Chapter Text
Bramblestar moved through the camp to the Highledge, his tail held high. He had no meetings in mind, simply wanting to bask in his power. He had thought that the camp was in better shape, with him in charge and all. Sitting on the Highledge, Bramblestar leisurely licked his paws, amber eyes narrowed as he observed his Clanmates with disdain.
Squirrelflight, his deputy, was currently organizing a patrol, her voice ringing loud and clear for all surrounding cats to hear.
“Birchfall! Take Fernsong and Molewhisker to the Ancient Oak. According to Jayfeather, the foxes that have been passing through the territories must have left by now.”
“ Left is an underestimate.” Jayfeather regarded coldly, his blind blue eyes staring straight at Squirrelflight as though he could really see her. “The scent was faint, but they can still be around.”
Alderheart flicked an ear, looking at his old mentor in front of the medicine den before going inside, a bundle of herbs in his mouth.
Squirrelflight rolled her eyes, the bright green almost hypnotic to Bramblestar as she corrected herself. “Fine. There have been foxes passing through the territories that we think may have left.” She hesitated as she looked at the patrol of cats she chose.
“Take Twigbranch with you.” Bramblestar’s deep meow chillingly hung in the air before Squirrelflight could even attempt to speak. It wasn’t a question, it was a demand. Bramblestar couldn’t help but smile as he saw the weight of what he said settle over the camp, each cat desperate to not look directly at him and draw his attention.
Ever since Bramblestar’s revival, things have changed. Bramblestar was no longer calm and caring but strict and imposing. It’s better, he thinks, that cats fear him. A good leader should expect their cats to listen without question, which is why their hesitance irritated him so.
Pinning his ears back, Bramblestar snapped, “Did none of you mouse-brains hear me? Twigbranch, come here now! ”
Twigbranch could barely hide her trembles as she stood up from where she was among her fellow warriors.
Ignoring her, Bramblestar turned to see Squirrelflight’s reaction.
The she-cat’s fur was bristled, her tail swishing back and forth, glaring up at Bramblestar with a faint snarl.
Bramblestar smiled at her response, feeling unjustly proud of himself.
“I said come here Twigbranch.” Bramblestar growled as he saw her walk towards the patrol. In a flash, she was below the Highledge, looking up with terrified eyes.
Bramblestar didn’t bother going down, satisfying himself with her terror at being named by simply laying down.
“You are going to go on Birchfall’s patrol.” He meowed quietly, knowing she heard.
Her wide eyes made him feel giddy to speak his next command.
“You will catch five juicy pieces of prey– alone – without help from your patrol…”
“That is completely unreasonable!” Thornclaw snapped, getting up and making a move to the Highledge before Blossomfall got in his way.
Bramblestar couldn’t hear what Blossomfall spoke, but he was annoyed all the same.
“If you have a problem, Thornclaw.” Bramblestar stood, towering over his Clanmates as he made his slow descent downwards.
“Then why don’t we discuss it like warriors?” He hissed, claws unsheathed.
Despite being nearly equally good at fighting, Thornclaw seemed hesitant to fight the Clan leader.
Which is what reminded Bramblestar of another tactic he could use.
“Do you have no respect?” He snapped. “No moral code? Because I know of a code. But surprisingly, it seems to me the rest of you don’t.”
Bramblestar’s eyes briefly flickered to Squirrelflight before settling on Thornclaw.
“The Warrior Code states that the word of the Clan leader must be obeyed.” Bramblestar muttered quietly in Thornclaw’s ear.
Seeing the senior warrior’s claws extend felt satisfying, even more so when he knew Thornclaw could do nothing about it.
“StarClan has been silent for moons.” Thornclaw whispered, gazing down at his paws.
“Does that give you the ability to make choices for the Clan?” Bramblestar continued, circling him. He could feel every eye watching their exchange, feeling stronger than he ever has before. “To become nothing more than rogues and loners, desperately clinging to each other for survival… just to claw one another and leave them for dead the moment they lack use, every cat out for themselves and themselves alone.”
“No, no of course not, but…” Thornclaw looked at him, pale blue eyes meeting amber, like droplets of water vanishing in a cold inferno.
“I think you should leave.” Bramblestar meowed. “And don’t come back until you have one piece of prey for every cat in the Clan.” He continued, nervous about the way the camp was eyeing him.
Thankfully, Thornclaw did nothing more than nod his head, making his way out of the camp.
“Can I go too?”
Bramblestar nearly jumped as he heard the unexpected voice, turning to Blossomfall who regarded him with wary eyes. “With Thornclaw. To help him…” Instantly her words died on her tongue, nervous to upset the leader of ThunderClan.
“Of course.” Bramblestar purred. “Feel free to help him. As long as he learns his lesson.”
Grateful, Blossomfall nodded and ran out of camp.
“As I was saying…” Bramblestar turned back to Twigbranch.
“I-I will.” She gulped, looking at Lilyheart for comfort.
Satisfied, Bramblestar nodded and went to the leader’s den, noting how aggressive Squirrelflight seemed.
He didn’t have to wait long until Squirrelflight joined him, presumably after sending the patrol out.
“What are you thinking, arguing with warriors like that? And those punishments! What did Twigbranch even do? Why did you even have to get involved? I was just about to ask Ivypool to join them in case they do happen to come across any foxes. Not Twigbranch!”
Bramblestar was calm as he looked at his mate, his deputy, the love of his life yell at him.
“Thornclaw made a good point.” Squirrelflight continued, not at all scared to be confronting the Clan leader about his decisions.
“That is unreasonable. Everything you do now is!”
“Are you done, Squirrelflight?” Bramblestar purred, knowing how much it annoyed her.
“No, I’m not done! Ever since you came back you’ve… changed .”
Bramblestar tensed. He didn’t want her to know that he changed. He didn’t want her to know at all. Giving her a nervous laugh that he hoped sounded confident and not at all panicked, he casually wrapped his tail around himself, covering his paws as he replied. “I just… StarClan had told me how to lead the Clan better. When I died.” Bramblestar tried to assure her.
“StarClan spoke to you?” Squirrelflight gasped, her stance completely changed.
“It is no cat’s business but my own,” Bramblestar clarified, his head turned to stare at a very interesting mouse some cat must have left for him instead of Squirrelflight’s hopeful eyes.
Bristlefrost . Bramblestar thought, knowing that out of all of his Clanmates, she was the one who trusted him the most. She was scared of him, yes, but was the only cat willing to follow the Code unlike her fox-hearted Clanmates… and Squirrelflight. Though, the difference between Squirrelflight and fox-hearts grew more and more difficult to find each moon.
“Bramblestar, I…” Squirrelflight flinched at his harsh look, her meow trembling. “I don’t know what to do. About StarClan. Everything.” Squirrelflight’s voice was filled with despair, her body crumbling to the ground, curling up.
Instantly, all of Bramblestar’s anger vanished and he purred as he wrapped himself around her.
“Trust me,” He muttered. “I know what’s best for the Clan.”
Squirrelflight looked at him, her eyes so trusting, so hopeful.
Bramblestar didn’t have the heart to crush her yet. Gently nuzzling her like the wonderful mate he is, he’s content.
Who cares if he decides to make up prophecies or cause disorder and chaos within the Clans?
He’ll never forget what she’s done, even if the flames in his heart are temporarily subdued.
Trying to not accidentally claw her, Bramblestar forced his claws to retract, knowing that his time would come soon.
It has been moons since he first came back, and moons yet for his plan to succeed and for Squirrelflight to know true pain, but for now… he’ll just enjoy being leader of ThunderClan and watch as every cat turns a blind eye to who he really is.
For the time it’ll take for all of their suffering to be prolonged, it’ll be worth it to see their faces.
Grabbing the white mouse with a paw, Bramblestar purred as he shared the meal with his mate, looking out of the den to look up at the sky, where stars have yet to be visible.
Soon. Bramblestar thought, the clouds only enhancing his anger. Soon, every cat will pay.