I have a Thief in ThunderClan!

So Brightheart tells Cloudtail she still wants to be able to contribute even if she's pregnant. Rainpaw says that he doesn't really know much about Brightheart's injuries or being pregnant, but he says she's taught him a lot and so has Cloudtail, and he can try again to catch prey to distract her. Cloudtail agrees and Rainpaw catches a plump squirrel. When they head back to camp with their haul, Brightheart goes to Cinderpelt (she's explicitly mentioned as her sister, which I think is a first?) and Cinderpelt says it's normal to be out of breath and clumsy when heavily pregnant like she is. Brightheart then mentions that she's having trouble sleeping and it's disturbing the other warriors, who are obviously getting annoyed with her. Cinderpelt says it's about time she moved to the nursery with Ferncloud anyways, and Cinderpelt adds that Frostfur told her that she the best sleep she had ever gotten was in the nursery while pregnant, but Brightheart is skeptical and says that Frostfur also said that the worst sleep she ever got was when she, Cinderpelt, Brackenfur, and Thornclaw were born.

Cinderpelt smiles and says it's why she should move in now and get the rest she needs, but Brightheart says she doesn't like the idea of sleeping without Cloudtail or not being with the other warriors, but she concedes Cinderpelt knows best.

She moves in later that night and Cloudtail is completely understanding, mentioning that he'll just miss her more. He adds that he's just across the clearing if she needs him. Brightheart, later that night, tosses and turns and is unable to sleep. She looks at Ferncloud sleeping with Spiderkit and Shrewkit, and wonders how Ferncloud manages it when Brightheart's kits aren't even born. She gets up, figuring maybe her kits are hungry and won't let her sleep because of it, and notes Longtail on the night watch. As she gets to the fresh-kill pile, she realizes it's empty, but is confused since she herself made note of all the prey earlier while coming back with Rainpaw. Brightheart goes up to Longtail and demands to know what happened. Longtail insists there's prey, but when he sees the empty pile, he says that clearly some cat must have gotten it while he was making his rounds earlier. Brightheart hisses that she saw him and Oakfur talking about prey and borders earlier, and that Brambleclaw was guarding the camp at that point as well. Longtail asks what she's implying. Brightheart says he's giving away prey to ShadowClan and dragged Brambleclaw into it.

Longtail is flabbergasted and angrily says he was close to Tigerstar once, but he was wrong to even look up to him and is loyal to ThunderClan. Brightheart says that just because Tigerstar joined ShadowClan doesn't mean Brambleclaw owes them anything. Longtail, surprised, says that Oakfur is Tawnypaw's mentor and if she seriously expects Brambleclaw or Tawnypaw to suddenly stop caring about the other, not to mention there being no rule against having other friends in different Clans. He then says that he's worked to prove his loyalty and he would never, under any circumstance, give away ThunderClan prey.

Brightheart internally thinks that she wants to trust him, as he does bring up some good points, but it's still strange that all of the prey went missing and he didn't notice. She asks if it's not him, then who. Longtail mutters he doesn't know, but it wasn't him, and he swears on StarClan that he never would do something like that. Brightheart elects to bring it up with Firestar in the morning.

Aw, Brightheart and Cinderpelt sister moment. So cute.

Firestar returns two days later, looking exhausted. Graystripe tells him he needs to rest, but Firestar says he needs to visit Longtail. Brightheart and Cloudtail begin trying to talk to Firestar, but Sandstorm intercepts them and says no, he's too tired to deal with whatever they're concerned about right now and to talk to him in the morning. She points out Graystripe can help them, since that's Graystripe's job as their deputy. Cloudtail glowers that Graystripe will just talk to Firestar about it anyways and it's just adding an extra step. Brightheart awkwardly tries to explain they're not trying to argue with her, but wonders why Firestar immediately wanted to talk to Longtail after returning, thinking perhaps Firestar figured something out.

The next morning, Brightheart notices more marks in the fresh kill pile, but before she can inspect anything Spiderkit and Shrewkit rush past her yowling "no naps!". Ferncloud is chasing them and asks Brightheart for some help. Brightheart goes after Spiderkit and pins him to the ground, she begins to tell him he's taking a nap, but cuts herself off seeing Firestar organize a hunting patrol consisting of himself, Ashfur, Cloudtail, Brackenfur, and Thornclaw. Later on in the day, the patrol returns aside from Firestar. Cats ask what happened to him, and Brackenfur and Ashfur mention a kittypet came to him and asks for some help, so Firestar went with him. The Clan begins speculating who the kittypet is, but Sandstorm comes in and demands them to be quiet, since Firestar will explain when he's back. Later that night, Brightheart thinks that it's another night with no Firestar, and no answers on the missing prey. Cloudtail is sleeping in the nursery tonight, and begins confiding in Brightheart that Ashfur and Brambleclaw didn't give much information on who the kittypet was, but he's noticed how weird Firestar is acting and worries that Firestar is tempted back into the kittypet life like he was.

Cloudtail says he thinks Firestar might be finished with ThunderClan. Brightheart says she loves him but he's bee-brained for thinking that and Firestar is a loyal and strong leader, and thinking he'd simply run away is stupid. Cloudtail says Graystripe isn't ready to be a leader since he left RiverClan not long ago, and he's worried for their future kits. Brightheart lessens, and sees he's simply confiding his worries rather than accusing. She says she'll keep him safe, and he pokes fun at her pregnancy.

The next morning, Brightheart comments on being out of breath again, and begins to wonder who's claws could leave marks like in the pile in the dirt. She sees Graystripe emerge from the warrior's den, noting him to be a big cat with impressive claws, but it would be very hard for a deputy to pull off stealing prey. Graystripe bellows for Ashfur, Thornclaw, and Willowpelt for the dawn patrol, and says they've slept enough. He then turns to Thornclaw and says that for now, he's taking up Sootpaw's training with Longtail injured. Graystripe then asks Willowpelt (she seems to be the patrol leader) to keep an eye out for Firestar. He's likely on his way back, but Graystripe's worried. The three warriors groggily begin leaving the camp, but Brightheart stops them and asks if they can do her a favour. Thornclaw asks what she needs, and Brightheart asks them to dig up some burdock root, adding it's for her pregnancy and her claws aren't long enough.

Willowpelt glares that her claws aren't long enough either, obviously annoyed with Brightheart. Brightheart says that's fine and it makes sense. Ashfur, Thornclaw, and Sootpaw begin digging up a burdock plant, and Ashfur sarcastically asks her "And this does makes sense?". Thornclaw says mothers-to-be are strange. Graystripe then spots them and asks what they're doing since he assigned them to be on the dawn aptrol. Sootpaw begins explaining, but Thornclaw tells him to hush and they follow the still annoyed Willowpelt out of camp. Brightheart admits Graystripe cut her experient short, but it might have given her what she needed to know. She notes that the claw marks of all three toms don't match up with the marks in the pile, so it's not them. She suspects Willowpelt and wonders if Willowpelt caught on to her ploy. She then brings the burdock root to Cinderpelt, who thanks her but seems surprised Brightheart is bringing her gifts. Brightheart then sees Longtail, the leaves out of his eyes now, and says he's being useful. Longtail's eyes are heavily scarred and the eyes themselves are gone, but he says she may have had a point in being useful. Brightheart begins to feel sick, but Cinderpelt says it's just her kits moving. Brightheart begins to feel overjoyed while Cinderpelt says it's a good sign, but then a yowl comes from outside.

The sister rush outside and see Firestar carrying Willowpelt's limp body with Ashfur, Thornclaw escorting the traumatized Sootpaw. Rainpaw and Sorrelpaw (she's not a tortie here?) see the commotion and look on with horror at their mother's body. They begin crying over her corpse as Firestar calls a meeting and explains the incident with the badger. He mentions Cloudtail and his patrol and chasing it off their territory, making Brightheart panic and worry for him. Brightheart then begins to feel useless again, watching Willowpelt's kits cry over her loss, Longtail's blindness, and the missing prey. She wants to contribute but doesn't know how. Brightheart then approaches the apprentices and offers to bring them to the nursery and something to eat. Rainpaw wails they're alone now, but Brightheart says they still have the Clan. Rainpaw asks what will happen if the badger comes to ThunderClan too. Bringing them to the nursery, Ferncloud makes room for them alongside Shrewkit and Spiderkit as Brightheart promises to protect them.

Later that night, Cloudtail and his patrol return while they're holding the vigil for Willowpelt. Brightheart is grateful that he's safe, and Cloudtail says with any luck, the badger won't return. Brightheart admits she's worried about bringing kits into a world like this and Cloudtail comforts her. Firestar, Graystripe, Sandstorm, and Brackenfur bring Willowpelt's body out for burial (though the internal dialogue for Brightheart says the elders are doing it...so ?) she thinks that she should be living her life to the fullest and life lately feels so fleeting. Willowpelt was alive one day, then dead the next. Longtail could see, but then he couldn't. She thinks back to the dogs again, and Graystripe asks if she and Ferncloud can help look after Willowpelt's kits and they're going to need a break given all that's happened.

Brightheart, Ferncloud, Ferncloud's kits, and Willowpelt's kits are out, and Rainpaw confides in Brightheart that he's lost both his parents and while he's going to be a warrior soon, he doesn't feel he can do it without them. Brightheart compares the Clan dynamics to that of a beehive, and Rainpaw says he ate a bee once but it stung him and he got made fun of. He says that Willowpelt taught him that if bees get mad, they can sting him all at once. Brightheart agrees and says one bee may not be able to do much, but a lot of them can. She says it's like a Clan, one cat can't do it all, and they need to rely on everyone else. Rainpaw seems to understand and says that they're like the ThunderClan hive. Brightheart says he's right and even though his main takeaway seems to be "don't eat bees", he'll learn in time.

Holy heck poor Longtail

Brightheart thinks about how nice it is after finally getting some sleep. She and Cloudtail notice that the prey pile is full, and Cloudtail says it's likely because whoever steals it does it at night. Cloudtail suggests someone disguising their scent to steal their prey, but Brightheart is skeptical. Firestar calls a clan meeting and explains that he and Sandstorm have been called by StarClan to go on a journey. Brightheart is worried and remarks to Cloudtail that they've missed their chance to find more evidence for Firestar. Cloudtail says they can tell Graystripe, but Brightheart asks what they can even tell him when Firestar wanted proof and not wild accusations. Firestar (the meeting is over at this point) and asks Brightheart how she's doing. She replies fine, and Firestar says that when he comes back, he's eager to meet their kits as they will be his family too. Brightheart feels compelled to tell him what she feels, but holds back and instead wishes him the best.

As Firestar and Sandstorm leave, Brightheart whispers to Cloudtail that she wishes they didn't need to. Cloudtail says it's all stupid and silly that they're listening to StarClan, and in his opinion it's likely they're just becoming kittypets. Brightheart insists otherwise, but Cloudtail doesn't agree. Mousefur and Thornclaw (it looks like them anyways) object and say a leader shouldn't be abandoning their Clan. Brightheart sticks up for Firestar and says she trusts him and they need to have faith in him as their leader. Sandstorm and Firestar talk briefly, but then say goodbye and head off. Sootpaw wishes him well and they'll be waiting for him, and Brightheart notes that the trust in Sootpaw's voice seems to sway the opinions of mostly everyone.

Later that night, as she sleeps, Brightheart has nightmares about the dog pack and watching all her Clanmates die. She "wakes" in the dream, and finds herself in a puddle of blood that trails to Swiftpaw's corpse. She wakes up after Ferncloud asks if she's okay, but she goes back to sleep and hopes to avoid another traumatic dream. In the morning, she gets up to get some food, but sees the prey missing. She goes to get Cloudtail, who is asleep, and they notice that the marks in the dirt are angular, while cat claws are vertical. As they inspect, they're caught by Graystripe, who notices the missing prey once more and asks what they know about it and admits he's a bit suspicious since they were the first up. Brightheart says it's happened six or eight times, and Graystripe is annoyed it wasn't brought up to him. Cloudtail says they told Firestar, but he was busy. Graystripe says they should have told him and how they could have possibly failed to mention this to anyone else. He says it seems like Brightheart advocates for trust, but doesn't trust anyone anyways. She can't do everything alone and she needs to ask for help because this affects all of them. Brightheart says he's right, and apologizes. Cloudtail looks like he's about to fall asleep until Brightheart nudges him, and he says he's sorry too.

Graystripe says he could use their help in figuring it out. Brightheart suggests a trap, and Graystripe agrees. Despite being called out by the deputy, Brightheart gets excited as they plan and how everyone is working together. The plan formulated is to lay out a bunch of prey in their pile, but at night everyone will keep watch and see what happens. Brackenfur asks Brightheart if she thinks it's a good idea to hide in a tree, and she says it is. Ashfur suggests he and Thornclaw could keep watch at the ravine, which Brightheart is delighted at. Cinderpelt says she and Longtail will keep watch of Spiderkit and Shrewkit. Longtail mutters he may not be able to see, but he can still hear and promises to protect the kits if anything goes wrong. Brightheart, happy that Longtail seems to be doing better, says it's the best idea she's heard all night.

Brightheart and Cloudtail then go hide under a bush with Rainpaw. But as the night goes on, nothing happens, and Brightheart admits to Rainpaw, who is nervous, that she's still a bit scared of what happened to her and how it affects her now, such as worrying that dogs will come and kill everyone in the camp, but she does feel safer with her Clanmates. Rainpaw admits he's nervous about the badger coming into their camp, but Brightheart assures him they'll work together and they're safe together.

The night drags on, and all three of them are falling asleep. Brightheart suggests trying again tomorrow. Rainpaw says if they're giving up, then he's going to get some prey. He goes out into the camp, but Brightheart ushers for him to come back. As he walks towards the prey, an owl swoops down and grabs him. Rainpaw screams for help, and Brightheart leaps and grabs the owl, struggling to stay on it but manages to slice open it's chest. The owl drops Rainpaw and shakes off Brightheart, flying into the night. Graystripe rushes to Rainpaw while Cloudtail frets over Brightheart. After assuring him she's fine, Cloudtail admits he's surprised she could do that with her pregnancy. Cinderpelt comes out and says there's no major injuries aside from minor scratches on Rainpaw. Brightheart begins to feel lightheaded, but Cinderpelt says it's just all the movement and rush of fighting. Cloudtail calls Brightheart a hero, but she thinks she just saved a Clanmate and not a hero at all.

Graystripe thanks both of them, and he hopes the owl has learned it's lesson, but he asks Dustpelt, Brackenfur, and Thornclaw to begin moving the prey pile under some bushes so it's less obvious and out of sight from predators. Cloudtail says again that Brightheart is a hero, but adds quietly that he wishes she would be more careful until their kits are born. Brightheart says she'll think about it.

The next morning, Brightheart thinks Firestar would be proud of them. She and Cloudtail are eating some a vole that Rainpaw gave them and Cloudtail compliments how well Rainpaw's training is coming along, calling him a natural hunter. Brightheart says it's a good thing he wasn't eaten by an owl then. Cloudtail begins to tell her it's a bad joke, but Brightheart begins to feel pain in her sides. Cloudtail calls for Cinderpelt. The scene then switches to the two mates in Cinderpelt's den. Cloudtail gives Brightheart a stick to bite down on. Cinderpelt comments that Brightheart isn't having kits, she's only having one kit. She says her niece is perfect and lays her down next to her parents. Brightheart says she can feel the kit's heartbeat, and says they're going to call her Whitekit. Cloudtail says it's a perfect name and he hopes she'll be perfect like her mother one day, and perhaps even be leader. Brightheart says whoever she becomes, she'll be ThunderClan, and that means she'll always have a Clan to protect her, and she can protect the Clan, since that's what a Clan cat does.

Brightheart then thinks about how their code says they reject the life of a kittypet and how hard a warrior's life can be, but it's worth it since they'll always have each other to rely on.

Could you mayhaps post the page(s) that the owl thief was on?

It's just that we've not seen one in James L. Barry's style yet (iirc) and I'd love to take a peek at it.