Lionblaze paced at the camp entrance. Crane's Wing was sitting nearby. His paws shifted with as much anxiety as Lionblaze felt flowing through his body.

"Calm down, Lionblaze," Briarlight said from where she lay beside Crane's Wing. "Leafpool said he'd be back today, Jayfeather wouldn't back out on his word."

"You're right," Lionblaze sighed.

"Of course she is," a voice meowed.

"Jayfeather!" Briarlight yowled as the medicine cat walked through the entrance. "You're back! Where were you?"

"Um, StarClan told me some stuff and I had to… do it," Jayfeather said.

He's lying but I don't care. Lionblaze purred and pressed his nose against his shoulder. "I'm glad you're back. I was worried."

"You shouldn't have been," Jayfeather grunted and butted his head against Lionblaze's shoulder. The action surprised him. He's never done anything like that…

"Jay's Wing…" Crane's Wing spoke up softly. Lionblaze felt Jayfeather flinch against him and look over at the cat who looked just like him. Crane's Wing looked embarrassed, like he didn't know what to say or do.

Luckily he didn't have to do anything. The rest of the clan noticed Jayfeather's arrival and were now coming over to crowd him.

"Welcome back, Jayfeather," Cloudtail greeted.

"Everyone was so worried about you!" Amberpaw exclaimed.

"Jayfeather!" Dovewing said. "I'm so glad you're alright."

"Where'd you run off to, young 'un?" Purdy asked.

"How did you survive out there on your own?" Molewhisker questioned.

"Where in the name of StarClan were you?" Berrynose demanded loudly. "You should've heard what the cats from other clans were saying. I heard some ShadowClan cats calling you a traitor and a coward. I was starting to think they weren't too far off."

"Berrynose!" Bramblestar's stern voice rang through the camp. Berrynose ducked his head and pressed his ears back. "Don't be so disrespectful to your medicine cat! I'm sure he had a very good reason to do what he did. Leafpool mentioned he'd heard something from StarClan."

"Then I'd like to hear it," Berrynose said.

Lionblaze growled at the tom. Sure, he was annoying but this was a whole new level. How dare he!

"Lionblaze, calm down," Bramblestar ordered. "And shame on the rest of you. Lionblaze, Crane's Wing, and Briarlight have been waiting all day and you didn't even let them give Jayfeather a proper greeting."

A murmur of apologies rippled through the cats. Leafpool pushed her way to the front of the mass to confront her son.

"So what'd StarClan tell you?" Leafpool asked. She looked eagar. She'd been waiting a quarter-moon afterall.

Jayfeather looked a bit overwhelmed. His mouth opened but no words came out for a moment.

"Cinderheart," he said finally.

"What?" Worry prickled through Lionblaze's pelt.

"StarClan told you about me?" Cinderheart asked.

"Is something wrong with her kits?" Daisy asked. Alarm struck Lionblaze as he looked at his mate's swollen flank. Was there something wrong with his mate or kits? Cinderheart looked as healthy as could be.

Jayfeather shook his head quickly. "No, I just learned some things. It has nothing to do with her specifically, she just knows more about it than any other cat."

Cinderheart looked confused. Lionblaze gave his brother an odd look. He wasn't acting like himself. His speech patterns, his tone, he way he held himself; it was different and Lionblaze didn't think it was because of the nervousness he was displaying. The past moon really changed him.

"Come on, this is important," Jayfeather took a step back and beckoned her with his tail.

"You're just leaving again?" Leafpool questioned.

"No! I need to talk to Cinderheart, she's going to be with me," Jayfeather told her.

"Then I'm coming too."

"No."

"No?"

"This doesn't concern you."

"It does if my kit disappears for a moon!"

Jayfeather showed his teeth and snarled at her. The surrounding cats gave looks of surprise at Jayfeather's behavior but no cat was more surprised than Lionblaze. There was definitely something different about his brother.

"Can we go now?" Jayfeather looked expectantly at Cinderheart.

"Wait, I should come," Bramblestar said. "I need to be informed of this."

Jayfeather looked annoyed but he knew better than to argue with the clan leader. "Fine."

"Can I join you?" Lionblaze asked.

Jayfeather hesitated. "This affects you. I was going to tell you after I talked with Cinderheart."

"This seems like a group activity," Lionblaze shrugged.

"Fine." Jayfeather sighed. "Then, Dovewing, you some too. This affects you too," he meowed. He looked to Crane's Wing. "No, you can't join. The two of us need to have a long talk after."

Jayfeather whipped around and stalked out of the camp. Dovewing looked a bit shocked but bounded after him and was joined by Cinderheart. Lionblaze and Bramblestar exchanged a look. It seemed the leader had noticed the change in Jayfeather too.

Bramblestar turned to address the clan who'd began gossiping. "Nothing to see here. Don't dramatize this, this is serious. The first cat I hear sticking their nose in business that isn't theirs will be on tick duty for a moon. Go back to your duties. "

Lionblaze blinked, impressed. He turned around and walked side by side with Bramblestar to join the others.

Author's Note: Jayfeather is back at the camp but some of Jay's Wing's behavior is starting to show in Jayfeather. Lionblaze has noticed the change, how will this play out?

Reviews-

WyldClaw (Reviews 1-6)- Thanks for all your reviews! They really help the story. Yes, Crane's Wing is strange. Everyone knows it, he knows that they know it. His strangeness is part of his character. Even when he explains himself, he's still kind of a weirdo. I love the flashbacks too, I'm glad you enjoy them. Yes, the talk between Lionblaze and Crowfeather went well. Crowfeather's probably going to get an earful from Nightcloud and plenty of glares from Breezepelt though. I like their bonding too. Crane's Wing likes having fun and what's more fun than insulting rival clans? Again, thanks for your reviews.