Filling in the Role

Yowls filled the air, and Brambleclaw felt himself smashed against a nearby tree trunk. He was far from the fray. The cries were distant. He scrambled to his feet, and looked into the menacing amber eyes of his father. His father, whose legacy had haunted him his entire life, who had already died nine times, had returned.

“Hello, Brambleclaw. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” Tigerstar rumbled, stone calm as he padded closer to Brambleclaw.

Feeling small, Brambleclaw stepped back, only finding the hard bark of the tree behind him.

“My, my. Look at you. Once a pathetic little kit, now deputy of Thunderclan. Where did the time go?” His eyes flicked to his son’s nose and ears.

Brambleclaw, desperate, took advantage of the brief loss of concentration, and darted forward, leaping up and over Tigerstar, into a clearer area.

The former leader turned, glaring. “Look at you. You’re the spitting image of me. The same fire in your eyes, the same nicks in your ears, the same scar over your nose. Where did all your potential go? You could have been the most powerful cat in all the clans.”

Brambleclaw felt himself freeze. A painful memory surged over him, and he dug his claws into the ground. Tigerstar simply stood smugly.

“Oh, did you forget about your scars? Won’t you tell me about the battles in which you got them, son?”

A piercing shriek echoed through the cave, and rocks tumbled from the roof, following Feathertail. A large piece of rubble caught Brambleclaw right across his nose, and the pain almost blinded him, but he scrambled over to where Crowpaw and the rest of his friends gathered in the center of the cavern.

Realizing what had happened, grief stabbed his heart, and he forgot about the blood running down his muzzle. Crowpaw’s wailing was all he could hear.

The rocks were cleared. Squirrelpaw scampered up, staring at his face.

“Brambleclaw! You’re bleeding! Why didn’t you say anything?”

She nudged him into one of the scoop-nests and began licking his nose. After the dried blood had cleared, she gasped.

“Wow. that’s going to leave a scar.”

“What’s wrong? Is it too hard to think about all those battles? Weakling, are you? Too soft. Too nice. That was always the problem.”

“Hey, Brambleclaw! Do you have any patrols?” Brackenfur called out as Brambleclaw padded out of the warriors den.

“No, why?”

“Could you come and help me fix up the nursery? The walls are getting a bit thin.”

Brambleclaw purred as he walked over. “Of course! I could do with something to pass the time, and the kits are always important!”

Dragging in thorny vines from outside the camp, Brambleclaw chatted amiably with Brackenfur. As they wove the tendrils into the walls of the nursery, Berrykit burst out and leaped onto Brambleclaw’s back, along with Mousekit and Poppykit. He stumbled forward, headfirst into the brambles, and stifled a yowl.

Shaking off the kits, he jumped away from the nursery, pawing at his face.

Daisy came out of the nursery and quickly gathered up the kits, looking up apologetically to Brambleclaw.

“I’m so sorry, dear! I turn away for a heartbeat to have a bit of a wish and they do this! I should really watch them more closely.” She herded them back in, scolding them for disturbing Brambleclaw.

Brackenfur hurried over.

“Are you alright?”

Brambleclaw shrugged.

“Well, go and get yourself to the medicine den. Your ears are all bloody. You’ll probably have quite a few nicks in them. There’s a big one, too. You should really go talk to Leafpool.”

“Come, dear Brambleclaw. Won’t you join me? You could still be leader..”

Brambleclaw shook himself out of his reverie.

“No! I’m the deputy. I will wait patiently until Firestar passes.”

Tigerstar’s eyes glinted.

“Firestar is going to die soon. Either way, wouldn’t you rather be leader of all the clans?”

“No.”

“Come on! What has Firestar ever done for you? All he’s done is hinder your progress. He’s always been convinced that you’re like me! Ever since you were a kit! It’s time for all your anger towards him be let out! Show him who you truly are!”

Brambleclaw away.

“You know it’s still there. Just join me! I can show you true power!”

Brambleclaw hissed.

“That’s what you said so long ago, and you know what happened. I killed Hawkfrost and Firestar died! I don’t want that kind of thing to happen again. Get lost!”

Tigerstar narrowed his eyes.

“Very well, Bramblekit. Perhaps you’ll see the truth eventually.”

He stalked away, towards the battle. Brambleclaw slumped down onto the grass.

Cold, fresh water flowed down his throat. He closed his eyes, and opened them to find the warm green gaze of Firestar looking down at him.

“Firestar! I was just about to go looking for you!”

“No need, Bramblestar. So. What do you need?” The former leader sat back on his haunches.

Bramblestar looked down. Firestar looked so at peace. Could he really burden him with his troubles?

Firestar watched his apprentice from so many moons ago. “Tell me what bothers you. There is no shame in admitting your weaknesses.”

“I’m afraid that I’m going to end up like Tigerstar. Look; I even have the same scars as him! I’m going to be a bad leader. Berrynose is already complaining. Maybe I shouldn’t be leader. I can step down, can’t I?”

Firestar shot up and boxed Brambleclaw’s ears and muzzle.

“Your ears, your nose. Those scars were received when you helped others. Tigerstar got his in battle. You and your father are so unlike. You deserve to be leader. You are more than capable, Brambleclaw. I wouldn’t have walked into the last battle with you as my deputy if I wasn’t confident that you could succeed me well. Be confident in your potential. Don’t let the past haunt you.

“Ever since you were a kit, you had that fire in your eyes, and I was afraid, but I found that you were very different. You wanted to help others. Tigerstar simply wanted power. You wanted the power to help. You will help. You will be a great leader for ThunderClan.”

Brambleclaw opened his mouth to say something, but he felt himself fading. Morning already?

He closed his eyes, and as he slipped away, he could still feel Firestar’s comforting presence. Everything would be alright.