Lionblaze-ThunderClan

"What about his vision?" I heard Dustpelt demand in an angry tone. "How in the name of StarClan are we going to get the other Clans to believe us? Mistystar's probably willing to believe it, and Blackstar's head is full of crow feathers at the moment, but you know how Onestar is!"

Jayfeather muttered something inaudible, then, in a louder tone, he mewled, "Littlecloud performed his ceremony when I had to look after Fogpaw and Whitewing and Spiderleg and Rosepetal, but now even more cats have fallen ill. I'm sure it's the same in the other Clans. Besides, every Clan lost cats this past moon. They'll have to agree!"

"ShadowClan lost cats during a fox attack," Dustpelt argued, "and WindClan lost Heathertail during the skirmish."

The cats inside the den were quiet for a moment, and I noticed Dovewing staring at me, open-mouthed in curiosity. I pressed myself against the ledge and scooted into the shadows.

Bramblestar growled, "Lionblaze made a mistake. You'd think after he killed Russetfur, he'd have more sense than to kill every cat he took on!"

I flinched, sending a pebble rolling down the Highledge. I prayed to StarClan that Dustpelt and Bramblestar wouldn't pick up my scent. I could only just see part of Jayfeather's face, and one ear twitched to show he knew I was there. I breathed a sigh of relief.

Dustpelt had shifted his paws. "I did tell them to fight like rogues, after they killed Thrushpaw and attacked Heronfrost."

Bramblestar snarled, "Yes, another one of Lionblaze's mistakes, letting his apprentice running off with his inexperienced daughter! They both need punished! He still wasn't properly punished for murdering Russetfur!"

Jayfeather let out a hiss. "Bramblestar, he was trying to save Firestar's life. Lionblaze ordered his apprentice to stay in camp!"

Dustpelt added, "I told them to fight like rogues. WindClan is stirring up trouble. It's not Lionblaze." In a sharper tone, he added, "I don't think you would have said any of that when you thought he was your son!" Before Bramblestar could say anything, Jayfeather cut in, meowing, "What about Quietpaw's dream? StarClan came to him and sent him a message. A prophecy. It might save the Clans!"

Bramblestar snapped, "I'm leader here!" Then, in a quieter tone, so quiet I had to prick my ears, he mewed, "It said, what again?"

"'No cat can prepare themselves against the wrath of those who are coming, and they will come StarClan is powerless.'" Jayfeather sighed. "Hollyleaf and Mousefur came to tell Quietpaw."

I pressed myself against the ledge so that no one could see me. Bramblestar murmured, "If we send anyone, we'll send Leafpool, Foxleap, Lionblaze, and Ivypool." My heart quickened as I realized he'd picked three of the cats who had witnessed Toadstep's decision.

"Ivypool wrenched her shoulder hunting, and she's come down with a cough," Jayfeather pointed out. "I don't want her going. And Foxleap has been helping Rosepetal. She's even weaker than before, and I'm afraid that if he leaves, she'll die. As for Leafpool, it would help if someone went who knew about herbs."

Bramblestar didn't sound happy, but he meowed, "Fine. We'll send Lionblaze, Leafpool, Mousewhisker, and Heronfrost." No one objected, so he continued. "We need to talk to the other Clans. Jayfeather, you and Quietpaw will go visit the Clans in the next few days. Stay in RiverClan tonight before heading to ShadowClan."

"Bring a warrior," Dustpelt added.

Jayfeather mewed, "Fine. Lionblaze, Quietpaw, and I will head to WindClan now." The he hesitated. "I'll stay here to watch Whitewing, Ivypool, Fogpaw, and Bumblestripe. They all have either greencough or whitecough."

"Okay," Dustpelt agreed. "I'll go send out patrols."

I tensed as he slid down the Highledge, not even noticing me. I waited until he was gone before slipping around to the other side of camp and sliding behind a thicket that Brackenfur was using to expand the warriors' den. I tensed as Sprucefang remarked how sharp the brambles were. Millie snapped back at him before moving some branches.

I fought through the brambles, wincing as they raked my fur before finding my nest. Several cats were still sleeping. I passed them and found Jayfeather in the clearing.

"You have to take Quietpaw to the other Clans," he whispered, blind eyes wide.

"I know," I interrupted. "I heard everything."

He nodded shortly. "Take my apprentice to WindClan first."

I nodded, feeling a flutter of anxiety in my stomach. "I'll go get him." I slipped into the medicine den and saw the young black and white tom telling Amberbreeze to return to the warriors' den. The ginger she-cat nodded and raced outside.

"Quietpaw," I muttered to him, "Bramblestar wants us to go tell the other Clans about your dream."

He nodded, looking slightly worried. "Where are we going first?"

"WindClan," I answered. He tensed. I turned to him, my whiskers twitching. "What is it, Quietpaw?"

"They killed my brother," he whispered, eyes filled with grief. "I don't want to help them. That cat who killed him-Emberfoot-is the deputy now. And so what that Heathertail's dead? I don't feel any better."

I took a deep breath. "Quietpaw, I've lost lots of cats. My sister, Hollyleaf. My second litter all died because of greencough. Firestar died. I never knew my father well. I lost who I thought was my real father and my real mother. I lost my half-brother, even though I barely knew him and he hated me. Quietpaw, I killed Russetfur by mistake. Same with Heathertail. If Cinderheart was killed, killing the cat who did that to her wouldn't make it better. Quietpaw, we can never have them back." I stared at the young cat, willing him to understand.

He nodded. "I didn't see him in StarClan," he ventured. "Do you think that he might be….?"

I blinked. "Quietpaw, I believe that all the cats that are-or were-loyal to the Dark Forest are still there."

He nodded again, and we walked in silence. I halted at the border and waved my tail to Quietpaw, who sat down in the snow. I stared down at the stream through the ice, and I almost thought I could see Ashfur's body, the pale gray fur slicked back until it was almost black, his body lodged between two rocks. I squinted into the depths of the cold water, and gasped.

It wasn't Ashfur. It was Heathertail. I instantly twisted my head so I couldn't see the body of the cat I had once loved.

A WindClan patrol came by moments later, led by Sunstrike. She narrowed her eyes. "Why in the name of StarClan do you have the nerve to show your face around these parts?" she hissed, getting nose-to-nose with me. "You're not welcome here, Lionblaze."

"I can take you. I could rip you in half. It would be easy," I sneered, my claws digging into the ground. She let out a warning yowl, but Owlwhisker broke between us before either of us could attack. "Knock it off, Sunstrike. If Lionblaze is here, he should explain."

"We have a message for Onestar and Kestrelflight," Quietpaw broke in. "A sign from StarClan."

"Jayfeather should figure it out," Harespring retorted.

"He has," I snarled, my fur bristling in anticipation of a good fight. Sunstrike curled her lip. "You make me sick, Lionblaze. At every battle you fight, you kill someo-"

"Shut up, Sunstrike!" Weaselfur growled. "We'll take them to Onestar."

The moor was cold and windy. Snow started falling. Sunstrike occasionally let out a hiss, but Owlwhisker would shut her up.

We entered the camp. Owlwhisker led us to Onestar's den, and Kestrelflight soon joined. Owlwhisker quickly left.

"Lionblaze," Onestar meowed, not welcoming or hostile. "What are you doing here?"

"I have a message from Bramblestar and Jayfeather. Quietpaw has had a prophecy."

Kestrelflight looked suddenly eager. "Is this the one you asked Littlecloud and me about? My apprentice, Lostpaw, stayed here, but we know that we need a sign." Onestar twitched his ear.

"Mousefur and Hollyleaf told me that cats are coming against us, from the outside, and that StarClan is powerless. Bramblestar thinks it would be reasonable to send four cats from every Clan to look for threats outside of the territories. They would go united."

Onestar hesitated. "We do need a sign right now. And if there are threats…" The fur along his spine rose. "I am in, Lionblaze. You may tell Bramblestar I will send four warriors to the edge of my territory, where the cats left for the mountains."

I hesitated. "You could send them now. We're going to RiverClan and ShadowClan, also."

He hesitated. "Fine, I'll send Nightcloud, Emberfoot, Whitetail, and Weaselfur."

I dipped my head in acknowledgement. "ThunderClan thanks you," I mewed. "We will leave now."

He nodded. "I'll tell them." He left the den. I turned to Quietpaw, expecting to see his eyes happy, looking excited that we were progressing.

"Emberfoot is coming," he whispered. "And Nightcloud."

And I dreaded the moment I had to see them both face-to-face.