Chapter 37
"I still can't believe Graystripe is really dead," Jaysong heard Squirrelflight whisper to Lionblaze as the three cats nestled down to sleep for the night. Jaysong and the others had made good progress, camping out on the border of RiverClan territory to the unknown territory that lay before the mountains. Lionblaze had wondered what would happen if a RiverClan patrol found them, but Squirrelflight promised that Mistystar would understand. Angling her ears towards her clanmates, Jaysong listened as Squirrelflight carried on, "I mean when I was an apprentice, he was captured by twolegs. We thought that was the end of him, but then he came back to us. I almost want to hope that he will come back to us again."
"Graystripe will come back to us," Lionblaze hissed, kneading his paws on the ground as he spoke, "He has only gone to join StarClan as all Clan cats will do one day. We will walk with him one day just like he did when he was alive." Jaysong was surprised. She hadn't known that Lionblaze admired Graystripe so much. Jaysongfelt her throat tighten in grief as she realized everyone had admired the courageous gray warrior who was a friend to all. You barely had to know Graystripe to like him. Jaysong suddenly understood Firestar and Lionblaze's grief that Graystripe really was gone for good.
"I never thought that a simple thing such as a stomach ache could kill a great warrior like Graystripe," Squirrelflight meowed sadly and Jaysong heard Lionblaze's tail flick the ginger warrior on the ear. Seconds later Lionblaze mewed, "It wasn't just a stomach ache though remember? Leafpool said he ate something probably poisoned by twolegs. There was no herb in the world that could have saved Graystripe. At least, Leafpool was able to calm the Clan down when everyone thought the twolegs were trying to kill us off again. I don't think any cat in any of the Clans wants another Great Journey."
Squirrelflight sighed and Jaysong heard her former mentor drift off into sleep. Lionblaze's snores too filled the eerie night time sky. Jaysong closed her eyes, willing sleep to come, when an odd sound disrupted her attempt. Leaping to her paws, a scent that Jaysong had smelled before stained the crisp leaf-fall air. Fox! "Everyone wake up!" Jaysong yowled, prodding Squirrelflight and Lionblaze in their sides. Both warriors rolled over and Jaysong explained rapidly, "There's a fox somewhere out here! Everyone get up! We have to move!" Squirrelflight nodded, but Lionblaze got up more slowly. Impatient, Jaysong grabbed Lionblaze by the scruff and heaved the older warrior to his paws.
"Jaysong, Lionblaze, run!" Squirrelflight screeched and Jaysong felt strong teeth bury themselves into her scruff. Letting go of Lionblaze in shock, the lakeside suddenly began to spin as whoever was holding Jaysong shook her like a piece of prey. Squirrelflight snarled and launched herself at the fox, making it let go of Jaysong. The golden brown warrior barely touched the ground before she was flying back at the fox. Jaysong landed on the fox's back and raked he claws along it's pointed ears, growling and spitting the whole time. The fox whirled around snapping at Jaysong and the golden brown warrior jumped off in terror.
Looking at her surroundings, Jaysong noticed that Squirrelflight was laying near a bunch of ferns while Lionblaze stood over her. The only thing standing in between the fox and Squirrelflight was Lionblaze. The fox snapped at Lionblaze, but before it could even hurt the golden warrior, a blur crashed into it's side. The new cat was a small tortoiseshell with green eyes that glinted as she raked her claws down the fox's muzzle. Jaysong was so shocked by the new cat's arrival that she didn't realize that she knew the small apprentice. Nor did she recognize her scent which was the same as hers. ThunderClan.
"Are you going to stand there watching all night? Help!" The cat spat at Jaysong and it was then that the golden brown warrior knew who the cat was. Jaysong lunged forward, Squirrelflight and Lionblaze doing the same a couple mouselengths away. Jaysong raked her claws along the fox's face while Squirrelflight hung on to it's thin shoulder. The ThunderClan cat was on the fox's back and Jaysong watched as Lionblaze snapped at the it's foot. Howling in defeat, the fox turned tail and ran back onto RiverClan territory. Jaysong watched as Squirrelflight chased it, stopping only at the RiverClan border.
"What in StarClan's name do you think you are doing here?" Lionblaze snarled at the ThunderClan cat. "Following us was probably the most mousebrain think you could do! Brightheart and Icestorm are probably searching all over our territory for you! Honestly sometimes it's like you have the sense of a newborn kit! What am I going to do with you, Turtlepaw?" Turtlepaw lifted her head in defiance although her green eyes blinked in embarrassment at Lionblaze's words. Purring with sympathy, Jaysong padded over and rested her tail on Turtlepaw's shoulder, knowing exactly how the young tortoiseshell was feeling.
"I'm here because I want to go to the mountains with you! You think that following you was mousebrain? I had to avoid patrols from ThunderClan and WindClan and any rogues or loners! Anyway, you should be thanking me! I'm sure that without my help you, Squirrelflight, and Jaysong would have been killed by that fox! So instead of reprimanding me, you should be praising me, Lionblaze!" Turtlepaw growled, making Jaysong blink in surprise. Turtlepaw was always so polite to her parents and the other warriors of ThunderClan that Jaysong never knew the young tortoiseshell had a sharp tongue. Jaysong purred quietly as she realized Turtlepaw was just like Lionblaze.
"I think she should come, Lionblaze," Squirrelflight's mew made all three cats jump. Jaysong hadn't noticed that Squirrelflight had joined them once again. "For one thing, we don't have time to escort her back to camp and I'm sure Brightheart and Icestorm have guessed where she is going. All the apprentices I bet are dying to go to the mountains. Do you also remember that you were an apprentice when you went to the mountains the first time? If you think she wouldn't be able to cope than you are saying you didn't cope with your own journey." Squirrelflight finished and Turtlepaw blinked gratefully at the ginger warrior.
"Fine, but she's your responsibility, Squirrelflight," Lionblaze hissed before stalking away towards the small clump of ferns. Curling up into a tight ball, Lionblaze fell asleep. Squirrelflight too got settled and Jaysong flicked her tail over Turtlepaw's ear, showing her a spot where they both could sleep. With Turtlepaw sleeping beside her, Jaysong drifted off into sleep, thinking of her own two kits; one ThunderClan and one ShadowClan.
