Chapter 27

"But taking a mate from another Clan is against the warrior code!" Rushpaw blurted out, her green eyes troubled. Jaysong flicked her ear in response, knowing many times she debated if taking Blackstar as a mate would be worth the wrath of StarClan. Surely something filled with so much love couldn't be wrong? If it had been wrong then surely Firestar would have banished her from the Clan. Jaysong had also walked with Jayfeather and Skywatcher and neither member of StarClan had shown any anger to her. As though Jaysong's thoughts had given her daughter an idea, Rushpaw continued, "The warrior code was set down by StarClan! They will be angry that it was broken!" Rushpaw's eyes flashed as though she was thinking of all the nursery tales in which warriors broke the ancient code set down by their ancestors: Brokenstar, Tigerstar, Darkstripe. All of those names lived on, but not for the deeds they should have.

"Relax, Rushpaw," Rabbitpaw meowed calmly and Jaysong wondered if her son was taking the truth about his father better than Rushpaw. Jaysong's warm happiness then turned to ice as Rabbitpaw continued, "Anyway, if StarClan was so angry then why didn't they do anything to stop it? Surely they knew what was going on! If you want my opinion, I saw that StarClan is just an old she-cat's tale that some old cat invented to force cats into obedience." Jaysong felt Blackstar let out a quiet gasp and the golden brown warrior couldn't help agreeing with him. How could Rabbitpaw not believe in StarClan? Jaysong then remembered that Rabbitpaw's mentor, Cloudtail, also did not share their beliefs in the warrior ancestors and the golden brown warrior wondered if the white tom was corrupting her son.

"How can you say such a thing, Rabbitpaw? StarClan watch over us and guide us when necessary! You see them every night in Silverpelt!" Rushpaw's voice was a rush of words as she tried to convince Rabbitpaw of the existance of StarClan. Jaysong flicked her tail, wondering if such a thing was possible. After all, Cloudtail's mate, Brightheart, believed in StarClan, but even her love couldn't convince the white warrior of the existance of their warrior ancestors. Blackstar padded forward and rested his tail on Rushpaw's shoulder, "Rushpaw is right, Rabbitpaw. StarClan guide and protect us. I actually like to think that it was StarClan that made me and your mother fall in love." Rushpaw's face displayed two emotions. Pride glittered in her green eyes at being praised by the ShadowClan leader, but Rushpaw also shrank away from Blackstar's touch.

Rabbitpaw shrugged and then meowed, "Even if StarClan does exist then that doesn't matter with what we were discussing. Blackstar, if you are really my father then I accept the truth." Rabbitpaw dipped his head to Blackstar while Jaysong blinked at her son, shock in her gray eyes. Catching Jaysong's eye, Rabbitpaw explained, "I should be honored to be the son of such a great Clan leader and a noble warrior." Jaysong purred and gave Rabbitpaw a lick between his ears. Jaysong could see Rabbitpaw rising to be leader of a Clan one day. All he had to do was start believing in StarClan.

"Does the rest of ThunderClan know?" Rushpaw asked, looking embarrassed as though she wasn't part of the family. Obviously she seemed awkward after saying that her parents broke the warrior code. Jaysong padded over to Rushpaw and rested her tail on her daughter's shoulder, purring, "Of course. Everyone, but Brackenpaw and the kits. I assume Firestar didn't want to bring up old problems." Rushpaw nodded, understanding the wisdom in Firestar's decision. Jaysong blinked, realizing that Rushpaw also had the possibility of being a good Clan leader. While Rabbitpaw could see the positive in any situation, Rushpaw was the thinker. Rushpaw understood the warrior code well and made decisions like a Clan leader.

Rabbitpaw suddenly flinched as though an idea entered his mind, "Is that why some of the Clan look at us funny? Like we don't belong there?" Jaysong knew Rabbitpaw was thinking of Bumblethroat and a few of the other younger warriors. Jaysong had caught them glaring at her kits, but if they dared meet her eyes would stare at them until they looked away. Jaysong dipped her head to Rabbitpaw and was surprised when her son, vowed, "Well, I don't care! I will become leader of a Clan one day!" Rabbitpaw then took off into the forest with Jaysong staring after him with troubled gray eyes. Rabbitpaw's ambition was a little scary for Jaysong, but she reminded herself that he was young. Another thought troubled Jaysong. Rabbitpaw had said, 'leader of a Clan one.' The black-and-white apprentice seemed like he was ready to become leader of any Clan. Jaysong felt her paws tremble; just like Tigerstar. The bloodthirsty cat had tried to become leader of ThunderClan, but when that failed ShadowClan welcomed him with open paws. Tigerstar had even attempted to be leader of TigerClan; the combination of ShadowClan and RiverClan. Jaysong glanced at Blackstar with new eyes suddenly remembering that he had been Tigerstar's deputy.

Rushpaw stared at where Rabbitpaw had stood seconds before and meowed, dipping her head to Blackstar, "It was a pleasure to meet you Blackstar. I hope I can see you at the next Gathering." Rushpaw nodded to Jaysong and the golden brown warrior watched her daughter disappear after Rabbitpaw. Turning to Blackstar, Jaysong gave his cheek a lick, mewing, "It was nice to see you again, Blackstar. I have wanted to meet with you again, but with Rabbitpaw, Rushpaw, and Brackenpaw, I've had my paws full. I hope that I can speak to you at the next Gathering as Rushpaw said before. Goodbye. I love you." Blackstar nodded and touched his nose to Jaysong's ear before the golden brown warrior raced after her kits, her friends, her home, her ThunderClan.