Bramblefang's Betrayal

Prologue

"Kits, back inside!" a white she-cat with majestic blue eyes had called.

A dark brown tabby raced into the den.

He sighed in relief, than looked around. Suddenly, fear spiked his heart.

"Icefrost," he cried, "where's Lightkit?"

"Lightkit?" Suddenly she froze. "Stay there, Bramblekit. I'll find Lightkit."

"No! I want to help you!" Bramblekit protested.

One stern look from his mother and he plopped down.

Icefrost bolted out of the den, slashing at a RiverClan apprentice and basically dragging Lightkit back to the nursery.

Relief washed over Bramblekit, but not for long.

"Leopardclaw is dead and it's all your fault! What did I say about not going out to battle?" her mother hissed.

Leopardclaw...dad...he was dead? Bramblekit thought in horror. He glared accusingly at his sister. Because she was too weak, she couldn't save him. He could! She was just an inferior and he superior!

She winced at the mention of Leapordclaw. She deserved it.

Finally, Icefrost calmed down. She forgave her, though never saying sorry.

But Bramblekit wasn't so soft.

Chapter 1

"Bramblekit! My handsome little kit! Time for your apprentice ceremony!"

Bramblekit strode out, tall and proud, formally padding towards the Highledge. Right in front of him, a golden she-cat with beautiful amber eyes squealed in delight, bounding happily.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan Meeting!" Birchstar yowled.

"Cats of ThunderClan, Icefrost told me her kits have reached their sixth moon, and are ready to become apprentices," Birchstar announced.

Birchstar nodded toward Bramblekit.

"Bramblekit, you are ready to become an apprentice. From this day forward, until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as Bramblepaw. Grayshade, you are ready for another apprentice. Leopardclaw taught you well," he started.

Bramblekit felt his heart skip a beat. Leopardclaw. His dad.

"Let Leopardclaw's bravery and loyalty pass through you to Bramblepaw." Birchstar meowed.

"Thank you, Birchstar," Grayshade mewed, "I will try my best to train Bramblepaw."

"Bramblepaw! Bramblepaw!" cheered the ThunderClan warriors.

Bramblepaw fluffed out his fur, looking very proud of his apprentice name. Bramblepaw padded over to Grayshade, and Grayshade touched noses with Bramblepaw.

"I'm going to train harder than any apprentice ever had," Bramblepaw vowed solemnly.

"I believe you will, and I will try my hardest to help guide and teach you," Grayshade murmured.

Birchstar nodded to the little yellow she-cat with amber eyes.

"Lightkit, you are ready to become an apprentice. From this day forward, until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as Lightpaw," Lilystar meowed, "Flameblaze, you are ready for your first apprentice, I taught you well, I hope my loyalty and spirit will pass through you to Lightpaw."

Flameblaze dipped his head respectfully.

Birchstar leapt off the Highledge before waving his tail.

The cats scattered.

All except him and Lightpaw.

Bramblepaw started to leave as well, before Lightpaw looked him in the eye.

Painful memories stirred up again.

"Um, who's my mentor?" Lightpaw whispered to Bramblepaw.

Rolling his eyes, he replied, "Flameblaze." *She's weak and didn't even listen!*

She nodded and padded to Flameblaze, touching his nose.

Smiling lightly, he meowed, "I'll teach you the territory!"

Bounding out the camp, Lightpaw raced after him.

He watched her leave.

"Hello?"

A deep voice caused Bramblepaw to whirl around.

"Shall we go with them?" he asked.

"No!" he blurted out. There was no way he was going to see his sister ever again!

Grayshade reeled back, shocked.

"Sorry," Bramblepaw mumbled.

Grayshade shook his fur. "It's alright. Unless you want to take care of the elders first-"

"Yes!" Bramblepaw yowled. Anything but seeing his sister.

Looking more shocked, Grayshade sighed, "Sure. Run along now."

Bramblepaw nodded, running into the medicine cat den for mouse bile.

Chapter 2

"Hi Petalflower," Bramblepaw meowed politely, "I need mouse bile."

Petalflower whirled around. "Hello Bramblepaw. For Hareleap?"

Bramblepaw nodded.

"Sure. There's some moss over there for the bedding, and some for dipping the mouse bile as well," Petalflower replied, eyes sparkling cheekily, "when you're done, wash your paws in a stream. Not with your tongue, unless you want a foul taste on your tongue for probably the rest of your life."

"Thank you," he called.

She nodded, converting back to her usual formal and serious attitude, and went back to sorting herbs.

Carrying the moss, he slowly brought them to the elders' den.

"Hello, young cat," a small old cat with white fur croaked.

"Hello Hareleap," Bramblepaw meowed. He grabbed the bedding, taking it out, and took inside the new bedding. ''

Hareleap wheezed, "Thanks, young cat. That bedding was really, really dry."

"No problem," Bramblepaw purred, adding some feathers to line the moss.

Hareleap gave Bramblepaw a small, frail smile.

Bramblepaw wrinkled his nose, dipping some moss into the mouse bile and patted his back.

"Thanks young cat," he yawned.

"You're welcome," Bramblepaw mumbled.

"Want to hear a story?" Hareleap asked.

"Sure," Bramblepaw replied.

"Who?" Hareleap asked.

"Tigerstar the first!" Bramblepaw blurted.

"Okay," Hareleap coughed, "according to legend, Tigerkit's father, Pinestar left to become a kittypet. Under the influence of Mapleshade whispers, Thistleclaw's brutal training, and the shame of his father, he became ruthless and cruel. One day he met a little black kit, going to kill it. Bluefur stopped him. Tigerclaw killed Redtail to try and attain the position of deputy. He failed. Well, he succeeded in killing him, but Bluestar chose Lionheart to be her deputy. He died in a battle with ShadowClan, and Tigerclaw became deputy. He tried to lure Bluestar to a Thunderpath, but Cinderpaw got stuck in that trap. He also lead a group of rogues to attack ThunderClan, trying to kill Bluestar, but Fireheart stopped him. Tigerclaw was exiled. He joined ShadowClan, becoming the leader. He lead a pack of dogs to destroy ThunderClan, murdering Brindleface. He joined with Leopardstar to form "TigerClan", 'purifying' the Clan by taking Half-Clan cats prisoner. He was killed by the 'little black kit' who had taken the name Scourge and a dark, dark path. He led Hawkfrost, his son with a rogue called Sasha down an evil path as well. He manipulated Lionpaw, training him, before he left the Dark Forest. He was killed by Firestar."

"Wow," Bramblepaw breathed.

"Hey, my ticks are still there," he complained.

"Oops!" Bramblepaw quickly patted all the ticks off his back.

"Ah, that's better. Thanks, youngster," rasped Hareleap.

"You're welcome," Bramblepaw replied.

He padded out of the medicine cat den, only to feel anger burning under his fur.

Chapter 3

Lightpaw was in front of him.

Fishing out half a rabbit, she looked up to him. The painful memories of Leopardclaw's death played immediately in his head as her amber eyes met his. *Just not gonna look at her. Just not gonna-*

"Hi Bram-" Lightpaw started.

Bramblepaw gave her a curt nod, picking up the other half of the rabbit and stalking away.

Lightpaw looked disappointed. Bramblepaw regarded her lowly, thinking he superior and a few friends aligned with him to be superior, those friends thought strong enough.

Bramblepaw padded to his mentor. "Hi, Grayshade."

"Hello," smiled Grayshade.

"Are we going to see the territory?" he asked.

"Yes," he replied. "Tomorrow?"

"Today," prompted Bramblepaw.

"Oh. Okay...sure," he meowed.

He blushed as Goldenlight, a young warrior padded by.

"Someone's crushing!" teased Bramblepaw.

"Maybe," Grayshade mumbled.

Bramblepaw rolled his eyes. It was plain obvious. Grayshade would always become shy around  her. Goldenlight was extra nice to him. Goldenlight laughed.

"See you soon, Grayshade?" she asked.

Grayshade ducked his head, "Sure, Goldenshine."

Bramblepaw burst out in laughter.

"Hey!" he complained.

"Sorry," Bramblepaw snickered.

"Let's just go," Grayshade muttered.

"Alright, alright," Bramblepaw meowed.

They padded out of camp, side by side.

Chapter 4

Grayshade and Bramblepaw padded out the camp entrance.

Swerving, Bramblepaw bolted after Grayshade.

"What's that?" Bramblepaw asked casually, gesturing to a tree that towered over others.

"Ancient Oak," Grayshade explained.

The cats padded on. Seeing a soft pile of moss, Bramblepaw shrugged his shoulders. "S'ppose that's where we train."

"That's correct," Grayshade applauded.

They came to a Thunderpath. There was a faint roaring of monster's paws in the distance. The acrid tang of Twoleg's and their monsters stung Bramblepaw's nose.

Bramblepaw rolled his eyes. "It's really stinky," he muttered, annoyed.

Suddenly a huge yellow monster whooshed by, nostrils flaring, it's orange eyes glowing eerily and it's huge black paws churning the Thunderpath.

"Twolegs are weird, and what they build," Bramblepaw grumbled.

The cats padded on.

"I almost forgot!" Grayshade gasped.

"Forgot what?" Bramblepaw asked.

"If we meet a kittypet, loner or rogue, we tell them to please get off our territory. If they are hurt, we bring them to our medicine cats because we have honor. We have to defend our territory, but a good warrior seeks a peaceful solution without claws first. If we meet a kit, we bring it back to it's mother or which Clan they are in, according to the facts they tell us. If it is apprentices, warriors, leaders, or deputies from other Clans, we tell them to please get off of our territory," Flameblaze declared, "And if they want to join, we bring them to the leader."

Bramblepaw nodded, his eyes glowing seriously.

A night-black tom padded through the forest.

"Watch me," Grayshade whispered, brushing along a bush.

"Hi," Grayshade started.

"Hi. Who are you?" asked the loner.

"Um...I was just wondering if you would...leave," he meowed.

"Fine," the loner scoffed, padding away.

Bramblepaw nodded. He didn't speak as Grayshade padded back to camp, only following him.

Chapter 5

"Morning Bramblepaw!" Lightpaw called as Bramblepaw pushed out of the apprentices' den.

"Bye inferior," he muttered without looking at her.

"Hey. Let's go gather some moss," suggested Grayshade.

Bramblepaw shrugged. "Sure."

They padded out of camp and soon arrived at a tall, looming tree, its lush green leaves dancing to the wind.

Padding to a tree, he unsheathed his claws and scraped some moss down.

"It helps you with hunting and fighting," he explained.

Bramblepaw did the exact replica, gathered up the moss, but it fell off.

"Silly moss!" he cursed.

"Well, you gather it up in your teeth, you know," Grayshade added helpfully.

He gathered up a clump of the moss, and Grayshade the other, going back to camp.

Chapter 6

"I'm going to teach you how to hunt," meowed Grayshade.

"Sure," Bramblepaw replied.

They padded out of camp.

"What do I do?" Bramblepaw asked.

"Try to creep in slowly, making sure the prey doesn't smell you, go into the hunter's crouch, put your paws carefully and then pounce on it and snap its spine," Flameblaze explained, "Then say 'Thank you StarClan for this prey!'"

Bramblepaw dipped his head.

He dropped into a hunter's crouch, Bramblepaw doing the exact same.

"Perfect! Try it out on that leaf," he meowed.

He slowly crept in, pouncing on the leaf and meowed, "Thank you StarClan for this prey."

A mouse scuffled by.

Grayshade's eyes widened, "Ready to try it on real prey?"

Bramblepaw nodded.

Bramblepaw slowly crept in as he dropped into the hunter's crouch, pouncing on it. He bit on its throat before it could let out a shrill shriek that would split the silence.

"Thank you StarClan, for this prey!" Bramblepaw meowed.

Grayshade smiled at him, "Camp or fighting moves?"

"Fighting moves!" Bramblepaw unsheathed his claws and pretended to claw an enemy.

"Sure!" Grayshade purred, bounding towards the mossy clearing, Bramblepaw on his tail.

Chapter 7

"I'll teach you the duck and twist," he explained.

Bramblepaw nodded.

He ducked, twisted around, rolled around onto his back, and sprang to his paws.

Bramblepaw did the exact same.

"Great! Let's go back to camp," meowed Grayshade.

Chapter 8

Bramblepaw padded to the camp. Birchstar meowed,"Grayshade, Bramblepaw-"

Lightpaw and Flameblaze arrived.

"-Lightpaw, and Flameblaze! Alright! Get ready for the Gathering!"

"Yay!" Lightpaw cheered.

Bramblepaw smiled, strutting to the Gathering.

Lightpaw bounded to the Gathering, smiling. There were so many cats!

Plopping down, Bramblepaw sat down neatly.

"Hi," a voice purred.

He whirled around. "Hi. I'm Bramblepaw." He felt something stir inside him.

"Don't you pay attention that I'm one of your Clanmates?" he asked sleekly.

"Oh yeah. Hey, Lionfang," he murmured. For some reason, he suddenly admired Lionfang's cool posture. His nice, golden fur in the moonlight. He forced his head around.

"Hey."

Without turning his head around, he meowed, "Hey, Lionfang."

"Lionfang?"

He quirked his head around. Lionfang was gone. In its place was a peppy little apprentice.

"Hey?" he asked.

"I'm Flutterpaw, an apprentice of WindClan!" she piped.

"Cool?" Bramblepaw asked, picking his words carefully, "I'm Bramblepaw of ThunderClan."

"Bramblepaw, huh? Nice name! Pretty fierce, huh? Ooh! I like those glowing eyes of yours! Who's that? Wait, don't all cats' eyes glow?" Flutterpaw bounced.

"Uh..." suddenly, Flutterpaw reminded him of Lightpaw.

"So?"

"Go away," Bramblepaw hissed.

Flutterpaw's eyes glittered with hurt, and she bounded away. "An apprentice is being mean to me, Breezewind!"

Bramblepaw turned back towards the Great Oak, and watched as the leaders jumped onto the branch.

"ThunderClan has some great news. We have two new apprentices, Lightpaw and Bramblepaw. The prey is going well, and its borders are strong," Birchstar announced.

"Bramblepaw! Bramblepaw!"

"Lightpaw! Lightpaw!"

"ShadowClan is powerful as usual," a silver she-cat declared.

Bramblepaw frowned. She never gave away much news.

"SkyClan is well, as new prey comes. We have an expecting queen, Leafdream, and all is well," a white tom meowed.

"WindClan is seeing bone become fur as new-leaf is here. A queen, Finchsong has given birth to three new kits. Driftkit, Bouncekit, and Jumpkit," announced a gray tom.

"Fish is plentiful. Fishstream and Mossyfern have become new warriors," declared a tortoiseshell she-cat.

"Fishstream! Fishstream!"

"Mossyfern! Mossyfern!"

"This Gathering is at an end," Birchstar meowed.

Lightpaw's eyes grew wide in surprise, "Al...ready?"

"Yep, weren't you listening?" whispered Bramblepaw, rolling his eyes. Seriously, his sister was an embarassment!

"Um...maybe?" Lightpaw murmured.

He sighed, shaking his head as his fur burned with shame. "You'll always be an inferior to me."

Bramblepaw padded back to camp, his paws tredding the earth as he climbed into his moss bed and drifted off into deep, deep sleep.

Chapter 9

Bramblepaw climbed to his paws, padding outside for the dawn patrol.

"Hello," a silver tabby she-cat meowed.

"Hi," Bramblepaw replied.

He heard a rustle in the bushes.

A kittypet!

"Please leave," Bramblepaw meowed.

The kittypet bolted from the forest.

Two rogues padded by, he meowed, "Please leave."

The rogues narrowed their eyes.

"Now."

"Whatever," one meowed.

Bramblepaw whipped around.

He caught up to the patrol, padding back to camp.

Chapter 10

Bramblepaw stretched, padding out of camp. Moons past and the young tom was 11 moons old.

He was on a hunting patrol with his mentor and a sleek golden she-cat.

He slowly crept in, pouncing on a mouse. He bit its throat.

Suddenly, caterwauls and yowls split the silence.

He scraped dirt over the prey quickly, bolting back to camp, to see blood and pain all over.

Chapter 11

Pools of blood were forming. Screeches of pain filled the air.

A warrior pounced on him, and he slashed at his belly, attacking the warrior as he grabbed him and pushed him down. Going limp, Bramblepaw pushed the warrior off him, suddenly meeting Lightpaw's eyes. Horror flooded his body and he couldn't stop watching her. She was being relentlessly attacked, if he cared. That was what Leopardclaw felt!

"Lightpaw! No!"

Flameblaze rushed forward, slashing the cat's throat immediately. Suddenly, guilt and pain washed his face as he realized what he did. Before the leader attacking her fell, she bit Flameblaze's throat, and they both fell to the ground.

*Now she got Flameblaze killed!* Bramblepaw thought.

"FLAMEBLAZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Lightpaw yowled.

She ran to him.

"L-lightp-aw," he croaked, "G-go on. Ma-ake me p-proud. Beat those fox-h-hearts."

"I can't leave you," she whispered.

"I'll a-always be here w-with you," he meowed.

His eyes glazed as he stopped writhing in agony, limp and cold.

"No..." she whispered in pain, "no..."

Bramblepaw watched her angrily. This was getting out of paw. He had to kill her, make her suffer for the pain she caused him and the Clan.

Suddenly, an apprentice slashed him. Grabbing the apprentice's scruff, he directed his fury towards him. Slashing mercilessly, he sank his fangs into its throat. A thrill of victory and hungriness stung his tongue, and he wanted to do that again, ensuring the attacks he would soon use against Lightpaw.

He ripped through the crowd of cats, slashing and shredding ears.

He suddenly looked at Lightpaw.

She ran to a warrior, nipping and swarming quickly and efficiently. She slashed its flank, only to get knocked down. He bit down hard on her leg.

*That's how Leopardclaw felt!*

He watched cruelly as she got knocked to the ground, unconscious.

Chapter 12

"Bramblepaw!"

Bramblepaw whipped towards the noise, padding towards his mentor.

"Today you will be made a warrior," explained Grayshade.

Bramblepaw nodded. "Thank you."

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" the leader yowled.

Bramblepaw's eyes sparkled.

"I, Birchstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior in their turn. Bramblepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan?" Birchstar asked.

"I do!" Bramblepaw replied.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Bramblepaw, from this moment on you will be known as Bramblefang. StarClan honors your bravery and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan," Birchstar announced.

Birchstar rested his muzzle on Bramblefang and he licked his shoulder.

"Bramblefang!"

"Bramblefang!"

The Clan's yowls drained out all other din that filled the air.

He padded to the camp entrance, sitting vigil.

Chapter 13

Bramblefang looked around.

"You can talk now," Grayshade meowed.

Bramblefang nodded. "Thanks, Grayshade."

Lightpaw padded out.

Fury swelled inside Bramblefang as he saw her.

"Bramblepaw!" she meowed, limping over there.

"I need to talk to you out of camp," he meowed cooly.

She gaped at him.

"Sure!" she meowed.

They padded out of camp, side by side.

Chapter 14

"What do you want to ask me about, Bramblepaw?" asked Lightpaw.

Bramblepaw rolled his eyes, in his usual cold demeanor. "My name is Bramble*fang*, not Bramble*paw.*"

"When...?" asked Lightpaw.

"When you were in your coma?" Bramblepaw prompted.

Searching his cold, icy eyes, she guessed, "You're here to insult me?"

He shook his head.

Suddenly, she noticed his unsheathed claws.

"You're going to attack your own sister?" she jolted back, shocked.

"Of course! You got Dad killed. If that wasn't enough, you got Flameblaze killed. You're weaker now as well. Nothing! You...deserve...to...suffer!" pain suddenly flashed through Bramblefang's usually expressionless eyes.

"But...if Petalflower has to heal me...wouldn't it be wasting herbs?" she tried to reason.

"Those who need herbs are weak. The weak are holding the Clan back! That's why ThunderClan is getting attacked too much! It's too weak!" Bramblefang retorted.

"I...I'm sorry. You're right. Dad and Flameblaze didn't deserve to die. But the strong are supposed to protect the weak! Unlike *you!* What did you ever do to deserve love?" Lightpaw snapped.

Suddenly realizing what she meowed, she sighed, "I'm sorry I said that. But the weak do need protection."

"Sorry doesn't work anymore! You've done too much harm...and...and you dare insult ME! HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THAT YOU ARE INFERIOR?" Bramblefang snarled.

He pounced on her, ripping her already torn body, reopening wounds. Infected wounds. He sliced her cheek, her belly, her flank...her legs...her muzzle. But she didn't have the heart to attack back.

The pain seared through her aching body. She felt numb in most spots, and fiery pain in some.

"I'm sorry Bramblefang, but I'll have to tell Petalflower," she coughed up drops of blood.

"Oh yeah? Go ahead. I dare you. Just know...more cats will hate you. More cats will attack you...you little tattletale. Go on. Tell her, *Tattle*paw. That's great anyway. Just know, when those cats attack you...I'll be the one to kill you measly whiny kit. Looks like I still love you after all. Since I'm warning you." he sneered.

"You're still attacking me," she replied a whispery croak.

"You deserve it," he snorted, "You deserve to die painfully. Only after suffering, many, many moons."

A pain that dug deeper than the wounds embedded in her body slashed at her. Her own brother would gladly kill her. Hated her...attacked her. Laughed at her.

The sound of that insane laugh echoed in her ears as she was dragged into that portal of blackness...again, in such short time.

Chapter 15

"Lightpaw! Are you okay?" Bramblefang bounded in, fake worry glinting in his eyes.

"You know what you did," she hissed softly.

And as Bramblefang returned to his usual cruel demeanor, he smirked softly, "It's for the best. Watch out, *Tattle*paw."

"Petalflower!" Bramblefang looked up to her, "She's okay!"

"That's great news! What a good brother you are!" purred Petalflower.

*Good. No one suspects me of anything.*

"What a great young cat he is," Petalflower mused.

He beamed in the praise.

"Huh?" asked Lightpaw.

"When you were knocked out and pained by thorns falling off the sky," she explained. "It was a new place that twolegs built."

"He did n-!" she started to say.

He glared at her menacingly.

"He did! He's such a good brother!" she faked enthusiasm, by the strained tone.

Petalflower beamed. "It's good to see you two getting along so well! I don't want you to go out quite yet. Perhaps stay in camp."

*Bramblefang sighed, padding to his moss nest and drifting into sleep.*

Chapter 16

Moons flew by.

"Bramblefang, you guys, we need to talk," Lightfeather announced.

They nodded and padded out of camp.

"You know, this time I should kill you," Bramblefang mused, "they can help, but I make the killing move."

"Of course, superior," one agreed.

"Oh, I'm not dying today," Lightfeather meowed.

"Really? Who's dying than, inferior?" Bramblefang asked.

As they reached a deep gulley, she whirled around. "You guys are."

He rolled his eyes, "Think you can beat us?"

"Easy," she proclaimed.

"Get her!" he hissed.

She feinted, ripping apart the bodies until only Bramblefang remained.

"Sister, please," he pleaded, eyes shining with pleading.

"Now you're begging," her eyes gleamed, "I used to be weak. I used to hold back. Refused to attack. But now? I don't take 'please' and favors anymore."

"But we're family," he reasoned.

"Did that stop you from insulting me? Attacking me? For everyday of my life?" she asked, an icy tone in her voice.

"I'll do anything!" he begged, eyes scorching desperately.

"No," she hissed.

Lightfeather slashed his throat. He sank to the ground, eyes glazing as pain overtook him-and vanished.

Chapter 17

Bramblefang yawned. Suddenly, he whirled around.

"I'm in the Dark Forest!" he growled. "I deserve to be in StarClan!"

He angrily whirled around, seething. He couldn't change his fate. He had to accept it.

*I'll get you, Lightfeather. I'll get you one day.*

Eplilogue

Bramblefang felt a sharp weight on his back, and went limp, his spirit about to disappear.

Gasping in breath, he stared up at Lightfeather's gleaming, triumphant eyes. "You did did to yourself."

He felt his body fade into nothingness.

Littlenose's Shadow-Sneak Peek

"Oh no. Not another," exclaimed a tortoiseshell she-cat.

A white she-cat nodded, her eyes glowing. "A little nose will drop down into the shadows of darkness, after the pawsteps of their parents."

"And so we must tell Lightfeather, even though...you know."

End

"Oh no. Not another," exclaimed a tortoiseshell she-cat.

A white she-cat nodded, her eyes glowing. "A little nose will drop down into the shadows of darkness, after the pawsteps of their parents."

"And so we must tell Lightfeather, even though...you know."