The Silent Thaw/Chapter 8

==Chapter description==
:Bristlefrost is helping to clear brambles away from the camp wall as her Clanmates are hard at work repairing dens and clearing out old bedding. She recalls how she sent out the dawn patrols, but Squirrelflight has taken over patrol organizing duties for the rest of the day without informing Bramblestar. As she helps Stormcloud and Finleap to pull out brambles, she is concerned to hear Finleap and Jayfeather criticize Bramblestar's recent behavior, and how he is the only one not helping around the camp. Bristlefrost defends their leader, and Squirrelflight emerges from Bramblestar's den to praise everyone's hard work and call for several patrols.
:Bramblestar overhears her and questions why she is organizing patrols, when he had ordered that task should be designated to Bristlefrost. Squirrelflight protests that her responsiblities are important to her, while Bramblestar insists she relax and spend time with him instead, to Squirrelflight's dismay. A patrol returns with fresh-kill, and Cloudtail is eager to eat, but Bramblestar tells him to wait. He says that he and Squirrelflight should eat before everyone else in order to maintain their strength and lead their Clan, and Lionblaze protests angrily, pointing out that this is against the warrior code. The leader and deputy return to their den, and Bristlefrost follows them, but turns back when she overhears an argument between them.
:Bristlefrost leaves on a hunting patrol with Lionblaze and Spotfur. Spotfur thanks StarClan for the return of prey, and Lionblaze questions if StarClan is even listening. Bristlefrost suggests that they may need to be better at following the warrior code, to which Lionblaze responds that some of them have always followed the code. Bristlefrost is confused by what he means, but they are distracted by a rabbit, which Lionblaze accidentally chases onto WindClan territory before killing. Bristlefrost protests that catching prey on another Clan's territory is against the warrior code, but Spotfur and Lionblaze defend their catch, stating that it was only on WindClan land because they chased it there, and WindClan will never smell their scent in the rain. Bristlefrost worries that their actions will upset StarClan.
:When they return, Bramblestar calls Bristlefrost into his den to speak with her about the patrol. Bristlefrost feels nervous to be alone with him for the first time, and Bramblestar questions how Lionblaze and Spotfur acted on the patrol. She defends her clanmates, but reluctantly admits that they caught a rabbit on WindClan territory. Bramblestar summons the two warriors and berates them, asking if they think StarClan will ever return if they break the warrior code like this. Spotfur points out that Squirrelflight broke the code by lying about her sister's kits. Bramblestar tells them not to concern themselves with Squirrelflight, and that as Clan leader, he is the one who will determine punishments. He forbids Spotfur from speaking with any cat for a quarter moon and exiles Lionblaze for the same length of time. Bristlefrost is horrified at accidentally causing this, and wonders if her Clanmates will forgive her.
:That night, Bristlefrost sees Spotfur and Stemleaf speaking in secret behind the nursery. She worries that Bramblestar will exile Spotfur if he sees them, and sneaks over to tell them they can't be meeting like this. They're angry with her, questioning if she will report them to Bramblestar. Bristlefrost denies this, but defends her leader as the other two warriors criticize his actions. The gray warrior says that they can't keep breaking the code if they want StarClan to return, and she insists that she doesn't want her Clanmates to get into trouble. Stemleaf tells her he hopes she will make the right choices if things get worse, and Bristlefrost wonders what he means as Spotfur and Stemleaf slip away.
==Characters==
===Major===
===Minor===
===Mentioned===
==Important events==
*Lionblaze is exiled for a quarter moon.
==Trivia==
*This chapter aligns with chapter six of Spotfur's Rebellion.
==Notes and references==
Category:The Silent Thaw
Category:Chapter subpages
Category:The Broken Code arc