A Secret Uncovered

It was a normal day in ThunderClan as Jayfeather and Briarlight went out looking for herbs. The scent of fresh marigold caught Jayfeather's attention.

"Briarlight, smell that?" He meowed. Jayfeather heard Briarlight shuffle around. He pictured her lifting her head and taking in a large sniff, her amber eyes gleaming.

"Yeah, marigold!" She meowed excitedly.

Jayfeather saw a great opportunity to test Briarlight. "What is marigold used for?" he heard Briarlight scoff.

"Really, Jayfeather? I already know that marigold if used to stop infection." She meowed agitatedly.

Jayfeather pictured her brown tail swishing back and forth in annoyance. He followed the scent until her came upon the WindClan border. He wasn't completely on their side of the territory, just very close.

He bent down to pick up the marigold when he heard a voice hiss his name. "Psst! Jayfeather!" Jayfeather felt himself bristle.

"Who's there?!" He demanded. His fur lay flat as he recognized Kestrelflight's scent. "Oh, Kestrelflight, it's you." He shook his pelt. "What's up?"

The mottled grey tom looked around, before leaping to the ground from a pine tree on the border. "Whitetail is expecting kits and she has a cough. What should I do?"

Jayfeather pondered a bit, then meowed. "If she has a fever, give her feverfew and give her some tansy covered with honey, so it'll be easier for her stomach to accept."

Kestrelflight sighed. "Thanks, Jayfeather." He rested his tail on Jayfeather's shoulder. "You're as wise as an owl." He meowed and rushed off.

Jayfeather sighed and hung his head. Only because I was trained by the best… Oh, Half Moon… Jayfeather shook his head.

When Jayfeather and Briarlight got back to camp, Briarlight pressed her muzzle to Jayfeather's shoulder. Briarlight purred lightly.

"You seemed stressed while collecting herbs. Why don't you go lay down, while I bring you some fresh-kill?" She meowed quietly, as if it were a secret.

Jayfeather's heart beat fast. Briarlight's scent flowed into his nose and made his mouth water. She smelled like herbs and mice. "T-that'd be nice. Thank you, Briarlight." He meowed and padded off to the medicine cats' den. He sleepily stumbled over to his bedding and clawed at the moss until his paws grew tired and he finally collapsed. He curled into a ball and wrapped his tail over his nose.

Jayfeather opened his eyes and saw nothing but green, lush forests and felt warm sun on his pelt. He was in StarClan.

Jayfeather scanned the area for any cat, when he spotted Swiftpaw.

"Swiftpaw!" He called out to the dead apprentice.

The black-and-white tom lifted his head. He rushed over to Jayfeather. "Hi, Jayfeather, what are you doing here?" He meowed.

Jayfeather shrugged. "I was asking myself that exact same question." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Silverstream. "Silverstream," He called out to her.

Silverstream padded over to Jayfeather and rested her muzzle on top of his head. "I must speak with you." She glanced at Swiftpaw. "Alone,"

Swiftpaw's tail drooped and he sulked off. Jayfeather stared up at the she-cat. "What is it?"

A glint of fear clouded Silverstream gaze. "StarClan has been seen the future." She meowed.

Jayfeather tilted his head. "What do you mean?" He meowed confusedly.

Silverstream turned around and flicked her tail for him to follow. Jayfeather rushed after her. They leapt over logs and skirted rocks until they were hovering over ThunderClan. Jayfeather saw his brother, Lionblaze and his mate, Cinderheart sharing tongues.

"They're not who I want you to look at." Silverstream meowed. She turned Jayfeather's head with her tail and made him look at Briarlight. "She's who I want you to look at."

Jayfeather tilted his head. "Briarlight? Why?" His voice had an edge to it. Silverstream was wasting his time.

Silverstream purred a little. "She will have your kits." She meowed.

Jayfeather's eyes widened. He sat up and hissed at Silverstream. "What?! No! That's impossible! I'm a medicine cat!"

Silverstream looked up at him with sad blue eyes. "You can't change what StarClan has set out for you, Jayfeather." She meowed calmly.

Jayfeather clawed at the ground, pulling up the grass. "No! I'll never fall in love with Briarlight! I'm in love with Half Moon! Never!" He yowled at the start-lit sky.

Silverstream shot up and glared at him. "The Briar will have the Jay's offspring and Lightning will Strike the ground and a Birch will catch Fire, sending Berries to fall swiftly to the ground." She hissed.

"No! Wait!" Jayfeather called out, but Silverstream had faded. His eyes flashed open, and he returned to darkness. The scent of mouse and Briarlight drifted around the den.

"Jayfeather? I couldn't find your favorite, vole, so I got you a mouse." She meowed. Jayfeather's pelt felt hot and heavy on his bones.

He looked at the ground. "Thanks, Briarlight…" He mumbled. He felt concern crackling through Briarlight's pelt like lightning, mixed with another emotion Jayfeather couldn't comprehend.

He looked up and for a heartbeat; he saw her bright amber eyes, her beautiful, slender face, and her strong shoulders. "Briarlight…" He breathed.

Anticipation sparked in Briarlight's fur. "Yes, Jayfeather?" She meowed. He felt the heat of her fur as she moved closer.

He flexed his claws and dug then into the ground. He wouldn't fall in love with Briarlight, he couldn't! "Never mind, just go." He hissed harshly, probably a little too harsh.

A pained gasp came from Briarlight. He pictured her brown tail drooping and her amber eyes losing their glow, as he heard her drag herself outside.

Jayfeather dug his claws deeper into the ground.

Oh, Half Moon, what do I do? I only love you! I can't love Briarlight!