Chapter 12

Jayfeather slunk down against the cold pale stones of the moonpool, exhaustion claiming his body like a hawk claiming its kill. Tortoiseshell fur slid down next to him, Honeypaw was eagerly awaiting her first visit with her warrior ancestors. Willowshine sat at his other side, Lionblaze's golden tabby fur stood rigid at the edge of the pool, Cinderheart's gray fur twitched in agitation. Finally, Jayfeather stood in front of the other cats and cleared his throat.
"Honeypaw, is it your wish to enter the mysteries of Starclan as a medicine cat?" Jayfeather mewed proudly to Dovepelt's kit and his own apprentice.
Honeypaw's voice quivered,"It is,"
"Then come forward," He felt Honeypaw's fur brush against his own as she stepped forward,"Warriors of Starclan, I present to you this apprentice, she has chosen the path of a medicine cat. Grant her the wisdom and insight so that she may understand your ways and heal her clan in accordance to your will. Now lay down next to the pool,"  Jayfeather felt her dip her nose into the pool and fall sleep instantly into the blackness of dreams. He turned back to Lionblaze,"You may join us," Lionblaze padded forward and dipped his nose in as well; he would have to join Cinderheart in Starclan. He could tell by the breathing of Willowshine and Cinderheart they had already fallen asleep. For Honeypaw's sake, he couldn't go with Lionblaze into Cinderheart's dreams, and who knows what Willowshine would see. He lapped at the cold water, his eyes closing instantly. He didn't mind the cold, deep blackness that tugged at his fur, he was used to it. He opened his eyes and breathed in the sweet scent of Starclan. Birds rustled in the trees around him, the leaves blew in the slight breeze that past. The tall grass came up to his belly fur as he ran through the thick forest, sunlight warming his pelt. He could see his apprentice up ahead, her bright amber eyes glistening in the daylight. He had never known what a pretty she-cat she was, her long flowing tail sweeping delicately across the ferns. Rows of cats stood in front of her, Bluestar, Firestar, and Yellowfang to name a few. Jayfeather joined her, sweeping his tail around her shoulders.
"Who are they Jayfeather?" She whispered in amazement, he remembered his own apprentice ceremony, and was still amazed by how many cats lived in Starclan. He nodded to Spottedleaf as she stepped forward and dipped her head gracefully.
"Greetings dear ones," Spottedleaf mewed, her voice thick and sweet as honey,"We've come to welcome to the ranks of medicine cats Honeypaw," Hundreds of cats stepped forward, all medicine cats from every clan. Kestrelflight, Flametail, Brambleberry, Yellowfang, Runningnose, Littlecloud, Featherwhisker, and the first medicine cat to join the ranks of Starclan, Mothflight. He even saw Mothwing, even though in life she did not believe in her warrior ancestors.
"Honeypaw, you have a great destiny in front of you, and we will all guide you," Spottedleaf purred sweetly, stepping backward to let another cat take her spot.
"I am Yellowfang, I will help you through the hardest decisions you may face as a medicine cat," the old gray she-cat stpped forward and touched noses with the younger she-cat. She stepped back and Brambleberry took a step to the front.
"My name is Brambleberry, you are a wise young she-cat already Honeypaw, but you have much to learn, I will be there to help you through the most stressful of days," Her whiskers twitched as she stepped forward and offered her nose to Honeypaw, who eagerly touched it to the old Riverclan medicine cat.
Flametail stepped forward, dipping his head,"Every clan rejoices when new apprentices are made, especially Starclan, I will help you unravel the tangled thoughts and dreams of your warrior ancestors," He touched his nose to hers and stepped back, letting Featherwhisker take his place.
"I was the medicine cat many moons ago, my name is Featherwhisker. Starclan honors you and approves of your wish to become a medicine cat, but there is nothing more important than listening to Jayfeather and learning what he can teach you. Though all of Starclan is here to help you, Jayfeather alone can help you decide what is best for your clan and all the clans. Do not depend on us more than yourself and your clanmates, they will help guide you through life. Good luck to you Honeypaw, Starclan gives you the best of wishes and will always be in the night sky, in every clan cats heart, and even in yours," Jayfeather sat there in awe, this was nothing like his own ceremony many moons ago with Leafpool. There were no glorious speeches by multiple cats of old. Honeypaw was granted the approval of all of Starclan, that was sure, and she was given the gift of knowing she had multiple cats to turn to. The shimmer of Starclan was fading quickly as Honeypaw rushed to Jayfeather's side.
"It was wonderful Jayfeather!" Honeypaw purred, her eyes closing as she leaned into his chest. He licked her forehead and waited for the chilling blackness and to be woken by the side of the pool once more. Finally it came like swift wave at the lake. He woke next to Willowshine, Honeypaw was already stretching and gearing to leave. Willowshine's body jerked as she woke next to Jayfeather, he tried to scan her mind, but all that was there was visions of starry cats in front of her. He got up and did a luxurious stretch of his back and flicked the dust off his ears. Cinderheart and Lionblaze were still asleep, there breathing slow and steady.
"Starclan must have a lot to say to them both," Honeypaw commented wearily. Willowshine finally stood next to them.
"Starclan has high moral, there were nothing but laughter and eager chatter during my visit." Willowshine purred, swiping a paw over her head.
"I noticed that as well," Jayfeather shifted his paws and twitched his tail impatiently. He wondered wahat was going on, and without a moments hesitation he dived into Lionblaze's dream.
He could see Bluestar and Honeyfern in front of Lionblaze, their fur twitching slowly. Wind blew across the moor they were sitting in. Next to Lionblaze were two gray she-cats. One was fluffy like Cinderheart and the other was a smaller, big blue-eyed she-cat with an old leg injury. That must've been Cinderpelt.
"Do you understand, the both of you?" Bluestar glanced at the two gray she-cats. They both looked at each other.
"Y-yes, I think so," Cinderheart nodded to the older blue gray she-cat.
"Yes Bluestar," Cinderpelt dipped her head. The two Starclan warriors nodded to both the she-cats and drifted away into the background, their starry pelts vanishing from sight. Jayfeather still didn't know what happened here, but he left Lionblaze's mind and traveled back to the darkness of the moonpool. Jayfeather shuffled his paws and waited for Lionblaze to stir once more. He could hear Lionblaze scrabbling at the water's edge and rushed forward to help his brother up.
"So, what happened?" Jayfeather murmured into his brother's ear. Lionblaze turned to him.
"Fine, I guess," He grumbled.
"Jayfeather? Lionblaze?" Cinderheart rasped, her voice confused as always.
"Cinderheart do you remember what you dreamed of?" Jayfeather tested Cinderheart's memory.
"I'm not Cinderheart," She rasped,"But, I'm in her body aren't I?" Jayfeather nodded solemnly. "And, and you're my mate, aren't you?" Cinderheart turned to Lionblaze, Jayfeather could feel apprehension buzzing around the moonpool.
"Yes, we have two kits together, Mountainpaw and Leopardkit," Lionblaze murmured, Jayfeather felt his brother step past him.
"Lets go back to the clans, it'll be better to talk there," Willowshine murmured, ushering the shocked Honeypaw out of the hollow. Jayfeather nodded and followed after, only waiting for Lioblaze to help Cinderheart out.
"I remember how to get back," Cinderheart murmured, pacing herself in front of Lionblaze and Jayfeather. Jayfeather almost went into her thoughts, but he didn't feel comfortable eaves dropping on such a fragile mind.
"How was Honeypaw's ceremony?" Lionblaze rumbled, though Jayfeather could feel new hope growing inside his chest. Jayfeather rolled his eyes.
"You know I can't tell you what goes on," Jayfeather growled, trying to keep up with Willowshine will trying to remember where to set his paws so he didn't trip over the moorland grasses tugging at his paws. The sun dappled on his pelt, the grasses where at his shoulder now, he could feel their lush stems tickling at his whiskers.
"Fine," Lionblaze sighed,"When do you think the other clans are going back to their homes? I was talking to Heathertail the other day, she said she didn't like sleeping under all these trees we have in the forest," He quickly changed the subject. Jayfeather felt his pelt prickle.
"Some cats don't want to go back," Jayfeather mumbled. He could feel his brother's eyes burning through him.
"Like who?" Lionblaze muttered.
"Just some cats," Jayfetaher tried to switch the focus off him. "What happened in your dream last night?"

Happy New Years!

 It's 12:58  here in Pennsylvania! Hope you have an awesome New Years! I'm hanging out at my friend's house at the moment, but I'm in an extra special mood, so I'm giving a special present. Comment a question and I *might* answer it! 

~Firefoot 

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I got a cat for Christmas!!!!!!!!! She's currently sitting next to me, rubbing her face on my desk. Her names is Toots and she's the prettiest girl! (Don't tell my other cat lol)

Rising Dawn

Just a one-shot I wrote a long time ago, read it if you want, doesn't matter or effect my regular story in any way...


   Leafpool paced around her den. Spasms ripped through her stomach, though she couldn't figure out why. It almost knocked the breath out of herwhen another spasm clenched through her insides. She was now in front of the den, the moonlight casting an ominous glow around the camp. She took a breath and stepped out, her fur brushing against the ferns that lined the path. The cool air brushed past her cheek, sending shivers down her spine. Another spasm rippled down her chest, her legs shook with pain. She looked up to the stars, but a wall of clouds blocked their glow. Leafpool blinked. Am I dying? She shook her head, StarClan couldn't abandon her now! Not after she gave up Crowfeather for them!

   A snowflake drifted down from the sky; it was strange for it to snow so late in leafbare when newly sprouted buds dotted the tree tops. She willed herself to take another step forward, toward the warriors' den. If she was dying, she wanted to spend it with her sister, her best friend. Another shock of pain rattled her mind, she fell to the ground, landing in a soft laying of snow. Her eyes wide with fear, what if the clan found her the next morning, dead? ThunderClan would be without a medicine cat! She willed the clouds to clear from the sky, and they did, a little, showing the same three stars. She didn't know who they were, but they were watching her. Leafpool glanced back at the warriors' den, the ferns around it rustled and a slender ginger she-cat padded out, her fur eerily glowing in the moonlight. She looked over at Leafpool, her green eyes widening in fear.

   "Leafpool," Squirrelflight ran over to her sister's body, her breath slow and ragged. "Leafpool, what happened, I could feel your pain," Squirrelflight whispered,

   Leafpool winced,"I don't know," Leafpool struggled to her paws, wincing as another pain shot up her spine.

   "Should I get Firestar?" Squirrelflight supported her sister with her shoulder, her breath visible on the cold night air. The cold breeze blew down to the camp and whistled through their ears.

   Leafpool shook her head,"No, I need herbs, they grow at the old twoleg nest," Leafpool took another step, eagerly trying to get to the entrance, then stopping. "Is there a guard tonight?" For some reason she didn't want other cats to know where she was going.

Squirrelflight shook her head,"Firestar said it was too cold tonight,"  Leafpool slowly padded towards the entrance, her fur rising with fear. Another spasms made bile rise in her throat. She coughed violently and spat out the bile.

   "You alright?" Squirrelflight pressed against her sister to share warmth. Leafpool nodded vigorously.

   "Come on," The two she-cats padded side by side through the forest, stopping when Leafpool needed to vomit or catch her breathe, but finally they arrived at the old twoleg nest. The dark cold walls seemed to welcome the two she-cats. 

   "Where are those herbs?" Squirrelfight mewed, letting Leafpool settle down under the twoleg roof.

   Leafpool cried out in pain, "It should be growing next to the fence,"

   Squirrelflight trotted outside the den and came back a moment later shaking her head,"There's nothing there,"

   Leafpool winced,"It must have died through the leaf bare,"

   "Is there anything else?" Squirrelfight queried.

   "Nothing I can think of," Leafpool murmured. Squirrelfight padded over to her sister and lay next to her, their fur brushing gently. Leafpool looked out the twoleg next, back up at the sky. The three stars seemed to shimmer gently, then another star appeared. The star grew bigger and bigger, seeming to swim down from the sky until the misty form of a tortoiseshell she-cat. Her amber eyes looked down at the two she-cats huddled together in the snow.

   "Spottedleaf?" Squirrelflight murmured. Leafpool looked over at her sister and wondered how she knew this starry cat as well.

   "Hello dears," Spottedleaf murmured,"Leafpool, I've come for you,"

   Leafpool began to shake,"I don't want to go to StarClan yet!"

   Spottedleaf shook her head,"I'm not here to take you to StarClan, I've come here to help you,"

   Leafpool gulped,"Help me with what?"

   Spottedleaf gestured her tail to the three shimmering stars,"Those three stars have not be revealed to you yet, but they will change your life forever,"

   "How?" Squirrelfight murmured, her eyes wide in curiosity.

   "Those are your kits, Leafpool," Spottedleaf whispered.

   Leafpool narrowed her eyes,"What?"

   "You're pregnant Leafpool," Spottedleaf stepped forward, stardust sprinkling off her paws.

Leafpool locked eyes with the pretty she-cat, this was no joke. But Leafpool still couldn't wrap her mind around it. "W-what?"

   "Two moons ago you and Crowfeather ran away together, you two mated, and now, you are going to bare his kits," Spottedleaf mewed gently, though her eyes betrayed her sorrow.

   "You mated with him?" Squirrelflight shouted to her sister, shock making her tone sound viscous. "You told me that you didn't!"

   Leafpool winced, both from her sister's words and from the blood chilling spasms. "What was I supposed to say? That I mated with a WindClan warrior! I ran away with him, thinking I would never be coming back, and we were going to start a family."

   Squirrelflight's eyes glazed over in betrayal, "What is the clan going to think about this," She snorted, "And you know what? Its not fair.Its just not fair. Me and Brambleclaw have been trying for two moons to have kits, and you two ran away once."

   "Squirrelfight, please," Leafpool pleaded to her sister.

   Squirrelflight ignored her,"I wanted kits Leafpool! You are a medicine cat, you knew from day one you could never have them, and I knew that if I was to become a warrior, I could have kits! Now when I try with Brambleclaw, I've seen no results! Its not fair!"

   "Dears, please," Spottedleaf silenced the two distressed she-cats,"The kits are coming now,"

Another spasm gripped Leafpool. She gasped and fell to her side. Spottedleaf ran to her side, along with Squirrelfight, even though her fur hadn't fallen and anger still glowed in her green eyes.

   "Alright Leafpool, I need you to push," Spottedleaf murmured, her starry paws rubbing the brown tabby she-cat's waist. Leafpool pushed the first kit out, she could feel the small bundle slip onto the ground beside her. Spottedleaf handed the golden tabby along to Squirrelflight, who began to nip off the sack and lick the kit gingerly. Another fresh wave ran down her spine.

   "The next one will come in a few," Spottedleaf promised. Squirrelflight placed the golden tabby next to Leafpool's side to let it suckle.

   "It's a tom," Squirrelflight nodded to the kit. Leafpool closed her eyes for a moment. A tom... She breathed a sigh of relief for a moment,

   "Push!" Spottedleaf urged, Leafpool held her breath and felt the next kit slide out. Spottedleaf sniffed the kit and placed it next to Squirrelflight. Squrrelflight licked it gingerly like the first, then started licking it faster and faster.

   "Spottedleaf!" Squirrelfight shrieked,"Its not breathing!" Spottedleaf turned and rushed over. Leafpool tried to raise her head to see what was going on. All she could see was a small black cat, almost identical to Crowfeather, Spottedleaf was licking its fur the wrong way. Finally the small kit opened its mouth in protest, the pinkness of its tongue bright against the dark twoleg nest. Spottedleaf placed the kit next to the other.

   "She-cat," Spottedleaf assured Leafpool. Leafpool sunk back down into her nest. Another spasm rippled through, she shreiked in protest.

   "One more," Spottedleaf murmured, eyes blinking in confidence. Leafpool groaned in agony as another side splitting pain seared down her insides. Panting, she pushed again but to no avail. She threw her head back into the ground and held her breath.

   "She needs water," Spottedleaf turned to Squirrelflight,"Get her moss and soak it in water, quickly,"

   Squirrelflight blinked and ran away through the forest.

   "Will she ever forgive me?" Leafpool groaned, watching her sister's bright ginger pelt disappear through the ferns.

   "She's your sister," Spottedleaf murmured gently, "She loves you,"

   "Would Willowpelt or Leopardfoot forgive you if they found out that you were having kits?" Leafpool groaned, pushing again in sheer agony. Spottedleaf turned to her, eyes clouded with emotion.

   "There are many things I don't know, Leafpool," She blinked, a single tear streaming down her face, "I know that you will need your sister," The two she-cats sat there for a few heartbeats, simply staring at each other sympathetically, when Squirrelflight ran back through the ferns, moss dripping under her chin. Leafpool screamed in a flash of pain, pushing the last kit out. She couldn't hear the shrill squealing of the kit, and she started to panic. Spottedleaf picked it up by the scruff and started licking it rhythmically.

   "Come on," Spottedleaf whispered,"You can do it," Leafpool watched the starry she-cat press her nose into its fur, trying to warm it. Leafpool wiggled forward to get a better glimpse, but her other two kits squeaked in protest, struggling to return to their mother's fluffy belly fur.

   Finally, the kit squeaked, Spottedleaf sighed in relief, placing the kits next to the others. Leafpool glanced up thankfully to the she-cat, but her form was fading fast.

   "Good-bye my dears," Spottedleaf whispered, her eyes no more than an outline against the twoleg walls. Leafpool turned back to her sister, crouched in the darkness glaring angrily at her sister.

   "Squirrelflight, can I have the moss?" Leafpool mewed, throat itching with thirst.

   "How dare you," Squirrelflight whispered, stepping out from among the shadows eyes glinting in moonlight. "How dare you betray the one and only cat who stayed by your side through everything," Squirrelflight shook her head, and for the first time, Leafpool felt scared. 

   "Squirrelflight please," Leafpool murmured, pressing herself against her kits, "I need you, the clans can't find out about this, I need your help,"

   Squirrelflight snorted, "What do you expect me to do? Give them to some rogue passing through?"

   Leafpool shook her head, "Of course not! I was thinking, more along the lines of, well, you saying they were your kits,"

   Squirrelflight narrowed her eyes, lowering her voice to no more than a whisper, "What about you?"

   Leafpool glanced down to the kits, heart twisting in more pain than she could've imagined, "I'll be fine," She lied. She forced herself to look optimistic.

   Squirrelflight glanced down, "No one can ever know I did this, not even Brambleclaw," Leafpool nodded. "The kits can never know that your their mother, or Crowfeather, you can't let anything slip," Squirrelflight warned, Leafpool was surprised by how mature her sister sounded. Leafpool nodded, Squirrelflight padded over to her sister and lay down pressing her fur against the kits. "We should go back in the morning, when you and the kits will be able to walk."
   The kits began to shiver as more snow fell around them, Squirrelflight pressed closer to the kits and wrapped her tail around the kits noses as they suckled. Leafpool blinked snow from her eye lid.
   I'm doing the right thing, aren't I? Squirrelflight is a good mother, Leafpool watched the four cats sleeping around her, like a family. She could never be apart of her kits lives, not like Squirrelflight would be, I'm not a good mother! I can never be their mother! She snuggled closer to her kits, relishing the time she had with them. She glanced over her shoulder, toward Windclan. Should I tell him? She remembered the starlit night she had ran away with Crowfeather. They told each other they were going to have a family, and he said he would always protect her. He had a right to know his kits, but not now. She hadn't talked or seen Crowfeather since those two moons ago, back at camp. She had told him they couldn't be together, because of Thunderclan. He had looked her in the eyes, told her he loved him, more than anything, but Leafpool had to hurt him, she had to let him know she couldn't be with him. So she laughed, she laughed at his face. Leafpool felt her heart twist in pain, but she couldn't let him know how much this was breaking her fragile heart. He just looked at her and walked away. Leafpool had watched his tail vanish behind the thorn barrier for the last time.
   Leafpool blinked back from her memories and imagined her kits growing, growing into strong warriors ready to give their own lives for the clans. Protecting the nursery with claws and teeth and hunting for those who couldn't. She imagined one of them becoming leader. She looked down to her biggest kit, his golden pelt sticking out like a brand of fire in the snow. He would be strong and confident, she knew it. She looked to the small she-cat who had barely survived, her chest gently rising and falling, ears twitching as snow landed on her head. Leafpool knew she would be the smartest, able to keep her brothers in line. Then Leafpool looked at hr tiny son, his gray tabby pelt barely moving as he took breaths. Leafpool didn't know anything about him, he was as a mystery as Starclan itself.
   Leafpool blinked, trying to stay wake, to watch her kits while she could. But she could not fight off the steadying drowsiness of the night. She lay her head on her sister's flank, the chill of the night vanishing around the cats like a bubble.
   Leafpool opened her eyes, no longer under the old twoleg nest. She was walking among faded cats, they weaved around her, they looked almost always identical, but they never interacted with each other.
   "Leafpool," A cat whispered in her tabby ear. Leafpool turned around, there was a pretty silver tabby, her fur smelled like water and fish and covered in starry dust. "I am Silverstream,"
   "You were Graystripe's mate, weren't you?" Leafpool stepped forward. Silverstream nodded. "Have you come here to punish me for having Crowfeather's kits?" She murmured.
   "No my love, I come with a message from Feathertail, and an explanation of these faded cats you see here now," Leafpool flinched, was Feathertail mad at her for stealing Crowfeather from her then breaking his heart? "Feathertail will watch over your kits like she would've watched over her own, she does not wish them an harm, dear Leafpool," Leafpool nodded thankfully.
   "What are those?" Leafpool watched a tabby walk around and squeeze between Silverstream and herself.
   "These are your memories," Silverstream answered calmly, eying two cats walking side by side beside them. Leafpool gasped, then she realized all the cats had the same tabby fur, except they differed in size, some were kits, some were apprentices, and some were medicine cats. Each one was doing something different, holding herbs, tumbling with another kit, or learning how to use herbs.
   "Where's Crowfeather?" Leafpool whispered, searching for more glimpses of his black pelt.
   "He's over there, with  you," Silverstream nodded to two cats  sitting across from each other. Leafpool could remember this, she had just thought about it before she had fallen asleep, she couldn't go through it again. She turned back to Silverstream but the silver tabby was gone. Leafpool couldn't watch her life again, it was too painful. All she could do was settle down among the grasses and hope that she would wake up next to her kits and Squirrelfight.

-
   "Come on my kits," Leafpool nudged her three kits. She stood on shaky legs with her sister by her side. "Its time to go home," One by one each kit opened their tiny eyes. The golden tabby's amber eyes blazed with confusion, the delicate she-kit's emerald green eyes gleamed, and the small gray tabby's ghostly blue eyes slightly made Leafpool twitch.
   "Follow us kits," Squirrelflight murmured, Leafpool followed from behind, the dawn sky rising steadily over the forest. She watched the kits fall into snowdrifts, fishing them out. A few times the kits stumbled and ran into things, but the smallest kit had fallen and ran into things more than his siblings. He had stopped multiple times and started to wail for Leafpool, she had decided to scoop him up and carry him through the snow. They had to get back to camp before they were missed.
   "Its cold!" The small she-kit complained, her paws covered in snow and her jaw chattering like a bird.
   "I know sweet," Squirrelflight grabbed her by the scruff and carried her, she glanced back to Leafpool,"Run ahead and get help, I'll stay with the kits," Leafpool nodded and placed the kit below her paws and went as fast as she could through the forest, her stomach still aching from labor. She ran throught eh forest, tail streamed out behind her. She turned and ran down the thorn barrier, running into her mother.
   "Leafpool! There you are! Where's Squirrelflight?" Her mother looked over Leafpool's shoulder.
   "Squirrelflight had kits last night, we were walking  through the forest, she went into labor," Leafpool gasped for breath.
   "She's still out there?" Sandstorm pressed, Leafpool nodded. Sandstorm whipped around and ran through the thorn barrier. Leafpool followed her. Sandstorm ran to Bambleclaw and Firestar who were huddled over the fresh kill pile. Leafpool ran next to them.
   "Leafpool says Squirrelfight had kits last night, they're in the forest and we need to find them now," Sandstorm explained quickly. Brambleclaw's ears pricked in interest.
   "Kits?" He gasped leaping to his paws.
   "Two toms and a she-kit," Leafpool nodded.
   "Sandstorm get Brightheart and Cloudtail to help and meet us outside of camp," Firestar ordered, Sandstorm ran past and vanished into the warriors' den.
   "Come on," Leafpool urged rushing out of the camp with Brambleclaw and Firestar behind her. Sandstorm, Brightheart and Cloudtail were behind them.
   "Where are they?" Brightheart asked Leafpool quickly.
   "This way, Leafpool took the lead and ran through the forest  and nearing where Squirrelflight was huddled around the kits. She found her sister and her kits underneath a bush sheltered from the wind.
   "Brambleclaw," Squirrelflight gasped when Brambleclaw rounded the corner with Firestar, Sandstorm, Brightheart, and Cloudtail.
   "Squirrelfight, why didn't you tell me you were pregnant," Brambleclaw sighed, helping her and the kits out of the bush.
   "I didn't know," Squirrelflight glanced at Leafpool. Leafpool felt her heart break, but she nodded slightly.
   "Lets get them all back to camp so Leafpool can have a proper look at them," Firestar padded over and picked up the large golden tom. Sandstorm picked up the she-kit and Brightheart an Cloudtail gathered the small gray tom in their jaws. Brambleclaw supported Squirrelfligh with his shoulder and Leafpool joined her on the other side.
   "Did you name them?" Brambleclaw whispered to his mate excitedly, Squirrelflight glanced at Leafpool.
   "Leafpool did, tell him Leafpool," Squirrelfight pressed. Leafpool wanted to cuff her over the ears, she hadn't even thought of names for her kits.
   "Er, the golden tabby is Lionkit," she thought back to the young she-cats green eyes reminding her of a holly leaf,"The black she-kit is Hollykit, and the gray tabby, his name is Jaykit,"
   "Beautiful," Brambleclaw whispered to himself, Leafpool watched his eyes sparkle with excitement. She felt sick to her stomach watching the clan cats be so happy about the kits.
   "Come on Leafpool," Squirrelflight whispered,"Lets get back to camp,"

Chapter 11

Lionblaze trailed behind the patrol. Ears dropping and eyes not even paying attention to the surroundings, he made his way through the forest. Why did he even have to be here, its not like he was doing them any favors by being there. Snakerock stopped to sniff a tree, Lionblaze rolled his eyes and sighed, making the cats in front of him turn their heads at Lionblaze. Everyone, even his own father, cast angry and disappointed looks at the golden warrior. Lionblaze shrugged it off.
The patrol moved onward, though Lionblaze thought it was taking them forever to do this patrol. Whitewing had only been gone for half a day and all the clans were worried sick about her. Lionblaze half snorted, this was a waste of time. She'd probably be back before sundown.
"I can get a trace of her scent here," Snakerock reported to Bumblestripe. Bumblestripe nodded.
"Keep going, we might be able to find her," Bumbelstripe ordered. Lionblaze flicked his tail. Bumblestripe wasn't the real deputy, he was only standing in while Cinderheert recovered. Lionblaze felt his paws itch in agitation, what if she never got better?
"Great Starclan," Leaftail's scared mew brought Lionblaze back, he tried to peer over the patrol
s shoulders, they were crowded around a large elder bush.
"Let me see," He growled, thrusting the younger warriors back with his shoulders. He stopped mid-step. Below him lying in a pool of blood was Whitewing, her fur tinged with crimson blood and throat bitten open like fresh kill. Her eyes were still open and looking desperately up towards the skies, though they were now glazed over.
"What did this?" Leaftail whispered, Lionblaze looked back, she was crouched on the ground, eyes wide with fear.
"Its alright," Bumblestripe pressed close to her.
"Do you think it was those Dark Forest warriors?" Snakerock mewed, tail twitching nervously and he looked as if a whole band of warriors was about to pop out the trees behind him.
"We got rid of all of them," Lionblaze reminded, remembering the eerie chant he had given to Tigerstar. "It must have been rogues passing through,"
"Like Ashfur, remember when he died?" Bumblestripe mewed. Lionblaze flinched visibly. "Oh sorry, I forgot you were his apprentice, you two must have been close," Bumblestripe leaned forward and flicked his tail over the older tom's shoulder respectfully. Lionblaze merely nodded, though Bumblestripe couldn't of been more wrong. He wasn't close to the gray tom that mentored him, and it wasn't a rogue that killed him. It was his own sister, Hollyleaf, who now hunted in a place no other knew about, not even the Dark Forest.
"We should take her back," Bumbelstripe's mew sounded hollow with grief, he padded forward and grabbed Whitewing by the scruff, her fur dragging slowly across the forest floor, blood trailing behind her and leaving a path through the forest. Lionblaze helped him by dragging part of her along with him.
"Go ahead and tell the clans," Bumblestripe nodded to Leaftail and Snakerock. The two cats nodded and raced through the trees. "Can I ask you something?" Bumbelstripe mewed through a mouth full of fur.
Lionblaze nodded reluctantly, looking back to check they were going the right way.
"Why does Cinderheart need to be guarded in the medicine den?" Bumblestripe murmured, Lionblaze turned and glared at him, though all he saw in the dark gray tom's eyes was pure innocence.
"Why do you want to know?" He growled.
Bumblestripe shrugged, padding backwards,"Well, I'm clan deputy now and-"
Lionblaze snorted,"You are not clan deputy, Cinderheart will get over this and when she does," he huffed,"I'll make sure she keeps an eye on you," He walked shifted his part of the weight so he could stand farther away from Bumblestripe, awkwardly standing in silence. Bumblestripe narrowed his eyes and finally spoke.
"What wrong with you?" He snarled,"I'm clan deputy, no matter what you say, and just because your mate is ill or whatever doesn't give you the right to be a foxheart everyday. You're acting like a selfish oaf for the past two moons and the clans are really starting to get tired of it. You're weak Lionblaze," Bumblestripe hissed,"I used to look up to you when I was an apprentice, I thought you were great, but you're just wading in your own misery, looking for pity then snapping at cats that try to help you," Lionblaze dropped Whitewing's fur to the ground and lunged at the younger gray tom. Bumblestripe ducked in surprise and leaped at the golden tom, knocking him onto his side and holding down his throat with a paw. Lionblaze kicked him in the gut with a hind leg and batted his ears angrily with unsheathed claws, pulling him downward by the scruff of his neck and biting into his ear angrily. Bumblestripe yowled in anger and whipped around and pushed Lionblaze into a tree with four paws, sending Lionblaze sprawled out against the long grass. Lionblaze looked up wildly and saw Bumblestripe approach, eyes lit angrily.
"Get up," He growled. Lionblaze narrowed his eyes indignantly. Clearly with his moons of loathing everything that came into his path Lionblaze's powers had weakened without practice. Bumblestripe nudged the bedraggled tom towards Whitewing and the two toms resumed the sad walk back to camp with the dead she-cat.
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"Rogues! It was rogues!"
"Yeah!"
Lionblaze only watched as the clans howled about at the leaders standing atop the highrock their fur fluffed out in fury,
"It must've been the same one that killed Ashfur!"  Crowfeather spat furiously. Lionblaze only shook his head, this was useless, Ashfur wasn't killed by rogues, so Whitewing being killed by rogues was unlikely.
"The forest is worse than ever!" Petalnose cried. Lionblaze snorted and looked up to the leaders.
"Nonsense! We have warriors here to protect the camp," Bramblestar yowled.
"But what about when the clans separate! Windclan has barely any warriors!" Heathertail protested, her eyes hot with fury. Lionblaze padded forward and sat among the cats, vaguely interested in what was going on.
"Windclan is strong," Onestar called out,"We can live,"
"What about the kits and apprentices?" Cristy shouted up. Lionblaze narrowed his eyes, why did she care?
"They'll never be safe without the protection of every warrior," Ghost grunted, Lionblaze saw other cats nod in agreement.
"Many moons ago we all agreed to stay together until it was safe!" Squirrelflight protested the cats agreeing with the white tom.
"What if its never safe?" Twigstorm snarled. The clans erupted into a fury of argument.
"Clans! May I say something?" Tinder leaped up onto the highledge. Lionblaze rolled his eyes, what now? "It seems that something is hunting cats down and killing them," His eyes flicked from Raccoon to Ghost,"And we must take action. With your allowance, leaders, I will take a patrol out to find this cat. I would take Lionblaze, Raccoon, Ghost, and Crowfeather," Lionblaze groaned, he did not want to go on another patrol.
The four leaders looked at each other in surprise, Rowanstar spoke first,"We will stay here and prepare the camp's barrier just in case,"
"Dovepelt, join them," Bramblestar ordered to the small gray she-cat sitting outside the warriors' den with Leaftail. He could see the patrol already forming and Dovepelt padded toward him.
"Do you hear any rogues?" Lionblaze murmured to her stiffly.
She shook her head,"Nothings out there, but I heard something in my dreams last night,"  She glanced up to Lionblaze and whispered in a low tone,"I see Twilight entering the camp alone earlier this morning,"
"You saw this in your dreams?" He mewed, she nodded. The two cats joined the patrol at the thorn barrier.
"Alright, lets go." Tinder mewed, setting off and running through the barrier in the direction of the lake.
"Whitewing was found near the edge of Thunderclan territory," Lionblaze called up,"If it was a rogue, wouldn't it be heading in the opposite direction?"
"Are you heading this patrol?" Ghost snorted, pushing the golden tom out of his way to join the black and white tom at the front.
"Hey!" Lionblaze growled running up and pushing Ghost back. Ghost reared back and tackled Lionblaze angrily. Even without moons of practice, Lionblaze pinned Ghost down with a simple flip of his claws.
Tinder came up behind him and shoved him off the white tom,"What are you, some kind of traitor?" Tinder growled to Lionblaze, eying him angrily.
Lionblaze growled,"Me? He shoved me first,"
"I didn't see it," Tinder growled, helping Ghost up.
"Yeah, he just came up behind me and shoved me," Ghost grumbled.
"That's not true," Dovepelt protested, tail lashing angrily.
"Shut-up," Raccoon snarled flexing his claws,"Or I'll make you,"
Lionblaze rushed forward,"Don't talk to her like that," All five cats looked at each other, theirs eyes fuming with anger.
"Come on Dovepelt," Lionblaze snarled, turning away, not wanting a fight between the cats. He stumbled in the opposite direction. not speaking to Dovepelt. They searched the forest for any kind of scent of rogues, passing where they found Whitewing multiple times.
"How are you doing?" Lionblaze grunted to Dovepelt, Whitewing was her mother after all.
Dovepelt looked up,"I miss her, I miss her so much," Her ears cocked forward,"I won't stop until I find out who killed her," He touched his tail tip to her shoulder sympathetically. The sunlight dappled through the treetops, casting warmth on Lionblaze's pelt. For a moment he was lost in the sunshine, Cinderherat was forgotten, Tinder and his gang was forgotten, and everyone he ever knew was gone. He just stood there as the wind swayed the leaves above him and squirrels chattered among the branches. The wind blew from the lake and he could taste the water on his tongue like a fresh gulp o water. He blinked and breathed in deeply, relishing the birds sweet songs high above him.

Chapter 10

Jayfeather happily padded through his den, two she-cats at his side. He picked up some borage leaves in his mouth and set them down in front of him.
"Honeypaw, what are borage leaves used for?" Jayfeather prompted.
"Leaves and root can be used for fevers, while queens can eat seeds for her milk," Honeypaw responded quickly.
Jayfeather nodded,"Right, Sarah, take a good look at these, if you ever are traveling and you have a fever, borage can be found beside most streams."
"Or if I'm going to have kits," She joked. Jayfeather stopped and flicked his ears forward, but she didn't say anything more, and he felt awkward.
"Well, er, yes," He murmured, pulling himself together,"Now I'm going to show you how to make a poultice of juniper, lavender, and marigold, that should help if you have white cough, though it won't cure it," He reached into his herb store and sniffed for the proper herbs. He chewed them and spat them out onto a dock leaf.
"See, you chew them like that and then you would have the ailing cat eat them, but since we don't have one I put them on a dock leaf." Jayfeather mewed to them both.
"Thats great Jayfeather," Sarah purred, flicking her tail around his ear affectionately. He shivered as warmth spread through his body.
"Good, we've been doing a lot of hard work today, why don't we stop for some fresh kill?" Jayfeather purred, hoping he would get the chance to eat with Sarah.
"Great!" Honeypaw squeaked, running out of the den. Jayfeather padded out of th den, waiting for Sarah to join him. He pushed the ferns out of her way and let her pass.
"Thanks Jayfeather," Sarah licked the top of his head, sending shivers down his spine. He felt the familiar guilt burn his ears. I'm not doing anything, she licked me! Besides, I'm only being polite, Jayfeather reasoned with himself, though he could feel his stomach churning with fear. What if cats starting questioning him about his friendship with her? How would Tinder feel about him sharing so much time with his mate?
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"I told you before," Sarah's exasperated mew rasped,"What you're saying is not true"
Jayfeather listened in as Tinder and Sarah argued quietly near the fresh kill pile. He shuffled away awkwardly as the pair grew angrier with each other.
"As if! I've been watching you Sarah!" Tinder growled furiously. Jayfeather had no idea what they were arguing about, it seemed they started arguing as soon as Jayfeather walked over. "Jayfeather, don't you think I'm right?" Tinder turned to the blind medicine cat. Jayfeather flicked his tail nervously.
"I'm not sure I know what you're talking about," Jayfeather mewed flatly.
"Don't drag Jayfeather into this!" Sarah hissed, her pelt burning with embarrassment.
"I have to go check on Cinderheart," Jayfeather excused himself from the two cats, aggitation sparking off them like lightning crackling in a storm.
"I'll join you," Sarah huffed, leaving her mate alone by the fresh kill pile. Jayfeather felt surprising delighted by her fur pressed against his. They both entered the medicine den, and Jayfeather flicked his tail to th guard for today, Twigstorm.
"Cinderheart?" Jayfeather called in to his den, scared she might attack again.
"Jayfeather?" She called back, her voice quiet and sad. Jayfeather pressed his way in, he could sense her anxiety flowing from the back o the den.
"Do you need anything Cinderheart?" Jayfeather murmured, stepping closer to his patient gingerly.
"Nothing," She whispered, disappearing again to the farthest reaches of his den. Jayfeather sighed, he couldn't help her, not until he could speak to Cinderheart and Cinderpelt at the same time, and that wasn't going to happen anytime soon.
"Sorry about the mess," Jayfeather turned back to Sarah, fur burning beneath his pelt.
"Its alright Jayfeather," Sarah sighed, her breath stirring on his ear fur,"I know you're too busy helping the clans to worry about cleaning,"
Jayfeather grew hot,"Well..."
Sarah ignored him,"You're so smart Jayfeather, and curious. I bet you're wondering what Tinder and I were arguing about." She flicked her tail around his neck.
"Sure," Jayfeather mewed, his mind lost in her sweet voice.
"Tinder thinks I spend too much time here," Sarah mewed casually, her tail flicking slowly across the floor,"But I don't think so, what do you think,"
Without thinking about a response, Jayfeather replied,"You can come here anytime,"
Sarah let out a relieved purr,"Oh Jayfeather, what would I do without you?" Her tone dropped into a whisper,"But I'm afraid for you,"
Jayfeather tilted his head quizzically,"How come?"
"It's Tinder, I think he's jealous. I'm afraid he would do something to you so I wouldn't visit anymore," Sarah whimpered quietly. Jayefather gasped,
"Surely he wouldn't! I'm a medicine cat, and he's practically a clan cat himself!" Jayfeather's eyes widened in fear. "Plus we're not doing any harm. You're just here to learn anyways," He could feel her wince at his words. Jayfeather instantly regretted saying it.
"Jayfeather, did you ever think I came here for more than to learn?" She mumbled under her breathe and Jayfeather barely caught her words. His heart beat faster and faster. He could die right now and be happy, he knew how she felt about him now! "I really like you Jayfeather, you're so smart, smarter than Tinder, and you know so much about the clans I could never know even if I lived here my whole life!"
He rushed forward,"Oh Sarah, I really like you too, but what are we going to do? We can't be together, I'm a medicine cat and you have a mate,"
Sarah shook her head," Just one night together, we can talk and have fun without the stares of the other cats," He could hear her heart beat faster, like his own. Her head lifted from his chest, "Tomorrow night, meet me by the sky oak,"
Jayfeather shook his head,"I have to go to the moonpool tomorrow night,"
"Fine, then three nights from now, so you can have a night to rest after the moonpool, I'll meet you at the Sky Oak."
"Are you sure about this?" Jayfeather whispered into her ear, her sweet scent drifting around him.
"Of course," She purred. Jayfeather sighed again.
"Jayfeather?" Honeypaw's voice meowed, Jyafetaher could hear her fur brushing against the ferns in the entrance,"Have you seen Whitewing, nobody has seen her since last night?" Honeypaw's mew was fruaght with worry.
Jayfeather shook his head,"No," He suddenly felt awkward around his apprentice and Sarah, especially since their fur brushed close together. He scooted backwards a few steps.
"I have to go," Sarah blurted,"Remember what I said Jayfeather,"
"Of course," Jayfeather breathed, once again lost in her scent.
"Jayfeather, I finished asking the elders about their joints and the queens about their kits," Honeypaw called to him, sucking him out of his trance.
"Good, now I'm going to show you where to find tansy and my catmint garden," Jayfeather trotted forward, flicking his apprentice over the ear happily. Honeypaw followed him out of the den, her pelt bristling with excitement. Jayfeather had told her never told her about the catmint before until now, though most cats knew about it.
"Hey Jayfeather," Honeypaw called to her mentor, "You have powers right? Like really cool powers?" Jayfeather sighed.
"Yes,"
"Well what can you do?"
"I can see in my dreams,"
"Hedgepaw says you can read other cat's minds," Honeypaw pestered.
"I can do that too,"
"What did the prophecy mean, the one from Firestar I mean?" The apprentice requested. Jayfeather rolled his eyes.
"Why do you want to know so much?" He rasped.
"Don't you want me to be smart?" She teased her grouchy mentor cheekily. Jayfeather ignored her questions and trotted through the camp.
"Can I ask another question?" Honeypaw squeaked cheerfully.
"Fine, what do you want?" Jayfeather sighed.

Chapter 9

The black and white tom's ears flicked silently. His claws ached for battle and his tail twitched casually as he waited for the others. The forest was sleeping around him and the moon could not be seen.
The bushes in front of him rustled in front of him. A she-cat poked her head in and joined him in the clearing.
"Your late," He growled. The tortoiseshell she-cat flicked her tail around his neck.
"We had to choose someone," She purred, nudging her mate happily. A few moments later a two cats entered, dragging in a white she-cat, her eyes wide with alarm. Her ears were ripped and bloodied, the tom whipped his head up to the two toms standing above her.
"I thought I told you two not to hurt her," He growled angrily. The white tom stepped forward, his amber eyes glittering in triumph.
"She tried to fight us," His eyes sparkled as the other tom pressed his paw harder on the white she-cats throat.
"What are we going to do to her," The black and white tom's mate mewed eagerly.
"Clearly these fools are terrified of everything," He scoffed," From what I've heard so far, they believe that dead hold their future. Fools," He spat. The other cats nodded, and the white she-cat struggled under the gray tom's weight. "But they believe they will stay alive if they separate into four clans. We must scare them into staying together, for that is the only way we can rule them,"
"How will we do it? There is no way they trust us enough to make such decisions," The white tom mewed incredulously," Raccoon and I have done everything we can to make them trust us,"
"Thats why we need the help of the rest of us, Twilight and Cristy have the most bonds to the clans. I've heard talk of them both joining a clan." His mate pressed, her claws scraping the ground.
"Go and fetch them both," The tom nodded to the white tom. The mysteriously creepy tom vanished behind the bushes.
"You and Jayfeather are getting along nicely," He grumbled to his mate.
She rolled her eyes,"Jealous?"
"No." He mewed indignantly," I was just saying,"
"The almighty Tinder is afraid of a blind medicine cat," She teased gently.
"I'm not afraid of him. But we could use him," He mewed, his mate turned and eyed him strangely.
"How?" She queried, eyes sparkling.
"When-" He tried to explain as Ghost returned with Cristy and Twilight, who both looked half asleep on their paws. He stepped forward.
"What do you want Tinder?" Cristy yawned.
"We would like you two to officially join our group. We are going to have great power over these clans, and you both could rule with us." Tinder's voice boomed around the clearing. He looked at Twilight who looked doubtful, but Cristy's eyes were shining with thought.
"We need your help," He lied," We traveled together, we're all friends here, so I need people I can trust. After all, a good leader is only as good as his fellow members, and you are all the best I've seen," His eyes shone brightly against the dark forest.
Twilight's eyes still were skeptical,"I don't know, I was hoping that I could be a medicine cat, and I don't think this would help me,"
"Fool, Starclan can't help these cats. They defeated the Dark Forest with their own willpower. Thats why we must convince them that they are alone."
"Your just repeating what your father told you," Twilight pointed out. Tinder turned to face him head on.
"Sol has nothing to so with this, he failed when he came here. He was a lazy oaf. He couldn't even keep one clan, but we'll have all four. We must make them stay together, but first, Cristy and Twilight, if you would like to join us, you must take an oath of silence to never repeat what you say or hear from these meetings." His claws itched for battle.
"No, I don't care what you do, Tinder, but don't include me in it," Twilight turned around and jumped through the bushes. Ghost stepped forward to retrieve him, but Tinder flicked his tail.
"Let him go, we need only the most loyal cats," Hi gaze flickered to Cristy. "Do you promise to keep quiet?"
"Yes Tinder," Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Then kill her," Tinder's green eyes dropped to the white she-cat under Raccoon's gray paws. Her eyes grew large with fear and she struggled under his paws, her claws stretching out to attack whoever came to close. Cristy looked up and caught his eye uneasily, but slid forward and sank her teeth into the white she-cats throat. The white she-cat swiped weakly at Cristy's fur, but she was weak and couldn't hurt Cristy. Cristy stood up, her muzzle coated with crimson blood. The white she-cat was dead, her eyes glazed over.
"Put her by the edge of the territory," Tinder commanded to Ghost and Raccoon,"We want these cats to think its not safe to be alone anymore, they'll think rogues killed her." His gaze turned to Cristy,"Clean yourself up, I don't want a scent of that she-cat on any of you,"


OH SNAP. What just happened? Yup, I threw in an extra Point of view. Its short because, well, I'm mean like that.

Chapter 8

Dovepelt smirked, her whiskers twitching.  She could see her apprentice, Firepaw, stalking through the gorse of Windclan territory, his tail straight out behind him. Dovepelt was surprises the rabbit he was stalking couldn’t see his bright ginger fur through the thick grasses.
The clans’ apprentices were being assessed  on their hunting skills today and Firepaw was doing exceptionally well. He had already caught a chaffinch and buried under a large beech tree.
Dovepelt slunk closer, her paws sliding across the floor like a snake gliding over ice; silent. Firepaw bunched his haunches under himself and sprang through the air like a grasshopper. She could hear the cracking of the rabbit's bones then Firepaw dragging it through the tufts of grass. Dovepelt ducked below eye level, the cool wind brushing the the grass against her flank. She popped her head up and saw Firepaw hustling back into the forest. She picked through the grass, careful to be as silent as possible. Firepaw turned his head around and squinted his eyes at the moorland. Dovepelt ducked again and slithered through the grasses. Firepaw was doing excellent, he was confident in almost everything he did, though quieter than his sister, Sandpaw, her mentor was the Riverclan she-cat Petalfur. With so many apprentices now in the clan, mentors were scarce, so again the clans had to resort to cross clan mentors.
Dovepelt perked her ears, she cast her senses deep into the forest, back to the camp. She could hear cats fighting! It was Cinderheart and Jayfeather, but Jayfeather wasn't the one attacking, Cinderheart was attacking Jayfeather. She gasped and ran through the forest, blindly running past Firepaw.
"Dovepelt! What's going on?" He chased after her, leaping over logs and ferns, leaving his prey behind. Dovepelt raced through the trees, her heart pounding. She could sense Cinderheart had stopped attacking Jayfeather while Bramblestar burst into the den.
Dovepelt burst through the camp, her eyes so round and fearful you could see the whites. The camp was as normal as usual, Petalfur was talking quietly to her apprentice and Crowfeather was scolding Stonepaw again. Bumblestripe padded up to her.
"What's wrong? You look as if you fell into a family of foxes," He commented.
Dovepelt ignored his question,"Where's Jayfeather? Is he alright?" Bumblestripe cocked his head.
"I guess so, why shouldn't he be?" Dovepelt looked over Bumbestripe's large gray shoulders and saw Jayfeather limping out of the medicine den, his fur splayed and greasy with herb poultices covering him from head to toe. Dovepelt tried to walk over to him but Lionblaze blocker her path. His eyes still held fear, but his fur looked cleaner now.
"How's Firepaw?" He rumbled. Dovepelt looked over her shoulder, pleases to find he had joined Sandpaw by the apprentices' den.
"Fine, he passed his assessment, though I think I scared him out of his fur today,"
"How's that?"
Dovepelt flicked her ears uncomfortably,"I heard something in the camp and ran through the forest like a whole clan of badgers were after me,"
"What did you hear?"Lionblaze mewed, his paws scraping the floor.
"I heard," She gulped," Cinderheart attacking Jayfeather." Lionblaze's eyes grew large with fear, then glazed over in anger.
"How come nobody told me?" He yowled, racing to the medicine den. Dovepelt chased after him, trying to tell him to stop and that he wouldn't help.
"She's my mate, and Jayfeather is my brother! If I can't help, then not even Starclan can do anything!" He screamed over his shoulder, his body disappearing behind the fern tunnel. Dovepelt followed him closely, expecting to see a rabid Cinderheart attacking anyone that came to close. But what she saw made her heart twist in pain. Cinderheart was sobbing into a pile of moss, her voice drowned out by Squirrelflight's and Leafpool's soothing purrs.
"Look Cinderheart," Leafpool nudged her friend,"Its Lionblaze and Dovepelt, they've come to see you," Cinderheart looked up, her eyes red and swollen and her fur matted, it clung to her small frame like a wet leaf. She never looked so small and fragile, not even in the harshest part of leafbare. She looked over to Lionblaze, his fur on end and his tail rigid with fear. But she saw him try to hide it with false happiness that lit his eyes.
"Cinderheart," He purred, stepping closer to his mate.
"No," She hissed,"I can't be your mate anymore!"
Dovepelt gasped and shot a startled look at Squirrelflight.
"W-what?" Lionblaze squirmed.
Cinderheart shook her head, her body racking with choked back sobbing,"I hurt Jayfeather! I didn't mean to I swear, it just happened. I can't let you get hurt Lionblaze, and I can't stand watching you when I'm not here,"
"Your always here Cinderheart," Squirrelfight soothed, flicking her bright ginger tail onto Cinderheart's light gray shoulder. Cinderheart flinched and back away, shaking her head and rumbling something softly to herself. Dovepelt stepped closer to Lionblaze, his soft voice muttering something.
"...I knew it would happen. I knew,"He repeated, his eyes round with shock. Dovepelt pressed her fur comfortingly to his. He pushed her away.
"I knew it would happen." He mewed flatly,"I knew it! And I didn't even tell her yet! But she doesn't love me anymore!" He stared at the three she-cats watching him with wide eyes. "I knew one day this would happen!" He yowled, his eyes crazy and wild,"Starclan has abandoned us! What can they do if they can't help Cinderheart?"
Leafpool stepped closer to her son,"Starclan is with us, always, they fought side by side with us in the Great Battle, you know that,"
Lionblaze pushed her back, tail lashing,"Starclan is weak, their wounds were too deep for them, and they have no more power. You of all cats should hate them the most! You lost being a medicine cat, the love of your only daughter!"
Leafpool's eyes narrowed," I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I need to be," Dovepet watched the two cats lash their tails angrily at each other, their fur fluffed out along their spines.
"Whatever," Lionblaze huffed, turning away and vanishing through the entrance. Dovepelt turned back to the other two she-cats.
"What happened?" She whispered.
"Cinderheart panicked, she's in a lot of pain at the moment, and she thought Jayfeather was Cinderpelt." Squirrelflight sighed, glancing towards the den where Cinderheart had disappeared into.
"What do you mean, she though Jayfeather was Cinderheart?" Dovepelt sat down.
"I think she can see when Cinderpelt is with us and she knows what Cinderpelt is thinking so she knows what Cinderpelt looks like. Jayfeather and Cinderpelt were both gray." Squirrelflight responded wearily. Dovepelt sat back, confusion and fear running through her mind.
"Everyone out," Dovepelt whipped around, Jayfeather was standing in the doorway with Honeypaw and Sarah. "I'm teaching now and none of you will be any use to me,"
"Bramblestar said there was supposed to be a warrior here at all times," Leafpool queried.
Jayfeather flicked his ears," Sarah's here,"
"Sarah isn't a warrior," Leafpool countered.
"Fine. Honeypaw, fetch a Leaftail,"
"Sure thing," Honeypaw mewed, her eyes glowing wit relief. Dovepelt could feel the den crackle like lightning between all the cats. She glanced at Sarah, hoping to catch a friendly nod, but Sarah's eyes were weirdly cool and calculating. Dovepelt shivered, something was definitely wrong with that she-cat.
"Lets go Dovepelt," Squirrelflight nudged the younger she-cat away as Honeypaw returned with Leaftail, her fur splayed as if she had just woken up.
"I'll tell Bramblestar to send someone to relieve you at sun down," Squirrelflight murmured. Leatail nodded and sat down in front of the entrance, her tail flicking casually. Dovepelt trotted towards the center of camp.
"Dovepelt," Firepaw padded up to her,"How did I do with my assessment?"
"Excellent, but you'll have to go back out and fetch the fresh kill you left behind," Dovepelt explained. Firepaw nodded and trotted out of camp, his tail vanishing through the thorn barrier. Dovepelt turned back to the camp, her eyes glittering with worry. What was going to happen to Lionblaze and Cinderheart now?

Yeah... its a short chapter... I couldn't really think of anything exciting to write about... Plus I'm not really fond of writing in Dovepelt's point of view... Whatever.

Chapter 7

Jayfeather snorted. What did Lionblaze know anyways? He was just being nice to Sarah, thats all. What was he supposed to do, be a jerk to her? She was a participating member of the clans, just because she was a rogue didn't mean that she shouldn't be treated fairly. No, it was Lionblaze who was acting strange.
He padded out of the medicine den, pushing the ferns back behind him he sulked out of his den. Who cared what he did, he was a medicine cat, his tail had more respect from the other clans than Lionblaze did. He could do what he wanted, even if that was giving lessons to a rogue about herbs. She could learn with Honeypaw anyways.
"Hey Jayfeather," Bumblestripe padded up next to him,"I was just wondering how Cinderheart was," Jayfeather remembered her sent her out of camp to pick herbs with Leafpool.
"Fine." He mewed flatly.
"Oh," Bumblestripe mewed,"I was asking because I was wondering when she was going to take over as deputy again, because, um, I kind of wanted to go back to being a regular warrior, and since the clans will probably be separating soon, we need all the warriors we can get,"
"Well it's not going to happen anytime soon" Jayfeather hissed.
"Oh," Bumblestripe dipped his head as Leaftail padded out of the warriors' den to greet her.
"What are we doing today Jayfeather?" Honeypaw padded up to him, her voice loud and cheerful.
"Where were you this morning, its past sunhigh," Jayfeather grunted.
"Bramblestar said I should come to the training hollow and learn some simple battle moves," Honeypaw mewed,"Since, your blind and all,"
"Thanks, I hadn't noticed," Jayfeather plucked at the ground with his claws impatiently. "Now that your here, go and check on Junipertail'sjoints then report back to me, I'll show you show to apply the right herbs and where you can find them,"
"Sounds good to me!" Honeypaw mewed, flicking her tail around his neck. Jayfeather hissed, why did she have to be all cheery, all the time? It would take a while for him to get used to her vibrant spirit.
Jayfeather padded onward, toward the nursery. He pushed his way in.
"Jayfeather," Gingerstep rolled over, he could senses she was round with kits,"Are there any herbs I need to take?"
"Not today, I'm just here to check on your growth," He murmured pushing his ear next to her round stomach. Deep inside, he could hear tiny, little heartbeats rumbling off her stomach walls.
"How many are in there?" Gingerstep murmured.
"I don't know, only Starclan does, but hopefully not as much as Dovepelt's litter, thats all we need, six more rascals driving the clans insane."
"It would be good for Shadowclan thought," Gingerstep remarked, "Six more warriors to defend our borders,"
Jayfeather paused, it seemed some of the clan cats thought that the clans were going to separate sooner or later.
"Thats true," Jayfeather murmured,"Tell me if you start to feel anything, they should be coming any day now,"  He ducked his head and padded out of the nursery.
"There you are," Leafpool padded up to Jayfeather,"You should come see this,"
Jayfeather hissed, "I can't see anything,"
Leafpool rolled her eyes,"Get over yourself already, and come and find out what I'm talking about," Jayfeather was stunned, Leafpool was never blunt with everybody. Was everyone in the clans changing?
"Over here, its Cinderheart," Leafpool murmured. Jayfeather angled his ears to the apprentices' den.
"We're going to have to clean out the apprentices' den, as a surprise for Mountainpaw," Cinderheart's cheery mew was talking to Leopardkit.
"Sounds good to me," Leopardkit squeaked.
"I thought she was Cinderpelt today?" Jayfeather whispered.
"Thats what I thought," Leafpool paused,"But when we got down to the lake, she started to swim and acted like Cinderheart,"
"Then we need to get her back to my den," Jayfeather tensed.
"Why? Isn't this better?" Leafpool murmured.
Jayfeather shook his head,"No this means she could change at anytime. We risk her changing right now and hurting someone," Jayfeather stepped forward, ready to fetch Cinderheart and take her back to the medicine den.
"Wait," Leafpool rasped,"Let her play with Leopardkit awhile, she hasn't been with her kits in moons," Jayfeather's pelt burned in envy, at least Leafpool had Lakekit and Crowfeather. Jayfeather had no one. He didn't get along with Lionblaze anymore and Dovepelt had her own family to worry about. Even Cinderheart was better off then him, she had Leopardkit and Mountainpaw that loved her. And who did he have? He had no one. At least Sarah liked to be with him and learn from him.
"Come on," Jayfeather growled to Leafpool, it was time for Cinderheart to come back.
"Cinderheart," Leafpool murmured in Cinderheart's ear,"We have to go back to the medicine den now,"
"Oh," Cinderheart mewed sadly,"Leopardkit, I have to go now,"
"Why do you live in the medicine den?" Leopardkit whined,"I want to play!"
"We can play later, by I have to," She mewed in mock cheer," Go get better,"
"Come on," Jayfeather nudged her away.
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"Whats wrong with me Jayfeather?" Cinderheart whispered in the den. Jayfeather shuffled his paws nervously. He reached back into his herb stores and began to sort the herbs.
"Jayfeather," CInderheart whined," Why won't you tell me?"
"Cinderheart, come to the Moonpool with me next half moon, I can explain everything there," Jayfeather murmured.
"Who is she?" Cinderheart whispered, her voice edged with fear.
"Who?" Jayefather whipped around.
"She's there, in my head! Get her out! She's hurting me! She's the one who is doing this to me!" Cinderheart yowled.
"Cinderheart! Calm-" Jayfeather raised his voice.
Cinderheart interrupted,"Its you who's doing this! Get out of here!" Cinderheart leaped onto Jayfeather, bowling him over. She scratched her claws down his sides. Jayfeather yowled in misery.
"Stop it! Get out!" Cinderheart sobbed wildly.
"Cinderheart, its me! Jayfeather!" Jayfeather yowled fiercely.
"Get out of my head! This is my life!" Cinderheart sobbed, ripping out chunks of his fur. Jayfeather shrieked in agony. She nipped at his ears, yowling in fear and anger. She raked her claws down his sides again and yowled in fury when Jayfeather tried to throw her off. "Stop it! Stop hurting me!" She lashed a claw near his neck, barely grazing the skin. Jayfeather could feel her mind hurting, pulsing with anger, shock, and disbelief as to what was happening.
"I just want to be alone!" She screamed. Jayfeather daftly tried to reach into her mind, and when he did, he felt intense heartbreak and fear ripping him apart as two cats tried to gain control. His mind felt like exploding with emotion and he barely had the sense to stay awake through the pain.
"Jayfeather?" A frightened voice whispered across the room.
"Honeypaw! Get someone, quick!" Jayfeather yowled as Cinderheart bit into his fore paw. Cinderheart suddenly let go of Jayfeather and backed away slowly.
"No...no...no..." Cinderheart whispered,"What have I done,"
"Cinderheart..." Jayfeather limped forward.
"I'm so sorry Jayfeather, honest, I never meant to hurt you," Cinderheart started to sob,"I-I thought you were her and I got so scared... I'm sorry,"
"Its alright," Jayfeather assured.
"Jayfeather? What happened?" Bramblestar poked his head in. Jayfeather could smell Squirrelflight, Crowfeather, and Leafpool at his side.
"She got scared, thats all," Jayfeather murmured.
"Let me get you something," Leafpool murmured, scurrying away to the herbs.
"Cinderheart?" Bramblestar mewed gruffly,"Cinderheart, look at me,"
Cinderheart quietly looked up, her body racked with emotion and her fur soaked with Jayfeather's blood.
"Bramblestar, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt him," Cinderheart sobbed.
"I'm going to have to post a guard here at all times," Bramblestar murmured, shaking his head.
"Here you go Jayfeather," Leafpool placed the herbs next to him and started to chew them.
"Did Lionblaze speak to you yet?" Bramblestar murmured.
Jayfeather nodded,"I agreed and told Cinderheart she is going to the moonpool with me and Willowshine next halfmoon." He winced as Leafpool put on the first of the ointment.
"Maybe Starclan will tell you about medicine cats," Crowfeather added.
So other cats do think that the clans are separating, if not, then why would we need more medicine cats? Jayfeather thought as Leafpool applied more herbs.
"Where's Honeypaw?" Jayfeather mewed.
Bramblestar answered,"I told her to stay out until you tell her to come back," Jayfeather nodded.
"I'll tell her now," Jayfeather added,"I've already explained to her about Cinderheart, but I'm going to check her for shock," He limped out of the den. He found Honeypaw talking with her littermates by the bramble patch.
"I swear Honeypaw," Duskpaw bragged,"The mouse I caught was as big as Hedgepaw's head!"
"Hey!" Hedgepaw mewed indignantly,"At least I didn't jump into a thorn bush trying to catch a vole!"
"You shouldn't be talking," Snowpaw chuckled,"I heard that Sandpaw saw you trip right into a puddle yesterday while training with Snakerock,"
"What did you do today Honeypaw?" Foxpaw prompted. Jayfeather was lost in their innocent chatter.
"Nothing," She mumbled quietly.
"Wow, being a medicine cat must be as boring as it sounds," Duskpaw grumbled.
Jayfeather cleared his throat, the apprentices' talking quieted.
"I didn't mean it Jayfeather, you get to talk to Starclan and..." Duskpaw chirped quietly,"and you get to pick herbs..."
Jayfeather ignored her apology,"Honeypaw, its time to come back now," He could sense her fear and anxiety.
"Alright," She murmured padding to his side. Jayfeather ushered her away from her littermates and their curious stares and pricked ears.
"What happened in there?" Honeypaw murmured to her mentor. Jayfeather gulped, he had told Honeypaw before how Cinderheart's mind was hurting her, but he couldn't even start to explain how painful each and everyday was for her. Her mind constantly reeling in agony, and another cat lurking somewhere in the shadows everyday of her life.

Chapter 6

Lionblaze sulked back to the medicine den, his tail caked in mud. His kits didn't love him, his mate didn't trust him. Why would he be trusted with this power if he couldn't even keep Cinderheart safe from her own mind? He wasn't even sure what was wrong with her, Leafpool and Jayfeather had said she was actually Cinderpelt, did that make it wrong that he was her mate, she was a medicine cat after all.

Lionblaze pushed through the fern bushes, the dank scent of herbs blended with the rich scent of fear. Lionblaze looked over to Leafpool, she was brushing her tail down Cinderheart's back.

"How is she?" Lionblaze rasped.

Leafpool looked up,"I got her to eat some poppy seeds, but she keeps asking to see Firestar and I don't know what to do," Her eyes were round with worry.

"Why don't we just tell her what's going on, about everything," Lionblaze murmured.

Leafpool shook her head,"No, that would just scare her, she would never be able to cope with what's happening, especially when she is Cinderpelt,"

"We all seem to be coping fine," Lionblaze scoffed sarcastically. He was a shell of his former self, snapping at other warriors when they so much as said Cinderheart's name, acting like there was nothing else that could be worse in the world.

"Why don't you go and visit Lakekit, he's been dying to play with you," Leafpool suggested, changing the subject of Cinderheart. He looked back at her, expecting some kind of pity hidden in her amber eyes, but only the love of a mother to a kit was gleaming from her eyes.

"Fine." He mewed flatly, shaking his fur, it was greasy and ill kept. But he didn't care. He pushed passed the other warriors in camp angrily and pushed through the bramble bush into the nursery.

"Lionblaze!" Lakekit squeaked, rushing forward to greet his older brother. Lionblaze lay down and watched him climb over his shoulders.

"Where's Leopardkit?" Lionblaze murmured looking for her soft spotted coat.

"She's over there with Gingerstep," Lakekit squeaked,"She doesn't like to play proper games, she's too slow," Lionblaze peered around his brother, to the bright ginger queen. A small bundle of fur was curled into a ball. Lionblaze walked around Lakekit and padded to Leopardkit. He prodded his daughter in the flank and her head rose.
"Lionblaze?" She squeaked. Lionblaze took a step back, his daughter's eyes were cloudy and crusted around the edges, her pelt clinging to her bony frame. She looked haunted and...and dead. Lionblaze took another step out of the den and left the kits behind. He couldn't take another cat that was sick, a cat he couldn't help, a cat that he cared about was in pain. He ran out of the camp, only to run into his son.
"Lionblaze!" Mountainpaw purred. Lionblaze looked up at his son. At least his eyes were clearer than his sisters, and his pelt looked full and luxurious, his broad shoulders muscular and strong. His eyes were gleaming in hope for his father to say something.
"Mountainpaw," Lionblaze purred, flicking his son with his tail. Bramblestar was behind him.
"Lionblaze," Bramblestar mewed,"I want to talk to you. Mountainpaw, why don't you go and clean out the nursery, then you can have your pick of the fresh kill pile," The apprentice dipped his head and slipped through the camp entrance.
"Lionblaze, I've been meaning to talk to you," Bramblestar mewed thoughtfully,"Lets hunt first," Lionblaze nodded silently and slipped through the forest, but his paw steps were clumsy. Bird flew away when he stepped on a piece of bracken and he had jumped too soon when he saw a mouse scuffling in the dirt. Scowling, he sulked back to Bramblestar, who was burying his prey. He looked up and sighed.
"Honestly Lionblaze, you did better when you were an apprentice," Bramblestar growled. Lionblaze rolled his eyes, he didn't want to come out here so a cat could criticize his hunting.
"I know that your having a hard time," Bramblestar walked forward a few paces then turned around. You don't even know what I have to go through every day. Lionblaze whipped his tail across the ground.
Bramblestar continued,"But Mountainpaw and Leopardkit are getting older, and your going to miss out on their lives if you spend yours sulking all day," He paused," That is, if Leopardkit even makes it." Lionblaze looked up.
"What do you mean?"
"She's very weak and she refuses to eat," Bramblestar mewed calmly.
"What about Mountainpaw?" Lionblaze scuffed at the ground with his paws.
"Mountainpaw is a great apprentice, he catches more than any other and fights better than some of the warriors," Bramblestar sighed.
"Then why isn't he a warrior?" Lionblaze growled.
"He didn't pass his final assessment," Bramblestar hunched his shoulders,"I think he's been distracted lately,"
"About what?"
"He's worried about you, and his mother, and his sister. He hasn't seen his mother in moons and nobody has told him why," Bramblestar rested his tail on the younger tom's shoulders.
"What do you supposed I should do?" Lionblaze studied his paws.
"Tell Cinderheart, tell her everything," Bramblestar murmured, his gaze drifting down to lock with Lionblaze's.
Lionblaze sneared,"What do you think I should tell her? 'Oh hey Cinderheart, or is it Cinderpelt? Anyways, your not actually who you think you are,'"
Bramblestar gazed fiercely into Lionblaze's amber eyes,"What are you so afraid of?" Lionblaze flinched,"Well, what is it?"
"I-I," He stammered,"I'm afraid she won't love me anymore," He looked away from his leader.
"Oh," Bramblestar swept his tail around the golden tom's shoulders and moved closer to share the warmth. They sat there for a few moments, in silence.
"I think you should take her to the moonpool," Bramblestar's deep voice stirred Lionblaze's ear fur. Lionblaze looked up.
"What?" Lionblaze didn't see how Starclan could help.
"Cinderheart might listen to Starclan," Bramblestar mewed. Lionblaze shifted his paws among the grasses.
"You can go next half moon, with the medicine cats, its about time we got back into clan traditions anyways," Bramblestar stood and started to walk back to the camp, his long tail disappearing behind the ferns. Lionblaze stood and walked back as well, he had to talk to Jayfeather about this.
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"I think he's right," Jayfeather mewed while stacking herbs in his store. Lionblaze had just told him about Bramblestar's plan.
"What makes you think this would work? Anytime Cinderheart is actually Cinderheart and I tell her something, Cinderpelt doesn't remember it," Lionblaze flicked moss across the dusty floor.
"Well we have to try it," Jayfeather grunted. Lionblaze watched his brother, his movements were strained and jerky.
"Anything wrong?" Lionblaze rolled the moss casually.
"Nope, I'm just fine," Jayfeather grunted, dislodging a wad of herbs from the cracks.
"Liar," Lionblaze rolled the moss at his brother's flank. Jayfeather stopped, turned to Lionblaze, and sighed.
"I'm trying to clean up ya' know," Jayfeather picked up the moss ball and dumped in outside the den.
"Hey, I was using that," Lionblaze rolled onto his back. Jayfeather grunted.
"What' the matter Jayfeather?"
"I told you-" Jayfeather hissed before a cat entered the den.
"Jayfeather?" Sarah poked her head in. Lionblaze got up and shook the herb dust from his pelt.
"Am I interrupting something?" Sarah mewed.
"No of course not," Jayfeather whispered, rushing forward to move the ferns that blocked her path.
"Thanks Jayfeather," Sarah mewed. Lionblaze narrowed his eyes, what was wrong with Jayfeather? He was acting as strange as a hedgehog all day.
"What do you need?" Jayfeather mewed cheerfully. Sarah lifted up a paw.
"I stepped on a thorn while on patrol, Bumblestripe told me to come here to get it checked out," Sarah sighed. Jayfeather pressed his face next to her sore pad.
"I'll put some goldenrod on it," He hurried away and returned a moment later with the herbs in his mouth. He chewed the leaves delicately and made small talk. Lionblaze watched his brother carefully.
"So how do you like clan life?" Jayfeather murmured.
Sarah winced as he put the poultice on her paw,"Wonderful, its great how you all take care of each other," She winced again.
"Am I hurting you?" Jayfeather stopped suddenly.
Sarah shook her head,"No, it just stings a little," Lionblaze couldn't believe his eyes. What was his brother doing? He was acting like Sarah was a gift from Starclan!
Lionblaze opened his mouth to say something when Tinder poked his head in,"Everything alright in here?" His throaty mew echoed around the den. Lionblaze looked to Jayfeather, who now looked nervous and angry at the same time.
"Fine," He growled, packing his herbs away.
"Jayfeather before I go, can I ask you something?" Sarah sat up, her tail twined around her mate, Tinder. Jayfeather watched the two cats curl their tails around eachother.
"Sure," He mewed in mock cheer. Lionblaze saw Tinder's eyes narrow.
"Can I learn some common remedies from you. Tinder and I have been talking, and we think that our group s going to leave," Lionblaze walked closer to the cats.
"Sure anytime," Jayfeather stuttered,"Anytime at all, in fact you can stay now. But you know, you, you don't have to leave. You can stay, your whole group could stay. No problem." Jayfeather finished, curling his tail neatly around his paws, his whiskers twitching nervously.
"We'll think about it," Tinder growled, ushering his mate through the ferns.
"Bye Jayfeather, bye Lionblaze!" Sarah called cheerfully.
"What, was that?" Lionblaze whipped around to his brother, whose eyes were round and it looked as if Jayfeather was gazing past the den walls.
Jayfeather turned to his brother, a grin taking up his whole face,"What?"
"Your act with Sarah, what in the world was that?" Lionblaze scoffed.
"What do you mean 'act'," Jayfeather growled, turning back to his herb store.
Lionblaze started to prance around to imitate Jayfeather,"'Oh Sarah, of course you can come here at anytime! And while your at it, why don't you just join Thunderclan?"'
"Shut up! I was being polite!" Jayfeather retorted.
Lionblaze snorted,"Yeah, right." Lionblaze whipped around and stalked out of the den, tail lashing. If Jayfeather wouldn't tell him what was up, then he didn't care. 

Chapter 5

Dovepelt licked her lips. A sparrow was plucking a worm from the ground, she crept closer. She got ready to pounce, the breeze blew toward her, sending the scent of the bird into her nose. She haunched her shoulders and kept her tail close to the ground and jumped through the air. Just before she hit the ground, a  gray flash of fur ran through the bushes in front of her, frightening the bird to the highest parts of the forest.
"Mouse-dung!" She spat. She looked up into the amber eyes of her son, Stonepaw. Only just apprenticed, he was still as cheeky as a kit.
"Stonepaw! Get back here!" Another cat crashed through the bushes. Crowfeather jumped over the gray tom without slowing and ran into brambles.
"Hiya Crowfeather!" Stonepaw mewed cheerfully. Crowfeather turned around, a few snatches of fur stuck to the bramble bush, and glared at his apprentice.
"Stonepaw, I told you to go to the training hollow, not to disturb another warriors hunting," Crowfeather growled. Stonepaw's gaze didn't falter as he replied.
"I was just trying to say 'hi' to Dovepelt,"
"Well now you can say 'hi' to the elders for me when you clean out their nests today,"
"But-,"
No 'buts'!" Crowfeather growled again, ushering his apprentice away. Dovepelt watched her son go, he would learn sooner or later and a strict mentor like Crowfeather is just what he needed. Dovepelt turned back and listened for more prey, but it seemed that Stonepaw's raucous had scared all the prey away. Dovepelt sighed and looked through the trees, newly green buds flourished on the branches and the sweet scent of newleaf  swam through the air. Dovepelt breathed deeply, the memory of the Great Battle was two moons behind them now and new life could be born. The apprentice den was full, Firepaw, Sandpaw, Stonepaw, Hedgepaw, Snowpaw, Foxpaw, Duskpaw, Petalpaw, and Sheeppaw were all being mentored now, and Honeypaw was now the new medicine cat apprentice. Gingerstep had joined Leafpool in the medicine den and was expecting Oakfur's kits. Skyclan and the Tribe had left without a hitch and Dovepelt expected they were settling nicely into their old homes.
Dovepelt made her way back to camp, empty pawed. She walked into the clearing where the newly made warriors, Twigstorm and Leaftail were entering the warriors' den probably to sleep after their vigil. Dovepelt padded to Lionblaze, his fur was unkept and greasy.
"Hows it going?" She murmured softly. e looked up, his eyes dull and crusty.
"Cinderheart isn't eating," He rasped, his voice cracked with grief.  Dovepelt pushed her muzzle into his flank and looked around the camp, she saw Mountainpaw, who was now bigger than herself and his muscles bulging underneath his sleek pelt, watching his father with a glassy stare. Lionblaze's kits were probably very confused, their usually involved parents no longer visiting them. Lionblaze saw this too.
"This is all my fault," Lionblaze growled,"If I had visited Mountainpaw, he wouldn't of been distracted during his assessment and he would've passed and been a warrior with Leaftail and Twigstorm."
"That's not true," Dovepelt protested,"He wasn't distracted, he just didn't bring back any prey,"
"Maybe I should visit him," Lionblaze remarked, he got to his paws. Dovepelt's ears twitched in grief, she could hear Cinderheart shriek in protest from the medicine den.
"I have to help her," Lionblaze scurried away. His gaze flickering to his mate and to his son awkwardly as he pushed through the fern tunnel. Dovepelt sighed, her friend was in a horrible situation, her mate didn't know what was happening most of the time. But Lionblaze needed to help his kits too, they were very confused aboout their parents. Cinderheart didn't come out of the medicine den anymore and even the clans were starting to notice the absence of Thunderclan's deputy. Dovepelt sighed as she trotted over to the fresh kill pile and plucked up a plump vole. She sat down and ate it in ravenous bites near the bramble thickets. She saw Jayfeather exit the medicine den with Honeypaw in behind. Dovepelt's kit was bouncing next to her mentor, her pelt ruffled in excitement. The two cats grabbed fresh kill from the pile and Jayfeather dismissed his apprentice. Dovepelt watched her daughter run off towards the elder bush and sit with her sister, Duskpaw.
Dovepelt looked back to Jayfeather, he was eating alone under the highledge. Dovepelt picked up her vole and sat next to Jayfeather.
"How's Cinderheart?" Dovepelt murmured as she bit into the vole again.
"She refuses to eat," Jayfeather mumbled.
"Who is she today?"
"Cinderpelt, and she only trusts Leafpool," Jayfeather sighed,"So I can't even give her poppy seeds for her to sleep. I can't let her out of the medicine den anymore, I'm afraid she might attack someone she doesn't know,"
Dovepelt nodded,"Maybe you should speak to Starclan,"
"I've searched for them in my dreams, but the its like I'm seeing things through another cat's eyes, I can't do anything about whats happening,"
Dovepelt looked away from Jayfeather, who was now murmuring something inaudible, and looked to the warriors' den. Three she-cats padded out and stretched their backs lazily. Jayfeather looked up and too, his eyes glassy and vague. The three she-cats padded closer; Sarah, Cristy, and Petalfur.
"Hi Dovepelt, Jayfeather," Sarah dipped her head respectively.
"I'm going to the fresh kill pile, anyone want anything?" Cristy mewed warmly.
"I'll have a thrush," Sarah flicked her tail at her friend's ear.
"Mouse, please," Petalfur murmured, settling herself down next to Jayfeather. Sarah sat down as well. dovepelt saw Sarah's mate, Tinder, exchanging words with Bumblestripe by the nursery.
"Sorry, there were no thrushes," Cristy passed the prey around, giving Sarah a dove instead.
"Here you can have mine," Jayfeather passed his prey to Sarah, which was a thrush.
"No that's alright Jayfeather," Sarah passed it back, but Jayfeather pushed it forward again.
"No, I insist," Jayfeather murmured. Dovepelt looked back up to see Tinder watching Jayfeather through narrowed eyes. Tinder blinked and padded away to where Ghost was sitting. Dovepelt didn't trust Ghost, nor his friend Raccon.
"So how long are you guys thinking of staying,"Petalfur mewed to Sarah and Cristy. The two she-cats exchanged glances.
"I'm not quite sure," Cristy answered, licking her whiskers carefully.
"Well you guys don't have to leave," Jayfeather insisted, then he mewed more quietly,"I mean, theres more than enough room here for your group," Dovepelt narrowed her eyes at Jayfeather, why was he being so awkward around the she-cats?
"I have to go," Jayfeather mewed softly, picking up his prey and shambling awake, his head low and awkward.

Chapter 4

Jayfeather's fur stirred in the midnight air, his whiskers twitching in the moonlight. There was no way he could sleep now, not since she entered his thoughts. There was no way he could get her out. Even after taking a poppy seed to help him sleep, his heart kept him awake. No, she's keeping you awake, Jayfeather thought furiously, he would not let himself do this. He sulked back to his nest, careful to avoid his patients and Willowshine and Stoneteller, laying near Jayfeather's nest.
Only a few moments ago Lionblaze and Dovepelt had climbed through the tunnel to go and look for Cinderheart. Jayfeather wished he could've gone with them, like back before the Great Battle, when they always told eachother about everything. Now Lionblaze and Dovepelt were going behind his back to do things! Jayfeather sighed, they probably thought he didn't understand, he didn't have a mate. But they didn't know about her. Nobody could ever no about her, because he barely knew anything about her. But what he did know, that's what sent his heart pounding. Her sweet scent, her way of talking, she made his stomach feel like butterflies. Even though he had known her for only a few days, she made his body feel weightless.
Jayfeather shook his head. This was nonsense. He didn't feel this way about any cat, especially a cat he barely knew. He had to stay focused on the clans and on the look out for the next Medicine cat of either Shadowclan or Windclan. He had felt a buzzing in his hears that sounded similar to birds singing when the loner, Twilight, spoke up during the burial ceremony earlier that night. Hopefully Starclan would show him a sign about the young tom about being the next medicine cat for either clan.
Jayfeather took a step back, he needed to sleep and he could feel his eyelids closing already. He swept his tail around his paws as he settled into his nest and closed his eyes, welcoming the thought of dreaming tonight.
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"Bramblestar wants to speak to you two in his den," Bumblestripe's deep voice rumbled across the den. Jayfeather looked up from his herbs, his unseeing gaze indifferent to the light that shown down through the gap in his den and cast warm light on his back. Jayfeather got up and squeezed through the narrow entrance. It felt weird to be able to walk through his den without some cat yowling threats into his ears like the Place of No Stars cats had done.
Jayfeather passed the fresh kill pile, from the scent of it, there was no prey left. His belly grumbled loudly. Hopefully the hunting patrols would bring back something good. He climbed the wall leading up to Bramblestar's den, which still smelled of Hollyleaf, and poked his head in.
"Jayfeather, come in," Bramblestar murmured to the medicine cat. Jayfeather dipped his head and walked in flanked by Willowshine.
"What are we talking about?" Willowshine sat down across from Jayfeather. Jayfeather shifted his paws irritably.
"Stoneteller says he's going to take his tribe back  before the new moon," Rowanstar's deep voice rumbled off the walls. Jayfeather nodded intently, he knew what this meant. Ragwort, Borage, Chamomile... Jayfeather started to recite the herb list for strengthening herbs. Most of his herbs were gone from the long exile in the medicine den, he would have to go and pick more. Hopefully his catmint had survived the frosts.
"What about Skyclan?" Willowshine mewed.
Leafstar spoke up,"We'll leave at the full moon as well," Jayfeather sighed, he would need lots of herbs.
"I'll help you gather herbs, if you like," Echosong breathed into his ear; he hadn't realized the small medicine cat was behind him.
"I'll help too," Willowshine decided. Jayfeather nodded and the three cats padded out of the den.
"Shouldn't you help too?" Bramblestar asked Stoneteller, he was the Tribe's healer after all. Stoneteller got to his paws.
"Might as well," He grunted,"We could learn from each other," Jayfeather snorted, he didn't expect to learn anything from the lazy old tom.


Sunhigh past in the camp by the time the herb patrol returned to camp. Jayfeather squeezed through the narrow entrance, the walls were crumpled down by moons of being neglected. Hopefully some warriors would take care of that.
His mouth watered as he placed his stack of herbs down, hunger gnawing at his stomach. A hunting patrol had just passed the returning patrol, carrying warm scents of prey even in this cold leafbare.
"I'll be off then," Stoneteller walked away, placing his herbs next to Jayfeather's. The old tom had known nothing of the herbs found in the forest, he had to be mentored like a young apprentice. The other medicine cats had been a big help though, Jayfeather was able to collect three times as many herbs as he could normally.
Jayfeather walked out of his den and plodded over to the fresh kill pile. He picked up a thrush, small but fat, and sat next to the bramble patch to eat in silence. A group of cats were approaching.
"Hi Jawfedder!" Snakerock mewed through a full mouth.
"What are you guys doing?" Jayfeather tilted his head quizzically.
"Repairing the forn farrier," Snakerock replied. Jayfeather nodded as the cats passed him. His stomach did flips. She was in the thorn barrier patrol. Her sweet scent surrounded him, he light pawsteps nimbly passing by without a sound. Jayfeather got caught in her warm scent, before shaking his head, cursing himself. He needed to stop this. There was no way he felt anyway about any cat!
Ignoring his thrush, he pelted out to the forest. He needed time alone to think. He bumped into a group of cats. He fell to the ground, landing clumsily on his side.
"Jayfeather!" Lionblaze breathed. Jayfeather looked up, had his bother found Cinderheart?
"Who is this? An intruder on Thunderclan land?" Cinderheart screeched. Duh, Jayfeather thought, why hadn't he tried to scent her out among the group.
"No Cinderpelt," Jayfeather could feel Dovepelt's intense stare burning through his pelt,"This is a Riverclan warrior, Jayfeather," Jayfeather picked himself of the ground and brushed moss off his back. How did they know about Cinderheart's secret? Why was Cinderheart acting so strange?
"Lets get you back to camp," Jayfeather murmured, joining the group back to camp. His own thoughts could wait for now.
The group passed through the gorse tunnel. The cats repairing it greeted them kindly.
"Hello Lionblaze," Sarah, the leader of the rogue's called a greeting to Jayfeather's brother. Lionblaze called back a greeting, Jayfeather could feel awkwardness sparking off his pelt. He could scent Heathertail and could hear her weaving brambles through the walls. Cherrytail of Skyclan was also busy helping Snakerock.
"Where are the badgers? And who are these cats?" Cinderheart hissed, her voice edged with worry.
"We, er, drove them away," Lionblaze scraped his claws against the rocks impatiently.
"Where is Sorreltail? I should be with her!" Cinderheart limped forward, her blue eyes searching crazily across the camp.
"She's right where you left her," Dovepelt answered. Jayfeather sighed, he knew she didn't know where Sorreltail should be, but she had given Cinderheart a very broad answer.
"Let get you to the medicine den," Lionblaze pressed his muzzle against her flank, ushering her closer to Jayfeather's den. Jayfeather could tell that Cinderheart was very fragile and anything could set her off. If they answered one question wrong she could attack them.
Suddenly an idea sparked in his head; the only thing they had to do was to get all the cats that knew Cinderpelt when she was alive!
"Lionblaze," Jayfeather whispered into his brother's ear,"I'm going to get Leafpool, Squirrelflight, Bramblestar, and Crowfeather, maybe they can help us answer some questions," Lionblaze nodded slightly and Jayfeather went off searching for his clanmates.
He poked his head into the warriors' den.
"Anyone here?" Jayfeather called.
A lazy grunt in the back of the den answered,"No, only a sleeping warrior tired from the vigil," It was Crowfeather.
"We need your help, go and report to the medicine den and Lionblaze will explain everything," Jayfeather backed out and sprinted to the nursery.
"Hello Jayfeather,"Squirrelflight and Leafpool were sunning themselves and sharing tongues outside, their kits playing a few tail lengths away.
"Have you seen Dovepelt, her kits say they haven't seen her since the vigil," Leafpool murmured.
Jayfeather ignored her question,"You're needed in the medicine den," He could feel Leafpool's surprise.
"Alright, see you later then, Squirrelflight murmured.
"You too," Jayfeather prodded his aunt.
"Where is your mate?" Jayfeather mewed to Squirrelflight. Squirrelflight stopped and looked back.
"I think he's in his den, but I haven't seen him since the vigil either," Jayfeather nodded and ran to the leader's den for the second time today. He poked his head in.
"Welcome Jayfeather, how was herb hunting?" Bramblestar mewed warmly, it seemed that even though Bramblestar knew that Jayfeather wasn't his son, he never stopped giving him kind words and advice. Jayfeather could feel pride flowing off him like water pouring from a river.
"Medicine den, now," Jayfeather mewed,"We need help with Cinderheart," Bramblestar trotted past him and Jayfeather followed.
"So what happened?" Bramblestar mewed, their pawsteps crunching through the frost.
Jayfeather flicked his tail,"She thinks that she is Cinderpelt and refuses to speak to anyone she doesn't know, and since you knew her when she was alive..."
"I'll be able to talk to her,"
"Exactly."
Jayfeather squeezed through the fern tunnel, Bramblestar close behind.
"...It's alright Cinderpelt," Leafpool's voice echoed calmly throughout the den. "Look here's Brambleclaw,"
"Where is Firestar?" Cinderheart growled. Jayfeather backed away to where Lionblaze and Dovepelt were standing.
"What's wrong with her?" Lionblaze whispered, half to himself. Jayfeather blinked, he didn't know if he should tell his brother that his mate was actually a reincarnate of Cinderpelt.
"Firestar is thanking the other clans for their help," Bramblestar mewed calmly.
"I thought you left, with Crowfeather," Cinderheart rasped uncomfortably to Leafpool. Jayfeather could feel her pelt prickle with unease,
"We came back," She mewed flatly.
"Why are these Riverclan cats still here?" Cinderheart hissed, agitation sparking off her like lightning. The older cats all stood there in silence.
"Er..." Lionblaze mewed awkwardly.
Leafpool cut him off,"Come on Cinderpelt, why don't you get some rest, I'll treat the wounded." Leafpool nudged to the back of the den, their scents fading as they moved away.
"What's going on with Cinderheart? Why does she think is Cnderpelt?" Squirrelflight stepped closer to Jayfeather, he thought quickly of what to say. He heard Leafpool's approaching pawsteps.
"I gave her a few poppy seeds so she would sleep and chamomile to sooth her," He heard her draw in a deep, gusty, breath,"Jayfeather, I think we should tell them,"
"Tell us what?" Lionblaze growled.
Jayfeather beckoned the cats closer,"Everyone knows how Cinderpelt became a medicine cat,"
"When she got his by th monster," Leafpool added.
"But that was not her destiny," Jayfeather shifted his paws,"She was always supposed to be a warrior."
"What has this got to do with Cinderheart?" Squirrelflight whispered.
Leafpool began to explain,"Before Ciinderpelt died, Starclan told her when she would die, and trusted her to keep it quiet,"
"Why would they do such a thing?" Bramblestar hissed.
"Cinderpelt died bravely, but her spirit isn't with Starclan," Leafpool murmured.
"What do you mean? Are you saying she went to the Dark Forest?" Lionblaze gasped.
Jayfeather shook his head,"No, Cinderpelt's spirit is with Cinderheart. Starclan sent her back to fulfill her destiny, as a warrior,"