Sunset/Chapter 20

==Chapter description==
:Getting used to his new status as deputy, Brambleclaw observes the camp. He notes that Birchpaw is not with his mentor, Ashfur, despite the fact that it is a good day for training. Brambleclaw informs Ashfur of this, who tells him that he is capable of mentoring his own apprentice and plans to give him an assessment. Brambleclaw, finding himself irritated with Ashfur's resentful attitude, notes that if he does not shape up, he will find himself collecting mouse bile for the elders rather than doing his normal duties.
:Brambleclaw reminds himself that he had arranged to meet Hawkfrost at sunrise to discuss the possible prospect of ruling the Clans. On his way to the lake, Squirrelflight runs into him and asks him where he is going. Brambleclaw fumbles for a response, and Squirrelflight invites him to go hunting. Before Brambleclaw can deny it, the two of them see Berrykit and his siblings run into Leafpool's den. Squirrelflight takes off after them, recalling the mess they made last time they were there. Brambleclaw is thankful for the distraction and continues his trek to meet Hawkfrost.
:At the lake, he calls out to his half brother, but does not receive a response. Seeing a thrush and remembering how he had not eaten all day, Brambleclaw plans to catch it, but something leaps on top of him and ruins his catch. Brambleclaw finds his half brother pinning him down. The ThunderClan deputy asks him if he wants every cat in ThunderClan to know he is there, and Hawkfrost tells him that it does not matter - he is allowed to be here as long as he stays close to the lake.
:Brambleclaw tells Hawkfrost that he has ShadowClan scent on him, and Hawkfrost replies that he must have gotten it while traveling through their territory. He tells Brambleclaw that they are wasting time. Brambleclaw invites him into the ferns and starts to tell him that he does not think taking over ShadowClan and WindClan is a good idea, as StarClan had always intended for there to be four Clans in the forest.
:Hawkfrost tells Brambleclaw that was back in the old forest, and explains that ShadowClan had always been a nuisance, and that Brambleclaw would be a better leader of WindClan than Onestar. He argues that, with both of them leading all of the Clans, every cat could be happy, and there would be no more quarrels or battles. Brambleclaw is tempted by Hawkfrost's charismatic explanation, recalling the incident in which Berrykit had been caught in a fox's trap, wailing in pain while ShadowClan cats simply watched. He declares to himself that if he ruled the forest, no one would ever watch a kit in pain, no matter where the kit came from. The ThunderClan deputy is about to speak, but he hears a faint cry and asks what it is.
:The RiverClan warrior replies that it is probably just an unlucky piece of prey, and the cry happens again. Brambleclaw decrees that it is a cat in trouble, and runs over to the cry. He finds his Clan leader, Firestar, caught in a fox trap. Brambleclaw is about to help him get out of it, but Hawkfrost pushes him aside. He tells Brambleclaw that this is his chance - if Firestar died, he would become Clan leader. Firestar attempts to speak, saying that Birchpaw had told him that Blackstar was on their territory, wanting to speak with Firestar, and that he had to go alone. Hawkfrost whispers in Firestar's ear that Blackstar was not there - they were. He calls him a fool, saying that he was too easy to trap.
:Brambleclaw is horrified, finally putting the pieces together. He tells Hawkfrost that he was the one who did this; he had arranged for Firestar to be caught in the trap. Hawkfrost confirms his suspicions, and says that he did it for him. Brambleclaw looks at Firestar and realizes that if he does not loosen the wire, Firestar would lose a life - or maybe more. Hawkfrost sneers at Firestar, saying he is not powerful anymore. He urges Brambleclaw to finish him off.
:The ThunderClan deputy is still, hearing his father's words in his ears, telling him to kill him, as no cat would ever know and he would be Clan leader, becoming everything he wanted. Hawkfrost angrily asks him what he is waiting for, and demands that he kills his leader.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Notes and references==
fr:Coucher de soleil/Chapitre 20
Category:The New Prophecy arc
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:Sunset