A New Era

Chapter 7! Whoo-hoo! Everything is going so Swoove! I'm excited. This is going to be a fun chapter! In this chapter, Jayfeather, Hollyleaf, and Lionblaze discover Squirrelflight and Sandstorm's secret! What is it? *drumroll* … I can't tell you! But didn't you find it odd that they (Sandstorm and Squirrelflight), who were so closely related to Firestar, didn't say anything at his vigil? Huh? Huh? I'm sure a lot of you missed that, but there are plenty more clues. You might want to reread the chapters! I'll give an example of a clue on the next chapter! Promise! (unless you don't want it)

~Crystal Cavern

Chapter 7: The Secret that Two Knew

Lionblaze just got back from the sun-high hunting patrol. He had caught a squirrel, two mice, a thrush, and a vole in less than ten minutes, so he was very happy with himself. I bet that even Sandstorm can't hunt as well as I can! Well, anyway, he was walking toward the fresh-kill pile to put in his catch, when he remembered that he forgot to collect his thrush. He quickly deposited the food and left toward the exit.

Hazeltail was guarding the entrance. "Where are you going, Lionblaze?" She questioned, her voice soft. "You just came back from hunting."

Lionblaze was about to yell at her when he remembered that this was a time of depression, and every cat needed to know where the other was going according to Jayfeather's orders. Lucky furball! He thought. Why did he get to be tempory clan leader?

Hazeltail's new made him realize that he didn't answer her question. "Are you ok, Lionblaze? Something bothering you?"

"No. Nothing. I'm just going to go get the rest of my catch."

"You caught more?" Hazeltail was surprised. "In such a short time?"

"Yah." And he stepped outside the camp.

The first thing he smelled was his own scent, mingled with everybody else's. He went back to the lakeside, which was roughly where he left his thrush. He was surprised when he caught the scent of Squirrelflight and Sandstorm. What are they doing here? They weren't on the hunting patrol! Lionblaze was curious of what they were doing. They couldn't have been on the border patrol. First reason; there were only them. Two cats are not enough for a patrol. Also, there was no clan by the lakeshore. ShadowClan was more west, and WindClan was more south. They were going the wrong way! Lionblaze was getting angrier by the second. There was work to be done back at the camp! Lazy cats! He thought.

As he padded on, he suddenly smelled Hollyleaf. So she met up with them! Figures, she's a she-cat after all.

As he tracked, the scent suddenly split. Squirrelflight went around a large tree, while Sandstorm went the other direction with Hollyleaf. Lionblaze hesitated. Which scent should he follow? He pondered for a while, and then finally chose Squirrelflight's path. It was closer to his thrush, and he could use that as an excuse if she ever found out that he was following her.

He tracked on. After a while, the scent grew fresher, and he walked slower, with caution. Lionblaze pricked up his ears. He heard nothing, so he continued. He put down his weight equally, as if stalking prey. His paw steps were so soft, that even he had trouble hearing them. Perfect.

After a few more steps, he heard Squirrelflight talking.

"Nobody knows we're here, Sandstorm." He heard a rustle. "I don't think we were being followed." Lionblaze's fur bristled. So they met up again!

He crept behind a bush.

This time it was Sandstorm's voice. "Are you sure, Squirrelflight?"

"Positive."

"Ok. I'm sorry I dragged you out here. It's just that…"

Lionblaze tensed, and made the bush crackle. Oops.

Sandstorm's voice came out. "Who's there?"

Lionblaze reluctantly stepped out. He was surprised to see Hollyleaf opposite of him. Squirrelflight's temper flared.

"Why are you two here? Were you following us?"

Lionblaze was taken back. "I-I thought Hollyleaf was with you!"

Hollyleaf shook her head. "I was following them, same as you, it seems."

Squirrelflight seemed desperate. "Leave us immeadiately!"

Hollyleaf responded, "Not so fast, Mother!" Lionblaze thought, Which is not you! "Lionblaze and I need an explanation. What were you two going to discuss?"

"That's none of your business!" Sandstorm snapped.

Jayfeather stepped out from behind a large tree trunk. "I think it is now." He said.

"Jayfeather?" we all exclaimed, at the same time.

"That's my name, don't wear it out," he said bitterly. We must have offended him somehow.

"What are you all doing here?" Squirrelflight asked. "Was this planned or something?"

Or something, Lionblaze thought.

"Before we were so rudely interrupted," Hollyleaf said, "I'm pretty sure that you two were going to tell us something." Hollyleaf's stare was cold.

"We made no such promise!" Squirrelflight retorted.

"Either way," Jayfeather said, "Squirrelflight, Sandstorm, why don't you share with us what you were about to say?"

Sandstorm nodded. Squirrelflight looked at her. "You're not serious, Sandstorm, are you?" she asked.

Sandstorm replied, "We've been found out. We should just surrender."

Wise choice. I'm sure you don't want to face my wrath! Lionblaze thought.

Squirrelflight sighed. "Fine, but who else is with you? ThunderClan can't know!"

Jayfeather padded up to her and sat down. "Nobody. Just us three."

Lionblaze and Hollyleaf sat down to listen too.

Squirrelflight started. "The night Firestar died, I was there. Like Hollyleaf, I had rubbed myself in the fresh-kill pile."

"How did you know that?!" Hollyleaf blurted out. "The only ones I told were Jayfeather and Lionblaze!"

Squirrelflight calmly answered, "I was inside Firestar's den when you checked on him. When I heard you coming, I slunk into the darkest corner and waited. When you left, I came out, inspected him, and left to tell Sandstorm."

So that's why Hollyleaf didn't notice. They smelled the same, so she thought the scent came from her when it was really form Squirrelflight! Lionblaze was pleased at himself for the second time today. This time, for solving part of the mystery.

Jayfeather interrupted. "Wait. What were you doing in there when Hollyleaf went in? Start from the beginning."

"As you wish. I was checking on Firestar, because the day before that, he seemed ill. He had hinted to me that he was going to die, and I wasn't sure if he was serious or not. So, I went to check on him when he was sleeping. To my horror, he was already dead. His body was cold." Squirrelflight looked at her paws. "I then went to the dirt-place. I made sure the scent was on me, and went back to the warrior's den; I thought my story was pretty normal. It wasn't suspicious. I knew I should have told you or Leafpool, but Hollyleaf had already warned you. When you came in and took Hollyleaf and Lionblaze with you, I told Sandstorm. We waited for you to make a move."

Sandstorm carried on. "And you did. We sat for the vigil, but we were surprised to find that Brambleclaw was dead too. You know the rest. Can we go now?"

"No." Lionblaze said. "You told us the story, but you didn't tell us what you were going to discuss."

Sandstorm sighed. "Looks like you caught that, Lionblaze. I'm impressed." She purred. Lionblaze nodded, and quickly licked his chest fur in embarrassment.

"While I was on the dawn patrol this morning, I split up with the group. I had caught RiverClan scent on ThunderClan territory. At first I thought it was the tunnels, but I remembered that you sealed that off. I knew it was a single warrior, so I left to find her. Guess what? It was Willowshine. She came to pass on a message. She said that it was urgent, but I didn't want her to know about our weakness, and turned her down. She said she was coming back tomorrow, and I agreed."

Jayfeather nodded. He knew that Willowshine was probably coming to ask for help. After all, Leopardstar and Mistyfoot had died.

Squirrelflight nodded. "That was all?"

"Yes, Squirrelflight." Sandstorm said. Her gaze traveled over to Hollyleaf, Lionblaze, and Jayfeather. "Now what would you three be doing here. I want the truth."

Lionblaze was the first to explain that he had fresh kill. Hollyleaf said that she was on sun-high patrol. "Remember?" Hollyleaf asked. "You wanted extra patrols, Sandstorm."

Sandstorm nodded. "I do."

Jayfeather stared in the general direction of the cats. "I'm now going to tell you something I wasn't planning to, but it seems that it is necessary." He spilled out his dream, and his conversation with Firestar, except for the other clans' weaknesses. Lastly he told them about Scourge.

His clanmates gasped, and Squirrelflight's mew rang out. "What?" she yowled. "Why would that little-! If I could get my claws on him I'd rip him apart and feed is insides to crows!"

Sandstorm was calmer. "Where is he now?" She asked.

"Somewhere in ShadowClan, it seems." Jayfeather answered.

Sandstorm nodded. Jayfeather continued. "StarClan, and, if the other medicine cats can convince their clans, then they will help us too. I have not received direct instructions yet, but when I do, that kittypet will wish he'd never been born!"

I wonder if Tigerstar and Hawkfrost know. Lionblaze thought.

The sun was setting. Finally someone noticed. "We'd better get going." Sandstorm said. "I'll make an excuse on they way. Play along."

Jayfeather nodded. "Leafpool has probably returned. I'll tell her that you all know."

And with that, the five cats went back to camp.