Chapter 62
Jaystar blinked her eyes open and recognized the island where the Clans held their gatherings. Jaystar stared around, confused about how she got where she was, and then remembered the last thing she had been doing: Brambleheart's terrified face, the badger's giant paws. Jaystar scrambled to her paws and then realized she was not alone. Brambleclaw was crouched over a golden brown cat and Jaystar thought it was Honeyfern or Brackenfur until she realized that it was her. Jaystar padded forward, shocked at seeing herself unmoving. Her golden brown fur was coated in blood and her gray eyes were wide open, not blinking.
"What- what happened to me?" Jaystar meowed, padding to Brambleclaw's side. Jaystar knew what had happened, but she wanted Brambleclaw to say it. Brambleclaw glanced away from the dead Jaystar to the living one and mewed, "You have lost your first life. You were lucky that the badger's paws landed on your lower back instead of your neck. Other wise, StarClan wouldn't have been able to repair your injury." Jaystar wanted to demand why she was still in StarClan if she was still alive, but Brambleclaw seemed to read her mind and growled, "Don't even ask why you are still here. StarClan can heal the wound that killed you, but your body needs time to recover. You will be sent back soon, but there is someone you should see so the surprise isn't so much when you return to life."
A star came down from the sky and Jaystar watched as the star became a cat. The cat had long white fur that was much thicker than Jaystar had ever seen in the cat's life and their dark blue eyes were sad about their death, but warm as they glanced at their former leader. The cat was Cloudtail and Jaystar felt sadness pierce her heart. Cloudtail was still a fairly healthy warrior who could've lasted many more seasons before being called to StarClan. Seeing Jaystar's sad gaze, Cloudtail purred, "Don't feel sorry for me, Jaystar. I had a good life and I don't blame the badger nor StarClan for my death tonight. In fact, I'm thankful that StarClan still accepted me even though I never believed in them. Just tell Brightheart and Whitewing that I'll always be with them. Goodbye Jaystar, I was honored to be your warrior."
At Cloudtail's words, Jaystar felt herself be pulled away from the StarClan warriors and sent back to ThunderClan territory.
*
"Jaystar, Jaystar, wake up!" Jaystar blinked her eyes open and realized that some cat was dragging her somewhere. "Oh thank StarClan, Jaystar, you're awake!" Whoever had been dragging Jaystar, dropped her in surprise. Jaystar scrambled to her paws and recognized Bumblethroat standing over her. Blossomwhisker and Squirrelflight were standing a little farther away, crouched over the limp body of Cloudtail and the coughing shape of Brambleheart. Jaystar at first thought that Brambleheart was going to join StarClan like Cloudtail, but then the light brown tabby slowly got to his paws. Brambleheart was bleeding from his shoulder and one of his paws was at a crooked angle.
"What happened to the badger?" Jaystar demanded once she was certain that Brambleheart was okay. Blossomwhisker took a step away from Cloudtail and meowed, "Brackenspot raced back to camp with Bearpaw and Badgerpaw and told us everything. Squirrelflight led a patrol consisting of me, Foxfang, and Sandstorm." Jaystar glanced around for Foxfang or Sandstorm, praying to StarClan that they hadn't gone the same way as Cloudtail. "Don't worry they are okay. The four of us scared the badger and Foxfang and Sandstorm decided to chase it to the ShadowClan border. They should be okay. We scratched the badger pretty bad when we were all attacking it."
"We should send a patrol to warn Oakstar of the badger. But not tonight," Jaystar added, seeing the exhausted eyes of her warriors. Jaystar heard Bumblethroat give a loud snort and then he picked Cloudtail up by his scruff, carrying him in the direction of ThunderClan camp. It was then that Jaystar realized why Bumblethroat had begun to hate her. Bumblethroat's loathing had started when Jaystar had told ThunderClan about her love for Blackstar. Was Bumblethroat jealous?! Jaystar didn't ask Blossomwhisker- Bumblethroat's sister- and instead ordered, "Let's return to camp. Blossomwhisker, would you mind waiting for Foxfang and Sandstorm? I want to make sure they are okay."
"Jaystar, can I actually wait for them instead of Blossomwhisker?" Squirrelflight asked and Jaystar blinked in surprise. Why did Squirrelflight want to wait for Foxfang and Sandstorm? Again Jaystar didn't say anything and instead flicked her tail to Blossomwhisker and Brambleheart, leading them in the direction of ThunderClan camp. Brambleheart limped in, but Blossomwhisker blocked Jaystar's way with her tail, hinting that she wanted to talk with her leader. Jaystar turned to Blossomwhisker as the brown warrior meowed, "The reason why Squirrelflight offered to wait for them instead of me is because as of tomorrow I'm moving to the nursery. I'm expecting Toadflower's kits."
"Toadflower?" Jaystar repeated in surprise. Seasons ago when Jaystar was an apprentice, she, Rosestripe, and Toadflower had helped ShadowClan in the fire that raged through their territory. There a ShadowClan apprentice named Flowerpaw had died saving Snowbird's kits. Toadflower had been devastated and Jaystar learned- as did all of ThunderClan and ShadowClan- that the black-and-white warrior was planning on taking Flowerpaw as a mate. When Toadflower had earned his warrior name, he chose it for Flowerpaw and the reddish-brown tabby had been in ThunderClan camp when he received his new name. When thinking of Toadflower's situration, Jaystar always thought of hers and Blackstar's. At least they had been mates for a little while. Toadflower and Flowerpaw didn't have one moon together.
"I would tell you more, Jaystar, but I want to sit vigil for Cloudtail," Jaystar watched as Blossomwhisker padded into the camp, surprised that- even with Cloudtail's death- life could still go on.
