Chapter 4

Jayfeather curled up in his nest, hoping Frostkit would keep quiet throughout the night. The fluffy grey she-kit seemed excited about herbs. She always wanted to know what Jayfeather was using and why. It was horribly annoying. Forgetting those thought, Jayfeather concentrated on entering the Windclan camp. He imagined Kestrelflight sleeping in her den. He matched her breathing.

He sat on a windy moor. A few tail lengths away, Kestrelflight was hunting a rabbit. Jayfeather padded over to him.

"Hi Jayfeather!" Kestrelflight mewed, indifferent to the fact he had scared away the rabbit.

"Hi. I have something important to ask you."

"What is it?""Have you had any signs from Starclan? Or perhaps any dreams?"

"Well.." Kestrelflight looked nervous. "Onestar had a dream. It was about twolegs. They were torturing our clanmates. It was horrible. We haven't had any at our camp. He lied at the gathering. The truth is, he hasn't been doing anything since he had the dream. He is afraid what happened at the forest will happen again."

"Bramblestar had a similar dream. But Firestar told him we needed to return or else all five clans would be gone. He said we'd find our answers past the mountains."

"Great Starclan. Trouble is coming to the lake."

"Yes. Bramblestar thinks we should work together to send cats over the mountains to find our answers." Kestrelflight nodded in agreement.

"I'll speak to Onestar when I awake."

"No! Bramblestar will send a patrol. I just wanted to see if this was affecting other clans too. The clans will survive." Jayfeather said, hoping his doubt wasn't in his voice. Kestrelflight dipped his head.

"I hope so, Jayfeather."

"Jayfeather!" He blinked open his eyes. Frostkit was sitting beside him eagerly.

"What do you want?" He groaned. He glanced outside the den. The sun was rising, he wouldn't be able to visit the other medicine cars.

"I don't feel sick anymore and Cinderheart says I have to go back to the nursery but I don't want to! I want to stay here with you!" The kits mewling didn't interest Jayfeather. He had to report to Bramblestar.

"Well you have to. Good bye, Frostkit." He left his den to find Bramblestar just returning with the dawn patrol.

"Bramblestar!" Jayfeather meowed to get his leader's attention.

"Come to my den." Jayfeather followed him up to his den.

"I only had time to visit Kestrelflight. Same thing is happening in Windclan."

"Then chances are, it's happening everywhere. I will send patrols out right away. We have no time to waste."

"But Bramblestar, if the other clans aren't having this problem, won't that be a sign of weakness?"

"That's a chance we will have to take!" The dark tabby mewed as he padded to the high ledge.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the high ledge for a clan meeting!" Bramblestar yowled. The cats looks surprised. Another meeting so soon?

"We must take 3 patrols to the other clans." Shock rippled through the cats gathered beneath. "I will explain why to the cats who will go. The rest of you will know after the message has been passed. I will lead one patrol, Brackenfur will lead the other, and Jayfeather will lead the third. I will go to Riverclan, Brackenfur to Windclan, and Jayfeather to Shadowclan. Each of us will pick 3 cats to bring along. I will bring Snowfall, Leafpool, and Dovewing." Jayfeather addressed the clan.

"I will bring Amberfur, Cherrytail, and Lionblaze." Once he finished speaking, Brackenfur spoke.

"I will bring Dewpelt, Sorreltail, and Poppyfrost." Brackenfur still looked confused as to why he was choosing a patrol to take to Windclan.

"Great. All of the cats coming will meet me beside the sky oak to discuss the mission of the trip." With a flick of his tail, he dismissed the clan meeting. Jayfeather padded across camp, heading straight for the sky oak. He was eager to get to Shadowclan and spread the message. Once he reached the massive tree, he waited with many clueless cats for their instructions.

"A time of trouble is upon us. We must ask the other clans whether they have had any dreams similar to mine." Jayfeather waited as Bramblestar explained his dream. He smelled his clanmate's fear scents as they listened to the horrifying prophecy. "Therefore, we must have each clan choose two cats to send on a journey over the mountain to find our answer. That is, if they are having the same troubles as us." Bramblestar finished, and a static silence overtook the forest.

"But we haven't been having any threats." Poppyfrost said, her voice quavering. Bramblestar ignored her.

"Everyone go visit the clan you were assigned and do your best to persuade them to join us, but if they refuse, leave them alone." Jayfeather turned to his patrol. He could imagine how terrified they must look.

"Well, let's go." Lionblaze mewed. Jayfeather took the lead and took his patrol to the Shadowclan border, where they would await a patrol to escort them to camp.

"Jayfeather, have you had any dreams about this, or was it just Bramblestar?" Lionblaze murmured.

"No I haven't yet!" Jayfeather snapped. They waited in silence until Jayfeather heard a Shadowclan warrior approach them.

"What are you doing here?" Shrewfoot growled.

"We need to speak to Rowanstar." Jayfeather mewed levelly.

"Why?" Shrewfoot spoke with more interest.

"That's between us and him."

"Very well. Although I do wonder why you brought such a large patrol. I have back up waiting if this is an ambush." The Thunderclan cats followed Shrewfoot through the marshy Shadowclan territory. Jayfeather scented the Shadowclan camp full of life.

"Shrewfoot, what is this?" Rowanstar asked.

"These cats want to speak to you."

"Such a large amount?"

"I guess." Shrewfoot growled.

"We need to speak to you alone." Jayfeather mewed.

"What could be so important it couldn't wait until the next gathering?" Rowanstar murmured, leading the Thunderclan cats to his den.

"We need to ask you a very important question." Jayfeather spoke grimly.

"So ask me."