11. Dovewing
Jayfeather paused. "I'm sorry."
Greif tore at her heart.
The blind medicine cat bowed his head.
"I'm so sorry," He whispered. "They're gone."
"No!" She wailed. It wasn't true, he was lying, for all the cats in the world, her kits weren't dead, it was
just a nightmare, and she would wake to find happy, healthy kits bouncing around her…
"I'll get Bumblestripe." Ferncloud slipped from the den.
Dovewing tried to sit up, but Jayfeather held her down.
"It's alright," The medicine cat assured her.
Just at that moment, Ferncloud slipped into the den, Bumblestripe right behind her. Instantly
Bumblestripe rushed over to her nest. "Are you okay?" He asked. Dovewing buried her muzzle in her
paws. Of course she wasn't okay. Her kits were dead!
"I'm okay," She lied, not meeting his gaze.
. . .
Jayfeather dashed over to Sandstorm, panting hard. "Sandstorm! I need to talk to you."
"Yes?" Sandstorm peered curiously at him.
He took a deep breath. "Do you know where Skyclan is?"
Sandstorm took a step back, her ears flattened, astonishment coming off her waves.
"Hold on." Jayfeather leaped onto Highledge. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather
here!
"I have some news. There is an opposite of Starclan. It is called the Dark Forest. The cats who have
done evil in their lives go there. And now we are in danger of them.
"The Dark Forest is training about three cats from each clan. They are heading upstream, following the
rivers. We must head into Skyclan territory. Sandstorm can tell you about Skyclan."
The ginger she cat scrambled up behind him. "Back in the old forest," She started, "There used to be
Five clans. One of the clans got driven away. It was Skyclan.
"Firestar had a dream one night, telling him he must follow the river and rebuild Skyclan. He did. I went
with him. It is possible we can get there without too much trouble."
"How will we know were there?" Spiderleg called.
"Yeah!" Poppyfrost piped in.
"When will we fight?" Rosepetal called.
"Wait." Thornclaw growled. "Did the Dark Forest cats already leave? Because I haven't seen Birchfall
lately."
"Or Blossomfall." Dovewing added.
"Doesn't that seem a little suspicious to you?" Dustpelt snarled. "They must be in the Dark Forest!"