Chapter 50
"Breezepelt, Heathertail, what are you doing here?" Lionblaze demanded, his amber eyes glaring at Breezepelt and Heathertail. Jaysong could practically feel the anger that made his golden pelt bristle as he stared at the WindClan warriors. In reaction to the heat she felt radiating off her clanmate's pelt, Jaysong glanced between Lionblaze and Heathertail wondering what could make the usually calm warrior so angry. As far as Jaysong knew Lionblaze and Heathertail had never talked to one another except at Gatherings. Maybe Lionblaze had some issues with Breezepelt. After all, the smokey black tom was his half-brother.
"Whitetail has been missing for three days and a search party had been sent to find her," Breezepelt growled, cutting across Heathertail before she could respond to Lionblaze. Even though Jaysong had only met Crowfeather once, she saw a lot of the WindClan warrior in his son. They both had the same air around them that made them seem as approachable as a fox, but there was also some sadness tinged with that anger. Jaysong knew that Crowfeather may have felt depressed over the loss of Leafpool, but she couldn't figure out why Breezepelt seemed to be drowning in grief. Breezepelt had a mate and a solid place in his Clan. What was wrong with him?
"That doesn't answer my question, Breezepelt. I asked why are you here? What made you come here? Planning an attack on ThunderClan?" Lionblaze added the last part in a snarl, glaring at Heathertail. Jaysong could see thoughts flooding both their eyes and wondered if Lionblaze's words meant more to Heathertail then they did to everyone else. Breezepelt took a step forward- his dark pelt bristiling as Lionblaze snapped at his mate- and poised to spring. Jaysong felt her muscles tighten and knew that Icestorm and Brambleheart were ready to defend their kin if necessary. Heathertail pushed through the group of cats, her voice calm as she meowed, "Sheath your claws. Its just like toms to think they have to fight through everything. Lionblaze, Breezepelt and myself came here in hopes to find Whitetail which we did. I knew that Whitetail wouldn't abandon her Clan or Autumntail-"
"Autumnpaw became a warrior?" Jaysong mewed in surprise, remembering the tabby-and-white tom who she had met briefly at a Gathering. Breezepelt turned to glare at Jaysong and the golden brown warrior realized that the other cats had forgotten about her, "Yes, Autumntail became a warrior. He chased out a group of rogues two dawns ago." Breezepelt paused before adding, his amber eyes losing some of their spark, "Actually, we think these are the same rogues that attacked ThunderClan and RiverClan so many moons ago. Onestar was going to wait until the next Gathering to tell the other Clans, but since cats from ThunderClan and RiverClan are here, I might have well just said it."
"Who do you think you are?! Clan deputy?! Onestar didn't give you permission to share that piece of news!" Whitetail snarled, her eyes glaring at Breezepelt as though he was mousebrain. It was then that Jaysong felt the bond shared between them. Despite Whitetail anger, she loved Breezepelt like a son. Jaysong wondered if they were kin until she remembered a story Hollyleaf had told her seasons ago when she was still in the nursery. Breezepelt's mentor had been Whitetail. Jaysong looked at them and then realized that Lionblaze and Heathertail were still holding one another's eyes. Icestorm noticed this too because she growled, "Why don't we head back to our own Clans?"
Jaysong suddenly realized that Icestorm was giving this suggestion to her. Remembering that she was Clan deputy, Jaysong meowed, "Good idea, Icestorm. Okay, why don't you and Brambleheart escort Flamecloud and Voletooth to the ShadowClan border? Voletooth will be able to cross back into his territory from there. Lionblaze and myself can take Whitetail, Breezepelt, and Heathertail as far as WindClan border." Jaysong was about to add something else when Heathertail mewed softly, "Thanks for the escort, Jaysong, but there is really no need. I know how to get back to WindClan territory through the tunnels."
Surprised with this knowledge, Jaysong nodded and meowed, "Very well. Then Lionblaze and I will stay here to make sure you aren't planning on crossing onto our territory." Flicking her tail to Brambleheart and Icestorm, Jaysong watched as they nudged the weak Flamecloud to his paws and told Voletooth to follow them. Jaysong was not worried about the agressive RiverClan warrior turning on his ThunderClan guards. After being held up in a hole for three days, he probably didn't have any strength left. Jaysong then turned and watched Breezepelt nudge Whitetail in the direction of a tunnel. To Jaysong's surprise, Heathertail didn't immediatly follow. Instead, Heathertail waited until her clanmates were out of sight before turning to Lionblaze.
"Lionblaze, do you remember the days we used to play in here? When I was Heatherstar, leader of DarkClan, and you were my loyal deputy, Lionclaw?" Heathertail asked, her heather-colored eyes wide and hopeful. Jaysong turned to Lionblaze and watched her clanmate give Heathertail a curt nod, his amber eyes staring unblinkingly into the stone wall. "Those were some of the happiest days of my life even though we were breaking the warrior code by meeting. Breezepelt is a good friend, but he's not you Lionblaze. You were my best friend and I decided that I don't care what our Clans think. I love you."
"I can't be compared to a half-Clan cat!" Jaysong turned saw Breezepelt padding back into the tunnels. Breezepelt's ears were flat against his head and his amber eyes were glaring at Lionblaze and Heathertail. Jaysong wondered if Breezepelt had forgotten she was there again. Jaysong suddenly smelled a familiar scent and knew that Heathertail couldn't have told Lionblaze her true feelings at a worse time. Heathertail's mate wasn't the only one who overheard her. Icestorm- Lionblaze's mate- padded up to Lionblaze's side, flanked by her son, Brambleheart. The light brown tabby didn't dare speak up in front of the senior warriors, but his fur bristled.
"I'm sorry, Heathertail, but Lionblaze can't love you. He's my mate and the father of my kits. Right, Lionblaze?" Icestorm hissed, her tail resting on Lionblaze's shoulder. All eyes turned to Lionblaze and Jaysong felt like she was intruding on a private moment. Lionblaze's amber eyes were going from Icestorm to Heathertail and back again. Breezepelt snarled when Lionblaze didn't say anything at first and Brambleheart got to his paws, ready to defend his father. Jaysong padded over to Brambleheart's side and curled her tail around his flank, silently telling him to calm down. There was no need for a fight. Lionblaze turned to Heathertail and whispered, "You guys better get Whitetail back. She must be terribly hungry." And with that Lionblaze turned away, but that wasn't the end of it.
"You piece of foxdung! Don't tell us what to do! There may have been a time when I was an apprentice that I would have respected you, but now that time is over. I don't care if you are my brother!" Breezepelt lunged at Lionblaze, his claws unsheathed as he landed on top of his half-brother. Jaysong watched Breezepelt claw at Lionblaze's ears and then spring of him, slashing his half-brother's nose open. Heathertail was looking around with shock in her heather-colored eyes while Whitetail- who Jaysong hadn't even seen returned- pleaded, "Breezepelt, no! Stop! You are breaking the warrior code!"
But Breezepelt didn't listen. Instead Breezepelt sanked his teeth in Lionblaze's shoulder while his half-brother's paws rubbed against his paws. Jaysong realized that Lionblaze hadn't even unsheathed his claws to defend himself. Lunging forward, Jaysong grabbed Breezepelt by the scruff and dragged him off Lionblaze. Brambleheart had darted over to Lionblaze's side and nudged his wounded father up on his paws. Jaysong let go of Breezepelt and snarled, "Don't ever touch one of our warriors again. Do you here me! Next time, you will lose more fur!" Jaysong watched as Breezepelt spat at her, but padded out of the tunnels, Whitetail following him. Heathertail looked back at Lionblaze, but the ThunderClan warrior didn't even glance at her. Heathertail sighed until she too disappeared.
Jaysong turned Lionblaze and watched him walk out of the tunnels, flanked by Brambleheart and Icestorm. Although worry glistened in the eyes, Jaysong knew that Brambleheart and Icestorm were worried why Lionblaze hadn't denied Heathertail's love. Jaysong had a feeling that this wasn't going to be the last time this night was brought up.
