Bruh, 3 consecutive chapters of Lionblaze in what's supposed to be a Jayfeather and Briarlight story?
I really wasn't planning on it taking this long to describe the events in the Clans and honestly thought I could wrap up all my thoughts in one chapter. Boy, was I wrong! Anyway, feast your eyes upon the return of Jaybae!
Also, sorry for the very very VERY long wait. I got 2800 words into the chapter, realized I hated EVERYTHING about it, and started over from scratch. I was initially going to pick up exactly where the the last Jayfeather chapter left off, but it just wasn't working. This version is much smoother. I also started a new story called Bone's Resurgence and it is very distracting since Bone is the only cat in Warriors I like more than Jayfeather.
Runereader of the Nightwings Yup, Ivypool has returned and the clans are falling apart. That may have been the last chapter in which we hear about what's going on back by the lake and I wanted to fill it with goodies.
MistLion The world could always use more disasters... yup, the Clans are scwoood. As for Jayfeather ever returning... I haven't decided yet.
The Apocryphal One It really was a sad trio of chapters. I hope your heart feels better after being stomped on so much. Maybe this chapter will cheer you up. :3
Briarlight's heart was racing but she barely let out a breath as she and her companions silently stalked towards their unsuspecting target. The huge hawk was busy tearing into a dead rabbit among the rocks and still hadn't noticed the cats' approach. Briarlight's hunting party consisted of herself, a Pack hunter named Snake, and the two Tribe cats named Pebble and Splash.
They had discovered the hawk eating and Splash was organizing them on how to bring it down. Briarlight had learned a lot from the mountain cats. She looked for the shadows on the rocks that most closely resembled the hue of her pelt, followed the grooves and dips in the cliffs so she could always duck out of sight, and now she was about to bring down her first hawk to feed the hungry cats back at the cave.
Splash, who was in the lead, flicked her tail for the others to spread out and they began to surround the giant bird. Snake slithered between the larger boulders like a serpent while Pebble silently padded around to the other side so she was behind the bird. Briarlight waited by Splash's side, ready to pounce once she gave the signal.
The wind suddenly changed direction, blowing the cats' scents toward the hawk. Just as the bird looked up and spotted them, Splash flicked her tail and leapt forward. Briarlight lunged upwards with all her strength just as the hawk tried to take off, and hooked her claws into its sinewy legs. Snake and Splash each clung on, too, and between them all were able to drag the bird back down to earth. Pebble raced forward and grabbed the thrashing bird by the neck and bit down hard.
A cloud of feathers gently fluttered down around the panting cats and they stepped back to admire their hard work. The hawk was huge! To Briarlight, it had to be the biggest bird she had ever seen.
"Well done, team," Splash meowed, her chest heaving from the excitement. "This isn't the biggest hawk I've seen, but it looks plump and healthy."
Of course it's not the biggest, Briarlight thought to herself, her whiskers twitching. Even though she had been living in the mountains for over a moon, she still felt naive sometimes when other cats showed off how much more experience they had than her.
"Thanks for letting me tag along," meowed Snake, her golden eyes wide with pleasure. "I've never been brave enough to attack a hawk before now. I can't wait to show off to my brother, Dusty, when we get back."
Pebble purred with amusement and licked the blood from her lips. "They are powerful and very dangerous, but absolutely worth it if you know what you're doing. Fortunately, Splash here is an expert prey-hunter."
"I'm not nearly as good as Brook or Wing," the young she-cat laughed. "They taught me everything I know after all. Well, maybe I"m better than Wing now since she got her paw hurt."
"The Pack rarely dared to attack birds before the Tribe started teaching us," Snake murmured. "I heard that Flora herself was almost flown away by some kind of eagle. I was only a kit at the time, but she would have died if the Tribe cats hadn't saved her."
Briarlight could hear the wistful pain in the Pack cat's voice. They had been at war for so many seasons. If only the peace could have come sooner, then so many moons of hardship and blood would have never happened.
"I was with Swoop when we defended Flora from the eagle," Splash meowed, dropping her gaze. "At first, I didn't even want to help because the Pack cats were on our territory and I felt like they deserved it. But we decided to help anyways. The rescue mission didn't go well and Swoop ended up being carried off by the eagle instead of Flora. I could never forgive myself for being unable to save my friend."
The Pack cat's eyes grew wide. "I am so sorry, I didn't know you were there. We don't have to talk about it anymore."
Pebble padded closer and rested her tail on the other Tribe cat's shoulder in a comforting gesture. "Swoop knew the risks of attacking an eagle. She is with the Tribe of Endless Hunting now."
Splash straitened up and composure returned to her features. She looked at Snake. "No cat lives forever, and to be killed by the eagle is one glorious way to go. I was upset but now I've moved past it. Besides, if Flora had been killed, there is a very large possibility that the Pack and the Tribe wouldn't be at peace today."
"True," Snake agreed.
The four cats went silent for a few moments as they caught their breath, the dead hawk sprawled on the ground between them. Briarlight was reminded of the days when she had gone hunting with her littermates, Bumblepaw and Blossompaw, when they were still apprentices by the lake. Life had been so simple before the tree had fallen on her, paralyzing her hind legs. If I had never been injured, I might not have fallen in love with Jayfeather and I would still be in ThunderClan right now...
"I think we've had enough time to catch our breath," Pebble meowed, shaking the dust from her fur and stretching her paws. "I think it's about time we brought the bird back to the cave. It will take more than one hawk to feed all of the Pack and the Tribe."
"Shouldn't we wait for our last member of the hunting party?" Snake pointed out. "Where is Stripes?"
"I'm here!"
A large silver tabby tom padded into sight carrying a dead rabbit. The senior Pack cat was one of those who sided with Boulder when the stones were being cast, but he had warmed up to the idea of peace after the Tribe began teaching them to hunt different kinds of prey.
"I don't think it could find its burrow because all of the rocks have shifted," Stripes meowed with amusement, dropping his catch beside the hawk. "Nice hawk. That is going to feed a lot of mouths."
Snake padded up to the dead rabbit and prodded it with a paw. "So will that. It's big considering the snow-season ended not too long ago."
"Enough chatter," Pebble meowed, raising her tail. "Let's get out of here. There are plenty of hungry cats counting on us."
Briarlight grabbed one of the wings of the hawk in her jaws and between her, Splash, and Pebble, they carried the bird back in the direction of the Pack's cave. Stripes carried his rabbit and Snake lead the way making sure their path was clear.
A quarter moon had passed since the mountains shook. The sun was scorching hot in the clear sky and every last snow drift had finally melted away. The flowers were in full bloom and the scent of hawk filled Briarlight's mouth. It was similar to the typical birds she would find on the fresh-kill pile back in ThunderClan except much more greasy, sinewy, and tasted like the rocks and dust of the mountain rather than forested greens of the lake.
The traveling cats didn't speak since their mouths were full of fresh-kill. She used the time to reflect on the events that had occurred over the past few days. A lot had happened since she went with Jayfeather in a dream to see the Tribe of Endless Hunting. The former Stoneteller had told them to find the Pack's ancestors, but so far they had been unsuccessful. Too much of each day was spent hunting and taking care of the sick. As for the living Stoneteller, he was safely taking shelter in the Pack's cave. He still didn't talk much and Sheer was continuing to conduct most of the Tribe's business.
Briarlight realized she was starting to salivate as the delicious scent of fresh-kill overwhelmed her scent glands. She fought the temptation to chew since there were other cats who needed it more. More and more prey was coming in to the cave with each passing day, but she still hadn't eaten since the night before. I can just imagine how excited the kits will be when they see this hawk. The Tribe queen named Night had recently adopted the Pack kit named Slate into her own family. Both Flora and Stoneteller had agreed that the young kit needed to grow up with other kits his own age since all of his blood family was now dead. Night's other kits, Leaf and Feather had been overjoyed to have a new brother, and Slate was finally starting to act like a happy young cat once more.
It didn't take their patrol long to arrive at the cave. The Tribe cat named Moss and the Pack cat named Dodger were on guard. Both cats greeted the returning hunters warmly, their eyes tracking the fresh-kill as it made its way beneath the cover of the cave's mouth. Once inside, the catches were dropped on the empty fresh-kill pile by the cave entrance.
"The brave warriors of stone and wind have returned," purred a voice. Briarlight recognized Nettle's scar-laced muzzle. "We waited for you to be done hunting- and it looks like you succeeded." Beside the Pack cat stood Jayfeather, his muzzle almost equally criss-crossed with old cuts after his fight with Boulder.
Briarlight waved her tail in farewell to her hunting companions as they maneuvered deeper into the cave. She padded to where Nettle and Jayfeather were waiting, her pelt prickling with curiosity. "What's going on? Did you receive sign?"
Jayfeather shook his head and stood up. His pale eyes appeared to track her as she drew closer.. "The very opposite. The ancestors have been silent since you came with us to speak to them, so we are going to go and look for some signs of our own. I'm convinced we can't find the Pack's ancestors in the dreaming world. Nettle and I have tried for a quarter moon."
"Flora and Stoneteller are okay with us leaving?" Briarlight asked.
Nettle's tail tossed up tiny clouds of dust as it shook with eagerness. "Both the Tribe and the Pack are in stable condition. Prey is plentiful and the injured are recovering. But the Tribe needs its own place to live. Staying in the Pack's cave was always going to be temporary. In fact-"she lifted herself up onto her hind legs and raised a paw in the air to get another cat's attention. Moment later, Flora joined them.
"My daughter said I was allowed to join," the Pack leader meowed, her voice rich with amusement. "I hope you don't mind, Jayfeather and Briarlight."
"You are the leader of the Pack," Jayfeather meowed. "You could demand to join and there's nothing we could do about it."
"Or are you?" Briarlight inquired, trying to figure out if there was a trick. A few days ago, Nettle had made the announcement to the rest of the Pack that she was chosen by the ancestors to become Starspeaker. She claimed that Flora was still in charge but had they secretly made a change?
The two Pack cats exchanged a glance, each of their green gazes was a perfect reflection of the other's.
"The Pack listens to me," Flora began, not taking her eyes off her daughter. "But I listen to Nettle. So as far as every other cat is concerned, I am still the leader of the Pack."
"Even though the ancestors made me Starspeaker, I'm not ready to be in charge and tell the others what to do," Nettle admitted. "Besides, what kind of Starspeaker am I if I can't even find the Pack's ancestors?"
Jayfeather grunted in understanding and padded towards the cave opening. "We shouldn't waste time. StarClan willing, we'll be able to find both a new cave for the Tribe and a place for the Pack to meet their ancestors."
Briarlight scrambled to pursue while Nettle and Flora followed more slowly. She was surprised Jayfeather would mention StarClan in front of the Pack cats.
The same two guards flanked the cave entrance as when Briarlight and her patrol had brought in the dead hawk. She dipped her head respectfully to them and padded back out into the newleaf sun. The heat blasted her in a welcome contrast to the cold cave. Greenleaf would arrive in just a half moon but it felt like the hottest season was already here.
"Leaf-bare lingers for longer when you are so high up in the mountains," Jayfeather remarked, squinting as if the sun was glaring in his eyes. He stopped to take in a deep breath. "I'm not complaining, I'm glad greenleaf is almost here. The air is ripe with the scent of fresh new life."
Flora and Nettle stepped out of the cave behind them.
"I almost forgot what warmth felt like," Flora purred, stretching beneath the heat and flexing her claws. "I've been inside that cave all day."
"That's not true!" Nettle laughed, nudging her head into her mother's side. "You went hunting at first light!"
"True, but it still wasn't warm," Flora pointed out.
Jayfeather turned around to face the two Pack cats. Briarlight stood by his side. "I assume we all understand our goal for today." he meowed. "We should split up into two groups so we can cover more ground."
"If one of us finds something, can we communicate using your mind power, or whatever it is?" Nettle teased.
Jayfeather's whiskers twitched. "No, just caterwaul. If we can't hear each other just meet back at the cave by sundown."
"Just so we're clear, what exactly are we looking for?" Flora asked. "I wasn't there but apparently the previous Stoneteller said we had to find the ancestors of the Pack. How will we know if we found something important?"
"Nettle will know," Jayfeather told her. "Before their home was destroyed, the Tribe would communicate with their ancestors in a cave of pointed stones. I don't know how the ancestors will commune with us now, but I have faith we will know it when we see it."
"That's good enough for me," Flora stated. She flicked her tail for Nettle to follow and the two cats raced away across the rocks.
"I wasn't done explaining everything," Jayfeather muttered, his ears folding in agitation.
Briarlight couldn't help but laugh inwardly. Jayfeather being grumpy reminded her of what he had been like when they lived by the lake. Every time some cat came into the medicine den with a thorn in their paw and complained about it, Jayfeather would berate them until they stopped and regretted daring to make a fuss over such a small injury.
"I guess we should begin, too," Jayfeather sighed, turning to her. "Does you torn claw hurt still?"
Briarlight purred and pressed her head into his side. "You asked the exact same thing yesterday and the day before. Didn't you hear that I brought down a hawk? Clearly my paw is feeling better- unlike some other cats in the cave who may never walk straight again."
"Sorry," he mumbled, resting his head on hers. "I've just been so distracted lately. The other day, I thought I heard Lionblaze calling out me but I wasn't sure. I can sense so many cats crying out in pain and terror. Maybe I heard some other random cats' voices getting jumbled together and it just sounded like my brother."
She stepped away and rested her tail on her mate's shoulder to guide him away from the cave opening. The two guards were staring at them. "Let's talk as we walk," she suggested.
He padded beside her. They had barely made it a couple fox-lengths from the cave when he said, "I've been thinking about the Clans-"
"Not this again," she moaned, interrupting him. "How about this. I can think of something else that might distract you from all your troubles."
"And what's that?"
Briarlight jumped into the air and swung her paw as if hitting an invisible leaf dangling from a branch above her head. "We can answer Jay and Crash's important question once and for all."
"And that is?" Jayfeather asked, taking interest.
She turned to face him and dropped into a battle crouch. "Who would win in a fight- Jayfeather or Briarlight."
Jayfeather's eyes grew wide and a flicker of excitement lit in his expression. "When exactly did they ask about that?"
"While we were still climbing up the mountain to reach the Tribe."
His whiskers twitched in amusement but he shook his head. "Definitely not right now, but maybe some other time after we're done helping the mountain cats. Right now we have a task to complete."
Briarlight's ears drooped and she stood up.
"But you were right about one thing," Jayfeather meowed heartily, nudging his head into her side the same way she had to him. "You did distract me from my troubles. Now I have something else to think about- like how to defeat you in combat!"
He suddenly took off across the rocks in the direction of the Tribe's old cave. She could tell he was already in a better mood. As much as I like grumpy Jayfeather, I love happy Jayfeather so much more. She purred to herself and raced after him. "Wait for me!"