Hello, me again! I'm writing this because I just reread The Last Hope and decided that it needed a better ending. So, I'm writing a fic about it! Anyway, read on!
Dovewing padded through the forest. Her sharp ears were tuned to pick up the slightest twitching of a vole, the quietest nibbling of a mouse. She crouched low, watching a squirrel dig a hole in the ground. It was going to be leaf-bare soon, and Dovewing was determined not to come back empty-pawed. The squirreled chirruped, burying the nut in the hard soil.
Bunching her legs, Dovewing sprang, delivering the killing bite to the squirrel's neck. Thank you, Starclan, for giving me this prey to feed my clan so they can survive for another moon. And…thank you for my powers that help my clan all the more. And thank you, more, for helping us to defeat the Dark Forest once and for all! Thanks to this squirrel, we will be stronger and prepared to fight the great evils again! We-
"Dovewing, you're doing it again." Whipping around, Dovewing spotted Jayfeather, the blind medicine cat, staring at her with unseeing eyes.
"What are you talking about?"
"Dovewing, I know how much pain this has caused you and Ivypool. But it's over. Tigerclaw is gone forever, so is Darkstripe, and Hawkfrost, and-"
"But look who they took with them! Firestar is gone! Spottedheart is gone! And countless others!"
"But look at how much peace it has brought! Think of Lionblaze! Look at how happy he is, settling down with Cinderheart! Without this war, they both would probably be dead, or working for the Dark Forest! What about all those kits? The poor things would have died. What about you and Bumble-"
"Don't! Just, don't, okay? I'm not in the mood. I'll thank Starclan how I want to. Got it? Just leave me alone!" Dovewing bounded off, tears streaming down her face. The dead squirrel lay in the clearing, forgotten. Jayfeather sighed. If only Dovewing could realize the truth- the war was over. Sighing again, he picked up the prey and walked back to camp.
"Bramblestar!" Jayfeather placed the prey on the fresh-kill pile and bounded over to his new leader. Turning, Bramblestar smiled at him.
"Do you have news about Squirrelflight?" His smile disappeared, replaced by a frown of worry and fear. "Is she alright? Are the kits coming? Squirrelflight!" He ran over to the nursery, fur fluffed up in panic. Cloudtail let out a mrow of laughter. "Now who's fluffy?" he called after his leader, chuckling at his own joke. Brightheart swatted him with her tail, panting heavily from the walk from the nursery.
"You need to stay in there, Brightheart." Jayfeather ushered her back to the nursery.
"I'm fine!" protested Brightheart.
"I thought you kitted before," grumbled Jayfeather, pointing at her swollen belly. "Back to the nursery!" He paused seeing the retreating tail of the frantic leader disappear inside. "On second thought, wait right there." Bounding after his leader, he entered the nursery.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Bramblestar licked Squirrelflight on the ears, concern in his amber eyes.
"I'm fine, really!" Squirrelflight pushed him away gently. "You need to be a leader, okay? I'll be fine. I'm not due for a few days. Honest, I'll be alright!"
"You-you told me something was wrong!" Bramblestar rounded on Jayfeather.
"I told you nothing of the sort!" spat Jayfeather. "I only said I wanted a word with you! As you can see, your mate and deputy are perfectly fine!" He turned and stalked indigently out of the nursery.
Pausing, he saw Cinderheart. The queen was basking in the sun, her kits playing only a few tail-lengths away. Padding over to her, he inspected her. After kitting only a few days ago, he wanted to keep a close eye on her. She hadn't eaten, but a few mouse hairs suggested that she had eaten a mouse.
Leaving the queen to rest, he instead walked over to her three kits. Eaglekit, a strong, brown tom with a white face, Twilightkit, a rust colored she-kit with streaks of yellow and white, and finally Flakekit, a white she-kit with blue eyes.
Jayfeather sniffed at Flakekit. She wasn't playing with her siblings. Then again, she never had. His face creased with worry, Jayfeather tried to call Flakekit. The kit did not respond to him. He waved a paw a few mouse-lengths away. No kit could have missed it, but Flakekit obviously couldn't see it.
Sighing heavily, he brushed the kit with his tail. She quivered, scampering away. Sniffing the air, she seemed to realize that it was a familiar scent. Her fur flattened and she sat down again.
"What are you doing with my kits?" Jayfeather whipped around to see Cinderheart facing him, fur fluffed out in rage.
"Cinderheart, please. I think-"
"I think I don't care! Get away from them! They are healthy and strong!" Cinderheart wrapped her tail protectively around her kits, cuddling Flakekit close.
"Cinderheart, what's wrong?" Lionblaze darted over to his mate's side, comforting her.
"Jayfeather, he-he-" Cinderheart began to sob silently.
"Cinderheart, it's alright. Flakekit can probably get along fine."
"No she can't! You're going to tell me she's blind and deaf, right? Well, she's not! She's just not!" Cinderheart dashed back into the nursery, bundling her kits with her. Her sobs could be heard all over the camp. Bramblestar left the nursery quickly, obviously not wanting to be near the hysterical she-cat.
"What is it you wanted to talk about, Jayfeather?" Bramblestar asked.
"I'm going to Moonpool tonight," Jayfeather mumbled, already in his den. Briarlight nodded solemnly, beginning to gather the needed herbs.
"Not now," growled Jayfeather. "I need a nap. No, scratch that. I need a vacation."
