Jayfeather's Choice

Chapter 12

"Rock, did the Tribe create the Clans?" Jayfeather asked. Rock froze, knowing that he had told something that probably shouldn't have been told.

"Well, you already know... there is no point in lying to you." Rock sighed. "You see what I am trying to prevent? Wind will die, and Gorse will be a vicious leader. There's no preventing this war, Jayfeather. Raising kits during a war was a bad idea."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Jayfeather felt Rock's distress. "Rock, has something happened to my kits"

"I won't tell you." Rock insisted fiercely.

Jayfeather closed his eyes and slipped into Rock's mind.

Poor Holly Leaf... meant to become a leader.... dead already...

Jayfeather felt a sudden sense of dread.

"No..." Jayfeather stumbled backwards, his throat closing up. Gray Wing had been a horrible leader, allowing kits to battle. He was almost as reckless as Wind.

"Holly Leaf..." Jayfeather collapsed to the ground, grief making his body tremble.

"I'm sorry, Jayfeather." Rock said sincerely. "I warned you that there would be consequences."

"I should have stayed!" Jayfeather shrieked hysterically. "I failed the Clans, and now I've failed as a father!"

--

Smokepaw couldn't focus on patrolling. Whenever she looked at Firelight, she couldn't help but see an old, crazed cat who was cursed to live for eternity instead of a young apprentice who had just became a medicine cat.

"Can't sleep?" Smokeblaze jumped at Lionblaze's voice.

"Yeah," Smokeblaze replied softly.

"I can't either. Ever since Jayfeather... left, the responsibility has been on me." Lionblaze smiled sadly. Smokeblaze wanted to scream out that he wasn't alone, that she was pressured with saving the Clans as well. But she would never be able to explain it all.

"Me too." Smokeblaze managed. Lionblaze stared at her quizzically.

"Let's just finish patrolling. Ivypool and Tigerheart are next, so you should wake them up a few minutes early."

They sat near the border in silence, watching for the slightest movement that could hint of an ambush. Smokeblaze watched as a rabbit bounced by, unaware of Lionblaze and Smokeblaze. Both made no attempt to catch it, too tired to do anything but watch.

Smokeblaze was reminded of WindClan as she watched the rabbit run away.

"Rabbits are the best," Onestar had once told her. "Their taste is just special from others, I don't know why I feel that way."

Onestar... Smokeblaze still couldn't believe he was dead. Once, she had believed that Onestar was the greatest warrior of all time. Now, she believed otherwise.

"Who killed him?" Smokeblaze couldn't hold her tongue- she had to know.

"TIgerstar." Lionblaze spat bitterly. "Onestar tried to defend Firestar, and he failed. Tigerstar killed them both."

"When the time comes, Tigerstar is mine." Smokeblaze stared into the distance, imagining the satisfaction of killing the one who had killed her mate.

Lionblaze laughed humorlessly.

"You really think you can fight Tigerstar?"

"Yes." Smokeblaze said confidently.

"He is stronger than you realize, Smokeblaze." Lionblaze shook his head. "He'll be especially vicious to you because of your... backround."

"What about my backround?" Smokeblaze demanded. "Am I not equal to you now? Does it even matter? Why are you Clan cats so biased towards kittypets?"

"Because kittypets are lazy," Lionblaze responded.

"Well, that's one reason Onestar is twice the warrior you'll ever be, even if you can't fall in battle." Smokeblaze turned away. "He saw past that."

Lionblaze was at a loss for words. He had no response, but sat in silence, thinking about his own mate, who was also dead.

Suddenly, a sudden rustling caught both cats' attention. Smokeblaze sprang to her paws and Lionblaze did the same soon after.

"We surrender!" Smokeblaze relaxed, but kept her guard up.

"Who are you?" she called.

"I'm Saing!" The cat sounded like a female. "Please, don't attack us! We just wanted to join in with your group to get revenge on the cats that have been terrorizing the community."

A mottled, brown and ginger she-cat stepped out of the bushes, followed by a white tom who looked similar to Blackstar had

"Are you Lionblaze?" Saing asked.

"Uh... yes?" Lionblaze sheathed his claws.

"We wanted to join your group. Learn how to fight, and help get rid of the Dark Forest cats that killed our friends and family."

"I'm Oolong, by the way."

"What in StarClan is oolong?" Lionblaze asked.

"It's a type of tea," Smokeblaze rolled her eyes. "I think it's originally from Asia."

"What's Asia?" Lionblaze asked.

"Nevermind," Smokeblaze said. "But, if you want to join... er, you're welcome to I guess. Mistystar won't be happy about being woken up though."

Saing stared at Smokeblaze for a moment. Then she spoke.

"I know you! You're Smokey! You came hear shortly after that large group of Clan cats came!"

"I was Smokey. My name is Smokeblaze now." Smokeblaze said indifferently.

"Once a kittypet, always a kittypet." Saing said. "That's what the striped cat said." Smokeblaze whirled around, claws unsheathed.

"Cats can change, missy. You better learn to hold your tongue, or things aren't going to-" 

"Smokeblaze!" Lionblaze hissed. "That is no way to welcome someone who could potentially be a new Clanmate!" 

Smokeblaze rolled her eyes, too angry with Lionblaze to talk to him. 

If only Onestar were here right now...

--

OANSJDHAJSDKJSA i am so sorry about the short chapter but i promise i will update at lest 2 more times this week to make up for it SHDJKSBABJDVBSADVK SAHFJGNASUIBGDIWAIG DUAEFYUWGDUWGYAS