Squirrelflight stretched her legs as she padded back into camp, ignoring the pang of fear she felt when she spotted a lean grey tom exiting Leafpool’s den. Crowfeather’s facial expressions were far to happy for their to be anything bad to be happening between him and his forbidden lover.
  “Beware of your feelings, Leafpool.” the ginger she-cat murmured to herself.
  “Did you say something?” Ashfur asked, glancing up from where he was dumping his fresh-kill.
  “No, of course not.” Squirrelflight felt her skin burn hot beneath her fur as she met Ashfur’s blue eyes.
  “Share with me?” the speckled grey warrior offered pulling a large vole from the pile.
  “Sorry, Ashfur. I need to speak with Leafpool.” She mewed truthfully. Ashfur was trying a bit too hard. The young ginger warrior turned to pad towards her sisters den.  But as she moved, she felt the burning gaze of two amber eyes watching her. With bristling fur, she turned to glare at Bramblestar, who sat at the entrance of his den. He nodded once when their eyes met, green and amber.
  Squirrelflight couldn’t stop a low growl from ripping from her throat, or her lips from curling up into a snarl. Bramablestar’s eyes stared sadly at her, but didn’t do or say anything as she slid into Leafpool’s den.
  “I hate him.” She growled quietly.
  “No you don’t.” Leafpool sighed, turning from where she was crouched, bent over some assortment of herbs.
  “You don’t even know who I’m talking about!” Squirrelflight accused.
  “Bramblestar.” Her sister replied, whiskers twitching with amusement. But her sisters eyes were troubled, as though her mind were elsewhere.
  “Is something wrong?” Squirrelflight questioned. Leafpool bit her lips, curling her tail over her white paws. “You can tell me, leaf pool. I’m your sister.”
  “I know. And I will.” Leafpool sighed, turning back to her herbs.
  “And?”
  “Tell me why you came to me first.” Leafpool demanded, not looking up from her work.
  “I don’t really know, Leafpool. But I can’t stand this!” Squirrelflight growled angrily. “Havent StarClan spoken to you? Does ThunderClan have any hope at all?”
  Leafpool didn’t answer for a moment, and when she did , her voice was soft. The tabby she-cat didn’t turn around to face her sister as she spoke.
  “I received a…….warning from StarClan.”  
  “Then why didn’t you tell me? A medicine cat is supposed to speak with their leader before reporting to any other cat!” A voice growled, and Squirrelflight felt her blood turn cold as she turned to glare at Bramblestar. Leafpool whirled, shock and anger glittering in her amber eyes.
  “Are you telling me how to do me job?” she growled.
  “No. I’m merely telling you what to do while you are doing your job? Which hasn’t been to often now, has it?” Leafpool pulled back abruptly, as though he had raked his claws across her nose. “Yes, that’s right. I’ve seen you and Crowfeather. And let me warn you, don’t keep doing that. We wouldn’t want a little accident to happen to him, now would we?” The threat was real, Squirrelflight could see it in his eyes.
  “How dare you?” The ginger queen whispered, turning to glare at Bramblestar. “Crowfeather traveled with us the to sun-drown place! He is our fried. Or was.”
  Bramblestar looked empty of words for a moment, then his eyes hardened and he snarled,
  “Watch who your speaking too, Squirrelflight. Remember that I’m leader now, and have to think of the best for my Clan. Leafpool and Crowfeather cannot be together. StarClan forbids it.” Squirrelflight and Bramblestar both glanced up as Leafpool laughed angrily.
  “You speak of StarClan as though you still follow them.” Her voice was cold, and shocked. Leafpool didn’t wait for a reply, only whisked out of the den. Bramblestar stared after her, too shocked to speak.
  “I agree with her.”  Squirrelflight whispered, then turned to try to pad past Bramblestar and outside. But the tom held a paw in front of her, stopping her.
  “Wait, I…..Squirreflight.” He started, staring down at his paws.
  “Spit it out.”
  “Will you come to my den please. I need to speak with you.” It wasn’t a question. It was an order.
  “As if I have any choice.” She growled, glaring at him. Squirrelflight bounded forward towards Bramblestar’s den.
  “What are you doing?” Ashfur called, glancing up from where he sat, sharing a vole with Whitewing.
  “Bramblestar needs to speak with me.” Ashfur’s blue eyes danced with anger, but he only blacked, bending down to continue his meal.
  Squirrelflight padded into Bramblestar’s de, sitting comfortably in a corner, staring icily as he followed in after her.
  “Tell me what it you want me for. Your wasting my time.” Squirrelflight mewed.
  “Squirrelflight! Will you please stop that!”  Bramblestar gave an exasperated sigh.
  “Stop what?” She retorted.
  “Acting like I’ve done something wrong.”
  “You have.”
  “What have I done wrong?”
  “Is that supposed to be a joke!” Cried Squirrelflight, leaping to her paws. “What have you done wrong, Bramblestar? Why don’t you and I consider this. First, you killed our Clan mates. Brackenfur. Dustpelt. Longtail. You forced us to ban together into something we’re not. Look at the monster you’ve become Bramblestar.” Squirrelflight continued. “I thought you would be a great leader. Guiding us into times of peace. But now. Look at what you’ve done.”
  Bramblestar shook his head sadly, gazing down at her.
  “You haven’t given this a chance yet! Your spending all your time glued to the past. The past is gone! Look to the future, Squirrelflight. LionClan is our future. We can lead it, together. You and I. Just give it a chance.”
Squirrelflight didn’t reply for a moment, listening to him. Her next words came out in a whisper.
  “A chance. That’s all I will give you Bramblestar. You have killed many, but StarClan forgives. Yes. I will give LionClan a chance.” Squirrelflight’s words surprised her, and she wondered why she had spoken them. She hated LionClan, the fact that their were only two Clans in the forest instead of four. Then she realized it.
  “Thank you.” he whispered. And then, he leaned forward to brush his muzzle along hers, twining his tail with hers.  What am I doing? She thought to herself, an unsteady purr forming in her throat as she pressed herself closer to him. The confusion she felt in her heart called her to two paths. Her love for Bramablestar, and her faith for ThunderClan.
  “I must go.” Bramblestar sighed after what seemed like hours of simply being in each others company. “but I will make it up to you, Squirrelflight! You will trust me again, I promise you that.” Squirrelflight blinked once, staring back at Bramblestar.
  “I’m giving you my trust Bramblestar. If you lose it, let me warn you, you won’t see it ever again.” she warned. “Leave. Do your leader duties. But you have promised me, and I won’t forget that.” she added, then leaned forward to touch her nose to his for a moment, then pulled away and slid out of the tabby’s den, her mind and heart reeling. But for now, she needed to find Leafpool, before she would do something she would regret.