Hey guys, back again! Yeah its only one but Midnightstar really wanted it published ;D lol.
Enjoy!
-Echosong
Chapter Fifteen: Jayfeather
She loves me! She loves me! I can't believe it! She really truly loves me! Everything will be wonderful now! Well for us at least… rest of the Clan not so much.
The air is starting to warm and from the warmth of the ground the sun must be making its climb. I follow the stream quickly – time is of the essence I can't waste it! I scramble across the stone barley noticing as my paws slip into the dimple the ancients left. I skid to a stop by the pool and lay down quickly letting my nose brush the water as I drift to sleep.
I wake expecting to see StarClan's bright hunting grounds; instead the dreary evilness of the Dark Forest surrounds me. How'd I end up here? In the Place of No Stars? A calm commanding voice drifts from the shadows,
"What do you think, Brokenstar? Do you trust the accused traitor? Will you vouch for him? Or shall we execute him?"
"Why shouldn't we trust him Mapleshade?" replies Brokenstar, cold and cunning.
"He stopped Ivypool from proving herself! He showed mercy! He went against our ways!" This is Mapleshade's snarl.
"I had to save my brother! I couldn't lose him twice!" Tigerheart's yowl. He seems unafraid - only annoyed. Stupid mouse-brain they're going to kill you!
"It was his brother… not like he saved someone from ThunderClan or anything." Tigerstar mews, voice heavy with contempt. "And he has my name. He could become another great ruler of our wonderful land!"
"He doesn't have the heart and you know it! I say we kill him know before he can betray us." Mapleshade spits.
"He could still betray us in death." Brokenstar points out, "If we are to do anything we should keep him here and never let him see light again." Brokenstar's voice is contemplating, "But I still don't believe that he would betray us."
"We need someone else – impartial, a vote. Thistleclaw?" Tigerstar mews.
"No. He's on his special mission." Mapleshade reminds him.
"One of the Clan cats. Our newest recruit perhaps?"
"Good idea Brokenstar. Bring her fourth." Tigerstar chuckles evilly.
Suddenly a new scent drifts to my nose, Blossomfall! She couldn't! She wouldn't – would she?
"Brokenstar, Tigerstar, Mapleshade, why am I here –?" her terrified voice cuts off in a gasp, she must have seen Tigerheart.
"Funny question my dear; you see we're having a little dispute." Mapleshade's voice is as cunning as it is evil.
"Some cats' think that Tigerheart here is a traitor, I myself am uncertain," Tigerstar, preparing the execution.
"What we need from you is an answer. Do you think Tigerheart here is a traitor?" Brokenstar, getting right to the point.
"I'm – I don't know I haven't been here long enough – try Ivypool." Blossomfall stammers – BIG mistake.
"We asked you though dearie!" Mapleshade snarls. I can tell that Blossomfall is frozen like she's about to be run over by a monster – might be a less painful way to go.
"I-I would never call him a traitor, he looks like one of your most loyal warriors to me." Blossomfall finally stammers. Let's hope she's making it up – or Tigerheart's a really good actor.
"Good. Then Mapleshade you are to trust him completely from now on. Discord and distrust leads to falling apart. It's a weakness I will not have! Not when we're so close. Blossomfall, Tigerheart you may return to the Clans." Tigerstar mews, then he, Brokenstar and Mapleshade vanish. Blossomfall turns and runs into the mist without giving Tigerheart a second glance. Tigerheart however walks straight to me.
"You're lucky to be alive you know?" he mews softly, "I don't know how much you heard but I'm assuming it was enough. I need to talk to you away from here, I promise it's important. Take me to StarClan if you can, we can talk there right?" I look up to him, his amber eyes bright showing the truth. They are the only light in this eternal darkness. I have to trust him. I nod once and let myself fade away – praying that I'm taking him with me.
"Now what was that all about?" I hiss as soon as we are safe.
"Can-can you see me?" Tigerheart mews staring at me with undisguised shock.
"Yes." I mew tersely, I don't care about this, "I can see in dreams big deal, now explain!"
"They were right. I am a traitor – have been since they almost killed Flametail. Again. Not that I have anyone to tell anything to, Blackstar doesn't know about the Dark Forest and he'd kill me if he found out. But I collect information, just for me I guess, but I have plenty to tell you – not now though I need to get home as soon as I can – but when the war comes – and it's coming quickly – I won't be fighting on their side that's for sure!" He stands looking at me wearily after his speech. Wow.
"How many others?" I ask.
"What?"
"How many other cats are there? How many others are traitor to all of us!" I snap, fear getting the best of me.
"Oh. Lots and they're bringing more every day. Just Ivypool and Blossomfall from ThunderClan though. Guess Ivypool is your spy – what about Blossomfall?"
"No. I didn't even know she was there until tonight." I mew, my voice hollow.
"Oh, well some cats are kinda obvious, Breezepelt is the absolute worst! He struts around that place like he owns it!" Tigerheart mews with contempt.
"I already knew he was one of them." I mew flicking my tail.
"How?"
"He and Brokenstar tried to kill me."
"NO!" Tigerheart gasps.
"Yeah, would you know anything about Breezepelt getting any missions or anything? We found him on ThunderClan territory."
"Fox dung!" Tigerstar yowls, "They must be ready to attack! They always send out scouts before a battle!"
"I guess you need to go back to ShadowClan now." I mew trying to swallow my fear.
"Oh, uh yeah." I stare at him for a moment until his form fades away and I streak off, I have some dead warriors to pick a fight with.
"Hey Bluestar, Yellowfang, Spottedleaf!" I yowl. It's Feathertail who appears.
"What Jayfeather?" She sounds annoyed.
"What's with you?" I ask.
"I was about to go visit my brother and Brook and their cute little kits when I hear your dulcet tones and I think 'Well Yellowfang will kill you if I let her deal with this on her own and something makes me think no one's going to stop her' so can you make this quick? I'm kind of on a schedule here!"
"Uh yeah, I want to have a mate." I think I just stopped her-technically-shouldn't-be-real heart.
"You WHAT? Are you absolutely insane?" Feathertail literally screams, almost shattering my ears. (And I would like to keep those, at least, whole.)
"Feathertail what's going on?" Yellowfang walks up – here we go.
"He wants a mate."
"Technically we did say that he could choose." Yellowfang points out, calmer than I had expected.
"Only because we didn't think his choice would be this." Feathertail hisses.
"We'll have to punish him." Yellowfang mews slowly, cocking her head slightly.
"Punish who?" Bluestar appears. Why do I feel like I'm invisible? Wait, because they're acting like I AM! (They're filling Bluestar in.)
"We could reincarnate you into one of his kits. What? You have to admit your life slightly stunk." Feathertail mews sounding defensive at Bluestar's look.
"How exactly is that a punishment?" I mew.
"Oh I guess you're right." Feathertail mews shrugging.
"We could still do it, me and Snowfur; she deserves a better life too." Bluestar mews, a musing and slightly hopeful look her face.
"Excuse me," I snap, annoyed at being ignored, "but if you care I happen to have a plan where you don't have to punish me." All three cats whip around giving me their full attention. Spottedleaf slips in as I being to speak.
"It's not really fair that toms can't have mates, we're way less emotional so when that if they go into battle we won't be nuts worried and distracted from our work, it won't mess up my duties and if there are kits (which I doubt given the state of things) it's not like I'm going to be the one kitting anyway. So please, you've been here, just let me be happy."
"I supposed that it won't really hurt…" Bluestar mews hesitantly.
"And you're sure it won't interfere with your duties?" Yellowfang asks giving the me a sharp look.
"I promise. I'll still be completely focused." I vow and the four she-cats exchange looks,
"We're so going to regret this." Feathertail mews.
"Jayfeather, you can have a mate." Bluestar mews.
"And you have to tell Firestar." Spottedleaf mews, half tiredly, half longing.