Chapter 12 Truth "What do you mean I'm half clan?" Bramblestripe hissed at the elder. Longfur kept his eyes locked with Bramblestripe despite his fury. The golden and white-furred warrior sighed, "You're mother, Cloudheart. She cheated on Echowave with an Adderclan warrior and had three kits." He explained, "You were one of them." Bramblestripe growled at Longfur. He leaned in close to him and smirked, "If I was born with two other kits where are they?" he asked, thinking he outsmarted him. Longfur shook his head, "She gave them away and claimed a fox got to them." He explained, "Or was it a badger.." he thought. Bramblestripe scoffed, "Well what are there names since you know so much!" Longfur sighed at Bramblestripe's denial as Cloudwatcher stared in shock, her whole world crumbling down in front of her. "I don't know their warrior names but I do have an idea." Longfur meowed. Bramblestripe listened in, "Hawktalon and Owlfeather I remember when the kits were Owlkit and Hawkkit." He explained. Bramblestripe looked into the old cat's eyes but saw only pain and regret. He sighed and looked at Cloudwatcher, her pure white fur now seeming dull. Bramblestripe dipped her head to Longfur, "Thank you for telling us." He spoke softly and left the den. Cloudwatcher followed Bramblestripe, "I can't believe it." she said as they padded to the warriors' den to process the new information. The two cats padded into the den and sat next to each other. Mudfoot walked in, "Bramblestripe, you, me, and Frostpelt have been assigned to a patrol by Goldenstar lets go." he said as he turned around and padded to the camp entrance. Bramblestripe sighed and stood up, "We'll talk later alright?" Cloudwatcher said with a small smile. Bramblestripe smiled back and nodded. Cloudwatcher sighed. She now had so many new duties. Set patrols and guards to watch over Goldenstar. She groaned thinking about it but knew she had to for the clan. Cloudwatcher took a deep breath and padded over to the warrior's den. She peaked in and saw the warm faces of her clanmates, "Hello!" she purred, "Mudfoot can you go on a hunting patrol with Frostpelt and Lightningfoot?" she asked. Mudfoot nodded, "Sure!" he purred as Frostpelt rose to his paws and gave Mudfoot a short lick on the cheek. She glanced over to Acornbelly, "Acornbelly can you go on a border patrol with Yellowstream and me?" she asked. Acornbelly nodded with a slight blush, "Sure Cloudwatcher." he dipped his head and padded out the den to find Yellowstream. She nodded and padded to the camp entrance to wait for Acornbelly. He soon arrived with Yellowsteam still looking slightly nervous. Yellowstream purred, "Already taking your status as deputy seriously I see." he chuckled. Cloudwatcher smiled and nodded and stood up and exited the camp with the two toms, "I have to It's my duty now." she said proudly. Yellowstream laughed a bit, "I forgot you were a mouse brain." he joked. Cloudwatcher rolled her eyes, "Let's just get on with the patrol...unless you have bees in your brain!" she said, laughing. They soon arrived at the border they shared with Adderclan, "Acornbelly can you renew the scent markers?" she asked as she kept her ears out for trespassers. He nodded, padding off, and renewed the scent markers before returning and giving Cloudwatcher a curt nod. They kept quiet as they patrolled the border, "Yellowsteam? Do you still hate me for being so stupid...?" she asked. Yellowstream's gaze softened as he looked slightly confused, "What do you mean?" He asked. Cloudwatcher sighed, "Aspenshade, It was my fault he died." she said, her eyes clouding with grief. Yellowstream watched her for a few heartbeats and smiled, "Aspenshade chose to save you, you didn't know a monster was coming." he said, placing his tail tip on her shoulder. She sighed, "I'm sorry." Yellowstream chuckled, "Theres nothing to be sorry for what's done is done life goes on." he smiled. She let out a breath she had been holding in, "Thank you I-" she was cut off by rustling in the bushes.
Her pupils turned to slits as she got into a fighting stance. Acornbelly and Yellowstream were ready to fight as well. Something leaped out of the bushes onto Cloudwatcher, throwing her onto her back and letting out a loud yowl. She hissed and hooked her back claws onto the now identified rogues, belly fur, and threw them off, "This is Sunclan territory why are you here?" she hissed at them. The rogue was a pure white she-cat with weird red markings on her face. She snarled and turned to face a giant brown tom with the same red markings, "Red It's alright." he smiled softly. He padded over, having a noticeable limp, "Sorry about her I'm Bear this is my sister Red." he introduced himself. Cloudwatcher smiled, "I'm Cloudwatcher...your leg seems injured." she noticed. Bear smiled and glanced at his leg, "It's been hurting for quite a while now." he explained. She thought for a heartbeat, then smiled, "How about we take you back to our camp to help your leg." she offered. Acornbelly looked shocked, "Cloudwatcher! You can't trust rouges. What if they hurt us!" he said nervously. Yellowstream glared at them, "How can you be sure he's not faking it?" he growled. Cloudwatcher smiled, "Why would Red be so hostile if he was faking it?" she asked. Yellowstream sighed, "You're such a mouse brain." She chuckled, "C'mon let's get them back to camp. Acornbelly can you finish the patrol?" she turned to him. He nodded and trotted into the bushes. Bear dipped his head to them, "Thank you we are very grateful for your hospitality." he lifted his head and gave them a warm smile. She gave him a curt nod, "Follow us." she turned around and began to walk back to camp, "Yellowstream stay behind them please." he nodded and trotted to the back of the two rogues. Red hissed, "This is ridiculous we don't need help from them!" she glared at her brother. Bear sighed, "I could not turn down this offer Red you know my leg has been injured for a moon now." he said, smiling softly at his younger sister. She growled as they walked through the roofed trees, "Theres far too many tres how do you cats live here!?" she growled impatiently. Cloudwatcher chuckled, "Well we can jump very high." she explained, "About six tail-lengths I'd say." she glanced back, seeing Red look impressed for a heartbeat before returning to her annoyed expression. The four cats eventually arrived at the camp, "Right in here." Cloudwatcher smiled and walked inside the entrance with Red and Bear behind her. When the two rogues got inside, the whole camp was silent. Bramblestripe hissed, "You mouse-brain letting rogues into the camp!" he trotted angrily over to Cloudwatcher. She glared at him, "I haven't died yet so why are you suddenly the deputy?" she asked, annoyed. Bramblestripe sighed, "Well bring them to Goldenstar she'll know what to do with them." Cloudwatcher's pelt bristled, "He! He'll know." she corrected him and turned to Red and Bear, "Follow me." she said calmly and led them to the medicine den. Riverstream was sorting herbs and heard pawsteps, "Hello! What brings oh!" she exclaimed, shocked seeing the two cats. Cloudwatcher smiled, "He has an injured leg I thought we could help." she smiled softly. Riverstream sighed, "Your lucky it's the middle of green-leaf." she chuckled and walked over to Bear, "Go lay down in one of those nests." she instructed. Bear nodded and padded onto the nest, limping a lot. Riverstream turned to Cloudwatcher, "Go inform Goldenstar that I will be caring for him until he can fend for himself." she smiled softly and turned to Red, "I can see your concern in your eyes but your kin will be fine." she assured her. Red hissed, but her gaze softened seeing Bear lying in a nest. Cloudwatcher padded to the mouth of the den, "Follow me Red." she smiled and flinched, seeing Red shoot her an untrusting glare as she followed behind her until they reached Goldenstar's den. She padded inside and called out, "Goldenstar!" she saw Goldenstar in his nest, cleaning his fur a lot, "Goldenstar?" she asked nervously and approached him, holding her tail up to Red to have her stay there. Goldenstar was lying on his side as he kept grooming his fur, his pupils were slits, and his fear scent was strong. Cloudwatcher trotted to his side, "Goldenstar please what's wrong?" she asked nervously. Goldenstar glanced up, looking into her eyes, and whispered, "Cloudwatcher...my kits." he muttered and stood up. Cloudwatcher gasped, "Are they coming!?" she whispered back nervously. Goldenstar nodded, "Please, can you get Riverstream and meet me in the Hollow Tree?" he asked and left without waiting for an answer.
