It really is depressing that there is so very little art online of Jayfeather actually doing something cool. Most of them are him getting his tush handed to him by Breezepelt or standing around carrying herbs. And no, I don't count him diving into the lake to save Flametail because firstly, it was a dumb scene that made no sense and secondly because he didn't even manage to save Flametail in the end. If only folks were to make art referencing Jayfeather's action in Jayfeather's Conclusion he could be fighting a pack of rats, saving Briarlight from falling out of a tree, wrestling Willowshine to the ground, smacking Boulder upside the head... and much more to come!

Also sorry for the lateness of this chapter, I got pretty severe writer's block.

Sir Nut The update has arrived indeed. It took a while because I was spending my writing time going back and correcting old chapters. I also attended my first ever wedding which put me through a loop.

Kitty-Guardian Dorothy I always love writing scenes with both Briarlight and Jayfeather interacting. I think they make a fantastic team that complement each other's strengths while also covering each other's weaknesses... apart from fighting and hunting, neither are very good at that.

WarriorsAce55 The disaster is an earthquake, yes. And the ancestors will definitely play a part very soon.

MistLion Jayfeather really does make a good crisis manager! I do like shaking things up when all seems good and happy. There's never a dull moment with me.

Espiritduchat It has been a long time since I had the pleasure of reading one of your reviews. I'm not going to spoil anything but almost everything you talked about in both your reviews is relevant and I will address in future chapters. And I lived in California for a few years so I have experienced earthquakes. They were small and only made the windows rattle but they were still cool!

P D Val e Fleur Although she knows plenty about herbs, of course Briarlight isn't becoming a real medicine cat, you dork! She always dreamed of being a warrior and they aren't even living in the Clans anymore. And I'm glad you like my appropriately philosophical but not heavy-pawed shenanigans!

Briarlight's torn claw ached but she grit her teeth through the pain, reminding herself that there were cats in far worse shape than herself who needed her help. She and Pine padded up the sloped hillside until the large mound of boulders that had once been the Tribe's cave came into sight. The slender claw-moon was high in the night sky but offered little light to brighten the situation. They would have to wait until the next day to see the full damage to the Tribe's old home.

Most of the surviving Tribe cats were huddled together at the base of the ridge that had once to lead up to the cave opening. A few cats seemed to be on watch while others simply sat alone with their heads lowered in grief. To Briarlight's surprise, the cat at the center of the group who seemed to be making the decisions wasn't Stoneteller. She recognized the broad tabby shoulders of Sheer, a senior cave guard.

"I told you, Stoneteller isn't talking to anyone," Pine whispered into Briarlight's ear as they padded closer. He must have noticed her confusion. "It hurts him too much to see our sacred lands destroyed like this. He hasn't spoken a word since the mountain shook."

Briarlight kept her gaze fixed forward, not wanting to see the despair in her friend's eyes. She was reminded of the day after the Dark Forest attacked. So many cats had died, and in the thick of the tragedy, it was hard to imagine things would ever return to normal. "Stoneteller will heal with time," she murmured comfortingly. "He just needs his time to grieve."

Pine seemed to perk up a tiny amount but he didn't respond.

As they drew nearer to the huddled cats, one of the guards keeping watch yowled a warning to the rest. Many sets of hopeful eyes sprung up as if looking for some salvation to their desperate situation. It was dark but she could pick out a few recognizable faces from the crowd. She knew each cat by name after spending so long watching and listening to the Tribe and Pack during the days since the truce. Just the familiarity made her feel a little better. The gatherings, as Jayfeather had joked, brought everyone closer together than ever before, and it was a good thing too because everyone could use some help right now.

"Pine, you have returned with company," came Brook's relieved meow as the young tom joined the group. The Tribe she-cat purred warmly as she stepped forward and embraced her son. "Greetings, Briarlight. Please tell me Jayfeather is with you. We have injured."

Briarlight touched noses with her friend. "Jayfeather is helping The Pack right now. Flora was hurt in a rockslide and Petal was killed so he told me to come instead. I'm not as good with herbs as he is, but I'll do everything I can to be helpful."

Brook purred warmly in appreciation. "That is good to hear. Come, we don't have a moment to lose."

She guided Briarlight between the gathered cats who lingered quietly in the darkness. Pine followed close behind. The eyes that followed them were dull and hopeless. The Tribe cats were lost and confused without their leader. It was hard to believe these were the same proud warriors who, just a half moon ago, were about to wipe the Pack out of existence.

"Briarlight is here, Stoneteller. Jayfeather sent her to help us."

Briarlight stopped in front of a gray hunched creature that had his back turned away from her. The fur along his shoulders was dark with blood and dust and he didn't move at all when Brook spoke. Stoneteller could have been made of stone himself had the tufts of fur around his neck not rustled slightly in the breeze.

Brook turned back to Briarlight, her sad eyes concealing nothing. "We have cats who are hurt but all of Stoneteller's herbs are stuck inside the cave. And Stoneteller doesn't seem capable of finding more right now. What would you have us do?"

"We need healing herbs and a place to stay the night," meowed a deep voice and Sheer padded towards them to stand in front of Briarlight. "I have two scouts out searching for any crevice or cave large enough for all of us to sleep in. As for the healing herbs, none of my cats know anything about them."

Briarlight sat down as Tribe cats began to gather around her. Every cat seemed to be covered in a layer of dust and many of them were limping or grimacing in pain whenever they moved. Briarlight cleared her throat. "Flora offered to let the Tribe stay at the Pack's cave if you like," she meowed, hoping to lift their spirits. "Jayfeather is there now and I know he has at least a few healing herbs with him."

Sheer didn't hesitate. "We accept the offer." He turned to face his cats and lifted his tail high to get their attention. "Flora has granted us permission to spend the night in the Pack's cave! We'll patch up as many cats as we can and then move out. If we're lucky, we'll make it there before the cold becomes a threat. I need one volunteer to scout ahead and warn the Pack that we are coming."

"I'll go!" meowed Pine eagerly, raising his paw high in the air. "I'm fast and I know the way."

Sheer nodded to him. "The land is treacherous so be careful. Go now and tell Flora to expect us soon."

Pine spun around and dashed away without another word.

"What will we do about herbs?" asked a cat near the back of the crowd. "Stoneteller still isn't talking to anyone and we can't reach the herb stash he left in the cave."

Sheer let out a low growl as he contemplated the answer and many surrounding cats echoed their concerns. They needed to treat the injured before they could leave but they also needed to find shelter before the night grew too cold. Nights in the mountain could get frigid even in newleaf. Briarlight wanted to help but even with her training in herbs, she didn't think she'd be able to locate much in such a foreign land.

"Did somebody say something about herbs?"

The pounding of paws signaled the arrival of two more cats and the Tribe parted to let them pass. Briarlight's heart soared in relief as she recognized the pelts of Crash and Storm, each carrying a bundle of plants in their mouth as well as tucked under their chin pressed against their chests.

The two cats deposited their caches on the ground in front of Sheer and stepped back. They both looked out of breath as if they had been sprinting for a long time.

"Where did all of this come from?" Sheer asked in pleasant surprise, eyeing the leaves and roots.

Crash beamed with pride and his thin tabby body seemed to quiver in excitement. "After Jayfeather told me to search for injured, I decided it would be a good idea to collect as many useful herbs as I could find. I ran into Storm while I was searching and he decided to help me carry some of it."

Storm nodded in agreement, laying his tail on the smaller cat's shoulder. "I told him about the Tribe's situation and it was his idea to stock up not only for the Tribe, but the Pack as well. Stoneteller and Jayfeather have taught him a great deal."

Brook padded forward to embrace Storm with a purr and pressed her head into her mate's fur. She didn't speak but every hair on her pelt must have been warm with gratitude. The night wouldn't be a total disaster after all.

Sheer let out a relieved sigh and he turned his attention back to Briarlight who had been listening quietly. "Can you help Crash treat our injured? Once every cat is fit enough to travel, I'd like us to start traveling towards the Pack's cave."

Briarlight nodded and stepped forward to sniff the pile of herbs. "I'll do everything I can." She didn't recognize most of the scents of the greens in front of her but Crash gestured for her to come closer and began describing what each herb was for. He spoke softly but quickly and she struggled to keep up with all of the mountain plant names. It's a really good thing Jayfeather offered the idea for Crash to learn from Stoneteller. It's almost as if he predicted this disaster would come.

Briarlight was kept busy as she and Crash darted between the injured cats with mouthfuls of poultices. The sky was already as dark as it was going to get and the sun was completely gone and the stars twinkled mournfully above their heads. She was navigating mostly by the touch of her whiskers against the pelts of the surrounding cats as she distributed remedies. The cold was starting to make her paws ache but she pressed on determinedly. Most of the injuries were slight cuts and bruises less significant than her own torn claw, but the cave guard named Scree had a broken hindleg and a prey hunter named Wing was brandishing a mangled paw that looked like it had been crushed by a large boulder.

Crash took care of the more serious injuries, ushering Briarlight out of the way in a curt but not uncouth manner. Every time he passed, she saw that his eyes were focused and fixed on whatever task he had. She hadn't realized just how much he had learned in the few moons she had known him. Was this really the same young naive kittypet she had met at the base of the mountains after escaping the twolegplace with Ivypool?

The moon was high above their heads by the time the supply of herbs was used up. Briarlight gave her sore paw a lick and rubbed the residue of a poultice between her toes. She had waited until every other cat had been taken care of before looking at her own injury. The wound stung for a moment before the pain began to ease away. She lifted her hurt paw off the ground and flicked away the last of the mushed up herbs.

"You'd make a fantastic medicine cat, Briarlight. Jayfeather taught you well."

She looked up and instantly recognized the tabby markings on her friend's face. "Thanks, Brook, but I'm pretty sure Crash did most of the work. I only helped."

Even in the darkness, Briarlight could see the twinkle of amusement in the Tribe cat's eyes. "Crash has learned more about our native herbs than you have. That doesn't make him a more adept healer. You are skilled at identifying ailments as well as soothing both injuries and worries. I know few cats with that degree of patience and observation."

Briarlight perked up a little at the compliment. It felt good being helpful. She had grown accustomed to a similar feeling while she was living in the Clans sorting herbs for Jayfeather, but now she was really making a difference in a time of crisis. "Thanks, Brook."

Sheer and Storm weaved their way through the idle gathered cats to stand in front of Brook and Briarlight. Storm gave his mate an affectionate nuzzle before Sheer opened his mouth to speak.

"We've done all we can for our injured and it is time to move. Brook, gather up any cats who look like they will need additional assistance traveling. I want to break the Tribe into two patrols, one to get as many cats to the Pack's cave as quickly as possible, and another slower patrol to aid the injured. Storm, you are in charge of organizing the first and faster patrol. Get all the healthy cats across the mountain as swiftly and safely as possible." Sheer turned to Briarlight. "I speak on behalf of Stoneteller and the rest of the Tribe when I thank you for all the help you've been. It looked like Crash had his paws full."

Briarlight felt the skin under her fur grow hot with embarrassment. Everyone was giving her more credit than she felt she deserved.

"And speaking of Stoneteller, what are we suppose to do with him?" Storm asked. "He still won't move or talk to anyone."

"If he won't go with the others, leave him behind," Sheer meowed, his confidence shaking slightly as if he wasn't completely sure he was making the right decision. "I think he needs time to mourn the loss of the Tribe's history in the cave. He should be fine alone for one night."

Briarlight bowed her head. "I'll stay with him if you want and look out for him. Jayfeather and Crash will be able to take care of everyone fine without me."

Sheer flicked his tail for Storm and Brook to begin building their patrols then looked back at her. "Thank you for the offer, but no. If Stoneteller decides to stay, that means he needs time alone. You have done plenty enough for the Tribe already and you deserve a rest." He gave her one last approving nod before turning around and padding back into the swath of cats who were beginning to assemble into two groups.

Briarlight felt a surge of contentment well up inside her. Although her body was exhausted from traveling across the mountain and her lips tasted of bitter herbs, she was living the dream. It didn't matter if she wasn't a ThunderClan warrior hunting and fighting for her Clan, she was still working hard to take care of her friends. She took a seat on the rocky earth and looked down at her tabby paws. Her torn claw had stopped bleeding a long time ago and only twinged slightly when she put weight on it. If only Bumblestripe and Blossomfall could see me now. I'm not a broken cat dragging myself around the camp anymore! A long weary sigh escaped her lips, ruffling the fur on her chest. She hoped the Clans weren't suffering from the earth-shake, too. Jayfeather had said the disaster could effect more than just the mountains but she couldn't see how that was possible. The mountains were many days travel away from the lake.

Shaking her head to clear the rush of thoughts, she stood up when some cat called her name and joined the Tribe cats as they began to move out.


o.o


Briarlight was panting hard by the time she and Storm's patrol reached the Pack's cave. Her paws ached from the cold and relief washed over her as she slipped beneath the shelter. She spotted Jayfeather standing motionlessly near the cave wall and she mustered the last of her strength to bound over to him. "I'm here!"

The tabby tom purred loudly as he noticed her and pressed his muzzle deep into her fur. "I can tell! And judging by the stench of herbs following the Tribe cats into the cave, I'd assume your medicine cat skills came in useful. I hope everyone made the trip across the mountain safely."

Briarlight pressed her body against Jayfeather's fur, relishing his reassuring warmth. "It was actually Crash who did most of the work. He and Storm found a bunch of herbs since Stoneteller's stock was stuck in the cave. I only helped with minor cuts and stuff since I didn't recognize most of the plants anyway. Brook still has another patrol coming with the more severely injured cats."

Jayfeather took a step back from her and Briarlight saw the same tiredness in his pale eyes that she felt herself. The gouge in his ear after the rat attack made his silhouette look ominous in the darkness, and the scars lacing his face and shoulders from his fight with Boulder looked like cracks in stone. He didn't resemble a medicine cat anymore; he looked like a rogue that had lived a Clanless life out in the wild unknowns. She hoped she could look like that one day, too.

"How are the Pack?" She asked solemnly. She already knew Flora's cats were suffering almost as much as the Tribe, but maybe talking about it would make her feel better.

"Apart from Petal, another cat named Sparrow was also found dead," Jayfeather murmured, lowering his head. "But I've taken care of most of the injuries and Nettle has been helping me. Fortunately we had plenty of herbs to go around since I spent so much time gathering it for the Pack over the past half moon."

"And what about Slate?" Briarlight asked, remembering Petal's only kit. "How is he taking the loss."

Jayfeather looked up and his eyes seemed to meet hers. "Not well. He's experiencing some pretty severe trauma and he won't speak to anyone. He's alone in the Pack since the rest of his family is now dead."

"At least he's old enough to eat solid food so he doesn't need a nursing queen anymore." Briarlight let out a sigh and the remaining strength in her tired paws ran out. She collapsed onto the cold hard stone. "Petal was one of the first Pack cats to be nice to us when we first arrived. Where is Slate now?"

Jayfeather padded closer to her and nudged his muzzle under her foreleg. "Come, we can find a better place to sleep than in the middle of the cave entrance. We can talk about everything else tomorrow morning."

Briarlight's eyes were drooping with exhaustion and Jayfeather had to practically carry her to the back of the cave where the Pack cats were finding places to sleep beside their Tribe guests. His thrumming purr of affection made her even more sleepy and she found comfort in the strength of his shoulders. She let him guide her into a nook in the rocks where a few scraps of old moss made a clumsy nest.

"It's not much," Jayfeather murmured, laying her down in the indent of earth. "But it's all we have."

"It's perfect," Briarlight purred as he curled up beside her. She pressed her head into his chest and his presence almost made her forget about the horrible things that had happened that day. She let out a sleepy yawn. "We'll talk in the morning."

Jayfeather purred and draped his paw over her side. "We're going to talk sooner than that," he whispered, hugging her close. "There are some cats who want to talk with us tonight in our dreams. We're going to see what they have to say."

So apparently Erin Hunter still isn't done raking in money from her mindless fans who will throw cash at anything and everything that has her name on it. The Last Hope was supposed to be the end of it all, Erin even said so herself. But no, there is still money to be had so she's going to drag a mangled series through the dirt a few more times. This almost 20 year old franchise is direly deserving of a meaningful conclusion...