"Dove's Wing, please step forward," Furled Bracken said in a booming voice that echoed in the tribe's cave. Despite everything on her mind, Dove's Wing felt excitement rise up in her chest. I'm finally going to be a sharpclaw!

"Yesterday at dawn you left our home a softpaw. Today at dawn you returned a sharpclaw," Furled Bracken announced. "Thank the stars that you were not lost like your friend Fallen Leaves or trapped in the Rite of Passage like your brother Jay's Wing."

Dove's Wing dipped her head. I almost was. Fallen Leaves, if you can hear me, thank you.

It suddenly occurred to her that Fallen Leaves had not become one of the stars when he died but Furled Bracken spoke again before she could dwell on it.

"As of this day, you will have your own den among our tribe's sharpclaws. You are not required to share prey and you are allowed to take a mate and have kits who will hopefully become sharpclaws when they reach your age," Furled Bracken continued. "You will fight for your home if danger ever comes and you may leave without telling a superior. This also means you may visit the Starpool to commune with our ancestors which I highly suggest. You can also speak with your peers about your trial. Dove's Wing."

"Yes." Dove's Wing stood alert.

"As of this day, you are a sharpclaw of the Tribe of Still Water."

"Thank you," Dove's Wing breathed. "This is an honor."

Around her, her tribemates yowled in congratulations. Fish Leap darted up to her with an excited gleam in his eyes. "I still can't believe your a sharpclaw!"

"Believe it," Dove's Wing said, "because you'll be one too soon enough."

"Right," Fish Leap said sitting back on his haunches with his tail lashing behind him happily. "I can't wait. When we're all sharpclaws-"

"Let her be, Fish Leap," Half Moon scolded. "She's just spent a day in the tunnels. She needs to rest."

"Come on," Jay's Wing said. Dove's Wing jumped. She hadn't sensed him approach. "Let's get you a nest."

"R-right," Dove's Wing stuttered getting to her paws to follow her brother. Not my brother, she reminded herself. But he looks so much like Jay's Wing. Dove's Wing flicked her tail goodbye to her friends and trotted after the grey tom.

"There's a free spot in the wall next to my den," Jay's Wing said. "You can make your nest there but it'll take awhile to gather up moss. Would you like to just sleep in my den? Not forever of course. Once Half Moon becomes a sharpclaw I'm going to ask her to share my den and I'm sure you'd like to do the same with Fish Leap."

"J-Jay's Wing!" Dove's Wing spluttered. Her pelt grew hot with embarrassment. How did he know?

"I'm right, aren't I?"

"Yes," Dove's Wing admitted, her pelt flushing.

"Come on, let's add some moss for you," Jay's Wing said padding towards the cave entrance. "I don't want you hogging all of it!"

Leafpool's mind whirled as she entered the camp. It was a little after dawn. Patrols were already out and the elders were already sunning themselves by the Highrock. She scanned the camp for Jay's Wing. I can't believe this is happening.

She spotted him by the nursery playing with Foxkit and Icekit. He was batting a moss ball around, letting them chase after it and destroy it with their tiny claws. He looked happy. Far happier than I've ever seen Jaypaw.

Leafpool took a breath and crossed camp. "Jay's Wing."

Jay's Wing looked surprised at the sound of his name. "Leafpool?"

"I'm sorry!" Leafpool blurted out, not caring that others were nearby. "I'm sorry that I kept saying that your confusion was just a head injury and I'm sorry that I didn't believe you."

"It's about time you believed him!" To Leafpool's surprise, it was Foxkit who spoke. He and Icekit had abandon their game and were sitting attentively next to Jay's Wing. "Did it really take you this long to realize that this isn't Jaypaw?"

Leafpool blinked. A kit figured it out before I did? "You knew?"

"We're not stupid," Icekit stated bluntly.

Leafpool ducked her head in shame. "I'm sorry Jay's Wing but I'm glad you had someone to talk with while I ignored you."

"Don't worry about it," Jay's Wing sighed. "It's a pretty unbelievable story. I don't know how I got here in Jaypaw's body. I doubt anyone would believe me."

"But Foxkit and Icekit did," Leafpool argued. "I didn't even realize you were a different cat and I'm Jaypaw's kin and mentor and I've spent so much time around you. I should have-"

"Calm down," Jay's Wing soothed, getting to his paws. He rested his tail tip on her shoulder. "There was no way for you to know, nothing you could have done differently. It's in the past, forget it. Please, just call me by the right name from now on. That's all I want."

Leafpool blinked. "I might be able to do better than that."

"What?"

"Jay's Wing, I promise I will do everything in my power to get you home," Leafpool announced boldly.

"Honestly, we really should have just spent the time you were gone looking for moss," Jay's Wing was babbling as he shuffled the moss around in the nest with his paws. He was quite terrible at making nests but Dove's Wing wasn't thinking about that. "When Half Moon and Fish Leap have their trials, remind me to go moss hunting while they're gone."

"Will do," Dove's Wing purred tiredly. "I think this is good enough."

"Are you sure?" Jay's Wing asked.

"Yes. If I remember right, when you came back from your trial, you wanted to sleep on the floor. I can sleep on a messy nest."

"I was out for two days longer than you," Jay's Wing reminded.

"Whatever," Dove's Wing grumbled, plopping herself down on the nest.

Jay's Wing settled down next to each her. "Are you alright?"

"Why wouldn't I be? I'm alive, aren't I?"

"You seem troubled."

"I guess." Dove's Wing shrugged.

"Anything I can help with?"

"Maybe," Dove's Wing said, "Jaypaw."

Jaypaw stiffened beside her. "Where did you hear that name?"

"I met Fallen Leaves down in the tunnels. He showed me how you got here," Dove's Wing explained. She paused. "I think he can get you back home."

"...No."

"What?" Dove's Wing questioned in shock.

"No," Jaypaw repeated.

"What do you mean no?"

"I'm not going back to my clan."

"What? Why? If I got separated from the tribe, I'd be doing everything I could to get back."

"I would too," Jaypaw said quietly.

"What? I thought you just said-"

"I would return to the tribe, not my clan," Jaypaw said. He went silent for a moment. "Here I have everything I've ever wanted. I've dreamed of a life like this since kithood and now that I have it, I don't want to leave."

Dove's Wing lifted her head off her paws and looked over at him, head tilted in confusion. "Is your clan that bad?"

"...No. I guess not. Everyone else loves their life in the clan."

"Just not you?"

"Yeah." Jaypaw swallowed. "You see, there are four clans. Actually five but I'm not supposed to know about that. Each clan is made up of warriors bound by the warrior code to protect their clans."

"Sounds honorable."

"It is. But I was never allowed to follow the path of a warrior."

"Why?"

Jaypaw turned his head, their gazes locking. "I'm blind."

Dove's Wing blinked in surprise. It was all making sense now. Why Jaypaw couldn't hunt, why he always got hurt after a fight. He'd never learned how to any of that. That was why he badgered Lapping Wave so much to teach him how to fight despite already having lessons from his tutor and passing the Rite of Passage.

"So… What did you do?" Dove's Wing asked. "Did you have to leave your clan and become a kittypet?"

Jaypaw shook his head. "No. The clans work a bit different. We all share prey so I never starved but everyone still has a role. I became a medicine cat. It was the only way I could still serve my clan."

So that was how he knew what herbs to give her before the trial. "If you were a medicine cat, doesn't that mean you cared for your clan?"

Jaypaw shrugged. "I guess. But I never wanted to be a medicine cat. We already had one anyway."

"And it was your job to replace him?"

"Her," Jaypaw corrected. "And yes."

"Then shouldn't you try to return to your clan? You're still needed."

"No, I'm not," Jaypaw stated. His eyes narrowed as he looked down at his paws. "Part of me has always hated my clan. I don't owe them my service."

Dove's Wing blinked. She couldn't imagine hating her tribe.

"All I wanted was to protect my clan and they stuck me in a stuffy old medicine den," Jaypaw said bitterly. "But here, I can finally be a warrior. I can hunt and fight to protect my clan."

"But this isn't your clan," Dove's Wing reminded softly.

"But I love this tribe more than I ever loved my clan," Jaypaw said. He looked at her. "You're a better sister than mine has ever been and Fish Leap is more like a brother than my own. And there's no cat like Half Moon back with my clan. Did you know medicine cats can't take mates?"

Dove's Wing blinked in surprise. She felt a flash of understanding. A life away from warriors and without a mate? That must be so lonely.

"I guess I do care about my clan," Jaypaw went on. "But I can care about it from a distance. Some higher power brought me here for a reason and I'm not complaining. I love the Tribe of Still Water. I want to grow old here, with all of you."

"You will die here," Dove's Wing told him softly. "Can you live without seeing your clan ever again? You said you had a brother and sister. Don't you want to see them again?"

Jaypaw hesitated. "You're my sister now. And Fish Leap is my brother in all but blood."

"But-"

"Just go to sleep, Dove's Wing," Jaypaw said. He put his head down on his paws. "You must be tired. We can talk about this in the morning."

Dove's Wing sighed and lowered her head. "Alright."

When Leafpool blinked her eyes open, she was surrounded by earth. It surprised her at first but she soon realized she was dreaming. How else would she end up in a place like this?

The was in some sort of underground cave or tunnel. The walls, ceiling, and floor were all made of tightly packed dirt. All she could see was brown.

A moment later she noticed a she-cat standing beside her. She was rather small and she had bright blue eyes that stood out against her pale grey fur. She looked surprised to see Leafpool. She glanced around, looking at the walls. "Am I dreaming?"

"I think so," Leafpool answered. "Who are you?"

"I'm Dove's Wing," the she-cat said. "Sharpclaw of the Tribe of still Water."

Leafpool gasped. "You're Jay's Wing's sister!"

"You know my brother?" Dove's Wing said, her eyes brimming with hope.

Leafpool nodded. "I'm Leafpool, medicine cat of ThunderClan. Jay's Wing's been in my camp for almost two moons. Actually, I just realized who he was today."

"I see you two have met," a voice said. Leafpool whipped around and saw a ginger and white tom standing behind her. His green eyes seemed to glow in the darkness of the tunnel.

"Fallen Leaves!" Dove's Wing cried and bounded up to him. The tom purred and nuzzled her head.

"I'm not your Fallen Leaves," Fallen Leaves spoke. "I'm not the one you spoke with just a night ago."

Dove's Wing stepped back and blinked with confusion.

"I am the Fallen Leaves of your future," Fallen Leaves spoke. "Of Leafpool's time."

Dove's Wing looked at Leafpool. "So… Jaypaw is from the future? He was sent back in time?"

"Yes," Fallen Leaves spoke. "He and Jay's Wing have a certain… connection. When my past self attacked him, I somehow damaged his spirit, causing it to leak out into the universe. It was naturally drawn to its counterpart, causing Jay's Wing and Jaypaw's minds to trade places."

"What?" Dove's Wing looked as confused as Leafpool felt. What is he meowing about?

"Uh…" Fallen Leaves paused then shrugged. "Astral stuff. Power of the Stars and all that. Don't question it."

"So do you know how to… switch them back?" Leafpool asked.

Fallen Leaves nodded. "Yes. That is why I came here. Something's going to happen soon and Jay's Wing and Jaypaw need to be in their proper bodies and times when that happens. I need the two of you to-"

"Wait, what's going to happen?" Dove's Wing interrupted. "That sounds bad. Is it something we should know about? It seems kind of important."

Fallen Leaves sighed patiently. ""I couldn't tell you if I wanted to. I just know my part to play and I need your help with it."

"What do you need?" Leafpool asked.

"I need you two to bring Jaypaw and Jay's Wing to the site the transfer took place," Fallen Leaves told them. "I can do the rest."

"Where's that?" Dove's Wing asked.

"The end of the trial," Fallen Leaves told her. "Where my past self transported you."

Dove's Wing nodded in understanding but Leafpool had no idea what they were talking about. "Where's the equivalent on ThunderClan territory?"

"It's kind of close to where you found Jay's Wing," Fallen Leaves explained. "He should be able to find it form there."

Leafpool stiffened. She remembered the last time she had seen that clearing. It had been filled with blood. Jaypaw's blood. No, Jay's Wing's blood. "Jay's Wing is injured. I don't know if he can make it that far."

"Is he alright?" Dove's Wing asked, worry in her voice. Leafpool nodded assuringly to her.

"You both have some time," Fallen Leaves told them. "I need time to prepare. I'll contact you when I'm ready. In the meantime, inform your jays what's happening."

"That might be hard," Dove's Wing muttered under her breath.

"I'll try my best to get Jay's Wing ready in time," Leafpool promised.

"That's all I ask," Fallen Leaves said with a smile. "Now it's time for you to wake up."

Dove's Wing jerked awake with a gasp. Beside her, Jaypaw was still sleeping soundly. She began prodding him with her paw urgently. "Jaypaw! Jaypaw!"

When Jaypaw's eyes snapped open, even a blind cat would see the fear in them. He gave a soft yowl and began struggling. Dove's Wing's eyes widened in alarm. She threw herself on top of him, pinning him down before he could hurt himself, and began to lick his head soothingly. "Calm down, relax. Everything's fine now."

Jaypaw's jerking slowed and his body went limp. He was breathing hard. His eyes were still wild but he didn't seem as scared anymore. Dove's Wing got off him. What was that about? "Bad dream?"

"Something like that," Jaypaw grunted. "What is it?"

"I had a dream," Dove's Wing started.

"Great. Now let me go back to sleep."

"I mean like a dream of the stars," Dove's Wing said. "I saw Fallen Leaves and Leafpool."

Jaypaw's eyes widened. "I didn't tell you her name, did I?"

Dove's Wing shook her head. "Jay's Wing's in your body. In the future. With Leafpool."

Jaypaw's eyes remained wide. He took a deep breath and sat up, looking stunned. "I was not expecting that."

"Me neither," Dove's Wing said. "I only found out yesterday after all. Apparently Leafpool did too."

Jaypaw snorted. "Figures."

Dove's Wing didn't question it. "Fallen Leaves says he has a way to get you back. He says-"

"I'm not going."

"Let me finish!"

"I'm not going," Jaypaw repeated.

Dove's Wing put her tail over his mouth. "Fallen Leaves says something's going to happen soon and you need to be back in your body and Jay's Wing needs to be back in his body."

Jaypaw moved his mouth away from her tail to speak. "I don't give a flying fox dung about that stupid prophecy anymore."

"I didn't say anything about a prophecy," Dove's Wing said slowly. "But that sounds important. What is it?"

"'There will be three kin of your kin who will hold the Power of the Stars in their paws,'" Jaypaw recited effortlessly. "It was given to Firestar, my mother's father, about me and my siblings. Each of has powers. I lost them when I came here but I'm sure Jay's Wing has them now. He can take my place. I don't want the power."

Dove's Wing blinked at the new information. Jaypaw had said it so casually, it was astonishing. "How could you not want the Power of the Stars? What's that even mean?"

Jaypaw shrugged. "I could do some things that other cats couldn't. But it's not important. I don't have the power anymore. Jay's Wing can stay in the clan, fulfill the prophecy. That's probably what Fallen Leaves was talking about. I don't want anything to do with it anymore."

"But Jaypaw-"

"Call me Jay's Wing," Jaypaw said. He rose to his paws and stalked out of the den. "I'm going hunting. Feel free to take some moss from my nest to your own den."