(This one chapter actually has two chapters in it, buuuut me being lazy and dead tired I decided to leave it. So lucky you! You get an extra bit! Hurrah!)
The first thing that crossed Cherry's mind when her eyes cracked open was her kits, the second was death and the third was why. She groaned as she lifted her head slightly, bleary eyes looking around the area. 'Ok, so I'm in a den.' A sniff in the air and it nearly choked her. 'Herbs are strong! Wait, herbs...' Her mind went back to the herbs she smelled in Spottedfur and Shadowtree's den and her stomach sunk. 'I'm back in the clans. They've captured me and my kits and I'm going to be Marked!' A sad whimper passed through her lips as she let her head fall back onto the moss bed she lied on. 'I've failed. Skyclan, mother, forgive me.' Paws were heard padding her way, and Cherry tensed.
"Ah, so you're awake. How are you feeling?"
Wait a minute. That wasn't Spottedfur's voice, because it was too deep, and it wasn't Shadowtree's voice because it wasn't deep enough. 'So I'm not in the clans?'
"Still tired huh? Well it wouldn't be the first time you've faded in and out of consciousness. You have to be hungry right?" At the mention of food her stomach gave a painful rumble, and the dull throb in her side made itself noticed, along with the rest of her body. "Hmph, as I thought." The paws walked away, and the male cat called out to someone, but Cherry didn't notice. The pain was unbearable! 'I've never hurt so much, not even after a fight with a fox!'
"Is she awake? Is she OK?"
"Grr, get out of the way! She is in too much pain to take visitors!"
"But she's my mother! I demand that you let me see her Jayfeather, right now!"
"You stubborn she cat! What did I just say?!"
"But I want to see her!"
"No! You can help her instead by bringing her something to eat. Not too big!" An excited squeak later and the sound of fading paws, the male cat returned to the her. "Sorry about that."
"My kit," Cherry mewed weakly. "Was that her? Was that Sakura?"
"Yes. She's been pretty antsy for the past four days you've been out."
Cherry toned him out as she reveled in shock. Four days? She's been out for four days? She couldn't remember what had happen, and she frowned in concentration while she forced her mind to work. She was almost there to the foreign clans, an ambush, cats fighting, a ginger she cat with bright green eyes and her order for someone to carry her.
"We made it," she whispered, eyes wide.
Jayfeather frowned at being erupted, and frowned more when he notice that Cherry had been completely ignoring him. "Made it? Made it what?"
"Made it here, to help. We made it to the forest clan right?"
Jayfeather bit back an annoyed sigh, nodding his head as he sat down. "Yes you did." Joy and relief filled Cherry's heart as her eyes lit up. They had made it! She didn't fail! 'Thank you Skyclan!'
The brambles of the medicine den opened up, and in stepped Sakura with a mouse dangling from her jaws. At the sight of her mother awake and staring she squealed and ran over to her, dropping the mouse and shoving her face into the red females neck fur. "You're OK! Thank Skyclan your OK!" Cherry purred as she nuzzled her daughter, wrapping her tail around the scarlet female's middle. Jayfeather ran up at the entrance to stop the others from entering and turned to growl at Sakura.
"Sakura! Let her eat!"
The said cat turned and snapped back. "She's my mom! Let me get close to her first!"
"You can do that after she has eaten, now get out!"
"Why?!"
"Because I said so! I do have other cats to tend to!"
Cherry looked around, and realized that there were indeed other cats in there. "Do as he says Sakura," Cherry purred as she gave Sakura two quickly licks on the cheek. "Once I'm done eating I will come and see you, OK?"
"But mooom!"
Cherry almost laughed at the whining in her voice. "He is a medicine cat, and what a medicine cat says is second to law. Go on now." With a pout Sakura left again, turning to glare at Jayfeather, then realized the tom was blind and huffed. When her tail wasn't in sight Jayfeather turned to Cherry, and he could feel her eyes on him. "You are Jayfeather, the cat that my daughter could see and I could not?"
"Yes I am."
"Thank you for being there with us. In many situations we would be dead without you."
"I am only doing what Starclan and Skyclan asked me to do, and for the best of my clan. You are however, very welcome." He sat down in front of her again, his paw gently going over her wound on her side. "You know you can't move without opening this right?"
"Really?"
"Yes. Too much movement will reopen it, and yesterday that is exactly what you did."
Cherry looked down at her paws in worry. "Can I at least lie in front of the den? Being in here for too long makes me nervous." After checking her most dangerous wound, Jayfeather sniffed over her other wounds,paws prodding before he looked away.
"I guess so, but be careful. As soon as you finish eating and I apply more salve on your wounds then you can go." At the mention of eating, Cherry turned to the mouse in front of her. She ate it slowly; even though her stomach nearly forced her to eat the whole thing in one go. Jayfeather helped her stand and walked her slowly out of the den, making sure not to jar her in any way. He led her a little way away from the entrance before having her lay down, turning to inform Sakura, Ocean, Luna and Ravenpaw not to move her too much unless they wanted blood everywhere before stalking off.
As soon as he left they were all instantly surrounding her, and Cherry even let Ravenpaw clean her face as she listened to their excited mews. "You should've seen it! These cats, they fought almost like Moonclan cats!" Luna mewed loudly. Ocean nodded quickly as he gave a look of appraisal to Ravenpaw.
"Ravenpaw did an excellent job protecting Sakura. I don't even fault him when he was separated from her, and not only did he protect her, but he protect you as well. I think he has moved beyond his paw stage mother." Ravenpaw puffed out his chest proudly, making Cherry purr in amusement.
"You all have moved beyond your paw stage. I'm so proud of all of you. Had we been in at the Gathering Under The Stars Starrīdā would have made you all warriors. You were all very brave." The four cats purred happily, giddy at the thick praised that Cherry had lane on them.
Bramblestar trotted over to them, amber eyes sharp and staring at the injured she cat. Cherry tense and stilled, both cats staring each other down before the tom gave a friendly grin. "You are Cherry, I presume?"
"Yes I am. Who are you?"
"My name is Bramblestar, leader of the clan. Welcome to Thunderclan."
'Thunderclan,' she mused, letting out a small smile of her own. "Thank you, Bramblestar. I hear your warriors fought with the ferocity of my clan."
"Pretty close to it I guess," he said with a shrug. "Because of your daughter showing Jayfeather a few moves we were able to fend off the cats, though we lost three of our own."
"I am sorry for that. Skyclan will honor your warriors for giving their lives to protect them. I know I do," she mewed, bowing her momentarily to thank the cats that have passed on. When she was done she looked around. She spotted a familiar ginger cat tilted her head, eyes widening when she saw the eye color. "Who is that?" She whispered.
Bramblestar flicked an ear in confusion, following her sight. "That is Leafpool."
"I would like to meet her." Cherry looked up at him as she said this, eyes narrowing in curiosity as several different things passed through the tom's eyes. 'There is a story here,' she said in her mind. Bramblestar nodded his head and left, walking over to Leafpool before walking to his den. Another ginger tom looked at the leader with accusing eyes before turning to a lighter ginger she cat, watching as his face crossed with disappointment as they both said things and she left. 'Many stories,' she mused. Her eyes snapped to Leafpool as the she cat came closer.
"It's nice to see that you are OK."
"Yes I am thank you. Your medicine cat is quite a stern one."
"Yes he is," the she cat replied, a hint of sadness in her voice. It made Cherry curious.
"Well, I'd like to thank you for what happened back at the battle."
"Oh that? Oh that was nothing; I just need you out of danger is all. I'm surprised that you could take such a hit while being so injured. Any other cat would have died moments later." Exclaimed with wide eyes.
Cherry chuckled. "Well that is what happens when you live in a clan that rules out the weak. You get stronger, tougher." Green eyes met, and a silent friendship passed between the two.
The ginger tom walked over to them, stopping to give Leafpool a short and playful shove. "Oh, this is my son Lionblaze. Lionblaze, this is Cherry and her band."
"I know that," he mewed, eyes passing over the group.
"This is Sakura, Luna and Ocean, my kits. Ravenpaw here is Ocean's apprentice, or was. He is now called Raven until I give him is warrior name." "So you are a leader?" "No, but since my Rīdā isn't here I will have to do it for them." Lionblaze nodded as Cherry pointed to each of them, eyes lingering on Sakura a moment longer than the others. He looked away when Raven stepped beside her and growled. 'Ok, never mind then...'
"Sorry, I was just wonder, none of them look alike..."
"Ah yes, you see Sakura is my actual it. Ocean and Luna aren't related, but I adopted them." Cherry shared a glance with Raven before turning back to Leafpool. "So Lionblaze is your only kit?"
"No," she answered hesitantly. "Jayfeather is my kit as well."
A snort was heard, and they all turned to look at Jayfeather who was scowling. "Cherry, it's time to come inside. I'm going out for a while to pick herbs. Lionblaze can you come with me?" Cherry watched them, ears twitching when she noticed the longing look on Leafpool's face and the angry one on Lionblaze's.
"I can't, I have to help Squirrelflight with her kits," he mewed curtly.
Leafpool sighed and nodded her head towards Cherry. "Get well soon OK? May Starclan watch over you." The she cat turned and padded away. Jayfeather had a confused look on his face, nodding his head in agreement when Thornclaw and Blossomfall offered to go with him. Cherry didn't miss the barely suppressed angry look Lionblaze gave as he watched them. Ocean looked at the tom curiously.
"Are you OK?"
"I'm fine!" Lionblaze snapped, ryes widening before he gave Ocean an apologetic look. "I'm sorry I'm just, it's complicated at the moment. I can take you all around for a tour when you feel like it." He walked away, Ocean sharing with Sakura and Luna a surprised look.
"There are stories here," Sakura mewed lowly.
"A lot of them," Cherry added, and with their help she stood and walked slowly back into the den. With her lying down and comfortable, the four gave her soft nuzzles before leaving. Cherry laid there in silences, mind working over what she had seen today. Her emerald eyes latched onto Jayfeather as he walked in, watching him walk to the back of his den. 'There are so many stories around. Did we come to a clan with problems of their own?' She closed her eyes. 'I need to know what is going on before I decide to help them completely.' And with that last thought the red cat went to sleep.
~ooo~
Lionblaze sighed as he dropped his prey on the small pile he made: a thrush, a mole and a squirrel. Thing was, Lionblaze didn't feel in the mood for hunting or eating. He wasn't even in the mood to be in his den. His thoughts had been strayed for a while now, and he winced as he remembered nearly falling out of a tree because a bird shocked him. 'Then again it wasn't nearly the time to be thinking about that.' He thought glumly. But he couldn't help it, so what if there was another big battle about to happen? If Bramblestar's prediction was correct, the other cats wouldn't be there for at least six moons. That's the perfect amount of time for him to have a litter of kits. Problem was, the one who he wanted to have his kits with didn't want to have kits with him, or be with him.
"I'm still trying to sort things out Lionblaze, and plus we are in the middle of preparing for a crisis. We don't have time to even be thinking about us!"
Another sigh escaped him. "We've had plenty of time," he growled angrily, and wondered how it would feel to shred the squirrel in front of him. He had been waiting for almost eight moons, he couldn't wait any longer. Even his dreams about kits tying up his paws became more persistent. "I want kits!" He whined at nothing.
"Do you know? Then why don't you go have some?" Came an amused response. Lionblaze snorted and ducked his head as Leafpool came trotting towards him, two moles and a blue bird in her jaws. She dropped them down beside him and sat down. "What's wrong?"
"I want kits!" He hissed angrily. Leafpool's eyes widened slightly in surprise, then she leaned forward and nuzzled her son's shoulder.
"Then why not talk to Cinderheart about it? I'm sure she will agree."
"That's the thing, Leafpool. I and Cinderheart aren't really together. She keeps going on about needing to sort things out and the clan is first priority, stuff like that."
"Really? I thought you two would've settles after the battle," Leafpool muttered, eyes narrowed in thought. Something was really fishy there, something that she was going to find out about.
"Let's not dwell on it, we have to get the prey back to the clans," Lionblaze sighed as he picked up his prey. Leafpool nodded absentmindedly, picking up her prey and following Lionblaze home just as Foxleap and Blossomfall slid out of the bushes with their own prey.
They returned to the clan, Leafpool going straight to the medicine den so that she could talk to Cherry. One thing that Lionblaze said did strike a bell to her, and it was that her clan was in a crisis. She needed to know exactly what they were up against. She slid through the barrier, ears flicking when she heard Millie and the she cat she wanted to see talking enthusiastically.
"Jayfeather said I'll be out tomorrow, so I'll be able to bring you prey. Thank you for sharing that story with me I really needed it." Came Millie's tearful new. Cherry purred and placed her tail sympathetically on the mourning she cat's shoulder.
"You are welcome Millie, and I'm sorry for your loss. Everyone loses a loved on now and then, and Graystripe died for a good cause. I'm sure both our ancestors have welcomed him."
Millie purred appreciatively, closing her eyes on contentment. "I'm sure they did."
Paw alerted them that someone entered, and Cherry's eyes lighted up at the sight of her. "Leafpool! I'm surprised for the visit!"
"Of course I'd visit, Cherry. Why wouldn't I?" Leafpool sat in front of the she cats, turning to presser her nose to Millie's head. "He was a great warrior, and my father's best friend. Always be proud of him Millie."
"I will," she promised, blue eyes glittering with unshed tears. The grey tabby rose to her paws and stretched with a yawn, then walked back to her moss bed and curled up to nap. The other two watched her for a while, then turned to each other. Leafpool ignored the waves of anger surround her light grey son as he walked out of the den, instead choosing to look in the deep emerald eyes that held suspicion and intelligence.
"I need to ask you something Cherry, and it is only for the safety of my clan. You are a cat of these other clan cats, so you know what we are dealing with. I need to know everything about them, strengths, weaknesses, everything."
"Oh ho ho," Cherry mewed with a smirk. "You are asking me to rat out my clan?"
Leafpool's eyes widened. "Well of course! They are attacking us, and you are obviously-"
"That doesn't mean anything, forest cat. I may have run away from them to help you, but I am still very loyal to my clan, no matter the distance. Don't, test me."
Cherry scraped at the ground of the den with her claws, eyes narrowed and teeth slight bared. Gone was her happy attitude and out was her offense. 'And so quickly too,' Leafpool thought. She could see the red she cat's fur bristled ever so slightly and made it a point to stop it from bristling anymore.
"Forgive me for my boldness, but I just assumed-"
"Well you assumed wrong. I want pleasant days while I am injured Leafpool, and though I have nothing against you I won't stand for this talk. If ever I do tell it will be to your leader."
Leafpool bit back a growl. This wasn't going as she planned it to be.
"But I need to know, and now!"
"And why do you need to know this?"
"Because, me and another cat are going out to meet Whitethunder and his patrol..." Leafpool watched as the she cat's fur nearly fluffed out of her skin, her eyes wide in shock and her claws mauling the ground.
"Whitethunder?" She whispered. "I was so sure he stopped following me..."
'Hmm. Interesting.'
"So you do know Whitethunder then?"
"Yes he, he was my mate."
Leapool narrowed her eyes slightly, tail flicking once. 'Was? Well that's new.'
"Well you see, me and another cat are going out to meet them and bring him here, and since he is the deputy of your clan-"
"How did you know that?!" Cherry growled with narrowed eyes.
"While Jayfeather kept tabs on your patrol as you traveled, I kept tabs on them. Like Jayfeather, I dreamed of them and their days, and I've heard them talk about their clans. Whitethunder has mentioned plenty of time that he was the deputy of Moonclan and about his missing mate. That that mate was you, wasn't it?"
Cherry nodded, her fur growing more lax now. "So you want me to tell you so that when you see him you know what to expect?"
"And if there are any strange customs yes. Many times his power was boasted about, and I do want to avoid a conflict."
Cherry thought for a moment, nodding her head again as though agreeing with herself. "Ok them, I will tell you, but on one condition."
"Ok," Leafpool mewed cautiously. She didn't feel good about the strange gleam in the she cat across from her eyes, and the feeling tripled as the red cat leaned closer.
"Tell me everything that is going on with this clan, starting with you and your kits."