Earlier that same day…
Nightcloud watched Briarlight leave the camp. She didn't see Jayfeather so she proceded with her plan. Briarlight immediately padded over to Jayfeather's garden. There were a few leaves worth picking. She continued to cut them off with her teeth. Then Nightcloud attacked!
She ripped Briarlight's fur and finally pinned her down to the ground. Nightcloud stomped on Briarlight's throat repeatedly, and she didn't stop when Briarlight started to spit up blood. The blood pooled around them and Briarlight started to choke. Nightcloud finally stopped, when Briarlight had died.
Crowfeather was in the elders' den all day long. Literally. He even ate in there. He had to care for the elders all the time he was in there, except for meals. He immediately thought of going back home. But, then he realized that they wouldn't let him back. He would stay in ThunderClan and prove his loyalty.
Jayfeather was watching him. He had the mouse-bile for ticks. Suddenly he heard Amberkit's cough. The he remembered! Briarlight and the catmint!
"CRAP!" he mewed.
"What is it, Jayfeather?" Crowfeather asked with interest.
"I just remembered Briarlight. Have you seen her? She went out yesterday and hasn't come back yet. I need that catmint for Amberkit! She might die!"
Jayfeather rushed out of the elders' den and ran back towards his den. It was empty. Then everything faded and he saw the forest. He must be dreaming! Briarlight came to him.
"Jayfeather. Follow me." Briarlight called to him.
Jayfeather followed her and noticed something odd about her. She could walk! On her hind legs as well as her forelegs.
"Briarlight! You're dead?" Jayfeather stuttered in shock.
Briarlight looked sad to see her mentor so upset. "Yes. Nightcloud killed me right before she attacked the apprentices' den."
They continued to walk until they came to a pile of red snow.
Briarlight stopped and pointed at the snow with her tail. "When you wake up, come here and uncover what is gone. Bring it back to camp." Then she was gone.
When Jayfeather awoke, he smelled a familiar scent and then it was gone. It was Briarlight's aroma. It saddened him and then he smelled something strange. Then he realized that there was the mingled scent of Sol. It was SkyClan!
Jayfeather walked out and heard Bramblestar talking to Thornclaw. He heard the words elder and moving. Then suddenly Cloudtail screeched, "TRAITOR!"
Sol entered the camp as Cloudtail lunged forward. Suddenly, blood started to pour out onto the ground, though it wasn't Sol's. It was Cloudtail's. Everyone stared in shock at what happened. Sol started to lick the blood off his claws and sheathed them. Leafstar stepped forward. Her muzzle was gray and she was obviously old. She padded slowly and cautiously towards the center of the camp. Bramblestar walked out of his den and greeted her.
Suddenly, Sandstorm jerked up from her mid-morning nap, and ran as fast as she could towards the SkyClan warriors.
"LEAFSTAR! You're here!"
Leafstar's eyes lit up as she saw her old friend.
"SANDSTORM! I never thought I'd see you again! How are you?"
"I have two kits now and three—I mean, two, grandkits now. Jayfeather, Lionblaze, Squirrelflight, Leafpool, come here, please!"
All four of them stepped forward.
"Squirrelflight and Leafpool, are my daughters. And Jayfeather and Lionblaze are Leafpool's sons."
"Who's the third?" Leafstar inquired.
"Hollyleaf. She died a warrior's death. In the battle with the Dark Forest." Leafpool looked away.
"I'm very sad to hear that."
"At least I know I will see her in StarClan," Leafpool said, confidently.
"Well, that's very good." Leafstar said.
Bramblestar called to everyone and said to let Leafstar and her warriors have some fresh-kill. The pile was miniscule but it would have to fill all of their bellies for the night. Tomorrow, Bramblestar would decide what to do with them.
Meanwhile, Leafstar instructed her warriors to only eat what they needed to tide themselves over for the night. They padded over to the small pile and picked their prey. Jayfeather had already eaten and had gone out to look for what Briarlight had told him to get.
Thunder had started to rumble in the distance, and Jayfeather tried to hurry through the forest.
When Sol had tried to get a piece of fresh-kill, Cloudtail and Dustpelt stopped him. They hissed and growled.
"Touch our food and you die, traitor!" Cloudtail hissed.
Sol stepped back from them and purred. "Like you could ever stop me!"
Suddenly a burst of lightning flashed from the sky and electrocuted Sol. Sol was in the center of the camp and his skeleton showed through his long fur. His eyes glowed blue and he shook violently. He started to burn and immediately blood started to pour out of his veins. And then it was over. Sol was officially dead. All of the kits' eyes were as big as full-moons and they shuddered in horror.
"Good riddance to an evil cat." Dustpelt said happily.
Jayfeather looked at the pile of snow with second thoughts. He was scared and nervous to see what was there. Then, he pushed his nose into the snow. He sniffed for the thing that he had been asked to find. Then he dragged it out: it was Briarlight's mangled body.
-End of Chapter Three-
