Chapter 34
"Okay, everyone calm down," Firestar yowled at the top of highledge, his flame-colored fur bursting into flames in the light of the setting sun. Jaysong kneaded the ground uncomfortably, trying to fight the growing anxiety that Rabbitpaw was hurt somewhere in ThunderClan territory. Feeling more and more annoyed at Firestar's idea to call a Clan meeting, Jaysong waited for him to ask which cats wanted to join the search patrols. There was nothing that would keep Jaysong from finding Rabbitpaw. Of course Jaysong wasn't counting on one cat who didn't agree with her. Jayfeather. In a voice that was full of pleas, Jayfeather begged, "Jaysong, you have tojoin the search patrol to go and find Hollyleaf. You have to! I'm the only one who knows where she is and you are the only one who can see me. I'll lead you to Hollyleaf and then you can find your son! Jaysong please! If the stars are true then Hollyleaf will- Jaysong you must find Hollyleaf!"
Jaysong nodded slightly and she felt Jayfeather breathe a sigh of relief. Jayfeather's cold breath ruffled Jaysong's fur and she shuddered quietly. Cloudtail- who was sitting beside Jaysong- gave the golden brown warrior a comforting lick on the ear and meowed, his voice reassuring, "Everything's going to be alright, Jaysong. We'll find them." Jaysong blinked gratefully at Cloudtail, but her gray eyes immediatly returned to Firestar. The flame-colored tom had waited until the Clan was gripped in a terrifying silence before finally ordering, his voice calm despite the situration, "We're going to need to send out search patrols! Who wants to lead the search for Hollyleaf?" Jaysong felt Jayfeather give her a silent nudge. Jaysong sighed before padding forward so she stood infront of Firestar.
"I would like to lead the patrol to find Hollyleaf, Firestar, if you'll let me. Maybe I'll find Rabbitpaw's scent, but I can't be in charge of his actual search. I'll wouldn't be any help at all." Jaysong lied, knowing that her paws itched to be finding Rabbitpaw instead of someone else finding her son. ThunderClan's leader blinked his green eyes in surprise, but he didn't even get a chance to meow a response for Lionblaze had risen to his paws, "I'd like to join the patrol if that's okay with you, Firestar. I also think that Jaysong and I should be the only cats in the patrol, if that's okay with you. Hollyleaf probably left ThunderClan to clear her head and it won't do any good if half a dozen of us drag her back to camp against her wishes. Jaysong and I should be enough."
Cloudtail then got to his paws and asked, "If Jaysong is leading the search to find Hollyleaf, I want to lead the search to find Rabbitpaw, if it's okay. Rabbitpaw was my apprentice and before he disappeared me and him got into a spat. I would never forgive myself if I didn't try as hard as I could to find him." Jaysong blinked in surprise. She knew that Cloudtail and Rabbitpaw had their arguments, but she didn't realize how much respect the white warrior held for his apprentice. Even though Cloudtail fought with Rabbitpaw- and who didn't fight with Cloudtail?- that didn't matter anymore in this time of panic. Rushpaw padded up to stand beside Cloudtail and meowed, her small voice quivering, "If it's okay with you Firestar then I would like to go with Cloudtail. Rabbitpaw is my brother. I have to find him."
Firestar nodded and mewed, "Okay so Jaysong will lead the patrol to find Hollyleaf with Lionblaze. Cloudtail you will lead the patrol to find Rabbitpaw with Thornclaw, Rushpaw, Bramblepaw, and Turtlepaw. I think that if more apprentices join the patrol then warriors, Rabbitpaw will come home that much easily. Okay now good luck to you all. May StarClan bring our cats back safely."
*
"Follow me!" Jaysong called back to Lionblaze, never once taking her eyes off of Jayfeather's gray tabby pelt. Jaysong sprinted through the forest, her paws gliding as though she was a bird. Jaysong never stopped to think that Jayfeather was leading them the wrong way because- even though the mud soaked up all her scent- the golden brown warrior found traces of Hollyleaf. There was no sign of Rabbitpaw though which worried Jaysong greatly. Flinging herself over a fallen log, Jaysong scrambled to the top and allowed Lionblaze to catch up, his sides heaving with exhaustion. Once Lionblaze had gotten to Jaysong's side, the three cats were off again: the dead StarClan cat leading the two living ThunderClan warriors. Seeing that Lionblaze was behind her again, Jaysong called, "This way!"
"But we're heading to the tunnels!" Lionblaze gasped, pushing his legs to move faster so that he was running beside Jaysong. Seeing the confused look on Jaysong's face, Lionblaze explained, his words coming out in rapid pants, "I- was friends- with a WindClan- apprentice, Heathertail. We played- in these tunnels for a- couple moons. They collapsed one night. How did you know these were- here?" Lionblaze finished his panting, his amber eyes staring at Jaysong. Deciding that since Lionblaze was honest with her, Jaysong would be honest with him, "I actually never knew about these tunnels. I'm following..." Jaysong's voice trailed off as she spotted a familiar shape only a couple tail lengths away. Jaysong meowed, "Lionblaze it's Hollyleaf!"
Lionblaze must have seen Hollyleaf because he yowled, "Hollyleaf! Hollyleaf! For StarClan's sake stop!" Hollyleaf turned around, her green eyes widening as she recognized Jaysong and Lionblaze. In a voice high with desperation, Hollyleaf meowed, "Jaysong, Lionblaze, what are you two doing out here!" Jaysong felt her tail flick in annoyance. Did Hollyleaf think they were out her for a pleasant moonlight stroll? Jaysong would be sleeping in the warriors' den beside her friends and family if Hollyleaf had just stayed in camp! Lionblaze must have felt the same way because he mewed cooly, "We could be asking you the same thing, Hollyleaf. What in StarClan's name are you doing? Don't you understand how much ThunderClan needs you!"
"Lionblaze listen. You too Jaysong. I have something to tell you." Hollyleaf paused and then admitted her greatest secret, "The night Ashfur died, I wasn't at the Gathering with the rest of you. I was stalking Ashfur! When he was alone, I killed him! I killed him in cold blood! And he wasn't the only one. I tried to kill Leafpool after the Gathering where I revealed everything about our parents, Lionblaze. I thought the Clans would be angry that the warrior code had been broken, but they had just praised me and said I did the right thing! I thought 'well foxdung to that!' If the Clans weren't going to help me then I was going to take matters into my own paws. Leafpool broke the warrior code so she must die! Jaysong stopped me, but that didn't stop the angry feelings I held to Leafpool. Now I realize my mistakes. I'm a murderer. I can't live with the Clans anymore!"
Lionblaze seemed stunned so Jaysong meowed, "Hollyleaf, I know about Ashfur. StarClan told me moons ago so that I would have that knowledge. I think they wanted me to have it for now so I could convince you not to leave the Clan! Hollyleaf, you belong here in ThunderClan! Cats have killed other cats since the dawn of time! Why do you think we have teeth and claws? Hollyleaf, please stay!" Hollyleaf looked ready to believe Jaysong, but then she shook her head, her green eyes fierce, "NO!" And with that Hollyleaf raced down towards a small rabbit hole that Jaysong took to be the tunnels. At the same time tumbling rocks were heard as was a loud screech. "HOLLYLEAF!" Jaysong, Lionblaze, and Jayfeather are yowled together, their voices blending in horror.
Jaysong closed her eyes, willing to be anywhere, but there. Jaysong could imagine Hollyleaf's broken body and at her side both Lionblaze and Jayfeather whispered, "Hollyleaf." Jaysong watched as Jayfeather's spirit slowly faded away wondering if that was the last time she would see the StarClan warrior. Jaysong closed her eyes again, hoping Cloudtail's patrol had had better news then they did.
