Chapter Twenty-nine: . . . It Will Be Fun, They Said

Jaggedshadow crept through the undergrowth of ThunderClan's territory. His careful steps disturbed nothing that would betray his presence. He was not usually stealthy, but his prior situation seldom required him to be.

Jaggedshadow scanned his surroundings. Seeing nothing important, he pricked his ears and opened his mouth to taste the air. He slowed. He scanned the trees ahead of him. Again, nothing important. All was going as planned. If someone saw or heard him, it would spell disaster for his self-appointed scouting mission.

Jaggedshadow glanced behind him. In a make-shift shelter near the border, Nightsong, Stormwind, and Stoneclaw lay sound asleep.

Jaggedshadow dodged a tree. This was going well. Too well. He was walking to the island he agreed to meet Lionblaze at. If Lionblaze and his friends lay in wait to ambush Jaggedshadow and his companions, he would then know to meet him another day. That is, if he decided to meet him and the others at all.

Jaggedshadow stopped. Some distance from him was a small patrol. They weren't looking for him, or anything in particular, but all the same, he could not risk being found. Branches rustled in the wind as he laid eyes on a golden-brown tom.

Jaggedshadow drew back. If any one of the cats in the patrol found him, his mission would end in failure. His heart pounded in his chest. He shouldn't have come. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

The golden-brown cat stepped towards Jaggedshadow, sniffing in his direction. Jaggedshadow dug his claws into the ground. It was difficult enough trying to stay hidden with his fearful twitching, nevermind his long, ragged fur fluffing up from fear. He did not know these cats or their culture. As such, he didn't know if they would kill him right then and there without allowance of explanation. If found, Jaggedshadow reasoned, he may well meet his demise.

Jaggedshadow pulled himself further into the bush. He winced as the branches rustled. They had surely heard that. The sweat that had begun to drip from his skin now began to soak his fur. Had something been seeking him this whole time?

Jaggedshadow crouched lower. The golden-brown warrior turned toward his companions. He walked to them.

Jaggedshadow exhaled sharply, breathing in a sigh of relief. That had been close. Too close. The patrol moved on, but the golden-brown tom casted a last glance at him. Jaggedshadow wasn't sure whether the tom had seen him or not.

Jaggedshadow crept between the trees, avoiding the undergrowth when he could. It made too much noise. He looked at the branches above him. Was that creaking he heard?

Jaggedshadow shook his head. He was just being paranoid. The wind was making the branches creak, not some unperceived stalker.

The sound of a twig breaking echoed through the air.

Jaggedshadow froze. Something was seeking him. Whatever it was, it must be huge to make such a racket. In his peripheral vision, Jaggedshadow caught a flash of white. He didn't see its owner's face.

Jaggedshadow relaxed. It felt amazing. His muscles were no longer tense; he could move more freely. He walked to the nearest tree.

Upon reaching it, he stopped. He scanned for threats. There were none, however the sound of creaking branches persisted. In fact, those sounds were getting louder. He began walking to another tree

Jaggedshadow's fur stood on end. He stopped. The wind wasn't nearly strong enough to cause the branches to creak. This was a trap.

Something slammed into Jaggedshadow from above.

Jaggedshadow struck his attacker. He leaped away. Upon landing, he turned, sinking his claws into the soil. He needed to be ready to strike.

Before Jaggedshadow was a golden tom. Jaggedshadow grinned. His opponent was inexperienced. What else could explain his lack of scars? This would be easy.

Just then, the golden cat strutted toward him. No, that was not the shaky walk of a soft, weak creature, but the confident gait of an experienced warrior. His powerful looking muscles rippled under his fur. This would not be an easy fight.

Jaggedshadow flattened his ears as his opponent approached. He arched his back, baring his teeth. He launched himself at his opponent.

Before Jaggedshadow's paws left the ground, the warrior slammed into him. They fell to the ground and rolled, trying to gain control of the fight. Jaggedshadow hammered his opponent's belly and slashed at his face. This availed Jaggedshadow nothing. He blocked a strike.

Panic welled up, threatening to overcome Jaggedshadow. He fought it back as he seized an opportunity. He slashed at`his opponent's belly. Instead of being covered in blood, teeth shank into Jaggedshadow's shoulder. Jaggedshadow kicked and received a scratch to the foce.

He thrashed and wrestled, but the golden warrior had him pinned to the ground. Jaggedshadow struggled again and again to no avail.

He had lost.

There was only one thing Jaggedshadow could do. He slammed his forehead into his opponent's face. The golden warrior was unfazed.

Jaggeshadow relaxed. There was nothing more he could do. Jaggedshadow stared the golden warrior in the eyes. He took a deep breath, hoping it wouldn't be his last. He should not have come.

The tom stood and backed away, letting Jaggedshadow stand. He smirked as Jaggedshadow got to his feet. "You are bold. Few outsiders would invade ThunderClan's territory alone."

That voice. It was the same voice Jaggedshadow heard when he and his companions were searching for the other warrior Clans.

The golden warrior, Jaggedshadow assumed, was Lionblaze.

Jaggedshadow flicked his tail. "I am waiting to meet someone."

Lionblaze pointed deeper into the forest. "Follow us."

Jaggedshadow grimaced. There was only one being before him. Why had

He said 'we'? Was he a Guardian? Jaggedshadow glanced behind him. "I have companions."

"We know," said a higher-pitched but not unpleasant voice.

Jaggedshadow turned. Beside him was a smaller gray tabby tom. Jaggedshadow frowned. Had he seen this cat before? He wasn't sure. However, he seemed familiar.

Jaggedshadow narrowed his eyes. He knew precious little about these two cats. Where was Plague when he needed him?

Jaggedshadow glanced again at the grey tom. His eyes, unlike Lionblaze's, were a cloudy blue. Like Stoneclaw, he was blind. Jaggedshadow turned to find his new acquaintances walking away. He followed.

"Where are the others? Jaggedshadow asked.

"They will be here soon," said Lionblaze.

"How many?"

"Huh?"

Jaggedshadow flicked his ear. "How many of us are there?"

This time it was the grey tom who spoke "Five."

Jaggedshadow nodded. That made sense, although it was within reason to assume that there could be many more. Plague, although not present, had disagreed with this assumption. According to him, there were no more than several. Jaggedshadow turned to the small, grey cat. "I am sorry, I did not catch your name."

The tom flicked his ear. "I didn't throw it."

Jaggedshadow growled softly. Were all of the cats in these other Clans this rude? Jaggedshadow picked up his pace to catch up with Lionblaze.

Jaggedshadow leaped off the end of the treebridge. He slowed to a halt on the rocky ground. Massive trees ringed the clearing beneath the clear sky, making him feel smaller than he had ever felt. Jaggedshadow lifted his head in awe. He stared into the deep blue sky.

The others would arrive soon. Jaggedshadow began cleaning his coat. He mustn't look disheveled. As NightClan's sole present representative, he now carried a great deal of responsibility squarely on his massive, solid shoulders. Anything he said or did could affect ThunderClan, ShadowClan, WindClan, and RiverClan perceptions of NightClan.

As Jaggedshadow finished laying down the final cleansing strokes on his side, everything got warmer for a moment. Plague had returned. Jaggedshadow lifted his chin. He greeted Plague.

While Jaggedshadow was in the midst of a conversation with Plague, the ferns behind him parted. Through them stepped out a silver she-cat who smelled of the forest. Soon after, a small she-cat crashed through the bracken beside Lionblaze. She, unlike the other three, smelled of water. Jaggedshadow narrowed his eyes. Was she the annoying cat he escorted out of NightClan?

"Who's he?" Asked the silver she-cat, pointing at Jaggedshadow.

"I-" Jaggedshadow began.

"He," the grey one interrupted, "is the one we discussed yesterday. He is the One Who Walks Before His Stars."

"So, One, who are you?" The others asked in unison.

Jaggedshadow licked his paw and swiped it over his ear. "I will not answer that question until you all answer it yourselves."

"Oh," began the golden warrior. "I'm Lionblaze."

Jaggedshadow nodded. The strong golden warrior had confirmed his assumption. He was Lionblaze.

"The dappled she-cat who smells of water is Roseheart." Lionblaze continued. "The silver one is my former apprentice, Dovewing, and the grey cat beside me is my brother-"

The scrawny grey tom interrupted his brother. "I am perfectly capable of introducing myself." He turned to Jaggedshadow. "As my brother was saying, I am Jayfeather, medicine cat of ThunderClan."

Jaggedshadow twitched his whiskers thoughtfully. So, these were the StarClan's Chosen. They seemed powerful.

Jaggedshadow shuddered. If any one of them were to betray their Clan, it would spell doom for the living cat Clans and their ancestors. Jaggedshadow dug his claws into the earth. He stood, his tail twitching.

Jaggedshadow raised his chin, showing off his pristine fangs for which he had once been named. "I am Jaggedshadow, guardian to Plague of NightClan. I am Icefang's son, and my companions wait for me."