Lionblaze and many other cats raised their heads as Onestar and two WindClan warriors padded into the camp led by Sorreltail, Cinderheart, Icestorm, Berrynose, and Ivypaw. The first thought that came to Lionblaze's mind was wonder on what the WindClan leader wanted with ThunderClan.
Berrynose rushed forward and up the rock tumble to Firestar's den. Within moments, he returned with Firestar right behind him.
"You have come to talk?" Firestar inquired.
"Yes, Firestar. I have come to talk privately, may we go to your den?" Onestar meowed.
"Very well," Firestar nodded and turned.
Together, the two leaders disappeared into Firestar's den. Lionblaze exchanged a glance with Foxleap, who he had been sharing a vole with.
"I wonder what Onestar wants to talk about," he meowed.
"Maybe Firestar will tell us," Foxleap suggested.
"It's possible, but no promises you know," Sandstorm padded up to them.
"I wasn't saying he would tell us, just that maybe he'll tell us," Foxleap shrugged.
Sandstorm trilled. "Young warriors, always curious," she purred and padded away.
Lionblaze stood up and stretched his back in a luxurious stretch. He padded over to the medicine cat's den and pushed in. Jayfeather was organizing a collection of herbs.
"A patrol's just brought Onestar to camp," he reported.
"I know. I could sense them coming into the camp," Jayfeather replied.
Lionblaze's ears twitched, it was strange how Jayfeather could sense anything happening anywhere in camp. Though his senses weren't as great as Dovepaw's, of course.
"I wonder what Onestar wanted to talk to Firestar about," he mewed casually.
"It's not my business to be probing minds for what the leaders are discussing," Jayfeather snorted.
"I wasn't asking you to prob Onestar's mind to find out what he wanted. I was just quoting," Lionblaze shrugged.
"Onestar did have a sense of emergency in his scent though," Jayfeather admitted.
"Really?"
"Something was bothering him. It could be possible that Hollyleaf's been to WindClan territory," Jayfeather lowered his voice.
"And what do we do if Hollyleaf has been there?" Lionblaze whispered.
"Follow Firestar's orders, for now. If things get too dangerous, then we'll get involved alone. But for now, follow Firestar's orders. He knows what's going on with us and Hollyleaf," Jayfeather reminded him.
Lionblaze bristled. "I know that! It's just that we can do so much without Firestar. We've gotten away with plenty without the word of Firestar," his tail twitched.
"Things are different, mouse brain. Firestar knows what we can do, he knows our powers. We aren't as free, Firestar's orders are going to be more important to us now. Just listen to him," Jayfeather spat.
Lionblaze sighed and turned to leave the den. Outside, Firestar and Onestar were just coming out of his den. Onestar jumped down to join the other WindClan members and nodded his thanks to Firestar. He signaled for his patrol to follow. Lionblaze watched the WindClan cats leave, the ThunderClan patrol that had brought them following close behind. He turned his head toward Firestar.
Sandstorm sat with her mate, their heads close together. He could tell they must be talking about whatever Onestar had come to tell Firestar.
"Lionblaze, why don't you take Dovepaw out and do some training?" Brambleclaw suggested.
Lionblaze jumped at Brambleclaw's sudden appearance, but nodded. "I will," he promised.
He padded over to where Dovepaw sat alone. She was finishing off a moouse.
"Come on, Dovepaw. Let's go out for some training," Lionblaze flicked his tail to beckon her.
"Not more training on my power?" she asked, anxious.
"Not this time. We'll practice tree climbing then go hunting," he promised, leading her out of camp.
It seemed that when he promised no training on her powers, she brightened up and trotted along beside him. He led her to a hollow that was perfect for training in climbing.
"Climb up this old oak as fast as you can," he instructed her.
Dovepaw nodded and started up the trunk of the tree. Lionblaze decided to take this time to look around and see if there was any prey to be seen. A loud screech made him turn around to see Dovepaw dangling with her front claws dug into the branch.
"Dovepaw!" he cried.
Dovepaw screeched and flailed her legs in midair. Lionblaze paced, mouth gaping. He was at a wordless yowl, fear pulsing through his pelt for Dovepaw.
"What happened?" he yowled once he'd found his voice.
"Bird!" Dovepaw yowled.
Mouse dung! There was a bird in that tree, she disturbed it! Lionblaze thought, continuing to pace.
"Help me!" Dovepaw wailed.
"Dovepaw, use your tail! Let go and twist to land on your feet!" Lionblaze called.
"I can't, I'm scared!" Dovepaw wailed.
There was a sound of rushing paws near-by. Lionblaze whirled around, neck fur standing up in anticipation of finding Hollyleaf. His claws slid out to scrape the dirt.
The paw sounds grew closer and before he had the change to strike, he found that it wasn't Hollyleaf. It was Cinderheart, and the gray she-cat rushed past him and up the tree. Lionblaze watched as she climbed without fear. She was a fast climber for one who had fallen from a tree as an apprentice.
The gray she-cat made her way along the branch to where Dovepaw hung and leaned down. She sank her teeth into the scruff of Dovepaw's neck.
Lionblaze paced, watching Cinderheart guide his apprentice back down the ground safely. Dovepaw flopped on the ground when she'd been safely led down. Lionblaze launched forward and crouched beside her.
"Are you okay?" he asked softly.
"I… was… scared…" she puffed, trying to catch her breath again.
"I'll get Jayfeather, she'll need something for shock," Cinderheart rushed off.
Lionblaze watched her. Something inside him was glad she remembered what was best for when you had the shock of nearly falling from a tree. She'd been only an apprentice when she'd fallen down the Sky Oak after guiding Mousewhisker, at the time Mousepaw, back to safety. He was just glad Dovepaw hadn't fallen.
After not too long of waiting, Cinderheart returned with his brother right behind her. Jayfeather pushed forward and trotted up to Dovepaw, laying a bunch of herbs next to her. Lionblaze watched Jayfeather work. After testing Dovepaw's heart beat, Jayfeather chewed up a bunch of herbs and started ushering the juices into Dovepaw's mouth. Dovepaw protested lightly.
Lionblaze stroked the apprentice's flank gently with his tail in a hope to settle her. Eventually her breathing became even.
"Let's get her back to camp, she needs to sleep," Jayfeather stood up. "Cinderheart, help Lionblaze carry Dovepaw home."
The gray she-cat nodded and Lionblaze and Cinderheart carried Dovepaw back to the hollow. Many cats watched them as they took the apprentice to Jayfeather's den. They settled her in a nest and Jayfeather shooed Cinderheart away. Once the she-cat was gone, Jayfeather turned to face Lionblaze. Lionblaze had to wince lightly as the cold blue sightless eyes fell on him.
"What happened?" Jayfeather asked calmly, none of the anger in his eyes reflected in his voice.
"Dovepaw was supposed to be climbing a tree. She disturbed a bird and it scared her. She nearly fell out of the tree," he explained.
"You need to be more careful! All three of us must survive. The prophecy will not be fulfilled right if one of us is injured or killed," Jayfeather hissed.
Lionblaze was taken aback. "It's not my fault!"
"Just be careful," Jayfeather snapped, his tail lashing.
LIonblaze sighed and turned to leave. He felt Jayfeather's eyes still on him as he pushed out of the den. He padded to the warriors den and pushed in, deciding he'd take a nap. He curled up in his bed and laid his tail across his nose, closing his eyes.