Bramblestar gazed around the clearing in the thunderclan camp. It had been nearly two moons since he had become leader of thunderclan but it still didnt seem real. He would walk into his den and expect to see firestar waiting on him, but that would never happen again. Firestar was dead. He let his mind drift back to the last time he had ever spoken to firestar.

FLASHBACK

Brambleclaw padded into his leaders den squirrelflight,sandstorm,and jayfeather were all crowded arounf firestar. Brambleclaw looked down at his leader sadly he was on his last life and dying weakened by an earlyer case of greencough, every cat knew firestar was on his way to join starclan. "Brambleclaw?" firestar coughed "Yes firestar im here" Brambleclaw called from the enterence to the den. "Leave me" he meowed to the other cats in the den "i wish to speak with brambleclaw alone." The other cats finally cleared out of the den leaving brambleclaw alone with firestar. "Brambleclaw my apprentice, my warrior,my deputy, and now a worthy leader a thunderclan" firestar gasped. "No!" brambleclaw breathed "Yes! brambleclaw im so proud of you and you will make a great leader for thunderclan!" coughed firestar brambleclaw could see the effort it was taking just for firestar to speak. "Firestar please rest and get well the clan needs you!" brambleclaw begged " To late.. you will make a great leader brambleclaw" firestar gasped then the great leader firestar's eyes closed and his beathing slowed and slowed till it cam to a final stop. "Firestar! No!!" brambleclaw cried as he pushed his nose deep into his beloved leader's fur

BACK IN THE CLEARING

It was nearly dawn so bramblestar went to fetch foxfur, Thornclaw, and rosepaw for the dawn patrol. Bramblestar padded over to the warriors den and called for thornclaw and foxfur then went to the thorn tunnel to wait while thornclaw fetched his apprentice rosepaw awake.

All was peaceful by the boarders as bramblestar and the patrol padded back into camp he dismissed Thornclaw and the rest of the patrol and then headed for the fresh kill pile. He chose a squirrel for himself and a nice plump mouse for squirrelflight and then headed across the clearing to the nursery. Bramblestar pushed his way though the thick brambles and into the nursery, the warm milky scents flowing over him. He spotted ferncloud with three tiny kits huddled close to her belly and layed his prey down for a quick word with ferncloud and then padded over to squirrelflight. She was curled up in a tight ball her bulging belly sticking stright up. As he entered she drowsilly raised her head " i cant wait till these kits are born i feel so useless in here not being able to do anything for the clan" she meowed. Bramblestar droped the prey at her paws and let out a mrrow of laughter "you are doing pleaty love, you are taking care of our kits" bramblestar meowed lovingly as he touched his nose to hers. Then they settled down to eat.