Okay, I don't really have anything to tell you, so read on.

Jaypaw pawed at herbs wearily, his mind wandering throughout the forest though his body was stuck in the medicine den, rotting away faster and faster every minute.

He could hear cats moving around the clearing, being sorted into patrols and slipping in and out of dens. Most of the Clan was out hunting or marking borders at the moment, but Jaypaw didn't feel relaxed by their absence as he usually would have.

He was on edge lately, but had no idea what was making him feel so... incomplete. No, that wasn't the word for it.

Whatever it was, Jaypaw was getting annoyed by it, and needed some adventure. He pushed some herbs back into their spot on the wall and felt around for any stray moss or leaves in the den. Finding the floor clean, Jaypaw exited the den, moving slowly and aimlessly into the middle of camp.

He sensed the elders laying still in their den, and heard Hollyleaf mewing excitedly to Poppytail about some badger tracks they had found by the ShadowClan border. He threw that piece of information away, then though back to it. Those tracks might just lead to some excitement.

Jaypaw trotted towards the camp entrance, thanking his sister for providing him with a possible adventure. He crossed paths with Thornclaw, who scooted wide out of Jaypaw's way. Jaypaw snorted and continued on his way out of the thorn tunnel, exiting the camp with his mood dampened. Eventually he let the sounds of the forest wash all that away, though, and began to actually enjoy himself.

He leaped over a fallen log with ease, padding along confidently as he turned towards the ShadowClan border. The sun was just warm enough on his fur, and the earth felt wonderfully familiar beneath his paws.

As he neared the border, Jaypaw began to scent badger. His tail shot up as he followed the scent dangerously close to the border before finding the tracks. He opened his jaws slightly and sniffed at them, finding that the scent was actually kind of stale.

He lashed his tail and began walking parallel to the trail, following it further into the forest. Jaypaw began to get worried as it veered closer to camp, and quickened his pace until he was nearly running alongside the tracks. Suddenly, the badger changed course, turning sharply away from the centre of ThunderClan territory.

Jaypaw's breath escaped from his tight chest with relief, and his muscles limbs began to relax as well. The trail left the trees behind and crossed into ShadowClan territory, nearly taking Jaypaw with it before he stopped short and backpedalled away from the border.

He sat back on his haunches, breathing heavily as he listened for pawsteps. His heartbeat had almost settled when a patrol of cats came bursting out of some nearby shrubs, proving him right.

Jaypaw knew that they had seen his mistake, or else he would have scented or heard them coming. As it was, their scent had blended in with the overpowering stench of ShadowClan that hung about the border. They must have been lying in wait in the bushes, no doubt planning an ambush, had he set paw over the border.

Jaypaw scented the air and recognized Russetfur, the ShadowClan deputy, along with Rowanclaw and Toadfoot.

Jaypaw swallowed and began to inch away, wishing that he hadn't been spotted by such a malicious group of cats.

"You!"

Jaypaw froze for moment as Russetfur meowed loudly at him.

"What?" he hissed threateningly.

"You just set paw in ShadowClan territory!" Jaypaw felt his spine tingling and forced his fur to lie flat, keeping his voice as stony as possible.

"No, I didn't. Besides, I'm blind. I don't know any better." Jaypaw knew that it wouldn't keep the cats off of his case, but it gave him time to creep further backwards.

"We don't care if you're blind and deaf! We're taking you to Blackstar."

Jaypaw scowled as his hackles rose apprehensively.

"I'm staying here."

He felt vibrations as Russetfur and Rowanclaw each took a step forwards, nearly crossing the border. Toadfoot seemed uncertain for a moment and then stepped forwards as well. Jaypaw could feel his gaze staring into his fur, and glared in the new warrior's direction menacingly.

"How pathetic. It'll take all three of you to drag me back to your camp, and everyone knows that ShadowClan is still weak from the hard leaf-bare. If Firestar led an attack, you would be crushed."

"You little piece of mouse dung!" Toadfoot yowled. "I'll shred you into bedding for our kits!"

Jaypaw scooted backwards as Toadfoot leapt forwards, on a straight course for Jaypaw's head. He could feel the foolish cat's body flying through the air towards him.

Then, suddenly, Toadfoot screeched and Jaypaw heard a thump to his right. A brief period of harsh meowing and hissing followed before Jaypaw's attacker slunk off of ThunderClan's territory.

Jaypaw pricked his ears, sensing that another cat was still intruding. He bared his teeth and crouched into fighting position, but then a familiar, salty scent wafted into his nostrils and he relaxed.

Willowpaw's voice was strong and sure as she ordered the patrol to move along and go back to their Clan before they were beaten by two apprentices. Thankfully, she didn't mention anything about one of those apprentices being blind. Jaypaw silently thanked her and stared towards the warriors until they retreated, hissing violently.

Once they were gone, Jaypaw felt suddenly nervous.

"Er- thanks, Willowpaw." He hated to actually owe something to another cat, especially one as annoying as Willowpaw. No doubt she'd be bugging him about it for a good time.

"No problem," she mewed loosely. "I've been wanting some action lately anyway."

Jaypaw brightened and nodded his head, glad that he wasn't the only one.

"Me too. Though I guess I'd rather be sorting herbs than being held prisoner in ShadowClan territory."

Willowpaw mrrowed with amusement.

"You would have sent them running back to camp with their tailed between their legs."

Jaypaw's tail lifted in happiness as they fell into step, walking back the way Jaypaw had come.

"Why were you in ThunderClan territory, anyway?"

Willowpaw got quiet all of a sudden and eventually answered, "I'm travelling to the Moonpool. There is something I have to ask StarClan that can't wait."

Jaypaw knew that he should drop it, but instead he pressed on. "Like what?"

Surprisingly, Willowpaw didn't act offended or scold Jaypaw for asking an unallowed question. "I might tell you later," she answered, sounding guarded. Jaypaw shrugged off her peculiar behaviour and trotted along with her, deciding that he'd rather make the long trip to the Moonpool than go back to camp.

Actually, the trip was getting quite short as they began to ascend the steep hill full of loose rocks that would take them to the sacred gathering place. Jaypaw bounded up the rocks gleefully, glad that he knew the path by heart and didn't have to cover up any embarrassing falls in front of Willowpaw.

She followed him more carefully, picking up speed until she was climbing right behind him.

"Hurry up, mouse-brain," she grumbled mockingly, copying his most frequent mood.

"I'll take my time, dung-fur."

Willowpaw glanced at his back with an amused expression, glad that she'd uncovered his softer side and wasn't just throwing herself against an unbreakable wall of silence and occasional sarcastic remarks.

Jaypaw bounded over a final boulder and began padding down towards the Moonpool. He sighed as the warm pelts of his ancestors pulsed around him, guiding his small body down to the water. Starry voices whispered in his ears as he knelt beside the water, waiting for Willowpaw to catch up and join him.

"You're dreaming, too?"

He nodded slightly. "Yeah. I've got some questions of my own for StarClan."

He didn't say anything, but the bigger reason he was joining Willowpaw was to eavesdrop on her dreams. If she wouldn't tell him what her problem was in the waking world, then he would get it out of her when she was asleep.

Willowpaw seemed to sense his ulterior motives somehow, and he could feel her puzzled gaze on his pelt. The silence didn't last for long, though. Willowpaw decided to let it go and joined Jaypaw by the water.

She curled her tail around her small dappled paws and leaned in to take a lap of the water, sinking immediately into an unbreakable slumber. Blackness was all around her for a moment before her vision returned and she found herself in a beautiful clearing.

Lush greenery was all around her, moving in the slight wind that brushed over her pelt soothingly. Warmth pulsed from every direction, and she could almost forget that there was even such thing as leaf-bare, or even a cold day.

She almost laid down and closed her eyes to enjoy the day, but then cats began to slip into the clearing, their starry pelts reflecting the sunlight prettily. Willowpaw made herself stand straight as they entered quickly, reminded that she was in the presence of StarClan. As the whole group filtered in from the trees, she dipped her head and mewed greetings to her ancestors.

"Greetings, Willowpaw," came a sweet lilting voice. "We know why you have come."

Willowpaw looked down at her paws in shame and mewed as loudly as she dared, "I don't know what do do!"

One cat detached itself from the crowd and moved gracefully towards her. The she-cat had gray-silver fur, striped with black. Her ice blue eyes were beautiful and loving, and Willowpaw saw sadness and knowledge in the cat's eyes.

"Feathertail."

Feathertail nodded solemnly and looked at Willowpaw pitifully.

"I have been chosen to advise you," she said softly. "Come."

She blinked and their surroundings began to melt away. The foliage was replaced gradually by rocky slopes and a sharp, cloudless sky. Sharp wind ruffled her pelt teasingly, and the stone under her paws was surprisingly sun-warmed.

Willowpaw stared around in amazement as an eagle soared over their heads proudly, silhouetted by the glaring sun.

"Where are we?"

Feathertail looked around wistfully.

"These are the mountains, child."

Willowpaw couldn't help but feel admonished; of course these were the mountains. How many stories had she heard about the hard grandness of this stony place?

She glanced at Feathertail and found her still gazing around at the scenery. She lashed her tail in annoyance, wondering if StarClan would ever really provide her with guidance.

"Well?" she demanded, coming off a bit impatient.

Feathertail looked back at her. "Patience. You must learn to wait for things that you want."

Willowpaw stared at the beautiful she-cat as her words took effect.

Patience....

"What does that mean?" She asked anyway, half-wishing that Feathertail would take back her words.

"You must follow your heart," the RiverClan cat said softly, her eyes large and softer than water. "I can't tell you what to do, Willowpaw. It is your choice alone."

She shook her head and Willowpaw kept on staring.

"But I came here for guidance!"

"No," replied Feathertail. "you came so that I could tell you what to do. That is not StarClan's way. You need to find your own."

Willowpaw took a step back, her fur rising.

"You're no help at all!" she spat, letting her anger take hold. "You're telling me to follow my heart, and my heart says to love Jaypaw! But you're saying I should be patient, too, which obviously means I should wait until we're in StarClan!"

Amusement glowed in Feathertail's glittering eyes.

"You think too much, child," she mewed lightly, and her body began to fade. Just as she was disappearing, Willowpaw heard a whisper on the breeze:

"Crowfeather...."

She shook her head in annoyance. Coming to StarClan had been a mistake. Now she was more confused than ever. Her lithe body was shaking with the cool waft of air that was coming off the rocks, and she wished that Feathertail hadn't brought her there.

In moments, the scene melted and she was back in the sunny clearing, which she almost didn't recognize with the absence of StarClan. Immediately her thoughts went to Jaypaw, who was beginning to consume her mind's eye more and more often. She sighed as she imagined his sharp, intelligent eyes and dark coat. How could she give him up?

Willowpaw straightened, deciding that she would take the more appealing half of Feathertail's advice. After all, waiting throughout the endless moons for Jaypaw seemed unbearable, and it hadn't even begun yet. She resolved to tell him about her feelings as soon as she woke up, and in the blink of an eye she was crouching beside the Moonpool, her limbs aching.

She rose slowly and stretched, feeling her muscles creak with freedom. She yawned and looked around to see Jaypaw sitting on his haunches only a couple tail lengths away from her. Suddenly, the idea of admitting her feelings seemed ridiculous.

Jaypaw's icy eyes were trained on her with confusion, and she saw that he looked sort of nervous.

That makes two of us, she thought bitterly, and opened her jaws to speak.

"Jaypaw, I...." her sentence trailed off as she got shy all of a sudden, squirming under his icy gaze. He sat still and let her compose herself again, which she was grateful for. Anyone else would have been mewing impatiently at her to just spit it out already. In fact, that was Jaypaw's usual approach to these kinds of things.

What if he knew?

Just say it.

Willowpaw braced herself.

"Jaypaw, I- I think I love you."

When Jaypaw answered, he sounded absolutely baffled and confused.

"I know."