"Ah, Jayfeather! You've returned!" Jayfeather dipped his head to Bramblestar, padding into his den without saying a word.
"What's with him?" Bramblestar said, turning to Lionblaze who was eating a mouse in large gulps.
"Oh, it's probably just Jayfeather being Jayfeather," he said, spewing mouse as he talked. "I wouldn't worry about it."
"Are you sure? He just got back from the Moonpool, maybe Starclan sent him a dream-"
"I know my brother," said Lionblaze. "He'll talk when he's ready."
"You're probably right," murmured Bramblestar. He turned and padded back into his den, hoping to catch a wink of sleep.
"Liiiiioooooonblaaaaaaaze!" Lionblaze perked his ears. Cinderheart! He ran into the nursery, only to see Cinderheart laying in her nest, her body wracked by spasms. Eaglekit and Twilightkit stood far away, huddled next to Squirrelflight. Flakekit lay on the ground next to her mother. The poor kit, whose eyes and ears were unusable, lay dead.
"It…feels…" Cinderheart's eyes rolled back in her head as she writhed about.
"Feels…" Lionblaze prompted.
"Like…kits…Jay…feather…" Cinderheart shook again, a ripple passing along her body.
"JAYFEATHER!" Lionblaze howled, running out of the nursery in a panic. "JAYFEATHER!"
"What is it?"
"Cinderheart! I don't know…She says it feels like kits!" Jayfeather froze, sightless eyes widening in fear. The ashes of cinder and lion's might…
He dashed to the nursery, where Cinderheart's body heaved, trying to push something out. Without giving Flakekit a second glance, he pressed his paws against the she-cat.
"Cinderheart, I need you to push when I say." A gurgle escaped the she-cat. Jayfeather could only hope that she was okay. "Okay, now." Cinderheart's body shook, her chest, torso, and tail remained still. She writhed, her body twitching uncontrollably.
"Cinderheart, push!" No response. "PUSH!" No response. Growling, Jayfeather began to push his paws against Cinderheart. "C'mon," growled Jayfeather. He pushed her again, and another ripple passed through her.
"Jayfeather, is everything okay?" Squirrelflight whispered. Jayfeather broke out in cold sweat. Putting an ear to her mouth and nose, he listened for a breath. Placing a paw over her heart, he felt for her pulse. An uneven, faint heartbeat could be felt.
"Cinderheart, don't leave yet," he whispered.
"Jayfeather…?"
"Quiet!" Jayfeather snapped at Squirrelflight. He focused on Cinderheart's rapidly fading heartbeat. He rubbed her belly, trying to get the kit to come out. But to no avail, Cinderheart coughed feebly, a trickle of blood coming out her mouth. "No, no, no!" Jayfeather rubbed her harder, praying to Starclan for her life.
Spare her, he begged. Take me, but leave Cinderheart. This is her second, and only, chance at life. Please, leave her be. Starclan, please! He pounded a paw on her chest, trying to force the kit, dead or alive, out of poor Cinderheart.
"Jayfeather?" Lionblaze's worried voice reached Jayfeather. In truth, the blind medicine cat had forgotten about the golden tom. "Is…everything okay?"
Without answering, Jayfeather listened for breathing and checked her pulse. He began to shake, his body wracked by grief. "No," he rasped, "Everything is not okay."
