The Rite of Passage was not what Dove's Wing thought it would be. She didn't really have a vision of what she thought it would be but it certainly wasn't this. Endless tunnels of stone and dirt. She had expected more but she was glad there wasn't.

Dove's Wing was exhausted. She didn't know how long she had been running but her adrenaline had run out and now she was just wandering aimlessly. And it didn't help that she could hear a mysterious roaring in the distance. That scared her into running harder and now she was too tired to do much of anything. I need to rest.

Dove's Wing collapsed in her pawsteps despite a small voice screaming in her head not to. No! You can't rest. You have to keep moving! Dove's Wing blinked tiredly, too exhausted to argue with herself. Shut up. It won't hurt to close my eyes for just a few heartbeats.

Dove's Wing lay her head down on her paws and closed her eyes, oblivious to the roaring of the oncoming river in the distance and the three spirits eyeing her sleeping form greedily.

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay?"

"Yes."

"You keep saying that but-"

"For the star cats sake just go Leafpool!" Jay's Wing snapped, startling the ThunderClan medicine cat. "You missed the last Moonpool thing. I swear I'm fine. Besides, I'm not alone this time. If anything's wrong, I can go talk to Lionpaw or Hollypaw or Foxkit or Icekit or Firestar or anycat really! Seriously, just go."

Leafpool blinked at grey tom sitting up in his nest, blind eyes boring into her. It was truly intimidating, even if he was half her size. "Are you-?"

"Don't you dare ask if I'm sure!" Jay's Wing said sharply, getting out of his nest. His tail waved wildly behind him as he walked towards her with confidence and precision in his steps. "Now listen to me. You. Will. Go. To. The. Moonpool."

"But-"

"No buts!" Jay's Wing interrupted. "Icekit told me this Moonpool thing is super important so you have to go. You're worrying about me way too much, Leafpool. Just go. I'll be fine."

Leafpool blinked at him. "When did you get so bossy?"

"Since you started annoying me,"Jay's Wing snorted. "I don't like yelling at you anymore than you do. I really don't care if you go to the Moonpool or not, I really don't know what it is, but I do know you've been fussing over me way too much and it's about time you had a night to yourself. And don't say you went to the Gathering! That doesn't count."

"Why not?"

"It just doesn't. I don't really know what the Gathering is either is either so I don't really have a good reason but don't argue with me. Just go to your thing."

"Fine," Leafpool sighed. "Are you-?"

"Yes I'm sure!"

"Geez, you don't have to get your pelt in a bunch," Leafpool grumbled. Jay's Wing had gotten… louder. Mostly when he wanted her to do something but louder nonetheless. Those kits are a bad influence on him.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"Get going!" Jay's Wing waved his tail at the door. "It's sunset! You're Moonpool thing happens at moonhigh right? You have to get going."

"It's actually sunhigh right now."

"Oh." Jay's Wing grew quiet. He ducked and licked his chest fur. "This is embarrassing. You are going, right?"

"Are you sure that-?"

"Oh for the star cat's sake. Yes!"

"Dove's Wing."

Dove's Wing was lying on the floor of a tunnel, eyes closed. She did not stir.

"Dove's Wing."

The she-cat suppressed a shiver as a chill passed over her. She felt a paw poke her flank.

"Dove's Wing. Get up."

Dove's Wing blinked her eyes open slowly. Worry washed over her. How long was I asleep?

"Don't be alarmed. This is a dream."

Dove's Wing leaped to her paws and whirled around, looking for the source of the voice. She gasped as her eyes fell upon a familiar ginger and white pelt. A pelt that she never thought she'd see again. "Fallen Leaves!"

"Dove's Wing!" Fallen Leaves purred, his green eyes shining with joy. "I never thought I'd see you again!"

"I never thought I'd see you again either!" Dove's Wing exclaimed as she rushed forward, pressing her head against his shoulder. "How is this possible? I thought you died."

Fallen Leaves stepped away from her, looking down sadly. "I am dead. Like I said, this is a dream."

"Oh," Dove's Wing said a bit dejectedly but she brightened again in a moment. "It's still good to see you."

Fallen Leaves nodded. "Listen, I messed up Dove's Wing."

"What? What'd you do?"

"After I died, I just felt so lost. So alone," Fallen Leaves said. "And then when Jay's Wing came down… I tried to get him to take me home but I just ended up sending him away."

"What? What do you mean?" Dove's Wing asked. "Jay's Wing is with the tribe. He's-"

"No," Fallen Leaves stated boldly. "That's not Jay's Wing."

"What?"

"That's not Jay's Wing," Fallen Leaves said. "That's… that's… Look, maybe it'll be easier if I just show you."

"What do you mean show me?" Dove's Wing questioned.

Fallen Leaves rose his muzzle and took a step towards her before resting it on her head. "Just relax and all will become clear."

"We're wasting moonlight," a gruff, aged voice barked.

"Let's just wait a little longer," a lighter voice responded. "She still might show up."

"Let's not get our hopes up," a third voice said.

"Are you waiting on me?" Leafpool questioned as she padded onto the ridge where the medicine cats met. Kestrelpaw and Willowpaw brightened at the sight of her and bounded over.

"Is Jaypaw with you?" Willowpaw asked immediately.

Leafpool shook her head. "No but don't worry, he's fine. He was quite adamant about me coming tonight."

"Good," Barkface said. "You missed last half moon. StarClan may have something to share with you."

"If they had anything important to tell me, they would just visit me in a normal dream," Leafpool responded but her paws still twitched with anticipation. Jaypaw was healing but she still wanted to know if she could do anything more. He still thought he was another cat.

"Let's go," Littlecloud said, already several taillengths up the ridge. "The sooner we get moving the sooner we can get dreaming."

Leafpool and the others got off their haunches and began trailing after the small medicine cat. Leafpool felt her breath shorten and her mind grow fuzzy but she powered through it and just focused on putting one paw in front of the other. Why am I so nervous? It's not like I've never visited the Moonpool and I know they can't tell me anything too terrible.

Leafpool felt a tail tip on her shoulder. She glanced over and saw Mothwing smiling reassuringly. Leafpool relaxed slightly in her friend's presence and stepped into the cave leading to the Moonpool.

Soon enough her eyes fell upon the clear, shining water. It was just as beautiful as the day she discovered it. The water was still as per usual and the moon's rays seemed to illuminate it in the darkness of the night.

"Good luck," Barkface murmured to her before settling down at the water's side and plunging his muzzle in. Within a heartbeat, his breathing slowed to the steady rhythm of sleep.

Leafpool curled her tail around herself as she settled down as her comrade had. She closed her eyes for a brief moment and inhaled deeply, soothing her nerves, before lowering her muzzle and lapping the pristine water.

The moment the cool touch of the water hit her, Leafpool found herself standing in a field thick with a haze that covered the horizon. She could see the outline of trees in it but they weren't close. Where am I…?

"This is a corner of Silverpelt that we usually don't bring you medicine cats but I figured this was a special occasion," a voice rasped.

Leafpool whirled around. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Yellowfang!"

"Who were you expecting?" the she-cat responded.

Leafpool felt her pelt flush in embarrassment. "Spottedleaf."

"Spottedleaf knows herbs and medicine. I know StarClan," Yellowfang said. She flicked her tail. "You have questions?"

"Y-yes," Leafpool stuttered. "It's Jaypaw. He-"

Yellowfang waved her tail, silencing her. "I'm going to stop you right there."

Leafpool tilted her head in confusion. Yellowfang seemed to take it as a prompt to speak.

"That cat in your camp, that isn't Jaypaw," Yellowfang told her firmly.

"W-what?" Not Jaypaw?

"That cat, his name is Jay's Wing," Yellowfang told her. "He's… not from around here."

"What do you mean?"

"I can't tell you everything and honestly I don't want to. It's something I can't exactly explain but what's important is that Jay's Wing doesn't belong here. He needs to go home," Yellowfang explained. "And Jaypaw needs to come home. Actually, he needs more than that but coming home is the first step. Got that?"

"What are you talking about?"

Yellowfang sighed. "I don't like repeating myself. That cat in your camp isn't Jaypaw and you need to figure out how to get him home and your apprentice back."

"How?"

"I'll leave that to you."

Leafpool's vision began fading. I'm waking up. "Wait!"

Her cry seemed to fall on deaf ears. Yellowfang watched her fade for a moment before whisking away and padding off back to StarClan's hunting grounds.

Leafpool gasped as her head shot up in the waking world. Beside her, Barkface began to stir awake. Leafpool stumbled back. The sounds around her were muffled and unclear, her breathing rapid. Am I in shock? She shook her head and dismissed the thought until she stumbled.

"Hey, careful," Mothwing said coming to her side. She gently pushed her into a seating position. "Are you alright?"

Leafpool stared at her friend, her brain working so slow that it took a moment to recognize her. "I don't know. I really don't know."

"Jay's Wing? Jay's Wing! Is that you?"

"What are you? Get away!" a grey tom hissed. His pelt was muddied and caked in dried blood. He lept back, pelt bristling. His blue eyes darted behind him, clearly fearful of whatever lay deeper in the tunnels.

"Jay's Wing, it's me. Fallen Leaves."

The grey tom glared. "No. You're just another one of the spirits that attacked me on the Second Day. Fallen Leaves died down here and I will too if I don't leave now."

"Wait!"

The wail didn't stop the grey tom from darting forward. The spirit of a cat moved chased after him but the grey tom didn't stop. Rumbles sounded from the tunnels behind him making him run faster.

The spirit cat sped up and was suddenly in front of the grey tom. He stood crouched, a battle stance. The grey tom skidded to a halt.

"Leave me alone!" the grey tom roared. "It's been three days and I've survived all three trials! I'm on the last stretch, please just let me leave in peace."

"No!" The spirit cat matched his volume. "You cannot leave me here alone. It's so dark and cold down here. I need you with me. I'm so lonely. I will never be lonely again!"

The spirit cat lunged, ghostly claws raking down the grey tom's pelt. He yowled, fresh blood staining his fur and splattering on the walls. He reared up and swatted the spirit cat's face, targeting the eyes. "Let me go!"

"No! You need to stay with me!" the spirit cat screamed. His claws extended and buried themselves deeper into the grey tom's pelt. The grey tom tried to get away but the spirit cat maneuvered so he was on top of him, pinning him down. The grey tom hissed and dug into the ground with his claws, trying to drag himself forward.

"I'm so close! Please, just let me go home," the grey tom begged. "I passed all three days of trial. Please…"

"I don't care! Just stay with me!" the spirit cat cried.

"I need to go! Half Moon, Dove's Wing, Fish Leap, they're waiting for me." With one final motion, Jay's Wing wretched himself free of Fallen Leaves's grasp. The sound of fur tearing echoed in the tunnels. Jay's Wing yowled in pain and stumbled a few steps before collapsing.

Fallen Leaves fell as the weight under him disappeared. He stared at his friend's fallen form then looked down at his paws. His ghostly form seemed to be… leaking. Traces of it laced the wounds he left on Jay's Wing's pelt.

Ghostly power leaked from Jay's Wing's body as a cat shaped spirit began to form. It stretched up towards the sky, passing through layers and layers of earth that trapped its physical form underground.

A second wisp came down from above, striking Jay's Wing's body like lightning. He jerked as if in pain before growing limp. Fallen Leaves padded over hesitant to check if his friend was alive.

Fallen Leaves lowered his muzzle. He could feel Jay's Wing's flank moving with each breath. Fallen Leaves let out a sigh of relief. He had not killed his friend in his emotional outbreak.

He then stiffened as a scent caught his nose. The scent wasn't on the same realm as the smell of dirt and water around them. No, it was the senses he gained after death that allowed him to pick up the scent. He lowered his nose once again, confirming Jay's Wing as the source. Or rather, Jaypaw.

Fallen Leaves leaned back as his eyes widened in horror. "What have I done?"

Dove's Wing gasped as her head jerked back, her mind snapping away form the stream of memories Fallen Leaves pushed into her mind. Images of running through the tunnels, fleeing from the water, being chased by something- Spirits? Monsters? Dogs?- and feeling flashes of fear ravaged her mind. Dove's Wing collapsed, her body feeling damp and stressed as she panted to recover from whatever she just experienced.

She felt lapping on her head. "I'm sorry about that. I didn't know how else to tell you what I did."

Dove's Wing reached out with a paw and put it over Fallen Leaves's. "Don't worry. I understand. Being down there for so long, all alone… I would have snapped too."

"You wouldn't have attacked Jay's Wing," Fallen Leaves said sadly. He twitched. "I must go now. I trust you know what you must do?"

Dove's Wing nodded, watching her friend's ghostly form begin to fade as if smoke from a fire blown out by the wind. "Goodbye Fallen Leaves."

"Goodbye Dove's Wing," Fallen Leaves said.

And in a moment, Dove's Wing found herself back on the tunnel floor waking up. She blinked tiredly. The roar of water was gone and her tired eyes saw light trickling towards her from ahead. Fallen Leaves… Thank you. Somehow in her sleep she had reached the end of the Rite of Passage. She could go home now and she was sure that she had Fallen Leaves to thank.

Dove's Wing pushed herself to her paws, muscles stiff. She ambled forward, steps broken but steady. The ground began to ascend and she soon felt the ground beneath her paws break from dirt to grass and the sunlight strike her, blinding her for a moment. I made it…

"Dove's Wing!" a joyous yowl caught her attention.

The sunlight leaving her eyes, Dove's Wing saw three forms bounding towards her. Fish Leap lead them, almost tackling her to the ground. He broke into a loud purr, eyes shining. "You're alive!"

"Was there ever any doubt?" Dove's Wing responded cocklily but she too was purring, rubbing her head against Fish Leap's. After feeling Fallen Leaves's loneliness, she wanted nothing more than to be with her friends.

Half Moon and Jay's Wing joined them in a moment. Half Moon lapped her ear. "I'm so glad to see you!"

"You're a sharpclaw now, sis!" Jay's Wing said happily. "Falling Rain and Falcon Swoop would be so proud of you right now."

Dove's Wing stiffened when her eyes fell on her brother. Or not her brother. Jaypaw.

Jay's Wing tilted his head in confusion. "Are you alright?"

Dove's Wing forced herself to break into another purr. "Yeah. I just can't believe we're both sharpclaws after all this time."

Jaypaw's tail waved excitedly behind him. "Me neither. Come on, let's get back home so Furled Bracken can make it official and you can take a nice long nap in your new nest!"