Bramblestar's Storm/Chapter 18

"Seedpaw is safe in StarClan. And you need to learn that you cannot guard every one of your Clanmates all the time. As their leader, they'll look to you to make the big decisions, and to keep them safe from outside enemies, but they have to make their own choices as well. I promise you, you're doing a good job. [...] This is not my Clan anymore. You are ThunderClan's leader now. Trust the cats who gave you your nine lives. They all knew you would do well—including me."

— Firestar to Bramblestar about leadership in Bramblestar's Storm, page 266

Bramblestar's Storm
Chapter number:	18 (of 35)
Page numbers:	265-279
Point of View:	Bramblestar
Chronology

Below contains in-depth information for chapter eighteen of Bramblestar's Storm. If you are looking for a shorter summary of the entire book, please check the main article.

Chapter Number: 18 (of 35)

Page Numbers: 265-279

Chapter description

In a dream, Bramblestar urgently dives into the lake when he sees blood swirling in the water, thinking that it is from an injured cat. Firestar drags him out and assures the tom that there is no cat in the lake. Bramblestar tells his predecessor that he has tried his best, but the Clan still lost Seedpaw. The ginger tom reassures him that he is doing fine, explaining that he cannot protect every cat all the time, as they must still make their own choices. Bramblestar then asks Firestar what he would have done regarding the kittypets. However, the former leader replies that Bramblestar already knows the answer and that ThunderClan is Bramblestar's Clan now. As the StarClan cat fades, he delivers the prophecy that "when water meets blood, blood will rise." When Bramblestar inquires about its meaning, Firestar only says to look at the floodwater. The ThunderClan cat awakes, reentering the physical world as he contemplates Firestar's words.

The next morning, Bramblestar gathers Squirrelflight and the two medicine cats to tell them about Firestar's prophecy. Leafpool is happy that Firestar is watching over them, while the other three cats are frustrated that the instructions were not clearer. She advises Bramblestar to keep the prophecy in mind while listening to his instincts, and the two medicine cats leave. Jessy eagerly asks him what they will do today, and he suggests that the kittypets learn to hunt. However, Minty is doubtful and frets over how worried her housefolk must be and whether or not they will be able to find her. Millie and Frankie comfort her, and Bramblestar feels sympathy for the kittypets. He invites Dovewing to come, and she is surprised, as she feels that everyone else is more skilled at hunting now that she has lost her powers. However, the leader replies that this only makes her a better teacher to those without experience. The group departs into the forest, and Dovewing demonstrates the hunter's crouch and a pounce.

Following Dovewing's demonstration, the three kittypets crouch, but Jessy proposes to show Dovewing and Bramblestar what they can already do first. Frankie goes first; he scents a squirrel but loudly crashes through the undergrowth as he chases after it. To his disappointment, the squirrel escapes, and Dovewing advises to work on being quieter. Minty timidly listens for prey, and she softly stalks forward once she thinks she has found something. However, once Minty pounces, she finds that she mistook a log for a rat. Lastly, Jessy stalks through the forest while looking at the trees. To Bramblestar's surprise, she leaps up a tree trunk and chases a thrush through the branches. Jessy successfully kills it, impressing the others. Bramblestar admits that he should not have dismissed her skills, since it is rare for cats to be able to climb trees like her. Dovewing agrees with him, and Jessy light-heartedly suggests that she should give lessons.

The five cats walk towards the ShadowClan border to find more prey. Dovewing points out a shrew to Frankie, and although he is quieter, the shrew still escapes. However, it runs to Dovewing, who catches it. Bramblestar asks Minty if she can see or hear anything, but she feels confused and lost. The leader grows frustrated, but Dovewing patiently asks Minty to identify the sounds around her. He asks Jessy where she learned to climb, and the brown she-cat replies that her mother taught her, and that she has always wanted to live among trees. Bramblestar points out the woods closer to the shore, but he is worried that they might not survive the flood. A whiff of ShadowClan scent alerts them, and Bramblestar realizes with surprise that it is Tawnypelt.

Characters

Major

• Bramblestar

Minor

• Firestar (Vision or Dream)
• Graystripe
• Squirrelflight
• Lionblaze
• Leafpool
• Jayfeather
• Jessy
• Frankie
• Minty
• Millie
• Dovewing
• Tawnypelt

Mentioned

• Seedpaw
• Benny
• Ivypool
• Brightheart
• Birchfall
• Jessy's mother

Important events

• Firestar delivers a prophecy stating that "when water meets blood, blood will rise".