Chapt 42

Jayfeather yawned. He had just fallen asleep when a paw prodded his side.
"What? I was just chasing this huge mouse and-" He stopped when he realized he could see.
"It's time for a telling!" A she-cat he didn't recognise stood over him. Her words were strange, but they reminded him of the tribe.
"Come on Jay's Wing! We're going to be late!" She poked him again. Jay's Wing! I must be back with the tribes around the lake! Jayfeather pushed himself to his paws, and followed the white she-cat to a clearing. Brambles hung around the sides, and Jayfeather realized that this must be the center of the camp.
"I wonder if it's about Fringed Eagle," Jayfeather remembered the white she-cat as Half Moon, and that she loved Jay's Wing. Her pelt brushed his, and had to control himself so he wouldn't back away from her.
"One of our Sharpclaw's has seen Fringed Eagle lurking around the lake again. I call upon the sky, wind, earth, and fire to tell us what to do!" The leader, Furled Bracken was his name, shouted to the tribe. The tribe in turn yowled their agreement. A puddle in the middle of the clearing rippled with wind, and Furled Bracken's eyes were round.
"I have seen what must be done. I must kill Fringed Eagle, he does not deserve to rest with our deceased tribemates, or us." Jayfeather looked at Half Moon, she had the same confused expression on her face.
"Haven't you tried to kill him before?" Jayfeather whispered. She nodded, still mystified.
"Then how is this going to work?" Jayfeather rasped. Half Moon turned to him, her eyes wide.
"Are you okay? You seem kind of off today? I mean, you were in the attack to kill Fringed Eagle," Half Moon mewed quietly into his ear. Jayfeather shrugged.
"Come on, let's go see Swimming Duck for something, if he's not at her den than we'll see Flapping Wings." She herded Jayfeather toward a bushel of wild flowers. A young, pretty brown she-cat poked her head out of the flowers.
"Hello Flowing River. Is Swimming Duck in there?" Half Moon gestured to where the she-cat has just exited.
"Yes, he is sorting herbs right now. Nothing wrong, I hope?" She mewed cheerfully. Half Moon explained how she thought Jay's Wing was acting a bit strange. Flowing River nodded and let them pass.
"Swimming Duck?" Half Moon called in. A few heart beats later an old wiry white tom poked his head out, and looked from Half moon to Jay's Wing with squinted eyes. His eyes were clouded with confusion, then cleared a moment later.
"Yes, what's the matter?" His voice cracked.
"Jay's Wing seems to be a little confused lately. I was wondering of there was anything you could give him?" Half Moon explained. Swimming duck nodded thoughtfully.
"The only thing I can say to do is sleep. You can sleep here tonight, so those lively softpaws don't wake you." Jayfeather nodded.
"I guess I'll leave you here than," Half Moon murmured. Her pelt brushed against his, as she walked out of the flowers. Jayfeather settled down, wrapping his gray tail around his nose. His eyes closed for a moment, than opened them as the leader, Furled Bracken walked back in.
"Jay's Wing, I want you, Stone Song, and Shy Fawn to help attack Fringed Eagle. We will leave tomorrow at dusk." Furled Bracken mewed. The ginger tom turned to talk quietly with Swimming Duck. Jayfeather was excited to be chosen to go on such an important mission! Then he grew worried, he had only ever had battle training when he was a young apprentice! How would he remember any of what Brightheart had taught him?
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"Hi, Half Moon. Would you like to practice some battle moves with me?" Jayfeather walked up to his tribemates who were eating around the fresh kill pile. The white she-cat looked up, her eyes shining.
"Of course!" She exclaimed. It was almost sunhigh in the camp, Jayfeather felt refreshed after his long sleep. The two cats padded to the other side of the camp, which was empty.
"Are you ready?" Half Moon mewed, padding across from him. Jayfeather nodded. Half Moon ran in front of him, and swiped her sheathed claws down his nose. These moves were similar to Windclan's fighting style, but strangely different. Jayfeather ran toward her,head butted her, and knocked her off her paws. Half Moon grunted, as she got up, and snarled. She raced back towards him, and Jayfeather extended a paw to trip her, but she dodged to the other side and nipped at his hind leg. Jayfeather whipped around and leaped at her. She dodged to her side, leaving Jayfeather to land awkwardly on one side. Jayfeather heaved himself upward just as Half Moon landed on his shoulders. Jayfeather reared back on his hind legs, sending Half Moon to slide off him. She landed on her back, Jayfeather pounced on her, holding her down with both paws.
"That was great!" Half Moon purred. Jayfeather let her up as Furled Bracken padded up to both of them.
"I was watching your scuffle there. I think you could use a little more practice before we go out tonight. Go with Stone Song and Fallen Leaves to the training area." The dark ginger tom mewed. Jayfeather nodded.
"What about me?" Half Moon mewed.
"You can go with them, Half Moon." Furled Bracken instructed. The two cats nodded. Jayfeather remembered that Stone Song was Fallen Leave's father. Fallen Leaves must still be a softpaw, and Jayfeather knew he must say nothing about his death in the tunnels.
"Come, they are about to leave." Half Moon rushed past him to the two cats exiting the camp. Half Moon called to them and explained Furled Bracken's instructions.
"Sounds good to me." Stone Song mewed warmly. Fallen Leaves nodded.
"He's about to become a Sharpclaw," Half Moon whispered into his ear,"I bet he's nervous about the tunnels." Jayfeather nodded. Two she-cats entered the camp, almost running into Jayfeather. One cat was Jay's Wing's sister, Dove's Wing. She had a mouth full of fresh kill. The other cat was a tortoiseshell with amber eyes. She had a rabbit in her jaws, trailing between her legs. Dove's Wing nodded to the group of cats, before walking off to set her fresh kill down.
"How's the prey running Dawn River?" Fallen Leave's mewed politely. The older she-cat mewed something that sounded like,"Betty rood," before trotting off to put her fresh kill down. The group of four cats set off for the training area, and began to practice.
"Fallen Leave's, I want you to try and get to the bush over there," Stone Song pointed to a large elder bush,"While Half Moon and Jay's Wing try and stop you. Remember the move I taught you the other day where you fake out your opponent." Fallen Leaves nodded as he positioned himself in the clearing. Jayfeather did the same on the other side, standing next to Half Moon. Stone Song yowled for it to start. Fallen Leaves raced between the pair, then turned swiftly to Jayfeather. Fallen Leaves' white paw shot out and tripped Jayfeather over himself. Half Moon leaped over Jayfeather, and landed on Fallen Leaves' back, just as she had done earlier to Jayfeather. Jayfeather scrambled to his paws and began batting at Fallen Leaves' ears with sheathed claws. Fallen Leaves twisted around, bit Half Moon, and scrambled out from under her. Jayfeather raced after him before her could tackle the bush. Grabbing him by the scruff, Jayfeather hauled him back. Fallen Leaves suddenly over powered him, flipped him onto his back and began to swipe at his face. Jayfeather used his powerful hind legs to kick at his stomach and throw him off. Half Moon appeared out of no where, pinned Fallen Leaves down. Jayfeather put a paw on his shoulder, helping to keep him down.
"Good work you two. You would be hard to beat in a battle." Stone Song mewed,"Fallen Leaves you did well too. Let's practice that move you did in the beginning when you split them up and turned on to one. Now when you run between them, be careful that you don't run into claws and teeth. You want to surprise them, so if they know what your going to do, try and change it up. Run into just one, like you did before. Jay's Wing and Half Moon, stand where you stood before so Fallen Leave's ca practice it again." Stone Song instructed. Jayfeather positioned himself in the middle of the clearing, as Half Moon padded up to his side.
"This time, we should try and block him way through, maybe we could press closer together?" Half Moon whispered as Stone Song explained the plan to Fallen Leaves once more.
"Maybe," Jayfeather mewed despondently. He was focused on the clans right now. He could be helping them, not these long dead group of cats. He should be back in the medicine den.
"Okay, now attack!" Stone Song's command forced him back to the training area. Fallen Leaves was racing toward them at full speed. Half Moon pressed closer against Jayfeather's side, so close that Jayfeather could feel her heart pounding in her chest. A split second before Fallen Leaves rammed into them, he jumped over the pair, landing behind them. Whirling around, Jayfeather saw Fallen Leaves jump straight in the air, landing on both Jayfeather and Half Moon. Jayfeather twisted himself onto his back, kicked Fallen Leaves off, and stood up. Half Moon did the same. Fallen Leaves yowled in fury as he launched himself at Jayfeather. Jayfeather jumped in the air, meeting Fallen Leaves midair, and pushed him down with his front paws. Half Moon met him on the ground, pounding him with her front paws. Jayfeather landed on Fallen Leaves' shoulders, nipping at his ears. Fallen Leaves clawed at Half Moon, making her leap back. The white and orange tabby rolled onto his back, crushing Jayfeather under his weight. The gray tom released his grip, letting Fallen Leaves get away and reach the elder bush.
"Great job Fallen Leaves!" Stone Song purred proudly.
"Thanks," Fallen Leaves gasped. Jayfeather was exhausted, he hadn't had a training session in moons.
"I'll tell Furled Bracken, and we'll see when you can have your Sharpclaw ceremony," Stone Song promised,"Now let's go have some fresh kill."
"Can we hunt on the way back?" Half Moon called up.
"Sure, we could always go for some more fresh kill for the elders. I don't think Leaping Frog is ever full!" Stone Song joked. Fallen Leaves and Half Moon let out a mrrrow of amusement and trotted after the kind Sharpclaw. Jayfeather trotted after them, yawning as he went.