A NEW ERA

NOTE: THE MORE REVIEWS I GET, THE FASTER/LONGER I UPDATE

Were back in ThunderClan! This chapter continues from chapter 1, when Jayfeather woke Leafpool up and she asked him what was the matter. (Phew! I finally killed all the leaders and deputies. Two long hours of continuous typing!) I'm still on my happy chibi streak (what has it been… a week already?) so I'm updating daily! (As long as there is no homework) I also didn't read Long Shadows (just a short summery) yet, but I plan to do so soon, so any character names/deaths/events relating to the story that I've gotten wrong, plz tell me. And btw, this chapter takes place at the same day when the RiverClan, ShadowClan, and WindClan leaders/deputies die. (as did ch 1, except before the sun rose) The same day, huh… co-inkydink? I don't think so!

~Crystal Cavern

Chapter 3: Preparing

"Before I tell you anything," Jayfeather said, "You must promise me that you will not butt in, run off, scream, wail, or attempt to change the subject while I speak. Wait for me to finish."

"I accept your offer, little Jaypaw," Leafpool said with a twinkle in her eye.

"I'm not little! And my name is Jayfeather! This is serious! Just listen to me!"

"All right, Jayfeather."

Leafpool listened as he poured out the whole story. Her happy expression changed to wonder and then horror. While Jayfeather was speaking, he sensed Leafpool's muscles begin to tense. By the end, her fear scent was so strong that Jayfeather was surprised that one cat could produce so much.

"What?!" Leafpool wailed. "You can't be serious!"

"Do you think I'm stupid?! Do you think I'm stupid enough to lie?! What would I gain?!" Jayfeather argued.

Leafpool looked at him with big eyes and sighed. "Nothing, I guess…" and she turned her face away from his gaze for just a moment.

Jayfeather was furious. Who did Leafpool think he was? Some kind of mangy, annoying apprentice? His anger started to fade. No. That couldn't be true. That couldn't be.

In the moment that Leafpool turned her head away, Jayfeather sighed. He dug through his mind, trying to figure out why Leafpool was sad, and not angry like he pictured her. Stupid! He thought. I should just dig inside her lousy head for the answers! Jayfeather dug and dug, but Leafpool's mind was foggy. Fog was everywhere. There was just more fog when dug even deeper. He couldn't see anything. There was nothing to see. Why are there so many layers of fog?! She has to be thinking something!

Normally, Jayfeather would have given up looking by now, but this time he was persistent. Nothing. He searched around for any color other then gray. Nothing. The fog moved and covered him up in layers. Nothing again. He waited for the fog to clear. Still nothing.

It was finally when Leafpool whipped her head around to face him did he finally see a faint gray outline… in the shape of a cat. Moving, running through the fog as if searching for something important to it, yearning for something he wanted and desired over everything else but could not grasp.

Leafpool suddenly straightened up, all the worry and sorrow gone from her face. She flicked his ear with the tip of her tail, and whispered in a sad, pitiful voice, "Thanks for telling me." Leafpool somberly walked out of the medicine cat's den. Only then did Jayfeather realize that his attempts at reading fog were futile because he was searching for colors, things to appear, and visions. It was the fog itself that was that was the real picture! Giddy that he finally solved the problem of reading Leafpool's mind (even though he didn't have enough time to see the whole story), he forgot about the tragic deaths of Firestar and Brambleclaw.

"Come on, Jayfeather. We didn't sit vigil for Brambleclaw and Firestar yet." Leafpool's voice brought back the memories, and he instantly tensed up.

He replied, "I'm coming." Way to kill a mood! He thought, bitterly.

Jayfeather walked into the center of the camp shocked to see all his clanmates, elders, queens, and kits included, sitting around the lifeless bodies of Brambleclaw and Firestar. Many comments were said wholeheartedly, all of them sad but honest.

"At first, I thought Firestar was a soft kittypet, but I was wrong. He was a wonderful leader." Longtail said. "Do you remember, Mousefur, the day when Rusty first came into ThunderClan camp, wearing that collar?"

"Yes, and he will be remembered for generations to come, if I can help it." Mousefur responded.

"Thank you, Firestar, for giving me a home." Millie murmured. "Graystripe and I both appreciate it."

"Me too, Firestar. My kits and I are only alive today because of your generosity." Daisy mumbled softly.

Brightheart snifled a wail. "Firestar, you are a true clan cat."

"Brambleclaw, I knew your hardships. I was once rejected too. It was because of my kittypet roots, and my mother, Princess, that everyone hated me. You were were turned down because of Tigerstar. We both have had some hard pasts, didn't we, buddy?" Cloudtail said.

Hollyleaf moaned quietly, almost to herself. "My father."

"Firestar, thank you for everything." Cinderheart's voice was firm, with a touch of sadness. "I feel as if I've known you for more then one lifetime. You too, Brambleclaw. You are a noble cat."

At this, Jayfeather felt Leafpool, who was standing beside him, stiffen up. She watched Jayfeather, her eyes boring into his pelt, pleading and hoping for him not to say anything reckless. Jayfeather got the warning, and held is tongue still.

The rays of the sun slowly emerged from the horizon and made shadows around the camp. Longtail and Mousefur turned, and watched it as it rose up into the sky, hiding Silverpelt.

Leafpool saw that as a sign, and said, "Longtail, Mousefur, please take Brambleclaw and Firestar somewhere to be buried. The rest of us will stay here and discuss. By that, I mean the whole clan. An apprentice will tell you the news once you get back."

The elders nodded and dragged Brambleclaw and Firestar away to be buried. The rest of the clan stayed with somber faces.

"Everyone, please listen up." Leafpool said, her voice ringing with authority. "I am not your leader, but I am your medicine cat. Right now, we need to discuss what to do." She turned around and leaped onto the Highledge. "Any objections?"

The camp was silent, all eyes and ears pricked, waiting for their temporary leader to continue. Once Leafpool was certain that she had gained their attention, she continued.

"First I need to get some things cleared up. StarClan did not show me any messages, but I will go to the Moonpool to confront them and demand for answers." Some cats gasped, and others muttered words of approval. "Secondly, I will have Jayfeather acting like the deputy while we are leaderless. He is wise and skilled, and I'm sure he will do a fine job." Her gaze drifted on to Jayfeather who was thrilled.

"I will serve to my utmost ability." This is just like being a Stoneteller's apprentice! He thought, slightly thrilled.

Hollyleaf gave him a sympathetic look. "Congrats." She meowed. Jayfeather gave her a grateful look.

Leafpool continued. "We will need patrols now. We can't let the other clans think we're weak. ShadowClan, especially, will try to steal as much as our territory as possible while we are in this state. Jayfeather will organize the border patrols. Sandstorm, you will organize the hunting patrols."

"Won't they try to drive us out?" Hazeltail challenged.

"No. I don't believe Blackstar's intensions are bad. He will want to gain land, yes, but he will not drive us out. That is my theory."

Satisfied, Hazeltail gave a curt nod, and sat down again.

"What about the gathering?" Berrynose asked. "What will we do when the other clans ask us about Firestar and Brambleclaw? Surely we can't lie to them."

"The gathering is in three sunrises. Hopefully, by that time, StarClan will have given me a message. They won't abandon us." Leafpool sounded surer then she felt, but she couldn't tell her clan that. It wasn't logical. A scared leader means a scared clan. "Now, any more questions?" The camp was silent, except for Briarkit.

"Mommy, I'm hungry." She said. Millie shushed her by sticking her tail n Briarkit's mouth.

"Ok. Get to work." And with that, she jumped of Highledge. When she got down, she sighed. Jayfeather and Sandstorm got right to work, just like she instructed. Soon, there were border patrols and hunting patrols scheaduled for the next three sunrises. Until the night of the gathering, she thought. "StarClan, help me." She went over to Squirelflight, her sister. "Watch Jayfeather, and make sure he's doing it right." Squirrelflight nodded, and left for a hunting patrol.

When Leafpool stepped in the medicine cat's den, Jayfeather said, "Leafpool, thanks for believing in me." Leafpool nodded, and went to prepare traveling herbs for herself. The guilt stabbed her like a thorn. Why did he have to make her feel guilty? But, it was rare for Jayfeather to be sympathetic, so she decided not to tell him of her betrayal to him.

She ate the herbs quickly, and left for her journey. Thornclaw was guarding the entrance. She stepped out, hesitated, and quickly returned to him.

"Tell Squirrelflight to be careful. Jayfeather might sense something. His sixth sense is sharp."

Thornclaw gave her a questing glance, but probably decided it was better not to question her command. It was probably medicine cat stuff anyway.

"I will." He said.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

Leafpool was climbing the rocks when a voice called behind her.

"Leafpool, what are you doing here?" Littlecloud asked.

Leafpool was surprised. What was Littlecloud doing here?

"Going to ask some questions." She hoped she didn't sound too desperate.

Littlecloud didn't seem bothered. His face was a mask. "Me too."

Then the two cats traveled alongside each other for the rest of the journey, in silence.

That was because they each didn't want to give the other the hint that their leader and deputy died. It was their secret, and their's only.

At the mouth of the cave there was a scent of a cat filled their nose. A familiar scent. A friend. The body of the she-cat lay near the Moonpool, with her nose touching water.