Before we begin, can I just point out that over 25 people voted on my poll saying Jayfeather's best pairing was with Stick? Come on guys! Who would do that?
Seaman109 This is the part of the story where things get really interesting. So many questions, so many new cats interacting with each other, and a few more plotpoints that have yet to be made.
BeeQueenBeezy I'm sure I can squeeze in some info of what went on in the twolegplace. Was planning to anyway.
Breezestar of CinderClan Looking at all these comments, I'm starting to think people like JayxBriar... perhaps.
Mothstar of Cloudclan There is a different Jay pairing going on in that story. Will be odd to write two different romances about Jayfeather with two different girly girls.
Mistlion The most interesting parts are still to come. I have big plans for Sol. And you'll have to see for yourself how JayxBriar turns out.
Inkie's Excited for 2018 It really is a great ship, aint it. (nice name change btw)
Val de Fleur You are such a dork.
Shatteredsky of Riverclan Arguably the ship began a while ago, but only now it is without restraint.
I love you, Jayfeather.
Briarlight's words from the previous evening would not stop echoing in his head. It had been so sudden and so strung with passion that he had been left speechless. Now it was the next morning and he lay curled up in a patch of flat grass, lost in his own thoughts. The sun was still below the horizon and the night's chill bore through his pelt and into his bones. Once everyone was awake, Briarlight told him she would tell the others what she had told him so he was running out of time to think of a response.
He rolled over onto his side, the grass not feeling as soft as it had the night before. Could he love Briarlight? He wasn't a medicine cat anymore so he didn't see why not. But then why do I still feel so guilty? He had no allegiance with ThunderClan or the warrior code anymore so he should be free to choose whoever he wanted as his partner. But if I make that choice, I really won't ever be able to go back to ThunderClan even if one day I wanted to return.
He rose to his paws, giving up on trying to fall asleep again. With his head lowered he padded through the sparse trees to the edge of the stream and lay down. He couldn't deny the overwhelming joy he felt when he thought about being together with Briarlight, and he couldn't clearly explain why. He had fallen in love only once before with an ancient cat named Half Moon, but that had been in a different time and in a different body. In ThunderClan, no cat other than Briarlight had ever shone much interest in the blind grumpy medicine cat. I left the Clans to find a better purpose for myself. Maybe Briarlight is my new destiny.
"You had a rough sleep, too?"
Jayfeather's whiskers quivered with amusement as Briarlight approached. He had noticed when he awoke that she wasn't in her own nest so he figured she was nearby. He flicked his tail for her to join him. "Thanks to you. I'm surprised that you followed me all the way here, but at the same time, it makes sense that it was you. It's a good thing we waited for you to catch up with us."
"You knew we were coming?" Briarlight asked, rustling the grass as she padded closer.
He didn't flinch away as she sat down beside him and kept his blind gaze fixed over the water as it chuckled rhythmically in the direction of the houseplace. He was keenly aware that their fur was touching. "Hollyleaf came to me a few nights ago in a dream warning me that someone was traveling through the houseplace to find me. She didn't say who so I assumed it would be Lionblaze or Dovewing, but I'm glad it was you."
Briarlight purred. "I owe you too much to let you run away from me. You saved my life so many times and then gave me a new one. You were the happiest part of my otherwise miserable existence."
"I was a medicine cat- that was my duty to the Clan. I would have done the same for any cat in need." His dismissive words hid his true feelings. Briarlight had been so much more than just another patient to him and the emotion in her words rocked him to his core.
"I'm still in need," Briarlight whispered gently, laying her tail across his. "I'm done hiding the truth. I decided long ago that you were the cat I want to spend the rest of my life with, but I could never tell anyone."
Jayfeather turned to her. He basked in the emotion radiating from her pelt as it crackled in the air. This is what it feels like when a cat truly loves you? Did I feel this when I was with Half Moon? He nodded to her. "Then stay. The warrior code has no control over us here. We can be rogues together, traveling in search of a better life than what we had by the lake."
Briarlight's purred with joy and she pressed her muzzle into his fur. "I'd like that."
Jayfeather gave her an affectionate lick between the ears as her warm body lay against his. He was happy just sitting beside her; happier than he could ever remember being in the Clans. The moments of silence were only chorused by the river and suddenly the night didn't feel so cold anymore. StarClan is wrong if they think any cat shouldn't be allowed to love. It's a cruel rule meant to deter the rarest hardships at the cost of the harshest of heartbreaks.
"So where do you plan on going after you reach the mountains? Bramblestar said you were heading towards the Tribe but he didn't know why."
Jayfeather hesitated before responding, savoring the moment as if it might disappear forever. "I don't really know. I'm just going to keep moving until everything feels right. The more pressing question would be 'why is Sol traveling with you?' Every cat knows he can't be trusted."
Briarlight let out a moan. "It's a long story. I'd rather save that for another time."
"We still have some time before the sun rises," he pressed gently. "I need to know as much as possible as soon as possible. If he's plotting something we have to be prepared."
Briarlight straightened up, her touch lifting from his shoulder, and she took a few paces away from him. "Fine. If you must know, we were captured by a pack of hostile kittypets while we were passing through the twolegplace. There was a misunderstanding and they took us to this huge twoleg den and locked us up in twoleg things called cages that looked like they were made of silver sticks- except they were much harder and smooth to the touch."
"Sounds awful. Did they hurt you?"
Her fur ruffled as she shook her head. "Not really, but the story gets better. The cages could only be opened from the outside with these little 'latch' things. We weren't the only cats stuck there; apparently the leader of the kittypets is a fox-heart who traps cats he doesn't like. Sol was one of the other cats being held prisoner there."
Jayfeather was reminded of one of the stories he had heard in the nursery many moons ago. "The twolegs did something similar before the Clans moved to the lake. I guess cats that live with twolegs are just as awful as the twolegs themselves. But why would you let Sol out? He doesn't deserve freedom."
Briarlight stopped by the stream and he heard a soft slurping sound as she drank from the surface. "We were trapped together for days, eating whatever twoleg rubbish the guards gave us. I guess at one point we told him that we were searching for you and he said he desperately needed to tell you something. We escaped when a young kittypet from the outside slipped in while the guards weren't looking and unlocked the cages."
"You are lucky some kittypets aren't horrible."
"We ran so fast once we were let out," Briarlight murmured, remembering it all in her head. "I was terrified the kittypets would kill us if they captured us again."
Jayfeather mulled the new information over in his mind, realizing regrettably that their precious moment was over. "I'm glad I didn't go through the twolegplace. Jayjay and Cash never mentioned anything like that while they were describing where they came from."
Briarlight cast a feeling of surprise in his direction. "Wait, you didn't go through the twolegplace? Then how in StarClan did you get all the way over here?"
"I went around," he answered simply. "It took longer but I figured it would be safer."
"Huh, wish we realized that sooner."
Jayfeather stood up and padded closer to her. He longed to forget about everything else and just enjoy her company while they were alone, but there were too many things that needed to be sorted out first. "Has Sol mentioned anything about this important thing he wants to tell me?"
"Not much," Briarlight muttered, not facing him. "But I'm sure he'll tell you soon enough. Assuming he wasn't making it all up just so we'd travel with him."
"What's the matter?" Jayfeather's ears turned back at her flat and inexpressive tone. Did I say something wrong?
She turned to him and the conviction in her searing gaze startled him with its intensity. "I have stumbled through hostile territory for almost a moon and pushed my body far beyond its limits just to see you. I was hoping you'd act a little more interested in me, but all you want to talk about is everything else."
His eyes grew wide and he couldn't stop the purr of laughter from tumbling out. "Is that all? What do you want me to say?"
"Do you love me?"
Jayfeather blinked. The question had been so blatant and to the point that he didn't have an immediate response. He wanted to be with her but he wasn't sure he was ready to take her as his mate. But if I say 'no' now, I may never get another chance. He took a deep breath. Even though his heart was pounding, his next words were clear and void of any uncertainty. "I do. I love you, Briarlight."
Her elation overwhelmed him as she pressed her head into his fur. Her purring was so loud it drowned out the sounds of the stream. "I needed to hear you say that! I don't care if we never return to the Clans as long as we can stay together."
Jayfeather licked her on the cheek. "StarClan wouldn't approve so we can't go back anyway."
He wished he could see all the feelings she had been keeping inside shining like stars in her eyes, and even without sight, he could imagine the emotion on her face. Seasons of medicine cat training and following the warrior code cast aside in one powerful proclamation. As Briarlight's familiar scent wreathed around him, he didn't care if they never returned to the lake; this was the life he had dreamed of and he would do whatever it took to make it worth it.
"The others will be waking up soon," she whispered in his ear regretfully, like she wished she could stay there in his embrace forever. "And I'm starving. That mouse from last night wasn't nearly enough to make up for all the terrible things we had to eat in the twolegplace."
Jayfeather laughed, giving her one more lick before stepping away. "Jayjay and Cash are fine hunters and I have a feeling plenty of fresh-kill will be caught as they compete with Ivypool. She'll have to work extra hard to keep up."
She stiffened slightly at the mention of Ivypool's name, but followed him as he lead the way back to where the others were curled up in grassy nests. "And what about you? Has the life of a rogue sharpened your hunting skills? It's definitely sharpened your fighting skills, I can see."
"Ow! It's still tender!" he yelped as she playfully batted at his ruined ear.
"Sorry!" she meowed, her voice high-pitched with amusement. "I just hope Ivypool doesn't do the same to my ears after I tell her the truth."
:p
Jayfeather's paws streaked across the ground as he perused the fleeing mouse. It was later in the morning and his time with Briarlight was still fresh in his mind. But now he needed to concentrate on catching his fresh-kill. The others had offered to hunt for him but he didn't want them to- even if they were better at it. I'm not the helpless medicine cat everyone has to take care of anymore. If we are going to travel together, I'll need to be able to catch my own prey.
He was gaining on the mouse quickly, its tiny paws pattering just a breath out of reach of his teeth, but suddenly it made a wild dash to the side and disappeared inside the open end of a hollow piece of wood. Jayfeather skidded to a stop, seething with frustration that it had gotten away. He gave the moldy wood a disdainful sniff and felt along its surface with his paw. I almost had that mouse!
He was about to give up and try to find something else to chase until he realized the other end of the log was buried in the ground and he could hear the tiny heartbeat pounding just below the surface. There is only one way in! Eagerly, he rushed over to the open end and found it large enough for him to slide his paw inside.
It didn't take him long to pin the mouse and dispatch it and he triumphantly carried his catch with him in the direction of where they had slept the night. The others would probably be finishing their own hunts and he was proud to have something to contribute.
The sun had only just risen above the nearby mountains and he could feel the warmth on his back. He preferred to hunt either early in the morning or right before sunset since sprinting in the heat of day was unbearable. As he stepped through the undergrowth it sounded like the others had all returned.
"Welcome back Jayfeather," mewed Ivypool as he stepped into sight. "Your Clanmates will be surprised to hear how much of a hunter you've become."
Jayfeather flinched but didn't respond. This is Briarlight's problem to fix. He just hoped everything would work out in the end. He carried his mouse over to a flat exposed stone where the others had left their own prey. Jayjay and Cash were nearby squabbling over a pheasant while Ivypool happily dipped her teeth into a freshly caught squirrel.
Briarlight approached Jayfeather and sat down beside him. Her scent was mingled with the smell of vole. The only cat who didn't seem to have any fresh-kill was Sol who stood gloomily at the edge of the ferns as he eyed them all with an uneasy gaze. He had hardly spoken a word since yesterday. Perhaps he didn't have anything important to say after all and he would be on his own way soon. Hopefully.
"Can I get everyone to listen, please?"
Jayfeather dropped the mouse and lifted his muzzle, licking the blood from his lips as Briarlight raised her voice.
Briarlight took a deep nervous breath, her attention flickering in Ivypool's direction. "Now that we are all together, I have a confession to make. There's no gentle way of saying it so I'll get right to the point."
Curious silence met her words. Jayfeather knew what was about to happen but the others were in for a surprise.
"Ivypool, I've been lying to you for a long time," Briarlight began, her words as steady as a leafy twig in a wind-storm. "But you need to know the truth. I never intended to bring Jayfeather back to ThunderClan. I want to travel with him. I lied so you wouldn't stop me from leaving the camp."
Ivypool stood up instantly, her alarm unmistakable. "You- all this time- are you serious?"
"I'm really sorry, but I couldn't have told you sooner." Briarlight took a deep breath. "But you have to see that I needed to be with Jayfeather, it's all I've wanted for moons."
A flame lit in Ivypool's voice as she turned on the other she-cat. "So I was just there to get you safely where you wanted to go? I was protection and I hunted for you and that's it? I should have known- you were always acting suspicious."
"I'm sorry!" Briarlight cried again as her Clanmate's tone became etched with hostility. "I never wanted it to be like this but when you caught me leaving the camp, it was the only way you would let me go."
Ivypool growled bitterly. "After everything your Clan did for you? How could you so willingly abandon them? What else am I supposed to say? ThunderClan is our home!"
Briarlight took a deep breath. "I had to go because- because I love Jayfeather!"
Jayfeather shuffled closer to her, feeling her whole body quivering with misery. He tried to comfort her with his touch but he knew it wouldn't be enough. Ivypool was going to hate her but he was proud Briarlight was taking responsibility. The lie had been a necessary evil.
"You are okay with this?" Ivypool directed the question at Jayfeather.
He nodded slowly but confidently. "I am not going back. All my life I followed the prophecies and obeyed StarClan, but I need to find a destiny that's all my own, not one given to me by cats in the stars. I'm sorry it came to this."
Ivypool growled and her next words barely more than a whisper. "You both dishonor ThunderClan. I won't try to talk you out of it since I can tell it won't change anything. I just hope you find whatever happiness you were looking for."
Briarlight was too distraught to respond, her whole body wracked with guilt. Jayfeather rested his tail on her shoulder and faced Ivypool. "The warrior code is wrong," he growled. "It unjustly tears love apart."
The smoldering she-cat's fiery gaze switched to him. "I've heard enough. I'm returning to ThunderClan. They need to know the truth of why a warrior and the medicine cat disappeared in the middle of the night. May StarClan light your path." She suddenly stood up and no cat spoke a word as she vanished into the trees in the direction of the houseplace. Her furious pawsteps disappeared into the distance and in their wake was a deep sense of betrayal. Jayfeather could feel Ivypool's pain but she was a Clan cat through and through. He was just glad she had given up easily when she realized the situation.
"I feel awful for doing that," Briarlight whimpered into Jayfeather's shoulder. "I didn't think she would turn on me that fast and go home. I really must have hurt her."
Jayfeather rested his head against hers. "It needed to be done and Ivypool had the right to be mad. She left home thinking she was doing it for a good cause, only to find out that she had been tricked. I would have liked her to stay and travel with us, but she feels like she has a lot to prove. She is too loyal to the Clans to become a rogue."
Briarlight sighed sadly. "I deserve to feel this awful after what I did to her."
Sol padded across the grass and snatched up the half-eaten squirrel Ivypool had left behind. "That escalated quickly. I'm just going to take this if nobody has any objections."
Jayfeather ignored him and turned his head to where Jayjay and Cash were sitting in numb amazement. "I'm sorry you two had to see that. The warrior code is very important to the Clans and now we might be considered traitors if we returned. But that life wasn't making us happy anymore."
"I think we understand," Cash meowed. "You must be really brave to go against your own traditions like that when you think they are wrong."
"Will she be safe traveling all alone?" Jayjay inquired nervously. "I hope she doesn't try to go back through the houseplace. It sounds like Sentinel is getting even nastier than ever if he's locking cats up."
Jayfeather nodded, his gaze darting in the direction Ivypool had stormed off. He hadn't realized how much his fur had risen and he gave his pelt a couple swift licks. "She's one of the fiercest warriors of ThunderClan, I'm confident she'll get back safely and tell the Clans whatever she needs to." He angled his ears in the direction of the mountains, their towering presence looming over the five cats like a cloud. "The past is behind us, but ahead lies the next big step of our journey. We are going to find the Tribe of Rushing Water."
StarClan is wrong if they think any cat shouldn't be allowed to love. It's a cruel rule meant to deter the rarest hardships at the cost of the harshest of heartbreaks.
-Jayfeather
