Chapter 10

     Jayfeather was on his way to Firestar's den when he heard a yowl from below. He pricked is ears. Riverclan was attacking!

     Were Snowpaw and Hollypaw still out there? they hadn't any battle training yet, they couldn't be in this battle. He pinpointed them by their scent and shoved them inside the apprentice den. "You stay here," he hissed. "You have to keep yourself safe."

     Jayfeather hurried to his own den. He knew he was safe because warriors couldn't attack medicine cats, but he had to be cautious. He sat near the entrance, listening carefully. If any Thunderclan warriors were badly injured, he would go out there and bring them in.
     Lionblaze was fighting Petalfur. Jayfeather realized that this was one of the cats Lionblaze had journeyed with once, surly he wouldn't hurt her? A yelp from Petalfur told him he wouldn't. As Jayfeather listened closer, he realized with horror that Mistystar was there too. This isn't a battle, he thought miserably. This is a war. 

     Silence greeted the clearing at Firestar's yowl. Jayfeather cautiously padded out. "Mistystar, what is this?" Firestar's voice rang out. 

     "What do you think?" Mistystar challenged. "We are attacking you, that's what."

     Firestar's annoyance prickled him like thorns. "Should I ask why you are attacking us?" Firestar asked, obviously barely keeping himself from lunging at her.

     "Only if you want to know!" Mistystar taunted.

     "I'd never have expected this from you, Mistystar," Firestar said before throwing himself at her. 

     Jayfeather gasped. This wasn't the leader he knew. Firestar was always patient and calm. He could feel the rest of the clan's bewilderment too.

     Rather than starting the fight again, all the cats stared at the wrestling pair. Finally Jayfeather heard Firestar's voice. "I've got you pinned down, Mistystar. Will you continue to attack or do you want to talk first as the cat I once knew?"

     Mistystar hissed in annoyance and pushed Firestar off. "Well? Where is your den? I'd like to talk to you privately, if you don't mind."

     "Of course," Firestar said. "Jayfeather, I want you here!" he called.

     He scrambled to his paws. "O-of course, Firestar." He ran after them. He passed by Lionblaze, who seemed to be angry that he got to listen. Well I'm the medicine cat. I hold more importance than you, Jayfeather thought.

     The two cats didn't wait for him. As Jayfeather burst in, he noticed they were already talking. He settled down in one corner of the den.

     "I still don't get why you were attacking. I thought Riverclan didn't have that relationship with us?" Firestar was asking.

     "Neither did Windclan until Onestar became leader. And he used to be your friend when he was just a warrior," Mistystar snapped.

     Firestar flinched. Jayfeather had always known that he missed his easy friendship with the Windclan leader.
 "So?" he hissed angrily.

     Jayfeather was surprised by what she said next. Mistystar sighed. "I was hoping you would understand out of all the cats in the forest." Firestar flicked his tail as Mistystar went on. "Riverclan doubts me. They have been wanting to attack for a long time and I kept stopping them. They think that I won't because of Bluestar and you."

     "They really think that?" Firestar asked, not seeming surprised. Jayfeather wondered why.

     "You think they are any better? After similar happened with you as well?" Jayfeather wondered what Mistystar was talking about. 

     He entered Firestar's memories. He seemed much smaller, Jayfeather realized that this must be Firestar when he joined as an apprentice. Firestar was standing on a large rock, along with Bluestar and Lionheart.

     "He is a kittypet! Look at his collar!" a voice called. Jayfeather looked around, wondering who was speaking. With a jolt he realized that the cat daring to speak was Longtail, standing between Tigerstar and Darkstripe. 

     Looking back at Firestar, he saw Lionheart whispering something in his ear. Firestar moved a little, and scanned the cats. Then before Jayfeather could figure out what he was doing, Firestar launched himself at Longtail. 

     The two cats wrestled like equals, and Jayfeather suddenly noticed that Firestar couldn't  breathe because Longtail was pulling his collar off. Then it snapped, and the two cats stared at it. Then Longtail washed his ear, which had been torn by Firestar.

     Jayfeather couldn't help feeling satisfied. Even before Firestar had done any training, he had defeated Longtail. He would have liked to go and talk to Longtail about this, but sadly he was dead.

     The memory vanished, and Jayfeather snapped back to the present.

     "Firestar?" Mistystar was asking.

     "I do understand, but does that mean you have to attack to prove yourself?" Firestar asked. There was no anger or challenge to his voice, but only concern. But you attacked Longtail! Jayfeather thought.

     He could feel Firestar's stare burn into his pelt. He probably knew what he had just been doing.

     "Yes," Mistystar replied, then padded out before he could say anything.

     Firestar turned to Jayfeather. "Sometimes I wish you would stop that."

     "Doesn't everyone?" Jayfeather muttered. 

     Firestar must have known that Jayfeather was confused by the memory, because he said, "I'll talk to you in my den after the battle, okay?"

     Jayfeather nodded, then said, "Be safe, Firestar. I know you are on your last life." Jayfeather padded out after him, but stayed up on the Highledge. It seemed like the best place to stay for a while. 

     The battle seemed vicious. Jayfeather's heart lurched when he sensed Smokepaw drop to the ground. He rushed down carefully, then grabbed his scruff. Jayfeather dragged the apprentice into his den, trying to avoid the angry cats.

     Jayfeather sniffed his body over, then stopped when he reached his neck. He felt his neck with his paw, and was alarmed when he found a tear in the cat's neck. Starclan, please don't let him die! Jayfeather fetched cobwebs and carefully wrapped them around Smokepaw's neck.

     He rushed out back into the fighting cats.These cats must really want us dead, Jayfeather realized as he heard more hurt cats. 

     Jayeather was about to go and get Poppyfrost out of the fight when he felt pain shooting through his back. He wheeled around and breathed in her scent. "Petalfur!" he gasped.

     "Oh, so you know my name, Jayfeather?" she hissed as swiping her claws across his nose. 

     "I'm a medicine cat, you can't attack me!" Jayfeather said, trying to ignore the pain and stand his ground.

     "Watch me," she hissed again. "I mean hear me," she laughed, mocking him. Petalfur took another swipe at Jayfeather's face before jumping on him and pinning him down. 

     Jayfeather struggled to free himself, but the she-cat kept a firm hold. "Why?" he asked.

     "What do you mean why?" she countered before lunging towards his neck with wide jaws. Suddenly Jayfeather felt the weight being knocked off him. Lionblaze!

     "What do you think you're doing?" his brother hissed at Petalfur. "Jayfeather, can't you keep yourself safe?" Lionblaze turned back to the cat and sprang at her.

     Jayfeather turned around and trudged back into his den, his face and back burning. His back was worse than his face. She had had the advantage of surprise to get in a nasty cut. Jayfeather let himself collapse once back into safety.

     He was confused. Why had Petalfur tried to kill him? She had always seemed nice. And the hatred coming from Lionblaze had given him the clue that he would have liked to kill him, but Lionblaze just saved him. Why?

     "Jayfeather?" a voice sounded. he realized that Smokepaw must be awake. Forcing himself to his paws, he rushed over to him.

     "Yes Smokepaw?" he asked. "Are you okay?"

     "I'm fine, but-" There was a pause. "What happened to you?" 

     Jayfeather didn't know how to respond. "It isn't for all ears." Thankfully Smokepaw understood because he just nodded and closed his eyes. Or maybe he was just in pain.

     "Jayfeather!" He heard a gasp just outside his den. 

     Jayfeather went out and helped Mousewhisker in. His shoulder smelled heavily of blood. "Wait here," he instructed, flicking his tail at a nest. He went and got some cobwebs, poppy seeds, and chervil. "Did you clean the wound?"

     Mousewhisker shook his head and leaned over to lick his shoulder. After a few moments he looked up.

      "This will sting," Jayfeather warned, then chewed up the chervil and spat it out on Mousewhisker's shoulder. The waves of pain coming from him were great. When Mousewhisker finally relaxed, Jayfeather pressed the cobwebs onto him. He got out a leaf and placed the poppy seeds on them. "Here, eat these." The warrior did as he was told and then closed his eyes and fell asleep.

     Jayfeather wondered if he should go out there and look for any other injured cats. But what if Petalfur is stil there? I'm sure Lionblaze wouldn't have killed her. He decided to just sit down and wait. The yowls from outside were ringing loud in his head. He almost didn't hear Smokepaw.

     "Jayfeather?" He snapped his attention to the injured apprentice. "I know you won't tell me why you are hurt. But I'm sure you can tell me why you aren't going to take care of yourself?"

     Jayfeather sighed. He knew Smokepaw was right. But he would first care for the other warriors, only then would he heal his own wounds. 

     Ears pricked, Jayfeather tried to figure out what was going on out in the clearing. Suddenly he heard Mistystar's yowl. "Retreat!" There was a rush of pawsteps, and then all was silent. Jayfeather bounded out, sniffing the air. Everyone seemed to be fine. He sat down right outside his den, waiting to see if any cat would come to him.

     "I'll talk to you later," he heard a murmur in his ear. "Where we always used to meet," Lionblaze continued. He must have noticed Jayfeather's confusion, because he said, "I haven't forgotten what you said," his voice cold.

     Jayfeather was about to respond when with his powerful hearing, he heard a faint yowl. He nodded to Lionblaze and rushed off in the direction it came from. He found himself creeping along the side of the Highledge. Snowpaw! Snowpaw was here. He crept along further, and found himself in a bush. Behind the bush was a mini clearing... and Snowpaw and Petalfur. 

     Petalfur was attacking her, and since Snowpaw had no battle training, she was trying to avoid her blows. Jayfeather listened in horror as Petalfur injured Snowpaw. There was no time to go get a warrior to help, Jayfeather had to save her now. He positioned himself to spring.

     He heard Snowpaw gasp in pain. Now! he thought, and jumped out. He lunged at Petalfur. "Get Lionblaze!" he hissed to Snowpaw.

     "Of course," Petalfur taunted. "You need your brother's help to keep you alive. I hope no Riverclan cat is born blind." Her words angered Jayfeather and he swiped at her ears. 

     She ducked easily and sprung at him, knocking him down. Her paws battered into his belly hard, him wincing when she stepped back. He staggered to his paws. He tried to pinpoint her by her scent but through pain he couldn't.

     "Think you're so great, do you?" he heard behind him before falling to the ground as a large weight hit him. He thought it was her, but then he realized there were large rocks around here too.

     Jayfeather struggled to try to get to his paws. He gasped as she hit him, sending him tumbling straight into a thorn bush. He pulled himself out, with only a few thorns stuck in his side, thankfully none in his neck. Jayfeather staggered a couple of steps towards her. He was close to keeling over in exhaustion.

     Petalfur pounced on him, pinning him down. His body convulsed greatly as he felt thorn sharp claws digging into his shoulders before he fell limp.