Jaywatcher's Love [Old, DISCONTINUED]

∆ chapter 12 ∆

Jaypaw could sense Leafpaw shivering, and the ThunderClan apprentice went behind her mentor.

Jaypaw's gaze lifted from Leafpaw to see Redstar's angry gaze. Rowantail was speaking to him, his voice quiet.

Jaypaw padded up to Nightpaw, who was baring her teeth at Dovecall. "Stop that." Jaypaw scolded gently. "We don't want to provoke them, Nightpaw."

Nightpaw's stumpy tail waved in the air, and she trailed her eyes to her paws. Dovecall looked back up at Redstar quickly.

"Dovecall, Bearpaw." Redstar rumbled. His eyes were slits and his tail was lashing.

"It's actually Bearclaw." Bearclaw scoffed. Jaypaw felt her fur fluff up. How could Bearclaw just...speak up like that?

Redstar glared down at the young warrior, his eyes flaring with anger. "Yes...Bearclaw and Dovecall."

Dovecall took a step forwards, brushing her fur as she walked between Nightpaw and Sageleaf. Nightpaw growled at her, and Leafpaw raised her hackles in fear of her mentor. Jaypaw put her tail over Leafpaw's flank, brushing it lightly to calm the ThunderClan she-cat down.

"Redstar, if I may speak..." She began, raising her gaze to the ShadowClan leader.

"Go ahead, Dovecall. Speak." Redstar allowed, his eyes glinting with curiousity now. Jaypaw pricked her ears, turning her head.

Badgerheart was exiting the nursery, her belly heavy with kits. Newtspeckle was leaving the warriors den to comfort his mate.

Dawnberry, Pinewhisker and Tawnyeyes were poking out of the warriors den, eyes slits and ears flat. Jaypaw could swear she saw Pinewhisker's claws unsheath.

Blackpaw and Wolfpaw shivered as they exited the apprentices' den, locking eyes with Jaypaw as they noticed the ThunderClan cats.

Jaypaw snapped back to her senses as Dovecall began. Leafpaw had put her tail over Jaypaw's flank.

"Hazelstar would like some of your...territory. She is willing to not fight if you will give it over." Dovecall began warily, eyes trailing to her paws.

"But if you refuse, Hazelstar has sworn to fight." Amberstorm finished, his eyes gleaming. Jaypaw had nearly forgotten he was there.

Leafpaw and Jaypaw exchanged a glance, and it was like Jaypaw could hear Leafpaw's thoughts.

One day, we'll have to fight each other. One day our Clans will go to war, and we'll have to be loyal to our own Clan.

Leafpaw's eyes glittered with worry as she looked back to Redstar. Jaypaw knew she was scared, and Jaypaw was scared too.

Redstar bared his teeth. "Never! ShadowClan will not  give their own territory away for ThunderClan!"

Warriors yowled in agreement, and Jaypaw turned to see Leafpaw's ears flatten in fear, whiskers quivering.

"ShadowClan will never surrender!" Dawnberry called.

"ThunderClan is weak to ask for territory!" Pinewhisker yowled.

Even Cedarfall and Ivyberry had joined in, and Jaypaw could see Cedarfall narrowing his eyes at her.

Leafpaw scurried towards Dovecall, tail fluffed up. Jaypaw knew it must be terrifying to be in unfamiliar territory, in an unfamiliar Clan camp, with cats you didn't know yelling at you.

Jaypaw even saw Wolfpaw from the corner of her eye. The dark gray apprentice was yowling in agreement with the rest of the Clan, alongside his brother Blackpaw.

When the noise had quieted down, Redstar spoke again. "Leave, ThunderClan. Leave, and never return. We will be ready for a fight, and if you don't show up, we will."

Jaypaw felt shivers go down her spine as the patrol turned and left, Leafpaw scuttling behind the warriors.

Nightpaw let out a little growl as they left, and Redstar began to smooth his ruffled fur. "Dawnberry, Tawnyeyes," he called. "Go make sure they are off our territory."

The two warriors nodded and ran off, out of the ShadowClan camp. Jaypaw's paws felt numb as she padded to the fresh-kill pile to grab a meal.

Nipping a frog by the scruff, Jaypaw dragged it to the apprentices den. Tired and stressed, Jaypaw went straight to her nest.

Blackpaw turned to look at her. "You okay?" He asked, his eyes full of concern. Jaypaw only shrugged and took a bite of her frog.

"Are you sure?" Blackpaw pressed. He was padding closer to Jaypaw now. "You don't look okay...maybe tell Rowantail you need a day off?"

Jaypaw flicked Blackpaw in the head with her tail. Not hard, but enough to know he needed to back away.

Blackpaw took a few steps back, his eyes completely clouded with worry now. "Fine, fine. Just try to get some sleep, okay?"

Jaypaw only muttered her response. "Yeah, yeah...I will." She took a second bite of her prey, her tail tip twitching irritably.

She heard Wolfpaw turn and fall into his nest, followed by the sounds of purring.

Oh, StarClan...Why does my life have to be like this? First Tigerpaw, then Leafpaw...And now ThunderClan's making it so much worse...