-CHAPTER 19-

Life had dragged on slowly for Jadeleaf after her argument with Whitesnow. She knew that there was no keeping her sister away from that ShadowClan tom. Whitesnow was stubborn to the extreme. She'd seen the way her sister acted around her, and knew that Whitesnow would just go behind her back if she tried to stop her. Anger and confusion had swept through Jadeleaf as she watched Whitesnow disappear time after time. She had a feeling that it was only a matter of time before kits were on the way. Her claws began to dig into the ground as she thought of possible ways to stop her sister. Stonebrook had already told her that Whitesnow's belly was larger than normal.

She hissed in frustration as the mouse that she was stalking fled into a honeysuckle. It was keeping an eye out for signs of predators that could be lurking in the undergrowth. The snow itself wasn't making things easier.

A fresh blanket of snow had fallen during the night while Jadeleaf slept next to Eagleheart. She'd been shocked to see it at first. Than she thought of how beautiful it looked compared to the gloominess of rain or fog. Petalcloud had blamed Talonclaw's death on the bitter cold that seemed to engulf the forest. The cranky elder had passed away during the night after a bout of whitecough had been caught. Most of the Clan had thought of his loss as a good one. None of them seemed to enjoy his constant teasing and goading.

The pale gray warrior's mind flickered towards what prey had been found during her solo hunting patrol. Oakfire, who was getting worse by the day, had sent her out on her own. Most of the other warriors had been sent to patrol the WindClan or ShadowClan border. Only a few cats had chosen to stay behind and keep an eye on Freezemist's kits. Their activity was growing more intense by the day. Freezemist had once told Jadeleaf that she would be happy once they had someone else to watch over them. Yet Jadeleaf could see the joy in her eyes each time she spoke of them. Freezemist was proud of her kits, no matter how playful or annoying they got.

During the past moon quite a few things had happened. Jadeleaf's anger towards Whitesnow had melted almost instantly after Cloudfur murmured words of comfort to her. Her mother had told her that she herself once fell in love with a cat that was not from ThunderClan. But that had just been a friendship type of bond. It never turned into kits or anything severe. Silently Jadeleaf had prayed that Cloudfur was right. Meanwhile life in the Clan had changed for the better. Robinflight had moved into the nursery, announcing that she was expecting Squirrelfang's kits. The entire Clan had been shocked with this news. Yet there was no doubt when Jadeleaf had seen the pride gleaming within Squirrelfang's eyes after Robinflight made the announcement. Blizzardstar had lost a life during a confrontation with ShadowClan. He now had only four lives left, according to Stonebrook.

Her thoughts were suddenly broken when she spotted a blackbird hopping around a pile of snow. The noise it made was loud and unnecessary, as far as Jadeleaf was concerned. Her ears pricked forward with interest as she stalked towards it. Blood had splattered across the snow after what must have been a nasty looking kill. She winced at the cold stench of it. One misstep and the blackbird would be long gone. It had plenty of branches to hop onto if it spotted any predators lurking nearby. Her paws moved slowly and silently against the cold snow. There was no time to tell whether or not the wind direction was in her favor. All that mattered was coming back with fresh-kill.

Without a second thought she lunged forward. The blackbird cried out in alarm, but by than it was too late. Her claws had already scored deep marks in its wing membrane. Blood trickled from the wounds she gave it as she pulled down in mid-flight. Blood roared in her ears by the time she managed to bring it down. The blackbird struggled for a few more heartbeats until she snapped its neck. The constant beating of its wings had stopped by the time she spotted what it had been after.

A fox cub! Her blood ran cold as she stared at it. The poor mite must have been killed by a larger predator.

"Jadeleaf!" She whirled around to see Larksong bounding forward with Marshpaw and Shrewtail. "Wow, you caught that by yourself?" Her voice was filled with disbelief as she stared at the fallen blackbird. Than they reached the fox cub. "There's a dead fox cub!" she gasped.

No duh, Jadeleaf thought with a roll of her eyes. Shrewtail padded forward to give it a sniff, but Larksong had nipped him by the ear. Marshpaw's eyes were wide in alarm as he stared at the blood-stained ground.

"We need to report this to Blizzardstar," Larksong meowed. "The last thing we want is an angry mother fox looking for revenge." Annoyance gleamed within Jadeleaf's eyes as she followed the black and white she-cat. Larksong was still treating them like they were her kits. If it were up to Jadeleaf, she would have checked to see if there were other foxes around. Or worse, the creature that could have killed the fox cub. Despite her seething frustration, she picked up the blackbird and followed without a word.

The four of them had returned to the hollow without any trouble. Jadeleaf dropped the blackbird on the fresh-kill pile, which wasn't much to begin with. It only consisted of the other days' catch. Mice and a single shrew made up most of the fresh-kill pile, much to her dismay.

"Jadeleaf, you should be the one to tell Blizzardstar what you saw." Larksong's words made Jadeleaf stare at her in surprise.

You really trust me this much? Her mind reeled as she tried to think of the best thing to say. Larksong only nudged her gently, giving her the permission she needed. She could already feel excitement rising within her as she bounded ahead. Blizzardstar's den was located near the Highledge. He himself was situated on a nest that was made up of moss, feathers and other soft padding. Jadeleaf ducked her head respectfully as she padded forward to see him sitting with Stonebrook.

Stonebrook's eyes widened in surprise when she noticed Jadeleaf''s approach. Neither she-cat said a word until she rose to her paws. Only Blizzardstar managed to keep Stonebrook from rising to her paws. She gave him an anxious glance, until he nodded in a silent agreement.

"Jadeleaf, we have been waiting for you," Blizzardstar meowed after she settled down in front of him.

"Yes." Jadeleaf kept her voice curt, though curiosity was scorching through her fur. "The patrol found something near that old honeysuckle," she explained after deciding now was the best time to say what had happened. "It was a dead fox cub."

Blizzardstar's eyes narrowed suspiciously as he exchanged a look with Stonebrook. "That is. . .Not the reason we have waited for you," he murmured. "It may be easier if you explain it." He dipped his head to Stonebrook as she flicked her tail from side to side.

"I have seen you are not alone," Stonebrook told her after Blizzardstar stepped back. "There are always. . .Shadows looming around you." Her face screwed over as she spoke of the shadows. Jadeleaf's head tilted to one side. What did she mean by shadows? Than she thought of Cloudfur and Snowstorm, who were constantly at her side and whispering words of comfort to her. Perhaps Stonebrook meant them. "They told me that you are the one StarClan chose. You and. . .Whitesnow."

It took all of Jadeleaf's strength not to leap back in shock. Whitesnow? Her sister had gone behind the warrior code! How could StarClan have chosen such a traitor? She shook her head as Stonebrook looked ready to continue.

"Jadeleaf, I cannot exaggerate enough as to how dangerous this could be." Stonebrook's expression changed to concern as she met Jadeleaf's eyes. "You must choose the right path that StarClan gave to you. If you stray from it, your heart may turn to darkness."

Blizzardstar had risen to his paws by the time Stonebrook was finished. She exchanged a glance with him before he spoke. "Aside from this. . .Event of StarClan's, the dead fox cub is more of my concern," he told them. "Jadeleaf, I want you to take a patrol and find out whether or not it has a mother searching for it. The last thing we need is a mother fox bent for revenge." He shuddered as though a deep memory had suddenly taken over.

Jadeleaf dipped her head respectfully and backed out of the den. Her fur was still standing on end as she thought of what Stonebrook had told her. Her mother and father had been telling her the same thing. Stay on the right path that StarClan had set for her.

Larksong was still waiting at the bottom of the Highledge. Shrewtail had disappeared into the nursery to check on his sister and Freezemist. His own kits sounded as though they were squealing in excitement. Jadeleaf fought back a purr of amusement. Applekit was the loudest of them all, always coming up with games that would end in disaster. Duskkit wasn't nearly as intelligent as her sister. She was more of a follower than anything else. Boulderkit was the one they always picked on for some reason or another.

"What did he say?" Larksong's mew was filled with anxiety. Jadeleaf knew she was more concerned for her sons' safety than that of the Clan.

"I'm to take a patrol and check the area," Jadeleaf announced. She glanced around to see which cats were available.

Darksmoke sat beside the elders' den, sunning himself while it was still high in the sky. Dewpaw and Marshpaw were busy gossiping about what they did during the day. Coalfire and Petalcloud were both outside, despite the bitter cold that seemed to take over the forest.

News about the dead fox cub must have spread by the time she emerged from Blizzardstar's den. Whitesnow had peered out of the warriors' den, though she refused to meet her sister's gaze. Petalcloud looked at Jadeleaf anxiously as she waited for more cats to emerge. The last thing she wanted was to go with the cat that she was fighting with. Eventually Addertail and Squirrelfang had emerged from the warriors' den. Both cats looked as though they only just woke up.

"Addertail, would you like to go with me to check on that fox cub?" She bounded over to them as soon as the cloud in their eyes faded.

"Dead fox cub?" Their voices had an echo to them as they both spoke.

When Jadeleaf explained what had happened, both cats looked at her in disbelief. She only told them that a patrol was needed to make sure there were no mothers around.

"We'll go," Addertail meowed after debating over whether it was safe or not.

The three of them left camp without a word. Oakfire was sitting in front of the thorn tunnel entrance. Jadeleaf's eyes narrowed when she saw how bad he looked compared to the earlier days when she was just an apprentice. His pelt was no longer sleek and well-groomed like it used to be. Instead it had a dull sheen to it. Bones stuck out in places she never expected. Stonebrook had told the Clan that grief was something herbs couldn't heal. Only time would be able to mend the spirit that he once had.

She shook her head after passing him. There was nothing she could do to help the old deputy. Oakfire was almost as old as Blizzardstar, if not older. He'd been a warrior before Blizzardstar became the deputy of ThunderClan.

Soon they reached the patch of snow where she'd taken down the blackbird. Sure enough the dead fox cub was still there. Jadeleaf's nose wrinkled in disgust when Addertail gave it a curious sniff. Squirrelfang looked around warily as he searched the forest for signs of danger. His claws scraped against the snow each time he turned around.

Jadeleaf's ears pricked forward as she listened for sounds of an intruder. The fox cub must have died during the night. Addertail only shook his head as he joined her once more.

"It's been dead for some time now," he told her.

"Maybe the frost killed it," Squirrelfang mused.

"Doubtful," she growled. "A fox has thick fur." She pointed her tail to the once thick pelt of the cub. It was still soft and fuzzy, yet it already had the thick pelt that would take over as an adult.

"I don't see any signs of its mother," Squirrelfang added after he scanned the forest. "Perhaps she already knew it would die."

A sense of horror suddenly swept over Jadeleaf. Could a mother really abandon its own kit if she thought it wouldn't survive? The idea made her stomach clench. Squirrelfang looked at her in concern.

"Lets get back before our paws freeze," he murmured. "There's nothing worth checking out."

But what about it's mother? Jadeleaf wailed out the thought silently. She knew that Cloudfur and Snowstorm wouldn't approve of her worry over such a thing. But she couldn't help it. Somehow her maternal instincts had taken over when she saw the dead cub.

Her fur was still bristling by the time they reached the hollow. Each time she glanced back, it felt as though the cub kept asking her why it was abandoned. She tried to cast the thoughts away as she padded into the clearing. Silently she had to remind herself that the cub could have grown into a vicious killer.

Foxes eat cats, especially when their alone and defenseless, she told herself. Yet her maternal mind told her that the cub shouldn't have died.

The mother would return. And she had a feeling that the mother would come back with a vengeance.