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.