It had been a quarter moon already, and ThunderClan still couldn't find Jayfeather. They felt as if they searched the whole lake territory and still didn't find him. Tomorrow was the Gathering, and Firestar's anxiety grew stronger as the day was coming to an end.

Well, we're going to have to tell the others Clans sooner or later, Firestar reasoned. But what if the other Clans saw this as a weakness? Would they plan on attacking while our Medicine Cat was missing? That would leave us at a disadvantage...but we still have Leafpool and Brightheart...

Firestar wasn't so sure fine should tell the other Clans that Jayfeather was missing. Besides, he could always tell them that Jayfeather wasn't feeling well and that Leafpool could fill in for him.

"Firestar?" a meow interrupted his thoughts.

Firestar stopped pacing, and looked to the lichen curtain. "Come in."

Brambleclaw and Greystripe pushed their way through the curtain and sat down in front of their leader. "Have you decided on what you're going to say at the Gathering about Jayfeather?" Greystripe asked curiously.

Firestar sighed. "I think I'll just tell them that Jayfeather isn't feeling well."

"Wouldn't they see that as a weakness?" Brambleclaw inquired.

The flame-pelted leader stood silent for a moment. Either way I say it, the Clans will see anything I say as a weakness! He let out a frustrated sigh. "Even if I tell the, that there's a small case of sickness in the camp, they'll see it as a weakness!"

Brambleclaw sat thoughtful for a few heartbeats. "Why don't you just say that he was helping Briarlight?" Brambleclaw mewed. "Surely they'll understand, Firestar?"

Greystripe nodded in agreement. "That definitely makes sense to me. The others know what happened to her, right?"

"I guess I could say that," Firestar slowly agreed.

{Over by Jayfeather}

Every day, Jayfeather would sneak in and out of Autumn's house for food. Sometimes, Autumn would come to his little willow tree when she was lonely or bored and to get to know him better. And there they sat, under the willow tree.

"How long have I known you for, Autumn?" Jayfeather asked.

Autumn cocked her head. "One week. Why...?"

Jayfeather sat there quietly, trying to figure out what one week equaled in a moon cycle. He grew frustrated after a while and let out an irritated sigh.

"What shape is the moon in?" Jayfeather asked yet another question.

Autumn sat silent for a moment. "Tomorrow night's the full moon. Once again, why are you asking me these random questions?"

The full moon...tomorrow night's the Gatheting then. Jayfeather frowned. What was Firestar going to say to the other Clans about him going missing? He slapped his hand to his face and let out a frustrated sigh once again.

"Jay?" Autumn's voice cut into his thoughts.

Jayfeather shook his head to clear his thoughts. "Hm?"

"What's it like where you come from?" Autumn curiously asked.

He blinked for a moment, trying to think of how to explain ThunderClan to Autumn. He didn't have to explain exactly what ThunderClan was like. Maybe he could just make up a lie.

"Why are you so randomly interested in where I'm from?" Jayfeather retorted.

Autumn snapped her head in his direction. "It was only a question. Sheesh, no need to get your tail in a twist," she muttered.

Jayfeather flicked his ears and his tail and let out a snort. "Like I'm the one get my tail in a twist."

Autumn rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. "You seriously need to learn some manners, Jay." He could feel annoyance rolling off of her like waves.

Jayfeather flicked his ears again, and whacked her with his tail. Autumn nudged it away in annoyance and Jayfeather felt a smirk creep onto his face.

He turned his head towards her again. "What do you look like?" he blurted out.

Autumn whipped her head around to him again, her dark ginger hair bouncing around her shoulders as she did. "You didn't answer my question, so I'm not going to answer yours!" Autumn turned back to her manga, pushing her glasses further onto her nose.

Jayfeather crossed his arms and rolled his eyes once again. "Females," he muttered drily.

She snatched at the feather clipped to his ear and pulled down on it. Hard. "What'd you just say?!"

Jayfeather flinched and let out a low growl. "Ow! Stop it, Autumn! What are you even pulling on?!" He tried swatting at her, but she swiftly ducked out of his reach. Jayfeather slapped her hand away and she recoiled.

She cradled her hand and winced. "Ow, that hurt." Autumn complained.

"Surprise, surprise," Jayfeather muttered.

Autumn glared at him, but she didn't say anything. She just turned back to her manga and sighed.

Jayfeather stood up and carefully pulled himself onto the lowest branch of the willow. Autumn glanced up at him, but quickly looked back down. Jayfeather's tail swished from side to side as she read.

They stayed silent for a good half an hour, until she set down the graphic novel and looked up at Jayfeather. She felt herself blush as she did, but quickly tried to cover it up.

Jayfeather felt some strong emotion drifting from Autumn. His head snapped to the side, and he assumed that he was looking at Autumn. "You alright?"

"Y-yeah, why?" she stammered.

"What's with your stutter?" Jayfeather demanded.

Autumn tried to level out her shaky voice. "I am not stuttering!"

Jayfeather shrugged. "Whatever you say." He hopped down from the branch, and swept the willow leaves aside. He could tell that night was falling because the air had cooled down and the birds chirping had begun to fade.

He pricked his ears as he heard more leaves rustle. Jayfeather turned around to face Autumn. "Leaving?" He asked.

Autumn stopped and looked up to him. "Yeah, my father would scream at me if I don't get home soon, and my older brother wouldn't stop pestering me about it."

Jayfeather's heart wrenched as he recalled his own brother back in ThunderClan. He felt sick to his stomach, being away from home, and suddenly had the urge to leave. Something in the back of his mind told him not to flee for the lake.

"Jay?" Autumn's voice broke into his thoughts of home. He realized he was staring, and shook his head, his face starting to grow hot.

He blinked in confusion, and reached for his face. "Wait Autumn!" he called out. Autumn spun on her heel to face the blind neko. "What is it, Jay?"

Jayfeather pointed to his facing, which was know burning hot. "Is there something on my face? Because it feels hot."

Autumn giggled. Jayfeather cocked his head at her. "W-why are you giggling?"

"Nothing's on your face. You're just blushing," she responded. Once again, Jayfeather blinked, confused. Blushing?

"Well, why am I blushing?" he asked the dark ginger haired girl.

Autumn giggled again and smiled. "Because you're either, one, embarrassed, two, nervous, or three you have-" she cut herself off. "Never mind."

Jayfeather's hand reached for the back of his neck. "And I'm either embarrassed, or nervous because...?"

Autumn shrugged. "I dunno. You tell me!" she let out a small laugh and then she was gone.

Author's Note~

Jayfeather, get your butt over here!

Jayfeather: *walks over and grumbles* What do you want?

*points to the reviewers* I promised them virtual hugs from you, and you better go hug them!

Jayfeather: Fine! *grumbles and walks over to the reviewers and hugs them* There, happy?

Yes, yes I am. Thank you guys for reviewing, because it makes me feel special! Tell me through a review how you thought this chapter was! This time, Jayfeather will give you a virtual cookie!

Jayfeather: I agreed to no such thing!

Anyways, until next time!

~Xelaric the Nobody