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.

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 plenty of tricks while living with 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 an actual serpent while Pebble silently padded around to the other side so she was behind the bird. The cats waited in silence, ready to pounce once the signal was given.

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 were able to drag the bird back down to earth.

Even grounded, the giant bird was still a threat. It's jagged sharp beak snapped at the cats that clung to its feet while it's claws slashed so close to Splash's face that she was forced to let go and duck or risk losing an eye.

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 enormous. Briarlight was so used to seeing little finches and sparrows in the Clans that she struggled to fully it. This has to be the biggest bird I 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 their superior knowledge of the land.

"I almost lost my whiskers there," meowed Snake. Her voice was shaky but her golden eyes wide with pleasure. "I've never been brave enough to attack a hawk before now. I can't wait to show it 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. "After all, they taught me everything I know."

Snake let out a sigh and looked down at her paws. "I heard that Flora herself was almost taken away by some kind of eagle. I was only a kit at the time, but she would have died if the Tribe and Clan cats hadn't saved her."

Briarlight could hear the wistful pain in the Pack cat's voice. If only the peace could have come sooner, then so many seasons of hardship and pointless bloodshed 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. I thoguht they deserved to be eaten by eagles 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 and she looked Splash in the face. "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 an eagle is one glorious way to go. I've moved past it. Besides, if Flora had been killed, there is a very good 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.

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 and confined her to the medicine den. 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 recuperate," Pebble meowed, shaking the dust from her fur and stretching her paws. "I's about time we brought this bird back to the cave. It will take more than one hawk to sate all our rumbling stomachs."

"Shouldn't we wait for our last member of the hunting party?" Snake pointed out. "Where is Stripes?"

"I'm over 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 the Pack how 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."

Briarlight nodded and grabbed one of the wings of the hawk in her jaws. Between her, Splash, and Pebble, they half carried half dragged 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.

No cat spoke since their mouths were full of fresh-kill. Briarlight 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.

The taste of hawk filled Briarlight's mouth and she realized it was very similar to the birds she would find on the fresh-kill pile back in ThunderClan. The only difference was the quantity of bird and also it was more greasy, sinewy, and tasted like the rocks and dust of the mountain rather than forested greens around the lake. She was starting to salivate as the delicious scent of fresh-kill overwhelmed her scent glands but she fought the temptation to chew since there were other cats who needed it more. With each passing day, more prey made its way into the cave, 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, 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 beginning to act like himself once more.

The sun was toasty on the back of the traveling cats as they slowly made their way across the land. Every last snow drift had finally melted away and the flowers were in full bloom. It was a long while before they arrived back 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 cuts from his fight with Boulder.

Briarlight waved her tail in farewell to her hunting companions as she padded to where Nettle and Jayfeather were waiting. Her pelt prickled with curiosity. "What were you waiting for? 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 since 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." She lifted herself up onto her hind legs and raised a paw in the air to get another cat's attention. Moments later, Flora joined them.

The Pack leader dipped her head respectfully to Jayfeather and Briarlight "My daughter invited me along. I hope you two don't mind."

"You are the leader of the Pack," Jayfeather stated simply. "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."

Nettle nodded in agreement. "Even though the ancestors made me Starspeaker, I'm not ready to be in charge and tell the others what to do. 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 entrance. "We shouldn't waste time. StarClan willing, we'll be able to find both a new cave for the Tribe as well as 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 scents 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 for five days."

Jayfeather turned around to face the two Pack cats. "Bruised ribs usually take a whole moon or longer to recover from, Flora, but you are lucky the injury wasn't as severe as I had first thought. Even still, I recommend you not push yourself too hard and stop and rest if you feel any pain in your sides."

"Yes sir!" Flora meowed dramatically.

Jayfeather rolled his eyes but the features in his face gave away that he was amused by Flora's enthusiasm. "Then that's settled. I assume we all understand our goal for today. 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. "Nettle said that 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 recognize 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 just told her not to push herself and she's already running at full speed," 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 wonder why he isn't grumpy all the time anymore.

"I guess we should begin, too," Jayfeather sighed, turning to her. "Does you torn claw still hurt?"

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. Even though things are settling down here in the mountains, I can just feel t in my bones that the disaster isn't fully gone. Just the other day, I thought I heard Lionblaze calling out to me but I wasn't sure. I don't know why, but I think something bad is happening at the base of the mountain."

Briarlight 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 find 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.

She turned to face him and dropped into a battle crouch. "Who would win in a fight- Jayfeather or Briarlight."

Jayfeather's eyes narrowed and a flicker of interest lit in his expression. "When exactly did they ask about that?"

"While we were still climbing up the mountain to reach the Tribe. Don't you remember? Of course I would never want to fight you for real, but I'd love to test my strength now that my legs are tougher." She flexed her claws into the rock. "I heard you beat the RiverClan medicine cat, Willowshine, in single combat during the mock battle on the moor."

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 battle like how I beat Willowshine." He suddenly took off in the direction of the Tribe's old cave.

Briarlight could tell that he was already in a better mood. As much as I like grumpy Jayfeather, I love happy Jayfeather so much more. She raced after his tail as it disappeared over the rocks. "Wait for me!"

Ughh, this chapter was a mess to revamp. Sloppily written with non-sequiturs all over the place.