Chapter Twenty-Four

When Feathertail woke up she realized that Blackear hadn't called her for any patrols that day. So, she went straight to the medicine den to see if Lilystream or Thrushtail needed any help.

Lilystream's immediate reply was, "Of course! We're short on herbs, nearly all of the apprentices are out training so the elders need their herbs. Nests need changing! It's as if the first day it's really warm out there's absolutely no one in camp!"

Feathertail nodded her head and smiled at the medicine cat's ramblings.

"Oh, and I almost forgot, take those herbs to Silverswirl's kits. Only give them one seed each, I'm trying to wean them off of it."

"Alright Lilystream, I'll be right back." Feathertail grabbed the leaf the herb was on in her mouth and made her way to the nursery. Silverswirl's kits were about three moons old now, so they still had the rest of Greenleaf until they became apprentices.

"Poppykit, Morningkit, Dawnkit, Mintkit, come here!" she called out gently when she arrived.

All four of them came tumbling out of the nursery right into her paws.

"Ow! Oh, sorry Feathertail, we didn't see you there." Morningkit apologized.

"Really?" she said laughing, "Lilystream says you have to take your herbs now."

Dawnkit rolled her eyes, "Still? That stuff tastes so gross!" she said, sticking out her tongue.

"Yah," Mintkit agreed, "Why can't we take something good tasting, like honey?"

Feathertail sighed, "You've never even tasted honey before. The bees have barely even started humming yet."

"But we've heard it's good!" Mintkit argued.

Poppykit nudged her sister, "C'mon, if Lilystream says to then we better."

"Suck-up" Dawnkit mumbled under her breath.

Feathertail gave each of the kits a seed and watched to make sure they swallowed it. Seeing how talkative they were gave Feathertail an idea.

"Would you kits like to go outside the camp?" she asked.

They were silent for a moment. Their last excursion outside ended horrible, resulting in the death of their mother. But, it had been so long ago to them that that memory was beginning to become fuzzy. All they knew was that they shouldn't go outside.

"But I thought we weren't allowed to go outside." Poppykit asked.

"All I have to do is ask Hawkstar and we can all go."

Mintkit shook her head, "I think I want to stay inside today."

"Me too." Dawnkit added.

"Me three! We'll have lots of fun in here!" Morningkit chimed.

But Poppykit looked at all of her sisters before she said, "I think going outside would be fun."

Feathertail smiled. She wrapped her tail around the tufty black kit and led her to her brother's den. Luckily, he had just gotten back from a patrol.

"Hawkstar?" she called out into his tree-stump den.

"Come in Feathertail." She pushed her way past the overhanging vines and into the cool darkness. "You seem to be in here a lot lately." He said warmly with a smile, "What is it?"

Feathertail laughed, "I was just wondering if I could take Poppykit out for a short walk in the woods."

Hawkstar froze for a split second. His eyes lingered on Poppykit, "Why don't you wait for Feathertail outside?"

She nodded her head and bounced back out of his den.

As soon as she left his eyes returned to Feathertail's, "What's this really about?"

"I wanted to see if I could loosen her up enough to talk about what happened that night. Maybe we can finally get rid of that creep."

Hawkstar sighed, "We don't know for sure if it was Reedfur or not. We were all a little paranoid that night and quick to make assumptions." Seeing her indifferent expression he continued, "He could've been hunting down near the river for some birds or other prey and the kits decided to follow him. They could've thought that since he was near, it was okay."

"I'm sorry Hawkstar, but you saw that cold look in his eyes that night. It was like looking into a bottomless pit."

The corner of Hawkstar's mouth twitched into a half-smile, "He's always been like that. That's just how he is, bitter and resentful."

"Bitterness leads to hate. And hate leads to death."

"Enough, Feathertail. He's not guilty until I say he is." Hawkstar snapped.

She was about to reply with a hot retort when Blackear flew in, "Hawkstar, we just chased off a couple more rogues. Their activity is increasing along the meadow border."

Blackear's back leg had a several small cuts in it and his sides were heaving from running fast and hard.

"For the love of StarClan! When will they stop! Is anyone else hurt?" Hawkstar replied.

"Nothing but a couple of scratches. They didn't put up much of a fight."

"Good, double patrols in that area. Feathertail, cancel your little outing. You're going on a patrol." Feathertail's shoulders slumped a bit but she followed Blackear out.

After telling a dejected-looking Poppykit, she joined Blackear, Redfoot, Molenose, and Ripplepaw on a standard border patrol.

By the time they finally got started it was just past sunhigh. Birds flew lightly from branch to branch in the lush, green forest. Puffy white clouds gathered high above them, signaling an approaching storm. Although, it would be far past moonhigh before it ever hit.

They were just approaching the northern edge of the stream when an odd scent hit her nose. It was as if she had smelled it before, but it had been a long time.

Blackear, at the lead, paused, "Do you smell that?" he asked, equally confused.

"Yes," replied Molenose, "I feel like I know it…I just can't remember where."

And then it hit her. That scent. She hadn't smelled it for moons. It was the same scent her late daughter, Willowfall, was. Instinctually she ran out, "Willowfall!" she screamed out, "Willowfall!"

Behind her she could hear the patrol, yelling for her to stop.

And then, there she was, standing next the stream, lapping up water, as perfect as he looked before she got sick.

Feathertail smiled, "Willowfall, how did you get here? I thought I buried you?"

She turned to face Feathertail, but something wasn't right.

"Who's Willowfall? Where am I?" she asked.

Everything was the same, her appearance, her scent, even her voice. But her eyes were wrong. They were green, not yellow.

"You're not Willowfall." By this time the patrol caught up to Feathertail and were equally astonished at what they saw.

She was a carbon copy of the late warrior. Tortoiseshell, long legs, equally long tail, calm demeanor. Everything except the eyes.

Blackear spoke first, "Who are you?" he asked quietly, lacking his usual demanding tone.

The Willowfall-look-a-like was silent. She seemed to be concentrating, thinking, "I'm not sure."

"How can you not know who you are?" Redfoot asked.

"I don't know. I can't remember anything."

All of the cats looked at each other oddly before Blackear spoke again, "Why don't you come to our camp with us."

"Camp…the SunClan camp?"

"Do you know the place?" Molenose asked cautiously.

"Yes…Yes I do. It's under all of the oak trees."

Feathertail's jaw dropped open in awe. How could this she-cat, who looked just like her daughter, not be her daughter?

Blackear powered through the astonishment and said, "Why don't you lead us there?"

She nodded her head and started. They all crowded behind her and followed in a daze. She took the exact path right through the thorn barrier into the camp. Not pausing or stopping at all. Not one moment of hesitation.

Rockclaw wandered out of the warriors' den looking as happy-confused as Feathertail did when she first scented this mystery cat's scent.

"Willowfall…" he said.

Feathertail shook her head. By now nearly all of the clan had gathered around this she-cat. Amazed.

Hawkstar strode out of his den and stood shocked for a moment. Then, gathering his thoughts he asked, "Who are you?"

She, who had been sitting looking down at the ground, looked up, "I do not know."

"How can you not know who you are?"

Lilystream spoke up from the back of the crowd, "She could have amnesia. It's uncommon, but not unheard of." She pushed her way through the crowd until she reached the she-cat. "What's the last thing you remember?"

The she-cat's eyes searched unseen memories for a moment or two before replying, "Opening my eyes at the stream. Then Feathertail, Blackear, Redfoot, Molenose, and Ripplepaw showed up."

Blackear spoke up now, "We didn't tell her our names, Hawkstar."

"How did you know their names?" Hawkstar demanded.

The she-cat looked beside herself, "I don't know. I just know them."

"Be quite, Hawkstar!" Lilystream shouted. Sometimes, she seemed more in authority than even him. Turning back to the bewildered she-cat she asked, "I know it's hard, but can you remember anything before opening your eyes at the stream?"

"No." she whispered quietly.

"Even your name?"

"No."

"Well that'll never do. She needs a name." Morningkit squeaked from Rosebloom's side.

Rosebloom hushed her but Lilystream interceded, "No, she's right. Hawkstar, she needs a name."

SunClan turned to their leader. If he gave her a name, that meant she was staying with the clan. If he didn't, that meant she wasn't. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment.

"Welcome to SunClan…Brookwing."

Only a few murmured in dissent, but most were accepting and congratulated Brookwing. She looked happy, like she was meant to be in SunClan.

Meanwhile, Feathertail padded over to Lilystream and pulled her aside, "You don't think that Brookwing could be…"

"No. She is not Willowfall in body. But, I have another theory."

Feathertail was intrigued, "What is it?"

"Maybe, just maybe, she could be a reincarnation of Willowfall."

"How is that even possible?"

Lilystream sighed, "I never told you this for fear of upsetting you. StarClan was unhappy over Willowfall's death. She was bright, kind, and smart. Unfortunately, the greencough was slightly unexpected. So, I thought something like this might happen."

Feathertail stared at the medicine cat in awe, "Impossible…"

"Please, Feathertail, you can't tell anyone else. I don't think she needs to know."

Feathertail looked back at Brookwing, glowing with happiness in the center of the camp, "You're right. Just between us, right."

Lilystream smiled, "Exactly."