Chapter 2
Jayfeather gritted his teeth as he heard Rosepetal calling from the nursery. She had decided to permanently stay in the nursery to help take care of kits after her two kits had been born dead. Her mate, Foxleap, had died of green cough in leaf bare. He scurried into the nursery, which would soon be quite full when Squirrelflight's kits arrives. Squirrelflight! Some mother she'll be. Although Bramblestar had forgiven her for her lies, Jayfeather would never be able to forget how she let him believe his life was something completely different than what it was. He gave her a cold, blind gaze and continued to Rosepetal.
"What's the matter?" He asked, a little annoyed.
"Let Cinderheart tell you." She mewed, pointing her tail at Cinderheart, who Jayfeather could scent was in the back corner of the den.
"Frostkit is still coughing! I thought you treated her green cough long ago. I think she still has white cough." Cinderheart mewed, a panicked edge to her meow. It only took Jayfeather one sniff to recognize the faint scent of white cough. Whitecough in new leaf?
"I better take you two into my den, I don't want Squirrelflight catching it." He mewed thoughtfully. He brought them into his den and let them settle.
"Do you have any tansy or coltsfoot?" Cinderheart asked. It always took Jayfeather by surprise when she knew herbs so well. Of course, then he had to remember she was Cinderpelt given another chance at life as a warrior.
"Yes, but my supplies are dangerously low from this leaf bare. But I will give her some because I think this will be the last of sickness." He mewed as he fetched tansy from the store.
"Thank you, Jayfeather. Sickness is new leaf is uncommon, but it does happen. Keep that in mind." Cinderheart told him, seasons of wisdom behind her mew.
Jayfeather just nodded and dropped the tansy at Cinderheart's paws. She would give it to Frostkit.
"I have to go check up on Squirrelflight now, I'll be back to check on you soon." As Jayfeather padded out of the den, Bramblestar almost ran into him.
"Jayfeather! I've had a dream. Let's go into the forest, it may upset some cats." He meowed, his voice shaken. Jayfeather nodded and followed Bramblestar's scent into the woods. Bramblestar came to a halt beside the sky oak.
"So tell me about your dream, Bramblestar." He asked calmly.
" 'Five will become none and the forest will be empty'!" Bramblestar told him.
"What does it mean?" Jayfeather asked, puzzled and chilled to the bone.
"There was darkness and cats yowling, fighting, then all the voices died and Firestar came to me. He told me if we don't return there will be no thunder, wind, shadow, river and the stars will disappear."
"Don't return from where?"
"He told me we would find our answers over the mountains."
"Well it must mean we have to go past the mountains."
"But the only thing back there is thunder paths and twolegplaces. We can't, there would be no use." Bramblestar sounded desperate for an answer.
" But how can we ignore Starclan?"
"How can I leave the clan after such a hard leaf bare?" Bramblestar said defiantly.
"Why don't we send other cats then?" Jayfeather suggested. Bramblestar seemed to stay silent for a moon before he responded.
"I will go to the moonpool. I am going now, I need answers. Tell Brackenfur he is in charge!" Bramblestar said, before running through the woods.
"Wait! You need travelling herbs!" Jayfeather yowled after him, but he didn't stop. Jayfeather heaved a sigh and staggered back to camp. He scented Brackenfur near the fresh-kill pile, sharing tongues with Sorreltail.
"Bramblestar went to the moonpool. You're in charge." He grunted, still annoyed at Bramblestar's quickness to leave.
"Why did he go to the moonpool? Is there trouble?" Brackenfur looked startled.
"Just needed advice I suppose." Jayfeather trudged back to his den, before remember he still had to check on Squirrelflight.
When he reached the nursery, Squirrelflight was chatting with Rosepetal about Thornclaw and Hazeltail.
"They've been spending a lot of time together recently. I wouldn't be surprised if we had another denmate soon." Rosepetal told Squirrelflight. The queens fell silent at Jayfeather's arrival.
"How are you feeling, Squirrelflight?" He asked, feeling her swollen belly with his paw. He felt four kits. Four new warriors for Thunderclan. He thought of Firestar's prophecy. Would there even be clans when they grow up? Swallowing his worries, he told Squirrelflight she would have four kits. After he confirmed that her kits should be healthy, he left the nursery, eager to find Lionblaze. After Ivypool had died of green cough, Dovewing had been avoiding Lionblaze and Jayfeather. Jayfeather had done all he could, but she as well as many other warriors died that leaf bare. He felt that Dovewing blamed him for her sister's death. Jayfeather was happy to scent Lionblaze returning from a hunting patrol with Lilypool, Whitewing, and Bumblestripe. Seeing Bumblestripe made Jayfeather feel sick. He had failed Graystripe and Bumblestripe. He hadn't done enough to save Blossomfall and Millie from green cough and Briarlight had died of a chest infection last Greenleaf. After Millie's death, Graystripe had become sad and finally responded to his age and became an elder. Sandstorm and Dustpelt had become elders long before.
"Lionblaze!" Jayfeather meowed, waiting for his brother to come to him.
"Hi Jayfeather." Lionblaze mewed, a bit distracted.
"Have you seen Dovewing?"
"Yeah, I was on dawn patrol with her this morning."
"Alright, I want to talk to her."
"Well I'm going to see Cinderheart and Frostkit."
"They're in the nursery. Frostkit has white cough."
"Again?" Lionblaze mewed, distressed. Jayfeather only nodded solemnly. He heard Lionblaze dash for the medicine den. Now, to find Dovewing.
