For Jay;

"A Moonless Night."

Jayfeather sat on the shore of the lake. If he could see, he would be watching the shimmering waves lap at the shore hungrily at the shore, soaking the sand. But he wasn't blessed with the gift of sight, so he just paid attention to the other things. The smallest scent of fish from the water, the feeling of sand between his paws and the water touching his paws, the cool wind that ruffled his fur and the sounds of the lake and other wildlife that was awake at this time of night.

It was peaceful tonight. Jayfeather was grateful he decided to come out here tonight before going to a final rest. He tilted his head up, as if to look at the moon. Even without sight, he could tell there was no moon tonight. He knew that sometimes tomoon would disappear all together, then return the next night.

Even though all was fine and well at the lake, it felt... strange that there was no moon to shine the smallest of light on the earth at night.

Jayfeather shook his head. It didn't matter whether the moon was there or not. He was going to enjoy his time here before he went to waste away in the dirt!

The old medicine cat could remember all the times he had been here. All the things he had seen in his life. All the things he had experienced. The good times. The sad times. The times he could never purge from his mind and the times he wished never ended.

It had been a good life for Jayfeather. But he could tell that tonight was his last. As soon as he fell asleep, he would die. He knew it. He didn't know how, but he did. Jayfeather always thought death would be… scary, to say the least. But as he aged his bones creaked and his muscles ached. He knew once in StarClan, he would be young once more. And he would be able to see as well, so that was a plus.

Tonight was a good night to die.

Jayfeather stood up, getting ready to find a comfy place to sleep. He wanted to be as close to the earth as possible,not surrounded by clanmates. It was his last wish you could say, and he would fulfill it.

He went to turn around, ready to pass. But then, a spark of light flashed in his vision.

Jayfeather blinked, the blinding light something he hadn't seen in awhile. He hadn't seen anything since he retired, which was two seasons. StarClan usually let him see in dreams, but he had been in the dark since retirement.

He blinked and opened his eyes,surprised to see. Did I die already? He thought, stumbling a bit. But he was still at the lake shore, not in StarClan. So where was he?

Jayfeather looked around, finding the trees to look… smaller? Sometimes he could see when he wasn't dreaming thanks to StarClan when he had the power of stars in his paws, and he still remembered the trees. Large and sturdy, covered in vines and moss. But these ones looked as if they had just gotten big, the moss and vines hardly on them. He could recognize these trees. But from where?

His attention was turned to something else. He could see the head of a white cat poke from a bush. The cat looked to both sides. She spotted Jayfeather and her green eyes filled with joy. The white she-cat let out a small, playful giggle and padded over to Jayfeather.

Jayfeather felt something stab his heart and his throat went dry. He did remember this place. And that she-cat. A she-cat he had fallen for so many moons ago and thought he would never see again.

Half-Moon.

Jayfeather looked down at himself. He felt younger and his pelt was smoother. It was also slightly different. He was in the body of Jay's Wing.

Half-Moon ran up to Jayfeather and pressed herself into him. Jayfeather had missed her touch and purred with happiness to see her again. He put his head on her's, "I've missed you." he whispered.

"Hm?" Half-Moon looked up at him. This was the part Jayfeather had the hardest time getting. Talking. He often messed something up as he was saying it and it would sound odd to Half-Moon, but perfectly normal to him. He blinked,"Er, um, nothing. It's good to see your...erm, here." he mewed, figuring that this get-together between the two may have been planned.

"Of course! I wouldn't miss it for the word. But Furled Bracken may be irritated when we're tired in the morning." she mewed.

Jayfeather remembered Furled Bracken. The leader of the Ancients before they went to the tribe and half-Moon became the first Stoneteller. He smiled, "I'm sure he'll understand."

Half-Moon purred, "I hope so. And if he doesn't then so what? Love is love, right?"

Jayfeather smiled, "Right." Half-Moon leaned against Jayfeather and sat down as he did, looking out at the water of the lake. It looked darker tonight without the moon now that Jayfeather could see. But he had Half-Moon. The only moon he needed.

He curled his tail around Half-Moon and smiled. If this was the last moment he had with her, he was going to make it last. He closed his eyes, "I wish this never ended."

Half-Moon smiled, "Me neither. But we'll get tired soon."

"Yes," Jayfeather agreed, "I suppose we will."

He sighed, "I hope to see you when I wake."

Half-Moon snorted, "Of course you will, silly!' she mewed, nudging him slightly.

Jayfeather smiled, "Right. I will see you. What… What will we do tomorrow?"

Half-Moon shrugged, "Maybe we can go hunting. Or we could talk to your brother. I'm sure Lionblaze would appreciate it."

Jayfeather looked at Half-Moon. But how…? He looked at her and he saw her eyes were brighter and he could see small stars shining in her pelt, "Half-Moon?"

She nodded, touching her nose to his shoulder, "Yes. It is me. I have missed very much, Jayfeather."

Jayfeather could see the trees going back to what they looked like originally. The sky seemed to zoom through hundreds of days and nights, the seasons flashed past Jayfeather's eyes. He saw several things. Wars, badgers, patrols, and oh so much more. He could see his fur go back to what he originally looked like.

He waited for his blindness to come back, but it did not. He blinked, "What has happened?"

"We're not sure. But you died, Jayfeather. Look." she mewed, pointing the shore at a grey tabby laying on the shore, his paws splayed out and his fur seeming to be slightly spiked.

Jayfeather walked up to his body and touched it, his paw phasing through his dead body. He flinched back, disturbed the sight. Half-Moon walked up to him,"Were you in pain?" she asked with concern.

Jayfeather flicked his ear, "I don't think so." he mewed. He faced her,"Are you here to bring me to StarClan?"

"Yes, my love. It is your time." Half-Moon mewed. Jayfeather looked over to the trees, trying to see ThunderClan camp, even though he knew it was not possible. "Are you worried for them?" Half-Moon asked.

Jayfeather shook his head, "No. Alderheart has a fine 're led by a wise leader and most of the warriors are wondrous. ThunderClan will prosper without me."

Half-Moon smiled, "I'm glad you know that. Are you excited to go to StarClan?" Jayfeather smiled, "Of course. I'll see Lionblaze, Hollyleaf and Squirrelflight and Leafpool. I'll see them all. That's all I want. To see my family. That's what we all want."

Half-Moon nodded and pressed up against Jayfeather, "Come on. It's time." Jayfeather looked at her and saw her jump forwards, seeming to land on an invisible step. She walked upwards into the sky, each step she took made a small flurry of stars appear. Jayfeather found himself lost as she watched how elegant she looked. Half-Moon turned around, "Come on!" she encouraged.

Jayfeather hesitated. He took a breath and took a step upwards, feeling solid ground beneath his paw even though he saw nothing.

Excitement serged through Jayfeather. He took another step, marveled by the flurry of stars that appeared. He fluffed out hispelt as he looked up at Half-Moon. He began to run upwards, not having ran in so long. He let out a yowl of pure happiness and he ran, enjoying the wind through his fur.

He skidded to a halt as he passed Half-Moon and faced her, not even feeling winded. Half-Moon chuckled, "You seem excited."

He smiled and purred, "I haven't ran in awhile."

"I can see." she mewed, padding up to him. She twined tails with his, "But, maybe we should spare this moment and just walk?"

Jayfeather nodded, "I like that idea."

Half-Moon beamed and the pair walked up into the moonless sky, ready for whatever they met next.