*~Hey heres the new chapter, I might update again tonight or tommorow. I had a snow day today! XD

Please read and review, thank you to all of those who did review!

~Blaze~

CHAPTER 18

"For StarClan's sake Coalkit! Stop fidgeting" Jayfeather hissed to the pitch black kit. He had rolled onto a thorn in the nursery, and wouldn't let Jayfeather take it out.

"No!" the kit squealed, "You gonna hurt me!" Coalkit cried out.

He rolled his eyes, kits could be so dramatic.

"Stay still or I will hurt you!" Jayfeather hissed to the kit, making him stay still. He bent down to take the thorn out with his jaws.

"Threatening kits now are we?" a voice hissed from outside the den.

"Cinderheart!" Jayfeather exclaimed, surprised to see his dark gray friend. "I thought you went to the gathering" he asked her, as he pulled the thorn from Coalkit's side.

"I was going to, but I decided to stay to help watch Juniperkit and Maplekit" she mewed to him, entering the den.

Coalkit rolled over onto his back, showing Jayfeather another thorn that was lodged into his back foot. "Get it out!" he hissed demandingly.

Jayfeather couldn't but chuckle at the kits attitude, Coalkit was like a mini Hollyleaf.

"I didn't hear a please" Cinderheart hissed, laying down beside the black kit.

Coalkit sighed, "Please get it out!".

Jayfeather grumbled, "Fine, but stay still" he bent down, and nipped the thorn out quickly, a mew coming from the kit. Cinderheart began licking him, to calm him down.

"Thanks" he mewed, to both Jayfeather and Cinderheart.

"Your welcome" Jayfeather mewed back, wrapping the small but bleeding wound up in cobwebs. Once he was finished, Coalkit got too his feet, and Jayfeather nudged him forward. "Go back to the nursery, and warn your litter mates to be careful of thorns" he explained to the kit.

Coalkit nodded, "Thanks Jayfeather, Bye Cinderheart!" and ran off towards his den.

Cinderheart sighed, "Kits are so cute".

Jayfeather rolled his eyes, "Yeah. When they aren't biting you".

She nudged him, "You know you like them, and how could you resist a cute thing like Coalkit".

Easily, he told himself, All you have to do is ignore them.

"Wheres Leafpool?" Cinderheart mewed, checking the den for the light brown medicine cat.

Jayfeather flicked his tail towards the elders den, "Dustpelt has fleas, she's trying to get them out".

Cinerheart nodded, "He must be happy though". Jayfeather looked at her, Why would he be happy?

Cinderheart seemed to notice, "You dont know? Ferncloud's expecting!" she told Jayfeather excitedly.

No, but I should have known, He shook his head. Some Medicine cat he was, getting told this by a warrior.

"Hey, Want to go to the nursery and see Juniperkit and Maplekit?" she asked, heading out the den.

"I guess" he meowed after her. The cinder pelted warrior strode through the moonlight, she looked beautiful as the silver light cast its rays onto her. Jayfeather couldn't see this, but he could sense it radiating from her. The night was clear, Jayfeather could smell the cool night breeze drifting through the air. The camp was surrounded, being guarded by warriors on all points. Poppyfrost was guarding the nursery, her tortoiseshell pelt also shining as much as her sisters. Cinderheart greeted her sister, and started talking with Poppyfrost.

"Oh really? Thats great!" Cinerheart mewed happily.

Jayfeather padded forward, joining the two she-cats.

Poppyfrost's eyes lit up as she saw him approaching. "Jayfeather! Its nice to see you, how are you doing?".

"Fine, I'd be better if kits would stop getting thorns in their pelts" he chuckled, casting a glare into the nursery.

Poppyfrost chuckled as well, "Did you get thorn out of Coalkit? Or are you still treating him?".

He cast a confused look to Cinderheart, and then to Poppyfrost.

"Coalkit left a while ago, we told him to go back to the nursery" The dark gray warrior told her sister.

Poppyfrost gasped, "He didn't come in here, I thought he was still with you!" she mewed, starting to get worried.

That kit! Jayfeather knew he would get into trouble one of these days. "He's probably just playing a prank on Dustpelt again, or stealing prey from the warriors" he reassured the two, trying to calm them down.

Cinderheart glanced at him, her gaze worried. "I'll check the elders den" Cinderheart meowed, "Poppyfrost stay here, maybe he'll come back" she nodded to her sister, and raced off towards the elders den.

Jayfeather sniffed the cool air, trying to pick up the kits scent. "Im going to check outside of camp, maybe I'll pick up his scent" he hissed to Poppyfrost, who wished him good luck.

He turned, trying to focus his senses. The smell of prey hit his nose, the fresh-kill pile was close. Padding farther away, Jayfeather came closer to the clan entrance.

"Where are you going?" the hiss of Berrynose made him shift his head sideways.

Jayfeather snorted and brushed past the cream furred tom. "Im looking for you're brother, Coalkit snuck off" he hissed, "Do you want me to find him, or would you rather he be alone in the forest all night?".

The tom's head immediately shot up, "You have to find him!" Berrynose pleaded, "Go now!" he pushed Jayfeather into the forest.

Make your mind up already! He hissed in his head, pushing through the brambles that guarded the entrance. The night was still, Jayfeather couldn't smell anything out of the ordinary as he searched the forest for the kits scent. A crow cawed above, making him shrink to the ground. Jumpy are we? he sighed, as Jayfeather continued on his search. If he didn't find Coalkit, Daisy would have his pelt. A twig snapped, making Jayfeather jump into the air. He fur bristled as he turned around, trying to hide in the shadows.

"Jayfeather?" A voice mewed. His fur relaxed as he realized the cat was Graystripe.

"What are you doing out here?" he hissed to the gray and white warrior.

Graystripe stepped forward into the moonlight, "Berrynose said that Coalkit was missing? I had nothing else to do, so I thought I'd lend a paw".

Jayfeather smiled a bit, "Thanks" he meowed, "We should start looking, he could be halfway to ShadowClan by now".

The warrior agreed, as they headed off towards the WindClan border. It was full of tight spaces where kits could hide, and knowing Coalkit, that's where he would go. "Check holes and bushes, he might be in one" he hissed to Graystripe, sniffing again for the scent.

And then it happened, a faint scent of Coalkit drifted in front of him. Jayfeather immediately sped off, Graystripe struggling to keep up. StarClan let him be ok, he mewed hopefully in his head. He shouldn't have been that harsh with the kit, why was he so grumpy all the time, he was a medicine cat for StarClans sake!

"Coalkit?" he called out, hoping his yells would attract the kit towards them. No answer. But the scent was becoming stronger, and Jayfeather followed it.

"Where is he?" Graystripe panted, running alongside the medicine cat. He ignored the warrior, focusing all his senses on the scent. It was very strong, the kit was close by.

"Coalkit!" he called out again. As he walked ahead, he could hear horrifying mews in the distance.

"He's in trouble!" Graystripe growled, as Jayfeather and him sped off. Really? I didn't think i could figure that out, he shook his head in worry. Ahead of him, fear-scent was overpowering as a small body bolt into him, almost knocking him off his paws. He got up, and realized the small kit was right next to him.

"Coalkit are you ok!?" he started licking the black tom.

Coalkit mewed in distress, "Run Jayfeather!".

Jayfeather shook his head in confusion, why should he run? "Its ok, we can go back to camp now. You had us worried" he reassured the kit, hoping to calm him down. "No!" he squealed. "Fire's coming!" he insisted, pointing with his tail in the distance.

Jayfeather's senses immediately focused, the smell of smoke was overpowering.

"Jayfeather!" Graystripe growled, "I can see flames in the distance, there approaching fast!" he warned the medicine cat, his fur bristling.

Not again, If the fire spread out anymore, it would head towards ThunderClan camp. "Quick" he told the two toms, "We have to get back and warn the others!" he growled.

Graystripe nodded, picking up the frightened kit in his jaws, and ran off after Jayfeather. As Jayfeather ran through the smoke filled forest, he prayed he would make it in time.

* * *

As he bolted into camp, Jayfeather practically knocked Berrynose off his feet. He immediately ran towards the high-ledge, jumping up onto the rock. He needed to warn his clan-mates before it was too late! "Let all cats old enough......." he trailed off as he realized it was too urgent, screw it! "Get out here now!" he growled loudly, his voice booming across the camp.

Berrynose walked over, staring angrily up at Jayfeather, "What do you think you're doing? Are you clan leader now?" he hissed.

Jayfeathers pelt bristled, "Berrynose just shut up and listen!".

Ferncloud ran out of the Elders den, Thistlepaw limping behind her. Poppyfrost padded over, worry in her eyes as she helped Hazeltail walk. What were they going to do? There were seven kits! And Hazeltail was due any day now! As the rest of the cats piled out, Jayfeather began.

"We have to hurry!" he burst out, "The forest is on fire, and the flames are approaching. If we dont leave now, then we are as good as dead" he told his clan-mates harshly."

A shocked silence filled the clearing, horror on all of there faces. But then they seemed to realize the seriousness of the situation.

"Get Honeyfern, Daisy and the kits out now!" Ferncloud ordered to Poppyfrost.

The tortosieshell she-cat nodded and soon came out with her sister, who was carrying both her kits. Daisy came out next, trying to keep calm as she herded her litter into the clearing. Graystripe brought over Coalkit, and Daisy licked him gratefully.

"Where will we go!?" the startled mew of Hazeltail called out.

Jayfeather didn't know what to say, "I..I dont know" he stuttered.

"I know!" the voice of Thistlepaw mewed, padding over to the high-ledge. "We can head towards the moon pool! There aren't many trees there right? And a fire wont spread much without trees". Jayfeather smiled, it was brilliance! "Great thinking Thistlepaw!" he called down to the apprentice, "We shall go to the moon pool, and take shelter in the cave. We will wait until the fire stops, then head back here in search of the others".

Many of the cats nodded in approval, only Daisy looking worried. "How will my kits make it?" she cried out, "They cant run fast!".

Jayfeather rolled his eyes, "We can get cats to carry them Daisy, they will be fine" he assured the white queen, jumping off the high-ledge

He scanned the area for his mentor, he needed her help and guidance. "Leafpool?" he called out, trying to find her light brown pelt. He could smell Dustpelt with Ferncloud, and padded over.

"Have you seen Leafpool?" he asked the elder, hoping he would know.

"She was here awhile ago, but...." the elders voice trailed off as his eyes filled with horror.

"What!?" Jayfeather demanded.

"She said she was going to go down by the lake, to search for mouse-dung for my ticks" he mewed quietly, his eyes filled with sadness.

It took a moment for Jayfeather too accept this. There was nothing they could do, either he searched for Leafpool, or the rest of the clan dies. He sneezed, the scent of smoke was filling the air, the fire was approaching. "We leave now!" he called out to his clan-mates, heading towards the entrance. Graystripe was holding Violetkit, as Poppyfrost, Berrynose and Daisy held the others. A tiny mew came from in front of him, and Jayfeather realized it was Silverkit. There was no one else that could take her, Honeyfern and Ferncloud had Juniperkit and Maplekit, and Thistlepaw and Dustpelt couldnt take anyone, Cinderheart was going to help them. He picked the kit up in his mouth, fastening her scruff gently in his jaws. He flicked his tail, for his clan to follow, and they set off into the outskirts of camp. Jayfeather could almost sense the flames around him, as he padded quickly around the edge of the cliff that formed into ThunderClan camp. Smoke seemed to engulf the area, Jayfeather could hardly breath, But he had to continue on or he would die.

"Come on!" he called back to the other cats, mumbling through Silverkit's fur. They ran closely behind as he guided them around the fire, and towards the moon pool. Thoughts of his fellow clan mates rushed into his head, would they be safe on the island? Probably, it was surrounded by water, and as far as he knew, fire and water didn't mix. The terrain under his paws seemed to change from earthy bracken, too smooth grassy landscape. They were nearing the edge of WindClan's territory, the Moonpool wasn't far away. He stopped for a second, and checked on his clan mates. Most of them were right behind him, but Thistlepaw and Dustpelt were struggling, Cinderheart rushing to help them forward. He nodded at them to continue, and raced onto WindClan territory. The fire was catching up, burning a couple tail-lengths behind them, they had to hurry up! The landscape had small hills, which Jayfeather struggled over, Silverkit bouncing around. Come on, You can do this, he took deep breaths, trying to clam himself. As he raced along WindClan territory, he stopped dead in his tracks as he heard a horrified cry from behind. Dustpelt was lying on the ground, his back leg twisted almost totally backwards.

Ferncloud ran to his side, licking her fallen mate, "Come on" She mewed, "You can make it, just stand up!".

Dustpelt choked, smoke filling his lungs. "Ferncloud, go! You are expecting kits, you have to stay alive for them" he reassured his mate.

Ferncloud began to whimper, "No, I love you. Im staying here with you" she cried out, laying down beside him.

Jayfeather was horrified as he watched the two, there was no way Dustpelt could walk. Honeyfern padded forward, letting Maplekit down for a moment. "Ferncloud" she whispered to the gray queen, "We must go now, you have kits to survive for. They will always carry on Dustpelts memory" she mewed quietly.

Dustpelt nodded, "I have lived a long, good life. Im looking forward to seeing our kits there".

Ferncloud stood up, and covered him in licks, "I love you, and I will see you when my time comes" she mewed, stepping back from her mate.

The flames were almost on top of them, "We need to go now!" he hissed to the cats, turning to leave. The other warriors and queens padded away, Ferncloud giving her mate one last look before the bright red flames engulfed him. Jayfeather tried to imagine the ear-screeching yowls he was hearing, were just a dream, but they weren't. Dustpelt was in StarClan now, and he would have a happy life up there, watching his kits live on. A small stream ran alongside the group, as they were approaching the cave. It was a good sign, they were becoming closer. Jayfeather just hoped the fire wouldn't spread in the cave, he didn't know if it would. A mew below, reminded him that Silverkit was hanging in his jaws. The small kit stared up at him, her blue eyes shining with fear. The smell of smoke was fading away, they were making a head start on the fire, but it wouldn't be long before it caught up. He could feel the presence of Cinderheart, the she-cat running alongside him. Her pelt brushed up against his, as they ran towards the cave.

"I can see it!" she called out, pointing forward with her tail.

Jayfeather could sure enough hear the rushing water of the stream, leading into the pool that sat in the middle of the cave. He stopped, letting the other cats run ahead of him. Sniffing the air, Jayfeather realized the fire was closer than he had thought, in fact he could feel its head. Silverkit mewed, and Jayfeather realized he needed to get her out of there. His paws felt hot as they raced along the grassy surface, feeling the ground changing into smooth stone, they had made it! He breathed in a sigh of relief, I did it! I saved them! he cheered in his head. But his high hopes soon shattered as flames scorched the surface of the entrance. He quickly ran down the spiral of stones that led to the bottom, and jumped onto the cold, smooth ground.

"Is everyone ok!?" he asked the others, sniffing for any injuries.

Cinderheart counted, "Everyone's here, and fine" she meowed happily, "I think we did it Jayfeather!".

He let Silverkit down, giving the kit a swift lick, "Are you ok?".

She nodded, "Im fine, thank you! You saved us!".

The other cats agreed, Hazeltail giving him a lick on the shoulder.

"Thank you" she meowed, "My kits would be dead if it wasn't for you, I am eternally grateful".

Jayfeather smiled at there praise, he had saved the cats in camp, but what about the rest of his clan mates? What about his brother and sister? And Firestar! What if the other clans didn't make it, let alone his clan-mates. But as the fire above scorched the entrance of the cave, Jayfeather felt a cold breeze shiver through him, as a star made itself visible through the clouds. StarClan was watching over them, but would StarClan be enough?.