Chapter 33
Jaysong trekked home, the rain making her vision blurry and sometimes if she put too much weight on a paw, she would sink slowly into the earth. Brambleclaw and Birchfall led the way home and Hazeltail padded beside Lionblaze. That left Jaysong to bring up the rear with Hollyleaf. The black warrior wasn't as fun since she had discovered who her birth parents were. Jaysong remembered the days when a rain storm would probably make Hollyleaf trip the golden brown warrior into the mud. Then Jaysong would retaliate and they would look like two best friends again instead of two warriors who rarely spoke to one another. However grief can bring cats closer together and as Jaysong padded into ThunderClan's camp, the golden brown warrior knew something was wrong.
Sorreltail was wailing outside of the warriors' den while Cinderheart and Poppyfrost tried to comfort their mother. Stripepool was sitting outside the nursery, her amber eyes emotionless, while Ferncloud and Whitewing stood over her, shaking their heads sadly. The other nursing queen, Daisy, was giving Berrynose a couple brisk licks on his head, acting as though the cream-colored warrior was a kit again. Hollyleaf gasped and Jaysong followed the black warrior's green gaze until she too saw the limp body that was resting in the center of camp. There was no mistaking the golden brown pelt even if it was soaked with the rain. Jaysong tried to blink and make the golden brown warrior get to their paws, but nothing happened. Jaysong knew that StarClan had gained a new warrior. Honeyfern was dead.
Brambleclaw raced over to where Firestar sat with Sandstorm and asked, "How did it happen, Firestar? She was such a strong, young warrior." Brambleclaw's amber eyes darted towards Honeyfern's limp body and Jaysong saw sadness swimming in them. Beside Firestar, Sandstorm let out a chilling wail and Jaysong realized that the ginger warrior had been Honeyfern's mentor. The two cats had been very close. Hearing Sandstorm's distressed call, Squirrelflight padded over to brush pelts with her mother and cast a sad look at Brambleclaw. Jaysong wondered where Sandstorm's other daughter was and then spotted Leafpool's light brown tabby pelt standing over Honeyfern, Applefrost beside her. The cats were both preparing Honeyfern for her vigil.
Whitewing padded over so she joined the gathered cats. In a voice that was weak with grief, Whitewing rasped an explanation, "Ferncloud and Stripepool were outside getting freshkill for themselves. Berrynose and Honeyfern were outside the nursery talking to Daisy. Honeyfern had poked her head into the nursery to ask if I needed anything. I shook my head, but all of a sudden Honeyfern's eyes widened and she was flying over me. I turn around and Honeyfern was wrestling with a snake, nearly as big as she was. Honeyfern killed it, but the snake had already bit her. Berrynose had come in to help, but there was nothing anyone could do. Honeyfern was already going to StarClan. Poor cat. He's taking it so hard." Whitewing's green eyes flashed to Berrynose who was curling up next to Daisy.
"She will always be remembered as a brave warrior," Birchfall murmured and padded forward to comfort Whitewing, his amber eyes soft with grief. Hazeltail and Lionblaze whispered in agreement. Spotting her mate, Icestorm padded towards Lionblaze and pressed her muzzle into his neck. Lionblaze murmured something to Icestorm and gave her a gentle lick in between the ears, his unfocused amber eyes staring above her head. Jaysong felt Hollyleaf shudder beside her and turned to see the black warrior blink her green eyes in grief. With a jolt, Jaysong remembered that Hollyleaf had been good friends with Honeyfern. Jaysong stared at Honeyfern's limp body and felt her throat close in grief. Honeyfern had always been one of her favorite cats in ThunderClan.
"This is not the time to be discussing this, but my patrol ran into Midnight today. Midnight had come to all the Clans to tell us of some great news. Midnight killed Sol so we don't have to worry about him anymore." Jaysong felt disgusted as Brambleclaw meowed 'great' news. How could anything be great when Honeyfern laid dead infront of them?! Jaysong stalked away to keep vigil beside Honeyfern. Suddenly two warm flanks pressed themselves against Jaysong. On her left was Poppyfrost and on her right was Sorreltail. Cinderheart was on Poppyfrost's other side while Berrynose was next to Sorreltail. Out of the corner of her eye, Jaysong saw Stripepool take a step towards them, but Ferncloud meowed, "You must stay in the nursery, Stripepool. Honeyfern would understand." Stripepool nodded and padded into the nursery followed by Ferncloud, Daisy, and Whitewing.
Jaysong pushed her muzzle deeper into Honeyfern's fur, saying her last goodbye.
*
The next day was rough for all cats. Mousefur and Longtail had buried Honeyfern, accompianed by Poppyfrost and Berrynose. Spiderleg had taken over Rushpaw's training until Sorreltail was feeling well enough to leave the camp. Also the rain had stopped, but instead of bringing relief, it brought annoyance. Now instead of rain there was a tails length of mud separating the cats' paws from the earth. Jaysong's ears swiveled in Turtlepaw's direction as the tortoiseshell apprentice complained, "Great StarClan, I feel like ShadowClan! I miss dry ground!" Brightheart purred at Turtlepaw's dramatic wail, her gold eyes glimmering with affection as she stared at her apprentice. Jaysong's tail twitched with amusement, accidently brushing against a clump of bracken.
The squirrel Jaysong had been stalking suddenly scurried into a tree and Jaysong lunged after it only to have her paws sink into the earth. "Foxdung! I had that too!" Jaysong stalked back towards Brackenpaw, Brightheart, and Turtlepaw, her dark gray eyes narrowed in annoyance. Turtlepaw- probably feeling guilty for talking so loud- flicked her tail in the direction of a clump of ferns where the scent of mouse was coming from. Jaysong nodded to Brackenpaw to take the kill and the black apprentice began to stalk forward. A successful meow alerted Jaysong to the fact that Brackenpaw had caught the mouse. Jaysong's pelt bristled in annoyance! How dare she be beat by an apprentice! Probably feeling Jaysong's anger, Brightheart rested her tail on the younger warrior's shoulder, calming her down.
"It seems like we've caught enough prey," Brightheart meowed, proudly nodding to both of the apprentices, "I think we should head back to camp. That way we can dry our paws before sunhigh." Brackenpaw and Turtlepaw nodded and instantly began racing back to camp. Brightheart paused before asking Jaysong, "Are you coming?" Jaysong shook her head and mewed, "I want to see if I can find anymore freshkill." Brightheart nodded and followed the two apprentices. Thankful to be alone, Jaysong padded through the muddy forest, listening for any sounds of prey moving. Jaysong tasted the air and the warm scent of mouse entered her mouth. Jaysong blinked in surprise. Mingled with the mouse was Rabbitpaw. Shaking her head thinking Rabbitpaw must be out with Cloudtail, Jaysong began stalking the mouse.
Jaysong padded back to camp, proudly holding two mice and a rabbit in her jaws. The Clan wouldn't go hungry tonight that was for sure! Jaysong had barely taken a step into the camp when she heard her name be shrieked. Turning to face the direction of which she had already came, Jaysong spotted Cloudtail and Rushpaw racing towards her. Jaysong stared at Cloudtail and saw that the white warrior's pelt bristled in alarm. Rushpaw- who cowered in Cloudtail's shadow- was looking around the camp with wide green eyes. In a voice thick with worry, Cloudtail rasped loudly, "Jaysong, have you seen Rabbitpaw? I was looking for him in the apprentices' den. When I couldn't find him, Rushpaw came up to me and told me she hadn't seen him since sunhigh yesterday!" Jaysong felt her pelt bristled as she realized that she too hadn't seen Rabbitpaw at Honeyfern's funeral.
Suddenly more pawsteps sounded and Lionblaze bursted into camp, yowling, "Hollyleaf's run away!"