Chapter 45
Jaysong padded back to ThunderClan's camp, Rushleaf flanking her. After saying good luck to Oakfur and goodbye to Rabbitclaw, Jaysong had wanted to leave ShadowClan territory as soon as possible. There were too many memories there of cats who would never again walk the earth: Flowerpaw, Brackenfur, and Blackstar. Blackstar, Jaysong felt her legs quiver at the thought of her mate. Although Jaysong wanted nothing more than to curl up into a tight ball, she still had to act as ThunderClan's deputy. Jaysong also didn't want to show her sadness in front of Rushleaf who had lost a father.
"There she is!" Jaysong looked up and saw Bumblethroat pad over to her, Blossomwhisker, Foxfang, and Sandstorm with him. "What's the use of having a deputy if she's not going to be here?!" Bumblethroat kneaded at the ground impatiently and added, "Have you decided whose going to lead the dawn patrol? Or the lead the hunting parties today? Just because you had business in ShadowClan doesn't mean you can forget about us." Jaysong would have wanted nothing more than to swipe her claws over Bumblethroat's ear. What had happened to the two of them? They had been such good friends as apprentices.
"Bumblethroat, if you are so reeling to go then you can lead the dawn patrol," Jaysong ordered and then turned to Bumblethroat's sister, "Blossomwhisker, you can lead the hunting patrol."
"Do you think two hunting patrols should go out?" Blossomwhisker meowed quietly and Jaysong dipped her head to the brown warrior, "Good idea, Blossomwhisker. Foxfang, would you mind leading it?" Foxfang shook his head and disappeared into the warriors' den, emerging with Ashgaze and Cloudtail. Jaysong watched them go and was about to sigh in relief when Bumblethroat added, "What about the sunhigh patrol?"
"Sandstorm, would you mind leading it?" Seeing that her orders were being followed, Jaysong wanted to return to the warriors' den, but decided to check on Stripepool instead. Padding into the nursery, Jaysong was surprised to see Squirrelflight sharing tongues with Stripepool. "Hey everyone. Squirrelflight, shouldn't you be in the warriors' den? I would like you to lead the sunset patrol if you can."
To Jaysong's surprise, Squirrelflight shook her head and explained, "Actually, Jaysong, I'm moving into the nursery. I'm bearing Brambleclaw's kits." Jaysong blinked in shock. Every cat in the Clans knew that Squirrelflight hadn't bore Lionblaze and his littermates like she said she did. Jaysong murmured a congratulations and Squirrelflight dipped her head in thanks. Giving Stripepool a gentle lick on the ear, Jaysong asked, "Stripepool, how are you? Have you thought of any names for the kits?" Jaysong glanced down at Stripepool's latest litter: a white kit with brown paws and two gray-and-white kits.
Stripepool nodded and touched the smallest gray-and-white kit with her tail, "This is Heavykit. She's the only she-cat. Turtlepaw gave me the idea when she said how heavy my daughter was." Stripepool then touched the white kit with brown paws, "This is Brownpaw. He has Spiderleg's long legs of course, but I think he has the same frame as Brackenfur." Jaysong dipped her head while Stripepool touched the final gray-and-white kit, "And this is Moonkit."
"Wonderful names," Jaysong purred and was about to leave when Whitewing called her name, "Jaysong, I've forgotten. You haven't met my kits either." Jaysong padded over to where Whitewing was curled around three kits: two of them hers and Featherkit. "The gray kit is Dovekit and the brown-and-white tabby is Ivykit. Featherkit seems to be getting along nicely with them. How old is she?"
"Two moons," Jaysong meowed and Whitewing purred, "Oh so only a moon older than Dovekit and Ivykit. That means that they will be apprentices together." Whitewing's purr stoped and she mewed sadly, "Oh Featherkit looks so much like Graystripe. I feel in my heart that she will be just as good as a warrior."
Not wanting to discuss Graystripe anymore, Jaysong murmured her goodbyes and padded out of the nursery. Crossing over towards the warriors' den, Jaysong pushed herself inside and settled down in her usual nest. Within seconds, Jaysong was asleep.
*
The moon was bright in the sky, staining the stone hollow silver with her light. The rain from sunhigh had not yet dried and its drops sparkled in the night, making the camp look as though a dozen stars were scattered on the Earth. The serene air of the earlier fiasco of Clan life was well deserved and as the breeze blew the calmness of the night around the lake, silence settled upon the world, comforting it like a mother does her kit.
Jaysong looked around, admiring the silence, but also trying to remember if she was awake or asleep. Suddenly the silence was broken by Firestar who padded out of his den, green eyes troubled by something. Jaysong opened her mouth to call out a greeting, but couldn't say anything. Firestar's flame-colored pelt was bristling with horror as though he was remembering something. Firestar yawned and then Jaysong tasted the sweet greenleaf air. It was leafbare when she had fallen asleep!
The sound of footsteps brought Jaysong and Firestar's attention to Leafpool. Leafpool's amber eyes found Firestar and she padded towards him, her paws light on the ground. Sitting next to Firestar, Leafpool brushed her light brown fur against his, but Jaysong somehow knew that Firestar wanted Leafpool to say something.
"How is Stripekit?" Firestar finally asked. Jaysong blinked in shock; they were talking about Stripepool, but how- then suddenly Jaysong realized that she was dreaming. StarClan must have sent her a vision, but of what?!
"Her wounds are many, but they are not deep. She is young and will recover quickly." The Leafpool answered and Jaysong realized this was the night Stripepool had almost died so many moons ago.
"You are a truly gifted medicine cat, Leafpool. I'm sure that without your skills, Stripekit would have been lost." Leafpool nodded, her amber eyes looking at the stars above. Firestar followed her gaze and asked gently, "Are you seeking out answers from StarClan?"
"In a way, Firestar," Leafpool paused and admitted, "I'm actually thinking about Jayfeather and wondering why he hasn't been in my dreams since his death." Leafpool paused again and then turned her amber eyes on Firestar, worry swimming in them like fish in a stream. "Do you think he blames me for his death? After all, I was the mentor and he was the apprentice. I can't help, but think that StarClan planned for me to die in the greencough epidemic."
"Leafpool," Firestar hissed sharply, "Don't you ever blame yourself for Jayfeather's death. He died saving his Clan from the sickness that claimed the lives of cats in other Clans. You used everything, but the power of StarClan to save Jayfeather's life and that's all he would have ever wanted. That's all I would have expected from one of my warriors."
"I guess so," Leafpool sighed and then added, "When I don't think about his death, though, I can't help, but think of his words."
"The prophecy?" Firestar asked.
"'The strongest of two will save the Clan.'" Leafpool recited, causing Jaysong to practically choke on air. Was Jaysong about to learn about the prophecy that had long haunted her footsteps?
"Do you think it might mean Stripekit?" Firestar suggested, causing Jaysong to deflate. Why was she getting this prophecy told to her if it was about Stripepool? "After all, she survived running off the edge of the hollow when grown warriors have joined StarClan because of our camp. She is also a pair of two."
"Yes, but what about Jaykit," Leafpool countered, making Jaysong fill with hope. Leafpool believed that it was her the prophecy was about. "We don't know if she is the strongest, but I think it might be Stripekit. The prophecy defiantly circles around one of the two kits, though." Jaysong's hope was crashed down as Leafpool thought it was Stripepool.
"Then we agree?" Firestar asked and Jaysong blinked rapidly. Both cats suspected Stripepool of being the chosen cat?!
"For now." Leafpool said with a nod and then with a respectful dip of the head to Firestar, disappeared back into her den, taking the dream away from Jaysong.
