Chapt 38

Jayfeather was still thinking about the medicine den. He knew something was there. Something that was full of importance. Something that could help them win this war. He paced back and forth, muttering to himself. He wished he could see, something that Starclan was trying to show him or something that he knew in his mind somewhere. He could feel it kneeding at his paws and yearning for him to figure it out.
"Jayfeather, Hollyleaf is calling a meeting," Willowshine whispered. When Hollyleaf held a meeting, everyone had to be silent and looking at her, or someone would die.
"Hello clan cats. As you can see, I haven't killed anyone yet. But prey is hard to come by in Leafbare as you all know, and my warriors need to stay strong. They will eat most of the fresh-kill, but you can have what ever is left. Right now we have a mouse and a sparrow. Enjoy." Gasps of horror erupted from the clan cats as the cruel captive padded away.
"We can't live on this!" A voice whispered.
"We'll all die before New Leaf!" Someone else shrieked. Jayfeather knew that he had to remember what was on his mind. He thought harder as Bramblestar let out a commanding yowl.
"We must give the prey to the queens, kits, and elders. Share evenly. Anything left over will be shared to the apprentices and warriors. Jayfeather and Willowshine, is there anything you can do for us?"
"I can make strengthening herbs," Willowshine mewed.
"Good, both of you make enough herbs for the queens, kits and elders. Once again, all left overs will be given to the apprentices and warriors." Jayfeather nodded and began to make the herbs. Thankfully, they had restocked their supplies before this happened. They had enough herbs for everyone, and more. He distributated the herbs and began to think again. He sensed something in the back of the den, where he kept herbs. The pushed his way through the medicine den, which was full of cats. It was very dirty and he didn't go one step without having his paws stepped on. Finally he was in the back of the den. Wind blew from the back, which was odd because the sheer stone walls were there. Jayfeather sniffed at the fresh air, he hadn't been outside the den in a few days. Wondering where this wind was coming from, he squeezed between two rocks and slowly climbed up the wall. It was laden with rocks like steps, but the high wall of the medicine den blocked the view to the clearing. He could climb up, but no one would see him! Jayfeather almost yowled in victory, finally figuring out his thoughts. He ran back down the wall, back into the cramped den.
"Dovepelt, come here, now," Jayfeather hissed to the she-cat. Soon she was at his side.
"What is it?" She whispered.
"I found a way out of the medicine den, where no one can see you leave," He murmured back.
"Are you crazy? If anyone leaves many will die!" Her voice grew high with fear.
"No, you mousebrain! I need you to check it out for me, I can't see and you can hear better than anyone." He spat.
"Fine, show me where it is," Jayfeather went to the space between the rocks and showed her the gap.
"You're right, the rock goes straight up and there's no opening for anyone to see us. I'll have to see where the exit is, hold on." Jayfeather heard her scrabble up the rocks. Then it was silent. He sat and waited for her, hoping nothing bad had happened. Soon he heard the same scrabbling on the rocks and sat up.
"Jayfeather, it was amazing! It leads out of a tunnel in the middle of the forest! I couldn't even scent Dark Forest cats there, they must stay closer to the camp, it was wonderful." She purred. Jayfeather knew what this meant for the clans, freedom, food, and a battle strategy. He whisked around and quickly found the leaders, huddling in a corner, talking.
"...so we could attack here an-" Onestar was interrupted by Jayfeather.
"Dovepelt and I have found something important, something that may save the clans." He chattered quietly, careful to not let any unwanted ears hear.
"What did you find Jayfeather?" Mistystar mewed excitedly.
"Come with me, I'll show you," He trotted away again to show them the tunnel. Explaining it carefully and allowing the leaders to look at it themselves the cats all came to an agreement.
"We should use this for hunting. It's too risky to escape from it, it could collapse or we could be separated." Rowanstar mewed. Jayfeather nodded. The thought of more fresh kill for the clans and tribe would be great.
"We'll start it tonight. Dovepelt, you will be on the first patrol, since you have the best hearing." Bramblestar mewed.
"Shadowclan should go too, they are the best at night hunting," Rowanstar put in.
"And the Tribe, we are very sneaky. We dodge hawks and eagles all day," Stoneteller added.
"Okay then. Dovepelt pick a shadowclan cat and a tribe cat to leave at midnight. Stay close to the tunnel and be quick. Don't take more than one trip," Bramblestar added, " Be safe." The cats were dismissed. Jayfeather was satitisfied for the moment. He hadn't eaten since yesterday, but the herbs were working and he was growing tired. Yawning he found a place to sleep and curled himself into a ball.

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Jayfeatherpeirced his eyes. He must be dreaming. He was walking in a forest, but no forest he'd ever been to. His golden tabby fur shone in the sunlight. The large group of cats behind him were growing slower and slower with every pawstep. Looking around, Jayfeather could sense this wasn't himself. Strength flowed from every inch of his body, his broad shoulders brimmed with pride and confidence. Lionblaze! He must be in Lionblaze's thoughts, or at least his memories. Lionblaze was fine and with a big group of cats, possibly Skyclan! Jayfeather groaned inwardly at the thought of more cats in the den, but remembered that his brother was going to be killed first, He had to warn Lionblaze some how. Forcing himself to stop, he looked around for a bush. Finally he spotted the correct one and ran towards it. Red berries glistened in the daylight, dark green leaves that were pointed and sharp hung on the branches. Jayfeather carefully picked a few of the berries and plucked a few of his hairs. Dropping the hairs on the ground carefully, he squeezed the berries until the red juices covered them in a puddle. Plucking more hairs, he did the same thing. Finally, Jayfeather woke in the real world, surrounded by darkness. Jayfeather hoped his message was clear, that Hollyleaf would destroy him.
"Jayfeather, I need you to keep watch." Bramblestar hissed.
"Watch? I can't see Bramblestar, in case you've forgotten." Jayfeather mewed dryly.
"I mean you need to listen. You have the best hearing, apart of Dovepelt. Keep watch for Hollyleaf and her gang." Jayfeather nodded. A cold wind pushed his fur against him as he padded to the entrance of the den. He knew that two guards would keep watch of them, so he tried not to atract any attention to himself.
"Jayfeather, what are you doing?" A voice taunted from the entrance.
"I haven't been outside in days, I'm just trying to get a little fresh air," Jayfeather hissed back. The voice belonged to his former clanmate, Ivyshade.
"Get back with your clanmates, and if I see you again, I'll make you crowfood." Ivyshade retorted. Jayfeather hissed and meandered his way behind a few cats. Here he could clearly hear any approaching cat, but he was not in the open.
 Around him were emotions, but not all his own. Fear, worry, and a strange twinge of secrecy surmounted from the cramped cats. His belly grumbled, he had not had a share of the dwindling food supply. Hopefully if the plan worked, they would be fed by their own accord. No cat approached except for a change in guards.
"Jayfeather, come here," Onestar's quiet voice mewed. Jayfeather followed his voice to scent fresh kill. The patrols had come back with food!
"Here eat this vole, we can't eat too much or Hollyleaf will know somethings up," He murmured. Jayfeather quickly ate the small vole in famished gulps. It was thin and stringy, but anything would do in Leafbare.
"What should we do now?" Jayfeather whispered.
"I don't know, we're calling a meeting again now, come on." Onestar mewed. Jayfeather pushed past cats and made his way to the back of the medicine den, where they had all important meetings.
"Our plan was successful. We have fresh kill, but there's one question I would like to ask. When is this war going to end?" Mistystar mewed, not as if she was giving up, but more out of utter confusion.
"What do you mean? It will end when we kill Hollyleaf," Rowanstar answered.
"But then she'll just go straight back to the Dark Forest, and it will start all over again. If Starclan cats and Dark Forest cats can just keep battling then this war will never stop. We may as well give in," Mistystar whispered sadly.
"No, there must be a way to win. Some how we will succeed, however long it takes. One season or five hundred seasons. We will win this war," Bramblestar words were confident, but Jayfeather sensed that on the inside, the broad shouldered leader was as scared as a mewling kit. Jayfeather knew this question would soon  pop into the minds of the other cats. He would figure this out somehow, search his dreams, his thoughts, Starclan, the Dark Forest, anywhere. The answer was somewhere out there, waiting to be discovered, Jayfeather could feel it like the wind his fur. Suddenly, he knew one cat would know the answer. Rock.