Chapter 10
Jayfeather couldn't help but think about all of the evil that was about to be rereleased into the world. How many Dark Forest warriors would be coming back? Compared to the losses of StarClan, a great deal. He huffed in frustration as he sorted through his herbs. He had restocked after the battle and had plenty for the on coming leafbare.
"Is something wrong, Jayfeather?" Briarlight asked from behind him.
"No, everything is just fine." he replied, voice heavy with sarcasm.
Before Briarlight could question him, a cat entered the den. The scent of Tigerheart filled Jayfeather's senses, and it took all his strength not to show his repulsion of him.
"Jayfeather, I-" Tigerheart began.
"Briarlight, go and fetch someone to retrieve some marigold." Jayfeather interrupted him.
Jayfeather kept his back to Tigerheart as Briarlight made her way out of the den, giving Jayfeather a suspicious look as she eyed the heap of marigold he was currently arranging. He continued to shuffle his herbs around as a silence coated the den.
"Jayfeather, I, uh," Tigerheart fumbled, nervously. "I wanted to-"
"What could you possibly want from me, Tigerheart?" Jayfeather rounded on him.
"I-I wanted to apologize."
"Apologize?" Jayfeather repeated with honest surprise, then disgusted said, "Apologize? You think saying your sorry excuses you from the things you've done?"
"No, I know it doesn't." Tigerheart said, thinking that this would be a lot harder than he had originally thought.
"Well, good." snapped Jayfeather, turning back to his herbs.
"I know there isn't really an excuse for what I did, but I just want you to know I didn't do it for the reasons you might think." Tigerheart tried.
Jayfeather ignored him and continued with his herbs.
"Me and Dovewing have been seeing each other for longer than you know. We would meet in secret. Dawnpelt found out somehow and threaten to expose us unless I did as she said."
Jayfeather turned around, unsure, to face the dark warrior.
"I never met for it to get so out of paw." He tried explaining.
Jayfeather could tell from his almost pleading voice that he was trying desperately to make up with him.
"I really am sorry, Jayfeather."
There was another silence as Jayfeather thought over his words.
"I know you probably won't forgive me. I just wanted you to understand." He heard Tigerheart begin padding out of the den.
Jayfeather huffed again. "I forgive you." he sighed a little reluctantly.
"You-you do?" Tigerheart meowed, turning around in surprise.
"Yeah, sure." Jayfeather mumbled.
"Really?"
"How many times do you want me to say it?" he snapped.
"Well, I really wasn't expecting you to." Tigerheart replied.
"Congratulations." Jayfeather said, then he got serious, thinking that this would be the perfect time to ask. "Now, there's something I wanted to ask you, but until now I've been too sicken by the thought of you to even be anywhere near you, let alone look at your-"
"Ok, I get it, what did you want to ask?"
"What exactly did Flametail say to you?"
"Why do you want to know that?" Tigerheart wondered.
"Because I," he sought after a lie, but finally settled on telling the truth. "I believe you."
"You believe that too?"
"We are not going through that again!" Jayfeather said quickly. "Just tell me what he said."
"He said Brokenstar was coming back, but not as himself." Tigerheart said slowly, trying to remember his brother's exact words. "That he was going to be reborn in our world."
Reborn. The word echoed in Jayfeather's mind. The weight of the knowledge he carried felt to great for only him to bear. He wanted to tell Lionblaze or Dovewing, but couldn't bring himself to do it. To tell them wouldn't be confiding in them as friends, it would be delivering another prophecy to the Three.
Peace, he thought. It never lasts long.
"Jayfeather, are you alright?" Tigerheart asked him, concern in his voice.
But Tigerheart was right here and already knew of the secret. Not wholly, but enough. "Tigerheart, if I tell you this you must promise not to tell Dovewing. Not to tell anyone."
Jayfeather could tell that he was uncertain, but Tigerheart all the same said, "I promise."
"Hollyleaf has told me that anyone who has died twice will be reborn in this world." Jayfeather said, immediately feeling relieved at having told someone.
"That means all the cats in the Dark Forest who died-" Tigerheart started with sudden realization.
"I know. That's why my stupid sister decided to save the day by killing Firestar."
"What!" Tigerheart yelled incredulously.
"Yeah, I know. I've already yelled at her for that. But anyway, they're all coming back, some sooner than others, and were going to have to watch out for them." Jayfeather told him.
Suddenly, Briarlight struggled her way inside the den. "Jayfeather, the new ShadowClan leader is here!"
Jayfeather felt uneasiness come from Tigerheart at the mention of the new leader and quickly remembered that the deputy of ShadowClan was Tigerheart's father, which meant...
"Your father is leader now." Jayfather observed.
"Yes." Tigerheart said, anger hidden in his tone.
"Do you know what he's here for, Briarlight?" Jayfeather asked, looking towards her.
"No, I came here as quickly as I saw." She glanced briefly at Tigerheart. "I thought you'd want to know."
"Thanks for your concern, Briarlight." Jayfeather said in a voice that was hard to determine whether or not he really meant it. "Come on." he added to Tigerheart.
The three of them exited the den as Rowanstar was trudging down the slope of the High Ledge. At the bottom he turned to look back up at Bramblestar, who had followed him out, calling up to him for the whole of ThunderClan to hear. "If he isn't gone by the end of the next moon, we'll raid the camp and drive him out ourselves!"
After that his patrol moved out quickly. Rowanstar making eye contact with Tigerheart long enough to give him a cold glare. Then, they were gone.
It looked as if there were more things to worry about then just the Reborn.
