Chapter 2
Hollyleaf hesitated, slightly suspicious. Where was she, and where was this strange wonderland located? This tom was also pretty mysterious, especially how he had appeared, apparently out of nowhere, to block her way. She didn't trust him. Maybe he came from StarClan, but she had never seen his spirit before if he had. The ancestors would at least introduce themselves if the newly deceased cat didn't know them. But this tom... Maybe he was just a friendly kittypet. The ThunderClan cat looked for a believable explanation for his actions. And she didn't find one.
The dark gray tom seemed to sense her doubt.
"Don't worry," he meowed,"I won't bite."
The young warrior still looked unconvinced. Could this cat be from the Place of No Stars, where no rules existed and cats were wild in their afterlife?
But then a ginger she-cat appeared. She had golden spots on her fur, the color of the shining sun in the sky. The she-cat licked the tom's ear affectionately. She smelled slightly of milk, a queen perhaps. Hollyleaf opened her mouth to find out more from where all these cats were coming from.
"This is my mate, Russetflower," the unknown cat explained before Hollyleaf even knew what question to ask ,"she's expecting my kits."
Hollyleaf was relieved. She reassured herself that all was going to be all right. These cats would not leap into battle just after introducing themselves. Or would they... But if they would, Hollyleaf decided, they were mousebrains. And besides, this tom had a mate expecting kits. What harm could the rogues really do? She followed the rogues to what could only be their camp.
Past the forest full of plants, a moor loomed before her. It stretched for seemingly forever, like the time between Star's birth and the world which the black she-cat faced currently. And the rogues were surprisingly fast, even Russetflower outpacing her. Hollyleaf tried to keep up with them as well as she could. Yet she found herself panting, trying to catch her breath. Could the cats attack now? But then again, a part of Hollyleaf told her that she was the mouse brain if she thought that.
The moor reminded Hollyleaf of her heritage. That WindClan blood was pulsing through her body, alive or not. And surprisingly, it reminded her of Crowfeather and how he really must have loved Leafpool for her to be in her current situation. Crowfeather, who was probably sprinting after rabbits as the sun rose to the highest point in the sky. Hollyleaf guessed that he would not even acknowledge her, cold and seemingly unfeeling.
Like the secrets that were not secrets, Hollyleaf found the moors unfamiliar and her family distant. She felt like a fish out of water, preferring a covered forest with shade. How was hunting possible here if the prey could see you, and let alone smell you? The hunter's scent would be blown in the prey's direction by the mischievous wind, hoping to cause trouble. But besides, Hollyleaf reminded herself, she wasn't here to hunt.
Eventually, the three cats came to a grassy meadow. Tall grass covered the land, fresh and green. The black she-cat felt dew on her paws, and she rather liked the sensation. This was a comfort to her, with all the danger she would face if she returned to her old home. Flowers stretched to feel the impact of the sun. Hollyleaf, for the first time in days, smiled.
"I see that you are admiring this place," Russetflower meowed,"exactly why we have chosen it for our camp." The queen sounded like she really enjoyed living here, and maybe it would make giving birth to kits a little easier.
Hollyleaf nodded.
"Well, don't just stand here like you can't talk," continued the she-cat,"I'm sure my dear would like to talk to you."
Hollyleaf sighed. "All right." During this time, she had lost track of where the tom was. She hoped he was right where he was before, and that she wouldn't have to find him.
The tom signaled with his tail, and Hollyleaf reluctantly followed him to what appeared to be his den. She saw that it was a gray cave of stone, with a nest in the center, and moss growing near the corners.
"You are Hollyleaf, I presume?" he asked politely. Hollyleaf was a little annoyed at his tone. Get on with it already! she thought.
Instead of sharing her thoughts out loud, she nodded, careful not to give away too many details.
"Well, I'm Jaypelt."
Hollyleaf opened her mouth wide in shock. Was this an exiled Clan warrior that she didn't know about? He could have been a murderer, like Tigerstar and Blackfoot. She closed it again, suddenly growing a little hot. But some words did escape her.
"You're not a Clan cat..."
Jaypelt seemed to understand. Traces of a smile appeared on his lips. "I think you're the right cat that I can talk to. Would you mind listening?" He did not answer her question.
The black she-cat shrugged innocently, or at least it looked like it to Jaypelt.
"I'm not a Clan cat, true, but one of my ancestors was one. For some unknown deed that she wasn't responsible for, the Clans chased her away. Her mate came with her and together, they discovered territory which the starving Clans could only dream of."
Hollyleaf showed that she was still listening.
"Now, the cats believe that she's in StarClan, but I ain't believing that kit story. Why would she be in the land of the stars if they chased her out? This puzzles me, but then again... how could I affect the fate of a cat long before me?"
Hollyleaf did not know how to interpret this. Instead, she looked back at the rest of the camp. She could smell catmint growing nearby, although it was a little far away. It was tempting, but she just couldn't taste it again. There were also brambles and thorns, and a barrier to keep off invaders. But a badger, apparently could still rip through it. Huge claw marks and holes that could not be fixed proved that.
Suddenly, she was a little curious. She looked back at the gray tom.
"Does this have something to do with why I'm here?" she asked. "I thought I was in the tunnels before, and all of the exits were blocked."
"My great great grandmother escaped from the tunnels near what is now the WindClan border," Jaypelt murmured, "but that's a story for another day."
