Chapter 16

Aww, Jaggedscar and Hollyleaf were interrupted by Lionblaze and Cinderheart! Wonder what happens next?

Of course I had been mad at Lionblaze and Cinderheart for ruining our moment, but... what are you gonna do. I decided not to shred them that night, although they suspected I was angry about something. I touched noses with Hollyleaf before sleeping, though, so it wasn't all bad.

However, I awoke to something very bad.

I was in a forest, although it wasn't like any forest I'd ever seen. The trees were all sickly looking, and a slimy river flowed over another part of the strange territory. Before I could realize where I was, I heard pawsteps coming up behind me.

"Hello, Jaggedscar. My name is Tigerstar."

I turned around, claws out, ready to shred him if he tried anything. However, Tigerstar looked faintly amused.

"My, my. Temper, temper. I wouldn't dream of hurting someone so... special."

I growled deep in the back of my throat, a dark, evil sound. "What do want with me?

Tigerstar grinned. "I wish only to teach you the best fighting moves there are, to make you a better warrior for your Clan."

I knew these were all lies, and that Tigerstar was just trying to recruit me into his Dark Forest army. However, I decided that this would be a great chance to get inside the Dark Forest. I decided to let Tigerstar think I believed him.

"Okay, then," I said. "Teach me."

Tigerstar crouched down. "Attack me."

I shrugged. I leaped into the air, my forpaws extended. Tigerstar leaped up and crashed into my belly. As I hint the ground panting, Tigerstar stood over me.

"Lesson number one. Never attack an enemy who is crouching. They could spring up at any time, and their muscles are tense."

I got up and shook the dust off my fur. "Yeah, no kidding."

Tigerstar stood away from me. "You try, now. Crouch down and I'll attack you.

In my mind, I was happy. I would love to hurt Tigerstar. So when he attacked me, I sprung up with all my might and flung myself into his belly.

Tigerstar flew onto the ground. "That was excellent. You are a... special warrior, no?"

My heart lurched. Did he know about the second prophecy? Did he know I was the fourth cat? "No, Tigerstar. I'm only trying to serve my Clan well."

"And serve them well you will," Tigerstar rumbled.

Suddenly, I felt a cold mist pressing on my fur, and soon I blinked my eyes open to the warrior's den. I felt the aches and pains from our training, and I could tell they were obvoious.

"Jaggedscar, you should get something foe those aches," Lionblaze meowed. I nodded and padded over to Leafpool's den.

Leafpool looked up. "Jaggedscar? What's the matter?"

"I have some aches," I explained. "Do you have anything for it?Leafpool looked into the store and brought out some daisies and chewed them into a poultice. I shivered in disgust. I was gonna have chewed up herbs all over me! AND I DIDN'T CHEW THEM!

Soon I tried not to shake in disgust of have chewed mush applied to my joints, but I have to admit, I did feel better. I should try this at home! Wait- no I shouldn't.

As I padded out of the medicine den, it as hard to miss the look Lionblaze was giving me. Did he know about the training session I had last night?

As I was about to ask him what was wrong, Brackenfur bounded up to me.

"Jaggedscar, I need you on the Shadowclan border."

My fur stood on end. "Why, what's happening?"

Brackenfur looked worried. "There's been a confrontation with a Shadowclan patrol," he said.

"Oh, no..." I trailed off before bounding out of the thorn tunnel. Without the warrior code, Shadowclan would be very dangerous. What was to stop them from coming across the border?

As Brackenfur and I arrived, we saw three Shadowclan cats facing off against Hollyleaf, Hazeltail, and Birchfall. Behind them were Brambleclaw and Sandstorm, who looked on fearfully.

"What's going on here?" I snarled as I padded over to the border.

One of the cats, Ivytail, looked at me with contempt. "Why should I have to answer to a rogue?"

I would have torn her throat out if Brackenfur and Hazeltail didn't hold me back.

"I'll show you just what this rogue can do," I snarled, struggling against my Clanmates.

By now Brambleclaw had joined us. "But what is Shadowclan but a collection of rogues without the warrior code?"

At this Snaketail growled and leaped over the border in a blind fury. I broke free from Hazeltail and Brackenfur and met him in the middle. I snarled at him. "If you wish to escape without wounds, you should go back to your territory."

Snaketail loomed over me. "Oohh, a rogue with a temper!"

He didn't have time to say anything else, because I pinned him down. "Say that again. I dare you."

Snaketail simply spat in my face. I raised a paw, claws sheathed, and cuffed him hard over the ear.

"That's enough, Jaggedscar," Brambleclaw growled. I immediately hung my head in shame, believing that I was in trouble.

"I think Snaketail has learned his lesson."

I looked back at the deputy. His cold glare reached across the border, and as we left I felt the cold stares digging into my pelt.