Jaywing walked along the side of the lake, her paws splashing in the water.  She could still remember the scene: Blood spilling from Russetstar as her one of her lives ebbed away, and her screeches of pain as they cut off. Why did Ashstar do that? Why did he kill her? 

"Jaywing? You ok?" Cinderheart appeared beside her. "You look pretty dull."

"I'm fine," Jaywing lied to her mother. I can't tell her what I saw, and what I didn't stop.

"Oh, ok," Cinderheart sighed. "You've been acting strange around your father. Is everything ok?" 

"Ashstar's fine. I'm fine. I  just wanna be alone for some time," Jaywing snapped. She lashed her tail. Jaywing sat down as she heard her mother's paw steps fade away. She looked out over the lake. The setting sun glittered down on the surface of the water, turning it golden. The waves of the lake lapped at her paws. She closed her eyes, thinking peacefully to herself.

"Jaywing?"

Jaywing jumped as she heard some cat call her name. She stiffened as she saw her father. His whiskers twitched.

"Look, I'm sorry," Ashstar meowed. He padded over to her, resting his tail-tip on her shoulder. "I'm sorry you were there. I'm sorry you had to see that."

Jaywing turned away from his blue gaze. She flattened her ears. "'Sorry' doesn't cut it," She retorted. She slowly blinked and turned towards him. 

"Jaywing. As your father and leader, I'm telling you that I'm sorry," Ashstar mewed.

Jaywing felt her neck fur rise. "Just....just leave me alone!" She hissed. Then she realized that she'd yelled at her father. "Sorry," She muttered. 

Ashstar blinked. 

"I just don't know why I'm supporting Russetstar. She deserved to die, since she threatened to kill us. But, you didn't have to kill her!" Jaywing growled.

Ashstar didn't flinch, he just held her gaze, then stood over her. "I had to kill her!" He snapped. "Did you want her to come back and kill us all?" He growled. "Is that what you want? To die?"

Jaywing stood up, bristling. "You didn't have to though!" She cried. "You just get insane every time you kill a cat!" She unsheathed her claws, tail lashing. 

"Jaywing," Ashstar clenched his teeth. 

Jaywing relaxed. There's something he isn't telling me. She sighed. "There's something you aren't telling me."

Ashstar lashed his tail. "Forget it. If I try to talk to you, you just never understand. Never," He turned away from her, then padded up the lake shore. 

Jaywing ran in front of him, blocking his path. "I will understand!"

Ashstar lashed his tail. "Tigerstar took control of me," He told her firmly. He shoved Jaywing out of the way.

Jaywing staggered back and fell, rolling along the lake shore. She landed roughly at the water's edge, feeling the cold water lap at her paws and belly and tail. Jaywing felt her blood turn icy cold. Ashstar's gone insane.

Jaywing snapped open her eyes, glad to be in the warriors' den. She lifted her head and yawned. 

Jaywing stepped from the warriors' den, wincing as the sun burned her eyes. She crouched down to stretch. Most of the warriors had gone out to do patrols. 

"Hey Jaywing!" Bumblestripe sprang towards her.

Jaywing blinked in surprise. 

"Aren't you gonna return a greeting?" Bumblestripe asked.

"Hi Bumblestripe," Jaywing mewed, her ears feeling hot. 

Bumblestripe leaned close to her. "Wanna hunt with me?" He asked.

"No but thanks for the offer!" Jaywing mewed. She ran towards Thornclaw, eager to join a patrol.

"Hey Thornclaw!" Jaywing greeted. "Do you have a patrol that I could join in?" She asked.

"Yes. Actually, you're leading this border patrol. Take Stoneheart and Graystripe with you," Thornclaw told her. 

Jaywing dipped her head, then she padded off.

Ashstar curled up in his nest, thinking to himself. I didn't mean to push Jaywing, I guess I was just mad. He lifted his head, peering out of the den. The air was heavy with the smell of rain and dew, and dark clouds were beginning to push through the sky. The sun was just rising, making the storm clouds glow. 

Ashstar sighed and rested his chin back on his paws. He closed his eyes and also hoped that his dreams wouldn't be filled with blood and claws.

Ashstar snapped open his eyes, relived to find himself in a peaceful place. Stars glittered in the night sky above his head, and starlight shimmered around him. 

"Welcome to StarClan, Ashstar," A voice behind him greeted.

Ashstar whipped around. His eyes widened and he gasped as he saw the gray mottled tabby she-cat. Her green eyes sparkled, and she padded closer. 

"Brindleface!" Ashstar mewed. He looked at his mother, his tail high in the air. 

"Ashstar," Brindleface began. "Look over there," She flicked her tail to where four cats were sitting; a dip in the earth where starlight danced on the low grass. 

Ashstar padded to the edge of the hill, looking at the four cats more clearly. There was a large brown tabby tom that was talking with the other three cats. That looks that Brambleclaw. A black-she cat with shining green eyes was huddled close to a gray tabby tom with blind blue eyes. That's Hollyleaf and Jayfeather! Ashstar then focused on a large golden tabby tom, his pelt shimmering with golden starlight, and his golden eyes raking the cats. And that's Lionblaze!

"That's correct," Brindleface's sweet voice echoed behind him. "Ashstar, we don't like for cats to be enemies in StarClan, so why don't you go and talk to them?"

Ashstar growled. "What? Why? Those cats don't deserve to be friends with me!" He hissed. "They-"

"Ashstar," Brindleface interrupted. "You can't be mad at them. They didn't have any choice but to be born, and that happened. And what have they done to you? Now go to them and make friends!" She yelled.

Ashstar flattened his ears and stalked towards the cats. When he was close enough, he rose from the glittering grass and padded towards the cats.

Hollyleaf turned her head, her ears flat, and her fur bristling. "Well look who it is!" She hissed.

Ashstar lashed his tail and sat down. "Tell me everything you want to," He growled.

Lionblaze stepped forward. "Ashstar? Why are here when you hate us?"

Jayfeather padded beside his brother. "And why did you kill us?"

Ashstar flexed his claws. They aren't supposed to be that way! "Look, I just wanna make up for the things I've done!"

"Make up?" Hollyleaf growled. "Like we'd ever listen to that fox-dung!" She swung her head around and snorted. 

Brambleclaw padded up. "Listen up you three," He mewed. "Why don't we just listen to Ashstar? After all, it's not his fault he killed us; he was being controlled by Tigerstar. And now, look what he has: A great daughter and son, and a caring mate. And plus, he's gained trust from his Clanmates!"

Lionblaze leaned forward.

"No, no, it's fine," Ashstar growled through clenched teeth. "I'll be on my way," He turned and ran through the grass. He came into a clearing and saw Brindleface sitting beside a pool of water. Starlight glittered peacefully around her.

"Brindleface, I'm-"

"Ashstar, there's a prophecy that you must hear," Brindleface interrupted. "On the darkest night, the shadows will attack."

All of a sudden, shadows flooded over Ashstar's vision like a black wave. He was swept through shadows and heard the distant yowls of cats. Then he opened his eyes, finding himself in his own den. He remembered Brindleface's words: On the darkest night, the shadows will attack.

Ashstar sat up in his mossy bedding, curling his tail over his paws. What could that mean? He then thought of ShadowClan. Well, they could be part of 'the shadows will attack'. He then thought of the Dark forest, and Russetstar. There could be a great trouble coming along.