Chapter 1
Jayfeather padded out of his den, leaving behind the strong scent of mingled herbs. As he left, he could hear footsteps approaching him, and the strong scent on his brother; Lionblaze, flooded up his nose. Knowing that Lionblaze was about to talk, Jayfeather turned his blind blue gaze towards his brother. Then, Jayfeather recognized something. His brother's scent was covered with excitement and anticipation, and tension.
"Is something wrong?" He meowed calmly. Lionblaze's mouse-smelling breath preached at his nose as he chimed on cheerfully.
"Cinderheart's expecting kits! My kits!" He exclaimed. Jayfeather tensed, his mind dizzy with shock.
'What a great time to have kits. We're in the midst of repairing our camp after the Dark Forest battle!' He pondered. But remembering what had happened when he had snapped at Brightheart, he tried to act cheerful, desperately trying to hide his annoyed scent.
"That's good news." He chimed. Although it looked as if Lionblaze could tell it was forced. With a flick of his tail. Sighing, Jayfeather stalked after them, scenting his way through the Clan, until he came along to Cinderheart, and approached the cinder she-cat.
"How are you?" He asked. To his relief, he felt Cinderheart's gaze tug at his fur, which meant she was looking at him.
"I'm fine, thanks. How about you?" She chimed.
"I'm doing well." As Jayfeather and Cinderheart sat in the middle of the camp, embracing the rustling leaves and birdsong, Jayfeather asked Cinderheart a question he regretted right away.
"What do you think of Lionblaze?" He asked. He felt Cinderheart's gaze, only this time it was stronger. Pelt hot with embarrassment; he tried to slowly turn his muzzle away.
"What do you mean?" Cinderheart asked intently.
"I-I-I mean . . . what do you think of him . . . as a mate?" He stammered. He could feel embarrassment mingling in the air, and he wasn't sure if it was his or Cinderheart's.
"I guess he's a nice mate." Cinderheart stammered. And Jayfeather relaxed as the scent of embarrassment faded.
"Cinderheart!" Jayfeather turned his blind gaze towards the sound, and knew it was Lionblaze.
"Well I got to go, bye!" Cinderheart mewed. and she limped off. Sighing, Jayfeather stalked back into his den, relieved to be surrounded by the scent of herbs. As he curled his gray tabby tail around himself in his mossy bed, Jayfeather closed his eyes, and dreamt.
Jayfeather awoke, welcomed by the lush scent of fern, and starlight fluttering around him.
'I'm dreaming, right?' As if responding to his thought, a blue-gray she-cat appeared in front of him, her blue eyes filled with energy and healthiness.
'Bluestar!' Suddenly, the former ThunderClan's leader gaze turned serious, enough to frighten Jayfeather.
"It's nice to see you, Bluestar." Jayfeather meowed calmly. He tried to keep his posture formal like the blue-gray she-cat.
"Yes, it has Jayfeather." She replied. "Beware of Bramblestar." She continued. Jayfeather froze, awestruck.
"What do you mean?" Jayfeather whispered. Bluestar opened her jaws, paused, and continued.
"Bramblestar is getting doubts, you must help him." She concluded. Without another word, the beautiful ThunderClan leader started to fade away.
"Bluestar! Wait!" In desperate hope, Jayfeather pawed at empty air, hoping to bring her back. But the ThunderClan leader was already gone. As he set his paw down, he realized he too was fading away from StarClan. Gritting his teeth, Jayfeather gave in to his fading body, and closed his eyes, returning to blindness.
