Chapter Three: Lionblaze

I follow Jayfeather as if in a dream. He's acting the way he did back when he was leading us through the tunnels to find the kits – so long ago now! – it's like he can see, like someone's guiding him. And maybe someone is.

I'm at the front of the pack following Jayfeather; I can only just keep up. Where are we going? He's heading back to camp! Wait no he's passed camp… I know this path. No! Jayfeather please not here!

He finally slows outside the old entrance I used to enter the tunnels. I can still see Heatherpaw's face shining with hope and excitement. Then I see Heathertail's face glaring at me, calling me monster. How did it go so wrong?!

"She's down here." Jayfeather's voice sounds strained, and he's watching me like: Don't do anything stupid! We've lasted this long we can keep it up! Like I would confess, I've kept this secret far too long to tell the truth now. Plus they'd probably kick me out of camp for being a traitor. Then again Leafpool screwed up way worse than me and she's still around.

"We have to get her out!" I mew. "If she's been down there as long as we think she has it's amazing she hasn't starved to death." My voice starts shaking.

"He's right." Jayfeather hisses, "COME ON! Start digging we have to save her!"

I throw myself to the ground and start tearing at it with my claws, desperately trying to reach my sister.

"Move! You heard them we have to save her!" Brambleclaw's voice comes from somewhere behind me. Suddenly he throws himself to the ground next to me and starts digging. The rest of the cats follow suit all except Jayfeather, who's pacing and occasionally trying to shove his way in.

For a long time all we know is digging. Then Leafpool pulls back,

"This is useless!" cries, "Do we even know if she wants to be rescued? We all know the real reason she ran away. Because of me! Because she couldn't bear to live with what I did. This all my fault!" Then she turns and runs back into the forest, though I don't think she's going back to camp.

Sandstorm looks down, then back up. Her eyes are hard and determined, "Of course she wants to be rescued! StarClan sent us to save her! To give her another chance; and everyone deserves second chances! I'm going to do all I can to give her second chance!" she turns back to the entrance and resumes digging.

Every few seconds I glance over at Squirrelflight, she staring at the spot where her sister disappeared, and she's barley digging. I want to be mad except I know how she feels. I mean it's highly doubtful that Leafpool's dead, but she's still worried about her and wants to go after her. It's a sibling thing, we take care of each other, we back each other up, and we'd do anything for each other.

Anything.

I finally understand, and by now it's probably too late.

It's a little after sunhigh when we clear an opening big enough for Jayfeather and me to slip through. Squirrelflight's tail keeps flicking and she looks majorly conflicted.

"You're sure you'll be able to get her out?" She asks Jayfeather for like the eightieth time.

"Yes, she'll be fine as soon as we get her back to camp." Jayfeather answers as patiently as he can. Squirrelflight sighs like she's bracing herself,

"Then I think I need to find Leafpool. Sh-she looked really upset, who knows what she could do?"

"You're abandoning Hollyleaf?" Brambleclaw asks incredulously.

"NO! I'm doing the right thing!" Squirrelflight snaps.

"Yeah, you're running away." Brambleclaw turns away disgustedly. Pain glistens on Squirrelflight's face for a moment, and then she turns and follows her sister's path.

"It's time." Jayfeather whispers in my ear. I sigh and turn to stare at the tunnel I thought I'd escaped forever. Hang on Hollyleaf! We're coming! Jayfeather takes a deep breath beside me, and we plunge into the tunnels together.

"Did it used to be this tiny?" I gasp.

"Shush! I'm trying to focus on Fallen Leaves. We need to find her as so as possible. She's dying Lionblaze." After that little announcement I can't say anything else for fear.

It seems like years later when Jayfeather stops. My heart turns to ice when I see Hollyleaf. She could be a skeleton with fur. She can hardly raise her head and her eyes are glazed.

"Hey, guys! Miss me?" she whispers. Even just that small feat seems to wipe her out.

"What do we do?" I whine, turning to Jayfeather.

"Hurry, get to her other side and help me support her!" Jayfeather mews as he rushes forward. I gently help Jayfeather raise her in a standing position and start walking forward before I realize,

"How are we supposed to get her out? The tunnel gets way narrower than this." I glance sideways at Jayfeather and see from his worried expression that he has already thought of this, but all he says is,

"We'll have to figure it out when we get to it." What we ended up doing is dragging/pushing her through the tight spots. Not very heroic I know, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

I think we're almost there when Jayfeather stumbles, Hollyleaf falls but she falls on Jayfeather so, you know, she's okay. (Jayfeather, on the other paw not so much.) I'm not really paying that much attention, just waiting for Jayfeather to get up and trying gauge how far we are from the entrance. So I miss Hollyleaf's warning whimper. I do not however miss her explosion,

"I can't do this! I'm too weak! I'm going to get you killed, I don't deserve to live! Just save yourselves!" she yowls in anguish. I stare down at her in disbelief,

"Are you mouse-brained? We went nuts when you disappeared! I am not losing you again!"

"Neither am I!" Jayfeather is back up and is staring at her in anger, "StarClan gave you a second chance to live and you will not throw that away!" Hollyleaf moans in reply but we just pull her back up and keep going.

Soon I see a light; the opening of the tunnel. We made it!

"See! We made it. You're gonna live." I mew gently. For the first time in moons the three of us walk together, back into the light.