Chapt 10

Lionblaze padded through the gorse tunnel, tired after a long hunting patrol. He held a squirrel and a chaffinch in his mouth. He deposited his catch in the fresh kill  pile and took a vole for himself. He wasn't that hungry, but he had to keep his strength up for his clan. He saw Cinderheart padding up to him with a mouse in her jaws.
"Do you want to share?" She asked while sitting next to him.
"No thanks. I just ate. Has Bramblestar come back from the Moon Pool yet?" Lionblaze wanted to know if they had seen any Windclan cats on patrol.
"No, not yet. They should be back any time now. I think I hear a border patrol coming through the gorse tunnel," She got up after she added,"I want to see what they have to report. I'll be right back."
It was not a border patrol. The 4 cats that padded into the clearing were half starved and shaken. Lionblaze bolted upright and padded after Cinderheart.
"Reedwhisker, what are you doing here? Is your clan in trouble." Cinderheart tilted her head quizzically.
"I went to the moonpool the night of the battle when we couldn't find Mistystar. I went to get my nine lives, but they told me to come here with my clan, and stay together to end the war." He looked doubtful that Thunderclan  would accept them.
"This is not for me to decide, our leader is coming back from the moonpool as we speak." Cinderheart explained.
"Firestar is a fair leader, he will do what he thinks is right." One of the Riverclan cats spoke this time. Lionblaze didn't reconize the sleek tabby tom. His muzzle was twinged with gray and Lionblaze guessed he was an elder.
"Firestar is no longer our leader. He died saving me from Tigerstar. Bramblestar is our leader." Cinderheart mewed.
Lionblaze shuddered as he remembered Tigerstar thrashing Cinderheart side to side during the battle.
"All the clans will grieve for him, he saved all the clans from Tigerstar's treachery, twice now." Reedwhisker spoke again,"Bramblestar will make a fine leader. He has more loyalty to his clan and will defend it with tooth and claw. Who is your deputy?"
"I am. Bramblestar appointed me when he came back after getting his nine lives." Cinderheart murmured. As she spoke, 3 more cats entered the clearing.