Chapter Twenty Seven: Jayfeather
Lionblaze is still sitting vigil for Brambleclaw. I feel bad that I haven't been able too but there are too many wounds to tend to and I have to periodically check on Hollyleaf and her kits. Speaking of which, I'm up for another checkup. I side step most of the cats and wish Brightheart luck as I pass her (she's up to her head in dock leaves and scratches) and head to the nursery.
"Jayfeather, I need to talk to you." Foxleap mews outside the nursery.
"What?" I ask wearily. Can't he tell that I just want to get this done with so I can heal all the cats so I can GO TO SLEEP?
"I can't keep lying to her!" He hisses, "She's the mother of my kits, we owe her the truth."
"No." I mew emphatically, "That is a bad idea. Trust me."
He sighs crossly but mutters, "Guess I have to." Yes, yes you do.
"Excuse me." I mew sharply. He moves aside but follows me into the den where Hollyleaf is sitting, awake. And looking very upset.
"What aren't you telling me Foxleap?" She demands her voice dangerous.
"Ummmm," He stammers quailing under her fury.
"Well?" She snaps. I rush around the den checking on her kits and slide to the entrance.
"They're all good, see ya later, bye," I mew quickly.
As I leave I hear Hollyleaf mew, "I'm going to ask again before I get angry, what aren't you telling me?"
Shaking my head, I return to chewing herbs and listening to whiny warriors. I would have thought Lionblaze would have done something by now. But he just sits in front of Brambleclaw, next to Squirrelflight, staring.
Lucky him. I wish I had enough time to stare. Nope I'm too busy running around camp. These cats have me running in circles.
It's dawn before I have the chance to sit down and I'm panting heavily as I sense the elders get up and walk to Brambleclaw's body. Lionblaze rises unsteadily, his pain a river around him. I want to comfort my brother, but I don't know how and I don't guess my words would be anything but empty, as I'm feeling so hollow myself.
When they return Lionblaze is shaking and smells like dirt. Cinderheart walks up to him and licks his ears trying to be of some comfort. Tawnypelt approaches Firestar and mews,
"Thank you for allowing me to bid my brother good-bye, but I must return to ShadowClan now."
"Of course and I am so sorry for your loss." Firestar mews, his voice still hoarse. "Jayfeather?" He calls to me.
I haul myself up and weave through the cats to where Firestar and Tawnypelt stand.
"Is Squirrelflight fit to accompany Tawnypelt to the border?" Firestar asks. Squirrelflight walks over when she hears her name. I sniff her only serious wound, a deep scratch on her shoulder.
"She should be as long as she doesn't over work it. If it reopens come straight back, I'm sure Tawnypelt will be able to find the rest of the way home." I mew sternly and all three cats nod. Tawnypelt and Squirrelflight leave through the thorn tunnel, walking stiffly. Some cats call good-byes to Tawnypelt as she leaves but most just stay where they are, staring into space with blank horror flooding from them.
I collapse into a ruffled heap not able to go any further. I just want to fall asleep, but I know that I can't.
Icecloud walks up to me and I realize that I haven't treated her, and that she's covered in blood.
"Why didn't you come to me first thing?" I screech nosing her blood streaked fur.
"It's only a couple of scratches." She mews gently.
"That looks like more than a couple –"
"Jayfeather I'm pregnant." She blurts.
I almost drop dead right there but I manage to exclaim, "And you went into battle?!"
"I didn't know then! A cat named Brindleface came to me during the battle. She said she was my mother's mother and she protected me because I was carrying kits." She's glowing happily; I'm still trying to recover from my near death experience. "There was another cat there; she looked like me, white with green eyes. She helped Brindleface from time to time but she was protecting everyone."
"Half Moon…" I mutter unaware of what I'm doing.
"Jayfeather? Do you know who that cat was?" Icecloud asks.
"No." I mew quickly, my heart sinking at the lie, "Never seen her."
"Well we owe her a thank you. Can you believe it Jayfeather?! We're going to have kits!" No, no I can't believe it.
"I'd say you still have a moon before you should go off your warrior duties," I mew after sniffing my mate.
Just then Ferncloud walks up to us, "Icecloud! I was so worried about you, I'm so sorry!" She mews and starts covering Icecloud's face in licks. Icecloud leads her mother away and I hear them talking. After a moment I feel Ferncloud's shock and slight anger. Then it vanishes and is replaces with happiness, I hear her mew,
"That's wonderful, sweetheart!" and the two cats walk away together.
Much, much later after a good meal I'm collapsed in my den wrapped around Icecloud so very glad the day is over. I can hardly breathe I'm so tired. My dream is shrouded in mist, but I see a figure out of the gloom, Longtail! Young and fit, not the cat I knew. I expect greetings but instead he mews,
"After Fire dies
And Lion rules
Midnight will carry
Thunder to
Peace"
I stand shaking as Longtail starts to fade away. Too late I call,
"Wait! Come back!" But he doesn't and soon I wake up, prisoner to darkness once more. Still shaking I try to work out the prophecy. How could midnight carry anything? Then I remember Half Moon's parting words,
"Listen for the prophecy, and leave your mind open, the answer is not the first one that it appears to be." The prophecy has come, and the answer is not the first one it appears to be…
Little does Jayfeather know but in the other three Clans three cats are receiving this prophecy,
After Fire dies
And Lion rules
Midnight will carry
The Clans to
Peace
In ShadowClan Littlecloud stares at his former apprentice, Flametail in shocked hope, in RiverClan Willowshine is praying that Feathertail's prophecy is right, and in WindClan Kestrelflight is gazing at Tallstar with faith.
So it's over :( But hey Dove's Flight is about to be uploaded! Yay! Thanks so much for reading!
-Echosong
Hey readers thanks for all of your support you were great! I can't believe the first book is done and I can't wait for book two Dove's Flight to get out. Hope you liked the ending and can't wait for the next book=) Bye=)
-Midnightstar
Updated A/N: Wow after having gone through that and fixing it, all I can say is that it was rough. So thank you to all those who stumbled through it, because I promise, it helped me get better. Hopefully I've fixed it up now, so it's not quite as shabby. 7/26/14
