Ashwings legacy

Chapter 8

   Ashwing scanned the clearing of Thunderclan camp for a specific cat he wanted to speak with. It was warm, just before sunset, and a cool breeze flowed through the camp. It was also the night of the gathering, where he would announce who he wanted to accompany him on his journey.
He soon spotted the golden pelt of Lionblaze, his kin, emerging from the warriors den and quickly trotted over to him. "Hey Lionblaze!" He calls as he approaches.
   Lionblaze perks his ears and turns to face him. "Hey Ashwing, what's up?" The bulky warrior smiles warmly at him. Ashwing needed to tell them the truth about his mother, Hollyleaf, who was Lionblaze and Jayfeathers sister. As far as they knew, she had died alone when the tunnels collapsed during the great battle.
   "Can you come with me to the medicine den? I need to tell you something and it's about you and Jayfeather." He says.
   Lionblaze suddenly looks nervous, he hesitates but nods. Ashwing leads them to the medicine den where Jayfeather is sorting herbs. He sees a pile of older, wilted looking leaves off to the side. Carefully stepping around them, he opens his mouth to speak but Jayfeather speaks first. "Lionblaze, Ashwing, what do you two want?" He says in his apparently usual cold tone.
   Jayfeather was described by everyone Ashwing talked to as grumpy and sometimes a little rude. It seemed like they were right. "I need to speak with you and Lionblaze, it's very important." He says, a knot forming in his throat as he prepares himself for what he's about to tell them.
   Jayfeather must have sensed the seriousness is his tone because he quickly set his herbs aside and sat down facing him and Lionblaze. "What is it?" He says flatly.
   "It's about Hollyleaf..." he pauses, taking a deep breath.
   "Does she have a message for us? Is she alright?" Lionblazes loud, sudden, worried meow makes him flinch a little. Jayfeather shoots him a nasty glare, and Lionblaze calms down. "Sorry, please continue."
   Ashwing understood lionblazes concern, after all, they have no idea what happened to her. "No it's not that... I just, before she died, she gave birth to a single kitten. Unfortunately this was during the great battle, and the tunnels collapsed on her and the kit, killing them both..." He paused to look up at the two toms.
   Lionblaze seemed horrified, while Jayfeather looked angrily down at his paws. Ashwings throat suddenly felt dry, but he continued. "They both arrived in Starclan, and Hollyleaf was given a choice... she chose to sacrifice her soul in order to give her kitten the chance to grow and age and in Starclan..."
   He paused once more and watched as realization crossed lionblazes features, his eyes wide and jaw agape. "Are you saying... that you're..."
   "You're Hollyleafs son." Jayfeather finished for him. Staring at Ashwing with his glossy, sightless eyes. "Yes... yes I am." He said, his voice cracking with emotion.
   He screwed his eyes shut and hung his head. I'd understand if they resented me... she sacrificed herself for me, and now neither of these two will ever be able to see her, even in Starclan... he was broken from his thoughts as he felt a thick fluffy pelt leaning against him. He opens his eyes and saw the golden pelt of Lionblaze on his right side. Suddenly, a thinner, more sleek pelt leaned against his left side. Jayfeather stood there, his eyes closed as if deeply contemplating something.  Lionblaze spoke up, his voice thick with passion. "Hollyleaf was everything to us... knowing that she still lives on through you is enough for us. Right Jay?"
   Ashwing turned to Jayfeather who was avoiding eye contact. He only grunted in response, but Ashwing could tell it was a grunt of agreement. Ashwing relished in the warmth of his kin. They shared that moment for a while until Jayfeather cleared his throat loudly. "Anyway, if we're done with the sappy stuff, I need to finish sorting these herbs so please leave." He said, his voice final.
   Lionblaze sighed and with a grin, turned to leave. Ashwing blinked between the brothers before quickly following Lionblaze out. As he left he caught Owlnose glancing at him from across the camp. He's a great candidate. He's young like me but he's smart, and thinks quickly. He thought.
He'd already narrowed down his candidates to a few cats, and Owlnose was one of them. He really couldn't find anything bad about him other than his lack of experience due to his young age, but Ashwing couldn't really hold that against him as he wasn't much older. He decided to find a quiet place out in the forest where he can really consider his options before the coming gathering. He nodded at the cat standing watch at the entrance as he left, thoughts of his coming choice starting to really weigh on him. I'm gonna be taking away cats from their home, their kin, and their lives... I have to make the right choice, for their sake.