Chapter 12

Darkshadow's eyes fluttered open as the scent of freshkill came into his mist. Lifting his head after the soft moss, Darkshadow saw Birdheart standing over him, a squirrel hanging in her jaws. Behind her, Sandfire was trying to wake up Airpaw, Waterpaw, and Cloudpaw with three warm mice. Ever since Darkshadow and his friends left the mountains two dusks ago, they had been allowed to hunt much more than normal, eating in the dawn, at sunhigh, and in the evening. Darkshadow felt stronger than he had since leaving JayClan. He was not looking forward going back to the mountains when he and his fellow Clanmates had to return home. After meeting Stoneteller and hearing about his aggressive tribe members from Sandfire, Waterpaw, and Cloudpaw, Darkshadow had a feeling that the Clan cats wouldn't be welcome on the journey back. (A/N: Is Darkshadow thinking about staying with SkyClan?... maybe. :])

"I thought you might be hungry," Birdheart offered, her eyes darkening with embarrassment. Ever since Darkshadow had helped Birdheart when they got seperated from the others, Darkshadow noticed how much different the SkyClan she-cat had begun to act around him. From his knowledge gathered from Sandfire, Birdheart had no mate in SkyClan and she was probably looking for comfort after losing two family members. She had lost her brother when she was still with SkyClan and her cousin, Grayleaf, had passed away only recently. Darkshadow knew that Birdheart was taking his death hard as was everyone in the group. Sandfire had begun to hunt alone, confiding with Darkshadow that he felt guilty about Grayleaf's death and even the three apprentices missed the brave, new friend they had met. Ever since departing from JayClan and making the journey to SkyClan, there was no longer two Clans. No, there was only a Clan of loners, all up for helping one another.

Darkshadow flicked his tail alongside Birdheart's flank and murmured gently, "Come share with me." Birdheart nodded and settled down beside Darkshadow, their fur brushing slightly. Darkshadow shared a glance with Birdheart who was looking at him with soft eyes and felt his skin grow hot underneath his fur. Ask any cat in JayClan- especially Voleheart- and they would tell you that Darkshadow was harder to get along with than an angry hedgehog yet here he was, growing closer and closer to Birdheart with every passing day. Darkshadow wondered why he was allowing himself to grow close to Birdheart when he had his best friend back in JayClan, who he knew he already harbored feelings for. Lakesky wouldn't be happy if she saw him cuddling with Birdheart. Darkshadow shook his head, trying to clear his mind, and pushed the squirrel to Birdheart. The squirrel disappeared in a couple ravish gulps before the two warriors padded forward towards where Sandfire was watching the three apprentices eat their mice. Darkshadow glanced softly at his kin before glancing at Sandfire, surprised at how much excitement there was in his gaze, "Sandfire, what's up? You look like you just caught the biggest piece of prey imaginable."

"No," Sandfire purred and Darkshadow was suprised at how the SkyClan warrior was acting. Usually he was serious and- following the death of Grayleaf- cold to the other cats in their small group. "I was just thinking that we should be arriving at our camp by tomorrow. Tonight if we move fast enough! Since we left the mountains two dawns ago, we've made excellent time! We'll be getting rid of those rats in no time!"

"We're almost at the camp? Really?" Airpaw squeaked excitedly, almost choking on his mouse. "Let's head out now!" Waterpaw and Cloudpaw both devoured their mice quickly and stared at Sandfire with excited eyes. The mood was so light around them that Darkshadow almost forgot about Grayleaf. Almost and it seemed like Birdheart hadn't forgotten either.

"Grayleaf should be with us," Birdheart murmured sadly and both Darkshadow and Sandfire brushed their pelts against her's in comfort while the three apprentices bowed their heads in grief. It didn't matter that Grayleaf had been from SkyClan, the JayClan cats mourned his courage and intelligence greatly. Birdheart shook her head, "StarClan will be angry."

"But Mintstar didn't know, Birdheart. SkyClan can't be angry at him," Sandfire whispered gently, "If anything SkyClan should be angry with me. I was the one who couldn't save him." Everyone paused and then Sandfire added, "Grayleaf wouldn't want us to be grieving for him. He would want us to help SkyClan as quickly as possible. Shall we go?" Everyone nodded.

*

"Sandfire, what happened to SkyClan? Why aren't they mentioned with the other Clans?" Darkshadow glanced up at Cloudpaw- who was walking up ahead with Sandfire- meowed her question. Airpaw and Waterpaw were bringing up the rear and Birdheart paused every so often- as did Darkshadow- to wait for them. No one wanted to get left behind.

"We are not mentioned at all?" Sandfire asked and Darkshadow thought the ginger warrior was angry until he continued, "I thought that Firestar or Sandstorm would have probably shared our existance with ThunderClan, but perhaps they had their reasons." Sandfire paused and then continued once more, "Seasons ago, the five Clans of the forest lived together, but when Twolegs invaded the ancient SkyClan's territory, there was no room so my ancestors left. They found a new home in the gorge which is our camp to this day. Granted this everything that Firestar taught us when he came from ThunderClan to aid us."

"Why did he tell you?" Waterpaw asked from the back, "Don't your elders keep stories?"

"Yes, they do, but the first SkyClan was wiped out by rats. It was Firestar and Sandstorm who reunited us after the rat attack," Birdheart answered and Darkshadow could feel her nerves as she talked about this sensitive topic. He brushed his pelt against her's gently. "These are the same rats that Firestar helped fight off so many moons ago and these are the same rats that are threatening us today."

"Enough of our morbid history," Sandfire meowed, "What happened to ThunderClan and the other Clans? Why does only JayClan remain?"

"It happened seasons ago," Cloudpaw mewed, "Songbird, our only elder, wasn't even a part of the original Clans although their bloodline runs through all of us. Our father, Woodstar, is half-ThunderClan and half-ShadowClan. His mother was Songbird and his grandparents were Brokenheart- a ShadowClan and JayClan warrior- and Dovestar- a ThunderClan warrior and JayClan's first deputy and second leader. We're also part kittypet because Brokenheart's grandmother was Jaystar. She is the reason JayClan has its name."

"Each Clan was destoryed at a different time, according to Songbird," Darkshadow spoke up, "WindClan was destroyed first. Destroyed by ShadowClan and RiverClan who united to take over the forest. ShadowClan and RiverClan were then both destroyed by dogs. Out of those three Clans only three cats survived: Brokenheart, Crowfeather, a WindClan warrior, and Willowshine, RiverClan's medicine cat. They joined ThunderClan, but ThunderClan was soon destroyed by a fire. ThunderClan's survivors were Lionstar- ThunderClan's deputy who later became our first leader- and Dovestar. They went to a barn where a couple of loners, Smoky and Floss, lived. Two ThunderClan cats, Turtleclaw and Cloud, were living there with their kits: Frostclaw and Flowerstar who became our leader after Dovestar."

"Quite a history you have,"Birdheart meowed and she was about to add something else when Sandfire exclaimed,

"There's our camp!"

Below them stretched out a massive gorge. It would have been beautiful had there not been a dozen screeching cats fighting below them

"Rats!" Birdheart snarled.

Author's Note: The main purpose of this chapter was to remind me what happened at the end of Jaystar's story as well as anyone else who may have forgotten. It was also to bring everyone to SkyClan's camp. Sorry for it being so short, but I was low on muse. I'm also sorry for the delay. I sort've forgot what I wanted to do with this story. Anyway please review.