Chapter 14: Thunder Falls

After the chill and the heat, the mountains entered into a period of rather consistent weather. In the morning the sun rose into a cloudless sky with hues of gold light dancing across the benign gray mountains. The shadows moved with the sun across the valley as the fireball heated the inhabitants.

By sun-high, clouds started moving across the sky. Feathery and few at first, they grew in size and number until the sun was in a constant game of hide-and-seek behind them. They also grew darker; from snowy white to eventually a dark gray.

Not long before dusk a rain shower would move through; lighting, thunder, and fierce winds not uncommon company to those showers. They didn't last too long and the winds carried them swiftly down the mountain and by twilight only a few trailing clouds remained. Leaving the valley dripping wet and refreshed.

The clouds continued to clear out over night, leaving the silver-dusted sky clear for the pleasure viewing of the creatures with more nocturnal instincts. The night was cool as a fresh spring brook and the senses were heightened by the refreshed feel of nature. The moon rose and set in its own time and all was reset for the next day.

Not more then two days had passed since Jay had narrowly escaped falling into Ash's play act and met up with Midnight. The night was as previously described, crisp and fresh, albeit a little brisk but perfectly silent with not even a faint whisper of wind; which was odd for the mountains.

Jay had met up with Amelia as she did every third night, but she found it difficult to sit still through the report. The grass was wet and uncomfortable to sit upon, the slate colored sky was interrupted only by the tiny specks of light that freckled it. The moon, more then a half-moon now and waxing toward full, seemed large and close at paw, sitting just at the peak of the northern mountain.

"Are you listening?" Amelia mewed, a bit impatiently.

Jay looked at her, thanks to the moon's light she could see everything on the open hillside, it had made her consider moving their meeting to beneath the trees where the shadows hid them. But not a thing stirred the silence or moved across the landscape. Not even Ash, whom she knew was skulking about on his own business.

"You were saying you have found the leaders of the cats controlling the pass?" Jay mewed, stifling a yawn of boredom. Her kits were shifting impatiently in her belly and she hoped to take a short walk before meeting up with Ash so that they would sleep soundly all night long. Not that she had much hope of sleep, a light repose was all she could hope for and was all she was used to.

"Yes. There are four cats who commonly take command. I even have figured out the chain of command," Amelia mewed, not waiting for Jay to respond as she continued on in her monotonous report. "The top cat's name is Brie, she's not very imposing in size but she isn't tiny either. Her fur is pale gray with black brindle stripes and she's got white paws, they're disproportionately wide, as all mountain cats' paws are, and she has green eyes."

"Doesn't sound like anything special," Jay grunted, "What about her age? From what the valley cats say, they're all fairly young."

"That is the case," Amelia agreed, "Mostly they're around your age, I would say none of them are more then seventeen moons old. Also, Brie has a littermate, a tom named Eagle. He doesn't resemble her very much besides being unimpressive in size; his fur is dark brown and not at all marked. His eyes are amber, nearly brown."

"And these are the two that have the most power in the group?" Jay affirmed.

Amelia nodded, the tips of her black ears sparkling in the moonlight and her amber eyes gleaming. "They are also the two who are most familiar with Python. I still haven't found their connection yet, so let me continue. The two others who often hold command are older then Eagle and Brie, but they all seem to be close friends. One of them is a tom named Salt, his fur is a creamy white and he is rather large for a mountain cat, nearly as large as Python and he is the one who does any battle training that the cats sometimes partake in."

"So they do train?" Jay mewed, a little surprised.

"Yes. They also hunt. They don't find very many cats that will pay their fee. Anyways, the cat who is on the lowest chain of command is a tom named Spot, he isn't small but rather scrawny. He's got black fur and a white spot on his chest. He is quite capable but rather reserved. Unlike the other cats who travel back and forth from in the mountains to down the mountains, he always remains in the mountains so I've had more of a chance to observe him," Amelia mewed.

"And you said that there are about fourteen cats in total? I feel like we fought more then that just to get into the mountains," Jay mused.

"We didn't actually do any of the fighting," the black she-cat reminded her.

Jay felt a flash of anger at Amelia, "Of course I remember, but we did see them all fighting" she growled.

"You are right, there used to be more cats then there are now. Lots of cats dropped out after the battle, I imagine none of them thought they'd actually have to fight, they would just get a bunch of prey by force of their numbers. And many of them were young and restless and didn't enjoy traveling back and forth over the same stretch of ground and getting nothing, or little, for their efforts. Especially after Python got his cats through without having to give them anything, quite a few left the mountains then."

Jay nodded, "I understand that. Most cats won't work without a reward. They can fend for themselves just as well elsewhere and without the trekking back and forth. But with this fall in numbers we can't consider them much of a threat anymore," she mused.

"Is that wise?" Amelia spoke up and Jay glanced at her sharply.

"Yes, I don't feel very threatened by them if they are losing members and continuing to stick to their routine. I don't imagine they will do anything unusual for a while now. However, there is still the matter of Python's connection to them. I would like to look into that personally later. But for now we can drop our observation of them," Jay decided.

Amelia dipped her head, "As you wish. Do you have any new orders for me?"

"Yes, in fact, I do. Python gave me orders to poison the cats when I leave them. I am nearly ready to go and will have to gather enough poison to carry out my escape."

"I don't really know anything about that..." Amelia's mew trailed off and she shifted her paws awkwardly.

"You've been around for so long and haven't bothered to learn about poison?" Jay mewed in disbelief.

"I know some poisons, mostly ones that cause short-term paralysis. But I haven't had to use them in a long while. I don't remember very well," Amelia offered.

"That's no problem. I already know what plant I want to use and I've had a hard enough time finding it," Jay grumbled, rubbing her sore paws on the wet grass. "I want to use hydrangea leaves. I found a bunch of those plants growing on a little mesa half-way up the mountain that is to our northwest," Jay mewed, signaling vaguely toward the mountain in the dark. "I want you to gather as many leaves as you can for the next three days and leave them down among the roots of the oak that is near the marigold patch right over there," she mewed, nodding at where she knew the yellow flowers were at the edge of the woods. "I'll collect them and sneak them back into the cave along with my other herbs."

"I'll do it," Amelia mewed, her voice sharp. "But what do you want me to do after that?"

Jay shrugged, "After I leave I'll talk to Python and see where things stand. I'll have new orders for you then."

"You don't want me to watch any cat? No preparations at all for the battle?" Amelia pressed.

Jay looked at her, Amelia's amber eyes glowed red with earnest. "What are you getting at?"

"Ash. You, yourself, considered him a major threat at first. The only thing that could rip your plans apart. And now it almost seems like you've dismissed him," Amelia growled.

Jay bristled, "I spend enough time with him to keep an eye on him myself. And no, I don't consider him as much of a threat. His plans are long-term and slow-moving, I don't need to do anything right now," Jay answered, her voice a tad haughty.

Amelia growled, her tail bushing up, "Your naivety is showing. You don't see what he's doing under your nose and he's taking advantage of that. Don't let your confidence turn into complacence!"

"It won't," Jay mewed in a cool voice. "I have things well under control, just do your own part."

As Jay was glaring at the black figure and smoldering eyes she felt a sharp instinct to draw back and as she jerked her head back she felt claws comb through her whiskers. Her heart beat soared at the sudden movement and jumped backward onto her paws, staring at Amelia. The black she-cat had mocked her, but never before given the slightest hint of rebellion.

"I'm not your subordinate that follows your orders blindly," Amelia growled, drawing herself to full height and looming over her so that her figure blocked the moon from Jay's vision and the silver glow silhouetted the black cat's sharply pointed ears, head, and shoulders.

Jay's heartbeat was slowing as she gained control of herself but her breathing was still ragged when Amelia loomed closer and her eyes were stuck on Amelia's glowing eyes. The black she-cat seemed to grow in size and her dense presence made it difficult for Jay to focus on anything but the creature before her.

"I will obey you. But not because you are wise or admirable, you don't inspire confidence or any virtue close to trust. You are an empty, greedy rat who will scamper around the legs of others in envious attempts to trip them up and bring them down to your own level. You will never rise from the ground because you will never try. You squander your talents in bitter schemes under the sham of caring for others. Your lie is so large that you are deceived as well, but I am not, and I stay by your side only to see you smothered and choked by the very things you planted."

Amelia finished her defamation and with a final glowering look retreated into the dark of the night, disappearing from the range of Jay's senses in mere seconds. The gray she-cat was left feeling cold despite the warmth and agitated despite the calm.

Her first thought was wondering: Was what Amelia said true? She immediately denied that Amelia was completely correct in her hypothesis. However, she was willing to consent that the black she-cat had hit close to the truth on several points.

She could admit that her tactics could be a little... low at times. Certainly most Clan cats wouldn't approve. But Amelia was the last one to criticize her. The black she-cat had helped her father take over the Clans, subjugate the Clan cats, spy on the Clan cats, poison Jay's own mother, and try to kill Scorch at several other times, continuing to spy on the Clans and work toward their destruction until she finally left the lake for good.

With Amelia and all her opinions denounced in her eyes, Jay turned her back on the moonlit hill and slipped into the ranks of the silent trees, pacing down the shadow striped corridor on the path back to the cave.

While padding silently over the short green grass Jay considered another point Amelia had made. Had she been too dismissive of Ash? She hadn't been able to learn much about him since she had come to the cave, neither his goals nor feelings.

She knew he gathered information from around the mountain and gave it away for a price, usually more information. He did that with some of the Ivy Cats, some of Python's cats, Python himself, and several other cats who lived around the valley whom he called his clients. But why he did this and to what end were still unknown to her.

Still, Jay was sure that he wouldn't interfere with her plans if she didn't interfere with his and she had little desire to that for now. She could leave him alone and trust that he left her alone, that would be alright for the time being.

Jay halted as she came out of the cover of the trees near the base of the mountain. The quiet gurgle of a stream of water was in her ears and she could see the stream snaking over the dark forest floor like a piece of spider web. It ran swiftly down the side of the mountain, falling over the entrance of the cave where she had resided for nearly a moon and would soon retire from indefinitely.

The cool night air flowed down the mountain and carried the scents of the ivy cats. The scent, although not completely unpleasant, aroused unpleasant thoughts and she knew she had formed a vague disdain for the Ivy Cats.

"Have you been waiting long?" a voice asked.

Jay didn't turn to see Ash's approach, she had heard his paw steps from a long way off. "No, I only just got here," she mewed as he came up by her side. She glanced at him quickly, he smelled fresh and clean as if he had just washed himself thoroughly. What scent had he been trying to hide? He didn't say anything and his eyes only glowed dimly from the shadow.

"Let's go, it's already past midnight," Ash grunted, leading her up the mountainside. The soft dirt crumbled and rolled down the hill where they loosened it with their pawsteps, Jay wondered how long this deteriorating mountainside would be able to serve as a home for the Ivy Cats. She struggled against the weight in her belly and felt as lumbering as a badger, sliding back with each step forward. Another reason to leave the Ivy Cats as soon as possible.

"Do you know how much longer you'll stay?" Ash asked, as if reading her mind. Or hearing her muttered curses.

"No longer then I need to," Jay answered shortly.

"How are you going to poison every cat?" Ash asked.

"I'll tell you when I'm ready to do it," Jay mewed warily. Although she doubted he would mess with Python's orders, she preferred that he didn't know any more then necessary about what she was doing. After all, he didn't tell her everything he did for Python either.

They reached the entrance in silence and Jay slipped in first, stepping quietly behind the water chute into the dark cave. The silver moonlight glowed through the entrance, imprinting watery shadows across the cave walls. The ivy blocked most of the light from passing through it, but a few streaks snuck their way under the curtain, allowing Jay to see where she was putting her paws as she headed for the fighters den, Ash at her side.

Together they entered the dark den slowly, keeping careful care that their paws didn't make a sound as their shadows slipped over the quietly snoring cats. Jay curled down comfortably into the nest they shared, her paws and legs aching more then she'd ever admit to.

Ash laid down in the next by her, his warm fur just brushing hers as she closed her eyes, letting the warm breaths of a dozen mouths chase away the lingering chill that clung to her skin. "Good night, Ash," she mumbled, tucking her tail over her nose.

Ash shifted so that his spine was against hers, "Sleep tight, Jay," he mumbled back, the fog of sleepiness already taken hold of his voice.

Jay let her breath deepen and calmness wash over her. But she didn't retreat to the dark recesses of sleep, she went over her dreary day and considered what she could do differently and the different ways she could use her increased knowledge to her advantage.

Finally, having exhausted her thoughts, she focused on her breathing and the comfortable warmth she got from the cats around her. Drifting along the edge of sleep until at last the first few cats started rising, shaking sleep from their fur as they headed out into the brisk mountain morning.

Only when the light started filtering into the cave did Jay relax enough to enjoy a peaceful repose. And she enjoyed it immensely, unaware of the orange furred creature that watched her, gray eyes narrowed and glinting with pleasant cruelty.

......

The next day dawned like all the others, clear and blue. Jay spent the morning in the medicine-cat den, occupying herself with sorting through her herbs as she and every other she-cat did everyday. Although, how much change could occur overnight? But she chatted politely with the other she-cats that came and went from the den as she isolated herself in the dusty den.

They had warmed up to her and most of them had a word or two of friendliness to give after greetings. Rainfall, of course, was not numbered with these and continued her reign of disdain for her though she didn't seem to care if she were the only one who didn't like Jay, and never tried to turn any of the other cats against her. Jay almost liked her for that.

Thyme was her closest friend and they often sorted their herbs together now that Jay was no longer taking lessons with Tinge. Jay had grown increasingly close to the she-cat over the past half moon. The she-cat's friendly, honest, and curious nature worked well with Jay's reserved, cool, detached one. But the gray she-cat didn't come into the den that day, at least not while Jay was in it.

Aside from Thyme, Jay also sought the company of another she-cat when she grew tired of herbs but didn't want to wander around in the cave where she could get lectured or harassed. The particular creature was the hunter Crag's mate, Swoop. She was a graceful and lithe red she-cat with white hairs streaked through her fur and gold eyes like early morning sunbeams.

Swoop wasn't as curious as Thyme or as considerate either, but she was an interesting cat, her personality either hyperactive or subdued. She was older then Jay by quite a bit, but not at all old in the sense of the word, and had one nursing kit, a tom named Eagle, who looked just like his mother except that his fur had a browner mix in the red, tinted from his father's side, no doubt.

It was with this she-cat that Jay spent her morning, chatting pleasantly about how her son was doing. "He's growing fast, he'll be five moons before you know it," Jay mewed cheerfully, Swoop was in a subdued mood, her eyes downcast and focused on her work.

"Yes, he's nearly at four moons already. He'll be happier as a trainee," Swoop answered.

"It must be hard to not have any other kits his age in the den," Jay continued. "But still, once he becomes a trainee it won't be long and then the present trainees will become full hunters and leave him."

"His father spends a lot of time with him and he follows the trainees around now. He doesn't seem too lonely."

"I suppose he can't miss what he's never had?" Jay asked, "Well, if he's not sad or lonely, then it doesn't matter," Jay mewed, finishing going through her herbs. She was discreetly taking out leaves that were not really bad so that she would have more room for the hydrangea.

Swoop nodded, inspecting a leaf that had no visible damage but had an odd smell to it. "And I don't think he'll have to wait to long for a mate," she mewed.

"Oh really? I didn't know any of the hunter's mates were expecting," Jay mewed, wondering who it could be. Besides Swoop there were Thyme and Rainfall, both of whom she knew were not expecting, and then Whisper and Feather. Whisper, she was sure, was too old to have kits. Being the mate of her great uncle who was as old as Rainstone. Maybe Feather was still young enough...

"Flower and Vale are both expecting," Swoop mewed, looking up at her from her leaves.

Jay frowned, "But those are mates of fighters," she mewed in confusion.

Swoop started to explain but was cut off as Ash's voice called out to her from the tunnel. Twitching her tail irritably, she muttered a curse under her breath and hastily put her herbs away, taking the bundle of leaves she wanted to discard and padding out through the dark tunnel.

She met Ash at the other end, waiting for her with a matching irritable gleam in his eyes. "What?" she asked, muttering around the leaves in her mouth.

"Thunderstorm wants a private patrol, he said I could bring you to look for herbs," Ash growled, muttering to the side, "Like I need his permission."

"I didn't know you were so easily stirred up," Jay purred, put in a good mood at Ash's foul one.

"I'm not," he grumbled, leading her to the entrance of the cave, "But I don't like disrespect."

Jay hummed and followed him out of the cave, passing beneath the falling cascade of water and stepping down onto the crumbling mountainside. "They're waiting for us down there," Ash mewed, pointing with his tail down at two tiny figures standing at the bottom of the mountains. From that distance, Jay couldn't see anything except that there were two figures and they were both gray.

"Who's the other?" Jay asked as they slid down the hill, she had tossed her herbs into the stream and was now free to use her mouth.

"Thyme, Thunderstorm wants her in case something happens," Ash mewed.

"Is where we're going dangerous?" Jay asked, the hunting patrols sometimes took along fighters, but never their she-cats.

Ash snorted, "No, he's just an idiot. I doubt he even plans on hunting much."

The coldness Ash had in his voice intrigued Jay. She didn't know much about Thunderstorm, except what Thyme sometimes told her. He wasn't altogether ambitious but he had the usual fire of wanting to be better then the rest. He wasn't all that skilled at hunting, but could bring in a respectable catch for his position as a trainee. Although he was nearly as old as Jay, he- along with Olive- had chosen to not become full hunters though they had finished their training. Thyme hadn't told her the reason so she could only speculate.

They reached the bottom of the mountain and Jay followed Ash as he went up to the tall dark gray tom. His amber eyes flashed with annoyance as Ash dipped his head in greeting, "I don't like to be kept waiting. See if you can keep up with your clumsy paws," the trainee snapped, darting away onto a forest path with Thyme following discreetly behind.

Jay exchanged a glance with Ash, "I hate him too," she told Ash as he gave her a 'now do you understand?' look. They took off into the woods after him, running side by side in unparalleled harmony, moving around obstacles in the forest as one.

"He thinks that all fighters are clumsy and only have brute strength," Ash growled as they raced along the scent trail Thunderstorm had left.

"Clearly he's never had to fight," Jay puffed, indignant on her own part. Having been trained to both fight and hunt, she knew that both had their difficulties but that one was far tougher on the body then the other.

"He also acts like all fighters are complete idiots! As if hunters are the only ones who have to memorize techniques," Ash growled, his gaze was growing darker and darker. This sparked Jay's curiosity and she decided to indulge him a bit longer.

"I bet he wouldn't last give seconds in a real fight," Jay muttered.

"No way. He's mediocre at hunting, he would be useless if his prey actually fought back," Ash mewed.

"He probably isn't brave enough to face anything bigger then a rabbit," Jay sniffed, gathering her legs and launching herself over a fallen log, Ash mirroring her movements at her side.

"Jay," Ash growled as they landed, "I know what you're doing," he mewed, looking at her reprovingly.

Jay shrugged, "You tried to do it to me not that long ago, am I not allowed the same chance?"

Ash sighed, "I guess we're both to smart for such peasant tricks."

"We'll just have to try something better," Jay mewed, looking evenly at Ash as they started to run again.

Ash was silent after that, but he seemed to not be as irritated as before but almost amused. "There they are," he mewed, nodding ahead at a clearing where the sun came through the trees and lit up the green grass that was dotted with colorful flowers, butterflies flitting in between the flowers as Thunderstorm swatted at them lazily from where he lay on his side, drinking in the sunlight with Thyme sitting behind him, washing his pelt with long soothing strokes.

"Took you long enough!" Thunderstorm called haughtily, nodding at a piece of dead prey that lay near his paws, "I've already made my first catch."

"Then why didn't you continue hunting?" Ash grunted, walking over to the gray tom, Jay followed him with narrowed eyes. That piece of fresh-kill wasn't fresh, she touched it as she walked by and it wasn't warm at all. It was her guess that he had either caught it earlier, been lucky enough to find it in another hunter's catch, or had fount it dead, in which case it wasn't safe to eat.

"I couldn't leave my fresh-kill unprotected," Thunderstorm growled, glaring at Ash, "Or are you that stupid that you would leave prey for a hawk, eagle, or rogue to steal?"

Ash's shoulders tensed, looking down at the cocky younger cat. But he didn't say a word about it, he just dipped his head, "Well I'm here now, I'll watch your prey while you go hunt."

"You can come with me, the she-cats can watch the prey while they look for their herbs. If I get attacked by a hawk or eagle I'll need you," Thunderstorm mewed, though he still didn't get to his paws.

"What if the she-cats get attacked?" Ash suggested.

"I didn't take you to protect them, you're here to protect me," Thunderstorm growled, then he muttered in a voice purposefully loud enough to Ash to hear, "You're such an idiot."

Ash looked over his shoulder and made another, 'now do you understand?' face and Jay nodded several times to assure him she understood. Unfortunately, Thunderstorm noticed her gesture and with a shouted, "hey," swiped his claws over her ears.

She barely saw him move, her eyes being focused on Ash. She felt the hot pain slice across her ears and then warm blood start to trickle down her ears in an irritating sort of way. Thunderstorm loomed over her, a satisfied look on his face, "Now what was that look for before?"

His shadow was cast over her, he wasn't much bigger then her but he stood about a mouse-length taller above her. However, even though she knew that she was at his mercy and that protecting herself would mean endangering herself to these cats, she wasn't the least bit afraid. Perhaps she did still have a hint of a warriors spirit, but she knew she was stronger then the enemy before her and that gave a sort of strength that can't be measured through physical tests.

His smile, not quite cruel, but rather condoning and insolent, etched itself into her mind and she looked at him steadily. "I'm sorry I offended you," she mewed in a tone that was both apologetic in itself, but did not actually apologize for anything. Thunderstorm, though, wasn't sharp enough to know the difference and he backed up a pace before Ash pushed his way between the two of them, waving Jay back as he faced Thunderstorm.

He muttered a few words to the gray tom and Jay only caught the last few, "Don't ever do that again." Then Ash lifted his head, "Everyone, come on, Thyme, grab the prey, you'll accompany us into the forest."

With authority being shifted from Thunderstorm to Ash the party continued in silence back into the shaded woods. Thyme held the piece of prey in her mouth and walked by Jay's side behind the two toms.

"Are you okay?" the gray she-cat asked worriedly, eying her ears.

Jay nodded, the blood had already stopped and she didn't really feel much pain, though she wanted to clean the dried blood off as soon as possible. "I'm fine, don't worry about it."

"Okay," Thyme mewed, dropping her gaze, "What herbs are you looking for?" the gray she-cat asked.

"Some marigold, maybe tansy," Jay mewed vaguely, she was mostly looking for some strong smelling herbs that would help mask the scent of hydrangea when she picked it up. Hopefully Amelia had already managed to get quite a bit of the leaves to the designated spot.

"I think I see some tansy over there," Thyme mewed, nodding into the dark green shadows of the forest. Jay squinted her eyes and peered where the she-cat had indicated, spotting a distant spot of yellow growing in a break of sunlight.

"Good eyes," Jay mewed, bounding over to the plant and quickly nipping off four long stalks, trotting back to rejoin the she-cat before either of the toms noticed.

"Is that all you need?" Thyme asked.

"It's more then enough, I already have a bit, so this it to just top it off," Jay mumbled around her herbs. Now that talking was more difficult they fell into a comfortable silence.

Thunderstorm stopped to hunt a few times and they would stand off with Ash so as not to interfere. Jay watched the tom with a critical eye, his form was good and his balance seemed flawless on the approach of the prey. However, he had trouble keeping his wits about him when he was focused on the prey and would brush up against things that alerted the intended prey to his approach. Out of four attempts, he only caught two pieces of prey.

"Not too bad, eh?" Thunderstorm puffed his chest in pride as he nodded at his three pieces of prey. Thyme purred in quiet agreement while Jay shared a scathing glance with Ash. If she had hunted like that in front of her mentor, she would have gotten an earful. And if Ash, as a fighter, only beat two out of four opponents he faced, he'd be dead.

"It's nearly dusk," Ash mewed, looking up through the tree branches at the sky. The gray clouds had rolled in and a distant rumble echoed across the mountains. "Looks like it's going to be a storm," he added, narrowing his gaze.

"Thyme, come get this prey," Thunderstorm ordered, nodding at the pile that he and Ash had been carrying. The gray she-cat, who was still holding the first piece of freshkill Thunderstorm had produced on the trip, headed to the pile and expertly started gathering it together, laying the largest piece across her shoulders and picking up the other by the tail with her mouth.

Jay took the distraction to approach Ash. The orange tom was watching the two mates with a frown and didn't turn to look at her. "When we go back to the cave, head for the hills where we often meet up," she murmured in his ear.

He didn't signal that he heard her by a flick of the ear but Jay knew he had heard and he would do it. "Alright, let's go," Ash mewed in a loud voice, turning on his heels and heading along a different trail that would take them at an angle to the hill and then to the cave. This time Jay walked with Ash in the front while Thunderstorm and Thyme brought up the rear.

Jay glanced over her shoulder, Thunderstorm was boasting his hunting skills to Thyme, describing how expertly he had killed the hare Thyme was now carrying on her . Jay marveled at how Thyme could purr and stroke his ego like that. "They make quite a pair," Jay muttered through her herbs.

"Thyme is probably the only cat that could get along with him," Ash grunted, "I'm not nearly the only one who has problems with him."

"Who are his parents?" Jay asked. He was fairly young, so his parents should still be alive.

"He's Blizzard and Swoop's son from their last litter, his brother died as a kit and his sister is dead as well. His friend Olive is Cedar's son," Ash explained.

"Cedar doesn't have a mate," Jay frowned, "Did she die in the sickness too?"

Ash nodded, "Lots of cats died, everyone lost someone," his gray eyes glazed for a moment as he looked down and he flexed his claws in agitation. This always happened, whenever the sickness came up, he became frustrated, but with what?

"In any case," Jay carried on, "At least he's got a good mate, I only hope Thyme's good nature will rub off on him. Not that it's my problem," she added.

"Unfortunately you overlooked something," Ash mewed, looking at her.

"Oh yeah?" Jay mewed challengingly, irked that he disagreed with her closing statement.

"Thunderstorm isn't bright enough to realize it and he'll probably fall before he realizes what he holds," Ash mewed, looking her in the eye and quickening his pace.

Jay walked behind him, not noticing the green forest around her or the gray clouds above her, eyes drawn on the ground and thoughts drawn in. But she wasn't thinking about what Ash had said, Thunderstorm's incorrigible behavior was of no trouble to her. No, she was thinking about what Amelia had told her, that she had dismissed Ash too quickly. At times I think he is of little immediate threat, and at other times, as like now, he seems so foresighted that I can't help but worry about his plans. He's smart and skilled, maybe not as skilled as I, but just as smart if not smarter, and that is what really matters in this game.

"Hey, what's that?" Thunderstorm's voice spoke up out of the background she'd been ignoring and she noticed it not because it was loud, but because it was ridged with fear.

Jay looked around, they were climbing up the hill near where Amelia should have hidden the plants. The wind was a thrill whistle over the tops of the hills and did little but make her whiskers dance on her face. She narrowed her eyes and looked up at the dark gray sky, the clouds almost ready to break over the valley. The distant flashes of lighting in the distance accompanied by grumbles of thunder.

But her eyes focused on something else. It was an eagle, she could see the gold-brown wings and the circles it turned. But its circles weren't lazy and it seemed closer then she had seen it before, its huge body looked about the size of two or three cats and she was sure it outdid any owl she'd ever seen.

Still, would a bird pose any problem for a group of cats? Somehow, she wasn't confident in the answer being negative and although she was sure her Clan would have laughed at her, she was frightened by the eagle. "Ash, let's get under cover," she mewed through her herbs, bounding up to his side again.

Ash had stopped and was watching the eagle too, "Yeah, we need to get under those trees, but if we move too quickly the eagle will strike."

"Is it dangerous?" Jay asked worriedly.

"An eagle has never taken a cat while I've been alive, but they are strong enough to take a cat if we're not careful." Ash raised his voice, "Thunderstorm! You and Thyme make a run for it!" he called, "Get under the trees, I'll hold it off if it comes close," he called as the gray cats started hurrying over the hill, spurred by fear to not ask any questions. "You go too," Ash mewed, turning to her.

Jay snorted, "I can fight."

"You're heavy with kits, you'll just get in the way," Ash snapped. "And if your kits get hurt, I'll get in trouble, so just go."

Jay rolled her eyes, but she did move. She wasn't particularly anxious about facing a gigantic bird in a fight right now. She bounded after Thunderstorm who was streaking over the hill, moving much faster then Thyme who was weighed down by the prey she carried.

Jay ran alongside Thyme, picking the hare from her back and staying by her side though she could have run much faster alone. Thunderstorm let out a warning shout ahead as he reached the peak of the hill and Jay jerked her head up in time to see a large shadow cover her, nearly blinding her with the darkness and the wind its wings kicked up made her squint her eyes.

The eagle swooped past them and she saw its carved talons stretched out, its beady eyes locked and its curved yellow beak gleamed like a sharpened tooth. Thyme gasped and let out a cry as she saw the giant bird reach her mate. Jay and Thyme skidded to a stop as Thunderstorm let out a pained screech and was plucked off the ground by his shoulders, his paws flailing wildly as he twisted in the birds grasp.

Jay and Thyme stood petrified with horror but Jay stumbled out of it as Ash flew by, an orange streak who's paws barely touched the ground. He didn't hesitate as he let out a ferocious screech and launched himself into the air, hitting one of the eagle's wings and holding onto it with his claws.

The bird let out a screech as it fluttered clumsily over the ground, unable to gain any altitude with Ash tearing at its wing and Thunderstorm struggling in its grasp. Jay shook herself hard, this was no time to stand idly by. "Get to cover," Jay ordered Thyme who looked at her blankly, eyes wide with piteous fear.

Jay turned and raced for the eagle, the bird had let go of Thunderstorm with one talon and was clawing at Ash, Jay could see the red welts on his flank where the talons had scratched, but he didn't let up at tearing at the eagle. The scent of his blood stirred Jay, a feeling that had remained dormant too long, a storm that raged to break. The scene she raced towards slowed down, the beating of the eagle's wings matched her heartbeat, Thunderstorm's cries wet her appetite, Ash's blood-stained claws captivated her and the falling feathers were like toys for her to bat at.

She forgot the weight in her belly, the tiredness in her paws and the drag at her back. She reached the top of the hill and launched herself high into the air, higher then Ash, and landed flat on the eagle's back. The bird fell further with the added weight and she didn't give it time to recover but unsheathed her claws and curled them into it's neck, cutting with tearing precision at the jugular vein.

The blood flowed and the eagle's tactic changed as it felt itself assaulted from yet another cat, it dropped Thunderstorm and focused solely on freeing itself. As soon as Thunderstorm was released, Ash dropped to the ground and the eagle immediately started to mount into the air. Jay scowled as she saw the ground getting further away, she leaped from the eagle before it could grab her with its now two free talons and landed lightly on her paws, the fall being nearly six fox-lengths. Her paws were covered with blood and broken feathers but not a scratch was on her pelt. The eagle's screeches died as it flew away, not as swiftly as before.

Jay watched it with a glare, with the thrill of the fight fading she tried to hold it close as it slipped away. For barely a moment she had felt more alive then she had in awhile, and now that it left her she slipped back into the dull coolness of temper in which she lived her life.

"Thunderstorm, are you alright?" Ash's clear voice brought her attention to the gray tom. Ash and Thyme were bending over the hunter, blocking most of her vision. Jay shook some of the feathers from her paws as she strode over to them, leaning against Thyme's worried figure to look down at the gray tom. The fur on his shoulders were all matted and bloodied where the talons had held him as he struggled. The wounds were deep but they would heal, she wasn't concerned and barely pitying for all his annoyances.

What did worry her, however, was the wound on his face. The eagle's talons, while trying to pick Ash off its wing, must have scraped across Thunderstorms face and his eyelids were torn and bloody as his eyes remained shut. Oh dear, she had never seen a cat get blinded, but she had seen her mother's scars across her eyes that had blinded her, these looked sickeningly similar.

"We should bandage his wounds and get him back," Jay murmured into Ash's ears. Ash nodded, his gray eyes perturbed.

"Thyme, take care of him," Ash ordered. Thyme looked up, her eyes wide with horror, but she nodded and darted away, Jay wanted to go after her and help her. "Jay, look after my own wounds," he added, turning to her.

Jay rolled her eyes, "Lick your wounds clean, I'll find you some cobwebs," she mewed. Ash looked at her blankly before turning and lapping at the scratches on his flanks.

Jay headed for the forest, hoping that Thyme hadn't lost her head in her panic. She, on the other paw, felt calmer than ever as she reached into a hollow log and pulled out a wad of cobwebs, enough for Ash and Thunderstorm both. Going back to the two toms who were at the edge of the woods, she found Thyme quick at work, cleaning Thunderstorm's wounds with strokes of her tongue and her paws unraveling a wad of cobwebs.

Jay sat by Ash who was watching Thunderstorm with a frown, his wounds, however, were clean. "He hasn't spoken yet, but he's not unconscious," Ash mewed as Jay dropped the cobwebs, having picked up the herbs she'd dropped when she went after the eagle, she used the tansy and rubbed it into his scratches.

"He's in shock, Thyme will have herbs for that back at the cave," Jay answered.

"What about his eyes?" Ash's voice dropped to a hoarse whisper, his eyes still on Thunderstorm's drawn face that Thyme gave a comforting lick to every now and then as she worked.

Jay didn't answer at first, "I don't know," she mewed at last. "They could heal just fine, or... he could be blind."

Ash started at that, "Blind," he echoed. Then he groaned, "This is not good."

"Are you afraid your reputation will go down for letting this happen to a hunter in your watch?" Jay asked scathingly.

"Yes!" Ash hissed, "But not just that. You know there are more fighters then hunters, to lose a hunter will devastate the others."

Jay narrowed her eyes, "Isn't that good then? It will make Python's job that much easier, won't it?"

"Yes, but you don't understand what consequences this could have," Ash mewed, dropping his voice to a whisper as Thyme gave a glance in their direction.

"What do you mean?" Jay asked, narrowing her eyes and leaning back, her work done.

Ash shook his head, "Nevermind. I just hope it won't happen. Grab your herbs and the prey, we need to get Thunderstorm back," he mewed, heading for the tom.

Jay watched him with narrowed eyes as he and Thyme supported Thunderstorm between them, practically carrying him between them. Jay quickly gathered the scattered pieces of prey and also grabbed her herbs, not forgetting to look for the hydrangea leaves and finding a bushel of them, she took what she could carry and headed after the others. As she left the bloody and feather covered hillside a raindrop landed on her nose and she looked up at the sky as more rain came down, washing the blood from her paws and the battle-lust from her heart.

The thunder had never crashed louder then it did on that long walk back to the cave.