Chapter 26

"And this is the Sky Oak," Sorreltail meowed to the apprentices, watching with amusement as the three cats' eyes widened in sight of the massive tree. It was the day after the naming ceremony and Jaysong, Cloudtail, and Sorreltail offered to dawn patrol so they could show the apprentices ThunderClan's territory. The scent of prey was thick in the greenleaf air, but Jaysong knew that leaf-fall was around the corner, bringing the first taste of leafbare. Jaysong stared at the group of cats; last leaf-bare wasn't too bad, but would this one bring sorrow to the Clans? "You will learn how to climb here."

"I'm going to climb to the top!" Rabbitpaw boasted, waving his tail as he spoke. Rabbitpaw was sitting on his haunches as he stared at the top of the tree with excited green eyes. Jaysong purred at Rabbitpaw's eagerness, but was surprised when Cloudtail snapped, "Oh no you won't! When you're at the top of the tree, you will regret it because you'll get stuck and won't be able to come down! A fall from a tree that size would cripple a cat as small as you!" Rabbitpaw glared at Cloudtail for a second before stalking over to Sorreltail who was showing Rushpaw how to look for prey. Jaysong was surprised at Cloudtail's feroicity, but then remembered that Cinderheart had fallen out of the Sky Oak. Cloudtail must not want that to happen again.

The group of cats padded on in silence until Brackenpaw hissed loudly, "Ew, what's that smell?" They were at the ShadowClan border and Brackenpaw was staring toward the dark pine forest, her nose twitching. Rabbitpaw and Rushpaw didn't say anything and from the looks on their face, they didn't think the ShadowClan border smelled as bad as Brackenpaw said. Jaysong stared at Cloudtail and Sorreltail surprised that both senior warriors were staring at her. Cloudtail's blue eyes held suspicion while Sorreltail had a flash of sympathy in her amber gaze. The two warriors were thinking of Blackstar!

Suddenly there was rustling up ahead and a ShadowClan patrol pushed their way out of the ferns. Oakfur was in the lead with the two new warriors, Tigerfur and Dawnclaw, flanking him. Jaysong's heart fluttered as she noticed that Blackstar was bringing up the rear. Blackstar's eyes were the only one that didn't show anger as he stared at the ThunderClan cats. Oakfur's eyes seemed annoyed that ThunderClan was so close to the border while Tigerfur and Dawnclaw looked at the ThunderClan cats with absolute loathing. Ordering his cats to keep silent, Blackstar meowed, "Greetings Cloudtail." Jaysong wondered why Blackstar didn't address her, but then realized Cloudtail was the oldest warrior out of the group of cats.

"Blackstar." Cloudtail nodded curtly, his blue eyes hiding whatever emotions he might be feeling, "I heard about Russetfur. I trust you have found a replacement?" Jaysong peered closer, curiousity shining in her gray eyes. Who did Blackstar choose as deputy? Did he pick a cat who would bring strength to ShadowClan? Or a cat whose friendly with ThunderClan? Jaysong cast a swift glance at the apprentices, wondering if they knew Blackstar was there kin. Blackstar was Rabbitpaw and Rushpaw's father and Brackenpaw's uncle. Rushpaw and Brackenpaw glared at the ShadowClan cats while Rabbitpaw displayed no emotion.

"I have," Blackstar meowed, flicking his tail to Oakfur, "I have chosen Oakfur to succeed me as leader." Jaysong blinked in surprise. Oakfur had never shown open hostility to ThunderClan like Russetfur, but he hadn't been kind to them either. Oakfur was the cat who had started the border fight the night Jaysong became an apprentice. Oakfur didn't look smug like Jaysong had thought he was. More embarassed and Jaysong suddenly had no doubts about Oakfur's title of deputy. Maybe Oakfur would be a great leader when Blackstar... Jaysong paused. Jaysong didn't want to think about such grim topics yet.

"Congratulations," Cloudtail mewed stiffly. Blackstar's eyes then trailed over Rabbitpaw and Rushpaw before stopping at Jaysong. In a voice that barely considered his love, Blackstar asked curiously, "Are these your kits, Jaysong?" The golden brown warrior dipped her head in answer and Blackstar's eyes glowed, "They look bigh and strong." Cloudtail's eyes narrowed, but he ordered, "Sorreltail, let's show Brackenpaw the WindClan border. Jaysong, catch up with us later." Blinking at Jaysong, Cloudtail padded away, Sorreltail and Brackenpaw following. Brackenpaw kept shooting curious glances over her shoulder.

"Oakfur, take Tigerfur and Dawnclaw hunting. When I saw the freshkill pile this morning, I was most displeased." Oakfur bowed his head and gathered the cats with his long tail. Before they left, Dawnclaw sneered, "I don't know what Blackstar means about the ThunderClan apprentices looking big. They look like pieces of-" Before Dawnclaw could finish, Rabbitpaw snarled, "Do you want to say that to my face, mousedung?" Rabbitpaw looked like he wanted to continue, but Jaysong swept her tail across her son's mouth, anxious that he would say something else. Dawnclaw growled, but Oakfur nudged her forward and the cats disappeared.

"Sorry about Dawnclaw. She has Rowanclaw's tongue and Tawnypelt's spirit; I'm sure once she wises up, she will become a great warrior." Blackstar meowed, clearly embarrassed that one of his warrior's had made fun of his kit. Jaysong dipped her head and mewed, "I'm sure she will be. With you as a leader, ShadowClan will remain strong with strong warriors protecting your borders." Jaysong padded forward and touched her nose to Blackstar's, hearing her kits gasp behind her. Turning around, Jaysong saw Rabbitpaw staring at her with surprised green eyes while Rushpaw repeatly opened and closed her mouth.

"Mother, why are you being so kind to the ShadowClan leader? In the nursery, Ferncloud always said that ShadowClan cats were evil," Rushpaw choked out. Blackstar began to bristle, but Jaysong calmed him with a flick of her tail. In a gentle purr, Jaysong explained, "ShadowClan has spat out evil cats in the past, but that doesn't mean that all ShadowClan cats are evil. Tigerstar was born in ThunderClan and he was an evil cat, but that doesn't make Dustpelt or Sandstorm evil. Some ShadowClan cats are good and Blackstar is one of them." Rushpaw still seemed in disbelief because she meowed, "How do you know?"

Jaysong sighed and mewed, "Because he is your father."