Chapter 1

The Patrol's Discovery

Ivykit and Dovekit were playing in one corner of the nursery under the watchful eye of their mother. Jayfeather sat nearby, watching them with an intensity that seemed unnatural for just a medicine cat checking on a queen's first kits. It was as if he actually could see them.

Jayfeather glanced back at Whitewing from watching her kits, his blind blue eyes careful even though his voice was light and even. "They're both doing really well," he commented.

Whitewing purred loudly. "Of course," she meowed, looking at her kits fondly.

Jayfeather paused, and then continued. "Are they ok? Anything unusual about them?"

Whitewing blinked, tilting her head to one side as she surveyed Ivykit and Dovekit. "No, why?" Her voice was worried now.

Jayfeather shook his head. "It's nothing, I just wanted to make sure," he replied smoothly, while inside he was burning with frustration. He turned back to the kits, his ears pricked. "They're healthy and strong, both of them. They'll make fine warriors when the time comes."

"Thank you, Jayfeather," Whitewing replied, then added softer, "You're a great medicine cat. I know that all this must be hard for you, with Leafpool and everything..."

Jayfeather narrowed his eyes and turned away. "Yeah, right," he muttered. "See you later." He

padded out of the nursery before the queen could say any more. He could sense Daisy, Ferncloud, and Millie all staring after him, but he ignored that.

Jayfeather padded into the medicine cat's den and started putting away some of the marigold leaves he had set out to dry this morning. He didn't know how long and taskful a medicine cat's life could be when there was only one of them. He and Leafpool used to split up the duties, making sure that everything was done in plently of time. Now he barely had any time to rest over everything that needed to be done.

"Hey, Jayfeather," Lionblaze's voice called from right outside the den. The golden warrior padded inside. "Firestar wants to see you."

Jayfeather's ears pricked. "Huh? How come?" The leader had never requested a meeting with him before.

Lionblaze lowered his voice, even though there was no one else in the den. Tension was rippling like waves around Jayfeather's brother. "I was just on the dawn patrol, and we found prey on our territory that was half-eaten. It all had ShadowClan scent. We just told Firestar, I think he wants a medicine cat's advice on what to do."

"What? ShadowClan's stealing food?" Jayfeather turned and faced Lionblaze. "That doesn't sound right. ShadowClan might be sneaky, but they follow the warrior code. They would have taken the fresh-kill back instead of eating the prey on ThunderClan territory."

Lionblaze nodded excitedly. "That's what I thought. And it all looked...too careful, like ShadowClan wanted us to see that they were stealing food."

"They're trying to provoke us!" Jayfeather realized. He shook his head in astonishment. "I'd better go talk to Firestar."

He followed his brother outside, where his Clanmates were already up and about. Whitewing had let her kits outside to play with Briarkit, Bumblekit, and Blossomkit. Millie's kits were almost ready to be apprentices.

While walking past the elder's den, Jayfeather caught the scent of Leafpool, just walking outside. The former medicine cat moved slowly, like an elder, and sadness seemed to radiate from her like a cold wind. After she had been revealed to have broken the warrior code, she had resigned her post as a medicine cat and would have left, but Firestar wouldn't allow his daughter to be driven out. Now Leafpool was considered an elder, and she even seemed like one. Grief had aged her a hundred moons.

Jayfeather moved carefully up the path to the Highledge. The last time he was here was when he had brought Firestar strengthening herbs after he lost a life to greencough. The flame-colored leader had almost all his strength back by now, but Jayfeather had advised him of staying in his den during the colder weather.

Thank StarClan this Leaf-bare is almost over. It had been hard finding herbs alone anyway, let alone in the dead of Leaf-bare when there was nothing to find.

"Jayfeather," his kin greeted him warmly when Jayfeather sat down. "How are you?"

Jayfeather shifted uncomfortably. "Fine, thank you," he replied awkwardly. He hoped Firestar would just get on with what he had brought Jayfeather there for.

Firestar must have sensed his impatient mood, so he stood and meowed calmly, "I'm sure Lionblaze had told you what happened. I need to know whether I should take this seriously or ignore it. Have

Starclan shown you anything like this?"

Jayfeather blinked, and tried to collect his thoughts. You should talk to Leafpool, not me, he thought despite himself. "Uh...no, they haven't," he stammered. "StarClan have been quiet lately." They've given up. They're at war with each other. But I'm not going top tell Firestar about that.

Firestar shook his head, looking disappointed. "Ever since Ashfur was killed," he muttered to himself.

"Maybe Ashfur is angry because he was never avenged."

Hollyleaf. Jayfeather felt the now-familiar pain over the death of his sister, still raw over moons. "No, it's not Ashfur," Jayfeather replied quietly. "His death is behind us now. There's nothing any cat can do." He sat up higher and raised his head, trying to get Firestar's mind off Ashfur. "Double the patrols at ShadowClan, at least. Try and catch them in the act of stealing our prey."

"Right," Firestar was now thinking of peace talks and proving to Blackstar what his Clan was doing. Jayfeather breathed a sigh of relief at the change in conversation. "Thank you, Jayfeather." He nodded, dismissing him. Jayfeather padded outside, feeling Firestar's gaze on his back.

Jayfeather took a deep breath when he felt the fresh air on his face. There's something wrong here, i don't like it. He hoped that, whatever this new threat was, that it would pass soon.

This chapter was kinda boring, I know. Buttt…it's a set up for what's to come:)

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