Starlight/Chapter 12

==Chapter description==
:Brambleclaw tastes the air carefully again, and the scent of fox clings to the bracken beside him. He warns Brackenfur that the fox was here not too long ago. They are leading a patrol to find landmarks for their new territory, with Rainwhisker and Dustpelt accompanying them. Brackenfur decides that they would report it to Firestar, since they had to be careful until they knew whether it lived here or was just passing through. Brambleclaw nods, and reflects he had been glad when Firestar had chosen him to patrol the boundaries; every pawstep made the woods feel like ThunderClan territory, and he brushed against brambles and tree trunks to leave a scent trail. 
:Brackenfur takes the lead, and Dustpelt stops to sniff a branch. The other three check it out, and they glance at each other apprehensively as they scent Twolegs. Brackenfur points out it is stale, but Dustpelt states they came there. Brambleclaw feels the same way, but conceals his feeling, pointing out to Dustpelt it was the first Twoleg scent they had picked up, and that they are a long way from a Thunderpath. Brambleclaw keeps to the back, and when Brackenfur suggests hunting, they are all in agreement with the warrior.
:Rainwhisker brings down a starling, and nodding appreciatively, Brambleclaw heads deeper into the forest until he spots a thrush. He stalks it, and as he lowers his head to take a bite, claws dig into him. Brambleclaw rolls over to dislodge his attacker, and when he glimpses ginger fur, he suspects Brackenfur, but it is actually Rowanclaw. The ginger tom says he is defending the ShadowClan border, and when Brambleclaw looks around, he realizes pine trees are mixed with oak and beech trees. Rowanclaw tells him to not pretend he didn't know he'd crossed their scent markers.
:Brambleclaw protests he didn't the scent marks because it was too faint. He thinks of the other possibility; that the Clans couldn't tell each Clans' scent apart because of when they had traveled in the mountains. Rowanclaw tells him to admit that he had been trying to steal their territory. Brambleclaw denies this, and furiously retorts that it was ShadowClan trying to steal ThunderClan's territory. They each brace themselves for a fight, but Tawnypelt bowls Rowanclaw over before he springs.
:Tawnypelt asks what they were doing, for it is much too early to start fighting over territory. Rowanclaw glares at the tortoiseshell warrior, suggesting her loyalties lay with her brother, and not her Clan. Tawnypelt protests she is loyal to her Clan, and Brambleclaw agrees with his sister. Rowanclaw growls that he thought all of the cats who went to see the badger had forgotten which Clan they belonged to. With a furious yowl, Brambleclaw prepares to spring at the tom, but Cedarheart, Oakfur, and Talonpaw back up the ginger warrior.
:He knows he cannot take on all cats at once, and is relieved to hear Brackenfur's voice. The other patrol members race through the trees, and the ShadowClan cats prepare to fight. However, Firestar yowls at them to stop, and states he can't believe how stupid they are being; if they can't establish their borders peacefully, they would end up shedding the blood of every cat in the forest. Stung, Brambleclaw takes a step back, and the patrols flatten their fur.
:Rowanclaw mutters that Brambleclaw had crossed their borders, and when Brambleclaw protests, Firestar coldly stops him, and states if ShadowClan had marked their territory, than it would be their territory. Dustpelt puts in that he couldn't scent any markers. Firestar hisses they would not accuse any Clan of lying, and asks where the clearing and the stream are. Rowanclaw jerks his head in the direction, and Firestar decides ShadowClan have a right to this part of the territory, and the patrol heads back to camp. He finally notices the scent mark, and notes it is mixed with all of the Clans' scent. 
:Brambleclaw is angry at Firestar, and wonders why the orange tom had assumed he and the patrol were in the wrong. Brambleclaw curls his lip, and thinks that Firestar would end up giving the entire forest to the other Clans if he carried on like this. When they had traveled to the sun-drown-place, though Brambleclaw had the most natural leadership skills, all five cats had discussed and decided everything together. He wonders why Firestar couldn't be like that, and thinks that every cat blindly following orders isn't always the best solutions. 
:Firestar orders Brackenfur to explore some other unknown territory and orders Brambleclaw to accompany him to the hollow. Brambleclaw asks what Firestar wanted him to do, and the tom replies that he wants him to collect as much moss and bedding he can before it gets dark. Brambleclaw stops dead, stating it is an apprentice task. Firestar tells him to just do it, for every cat has to pitch in to create their home. He stops at the roots of a tree that has moss and pads back toward camp with a bundle. Squirrelflight calls to him that their new territory is great for prey, and Brambleclaw ignores her, stalking into camp.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Notes and references==
fr:Nuit étoilée/Chapitre 12
Category:The New Prophecy arc
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:Starlight