Chapter Sixteen: Hollyleaf

Jayfeather still hasn't shown up yet. Cloudtail went to fetch Lionblaze's patrol and as soon as my brother got back we plopped down in front of the thorn tunnel and haven't moved since.

I feel bad for Foxleap and Cinderheart, because they came over trying to comfort us and we both gave them looks that said very plainly go away! I tried to explain it and I think they got it, but it didn't stop them both from being hurt. Oh well, I'm a little to freaked out to care at the moment.

"Maybe we should go to the moonpool." Lionblaze's voice is hoarse, it the first time he's talked since he mewed very quietly "Hey" when he sat down.

"I don't think that's a good idea." I reply – surprised to hear how hoarse my own voice is. "But if he's not back by sun-down then we're going."

"They speak!" Graystripe mews in fake shock as he walks by. I roll my eyes but Lionblaze just mrrows with laughter.

I feel my brother relax slowly, Graystripe had done him good. But no one can calm me. The only thing that will make me feel better is if I saw Jayfeather in front of me and I could convince him that he was nutso and he HAD to stick to the code. I sigh heavily shaking my head with dread.

My ears prick up at a noise, like a cat running through the forest not caring what they are crashing into. JAYFEATHER!

A gray blur thunders by us and into the camp. My brother slows enough only to find Icecloud and let his face light up with happiness before scrambling up the ledge to Firestar's faster that than he normally would of.

"Do you think he's going to be okay?" Icecloud mews from the crowd far too worried. Any cat who knew Jayfeather knew that he could make it up there in his sleep and would claw the ears off of any cat who said otherwise.

"He'll be fine." I mew glaring at the cat who I was sure was going to mess everything up, I mean come on! Really? Falling in love with a medicine cat? That just has disaster written all over it.

If we let this go on they'll become one of the 'don't make this mistake, kits' stories the elders tell!

And I really thought that Jayfeather had more sense. Or at least he cared about his Clan more. Apparently I was wrong! I start pacing, my mind racing. Dovewing slips up to me,

"Quick question," she mews, "what the heck is going on?"

"Umm," I mew back, what do I say?

"I know they're in love." She mews abruptly.

"How?" I ask bewildered. A flash of panic mars her green eyes, but she seems to push it away because when she answers her voice is calm,

"Well they're not exactly hiding it are they?" I can't really argue with that.

"I don't know. All I know is that Jayfeather is really starting to scare me." I confess softly.

"Yeah you're not the only one," she mews twitching her ear uneasily. I have to stop this! Foxleap will be able to talk some sense into Icecloud. I race to the warriors den where he's sleeping.

"Foxleap!" I mew waking him up.

"Well hello my little holly bush, what's up?" he mews sleepily.

"Uh first never call me that again, ever. Second your sister is in love with Jayfeather and is most likely going to break the warrior code." I mew quickly. No need to drag out the pain.

"What in the name of StarClan!" He yelps, "You have got to be kidding!"

"No I'm not. I wish I was." I mew tensely. Foxleap stares at me mouth agape for what feels like five hours then he yelps really loudly and runs out of the den.

So that's one problem taken care of, now all I have to do is get through to Jayfeather and we can forget that this little incident ever happened.

Okay so maybe it won't work as well as that. I walk out of the warriors den to see the two siblings squared off, facing each other fur fluffed up to the fullest extent and claws out ready to pounce on each other. Fox dung!

"You are such a fox-hearted mouse brain!" Icecloud yowls. I see hurt light Foxleap's eyes but it only seems to add to his fury.

"I am NOT! If anyone's the mouse brain it's you! You're the one about to throw your life away! Did you not see what happened to Leafpool? Squirrelflight? Brambleclaw? Basically anyone who's made the mistake you want to make?" He spits back. I wince at his harsh tone, not the best way to go.

"How dare you!" She snarls tensing her muscles to pounce.

"What is going on here?" Ferncloud demands as she and Dustpelt return from hunting… this should be fun.

"Well?" Ferncloud hisses, "Are you going to tell me why you're acting like spoiled kits?" Foxleap shoots a glance at his sister, as angry as he is, he can't do it. He can't sell his sister out.

"We were just arguing." He mutters hanging his head, ashamed at the lie.

"Oh I see, having a little sibling squabble, right?" Ferncloud mews icily, "In front of the whole Clan? I think not. That is by far the worst lie you have ever told me. It obvious what's going on here, Icecloud did something bad and or stupid and you're mad at here for it, but not mad enough to tell me. Hmm." She fixes her son a glare from sharp green eyes. "Well Icecloud, are you going to tell me?" She asks turning to her daughter.

"It's nothing, mother." She mews, not meeting Ferncloud's eyes.

"Right, because siblings argue to the point where they're going to murder each other over nothing. You know you may be warriors but you are still my kits and I expect you both to be completely honest with me. Now I am going to go take a nap, and by the time I wake up you are going to tell me everything, understand?" She hisses, burning her kits with her angry stare. "I will be completely honest with you two; I have never been more ashamed of you in my life." She mews every syllable with a cold fury that I did not know she was capable of. She turns and stalks off, Dustpelt follows her fixing his kits with a glare that says the same as their mother's, I suppose he's too mad to speak.

"Now look what you've done." Icecloud mews wearily staring at the spot where her mother disappeared as she sinks to the ground.

"ME?" Foxleap mews incredulously. He lays down next to her, his eyes dull with shock. I know I can't fix this for him.

Suddenly he mews quietly, "Please just see sense, Icecloud." Wrong thing to say.

She jumps right up eyes flaring, and draws breath.