Chapter 32
"Greetings Brambleclaw," Midnight growled gently, dipping her head to Brambleclaw. Jaysong felt her pelt bristle with surprise at the formal way in which Midnight addressed Brambleclaw. Beside her, Lionblaze and Hollyleaf looked just as shocked as Jaysong felt, but beyond them, Birchfall and Hazeltail looked pretty calm. With a jolt, Jaysong realized that when they were both young cats, Birchfall and Hazeltail had both met Midnight. Jaysong remembered that when she was a nursery Ferncloud and Daisy had told her stories about the badger attack and how Midnight had brought help. Dragging her thoughts away from the past, Jaysong heard Midnight add to Brambleclaw, "Too long it has been. How is other cats from journey? And these cats with you are Clan cats, no?" Jaysong felt Midnight's black gaze rake at her pelt.
"Crowfeather has a mate and Stormfur has returned to stay in the mountains with Brook. Squirrelflight is fine." Brambleclaw's voice was gruff and Jaysong wondered if the dark brown tabby was having trouble mentioning Squirrelflight. After all it hadn't been that long ago that Brambleclaw learned he wasn't the father of Lionblaze and Hollyleaf. Jaysong cast a glance at Lionblaze and Hollyleaf and saw that they both were looking uncomfortable as well. "These two cats are Birchfall and Hazeltail. Do you remember them? They were just two young cats when you last came to the Clans." Brambleclaw nodded at the two cats and then turned to the farther away warriors, "This is Lionblaze and Hollyleaf, Crowfeather and Squirrelflight's sister, Leafpool's, kits."
Behind Midnight, the ShadowClan patrol bristled in surprise. Jaysong was too shocked that Brambleclaw had told Midnight about Crowfeather and Leafpool's breaking of the warrior code. Jaysong then realized that Midnight probably didn't know about the warrior code and if she did, she probably didn't understand it that well. Midnight didn't really seem to comprehend Brambleclaw's words because she was staring unblinkingly at Lionblaze and Hollyleaf. In a voice cracked with ancient words, Midnight rasped, "There will be three kin of the kin of the flame-colored cat." Midnight blinked and then added, her voice thick with wonder, "But the prophecy says three?" Jaysong looked down at her paws, her fur burning. Obviously Midnight didn't know about Jayfeather's death.
Brambleclaw didn't answer Midnight's question while Birchfall and Hazeltail didn't know if they should. Jaysong cast a swift glance at Lionblaze and Hollyleaf and saw that the two littermates had their heads bowed, grieving silently for their lost brother. The ShadowClan cats on the other side of the border didn't blink an eye. They obviously thought it was ThunderClan's duty to explain Jayfeather's death. When no cat said anything, Jaysong blurted, "Jayfeather died." Suddenly every pair of eyes were on her. Jaysong swallowed uncomfortably and stammered in embarrassment, "Jayfeather died from a greencough epidemica couple moons ago, but his memory lives strong in ThunderClan." Jaysong finished and saw Lionblaze nod towards Jaysong. Apparently Lionblaze approved of what Jaysong said.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Midnight bowed her head to all the Clan cats, but her black eyes was fixed on Jaysong. Once all the sad murmurs died away, Midnight asked, "Who is this young cat? Cat I have not met before, no?" Brambleclaw stepped forward, his brief moment of speechlessness gone and meowed, "Yes, Jaysong is one of our youngest warriors. She is the daughter of Brackenfur and Sorreltail, I think you remember them. Their first litter of kits were born the last time we saw you." Jaysong wondered if Brambleclaw was being polite in not mentioning the badger attack. After all those had been Midnight's kin even if she hadn't gone along with the actual attack. Midnight had even tried to warn the Clans.
Speaking of Midnight, the badger was still staring at Jaysong. Suddenly Midnight rasped, "The strongest of two will save the Clan." Jaysong felt her pelt bristle with shock. Jayfeather had once told Jaysong that same prophecy, but the golden brown warrior hadn't thought about it that much. Now that Midnight had repeated the prophecy it made those words so much more important. Silence had settled amongstthe Clan cats so Midnight continued, "Your father watches over you still. A challenging path you must lead." Midnight fell silent and Jaysong felt ten pairs of eyes stare at her. The ThunderClan cats were looking at Jaysong as though they were seeing her for the first time while the ShadowClan warriors- Blackstar especially- had the same expression.
When no cat seemed like they were going to talk, Brambleclaw took another step forward and asked curiously, "Midnight, you didn't come here to talk about the past so why are you here?" Brambleclaw's voice wasn't rude, but it wasn't as polite as it had been before. Jaysong wondered if Brambleclaw was wondering if Firestar would be okay with Midnight on their territory. After all she was a badger. Then again it was Firestar. Firestar was one of the best warriors in all the Clans and he was always fair. Firestar wouldn't forget how much the Clans owed Midnight. To Jaysong's surprise it wasn't Midnight who responded, but Tawnypelt, "Oh Brambleclaw! Midnight has the greatest news! For ShadowClan as well as ThunderClan!"
Blackstar silenced Tawnypelt with a glare while Midnight explained, "I met cat Sol and told him of Clans. I thought it would be good, but StarClan tells me it was not. I met with leaders Thunder, Shadow, Wind, and River and they all angry at me for sending Sol to Clans. I had to do something. So Sol no bother you anymore. Sol dead." Jaysong felt her pelt bristle in shock and she wasn't the only one. Sol was before Jaysong's time, but the golden brown warrior had heard his tales as well as any ThunderClan kit. Casting a glance at Blackstar, Jaysong remembered how Sol had turned Blackstar against StarClan. Jaysong was glad that Blackstar believed in StarClan or her life might have been so much different. "I can't stay long and talk for I have to go to Clan of wind. Goodbye friends. May StarClan grant you happiness."
Midnight began lumbering away and Brambleclaw called after her, "The thanks of ThunderClan goes with you!" Midnight disappeared and suddenly Jaysong noticed something she had completely forgotten about. The rain.