Chapter four

The catmint had a nearly instant effect. Sunkit was better within a day. He was now sniffing around the camp merrily. Greykit bounded up to him.

"Hey, Sunkit! Watch this!" he cried as he dropped into a crouch. Greykit bunched his muscles and pounced high into the air. Sunkit pattered around excitedly.

"I want to try! Show me how!" he squeaked. Greykit looked down at his small brother uncertainly. There was no point in not trying. Greykit dropped down.

"Okay, but watch closely, and be careful. First you drop into a crouch like this." Sunkit bent his forelegs and lifted his tail high. He scrunched his hind legs down, but kept his hindquarters high in the air. The result was a very awkward, unbalanced squat.

"No, no. Put your tail down. Lower your body, prepare to jump," Greykit instructed. Sunkit looked nothing like how Redpaw had looked when he had taught Greykit. Greykit gently pushed his brother into a passible position.

"Now," Greykit said as he reentered the position. "Look up high. Focus on where you want to get, then leap. Once you're up, make sure you land lightly. Greykit leapt up and landed on his toes. Sunkit was watching his with rapt attention. Greykit nodded to him and Sunkit leaped up.

He landed in a heap of fur in a bush several tail lengths away. Greykit sighed. Sunkit got up unsteadily and tottered over.

"How was that?" he asked eagerly. Greykit winced.

"It was… um…. okay for a first try. Work on landing before you go for distance."

But by the end of the day, Sunkit still hadn't got it. He was closer, but just couldn't stay on his paws. Greykit shook his head as he settled in. He doubted his brother would ever be able to leap correctly.

. . .

Lionblaze sat talking to Dovewing. The sienor warrior was disdraught.

"Lionblaze, soon I'll be the only one of the three left! I never thought about how the three would one day…not be there anymore!" She cried.

"I know. I miss the old days too. But the Dark Forest is gone. The clans are safe. And you'll have Ivypool," Lionblaze soothed.

"It's not the same. Jayfeather left us too early. That mouse brained Brokentail left him nearly dead! He only live for a few more moons!"

Lionblaze looked over at Greykit playing with his sister and Flightkit.

"I know. But soon you'll be with us too. All cats have to die."

"But I'll be all alone with the stars in my paws! What if something happens? I'll be the only one!"

"Yes, only you will have the stars in your paws. And I'll be in starclan, watching yours and Jayfeather's every move."

Dovewing frowned. "Jayfeather?"

Lionblaze nodded. "He's still with us. Just like Cinderheart, he was given a chance. Don't tell me you didn't notice!" Dovewing gasped.

"You mean Greykit?" Lionblaze nodded.

"Yes. I think it's because he never got to be a warrior, which was his dream. You didn't know him when Hollyleaf was alive. But I did. There's a lot you don't know," he laughed. Dovewing sighed, but this time with determination.

"I will do everything in my power to make sure he lives the life he dreamed of this time."

"Thank you, Dovewing," Lionblaze murmured. The she-cat's eyes sparkled as she dipped her head respectfully. Lionblaze got slowly up to his paws. As he went to grab a mouse, he glanced over at the young kit that was his brother.

Good luck, Jay.