Chapter 7
Despite the relief he felt only moments earlier, Jayfeather was nervous. Passing through the camp's entrance, the gray medicine cat couldn't help but worry at what awaited them on the other side. A thousand thought circled his mind and he never felt his head hurt so much from worrying. How would the clan react to seeing these cats from the past? Would they be accepted? If they weren't, then what would he do? Where would they go? How would they react to the news about him and Half Moon.
The last one was what worried him the most.
He remembered how accusing LIonblaze was at first when he mentioned his and Half Moon's relationship, and he knew that the clan would most likely be the same. The only difference was he doubted that they would be as accepting as his sibling. Lionblaze was his littermate, and Cinderheart had been a close friend of his, they trusted him as much as he trusted them. They knew his story was true and they believed him.
But would the others be so believing?
Would they accept the truth, that he had been to the past and fell in love as a sharpclaw and not a medicine cat? That he didn't break the code. Or will they accuse him of lying, call him a traitor for breaking the code, and just plainly ignore his attempts to explain the truth?
He couldn't help but shiver at that thought. He couldn't help but imagine them comparing him to Leafpool. His mother had broken the code by falling in love and having them, and although he knew his situation was different, there was no doubt in his mind they would compare him to her. Blame him for doing the same mistakes she did.
Half of him was tempted to hide the truth about his relationship with Half Moon, to tell the clan nothing about his more private and intimate life. At least, hide it until he was sure they were ready to know.
But no, he couldn't do that. He couldn't do that to her.
His heart ached at the very thought of hiding his relationship with her, needing to suppress the emotion of love once more, just like in the past. He also couldn't bear the idea of breaking her own heart by telling her that they had to hide their relationship. Despite knowing that hiding they relationship was probably the best option, the strain that it might cause the two of them, after such a long wait being apart, might end up breaking the bond they had.
No, he couldn't do that, he knew he couldn't.
His heart had ached for her for so long, suppressed because of the knowledge that he wouldn't be with her until he passed. But now that she was here with him, he couldn't rebuild the walls that h had built and had now broken with her arrival.
He would just have to stick to the truth, no matter what happened.
At least now, no matter what happened it would be the two of them facing it together.
Making it to the other end of the entrance, Jayfeather was immediately hit by the familiar scent of Thunderclan. From what he could tell, it seemed that almost everyone was there. The scent of fresh-kill also lingered in the air, telling him that the hunting patrol must have returned, meaning almost everyone was there. There to hear about the arrival of the cats from the past.
"Well looks who's back." Came the familiar voice of Dovewing, as Jayfeather moved towards Lionblaze and Cinderheart who had entered the camp first. "You three were taking so long collecting herbs that everyone here was starting to get worried. Any longer and I bet Bramblestar would have-"
The last part of her sentence was cutoff when Jayfeather sensed Half Moon enter the camp and move towards him. Although he couldn't see it, he could sense the shocked feeling within Dovewing, only to be immediately replaced by a protective sensation engulfing her, as she felt the need to protect the camp from the sudden intruder.
"Relax, Dovewing…" Jayfeather said, before she did anything drastic. "…they're with us."
"They're with you?" Dovewing asked, as Lion's Roar and Dove's Wing now entered the camp.. He could sense the confusion within her, and knew that she was probably wondering why they would invite strange loners into camp. "Who are they? And why did you bring them into camp?"
By now Jayfeather could sense that they were attracting the attention of more cats, and he could feel them getting up from where they were lying, before padding cautiously towards. Hush conversations could also be heard, and Jayfeather could tell that they were asking the same questions.
Beside him he could sense Half Moon feeling uncomfortable from all the staring eyes, and despite being a brave and strong cat, it seemed that having so many unfamiliar cats, who were supposed to be Jayfeather's clanmates, staring at judging them made her feel greatly uneasy. Feeling worried herself, and not liking the stares, she moved closer towards Jayfeather, pressing up against him and trying to look for comfort.
Any attempts to hide the relationship were gone now, and Jayfeather was now sure they would ask a lot about him and Half Moon. But he didn't care. He didn't care at all of their judgement. He had waited long enough for her to be with him, and now that she was here he wasn't going to let anyone stop them from being together.
Knowing the fright she was feeling, he moved his body to press up against hers, doing his best to soothe her and earn more sharp stares and comments from the cats of his clan.
Not liking the stares either, Jayfeather could sense Lion's Roar and Dove's Wing feel uncomfortable at the gathering clan around them. But instead of falling back, these two seemed to move on the defensive, and he could feel the stored energy that was building in them and preparing to make their bodies pounce at any sign of attack.
From in front of him he then sensed Lionblaze move closer towards him, and in a concerned voice asked:
"Do you want me to explain to them, or do you want to do it?"
Turning his head towards Lionblaze, as if he was staring at him, Jayfeather kept quiet for a moment before giving a long sigh.
"I'll do it." He ultimately said. "This is my responsibility."
"Okay, Jayfeather." Lionblaze said, his voice surprisingly soft and concerned. "But you're not facing this alone, remember that. You've got me and Cinderheart to support you."
"And I am here too Jay's Wing." Half Moon said in a caring voice as she kept pressing up against him for her own and his comfort. "Me, Lion's Roar, and Dove's Wing are here with you."
"Thank you, Half Moon." Jayfeather said, unable to suppress a purr at the feeling that for once he didn't feel so alone. "Thank you, all."
With another sigh Jayfeather rubbed his head against the top of Half Moon's before taking a slow step forward. He could feel Half Moon follow him, but this time respectfully kept a bit of distance. By now, he could sense the glances of every cat in camp staring at him, and could feel the hot glares of judgment seemingly trying to burn his pelt.
They were clearly not happy.
He could sense some confusion in many of them, but the prominent emotion he could feel is something akin to annoyance. They most likely saw how close he was to Half Moon and were both shocked and angered at the fact that their medicine cat was not only being intimate with a cat, but with a cat who to them was a loner.
"Cats of Thunderclan-" Jayfeather said, in the clearest loud voice he could make. "-I have an announcement to make."
"Oh, about what?" He heard the familiar voice of Berrynose shout out at him. "That you have broken the Warrior Code and planning to betray your clan by running off with a bunch of loners?"
A rumble of hostile hisses and mumble of agreement supported, which did nothing but anger Jayfeather. He didn't like being placed in the center of attention like this, let alone be called out as a traitor in front of the whole clan.
"Well, maybe if you don't interrupt me I can go and tell you all, you mouse brain!" Jayfeather hissed. "Now, if you could just let me continue…"
Jayfeather sensed the hostility still within them, but they now seemed to quiet down.
"As I was saying, I would like to make an announcement." Jayfeather said, before making a gesture towards the three cats transported from the past. "The she-cat beside me is Half Moon, Stoneteller of the Ancient Tribe. The two cats behind me are Lion's Roar and Dove's Wing, sharpclaws of the ancient tribe."
"The tribe?" He herd Greaystripe asked. "Like the one in the mountains?"
"Yes." Jayfeather replied. "But these cats aren't from the Tribe we know, at least not from the Tribe in our current time. These cats, Half Moon, Lion's Roar, and Dove's Wing, they are from the Tribe's past. These are the current Tribe's ancestors, and in a way our ancestors too."
"So wait, they're from the past?" He heard Dustpelt asked suspiciously.
"I know it's hard to believe, but yes they are from the past. They were brought here, Starclan knows how, and transported to our time." Jayfeather said, trying his best to explain. Somehow, it seemed easier explaining this all to Lionblaze and Cinderheart than in front of the whole clan.
"How do you know all of this?" He then heard Bumblestripe asked, and soon Jayfeather noticed that his attention was placed on Half Moon. "And why is that she-cat pressing up so close to you?"
Jayfeather hesitated for a moment, but soon kept his courage to continue.
"I met them, all of them, a long time ago." He explained. "Back then I still had the ability to walk through dreams, and I still don't know how it happened, but I was transported to the past, thanks to a powerful cat named Rock. There I found out that I was turned into Jay's Wing, a sharpclaw that I would later learn I am a reincarnation of. My duty there in the past, Rock told me, was to help the Tribe and guide them. But while there I met Half Moon. I fell in love with her, and she with me. It was…I didn't feel alone with her and I knew that she was the one. Many times I thought of staying there in the past, and at one point I almost did, but I knew I had a duty here with the clans and I couldn't betray any of you by leaving you behind. So I came back and endured the long wait that seemed like forever, until now."
There was silence, no one knew how to react to it. Everyone was confused, and seemingly unbelieving of what he said. From the whispers he could tell what they were all saying to one another and thinking to themselves. Yes, they knew he had powers, but was it really possible to go back to the past, or have cats come from the past to the present? He could sense that in their thoughts, felt annoyed that they didn't trust him, their medicine cat, especially after all that he had done for them.
He then glared at them with his own accusing look, as if his blind blue eyes were filled with fire and hostility.
"And before any of you accuse me of breaking the Warrior Code, let me tell you now, I did not." Jayfeather said, his words coming out with a hiss. "I was a sharpclaw when I fell in love, not a medicine cat. I didn't break any code, and I know that StarClan approves of what happened."
There was a stir among the cats, and Jayfeather could hear more doubtful murmurs. He sighed, like he had thought earlier, it would be harder to convince the clan. Maybe it was because of the history of having had a previous medicine cat betray the code before, or maybe because of how absurd his story really did sound, he didn't know. What he did know was he had told them the truth, and that he was going to do everything for them to understand and accept it.
He wasn't going to let Half Moon be separated from him again. He wasn't going to let his emotions and love be suppressed again.
The awkward stillness and seeming quiet was only broken by the voice of ThunderClan's leader, Bramblestar, and what Jayfeather heard from the tone didn't encourage him regarding their situation.
"Jayfeather-" The leader said, in a commanding and intimidating voice. "-I want to speak with you in my den."
Jayfeather hesitated, but soon nodded. Whatever Bramblestar wanted to talk about, he knew he would have to bear the brunt of some rough questioning. Although Jayfeather considered himself as a brave and strong cat, he feared what might happen, knowing that his leader and the clan were humiliatingly accusing him of breaking the code. That had hurt his pride, having never thought of the day that it would happen.
But he knew it was for his love, for Half Moon. Anything was worth it when it came to her. He just had to be stronger than he already was now and suck it up, ignore the sting brought to his own esteem.
"Lionblaze, can you watch over them and keep them safe for me?" Jayfether asked his brother. "Can you keep them company and make sure they're comfortable?
"I can, Jayfeather, and I will." Lionblze told him.
"Thank you." Jayfeather said, before moving towards Half Moon to muzzle her.
"Will you be okay, Jay's Wing?" She asked, full concern in her voice. "I don't understand it, but your…clan…didn't seem to like the news you told them."
"It's hard to explain, my love, but I promise to explain it all later. Don't worry about me, I'll be okay."
Jayfeather could sense that Half Moon wasn't to happy about it all, and was really more concerned than she was letting out. But she seemed to trust his words and attempted to relax herself.
"I love you, Jay's Wing."
"I love you too, Half Moon." He said, and with that he slowly turned away and began to pad towards the leader's den, passing by the stiff and piercing gazes of his clan.
Entering the den Jayfeather could feel a sudden cold chill hit him. Sensing his surroundings, he quickly realized that it wasn't just Bramblestar inside with him.
'Squirrelflight… Leafpool…' He thought to himself, as he moved towards the center before sitting in front of the three cats before him.
He could feel the heavy looks from Bramblestar, and Squirrelflight, and knew that it was no different from the other cats from the clan. They probably thought that he had gone insane, and were angry and what he had just told them all.
But Leafpool…Leafpool was different. Instead of the heavy and burning gaze the others had given him, her's seemed lighter. In fact, it seemed that she was concerned for him. Did she think he had taken the same path as she did?
That made his fur bristle in anger. He was nothing like her! His situation was different. Unlike her, he didn't break any code, not betray the clan. He felt disgusted at the idea of making her mistakes, and felt even more disgusted at the idea that she thought he did.
But Jayfeather knew better than to let this anger out, especially when he was being confronted by his leader. Instead, he did his best not to show his emotion, as he waited patiently.
"Jayfeather…" Bramblestar began, his voice softening a bit, but remaining stern enough. "…I had once regarded you as my own, and at times I still do. So I'm going to be gentle on you with this, but I want you to do one thing for me. Tell us the truth."