Chapter 24: The loneliest path

DISCLAIMER:

Neon: Wolfy!

Wolfy: Neon owns all her ocs and made up characters in this story, along with plot lines and Darkclan. Not as in the name Darkclan, many people like to name their own clan Darkclan, just that clan in itself? Not making sense huh? Anyway, Erin owns warriors, and we want a movie :D

Neon: I agree :D I mean, going to the cinema and seeing warriors?! I will be rolling on the floor in joy! (I actually would :D )

Not that exciting this one, but important and I hope you will enjoy! Sorry for not updating the past couple of days, I've been really busy! :D

Stormpaw opened one eye groaning, he couldn't see out of his left eye, as it was plastered in marigold and cobwebs. A small light brown tom as staring at him intently with bright blue eyes. "Hello?" Stormpaw mewed, a little worried.

"I'm Littlecloud the shadowclan medicine cat. Shadowclan is aiding your clan as it is so weak right now." Littlecloud mewed.

"Thunderclan is not weak! Who even allowed you to come here?" Stormpaw growled quietly, conscious of all the other resting wounded around him.

"Your clan leader you beebrain! Now, since we have left three warriors and me to help you I suggest you treat us nicely, back when I was younger thunderclan apprentices were far nicer. One saved my life!" Littlecloud mewed, seeming lost in old memories. "You have a bad scratch on your face, it hasn't damaged the eye and it won't scar, so your pretty little face won't be ruined. It should have scabbed over by now, so you can go patrolling and hunting but no battle training."

"As if we would want to think about battling after yesterday." Stormpaw retorted.

Littlecloud closed his eyes, and after some time opened them. "I think you should. Darkclan will certainly be back and shadowclan might not be there to save you next time."

Stormpaw glared at the medicine cat angrily. How dare he?! He decided not the argue with the medicine cat any longer, even if shadowclan had helped them, they could be less superior about it. Stormpaw looked around, he was in the apprentice den, in his nest. However the normality stopped there, next to him was Songpaw deep in sleep, her paw wrapped up in long leaves, weed stems and a stick keeping it in its proper position. Then, Spiderleg was lying unnaturally still, his belly dried with blood and marigold staining his pelt. Swiftpaw was on Stormpaw's other side, curled up next to Ravenpaw. She had long scratches on her belly and Ravenpaw had cobwebs plastered on her neck. The two were curled up, and Songpaw was near them, crawling closer to her friends. Stormpaw gulped at how serious their wounds were, but he tucked his tail over his nose, drifting off to sleep again.

...

Wolfpaw stared at Crowfeather, glancing at his father he wondered why Lionblaze had reacted with such fear and recoil. He knew that Crowfeather was his father, but he never realised the amount of resent the golden warrior had for his windclan father. Lionblaze shook his head, and narrowing his amber eyes he padded over to greet the black warrior. "What are you doing here?" Lionblaze mewed coldly.

Crowfeather matched his light blue gaze, keeping it cold just like his son's. The black warrior's pelt was drenched; his long legs covered in mud and his pelt slick with the rain that had made it drip with rain droplets as fresh ones fell from the sky and hammered his back. "I need to talk to Bramblestar, and to Leafpool and you and Jayfeather."

Lionblaze raised an eyebrow but didn't complain as he led his father to the leader's den. Lionblaze glanced at Wolfpaw, "Go and get Leafpool and Jayfeather."

Wolfpaw nodded obediently and ran to the warrior's den, where Leafpool was sitting staring at the rain pattering a mouse length away from her paws. Wolfpaw coughed quietly, and snapped Leafpool's amber eyes into focus and she turned to look at him with surprise. "Bramblestar he wants to talk to you.." Wolfpaw mewed, keeping Crowfeather out of the conversation. Leafpool nodded and followed him as he led her to the leader's den. They climbed the slippery, slick rocks to Bramblestar's den, Wolfpaw led the former medicine cat inside and was greeted by the cold blue eyes of Jayfeather. With a jolt, he realised that they were so much like his father Crowfeather's, whereas Lionblaze had inherited leafpool's amber eyes, as did Wolfpaw.

"C-Crowfeather?" Leafpool gasped, immediately she made her voice become stable and sat next to Bramblestar, her gaze indifferent. Crowfeather looked slightly hurt but soon he too kept his feelings locked away and sealed them with an icy stare.

Wolfpaw looked around the den, Lionblaze and Jayfeather glared coldly at Leafpool, Bramblestar looked like his ear tips were burning and Crowfeather would cautiously to glance to each cat. "Why are you here Crowfeather? You no doubt heard the sounds of fighting, did Onestar send you?" Bramblestar asked.

Crowfeather shook his head. "No. I came here because.. I want to join thunderclan."

Leafpool gasped, her amber eyes widening. "Why?"

"Nightcloud and Breezestar are gone. They were never my family. You are my family." Crowfeather mewed gently, glancing at Leafpool to Jayfeather and Lionblaze.

"It's a little too late to play happy families Crowfeather. We're grown up now, and neither of you has ever been there for us. Bramblestar is our father, he was the only parent to ever be there for us and not make everything were grew up with a lie." Jayfeather hissed.

"But I am your father Jayfeather. Nothing could change that, I want to join thunderclan so you can give me a chance to be your father. I know you haven't forgiven Leafpool, we were not the first cats to do this and we won't be the last. So stop acting so superior over it, countless cats have got on fine with it before you!" Crowfeather growled, trying to keep calm.

" Not every cat has to deal with their sister dying twice and delivering their dead kin!" Jayfeather shouted back.

Lionblaze gasped and stared at Jayfeather, shocked at his sudden reveal of his inner emotions and thoughts. The blind cat was normal as emotional as a stick, never being effected by anything. But the truth had come out, it seemed that Jayfeather cared more for his family then he let on. Bramblestar stared at Jayfeather with clear devotion of a loving father in his eyes, it seemed like Jayfeather was a kit again, needing the love of a parent. This could be the consequence for Jayfeather's lack of parents in his life, the grey tom looked around, shocked at his words. He dipped his head at Bramblestar before rushing out of the den, and running into the forest.

Lionblaze looked at where his brother had left. "I never knew he felt like that, when my kits died, he didn't seem to be bothered by it."

Leafpool shook her head. "You think I don't know you two, but I knew that the moment he left the den carrying your kits, his gaze was normal, but you could tell he was dying inside. Even if I didn't lick your fur warm on cold nights, I still watched over you enough to know you better than any other cat. You can say I never looked after you. But you can never say I didn't love you."

Lionblaze shared a long look with Leafpool, he sighed and left the den, his pelt even. He clearly was moved by Leafpool's words. Wolfpaw looked at Crowfeather, who was staring at his son's path out of the den, hurt and regret brimming his eyes with shadows. "Crowfeather, you can stay. Thunderclan needs more healthy warriors, our clan is wounded. We need you." Bramblestar growled. "And fix this. We can't have a broken medicine cat." He mewed solemnly, and waved his tail for them to go. Wolfpaw padded out but not without hearing Bramblestar's last remark to Crowfeather.

"You'd better look after them Crowfeather. They might be your sons, but I was their father. And always will be, so now you have a chance to be their father. Don't run away from it this time."

Wolfpaw leapt down the rocks, the rain still pouring. It seeped into his skin, making him ice cold and shivers run up his spine. A tail stopped him. "You're Wolfpaw right?"

Wolfpaw looked up to see Crowfeather. "I'm Lionblaze's son."

"I can tell. You look like him...and Leafpool." Crowfeather replied, following Leafpool out of the camp. Wolfpaw sighed, this issue wasn't going to fix itself overnight. He glanced at Cinderheart, who beckoned him over with her tail. Wolfpaw ran to her and buried himself in her fur, finally giving in to his growing fatigue.

...

Jayfeather pelted through the forest, tears brimming his blue eyes, he tried to blink them away but they were persistent, luckily they didn't fall and stain his cheek fur. After being the blind weak kit, he was reluctant to show any signs of pain and weakness, that was probably why he kept himself so closed. He found himself at the abandoned twoleg den. He breathed in the sweet smell of herbs and it calmed him. He settled down on a thick patch of grass and let the rain soak into his skin, soon he was so covered in water he could have been compared to a fish. But he didn't move himself. Stop feeling so sorry for yourself... You're not weak! He heard his own growl in his head.

Hey, I'm probably the only cat that has never spent a day worrying about myself so go and get run over!

Great, I'm having an argument with myself! He growled irritably in his head. He sat up and tilted his head back to let the persistent rain run down his cheek fur. He was angry, angry with Leafpool and Crowfeather's sudden decision to join thunderclan. They weren't kits anymore! It wasn't like they needed a parent now, and Hollyleaf was dead, this time properly. He watched her die, and finely except Leafpool as her mother, but he didn't save her, he was too busy with the battle. He let his sister die. Then, he let Lionblaze's kits die, his own nieces and nephews! One of them the same as Hollyleaf, he let his sister die again. Of course, it wasn't Hollyleaf but she looked like her, it was almost a chance to redeem himself. And now, they all knew how he felt and he didn't have anyone to help him. Not even Half moon who was now long gone and he hadn't visited the ancients in moons, and he doubted he ever would again.

He stopped his trail of thought immediately, he was thinking like Leafpool must have done all those moons ago, and where did that lead? There was a reason that medicine cats could not have kits, they would be torn between their duties and family and in turn broken. He wouldn't bear this kits though, but he would have to look after them, and he would never want to put any kit through not having a father, like Crowfeather did and Bramblestar when he was younger. If he wasn't feeling so hurt he would have laughed at him being with kits. But he was remembering the loneliness of when Hollyleaf disappeared in the tunnels, she was thought dead, and he had no parent to look after him then. Lionblaze had Cinderheart... but who did he have?

Jayfeather then realised the curse of being a medicine cat... It was the loneliest path in the world.

Lionblaze burst out of the bushes panting heavily. It was then that Jayfeather realised he had run on his bad paw, and it now hurt like had had been struck by lightning. "Jayfeather?" Lionblaze mewed.

"I'm thinking, that's all." He growled.

"No you're not, you're hurt and I'm your brother."

"Lionblaze leave me alone. Wolfpaw is probably hurt after what happened."

"Wolfpaw will be fine. It's you I'm worried about."

I feel lonely yet I push everyone away! It's because you don't want to seem weak mouse brain!

"Crowfeather has joined thunderclan." Lionblaze mewed. Jayfeather didn't reply.

"Fine be that way.." Lionblaze growled before stomping off.

"I'm sorry.." Jayfeather growled. Lionblaze's paws stopped. "For losing your kits.."

Lionblaze padded closer and Jayfeather felt his nose touch his ear. "It wasn't your fault, they were dead Jayfeather, there was nothing you could have done." Lionblaze mewed, before padding off back to camp, knowing Jayfeather could take care of himself. He suddenly realised he had violated the rules of not being out alone due to Darkclan, but he honestly didn't care at that point. He closed his eyes and listened to the rain.

"He's right you know, it's not your fault."

Jayfeather pricked his ears at the sound of Leafpool.. no his mother's voice. And for once in his life, he decided to let go of his hidden feelings and ran up to her and burying his muzzle in her fur. Leafpool purred and Crowfeather placed his tail on his back in an aid of comfort. "We're sorry Jayfeather, we know the consequences for what we did have been far more than just your birth. And now, we promise to be there for you. And I promise to not abandon you." Crowfeather whispered.

The three cats sat in the rain, calmly forging a bond out of the years of hatred and hurt that had been swelling, and turned it into a opportunity, a chance to see a new leaf.

Awwwww mushy ending :D

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE REVIEWS! I WILL DO AN ANSWERING THING NEXT CHAPTER!

AND IF YOU WANT YOUR OC TO BE IN THE STORY, PM ME PLEASE! I CANT ADD THEM JUST FROM A REVIEW! I NEED INFO ON THEM :D xxxxx

It seems Jayfeather has been keeping himself isolated, along with his feelings and guilt for losing Lionblaze's kits, but now the family can have fresh start and luckily Jayfeather has decided to accept the situation :D

Neon out :D

Till next time :D

Xxxxx Neon xxxxxx