(Ok, Chapter 42!. I, I couldn't resist in this chapter. The evil critters had to have some fun right? Yes? No? Eh... XD)
To say Jayfeather was excited for her was like him admitting he was a scrawny dog. Yes, the thought of the clan having more future warriors was good, but coming from Cinderheart it wasn't really, well, good. As sure as he was for the Exiling Leafpool Cause (but was he even sure any more?), he still didn't like the fact that she basically cheated Lionblaze. Was that even called cheating? They weren't together after all, more like cheated him out of a mate and family. Yea, that sounded better. Now he sat there, listening as Cinderheart belted her news.
"Mousewhisker! Guess what!"
"What?" the tom asked, and Jayfeather was sure he had a curious look on his face.
"I'm with kits! I'm only a month along, but I'm having your kits!" A pause and Jayfeather annoyingly counted down.
5...4...3...2...1...
"Cinderheart!"
The happy purrs were just too loud for his liking, so he slunk over to the nursery. Even though it was a new day and Sunhigh and he wasn't sick anymore (Thank Starclan!), he didn't want to listen to all of that.
"Can you believe that? She's so...so..."
"Mouse brained? Badger-hearted? Fox dung?" Sorreltail supplied helpfully. Murmured agreements from Poppyfrost and Millie only helped to the ginger she cats rage.
"I can't believe her! What about Lionblaze?!"
"Oh calm down Squirrelflight. If you keep up that annoying yowling cats will stay thinking you want to kill her," he growled, making his way to the kits. Gingerkit was especially happy to see him, so much that he jumped on him.
"Watch it!" The medicine cat snapped.
Gingerkit pawed the ground sheepishly. "Sorry."
Jayfeather muttered something, and again felt the eyes staring at him. As bad as he told his head not to, it snapped to the direction of the starrer. Flamekit was there again, and this time not only Flameblood and Killerfang were there, but Silverclaw as well. She sneered at him, showing long glistening teeth he was sure had buried themselves into to countless opponents' necks.
"You were warned," she mewed hauntingly and vanished.
The other two stared down at Flamekit, then looked in the direction of the entrance of the nursery. Leafpool was seething as she walked in. "Calm down Squirrelflight!" She snapped. Jayfeather watched in horror as the two Moonclan cats slunk over to the other ginger cat. Killerfang nipped at Leafpool's hind leg. "Ow!" Leafpool exclaimed, her right leg jerking.
"Are you OK Leafpool?" Millie asked in concern. Leafpool looked shocked.
"Uh, yea, just felt a pinch on my leg is all..."
Flameblood snickered evilly. "Ah, I've been waiting for this moment!"
"What do you want? Why do you keep coming here?!" Jayfeather shouted at them, receiving weird looks from the queens.
"Jayfeather, what do you mean why am I here?" Leafpool asked with a low growl. Jayfeather ignored her.
"Why, we are here because you are too blinded by your rage to forgive, so we will finish her for you since you want to exile her." Killerfang purred evilly.
"And we come here because your future apprentice called for us," Flameblood looked at Flamekit, who looked surprised.
"I didn't!" She whined.
Squirrelflight stood. "Didn't do what Flamekit?"
"I didn't call them mama I swear!"
"Call who? Jayfeather what's going on Jayfeather?"
"Now, Jayfeather, witness the death of your mother!" Flameblood raised he paw, long claws sliding out as he brought it down on Leafpool's neck while Killerfang did the same.
"NO!" Jayfeather tackled Leafpool, successfully pushing her out of the way. Leafpool yowled in surprise and Flamekit screamed eyes wide in fear. Jayfeather stood, staggering back and glared at Flameblood, but the tom was gone, as was his sister.
"Flamekit!" Bramblestar screeched as he burst into the nursery, warriors behind him. Flamekit ran to him while the others stared at Jayfeather.
"Are you crazy?! What's wrong with you?!"
Jayfeather was panting, eyes wide in this panic. He also felt really wet, liquid running down his back. "Jayfeather?" Leafpool asked worriedly.
Jayfeather turned towards her in confusion. "Are you hurt?"
The ginger warrior was surprised. "I'm fine, come here," she murmured and nudged as his head. She gasped. "Jayfeather your neck!"
"Huh?" He pawed at the back of his neck and licked it.
Blood.
Leafpool was shocked. "How did that happen?!" She nearly shrieked in panic. The others were now in fear.
"H-he did it! That red cat did it!" Flamekit squeaked. She then glared at Jayfeather. "It's your fault!"
"Hush!" Bramblestar snapped at his daughter. "What happened?"
"Jayfeather and Flamekit started talking. At first we thought it was to each other, but then Jayfeather screamed and tackled Leafpool." Sorreltail mewed timidly.
"Jayfeather," Bramblestar growled. The medicine cat shook his head.
"This is between me and them," he muttered.
"Jayfeather, you tackled Leafpool and received a scratch on your neck."
"It's light!" He reasoned.
"He was protecting Leafpool from something," Poppyfrost mewed with just a hint of a question.
"Jayfeather tell me what happened!" Bramblestar ordered.
Killerfang reappeared and giggled, glaring happily at Flamekit. "If he tells I will kill your mother." She purred dangerously, her silver claws sliding out hauntingly slow.
"Don't tell them Jayfeather! They'll kill mama!" Flamekit sobbed. Jayfeather gritted his teeth and glared at Killerfang. Bramblestar was now bristled with rage, eyes cold as he stared at the Thunderclan medicine cat.
"Who are they?!"
"The Dark Forest!" Foxleap whispered in horror.
Jayfeather hissed. "They aren't Dark Forest cats!"
"But they are dead aren't they?" Bramblestar asked slowly. Jayfeather gave a hesitant nod. "Jayfeather, I won't force you to tell me what is going on because my mate and clan are in danger, but you'd better solve this problem and give these cats what they want."
"They are meddling in a business that is not theirs!"
"Well apparently they made it theirs, so make them stop, or I will stop of myself!" He growled with a hidden but clear threat, claws unsheathed and threatening. Jayfeather heard it and froze. Bramblestar wouldn't kill him would he? He was a leader! Leaders didn't kill their medicine cats! "Squirrelflight, get the kits together, you are moving to my den." He snatched up Flamekit and left the nursery, Poppyfrost helping by picking up one of the other kits and following Squirrelflight out of the nursery.
Jayfeather was left standing there, and unknowing to the others, being circled by the murderous cats. "So close," Flameblood whispered with glee and with the last evil glint in their eyes they faded.