~*Finally I finished this chapter, I'm sorry for those of you who were waiting. This chapter turned out rather weird in the end, but eh what can you do? Thanks for the reviews last chapter, and I already have the next one done! And some people are wondering why they crossed the mountains and now passed the Sun-Drown place. Well I made a mistake! XD I for some reason thought the ocean was on the other side of the mountains, near the old forest. That's sad because I'm 16 and should have known that! Review and read meh other stories pleez!*~

~Leo~

CHAPTER 12

Twilight blanketed the freezing landscape, as bodies huddled close together underneath the palm trees.

Jayfeather could feel the sand moving underneath his cold pads, the wind was beginning to pick up. It had been awhile since the Hunting Patrol had left, what was taking them so long?

They left before Sunset, and it was almost Night for StarClan's sake! Didn't they understand that being stuck out in the desert at night was deadly?

Midnight told them about the dangers herself, there were Adders and Scorpions, not to mention its freezing! And even if none of those dangers affected the patrol, they could be lost!

This desert was bigger than the whole forest, they would never find camp!

"Especially if we leave" Jayfeather whispered to himself.

Lionstar expected them to return any moment, and the other leaders except Ashstar would leave without them if they didn't return soon. And then what would become of the patrol?

Alone for StarClan only knows how long, they'd be cursed to a painful death.

"I have to do something" Jayfeather felt his pulse begin to quicken, there was no way they were going to leave Hollyleaf and the others, not if he had anything to do with it.

Suddenly an idea sparked in Jayfeather's mind, StarClan!

Squirrelflight told him that StarClan was traveling alongside them on the journey to the Lake Home, so didn't it make sense that they were traveling with the clans at this very moment?

I have to talk to them, maybe If I do they can show me where Hollyleaf and the others are.

Or who knows? Maybe they could convince the other leaders or Medicine Cats that they had to stay, it was worth a shot!

Determined to speak with his ancestors, Jayfeather found the nest of leaves Emberkit built for him, and padded towards it. His so called apprentice was sleeping next to the small Oasis, her paw outstretched in a deep slumber.

Even though the she-kit could get quite annoying, Jayfeather enjoyed her company, not to mention she did a lot of work.

Glancing up to the stars once more before he tried to sleep, Jayfeather could just imagine them shining across the dark sky. But would they talk to him?

"Bluestar? Spottedleaf? Yellowfang!? Where are you?".

Jayfeather looked across the barren landscape, his pulse quickening in worry. One moment he was falling asleep, and the next moment he was stuck in this barren desert!

It was even worse than the one he was sleeping in, there were no cats, no trees, not even any water!

If this is what StarClan is traveling through, Jayfeather thought grimly, then they have a harder journey than us. Silver moonlight glinted down from the crescent moon, lighting Jayfeather's pelt ablaze with a bright shine.

"Hello young one" a voice meowed, making the Medicine Cat jump a bit.

"Bluestar" he sighed finally, as the blue-gray she-cat stepped closer. Her eyes were tinged with the same silver color cast from the moon, as they stared at him intuitively.

"What is it?" a voice snapped through the darkness, "Bluestar you may have been leader of ThunderClan once, but your still just as dead as the rest of us!".

Jayfeather knew that raspy voice all to well, Yellowfang.

"Don't mind her" Bluestar sighed, "She's just mad about the lack of prey, even thought we don't even need to eat" her eyes darted to the long-furred cat who was padding solemnly towards them.

"But why is this so much worse than the desert we're traveling through?" he asked while looking around, "At least ours has some rocks for protection, and boulders to stand on. Yours is just desolate sand."

For a short moment the leader didn't answer his question, as Yellowfang padded to join them. Behind the crabby Medicine Cat, the beautiful tortoiseshell pelt of Spottedleaf strode gracefully into the clearing.

"Jayfeather!" she exclaimed happily, padding up and giving him a lick on the cheek.

His ears hot with embarrassment, Jayfeather could suddenly smell the sweet beautiful scent flowing from Spottedleaf. It smelled like a mixture of Honey and Rose Petals.

"Don't be so exuberant, Spottedleaf" Yellowfang growled, limping over to Jayfeather like the elder she once was. "None of us have any reason to be excited, especially you" she cast an amber gaze to Bluestar who bared her fangs a tiny bit.

"Your always so negative" Spottedleaf sighed, turning to Jayfeather, "Your here about your sister and the others aren't you?".

He nodded, finally someone was at least talking to him instead of arguing. But something that Yellowfang said worried Jayfeather, they had nothing to be excited about.

"Well we can't help" the old cat told him quickly, "There's no way we can see them through this heap, we can't even find the rest of StarClan!".

Jayfeather immediately heightened his gaze, "You can't find the rest of StarClan?".

Bluestar and the two Medicine Cats lowered their gazes, the leader lashing her tail angrily at Yellowfang's outburst.

"Well?" Jayfeather hissed anxiously, "Where are they!?".

It had never even come to the Medicine Cat's mind that StarClan could ever get separated, but another question surfaced as well, how did they get separated?

"Something happened Jayfeather, something bad happened" Bluestar meowed as she rose her head.

"As you know it takes a lot for all the cats in StarClan to travel along with the clans, but it isn't just the cats of StarClan that are traveling with you..." her voice trailed off as she glanced to Yellowfang.

"The Dark Forest" Jayfeather finally realized what she was speaking of, "But what do they have to do with the rest of StarClan getting separated?".

This time the former ThunderClan leader didn't answer, but another cat seemed to step out of the shadows.

"We crossed paths" a dark voice meowed, and Jayfeather's eyes widened in complete shock. Their in front of him, stood the dark brown figure of Tigerstar, his scarred face staring at Jayfeather with extreme hatred.

But then as soon as Tigerstar appeared, he vanished into a thin trail of dust, he was gone.

"How did he get here!?" he asked in shock, "I thought StarClan and the Dark Forest were separate from each other!". An answer didn't come from either of the three she-cats, as Spottedleaf stepped forward.

"What are you talking about Jayfeather? Who was here?".

"Are you dense or something?" he snapped impatiently, "I'm talking about Tigerstar! You know the dark evil cat that tried to take over the forest?".

Instantly the three ancient cats lifted the heads to look at Jayfeather.

"You saw Tigerstar?" Bluestar asked urgently, looking around to make sure her archenemy was nowhere in sight.

What, was everyone nowadays mad? Jayfeather was almost positive he saw Tigerstar, he may be blind in real life, but not in StarClan!

"Yes I'm sure" the gray tabby meowed with certainty, "He said your paths crossed, what does that mean?".

"It means" Yellowfang growled while looking into the desolate landscape, "That there's no longer a border between StarClan and the Dark Forest, their free to roam anywhere."