"I will wait for you forever, Jay's Wing!"
~Half Moon, Sign of the Moon
Prologue
Thick clouds covered the moon above Fourtrees. The bushes rustled as a tired-looking brown tom padded towards the Great Oak. His once sharp yellow eyes stared longingly at its branches, and his eyes clouded over with memories. Whatever time he sent himself back to in those moments was cleared away like petals from a flower in a strong breeze as a she-cat with a scarred face plopped down next to him.
"Greetings, Yellowfang." The tom's voice sounded tired and worn and he barely glanced at his visitor.
"You look like something a badger sat on," Yellowfang remarked with her tone of bitter affection, "You'll fade away to nothing worrying like this. You're not protecting the cat that's trekking down a mountainside blind."
The tom watched the clouds drift away as moonlight flooded the clearing. "You always did have a soft spot for Jayfeather." Yellowfang's ears twitched, but she said nothing. "It's been a long time since you've spoken to me, Yellowfang."
"The last time I saw our son, I was shoving deathberries down his throat," Sudden, uncharacteristic emotion choked Yellowfang's mew, "It was you, who thought Brokenstar could do no harm, who made him what he is today, Raggedstar."
Raggedstar hissed and lashed his tail, "You're right, Yellowfang; I have nothing more to say to you."
Yellowfang's amber gazed watched as her mate strode out of the clearing, "Jayfeather, I know you're there," She said after a few moments, without turning around.
The black tom emerged from the shadows, his usually blind eyes now wide with sight. "Soft spot, huh?" When Yellowfang didn't respond, he went on, "So who's the fourth?"
At this, Yellowfang spun around. "Fourth? Fourth what?"
"I- I was hoping it was Hollyleaf…"
Jayfeather's response was cut off as Yellowfang barreled him over, "Maybe you haven't gotten this into your mind, you stupid furball." Jayfeather could smell her rancid breath in his face, "Why don't you see Fallen Leaves up here? Or Hollyleaf? It's because their spirits stay in the tunnels. They're trapped. Forever, like the faded spirits. The Tribe's ancestors don't walk these skies. They can't help you."
"Or Hollyleaf could be alive!" Jayfeather spat back, sounding like a protesting kit.
"Yes, or maybe I won't have to fight my own son in battle. Or maybe I'm a flying badger!" Yellowfang was foaming at the mouth; she looked to Jayfeather like she had finally gone mad.
Yellowfang stalked away from Jayfeather, muttering something about trust and loyalty. Jayfeather, not knowing what else to do, backed away into the trees.
Hollyleaf; his mind went back to the clump of black fur he and Lionblaze had found under the rocks of the tunnels. And if the Tribe's ancestors aren't supposed to walk StarClan's skies, how come he could speak with Rock? Jayfeather froze as he realized something, Yellowfang hadn't answered his question. The StarClan cats didn't know about the fourth cat; was StarClan powerless now?
Jayfeather stumbled over brambles, and the familiar scent of ThunderClan mixed with the cold air of the mountains as he opened his eyes and was pushed into darkness once more.
