AN: Thanks tufted titmouse and wildcroconaw for reviewing! So here's chapter forty seven...this one's gonna be intense. In more ways than one. And it's also the final stages towards the end of the story. For those who are wondering, I have a poll posted as to what story I should do next. The summaries of those stories are on my profile, so you'll have to scroll down to see what they are like. Remember-Your vote counts!
-CHAPTER 47-
Frost covered the branches that surrounded Jadestar. Her muscles heaved with effort each time she moved forward, careful not to intrude on any hunters that might be out in the forest. With leafbare came the hard times that quickly followed. Coalfire had died just a couple of nights ago from a cough that he couldn't recover from. Plumkit had gotten sick as well, though she was making a fast recovery. Stonebrook had kept her in the den while Ashfang, who had earned his full name just a moon ago, worked with Willowkit every chance he had. Heatherstar's presence had been like a thorn sticking to Jadestar's side. Every night Jadestar would have the same nightmare. Bodies would litter the island where Gatherings were held, and cats would wail in pain and confusion as their Clanmates were killed in the single battle that Heatherstar started.
She'd spoken to Stonebrook about the horrible nightmares. Yet even Stonebrook seemed as perplexed as her at what the dreams signaled. The seasons had not been obvious to Jadestar in her dreams. Had she seen what the seasons were, than she might have known when the battle would take place. It would have given her a chance to prepare the Clan for the worse. Airstorm had been mildly concerned when he saw the look of horror that gleamed within her eyes when she spoke to him. When she told him that it was nothing to worry about, Airstorm had grown even more concerned. Jadestar had refused to speak about it, telling him that the Clan was what mattered to her, not her own safety.
Now that leafbare was in full swing, she would have more to worry about. The Clan would have more mouths to feed once Willowkit and Plumkit were old enough. On top of that, Emberstrike had moved into the nursery just days ago. Sootpelt had made it obvious as to who the father was, though that didn't surprise Jadestar.
"Why can't this cold weather be gone?" Birdpaw was meowing when she followed Eagleheart towards the training hollow. Jadestar's ears pricked with interest as she listened to them. "This snow isn't going to do my pelt any favors either," Birdpaw added after Eagleheart had stopped.
He whirled around to face his apprentice. Jadestar had only seen Eagleheart look so fierce in battles. His hackles were raised and his eyes were narrowed into tiny slits as he glowered at Birdpaw.
"You chatter as much as the birds!" he snapped.
Jadestar's ears flattened in alarm. She was about to intervene when a yowl split through the air. Her eyes widened when she recognized the dawn patrol that was sent out early in the morning. She whirled around, hackles raised to find out where the sound had come from. Within that same moment the world around her felt as though it had shattered. The peace that ThunderClan had felt was no longer around them.
ShadowClan are attacking, she thought with her heart pounding. She could hear the plaintive cries coming from the pines, where ShadowClan territory reached. The angry snarls of her Clanmates quickly reached her sharp hearing, and without thinking she leaped forward. Eagleheart and Birdpaw were quick to join her, though they didn't realize that she had been listening to them. There would be stern words shared with Eagleheart, but that time was not now.
The sounds grew louder as they drew closer. Jadestar recognized Darksmoke's screech as he fought against a ShadowClan warrior. Jadestar bared her fangs at the ShadowClan warrior, whose teeth had latched onto Darksmoke's throat. The larger cat stared at the newcomers in dismay. Clearly he hadn't expected Jadestar herself to fight alongside her Clanmates.
"Care to take on the both of us at once?" Jadestar snarled when the tom looked at her.
Within the next heartbeat he let Darksmoke go and ran back towards his own territory. The dark gray warrior was shuddering from the pain that erupted from the wounds on his neck. When Jadestar was certain that he would be fine, she turned to her next target: Cougartooth was stalking towards Dewfur, who had pinned down a dark gray tabby tom. The large warrior's eyes were narrowed into tiny slits as he moved forward with a purpose.
The ThunderClan leader's fangs bared dangerously as she lunged forward. Anger surged through Jadestar, powering her muscles as she knocked Cougartooth to one side. The limp on her leg had been forgotten as she fought tooth-and-claw against the larger opponent. Cougartooth spat at Jadestar's face, claws digging into her shoulders as he held a firm grip.
She rolled him over so that she was the one on top. Cougartooth's eyes narrowed when she began to scrape her back leg against his belly, which was now fully exposed. He screeched in pain when her claws dug into the skin that had become her new target. She didn't stop until he screamed in agony. He was an enemy that she had dealt with before-one that no cat would want to meet in battle if they weren't trained properly. She released Cougartooth from her grip after he'd stopped moving. He wouldn't be fighting any time soon.
By now the battle was slowly drawling to an end. The ShadowClan warriors were now outnumbered thanks to Jadestar's arrival with Eagleheart and Birdpaw. Dewfur had managed to shake off his attacker, but not without sacrifices. His muzzle was bleeding heavily from a deep scratch that had been inflicted during the fight. The rest of the ShadowClan warriors were already leaving. Jadestar knew that they would be back, but for now she focused on her Clanmates who had been injured. Eagleheart and Birdpaw didn't look nearly as ravaged as the rest of her Clanmates. Toadpelt's shoulder was bleeding, while Addertail had a limp from a bite on his leg.
"Lets get back to the hollow," Jadestar meowed after deciding the border was safe for now. She knew that the ShadowClan cats would be back. A fresh patrol would have to be sent after she returned. Worry had begun to seep within her belly as she led the way back to camp. Was this only the beginning of something worse? Jadestar's ears flattened when she padded forward, until her nose bumped into Stonebrook's. The medicine cat had been waiting outside for them.
"How many cats are injured?" Ashfang asked when he peered over his mentor's shoulder.
Jadestar looked at him. "All of us have injuries to share," she told him. She glanced at her Clanmates. Most of them now bore scratches or bite marks on their shoulders or ears.
Ashfang's ears flattened in embarrassment. Jadestar instantly felt sorry for him. He didn't know how to react when it came to battles like these. Kindlefur emerged from the thorn tunnel entrance while his son worked with Stonebrook to apply the herbs that were needed. The dark ginger tom's fur stood on end when he saw how badly injured some of his Clanmates were. He shook his head and muttered something that Jadestar couldn't understand.
After she was certain that her own Clanmates had received treatments of their own, Jadestar allowed Stonebrook to utilize her time. The medicine cat worked slowly and surely on the wounds that Cougartooth had given Jadestar. A long cut stretched from her neck to her shoulder where his claws had scraped across the skin. She winced when Stonebrook applied an ointment that smelled bitter and unappealing to her. When Stonebrook was finished spreading a poultice around the cut, Ashfang placed cobwebs around the areas that had puss coming out. Jadestar watched silently as the two worked together as a team.
I'm glad I never became her apprentice, she decided after they were finished. Stonebrook had once asked her if she'd like to become her apprentice. The medicine cat had been deeply sincere when she said that Jadestar might never become a warrior. But determination had made Jadestar refuse to accept Stonebrook's request.
The Clan had accepted Ashfang as their medicine cat. Jadestar knew that Ashfang would make a fine full-medicine cat when Stonebrook's time came. He already had the patience of his mentor, and the kind attitude of his mother. The will to move on had belonged to Kindlefur, though Jadestar had never really seen much of his father in him. Emberstrike was more like Whitesnow and Kindlefur combined. The dark ginger she-cat had a fiery attitude, and a tongue as sharp as a bee-sting.
"Those fox-hearted cowards aren't going to get away with this, are they?" Kindlefur was following Jadestar as she limped back to the hollow. She knew by now the the news of what had happened this morning would leak out. Cats would wonder where the wounds had come from.
"I'm not," she replied under her breath. "ShadowClan will pay for what they have done." Her claws flexed as she thought of punishments for the cats that had inflicted pain on her Clanmates.
She pushed Kindlefur aside so that she could limp towards the Highledge. Cats looked at her in surprise. Most of the warriors that she had grown up with never expected her to become their leader. Never in the wildest dreams did they expect her to fight alongside them. Her ears flattened as she remembered the constant struggles that she had faced as an apprentice. Those days were over, and she now knew that her family watched over her from the stars.
"Let all cats old to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highledge!" Jadestar allowed the Clan time to gather around her. Pineroot and Squirrelfang emerged from their den, eyes narrowed in annoyance from a nap that was disturbed. Birdpaw and Dustpaw listened to her keenly from their own spot outside the apprentices' den. Sootpelt joined Dawnlight and Robinflight near the fresh-kill pile while they waited for the meeting to begin. "I know that many of you have discovered what ShadowClan did to the dawn patrol by now," she began as cats looked at her expectantly. "We will not let Heatherstar get away with ambushing our patrols for no reason. I will go to her myself and ask what reason she had for attacking us. If she doesn't answer properly, than she has started a war she will never forget."
Yowls of agreement followed her words. Jadestar's eyes gleamed with pride when she realized that she had their support. Without the help of her Clanmates, this would never have worked out. She was about to wave her tail for silence when Pineroot stepped forward. His eyes narrowed slightly when he held her gaze. "Are you sure it's a good idea to walk right into their camp?" he demanded. "After all, Heatherstar might use it as an excuse."
"We will be careful," she assured him. Nothing could go wrong when she met with Heatherstar. If the ShadowClan leader decided to attack, than she would bring two of her strongest warriors with her for protection. She would take Shrewtail and Sagefrost. The two toms had never spoken out against her, and she knew that she could rely on their strength if she needed to. Darksmoke would have been a better choice, but he was still recovering from his injuries in Stonebrook's den. She knew that he would be disappointed that he couldn't go with her. But his health and safety mattered more than anything. I can rely on him if anything were to go wrong with Airstorm, she thought.
After the meeting was over, she gathered Sagefrost and Shrewtail to discuss what was happening. Sagefrost had been mildly surprised that she chose him over Robinflight. He'd argued against who the best deputy would be when Jadestar made her announcement. She didn't dare meet his gaze when she led the way through ThunderClan's territory. The sun was beginning to disappear behind a blanket of clouds. A cool breeze ruffled her pelt as she padded through the undergrowth. Somehow the weather effect didn't help lighten her mood. She had a feeling that something terrible would happen to them.
Her ears pricked forward in alarm when they reached the clearing. The few pines that surrounded the area had begun to lose their needles. Now a fresh blanket of snow had begun to fall as the wind picked up. Jadestar fought back a shiver. Part of the shiver had been from the cold, but the other part had been from fear. Her eyes widened when she saw a shadow moving in the undergrowth. Sagefrost took a protective step towards her, but she kept her tail held high. The shadow staggered towards them, until Jadestar realized who the shadow belonged to. Her eyes widened in dismay when she saw a trail of blood had followed where he was. It was Kindlefur's friend. The ShadowClan apprentice that had defied Heatherstar.
