Oh yeah! 20th Chapter! haha Please keep reviewing! I have a special note at the bottom so please read! Thanks
-Echosong
Chapter Twenty: Jayfeather
Foxleap's just rushed out after Hollyleaf. When my sister stalked out, his bewilderment had smothered me. He really didn't know what he had done wrong. So either love made him a mouse-brain instead of blind (no pun intended) or he was already not the brightest kit in the litter. Because honestly, it was totally obvious why she was mad.
But maybe it's just obvious to me because I've always known everyone's emotions. Either way I have to get ready for Hollyleaf's kits, something's not right there, I can feel it. In the span of less than a day she has progressed at least three quarter-moons. It isn't natural; in fact I've never seen anything like it! Is this an omen? This is why I needed Leafpool longer, how the heck am I supposed to deal with something I've never seen that's also LIFE THREATINING? I mean this isn't just any ordinary patient, this is my sister! I have to take care of her and her kits!
I'm still brooding when I hear Icecloud come in.
"Are you all right?" I can hear the concern in her mew so I look up,
"Fine, you?"
"Yes, Foxleap and I just made up. You're lucky to have such loyal siblings you know. I can tell that they'll back you up no matter what." I nod absentmindedly.
Finally I mew, "What's the real reason you came?"
"How do you know that's not it?" She asks.
"You could have waited until we ate to tell me that, why come here now?" I point out.
"Is it not enough that I want to see you?" She's being stubborn now.
"Just tell me." I mew adding in my mind, I'll find out one way or another.
"Well I found out Hollyleaf's pregnant, actually the whole Clan found out, and I wanted to make sure she's okay." Icecloud mews sincerely causing me to flick my tail, should I confide in her? Isn't that what mates do?
"The thing is I don't know." I mew heavily, and at my words I immediately feel her shock.
"What do you mean you don't know? How can you not know?" She questions.
"She's too far along! She's progressed a moon in and she just found out, so she can't have been pregnant more than a quarter-moon and she is already a moon in and I have no idea why!" I mew, my fear exploding as the words come babbling out.
"That's terrible! Could this be some warning from StarClan? I mean who else has the power to do something like this?" A thrill of foreboding shoots through me at her words, who has been steadily and quietly gaining power? Who would it be just like to do something like this? The Dark Forest. No other option… but why? I mean what's the point of speeding up a pregnancy? Unless it's to throw me off, or harm the kits or Hollyleaf… Great StarClan what do I do?
"Jayfeather?" Icecloud's gentle mew breaks through my rush of confused thoughts,
"Yeah?" I ask.
"I'm sure everything will be okay, we just have to wait and see, and it'll all be fine. Why don't you take a break and we'll eat early today?" I sigh, she must really be worried if she's suggesting that we eat early, we normally eat when the others are asleep or the unlucky ones are patrolling so we don't have to feel their angry glares. But going now would mean walking outside at the time when everyone's eating. In other words not fun.
"Are you sure? I'm fine and we can wait." I mew gently and Icecloud's emotions harden.
"Yes I am absolutely sure! I'm sick of slinking around camp and hiding my face just because I fell in love! They're all just going to have to get over it! If Hollyleaf, Lionblaze, and Foxleap can live with us than the rest of them can live with us!" She declares heatedly.
"Okay, let's go eat." I mew quickly, slightly afraid that she's going to bite my head off.
The Clan is quieter than usual, some are talking and most of the conversation seems to be about Hollyleaf, they all sound excited. Most of them ignore us as we pass but one or two fall silent and I can hear a couple actually leave! Icecloud's anger next to me confirms my guess; we have some very rude Clanmates. We eat quickly and slip back into the den as fast as we can.
Once in the safety of solitude Icecloud mews, "So you were right, they aren't ready for us yet, but I don't care!"
I sit down next to her and lick her shoulder consolingly, "And you think I do?"
"No. Can I sleep here tonight? I can't bear to face any of them in the warriors den; everyone's moved their nests away from mine." She admits, her voice small and sad despite her certainty.
"Of course! You are always welcome here!" I mew in conviction. Icecloud nods and I feel that her worries are slightly assuaged, but they remain strong. She soon she curls up in my nest (I'm making a makeshift one for me) miserably trying to fall asleep. I want to comfort her, but it's hard to when I can't even comfort myself. So I tidy up the den and then sit staring at the wall and let unhelpful thoughts flick across my mind.
What if something goes wrong with Hollyleaf's kitting? It'll prove that you're an unfaithful medicine cat and there's no point in keeping you around. Worse, something bad will happen to Hollyleaf! What if you lose one of the kits? What if you lose all of the kits? What if you lose Hollyleaf? What if you lose Hollyleaf and the kits? Horror flashes through me but the haunting thoughts remain, what do I do?
I curl up in my makeshift nest and fall asleep. Characteristically StarClan appears before me, but it's not Bluestar, Yellowfang, Spottedleaf or even Feathertail who sits in front me.
It's Cinderpelt.
Yep that's right pelt.
"I assume you're wondering how I could be sitting in front of you?" She asks calmly.
"Well yeah! You're supposed to be inside Cinderheart! Where is she?" I exclaim.
"Asleep. You know when I sleep I remember who I once was, and I can walk freely through time. It's taken me a long time but I've been able to do it, I can walk in StarClan and summon cats. Particularly you."
"Why me?" I ask.
"Because you need reassuring. I don't know why Hollyleaf's strange symptoms have arisen but I do know that no matter what, you need to trust yourself and your instincts. If you start to do something filled with doubt and decide that you are certain that you will fail then you will fail. But if you hold your head high and think, 'I'm good! I know I can do this!' then you can succeed. You need to trust yourself and your instincts Jayfeather, they are exceptionally good. I should know, I never had them, but Yellowfang did, so I can recognize it. You need to relax, what is meant to happen will come to pass and there is little that you can do about it. But you can stop what is never meant to happen and protect the future, your future, and others. Good luck, I must return to Cinderheart now, and if you please, protect our secret, especially from your brother. He has quite enough to worry about without adding to it. Good-bye." She fades from view, her gray pelt looking like smoke. One last trace of her reassurance lingers then she is gone, and my dream ends.
Okay so Down A Dark Path is almost done :( Yeah well it's okay because I'm already working on the second fanfic in the series! Yay! (btw don't worry, this series is so not close to being done) But there is a huge problem. Summer Vacation is almost here and I doubt we would get any work, if any done. I'm going to try my best but please try and be patient! We love you guys and thanks for reading. Midnightstar is trying to get D.A.D.P done before summer/ the last day of school so it won't be a problem for her. Thanks for reading!
-Echosong