Visions and prophecies are typical for many medicine cats. Being sent back in time –that's outlandish.
Jayfeather wakes up in an entirely different forest. He looks at the environment petulantly. Where is he? 'Why do I have to fix StarClan's problems? Can't they bother another medicine cat?'
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He recalls elders charting tales of the old forest before twolegs and monsters destroyed it. Can this be the exact wilderness? But when? During Firestar's journey into ThunderClan or earlier? Jayfeather's nose catches scents on a light wind.
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Dense woodland. New-leaf. Mice, birds, squirrels, and rabbit lightheartedly run among the extensive landscape. Flowers and plants mottle sprightly hillocks. Ahead is what the elders called old ThunderClan. Jayfeather walks towards it wondering what he's been sent back in time for.
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The medicine cat freezes, hearing bushes tremble. Three cats jump out. Claws are unsheathed. "Who're you?!"
"This is Clear Sky's camp trespasser!"
'Clear Sky? Isn't he one of the first clan leaders?!'
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Jayfeather straightens his posture trying to look as benign as possible. His brisk tone remains. "I'm Jayfeather."
"I'm Petal. They're Snake and Frost."
The medicine cat bowed. "I'm looking for a new home. I've heard your group is very strong."
"Clear Sky says we need more cats." Frost meowed.
Snake narrowed his eyes at Jayfeather. "We'll escort you to him." The cats seemed reluctant to. But Jayfeather needs information. So he follows them.
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"A rogue joining our camp?" Clear Sky made no effort to hide his mistrust.
"But…we were rogues too." Petal said.
"Yeah, and we like it here. Cats are stronger in groups." Snake added.
"What's your name?" Clear Sky asked.
"Jayfeather."
"What can you bring to our group?"
"I'm knowledgeable about medicine."
"Medicine?" The leader scoffed. "Hunting and fighting are the only important things here."
'This cat is the future leader of Sky Clan?!'
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"But that's useful!" A gray tabby tom with a thick coat chewed on a squirrel. "He's a lot like Stoneteller! Right, brother?"
Clear Sky looked at the horizon, his tail flicking thoughtfully as he remembers life in the mountains. "Fine. You can stay."
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Jayfeather's baffled at the violent infighting. Cats openly regard each other as enemies. Most are indifferent to being Clanmates. Petal, Thunder, and Jagged Peak seem to be the only friendly ones. Hunting with them in the forest, Jagged Peak tells the Tribe's eventual split.
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"…And that's how the group got here. It was a difficult journey but now we're doing well. I miss Gray Wing. But he visits often." Jagged Peak observed Jayfeather amusedly. "What're you doing?"
"Collecting herbs." He has a jaw full of plants.
"But we're healthy."
"It's best to be prepared. There are other dangers besides wildlife and rogues."
"Hmm. You're strange Jayfeather. But if you think it'll help us."
"I'm certain."
He laughed. "Let's go back to-"
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Falling Feather almost barrels them over. "Jagged Peak! Gray Wing is here!"
"He is?!" He grinned. "Let's go!"
Sprinting to camp, Clear Sky introduced Gray Wing to everyone. "We're going to practice combat tactics. Want to join us?"
"Sure. That'd be great."
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Jayfeather senses strong melancholy in Gray Wing's voice. He guesses family ties are vanishing as the cats split into five Clans. Clear Sky's cold actions aren't making it better…
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He hates being right.
Sky Clan has a talent for climbing trees and dangerous acrobatics. But Jagged Peak fell and broke his leg. Panic infects everyone there –excluding Clear Sky. Usually Jayfeather's grumpiness is expected, but he's never felt such rage until now. He realizes he's lucky to be able to rely on Lionblaze, Hollyleaf, and the others in ThunderClan.
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"Why aren't you doing anything?! You're his brother!"
Clear Sky didn't flinch. "Jagged Peak is strong. He can get up on his own."
"What?! His leg is broken!" Jayfeather inspected the wound. He told the others to grab his supplies back at camp. The only ones who're aren't close by are Thunder and friends, who've gone further into the woods to hunt for food. Prodding a paw on the broken leg, Jagged Peak shouted. The bone is jutting out at a bad angle but it isn't stabbing through. He can help Jagged Peak but it'll be complicated.
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"You seem to forget that we were born in a tribe in the mountains. We learned to hunt hawks. To scale dangerous paths. If Jagged Peak can't recover then he's no use to this group."
"How can you be so merciless?"
"It's not being merciless," Clear Sky's voice is absent of any empathy. "It's survival."
"But what about our journey from the mountains?!" Gray Wing asked with dismay. "We looked out for each other then!"
"You're not a leader," Clear Sky spat. "You have no idea how to run a camp. How to make important decisions."
Others watched on, shocked.
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"This isn't…you're not the Clear Sky I grew up with. That I respected."
He scoffed, his tail lashed angrily. "Leave my camp then. The three of you. I don't need cats that question my orders."
"I'm going with," Dappled Pelt hissed. "I can't believe you'd abandon your own tribemates."
Clear Sky's cats escorted the exiles out and left them without a word.
"Gray Wing is there anywhere we can stay?" Jayfeather asked.
"Yes. I'll go get Wind Runner and Gorse Fur and we'll go to Tall Shadow's camp."
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"Bite this branch." Jayfeather and Dappled Pelt quickly repaired Jagged Peak's leg. The injured tom squeezes his eyes shut, fearful of the pain. Nightfall's dusk swathes over the anxious cats outside. Concerned gazes eye Jagged Peak.
"Will this work?" Dappled Pelt whispered. "Making a splint is one thing but…"
"Yes. We'll do fine. Here, can you…"
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He screamed. Jagged Peak's teeth sink into the branch. He feels like vomiting. The pain is so agonizing he hardly notices Jayfeather set the bones back in place. Grabbing cobwebs, plants, and twigs, he makes a splint. Broom is put on before the bandages and splint.
"There's still some bleeding."
"Apply horsetail."
She did. The two cats worked well together, seamlessly.
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Dropping poppy seeds Jayfeather said "Eat these. It'll help with the pain."
Jagged Peak chewed the seeds.
Exiting the den he sees Wind Runner and Gary Wing.
"Wil…will Jagged Peak walk again?"
"Yes. With proper care and exercise. It'll mend." Jayfeather meowed.
"I think we should have a camp meeting."
"Good idea."
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Gray Wing explained what had happened. The ex-tribe cats are shocked and hurt. Clear Sky is being reckless. Abandoning his brother and those who loyally follow him just because they disagreed.
"What do we do?"
"Well I know not to abandon those in pain." Wind Runner meowed. "He's never going to realize how tough it is surviving on your own…"
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The gathering is swept up into unclear murmuring. Jayfeather didn't want to solve their problems for them. But he is a medicine cat. So he'll teach them how to be prepared for disasters.
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"For war or any calamity, it's better to be equipped." His calm voice dispels panic.
"Gray Wing told us about you."
"Do you know these woods?"
"Why'd you leave your group?"
"My story isn't important. I just teach others how to heal injuries."
"Let us listen to his wisdom," Tall Shadow meowed. "Unlike Clear Sky, we will learn what we can."
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"Medicine cats have important jobs. We see that our group is well. Clear Sky is unwilling to listen to anyone but himself. So I'll give you the knowledge that has been passed down to me." Jayfeather looks at the gathering. "If our group has sick cats, we vow to take care of them. That's how we endure life's difficulties."
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Gorse Fur nodded. Wind Runner faced Tall Shadow and said, "I think Jayfeather should teach some of these cats how to be medicine cats."
Tall Shadow agreed. "Any cat willing to learn about medicine, step forward."
Dappled Pelt grinned. "Count me in! I'll do anything I can to help."
Cloud Spots stands next to her. "I already knew a little about medicines, but yes, I want to learn everything I can. If I can guarantee the safety of our group then that's what I will do."
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Jayfeather's grumpiness waned. He's austere but knows this is new to most of the cats. He answers their questions and shows them how to heal specific wounds. From burns, coughs, colds, and small wounds. What herbs to collect and what to discard. Over time, they become brilliant medicine cats.
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Jagged Peak's leg healed. He asks to be a medicine cat.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I don't mind hunting or fighting but," he shook his head. "I don't want to see cats hurt like I have. Will you teach me?"
Jayfeather nodded. "Dappled Pelt, Cloud Spots, and I will."
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A scorching wildfire surrounds the woods. Tall Shadow's camp survives with some damage –only a few cats return wounded. Gray Wing's breathing is hindered. His coughing is so bad his body quivers, and he can hardly take a steady breath. Jayfeather brings him honey, ragwort leaves, bright-eye, and tansy. He instructs the other medicine cats to blend some herbs into a beverage. "Drink this medicine; it'll heal your lungs. Rest as much as you can."
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"Look at him! I'd be scared to be his apprentice…" a cat joked.
"Jagged Peak! Cloud Spots! Grab that and show me how to remove a thorn from a paw."
"R-Right!"
"Dappled Pelt! Can you go find some thyme?"
"Sure!" She sprints out of the den past other cats.
"But Jayfeather is a miracle for this camp!"
"Hey! Someone is at the camp entrance!"
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Thunder is supporting a limping Frost. Despondency glints in his yellow eyes. A cat meets him and asks what happened. Jayfeather catches the conversation, understanding instantly.
Clear Sky banished them. Thunder refused to abandon Frost. The pair is quickly escorted to the medicine den.
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Observing the injury Jayfeather declared, "It's infected. Why didn't you rest or clean the wound?"
Frost looked at it worriedly. "I didn't think it was a big deal. That it would heal on its own."
"What?! Infections are serious. You have to heal the injury as soon as possible." He gathers herbs and crushes them into a juice.
Frost hissed when the medicine was applied to his burn. He thanked Jayfeather and limped over to a nest.
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Days passed. Jayfeather's paws shimmer as the sun crawls up over the forest. He's going to return to his time. Standing he silently checks on his patients. Gray Wing had left the medicine den a while ago, feeling better. In fact, he's running alongside Tall Shadow, as they go hunting. Jagged Peak and Frost are lively, repairing any damages the fire had done to the camp. Dappled Pelt and Cloud Spots see him and drop some food at his paws.
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The medicine cat eats a meal and smiles at his friends. "I must go."
"Go?" Cloud Spots asked. "Go where?"
"On to other territories. I liked it here. Thank you for accepting me."
"Can't you stay?" Dappled Pelt asked. "Everyone would miss you."
Jayfeather shook his head. "Sorry but I have to."
"We'll never forget you," Cloud Spots bowed. "I'll do my best to be a good medicine cat."
"You two, and Jagged Peak, already are."
Smiling sadly, the two watched Jayfeather depart from Tall Shadow's camp. Soon nothing but a shadowy outline could be seen in the distance. Jayfeather hoped that his knowledge could save them from whatever dangers were looming in the future for the Clans.