WARRIORS: JAYPAW'S QUEST

Squirrelflight: ROWR! WATER!

-Squirrelflight runs back to the lake-

Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors!!

Previously on Jaypaw's Questxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I am and will. You will get what you wish for, my love.

Ominous, but Petalnose ignored it. Rainfur was still there and everything will be alright.

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Leafstar gave a sigh of content as she stood at the entrance of her den.

Her Clan had grown and strengthened even more since Firestar had left and she had done everything she could for the good of her what had become her family.

Huh, she thought, I'm leader of SkyClan now. I have my own son and I'll take another apprentice soon.

She had indeed mentored Talonclaw and Minttail and Moonpaw was her son. She was quite proud of her Clan. She still had seven lives intact; her first life was stripped away when she had contracted blackcough, her second, while giving birth to her kits.

Leafstar flung her head upwards to see the sky, darkening as the day died.

The brown and cream tabby gave another sigh and padded off to the nursery to see Clovertail's new litter.

That she-cat's on to her fourth litter, Leafstar thought to herself in amusement. She rolled her eyes exasperatedly as she made her way to the nursery.

She had gotten a report on the rat attack: nothing serious, Moonpaw was just reckless. Leafstar had already seen him; he didn't even need to go to the medicine cat's den, all he had was lost fur. Leafstar planned to see Adderpaw and Sparrowpelt later, when they were out of the medicine cat's den. She could only do so much as leader.

Her hard paws hit the cooler ground of the nursery's entrance as she made her way to the end; it was hot in the middle of greenleaf.

Tawnyleaf and Tinysnow were dozing while their kits played with Minttail and Rapidwind's older kits. Minttail and Rapidwind themselves were chatting.

"Take that, stupid rat!" Leafkit squealed happily as she pounced on Sandkit. The little ginger she-kit squirmed under the larger kit's weight.

"You'll pay for that one!" she squeaked as she started to shove the tortoiseshell she-kit off of her back.

Shortkit didn't say anything; he just reached forward and gave Sandkit a cuff on the ear.

"Hey!" Sandkit shrieked in protest, flailing her limbs as she turned over. "You're ganging up on me!"

"Defend yourself, then!" the tiny golden tom purred in retort. "I won–"

His comment was cut off by a mewl of surprise; Swiftkit had landed on him.

"Mouse-brain!" The dappled silver kit's blue eyes gleamed with enthusiasm as she gave the tom a cuff on the shoulder.

"I'll help you!" Rainkit bowled into Swiftkit and they soon rolled around the ground in a mini wrestle.

Skykit and Redkit didn't help them; they were stalking each other, tails high in the air, fur bristling.

Leafstar gave a purr of amusement as she walked past them. "Hello, Leafstar," Minttail greeted her former mentor.

Rapidwind flicked her tail, her way of greeting ever since her tongue was swollen. She would have to wait a little more until it was completely healed.

Leafstar dipped her head in acknowledgement with a friendly mew of greeting.

"Hi, Clovertail!" She waved her tail in the air as she approached the queen suckling two scraps of fluffy fur.

The brown cat waved her tail and blinked, giving Leafstar a glance of welcome; she was fully focused on her kits.

"I heard Moonpaw's becoming a warrior tonight," Clovertail meowed warmly. "He really deserves it."

Leafstar blinked at her, glowing at the praise.

"I hope so," she meowed, then glanced at the kits.

"You must be proud of these two. Have you decided names for them?"

"Of course." Clovertail gestured at the dappled cream she-kit. "This is Dapplekit. This," she tapped her tail gently on the larger ginger tom, "is Firekit, in honor of Firestar."

Leafstar gave a mrrow of amusement. "Firestar would love to hear that."

Clovertail flicked her tail in agreement.

"He was a great leader," she mewed, "but a bit dense at times."

Both she cats laughed for a while. That is, until Tinysnow woke up.

"Wha–" Tinysnow broke off. "Oh! Hello, Leafstar!"

"Hi, hope I didn't disturb you."

"No problem," Tinysnow replied. There was a pause. "Oh, yeah," she exclaimed, "I need to speak to you in private for a while."

Leafstar gave a shrug as the small queen got up. Tinysnow was a dignified cat and Leafstar was curious at what she had to say.

"Well?" she inquired as she and the younger cat padded out of the den. Tinysnow waved her tail at her kits first, then turned to the leader.

"Well…" Leafstar was startled to hear the worry in her voice as she began.

Leafstar jerked her head in the white queen's direction.

"Well," Tinysnow murmured softly, "Burningpaw's in the Whispering Cave. I saw him go in and he told me to get you. I've forgotten about it. I'm sorry."

Leafstar flicked her tail at her. "It's okay," she murmured.

Tinysnow gave a nod and seemed to gather herself together again. With another dip of the head, she pattered back to the nursery.

Leafstar stood for a while, contemplating the reason Burningpaw would ask for her.

Guess I'll have to hear from him myself. With an inward sigh, the dappled she-cat padded off to the Whispering Cave.

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Crowfeather and Jaypaw crouched at the Moonpool, pressing Leafpool's body between them.

They had traveled to the Moonpool as soon as Heathergaze had gotten well. Unable to wait any longer, Jaypaw had deliberately fallen asleep and tried to dream. The only thing to clue him was an image of the Moonpool, a pair of glowing amber eyes reflecting in them.

Jaypaw had told Firestar, who sent him to Moonpool at once, with Crowfeather and Leafpool.

Ashfur and Lionpaw were to escort Heathergaze back to WindClan.

So now, Crowfeather and Jaypaw were only to do what they thought was right. They had heard tales about how cats' spirits were sometimes snatched away in their sleep, but the bodies are still alive, waiting for the spirits. The only ways to tell that it had actually happened were that the cats' bodies were stone gray and had this unnatural freeze to it, not cold in death, but not warm in life either, more or less something in between.

As Crowfeather and Jaypaw lapped at the pool, their blue eyes shone with light at the thought of doing something no cat had done before. They had no idea what was about to happen next, they just lapped at the pool, hoping to get aid from their warrior ancestors.

With a last sigh, the two cats lifted their heads, feeling drowsy.

Without another word, the dark toms curled around Leafpool's body and closed their eyes.

The effect was instantaneous.

Little did anyone know, this quest would probably the most dangerous journey made…and the most effective of the very future, the very life of the great warrior Clans.