Chapter 23
"ShadowClan are attacking!" A voice squealed and Jaysong pushed out of the nursery in alarm before spotting Rushkit and Brackenkit wrestling with Rabbitkit. Glancing around camp, Jaysong noticed that she was not the only cat to be fooled by the kits' game. Bumblethroat's fur was bristling, but when he noticed it was the kits that raised the alarm, stalked over towards the fresh kill pile. Foxfang and Dustpelt were shooting glares at the kits, but didn't say anything.
"Get out of our camp, Brokenstar," Rushkit growled at Rabbitkit, swiping at her brother's ears playfully. Rabbitkit hissed and swiped his on paws near Rushkit's face, his green eyes gleaming with amusement. Rushkit retaliated by lunging at Rabbitkit, but her brother rolled neatly out of the way. Jaysong could already tell that Rabbitkit was going to be the best fighter while Rushkit- who had already gotten the hunter's crouch down- was going to be a terrific hunter. Just like their father, Jaysong thought to herself.
"Hey look its Tigerstar!" Brackenkit squealed and Rabbitkit and Rushkit turned to look at Bramblekit, who had just pushed his way out of the nursery. Every cat- including Icestorm- thought that Bramblekit looked exactly Brambleclaw, but Jaysong knew who the young kit really resembled. Bramblekit and his sister, Turtlekit, were tiny copies of Leafpool. Squirrelflight had commented on it to Jaysong when they were out of earshot.
"Get him!" Turtlekit growled, emerging from the nursery behind Bramblekit. Turtlekit lunged at Bramblekit and the other kits followed her lead, abandoning their battle against Brokenstar. Jaysong barely saw Bramblekit's brown pelt as he disappeared underneath the pile of kits. Jaysong heard rustling coming from the nursery and watched as Stripepool pushed her way out, her amber eyes glowing with affection as she watched Brackenkit climb onto Bramblekit's back.
"I still can't believe they are almost six moons old," Stripepool sighed and Jaysong couldn't agree more. Cloudtail padded over and began wrestling with the kits and as she watched them, Jaysong could almost believe her kits were still young. Firestar's scent suddenly drifted over and Jaysong turned to see her Clan leader padding towards her, his green eyes sparkling. Beyond him, Jaysong saw Sorreltail talking to Thornclaw. It pained her how much sadness there was in her mother's eyes.
"Jaysong, Stripepool," Firestar meowed and Jaysong dipped her head in greeting. Beside her, Stripepool was mimicking her gesture. "It's almost Rabbitkit, Rushkit, and Brackenkit's sixth moon and soon they will be apprenticed. I was wondering if you had any particular mentors you wanted for your kits. I know this is usually my job, but I'm curious if any cat stands out." Jaysong and Stripepool shared a surprised glance. They were to choose the mentors?
"Well, Rabbitkit's mentor would have to have a sharp tongue because StarClan knows that cat will hardly listen to anyone says," Jaysong tried to think of cat who would be able to mentor Rabbit and she found her eyes drifting towards Cloudtail's snowy pelt. Cloudtail certainly was experienced having just finished mentoring Cinderheart and he still had many moons before he would have to join the elders' den. Cloudtail was also known for his sharp tongue.
Firestar followed Jaysong's gaze and meowed, "I think Cloudtail will be a good mentor for Rabbitkit." There was a note of affection in Firestar's voice and with a jolt; Jaysong remembered that Cloudtail was Firestar's kin. Cloudtail's mother was Firestar's sister. Jaysong remembered hearing stories about her whenever the old forest was mentioned. "Now onto Rushkit. What about Bumblethroat? He's been a warrior for a couple of seasons now and he has earned a right to an apprentice."
"I'm sorry, Firestar, but I don't Bumblethroat is the best choice for Rushkit's mentor. To be honest, I was actually thinking Sorreltail. She has been distraught since the death of Brackenfur and I think having an apprentice to mentor might cheer her up. Especially if the cat is her own kin." Jaysong suggested, wondering if Firestar would approve to her choice. After all, it was Firestar decision in the end and he might think Bumblethroat would be a better mentor.
"I think Sorreltail would be a great choice. Sorreltail already helped mentor Foxfang when Squirrelflight went to the mountains so she knows what to expect." Firestar meowed, his ear flicking to where Foxfang sat, sharing tongues with Dustpelt. Firestar then turned to where Stripepool sat patiently and mewed, "Stripepool you have been unusually quiet for yourself. Do you have any cat in mind that should mentor Brackenkit?"
"Firestar, I was actually thinking of allowing Jaysong to mentor Brackenkit," Stripepool meowed and Jaysong blinked in surprise. Stripepool then continued, "Jaysong is a great warrior. Why shouldn't she have an apprentice? Or are you thinking of Blackstar?" Stripepool's neck fur began to bristle.
"Of course not," Firestar mewed politely, giving Stripepool's shoulder a friendly lick, "Jaysong would be a great mentor. Of course if you're not up for it?" Firestar turned to Jaysong, staring at her with teasing green eyes.
"Of course I am!" Jaysong growled gently, her fur bristling that any cat- even Firestar- should suggest that she wasn't ready to take on an apprentice. Jaysong's fur then lied flat and the golden brown queen turned to Stripepool, meowing, "I feel bad that you don't have an apprentice though. Maybe I should give you either Rabbitkit or Rushkit?"
"It's okay," Stripepool mewed, giving Jaysong a gentle lick, "Actually, I won't be returning to the warriors' den." Seeing the surprised looks on both Firestar and Jaysong's faces, Stripepool continued happily, "I'm expecting another litter of kits. Leafpool just told me this morning. I haven't even gotten a chance to tell Spiderleg."
"The nursery is going to be crowded," Firestar commented while Jaysong gave Stripepool a congratulating lick, "Birchfall told me that Whitewing is expecting kits again also." Jaysong felt uneasy at this news for some reason. Almost as if there was a destiny surrounding these unborn kits. Jaysong shook her head; she was no medicine cat. It was not her duty to know where the paws of some cats may lead.
Firestar than got to his paws and meowed, "Okay I'm going to talk with Cloudtail and Sorreltail. We'll have their naming ceremony tomorrow." Firestar nodded at the two she-cats and padded towards his den, flicking his tail to Cloudtail as he passed. Firestar then paused to talk to Sorreltail and the three cats bounded into his den.
"I'm going to take the kits into the nursery," Stripepool mewed with a yawn. "Are you coming?" Jaysong shook her head. There was something she had to do first. Stripepool padded over to the five kits and pushed them in the direction of the nursery. Brackenkit protested, but Stripepool flicked her ear and the six cats padded into the nursery.
Jaysong heard a cat padding up from behind her and turned, catching herself in the familiar green eyes of Applefrost. The brown tabby had received his full name the night before and to Jaysong, the timing was delayed. Applefrost had already proved him to be a fantastic medicine cat. "Hello Applefrost. How are you doing?"
"Fine, thank you," Applefrost meowed with a slight nod. "I have to take some cobwebs to Brambleclaw. Apparently the mousebrain scraped himself on the wall of his den." Applefrost flicked his tail to show he was kidding about Brambleclaw. Jaysong peered closer at Applefrost; there seemed to be something wrong with the brown tabby, but before she could identify it, her friend padded away.
Suddenly Squirrelflight padded through the entrance, Sandstorm and Ashpaw following her. Every cat had a piece of prey in their jaws. Mustering all her courage, Jaysong called loudly, "Squirrelflight, can I have a word?" There was something important that Jaysong needed to discuss with Squirrelflight. It was something that could not be put off.
Squirrelflight nodded and dropped her mouse on the fresh kill pile before padding up to Jaysong. Squirrelflight sat down and tucked her tail neatly around her paws. Green eyes sparkling with interest, Squirrelflight meowed, "What's up, Jaysong?" The golden brown queen stared at Squirrelflight wondering if she should say her next words.
"Squirrelflight," Jaysong's voice dropped into a low hush, making sure that no other cat heard her, "I know what happened the night Ashfur died all those moons ago. StarClan showed me everything." At least I think it was StarClan, Jaysong thought to herself silently. "I know that you killed Ashfur. I won't tell any cat, but I need to know."
Squirrelflight seemed shocked and Jaysong thought that her mentor was unable to speak. Then Squirrelflight meowed quietly, "But Jaysong, I didn't kill Ashfur. I saw that he wasn't with us when we were heading to the Gathering that night so I went back to find him. I never did so I returned to the island. Jaysong, I swear on ThunderClan, on my status as a warrior, on Brambleclaw, that I did not kill Ashfur."
To Jaysong's surprise, she believed Squirrelflight. "Then if you didn't, who did?" Rustling sounded nearby and Jaysong turned to see Hollyleaf padding out of the warriors' den, her green eyes bright. No, Jaysong gasped silent, her stomach feeling like she was going to be sick, Oh great StarClan, please tell me it's just a coincidence!
