Okay, answering reviews.
WyldClaw- I wonder who it is too. (You'll find out soon) Yes, poor Thunder, and someone murdered Onestar...
Foxbracken - Pheonix Everren- that is a valid answer, I guess, but why?
Flames Of The Sky- I fail to see how Dreamkit is mary-sueish when she's done almost nothing except be born. And I'm sorry if you dislike my characters and think the story is bad. You don't have to read it, you know.
Everybody else- You'll find Softkit and Cloverkit's dad soon.
Don't get used to such regular updates. It's just because I've had a lot of time this weekend. I will try to update a little more that I have been, though. Enjoy this chapter!
Chapter Twenty-seven
Ivypool lay in her den, staring up at the roof. Why did her life have to be so difficult? Other she-cats got to be loyal warriors with loving mates and adorable kits, but she had to venture into the Dark Forest routinely, and the closest thing to a mate she had was Toadstep. She liked him a lot, but she wasn't sure if he felt the same about her. It was the middle of the day, and Ivypool didn't want to sleep, but Lionblaze had asked her to see what the Dark Forest was doing, and she had told him she would check. She closed her eyes and finally drifted into an uneasy sleep. She awoke in the Dark Forest. She could tell by the putrid smell, and the fact that she heard Mapleshade's annoying voice echoing across the clearing.
"Come on, Swiftpaw! Move it!" she barked at the black and white StarClan apprentice Ivypool had seen last time she'd visited the Dark Forest. She saw the same small, black, cat, but he sat with his back to her, so she couldn't tell who it was. Swiftpaw. She was sure that she'd heard that name somewhere before. Nursery tale? Maybe, but he didn't seem very exciting. More likely something one of the elders had mentioned passingly in a story. Ivypool heard Silverhawk and Snowtuft murmuring about attack plans. She made out the words 'Clan', and 'ambush'. She remembered the day that Snowtuft had reassured Mapleshade by saying that the Clans would never anticipate the ambush the Dark Forest had set for them. It seemed like a lifetime ago, but Ivypool wondered if they were talking about the same ambush now as they were then. Ivypool scanned the clearing. She saw nothing else that was unusual. At least, for the Dark Forest. She closed her eyes, and melted away. She awoke in her den, feeling like less than a heartbeat had passed. But when she looked outside, the sun was low in the sky. Ivypool padded sleepily into the clearing and sat down beside Jayfeather. Ivypool sunk her teeth into a plump mouse. She was ravenous. Must've been all of that running around in her dreams. She couldn't even sleep right. Toadstep sat down on her other side, but Ivypool hardly acknowledged him, because she was too busy eating. He shifted uncomfortably.
"Listen Ivypool, you and I both know that we need to talk, but-" he broke off as Jayfeather picked up his vole and headed for his den.
"I'll leave you two to it, then." Jayfeather snorted and disappeared into the medicine den. Toadstep's fur seemed to prick with embarrassment, and Ivypool felt a rush of guilt. She hadn't exactly been making their relationship easier. Even if Toadstep wanted to be her mate, she doubted that he knew she felt the same way. She looked regretfully at her paws.
"Listen, Toadstep, I would really like to talk with you, but I have to meet Lionblaze." She told him. She eyed the black and white tom to gauge his reaction. Toadstep nodded.
"Oh yeah, yeah. I'm sure that's much more important. We can talk some other time." That just made Ivypool feel worse. He was sincere, and didn't sound angry, like Ivypool would have been in his position. She left the clearing, feeling miserable. She met Lionblaze in front of the camp.
"Hey." Said Lionblaze, before peering more closely at her. "You look terrible." He meowed sympathetically. Ivypool was too upset to even bristle at his comment.
"I feel terrible." She responded, sitting down. The grass was covered in snow, and it was still coming down. Lionblaze sat down next to her.
"What's wrong? I'm sure I can help." Lionblaze told her. Ivypool sighed, and tried to think of what she could tell Lionblaze.
"What can you do if you want to be a cat's mate, but you're not sure if they feel the same way about you?" she blurted before she could stop herself. Lionblaze purred humorlessly.
"That's what happened with me and Cinderheart at first." He explained. Ivypool was surprised. Cinderheart and Lionblaze were so perfect together she thought that they had always been together. "This is going to sound mouse-brained, but you just have to share the way you feel with them. Then you can at least know what they're thinking." Ivypool nodded, knowing very well that she'd probably never do that. Lionblaze stood and shook his fur out.
"By the way, how's the Dark Forest?" he asked as they ran. Ivypool was too out of breath to answer, so she shrugged her shoulders to tell him that nothing new had happened. After a while of running, Ivypool fell behind and resorted to a quick trot. She caught up with Lionblaze at the entrance to the camp.
"You okay?" Lionblaze asked. Ivypool nodded.
"Just tired." She responded, which was the truth, she was exhausted. Lionblaze watched her as she padded towards her den.
"Aren't you going to take my advice?" he called. Ivypool purred over her shoulder and paused at the entrance to her den.
"Maybe after I have a nap."
Jayfeather stretched as he woke up. Sunlight shone through the bramble screen that covered the entrance to his den. He pushed past the brambles and into the clearing. Who were the cats in the prophecy? He was stumped, and he needed to know. He ducked into the nursery and set down some more borage for Daisy. He knew she didn't need it, but it was a good excuse to see if any of the kits were developing strange powers. But they all looked like normal kits, frolicking and playing. Jayfeather beckoned to Cinderheart. The gray queen looked up.
"Yes, Jayfeather?" she asked. Jayfeather paused, trying to think of what he should say. He glanced at her kits for a heartbeat before responding.
"Can I take your kits to my den for examination?" he asked. When he saw her eyes widen, he knew he'd chosen the wrong wording. "There's nothing wrong," he assured her. "It's just a growing assessment. All kits have them." Cinderheart still looked perplexed.
"Well, okay, if you think it's best." She responded. Jayfeather nodded in thanks and beckoned Honeykit to his den.
"What do you want me to do?" Honeykit chirped. Jayfeather eyed her up and down. She was a slender she-cat, and didn't look very strong.
"Why don't you try to jump up- and meet this mark?" Jayfeather instructed, quickly scratching a mark in the stone high above her head. Honeykit looked dubiously at him, and jumped. She only made it halfway to the mark. She looked dismayed.
"Did I fail?" she asked. Jayfeather rushed to reassure her.
"There is no passing or failing. But you're doing fine. Run to the other side of the den, please." Honeykit hurried across the den. She was fast for a kit, but nothing spectacular, probably just because she was slender. "Thanks, Honeykit. Can you call Goldenkit for me?" he asked. Honeykit darted away, and was quickly replaced by her sister. Goldenkit looked a lot like Honeykit. Honeykit was sleek and golden, and Goldenkit was golden too, but not as lean, and with wider shoulders.
"Hi, Goldenkit. Please try to touch this mark." He meowed, pointing to the mark he had drawn for Honeykit. Goldenkit failed to reach the mark, as well as run across the den as fast as Honeykit.
"O-kay." Jayfeather muttered. "What am I thinking right now?" he kept his face smooth and expressionless. If Goldenkit could see what he was thinking, she could be one of the cats in the prophecy. He held his breath.
"Are you…sad?" she asked slowly. Jayfeather sighed and shook his head. "Happy?" she tried again.
"No," said Jayfeather. Goldenkit looked at him innocently.
"Oh well. I guess I'm not the one you're looking for." She meowed, before starting towards the exit. Jayfeather took a step back in surprise.
"How did you know I was looking for someone?" Oops. "I mean, this is just a test to see how well the kits are growing." Jayfeather said firmly. Goldenkit looked at him doubtfully.
"Okay, but how is us guessing what you're thinking testing how we're growing?" she asked. Jayfeather shook his head
"Please go get Dreamkit." He said, without answering.
When he was done testing the kits, he sat and analyzed the results. Thistlekit was the highest jumper; Stormkit was best as reading his expression, and Honeykit was the fastest runner. Quickkit and Hollykit were unable to participate, because they'd gotten caught sneaking out of camp, and were confined to the nursery. The problem was, none of them were extraordinary, they were just like regular kits. Jayfeather was lost. He had no idea were to go from there.
Lionblaze sat in the clearing, sharing a squirrel with Thornclaw. He was on the lookout for trouble. There hadn't been much peace for him since the Great Battle, but he had been feeling especially on edge lately. He spotted Ivypool a little while away enjoying a shrew.
"Ivypool!" he hissed, edging away from Thornclaw. The silver and white she-cat looked up.
"Yeah?" she asked. Lionblaze beckoned her closer with his tail.
"Meet me by the Sky Oak. We have to talk. About… you know." He said. Ivypool nodded, and Lionblaze scooted back over to Thornclaw. "I was just telling her to go on the dusk patrol with me after this." He told Thornclaw, who was looking curious. Thornclaw took a bite of the squirrel they were sharing.
"Your kits are going to be apprentices soon." Thornclaw meowed, looking at Lionblaze. "I would really like to mentor Goldenkit. She seems pretty lively, but I'd make her a great warrior." Thornclaw said. Lionblaze considered it. Thornclaw was a kind cat, but he was also a strong warrior.
"I'll put in a word with Bramblestar." Lionblaze promised. He stood and headed towards the tunnel. "I should go on patrol now." He waited next to the Sky Oak until Ivypool showed up.
"What do you want? I already told you about my last dream of the Dark Forest. I was just about to take a nap!" Ivypool exclaimed. Lionblaze paced restlessly.
"I know, I know. But is there anything else that you forgot to tell us? There's got to be a missing link somewhere." He kneaded the ground with his paws and stared frustratedly into the green underbrush. Ivypool sunk her claws into the dirt.
"No! I told you everything! I told you about Swiftpaw, the black cat, and the ambush-"
"The what? You never told me about an ambush." Lionblaze sighed. Sure, he liked Ivypool, but she could be so exasperating sometimes. Ivypool lowered her head in embarrassment.
"Whoops." He heard her murmur under her breath. "Well it's not much of a lead," she said aloud, "but I heard Snowtuft mention an ambush a couple of times. We have to keep an eye out."
"Alright. I guess I can start taking out a moonhigh patrol. Thanks Ivypool." He turned to leave. "By the way, did you ever follow my advice?" he asked. Ivypool avoided eye contact and licked some of her shoulder fur down.
"Didn't think so." He mewed, purring. "You should. I give good advice. Go take your nap, Ivypool." Ivypool started to leave the clearing, but she paused and turned around.
"You aren't coming?" she asked. Lionblaze shook his head. With this new news of an ambush, he wasn't about to go and curl up in his nest.
"I think I'll patrol for a little while before I go back to camp." He responded. Lionblaze sprinted down the border for a while. Just as he was about to turn back, he smelled a familiar scent,
"Lionblaze?" Heathertail asked. Lionblaze turned around and padded a few steps closer to the border.
"Hey, Heathertail." He said. He shifted his paws. They hadn't spoken in a while. "Do me a favor?" he asked her. "Guard the borders well, and be prepared for an attack. I have my suspicions that the Dark Forests is rising again." Heathertail nodded, her heather colored eyes wide.
"Alright, Lionblaze. If you think it would help." Heathertail twitched her whiskers in farewell and bounded over the crest of the hill she was on. Lionblaze continued down the border when he smelled another WindClan cat.
"Lionblaze?" the voice asked. Lionblaze gritted his teeth, he'd had enough WindClan for one day. Lionblaze whipped around.
"Yes?" he snapped. It was Crowfeather. Not his father. Crowfeather was never his father.
"Congratulations on becoming deputy." Crowfeather meowed. Lionblaze snorted and didn't respond. "How are your kits?" Crowfeather asked, trying to break the tension. Lionblaze remained stiff and reserved, though.
"They're fine." Crowfeather started to say something else, but Lionblaze interrupted firmly. "Goodbye, Crowfeather." He bounded off into the forest, not wanting to meet any more WindClan cats. There was a sudden rustling, and two cats he didn't recognize bounded out of the brush. Lionblaze dove behind a tree.
"Your first assessment was to kill the scrawny leader of WindClan. Your second is to kill a ThunderClan warrior. This might be harder for you, considering you are ThunderClan. Be back by moonhigh." With that, an apprentice slid by him, eyes gleaming.
O.o it's Onestar's murderer! But who is his murderer, you ask? You'll find out in the next chapter, probably. This book is winding down to a finish, so look out for the sequel in a couple months, maybe a few weeks.