Jayfeather was sitting outside the medicine den, grooming his fur, listening to the sounds of the clearing to determine which cats were currently outside of their dens. He could hear Longtail complaining to Mousefur that his bones were aching from the cold seeping into the elder's den over night. Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight were sharing tongues by the fresh-kill pile after just sharing a very plump vole, the hunting patrol had just returned and replenished the pile, and to Jayfeather, it smelled as if prey were running through the woods more than usual. He pricked his ears as he heard his sister Hollyleaf padding up to him.

"How are things?" she mewed still trying to shake the sleep out of her fur. Hollyleaf had been on the night patrol and hadn't been able to sleep very much, she was expecting kits any day, and Jayfeather was sure she was ready to be moved to the nursery to get more comfort.

"They're good, are you ready to be moved to the nursery Hollyleaf? I'm sure you might be able to get more sleep that way."

"I guess."

Jayfeather could sense that his sister was upset, did she not want to have kits, or was she worried she wouldn't be a good mother, as well as a good warrior? Jayfeather placed the tip of his tail on her shoulder, "It's going to be okay. Just remember, you won't be in there very long, and Daisy is still in there. She'll keep you entertained."

Hollyleaf spotted Icepaw bounding up to her with great excitement on her face. "When are they coming!" she meowed half bouncing in the air.

She flicked the tip of her tail over Icepaw's nose, "Any day now, Leafpool thinks it will be by the half-moon." Hollyleaf sat in front of the young apprentice settling down making sure her expanding belly was not constricted between herself and the camp floor. A purr rose in her throat when Berrynose, her mate, came back from the afternoon patrol.

Jayfeather picked up anxiety from Berrynose as he padded closer to the three sitting outside the medicine den. He isn't sure he'll make a good father, Jayfeather realized.

"Jayfeather, have you finished sorting the herbs that are in the den?" Leafpool called out throwing Jayfeather off from his thoughts. "We need to be sure we have everything we need for when Hollyleaf has her kits." She looked at Jayfeather, then over at Hollyleaf, a purr rose in her throat at how proud of her kits she was, and how she wished Crowfeather knew he was their father.

Icepaw gingerly padded over to Jayfeather and sat next to him. He could feel the adoration she had for him beneath her pelt as if it were trying to tear itself out. She looked up at him, he could feel her gaze warming his pelt and he let out a small purr.

"Jayfeather, will you play with me until Whitewing comes back from hunting patrol?" she asked eagerly.

A mrrow of amusement came from him and he gave her a small lick between the ears. "Sure, it'd be nice to have some fun for a little bit." He looked blankly at Icepaw but she swore it was like he could really see her.

Hollyleaf pressed her pelt against Jayfeather as he helped her to the nursery to settle down before having her kits. "It seems Icepaw has taken a great liking to you Jayfeather. " a purr rose from her throat and she pushed her way into the nursery, the warm milky smell reminded her of when she had been a kit when her and her brothers all thought Squirrelflight was their mother. She made herself comfortable in the moss beside Daisy, who always stayed in the nursery.

Millie's kits bounded up to her and mewed happily, they were almost six moons old, and Firestar was bound to make them apprentices shortly after Hollyleaf's kits were born.

Icepaw and Jayfeather had gone out into the training clearing so they wouldn't disturb Hollyleaf and the kits in the nursery, when Icepaw turned toward Jayfeather and pressed her muzzle under his chin purring loud enough for a wandering patrol to hear her. "Thanks Jayfeather. Whitewing isn't much fun anymore and Foxpaw acts like he doesn't know who I am anymore."

Jayfeather could hear the sadness in her mew and he wrapped his tail around her shoulders comfortingly. He remembered when his brother Lionblaze was sneaking off to meet Heathertail in the tunnels before they collapsed. He shivered at the memory of almost drowning in the tunnels like Fallen Leaves had trying to find his way out. His memory disappeared as Icepaw had pressed herself into him, still purring loudly. He couldn't help but think he may like her as much as she did him. He felt the warmth of her pelt next to him as they padded back to the camp, tails twined together.

Jayfeather knew that they weren't supposed to be together since he was a medicine cat and they couldn't have kits, but he couldn't help but to think, Leafpool, his mother had gone against the warrior code and had kits with Crowfeather of WindClan, why couldn't he have kits of his own as long as they were within ThunderClan? Soon they had reached the clearing and both of them had forgotten their tails were intertwined. He could soon feel the curious looks from his clanmates as they walked past the fresh-kill pile.

Leafpool padded up to them, Jayfeather could feel his mentor's gaze hot through his skin, and he knew he had a lecture soon to follow. "I can explain Leafpool."

"No need." Her tail grazed Jayfeather's nose softly, "I completely understand." She soon made her way back to the medicine den. He padded to the fresh-kill pile then near the apprentice's den to share the plump mouse he picked with Icepaw. He picked up Lionblaze's scent and wondered where he had been all day but decided not to confront his brother.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather together beneath the highledge." They had heard Firestar's call and slowly made their way to the middle of the clearing.

Once the cats had gathered in the clearing Firestar began to speak. "It is time that two of our apprentices become warriors! Foxpaw and Icepaw have trained long and hard and have earned their warrior names. Foxpaw, you have shown the clan you are fierce and brave, your new warrior name shall be Foxleap, and Icepaw, you had a challenge like Whitewing did, having all white fur, but you managed to make your disadvantage an advantage, your new warrior name shall be Icecloud." He paused for no more than a mouse hiccup, "StarClan I ask you look down on these warriors and show them your noble way, I commend them to you."

"Icecloud, Foxtail." Their clanmates began calling out in the middle of the clearing, Daisy had come from the nursery to congratulate her kits, and soon found herself a spot next to Spiderleg.

Jayfeather padded up to Icecloud and pressed his muzzle warmly into hers. He could hear her purr rumbling in her throat and his heart began to race. He was really falling in love with her; even though he couldn't see what she looked like her mew to him was the sweetest thing he's ever heard. They slowly made their way to the medicine den again and sat outside its entrance. He gave Icecloud a gentle lick between the ears and bid her a good night.

Jayfeather opened his eyes and he could see the forest, the sun shining brightly over him, warming his pelt, he began to happily pad through the forest, enjoying his dream since it was the only place he could see. He turned around at the scent of Yellowfang and Bluestar however, and something told him that they were not too happy with him.

"Jayfeather, you are a medicine cat, you are not supposed to have a mate." Yellowfangs foul breath hit Jayfeather as she spoke to him. "It is against the warrior code, but I say this on behalf of all of StarClan, you have shown yourself a worthy medicine cat, and since you are not the one bearing kits, we will allow you to have a mate. Your mother was the first medicine cat to ever go against the warrior code and have kits, especially with another Clan cat, but she stepped down from her title and handed it off to you. You will need to choose an apprentice soon Jayfeather."

Jayfeather opened his eyes again, only to see darkness and knew he was no longer dreaming, and from the sounds bustling about outside the medicine den he guessed that it was just before sunhigh.

"There you are!" from the sound of it Icecloud had been waiting for him for quite some time. She bounded up to him and he could feel the adoration bursting from her pelt. He purred when her muzzle met the fur on his neck. For once it was nice for a cat to love him, regardless if he was blind. Jayfeather looked at Icecloud even though he could not see her he could picture how beautiful she must be. He licked one of his forepaws and swiped it across his ear, flattening out the fur he could still feel sticking up from his slumber.

Icecloud pressed her pelt against him. "Want to go to the lake?" she asked hopefully. Jayfeather could feel that she was looking at him, and purred with amusement that she loved him this much and nodded to her.

Sandstorm was at the entrance to the thorn tunnel when they padded out side by side, "And where do you two think you are going?" she called as they passed her.

Jayfeather looked back, his icy blue eyes staring directly at the Clan leaders' mate. "Just out, we won't be gone long. I'll make sure of it."

Sandstorm nodded. The two cats padded in step with each other down to the edge of the lake, and sat at the waters edge, Jayfeather could hear the water lapping close to his paws. He closed his eyes as Icecloud laid her head under his chin. Listening to her purr, he was finally happy.