, Rainpaw worries what will happen to him and his littermates now that both of their parents are dead, but Brightheart reassures the young tom that the Clan will always look out for him.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Important events==
===Deaths===
*Willowpelt is killed by a badger.
==Errors==
*The Moonstone is mistakenly called the Moonpool.
*Firestar, Graystripe, Brackenfur, and Thornclaw are mistakenly called elders.
==Trivia==
*This chapter aligns with chapter three, four, five, six, seven, eight, and nine of Firestar's Quest.
==Notes and references==
Category:Graphic novel arc
Category:A Thief in ThunderClan
Category:Chapter subpages