Chapter 55

Life in ThunderClan was going well. Brownpaw's tail was severed beyond repair, but he had resumed his warrior training under Hazeltail's protective eyes. Berrynose often offered suggestions for Brownpaw's training since both cats had, but stumps for tails. The rest of the apprentices' training were going well and Jaysong knew that Featherpaw, Dovepaw, and Ivypaw were almost ready to become warriors. Jaysong had begun talking to Dovepaw often, trying to unravel the mystery as to why StarClan had sent a message to the gray apprentice. Mousefur and Longtail had welcomed Purdy into their den with open paws while the nursery had gained two nursing queens. Stripepool was expecting Spiderleg's third litter of kits while Rushleaf was going to bear Brambleheart's children. Although newleaf didn't solve all the problems.

Bumblethroat had made it his life's ambition to loathe Jaysong and while the golden brown warrior was trying to ignore the gray warrior, it was hard to. Rosestripe too had been causing problems for Jaysong, slacking on her responsibility as Heavypaw's mentor. Jaysong knew that Rosestripe didn't even care if Heavypaw became a warrior because the two of them shared Spiderleg's blood. Jaysong at first thought that it had been Daisy who had been putting Rosestripe up to hate her kin until Daisy announced that she was expecting Thornclaw's kits. Icestorm too wasn't really paying attention to her duties as a warrior since she was still fighting with Lionblaze. Jaysong had done all she could to help her friends, but suspected this was a battle they would have to fight own their own. Jaysong was also worried about Brokenpaw, but that was second in her mind compared to the dogs. There had been dog scent near the WindClan border and Jaysong predicted that storm was coming. She just didn't know when it would hit.

"Help dogs!" A voice screeched and Jaysong looked up from her position underneath Highledge. Squirrelflight, Sandstorm, and Sorreltail- the dawn patrol- raced through the camp entrance, flanked by the WindClan warrior Autumntail. It was Autumntail who had spoken and as Firestar raced out of his den, pleaded to the ThunderClan leader, "Dozens of them appeared out of no where! I was out hunting when I saw the whole thing! I knew I wouldn't be much help without reinforcements so I ran here to plead for you to help us! Without ThunderClan, WindClan may be wiped out. You must help us!"

"Autumntail, ThunderClan will of course help you," Firestar meowed from his place on top of Highledge and then his green eyes swept across his warriors, "Squirrelflight, Sandstorm, Sorreltail, Lionblaze, and Cinderheart. You will come to WindClan territory with me. Cinderheart, is Avalanchepaw ready to fight?" Cinderheart nodded, her blue eyes locking with Avalanchepaw's gaze. "Then he will join us. Jaysong, can I trust you to keep ThunderClan safe? There might be more dogs out there." Jaysong nodded, knowing that she would do more help by staying at the camp instead of going to fight.

Jaysong watched Firestar lead his warriors and Autumntail towards WindClan territory and then felt unsure what to do. This was ThunderClan's first real crisis with Jaysong as deputy. Leaping onto Highledge, Jaysong gathered her clanmates together with a sweep of her long tail. In a voice that was strong despite Jaysong's fears, the golden brown deputy yowled, "Tonight, Firestar leads ThunderClan warriors to help WindClan against this threat. We don't know if they will come out victorious so we need to be prepared incase the dogs come here. Featherpaw, Ivypaw, will you two stand guard outside our camp entrance?" Featherpaw and Ivypaw both nodded, their eyes shining with courage as they thought about the dogs. Heavypaw, Moonpaw will the two of you guard the other entrance? Just climb over the rocks. I doubt the dogs will come in that way, but we must be prepared for anything." Heavypaw and Moonpaw nodded before scrambling away. Looking at her remaining warriors, Jaysong commanded, "I want the rest of you to eat and rest, but don't fall into a deep sleep. If the dogs make it this far, I want every cat ready to fight."

Jaysong watched as every cat followed her orders, suddenly realizing what would happen if she succeeded Firestar as leader of ThunderClan. Jaysong didn't want to sound so ambitious, but she liked the idea of Jaystar. Jaysong padded around the camp, checking the dens to make sure every cat was safe. As she approached the apprentices' den to check on them, Jaysong heard Dovepaw give a loud squeak of terror. Racing into the den, Jaysong saw that Dovepaw was the only cat awake, her eyes stretched in a look that Jaysong had seen before. Some cat was in trouble. "Who is it, Dovepaw?"

"There are more dogs than Autumntail had thought; the cats are outnumbed. Jaysong, we must send reinforcements to aid the WindClan warriors as well as our own clanmates." Dovepaw's voice was a pleading meow for Jaysong to agree with her. Nodding, Jaysong meowed, "Okay, you and I will go to WindClan territory with a couple more warriors to help them. Hopefully we aren't too late." Jaysong raced out of the apprentices' den and practically crashed into Bumblethroat, Blossomwhisker, and Foxfang who were hovering outside the den. Using her most commanding voice, Jaysong mewed, "Dovepaw and I are going to help Firestar and everyone else. We are going to need more warriors and I want you three to come." The three warriors glanced at each other before nodding.

The five cats raced through ThunderClan territory, not even answering Featherpaw and Ivypaw's alarmed meows. They crossed the WindClan border and what they saw shocked them. There were over a dozen dogs running up and down the moors, chasing the shrieking ThunderClan and WindClan warriors. Firestar, Sandstorm, and Crowfeather were fighting one dog while Sorreltail was being chased by another dog. Jaysong tensed her muscles to spring, but the WindClan warriors were quickers. Autumntail and Sunface came to Sorreltail's aid. Jaysong heard a screech and saw a dog grab Squirrelflight by her scruff. Jaysong sprang so that she landed on the dog's back while a dark brown tabby slashed at the dog's long paws. Soon the dog began running away with its tail tucked in between its legs. Squirrelflight was panting next to Autumnpaw- the dark brown tabby- when her green eyes widened with fear. Jaysong followed Squirrelflight's gaze and saw a cat covered in blood. Jaysong at first thought that the warrior's whole body was covered in blood until she realized something dreadful. The cat's fur was a dark ginger.