Chapter 42

"Thank you for sharing with me again, Gray," Jaysong meowed, getting to her paws. The hawk that Jaysong and Gray shared- althouh the golden brown warrior had made her eat more- had satisfied the ThunderClan cat's hunger. It was just a little earlier than sunhigh. Squirrelflight had gotten the Clan cats up at sunrise, giving them most of the day to say goodbye to their friends. Jaysong looked where Squirrelflight and Lionblaze were talking to Stormfur and Brook. Stormfur had gotten over his grief, accepting the fact that Graystripe had been a good warrior when he walked the Earth. Farther away from them, Turtlepaw was saying something to Cloud that the white to-be was obviously not agreeing to. Cloud gave another shake of his head and Turtlepaw walked over towards Squirrelflight and Lionblaze. Turning back to Gray, Jaysong mewed sadly, her gray eyes filled with grief, "Well, I guess this is goodbye."

"I guess it is, Jaysong," Gray murmured, touching his nose to Jaysong's ear. Gray's warm breath brushed against Jaysong's ear fur and the golden brown brown warrior gave his shoulder a brisk lick before turning away. Jaysong knew that if she sat with Gray any longer she would be thinking over her decision to return to the Clans. Jasong knew that whatever she felt for Gray, she couldn't stay with the Tribe. It wasn't her home. When Jaysong had taken a couple steps away, the golden brown warrior heard Gray call, "This won't be the last time we see each other, Jaysong. I can feel it in my heart. This isn't goodbye."

Turning back to Gray, Jaysong meowed, her sad voice a little harder with her teasing mew, "Can you see the future all of a sudden, Gray? I hope you are right, but this is the funny things about goodbyes. You never know when you will get another one." Turning away from Gray forever, Jaysong padded over so she was standing in between Squirrelflight and Lionblaze. Turning to Squirrelflight, Jaysong asked, "Are we leaving soon?" Squirrelflight nodded and padded over to Brook and gave the brown tabby a gentle lick on the ear. Turning to look at Brook's kits, Squirrelflight gave them all a lick in between the ears. Jaysong turned and saw Lionblaze brushing pelts with Stormfur. Giving the two Tribe cats a nod, Jaysong followed her clanmates as they headed towards the camp entrance.

Before leaving, Jaysong padded in between Wing and Crag, brushing her fur with theirs. They had become good friends; not as good as Gray, but still friends she would never forget. Jaysong even gave Talon a nod before leaving the Tribe camp forever. Padding after Squirrelflight, Jaysong was about to ask the ginger warrior a question, but a deeper voice called from behind them, "Squirrelflight! Squirrelflight! Wait!" It was Stormfur. The gray caveguard slowly picked his way over to them and it was then that Jaysong realized Stormfur was carrying someone. In Stormfur's jaws was his daughter, Featherkit.

"Stormfur, what are you doing here? And why do you have Featherkit?" Squirrelflight asked as Stormfur stepped in front of them, setting Featherkit on the ground. Holding Squirrelflight's green eyes with his amber gaze, Stormfur explained, "I have brought you Featherkit so that she can journey with you and become a warrior. If I had had a choice, I would have chosen for my kits to be raised in ThunderClan, but I must stay in the Tribe. I want my blood to carry out in the Clans especially now that Graystripe has gone to hunt with StarClan. Brook agrees with me. Featherkit, is our strongest kit so I have no doubt that she won't be able to make the journey to the Clans."

"Are you sure about this, Stormfur?" Lionblaze asked gently and when Stormfur nodded, the golden warrior flicked his tail to Jaysong to pick up Featherkit. Jaysong did as she was told and watched while Lionblaze added, "Then we will take Featherkit back with us to ThunderClan, if you are absolutely positive. Both Whitewing and Stripepool are expecting kits so they will have pleantly of milk to spare. I'm sure Firestar won't mind. He will be thrilled to have Graystripe's kin in ThunderClan. I'm also sure that Firestar will grant you unlimited access to see Featherkit whenever you want. You will always be welcome in ThunderClan."

"Thank you, Lionblaze. Goodbye Squirrelflight, Jaysong, Turtlepaw. May StarClan let you return home in peace," Stormfur meowed, surprising Jaysong. The golden brown warriror had learned from Gray that the Tribe believe in the Tribe of Endless Hunting. Seeing Jaysong's shocked eyes, Stormfur added, "Even though I live in the Tribe of Rushing Water, I will never forget my ancestors." Stormfur gave them each a fairwell nod and gave Featherkit a gentle lick in between the ears. "Goodbye Featherkit." Stormfur turned and raced back to camp, leaving his friends and his daughter.

*

"StarClan, help us!" A voice yowled in Jaysong's dream, causing the golden brown warrior's gray eyes to flutter open. Jaysong recognized the patrol's temporary camp at the foot of the mountains. Squirrelflight and Turtlepaw were curled up next to each other, Featherkit slept in between them. Lionblaze was closest to Jaysong, his whiskers twitching as he dreamed. It was then that Jaysong remembered her dream and recognized the cat who had yowled the plea: Stripepool.

Within seconds, Jaysong had everyone up and they were racing towards the ThunderClan border, wondering if there was trouble at home.