Welcome back. I added about 1700 words from the beginning of the last chapter and smacked it on tot he end of this chapter. Now everything flows much more smoothly and the two chapters are about the same size. (before I modified them, this chapter was over 3000 words less than the next.)
The most moving cat story of the year, maybe even the decade is: Abandoned at 17 - new beginning for an elderly cat by Orphan Pet on youtube.
"Good morning, Jayfeather."
"Morning, Briarlight," Jayfeather yawned back. He opened his eyes and tried to heave himself to his paws, but his shoulders were so stiff from the previous day's battle on the moor that he winced and slowly lowered himself back down into the comfortable moss. "Briarlight, make yourself useful and make me a poultice of chamomile, coltsfoot and comfrey. Those TigerClan cats did a number on me during the fight and I'm sore all over. Add some nectar to that while you're at it."
The she-cat purred in amusement and dragged herself over to the herb stores. "I think you mean you want chamomile separate. You eat that one, it doesn't go into a poultice."
Jayfeather rolled his eyes. "Of course that's what I meant. Get on with it." He tried to sound stern but he was secretly impressed that she had caught his mistake. Now if only she could walk, she would make an amazing medicine cat, he thought to himself. But then again, if she could walk she would most definitely fulfill her dream of being a warrior.
Briarlight chirped again in amusement before getting busy mixing up the herbs. "You looked exhausted when you came back yesterday, and those kits riding on your shoulders didn't look like they were making the trip any easier. You never did tell me exactly what happened in the big battle. Was it fun?"
Jayfeather rolled over onto his side, moaning as his muscles cried out in pain. "I'll tell you everything you want to know for as long as you want. There's no way I'm doing any gardening today- my paws would snap off if I tried walking all the way to the abandoned twoleg den and back. Besides, I think the catmint can survive one day without my care." He made himself as comfortable as his aching body would allow and dove into the previous day's adventure on the moors.
He explained as much as he could remember, lying in his bed as he described the improvements WindClan had made to their camp, Blackstar's dismissive attitude towards everybody, and how the Clans had split up into LionClan and TigerClan. "All the Clans were really friendly, even ShadowClan for the most part," he meowed, choosing to leave out his encounters with Breezepelt and Dawnpelt. Those were more personal moments.
"Sounds like you had a full day," Briarlight murmured, dragging herself closer to him with the poultice-laden leaf wraps clamped in her jaws. "Here's the chamomile. And do you want me to apply the poultice-"
But he snatched the leaf wraps away from her as soon as the foul smelling packet was within reach. "I can do it myself," he snapped a little too aggressively. He hated it when other cats took care of him. "Thanks for putting it together," he added more courteously. He considered her to be one of his only friends in the Clan since almost every other cat kept their distance.
But Briarlight didn't seem offended and just purred again in amusement- a rich sweet sound he had grown fond of over the past few moons. "You haven't been acting like yourself lately, but I just saw some of the real you right there. Grumpy old Jayfeather."
He just grunted and swallowed the chamomile, detecting the trace of nectar in the herb packet. "Okay, maybe I was a little hasty in declining your help," he admitted. "I can't apply the poultice to my own shoulders and that's where I need it the most."
"Say no more you dumb fur-ball!" Briarlight laughed, and dragged herself closer again.
He flopped back down in his nest as Briarlight picked up the poultice and applied it to the fur behind his neck. He couldn't help but purr as she massaged the fluids deeper into his muscles, her strong paws lifting and pressing against his soar shoulders. "That feels really good," he sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. He was reminded of the vigorous licks Bramblestar would give after he and his littermates got dirty rolling around in the camp clearing.
"Are you falling sleep?" Briarlight joked in mock surprise, prodding him in the ribs. "You can't fall asleep now. It's already past sun-high so if you aren't going to the herb garden, you should still be finding something else productive to do."
Jayfeather sighed again. "Fine. Just give me a few more moments of this and I'll do whatever you say."
Briarlight dug her soft paws into his tense back muscles, working the knots out with exceptional finesse. "Okay, just a little bit more. But I would check on the kits if I were you. Yesterday was a big journey for them and they have never traveled so far before."
Jayfeather opened his eyes, soaking in the couple moments he had in his nest before heaving himself back to his paws. "Fine, I'll do that right now," he mewed lifting himself out of the moss. "When did you become the medicine cat and I become the apprentice?"
"At the same time you became a lazy lump," Briarlight meowed, making room for him as he hobbled towards the den entrance. "I'll be organizing some more while you are gone."
"You do that," Jayfeather meowed. He slipped out into the clearing and breathed in the fresh new-leaf air. The pleasant scents never got old to him. Most of the warriors and apprentices were already out on patrols while the only cat milling around was Purdy who lay comfortably in the sun at the base of the leader's ledge. Jayfeather could hear his purrs from where he stood in front of the medicine cat's den.
No cat seemed to need his help for the time being so he padded over to the nursery which was unusually quiet for some reason. Normally the squeals and cheers of the kits could be heard from every corner of the camp.
He stepped onto the soft nursery floor and detected the scents of Brackenfur and Brightheart mixed with smell of dried moss. They were telling a story while the kits sat around them eagerly. Whoever had come up with this idea to shut the kits up had Jayfeather's respect.
"Firestar always put the Warrior Code first no matter the cost, which is why when we made the long journey to the new territory by the lake, all the other leader's trusted him to lead," Brightheart meowed proudly. "The journey brought all the Clans closer together than they had ever been before."
Brackenfur grunted in agreement. "Who would have guessed that some kittypet kit Bluestar found by the twolegplace could have turned into such a great leader? The other Clans may not have trusted him because of his kittypet roots, but in the end, he got us to the lake safely."
"But didn't cats die?" Snowkit asked, his mew high pitched with awe. "How can so many cats travel so far and not get hurt?"
Brightheart purred, and Jayfeather could picture the old queen nuzzling her kit. "That's a great question and- oh hi, Jayfeather," she paused, noticing him. "What can we do you for."
Jayfeather shuffled his paws uncomfortably. He hadn't intended to interrupt the story. "I came to check up on the kits, but I'm in no hurry. Finish your story first."
"Are you sure?" Brackenfur mewed. "Medicine cats are always very busy. We could take a break while you did whatever you needed to do."
Jayfeather shrugged and found a comfortable place to sit by the den entrance. "No, just get on with the story. I can wait."
"So be it," Brackenfur meowed simply.
"But how could Bluestar let a kittypet join ThunderClan?" Dewkit mewed curiously. "Why would a kittypet even want to join a Clan when they get all the food they want from their twolegs?"
"How could Bluestar even trust a kittypet?" Amberkit hissed, her tail lashing against the nursery floor. "What if he became a traitor or decided to return to twolegplace?"
Brackenfur chuckled in amusement. "Funny you should mention that because my mentor, Graystripe, actually did break the Warrior Code during my apprenticeship and he was Firestar's closest friend. Graystripe fell in love with a cat named Silverstream who was from RiverClan and for a little while, Firestar was mentor for me as well as for my sister, Cinderpelt."
"But what about the journey to the lake?" Snowkit pressed, returning to his question. "Didn't cats die on the way?"
"A few cats did die," Brightheart mewed somberly. "Not even including the elder's from all four Clans who chose to stay behind in the old territories because they thought they wouldn't make it. It was a tough journey for every cat young and old. I remember a ShadowClan apprentice fell into a chasm while we were crossing the mountains and we never saw him again. Also, Firestar himself lost one of his lives just before the journey when he saved Onestar and some ShadowClan kits."
"Wow, really?" Lilykit gasped. "He lost a life to save cats from other Clans? He would still be with us right now if he hadn't done that."
Brightheart purred. "At the time, we were all just one big Clan, and Firestar was only doing what he felt was right. A twoleg had cut down one of the trees and Firestar knocked the other cats out of the way as it fell. The tree must must have broken his back and crushed him to death, but StarClan healed his wounds and he was walking again shortly afterwards."
"Wow, that's so cool!"
"Firestar was so brave!"
Jayfeather blinked as what he had just heard sank in. A broken back... healed by StarClan... He suddenly stood up. "That's it!" he announced excitedly. "I know what has to be done!"
"What is it, Jayfeather?" came Brackenfur's startled meow. "Do you really need to check on the kits right now?"
But Jayfeather shook his head hastily, an idea budding in his mind. "It has nothing to do with that. Thanks for your time, Brackenfur and Brightheart." His brain was racing as he rampaged through the den entrance, bracken catching in his fur as he hurried out, but he didn't care. He ran as fast as his soar paws would take him to the medicine den, completely forgetting about how stiff his shoulders were. Why didn't I think of this before?
"Welcome back, Jayfeather," Briarlight meowed as he burst into the den. "I'm going to guess by how quickly you returned that all of the kits are fine?"
But he was too excited to answer her question and he raced over to her side. "I know what to do," he meowed, barely able to contain the joy that was filling his heart. "I know how to make you walk again!"
"Excuse me?"
But Jayfeather's mind was still racing too fast with his new idea to explain it. "We'll need to talk to Bramblestar and make some traveling herbs for the trip up to the Moonpool and-"
"Jayfeather!"
He froze.
Briarlight dragged herself over to where he stood in front of the herb stores. "What are you talking about?" she meowed, her voice quiet and shaking slightly. "You mentioned you could make me walk again?"
Jayfeather approached the she-cat and rested his forehead against hers, letting their ears touch. "I have an idea," he whispered. "An insane and dangerous idea that could go wrong in so many ways, but if you want to give it a shot and Bramblestar agrees, we can try."
Briarlight's whole body shivered against Jayfeather's fur, joy and fear churning in her mind. "I- I want to do it. I don't care what the risks are as long as I have a chance to be a normal cat again."
He stepped back, energy filling his paws and replacing the weariness from the battle on the moors. He didn't waste any time. Once he and Briarlight had cleaned up the loose herbs, he left the den and padded briskly across the camp clearing towards the leader's ledge. He didn't want his Clanmates to think something was wrong, but for his plan to work, he absolutely needed his leader's help. As he scrambled blindly up the loose stones, he wondered what he would say. It was a risky plan and cats could get hurt, but he had to persuade Bramblestar no matter what it took.
"Morning, Jayfeather. Is something wrong?"
Squirrelflight's meow met him as soon as he cleared the top of the slope. Bramblestar was beside her with their scents intertwined on the leader's ledge.
"Nothing is wrong," he stated hastily, trying to contain his excitement. "I needed to ask Br-"
"You are here just in time," the she-cat mewed excitedly, cutting him off. "I just told Bramblestar that we-"
"Are having kits," Jayfeather finished her sentence flatly, annoyed that she had interrupted him. "I've known for moons. Bramblestar, I need to talk to you. It's something important."
"What are you talking about- you've known for moons?" Squirrelflight complained. "And why does Bramblestar need to talk with you right after I've told him I'm having his kits? What could possibly be more important than kits?"
Jayfeather dipped his head to her, courteous since she was his deputy, but he couldn't help but be impatient. His idea to fix Briarlight's injury was vastly more significant. Kits happened all the time, but he was about to do something that had never been done in the history of the Clans. "Pleases excuse us Squirrelflight, it's medicine cat stuff." He gestured for the Clan leader to follow him into the leader's den and grudgingly, Bramblestar did.
"I know you aren't one to make a big deal over nothing," Bramblestar meowed once they were beneath the cover of the rocks. "So what is it?"
Jayfeather explained everything. He mentioned how he had gotten the idea listening to the elders and how Bramblestar himself would need to agree. Jayfeather left out the complicated part involving StarClan.
"You want to give Briarlight one of my leaders' lives to heal her back injury?" Bramblestar asked, speaking more to himself than to the medicine cat. "That sounds dangerous and against the Warrior Code. I would have to think about it and perhaps speak to StarClan. I've never heard of anything like this happening before."
But Jayfeather wasn't accepting 'no' for an answer. "We can't give StarClan the opportunity to deny us. You just have to be brave and do the right thing, regardless of what anybody else says. You must make a sacrifice for a Clanmate who needs you the most. You can't let Briarlight suffer any longer after she's lived without hope for so many moons."
"Jayfeather, don't twist my tail like that trying to make me feel guilty," Bramblestar meowed sternly, but the medicine cat had definitely struck deep because there was the tiniest tremor in the leader's meow.
"When you were made leader, you swore an oath that you would lay down your life for any of your Clanmates," Jayfeather meowed, his tone lowering as hot frustration began to bubble up in his chest. "That is what the Warrior Code is all about."
"I would lay down all of my lives to protect my Clanmates," Bramblestar growled, the stern tone from before changing to anger. "But Briarlight isn't dying. As I said before, I'll need to talk with StarClan about this first."
"You call that living?" Jayfeather spat, feeling the fur along his neck stand up. "She can't hunt, she can't go on patrol, she will never have kits, she can't even make dirt without some cat helping her! How much longer does she have to drag herself around like a half dead piece of fresh-kill before you try to help?"
"Jayfeather, you-"
"And to keep her chest clear she has to screech as loud as she can like a dying animal, letting the whole Clan know just how sad and broken she is," Jayfeather added, hot emotion filling his words. "Doesn't that bother you? And when leaf-bare comes around, do you know how much I worry that one morning I'll wake up and she will be cold and stiff in her nest with a throat full of fluid? No herb can help her and it's only out of shear luck that she's made it this far."
"Jayfeather, now I really-"
"Or how about the way our Clanmates think of her every time they see her drag herself across the camp clearing?" Jayfeather pressed on furiously, feeling his eyes begin to brim with sadness. "I can't see them but I know how they pity her. They tiptoe around her because they feel too sorry to say anything about it. Half the warriors try to avoid Briarlight completely because her condition makes them feel uncomfortable."
"Jayfeather please-"
"And her sadness," Jayfeather meowed, his voice cracking with grief. "The miserable, lonely, hopeless horribleness that is her life. You will not find a creature from here to the mountains who suffers more every single day. I hear her speak all the time, and that's not the real Briarlight. It's a hollow shell of who she used to be. You have to help her, Bramblestar," Jayfeather cried coldly, his whole body quivering. "She has been dead for moons and only you can bring her back to life."
The medicine cat's words were met with silence. At first he expected his leader to burst out in anger but instead, Bramblestar took a long deep breath.
"Okay, Jayfeather," he murmured, his voice barely more than a whisper. "When do we leave?"
Jayfeather blinked in disbelief, quickly wiping a paw over his eyes to clear away the moisture that was welling up. "You mean you'll do it?"
"I will," Bramblestar meowed. "And knowing you, you never intended for me to say anything else. It is pointless for me to try and argue. I knew Briarlight has gone through a lot, but I didn't know the full extent of her pain. I guess that's what medicine cats are for."
Jayfeather felt happiness erupt in his chest, pushing down the sadness that had threatened to overwhelm him. "We leave tonight. I'll have the traveling herbs ready by then as well as a plan for when we meet StarClan."
"Then it is settled," Bramblestar sighed, padding towards the entrance of the den. "I will have to tell Graystripe and Millie first- they deserve to know what is happening to their daughter."
Jayfeather padded after him. He opened his mouth to object, but closed it again. Even though he wanted as few cats to know about this as possible, he remembered how protective Millie was. It was safer for all cats involved if they just told her ahead of time. He followed his leader down the rocks and to the elder's den where Jayfeather could scent the two senior cats.
"What can we do for the Clan leader?" meowed Graystripe as Bramblestar stepped inside. "And for the medicine cat," he added as Jayfeather slipped in after.
The other elder's scents were stale- they must be lying in a patch of sunlight somewhere in the hollow. Jayfeather found a place to sit and cast his gaze in Graystripe and Millie's direction. "We have something to tell you regarding Briarlight."
Millie gasped in shock. "Is she alright? Did something happen?"
"The medicine cat and Clan leader don't show up unless it's something bad," Graystripe growled worriedly. "Please tell us she is okay."
"Rest assured, Briarlight is fine," Bramblestar soothed calmly. "We came to inform you that Jayfeather has come up with an idea that could let your daughter walk again. Tell them, Jayfeather."
All three cats turned to look at him, and Jayfeather suddenly felt nervous. There was no gentle was of saying it. "I want to try and give Briarlight one of Bramblestar's lives at the Moonpool tonight. It's a risky plan, and I've never heard of any cat other than a leader receiving one of the nine lives, but if it works, it will heal her spine just like it healed Firestar's injury when he was struck by a falling tree. It could work, or maybe nothing will happen- or Briarlight could die in the process."
Jayfeather yelped as he was knocked off his paws and onto his back as Millie threw herself at him. "Briarlight could die?" she hissed into his face."How could you even think of doing something that would kill our daughter? I forbid you from taking her to the Moonpool!"
Graystripe stepped forward and tugged his mate off the medicine cat. "That's not what he said, Millie. He is giving our daughter a chance to live her dreams, even when every other cat, including Briarlight herself, had lost all hope. It is up to Briarlight to decide if she wants to go through with it, not us."
Jayfeather rolled back onto his paws and shook the dust and bits of moss from his pelt. He should have predicted Millie's attack coming. "Briarlight is ready to be a warrior again, and StarClan willing, she will be. We didn't come here for you to agree, we came just to let you know." He backed up towards the den entrance den before Millie could pounce again.
"She will have the Clan leader, medicine cat, and all of StarClan with her," Bramblestar meowed reassuringly to the she-cat who still reeked of fear-scent. "I promise you she will be in safe paws."
I have some big plans for the next chapter. Changing a lot from the original. If you enjoyed the changes I made for this one, plzzzzz leave a nice creative review for me to look at.
