Chapter Eleven

"What are we going to do about Hollypaw and Lionpaw?" Brambleclaw was growling to Firestar. Jaypaw knew he wasn't supposed to hear, but he couldn't help it. And besides, they were speaking so loudly that he could hear it from all the way in the medicine cat den!

"We'll find them," Firestar reassured him.

"But it's been days now!" Brambleclaw snarled, his pelt bristling. "The rain has washed away their scent! I bet you that another Clan has captured them."

"We are not going to anger another Clan by guessing," Firestar told his deputy. Brambleclaw hissed and padded away to his mate, Squirrelflight. Jaypaw gave a shudder. What was going to happen to his siblings? Firestar didn't really seem to care…

"Hey," a cat mewed from behind him. Jaypaw turned his attention to the voice and drank in someone's scent—Cinderpaw. His mood changed, and he purred in greeting. "Mind if I sit with you?" Jaypaw shook his head and she happily sat down beside him.

"I'm getting better in battle training," Cinderpaw meowed to him. "And I think a bit better at memorizing some herbs." Jaypaw smiled.

"You may be the first cat to know all the battle moves and all of the herbs," Jaypaw assured her. Cinderpaw gave him an affectionate lick on the shoulder and wrapped her tail halfway around him. This sent a chill up his spine and he remembered his dream. Spottedleaf's words flooded into his head, and he looked down. I know it's against the Code… But Spottdelead told me to listen to my heart! Somewhat reluctantly, Jaypaw returned the gesture by twirling his tail with hers, and he could hear a soft purr come from Cinderpaw. I know it's wrong, Jaypaw thought, but it feels right.

Later on that day, when stars had already begun to come out, Leafpool asked Jaypaw to go and fetch some cobwebs. "Brightheart should know where to find a lot," Leafpool added, "so you can take her along with you." Leafpool padded out into the main clearing to search for the she-cat. When Leafpool came back, though, she wasn't with Brightheart.

"Hi," Cinderpaw mewed. Jaypaw's heart leapt.

"Brightheart went out on the night patrol," Leafpool informed him, "so Cinderpaw offered to go instead. Plus, she's getting better at battle training, so she can go with you." Jaypaw prodded the ground with his paws, as if anxious to get out.

"Okay then," he purred, trying to sound optimistic. "Should we get going now?"

"Yes, yes, right the way!" Leafpool said, and she shooed them out into the main clearing.

"You heard her," Cinderpaw mewed playfully. "C'mon!" She dashed out of the camp entrance, and Jaypaw followed behind her. She slowed her pace once they were a bit deeper in the forest, and led him through to find cobwebs.

"I think we should go to that burnt down Twoleg nest," Jaypaw suggested.

"That's where I was going," Cinderpaw purred. She walked a bit closer to him, almost so that their pelts touched, but Jaypaw noticed that there weren't any obstacles around. He tried to inch away a little, but then Cinderpaw said, "What are you doing? It's this way." Jaypaw, having no other choice, went back to his normal position. Spottedleaf's words haunted him. He even thought he smelled the old medicine cat's scent about him, but then sniffed again and it was gone. With a shiver, he continued on.

"What's the matter?" Cinderpaw asked, when they had almost reached the Twoleg nest.

"Nothing," he meowed. "Why?" Had he really been that obvious?

"I don't know…," Cinderpaw admitted. "You seem kinda down…" Stupid!

"No, I fine," Jaypaw reassured her.

"Are you sure?" Cinderpaw mewed, and he felt her gaze hot on his fur.

"Yea," he lied. Cinderpaw tried to press herself against his side, but he pulled away quickly.

"See! I told you something was wrong," she wailed, sadness flowing off her pelt in waves.

"I… it's…" Jaypaw stoped himself.

"It's me, isn't it?" Cinderpaw asked.

"No," Jaypaw meowed. "Actually… it's me. I just need a little space right now, that's all…"

"Alright," Cinderpaw sighed. "But, we're still friends, right?"

"Of course," he told her. Cinderpaw let out a faint purr, and Jaypaw felt her tail tip touch his, but then she took it back. Are you happy now, StarClan

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They went on the rest of the way silent, and gathered as much cobweb as they could carry. Then, they went back to the camp, unable to speak with the cobwebs in his mouth. Actually, Jaypaw was grateful, for he would be at a loss for words anyway.

Once they reached the camp, they headed straight to the medicine cat den. Cinderpaw dropped the cobwebs in a pile, and was off. With many thoughts buzzing around in his head, Jaypaw began to organize them, to reduce work for Leafpool. Where was she anyway? Jaypaw peaked his head out of the den and scented the air—Leafpool was speaking with Squirrelflight. Sitting down near the entrance, he listened.

"Leafpool!" Squirrelflight wailed. "What do I do?"

"I'm sure they will come around," Leafpool purred to her sister. Squirrelflight gave a sniffle.

"They've been gone for days now!" she continued. "What if something's happened to them?"

"StarClan haven't told me anything," Leafpool meowed. "I'm sure they're okay."

"Firestar won't even do anything about it!" her sister meowed, her voice cracking. "My kits are out there! Who knows what could have happened to them? The least he can do is sending out another patrol. Can you ask him to do that for me?"

"I will ask," Leafpool replied. "But tomorrow morning."

"Thank you so much," Squirrelflight whispered and she laid her head on her sister's shoulder. Sadness flowing through his body, Jaypaw went back into the medicine cat den. It was getting late, and the night patrol had been back when he and Cinderpaw had returned. He really should have gotten some sleep, but something was keeping him up.

Leafpool came into the den and sat down in her nest.

"Oh, thank you for putting the cobwebs away," she meowed to Jaypaw.

"No problem," he mumbled. Leafpool soon fell asleep, but Jaypaw lay awake in his nest, incapable of closing his eyes. Something tugged at his heart like an annoying kit who wouldn't give up, but he didn't know what. An image rested in the back of his mind, but it was still blurred, and he couldn't make it out. The same strange scent he had smelled before returned, except now he knew what it was—heather. Why, though?

It was well past midnight by now, and Jaypaw heard something rustle past the fern entrance of the den. He lifted his head, not caring if whoever—or whatever—it was saw him. Cinderpaw's scent drifted to his nose, and his stomach dropped. His neck fur bristled with anxiety, and he was afraid of what would happen if Leafpool woke up.

"Jaypaw…," Cinderpaw whispered.

"Go away," he hissed softly. "What if someone catches you?" Jaypaw was surprised that Cinderpaw didn't flinch, or seemed taken aback. Confusion drenched his body at this.

"Jaypaw," she repeated. "Just listen for a second, okay?" Shocked, Jaypaw was rooted to the ground. He had never heard her speak to him like that before. She came over to him and sat beside him in his nest, her fur brushed up against his. His ears got warm as she twined her tail with his and rested her head on his shoulder, as if forgetting what he had said earlier about his space.

"I…" She stopped with a shudder. Jaypaw began to lick her head, trying to soothe her, and she continued. "I know where Hollypaw and Lionpaw are."