Warriors AU CrowXLeaf, ¬ Fernclan.

Chapter 5

Sniffing the air , Jaypaw wondered if Flowerpaw had joined Starclan yet. She died too young. He grieved She should have become a warrior! Jaypaw and Leafpool decided not to tell any of their kin about what happened, Flowerpaw had told them if she didn't make it that they should tell everyone else in a special place. Whenever Some cat who was kin walked in they'd tell them to leave as Flowerpaw was sleeping. It was only tonight that she had died and Leafpool decided to bring them to the 'special place' today at sunset. Jaypaw crouched down to rest his legs. Leafpool brought him to the special place to rest her in a cave so that when everyone else got there they couldn't see her until they'd settled in. Jaypaw heard paws coming near the entrance to camp and smelt Leafpool approaching. "Well Jaypaw," she meowed. "You get your brothers, I'll get your sisters and Crowstar. Then we can head out" Jaypaw nodded and pushed his way toward a small tree that Squirrelpaw, Lionpaw and Fernpaw were sitting under. He shrugged, getting Fernpaw wouldn't be that bad. "Come with me." Jaypaw said, turning around to walk.

"Why? Are we doing a patrol?" Lionpaw asked to get on his paws slowly. Jaypaw turned around and stared at the three cats. He narrowed his eyes and continued, "Just follow me. We have organised a surprise." Jaypaw started walking towards the camp entrance without waiting for his siblings to catch up. He sat down, waiting for Leafpool to arrive. Jaypaw felt the excitement rush under his siblings' pelts. Jaypaw looked down mournfully. They thought this was a good surprise, but it wasn't.

When the several cats reached the spot they all gasped in awe. Jaypaw sniffed the damp air. It isn't damp because it'll rain, he thought but this stream is definitely making it nicer. Jaypaw pricked his ears and heard the soothing sounds of the rushing water. The ground under his paws, strong smelling and soft with grass. The air, thick and damp. The sound of rushing water, soothing and wakening. Leafpool picked a good spot. One, beautiful to the eye, and two, beautiful sounds and feelings. Jaypaw respected his mother for this surprise, he knew she'd never lie to or forget about him. Jaypaw began feeling emotions of happiness from Leafpool. She usually hid her feelings and emotions so they didn't spiral out of control like this. But then again, this is a good emotion. She's allowed to, and she knows it. Jaypaw looked in Leafpool's direction. With the happiness overload she also felt small waves of sadness and regret, that she kept trying to pull back. Jaypaw tried to reach further into her head, to study these emotions but she suddenly pulled herself together. It's probably just mourning for Flowerpaw. He looked at the ground. Jaypaw could still feel the prick of sadness and regret, but it wasn't coming from Leafpool. It was from Hollypaw. Hollypaw's head and smell was tainted with sadness. Jaypaw seeked further into her head and he felt waves of regret, and thoughts of not being worthy to her clan. "Well, everyone can go off and play now." Leafpool's voice pulled him back to reality. As she finished talking all of the apprentices, except for Hollypaw and Jaypaw, bounded off to play. Jaypaw padded towards Hollypaw and he felt Leafpool's confused gaze burn his pelt. Once he reached Hollypaw he licked her flank. "What's wrong Hollypaw?" he whispered. Jaypaw felt a wave of anger and jealousy flow through him. Hollypaw's stern gaze burned his pelt. He widened his eyes and looked at his paws. He began to read Hollypaw's thoughts, but she closed them up with a fog, thicker than any despair and more suffocating than any regret. Her gaze softened and she rested her tail on his shoulder. "Sorry Jaypaw," she meowed regretfully, "I'm just worthless."

"What are you talking about?" Jaypaw screeched.

"Don't make such a scene!" Hollypaw hissed quietly "I'm just not important to the clan, I wanted to be a medicine cat apprentice so that I'd be useful and respected. Now I'm just a boring apprentice." Jaypaw's jaw dropped, then he closed it and licked her ear. He focused his blind gaze on Hollypaw to make her feel uneasy then closed his eyes. "Do you think Flowerpaw isn't important to the clan just because she was just a warrior apprentice?"

"No! Why would I think that?" Hollypaw lashed her tail.

"Do you think Squirrelflight is less important than Leafpool just because she's a warrior?"

"No," Hollypaw paused. "I guess you're right. I am important to the clan. Just like any warrior, any medicine cat or any apprentice." she bounded away to play with the others "Thanks Jaypaw!" she called.