~Jay~

Memories flooded back to me, water sucking me down again and again. The water burning my lungs as I fought against the current, my paws flailing as the water carried me. My head dazed as it was smashed against a rock. My body clutching onto consciousness as it failed.

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    I groaned as I shifted, everything was numb. Paws were heard next to me.

"Jay." A voice whispered, I looked up. It was Leaf.

"Leaf!" I cried as I nuzzled her. She laughed, 

"Look." She chuckles averting her gaze. I looked behind me. Joy and Whisper running back. Joy's face stained with tears. 

"They need you Jay." Leaf pointed out. My mouth stood agape.

"No-...I- I just....I'm dead." I say, "at least I think so." I touch my transparent fur. 

"You're not, you're just unconscious." Leaf states, looking back down. I look down myself, I see myself laying down beside the river. My chest slowly rising and falling. 

"How do I go back?" I ask, cocking my head at the former Deputy.

"You don't need to know." 

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My limbs ached as they moved, my legs dangling on edge of the lake. My fur clustered and battered from my ride of the thrashing water. I moved once more, dragging my cold body on the forest floor as I chewed up herbs, rubbing the leaf on my aching frame.

"This should numb the pain." I say through clenched teeth to myself. My ears perk up.

"No time to lose." I pipe up, my limbs shaking as they struggled to support my body. After what seem like moons of stumbling and getting back up again I managed to stand up. I ran, ignoring the pain and how tired my legs were. Running through were Strike and I brawled. Through the forest Firepack raised me in. To the camp.

I hid in the trees, ducking as I watched foxes of Firepack and Frostpack battle. I see Night talking to Joy. Whisper fighting off the Frostpack foxes.

"Where's Jay?" Night asked Joy before she sprang into battle.

"Dead."

My blood ran cold, they think I'm dead....I wasn't dead. Thanks to Leaf. I shook my head as Joy barreled with Thrush. The tan Frostpack member pinning down Joy. My ears flattened against my head, I ignored the pain as I leapt from my hiding spot. Head butting Thrush as I slashed my claws barely over his eyes. He yelled in defiance, punting me and panting under my grip.

"Jay." Joy's voice carried disbelief.

"So Joy." I started, looking at the white hunter.

"Who's dead?" I joked as I brought my paw down on Thrush's throat, the He choking. Joy flashed me a smile before disappearing into battle. I turn my attention to Thrush.

"Where were we?" I growl, his eyes narrow as he bites down on my paw. Causing me to release my grip. He twisted around, aiming to claw at my stomach. I maneuver around the He, clamping my jaws on the larger He's scruff. He yelped as he spun around with force, knocking my off my paws. I grunted as my back met with the ground. He gave an evil laugh.

"You're dead." he chuckled. Thrush brought his unsheated paw up, ready to strike. I closed my eyes as I braced myself to feel the burning sensation of claws.dogging in my skin. I yowl booms across the clearing, it catches everyone's attention. Birds caw as they glide away in fear. I snap open my eyes to be met with the corpse of Fang. 

"F-Fang." Thrush breathed, darting over to the leader. I saunter to the black fox.Fang's eyes that usually were blazing with fire were now dull and lifeless.

"Fang." I said with disbelief.

"Foxes of all packs." Night bellowed stepping towards Fang's corpse.

"To fulfill the prophecy we must work together." Night announced. Murmurs lf agreement ran through the crowd. Night opened his mouth to continue not before a howl rang in the camp. The clicks of boomsticks ringing my ears.

"On three, shoot." a voice whispered.

"Bald pelts! From the trees!" I yowl, foxes take action as they took cover in the woods. Attacking the bald pelts from behind.

A chorus of bald pelt yells dwindled in the distance. A growl rumbling.

"Go, dog." a hunter commanded. My blood ran cold. A familiar scent crossed my nose.

"It's Layka!" I yelped.

The terrier appeared from behind the trees, the foxes attacking her head on as she threw her head back to howl. The assassins darted from their hiding spots as they tackled the foxes.

"Scribble!" I call. The young tan trainee dashes around the battling foxes.

"Jay!" he gasped. I wagged my tail at the He.

"Go get Sunpack and Leafpack. Know where they are?" I aksed as my ear twitched. Scribble nodded eagery.

"Go then! Be safe and as fast as you can. I'm counting on you!" I barked as Scribble ran off.

"Stand together!" Joy's desperate voice bellowed. Foxes swarmed the assasins, hunters and Layka as they growled in defense. A battlecry echos around.

"Already?" I laugh as Leafpck and Sunpack leap on the opponents, others joining in as the intruders withdrew back into the forest.

I watch them dart away in arrogance and pride.

"Kit." Night says from behind. I ten around to grin at my leader.

"Hi...He." I joke. He nuzzles me,

"Welcome home." he smiles, howls of happiness come from all packs.

"Jay!" Ice bounces up to me.

"I'm joining Sunpack!" He announced. My lips peeled upward to a smile.

"Glad to hear that!" I say with a laugh.

"Is Strike going to be leader?" I asked Night. To my misfortune he nods.

"Yes, though Strike is an ambitious fox, if Frostpack has no leader we will fall." he explains.

"Makes sense."

Night bounces up the high stone. Holding his chin high as he spoke.

"We've achieved The Silver Flame!"