It felt like an eternity for half-moon to come around even though it was only a few days. As Jayfeather and Leafpool padded up the ridge leading to the meeting place, Jayfeather felt a familiar feeling he hadn't felt in a long time. Excitement. He was so used to going to the Moonpool that it didn't hold the same meaning as it did when he was younger. But now he knew someone was going to tell him something important.

Leafpool and Jayfeather were the first to arrive. They sat in silence. They still hadn't gotten onto good terms. Leafpool had accidentally pulled him out of another memory flash a couple days ago causing Jayfeather to have another episode like he had the first time. He didn't retreat to the tunnels this time but Leafpool could see his condition and became convinced something was wrong with him. Jayfeather didn't exactly appreciate her concern and the two had begun fighting more. His momentary personality shifts weren't helping either. Jay's Wing was a sharpclaw. Jayfeather was sharp tongued. Those two traits combined made it very difficult for Jayfeather to control himself.

So they came to a nonverbal agreement to not talk unless they needed to. This helped keep fighting and arguing to a minimum.

Mothwing and Willowshine were the second to arrive. Finally able to break the silence, Jayfeather talked with Willowshine while Leafpool got into conversation with Mothwing.

Kestrelflight arrived next. He immediately looked to Jayfeather.

"How are you?" he asked.

"Fine," Jayfeather said. "Thanks again, by the way."

Leafpool muttered something under her breath.

"Am I missing something here?" Willowshine asked looking between the three of them.

"Jayfeather disappeared again. He, Lionblaze, and Dovewing were found unconscious and half drowned on WindClan territory," Leafpool said.

"Why does everyone say half drowned?" Jayfeather asked rhetorically. "You can't be half drowned. You either are drowned or you're not."

"What happened?" Mothwing asked.

"Stupid dead cats and their stupid trials," Jayfeather grumbled, mumbling so no one could understand him.

"What?"

"Water. You know, the stuff that drowns you. You should know, you're a RiverClan cat," Jayfeather said sharply, ending the conversation. They sat in silence, waiting for Littlecloud.

"I don't think he's coming," Willowshine said after a while.

"We should wait a bit longer," Leafpool suggested. "He's getting old. He can't travel as fast as he used to."

"We're wasting moonlight, if he's coming he can catch up," Jayfeather said. Kestrelflight nodded in agreement and started walking up the path to the Moonpool.

The medicine cats gathered around the beautiful pool once they arrived. Jayfeather was the first to settle down, unable to wait any longer. Not waiting for the others, he plunged his muzzle into the cool water.

When he opened his eyes, he was in StarClan. He didn't see anyone though.

"Jayfeather."

Jayfeather whipped around and saw Bluestar and Yellowfang standing behind him.

"Firestar said I should talk to you," he said bluntly.

"Yes. Yes he did," Yellowfang said. "You've been asking about the Astral Plane, have you not?"

"You know I have," Jayfeather nodded.

"Why?"

"That's where Jay's Wing, Dove's Wing, and Lion's Roar are."

Yellowfang and Bluestar exchanged a look of surprise.

"They're-"

"-your past selves," Bluestar finished. "We know."

"Oh," Jayfeather said. "Then why didn't you tell me?"

"We didn't always know," Yellowfang said. "When the Ancients came, they told us."

"Where are the Ancients anyway?" Jayfeather asked looking around. "I kind of expected to have spoken with one by now."

"They don't live here. They just visit from time to time," Yellowfang said dismissively.

"That brings us to what you want to know," Bluestar said. "Or some of it at least. You want to know about the cats of the Astral Plane. Four of them come to StarClan frequently but we know of seven."

"Seven?" Jayfeather repeated. That was far more than he expected.

"Yes. Seven," Yellowfang nodded. "But there are only four among us. Thunderstar, Shadowstar, Riverstar, and Windstar."

"The first clan leaders," Jayfeather realized.

"Yes. That earned them a place among the sacred cats but due to their connection with the clans, they can come to StarClan. They do it rarely, though," Bluestar said. "If you were hoping to talk with them, you may have to wait many seasons."

"Who are the others?"

"Skystar, Rock, and Midnight."

"Rock and Midnight?" Jayfeather questioned.

"Yes. They are living embodiments of the Astral Plane. Like you but not quite the same. Not at all."

Jayfeather nodded. "I'm a reincarnation. My own cat but also one from the Astral Plane. They're… what are they?"

"Rock is the first cat to have lived. He was a Stoneteller before you created that title. He has a special connection with the Astral Plane as does Midnight. On the first dawn, they watched the sunrise. When the light hit the water, they saw every prophecy that would ever come to the Ancients, Tribes, and Clans," Bluestar explained. "They showed them to the cats who later joined the Astral Plane. Those cats, like Jay's Wing, put the images into words and sent them to the Tribe of Endless Hunting and StarClan."

Jayfeather nodded. "Are any of the cats from the Astral Plane around?"

Yellowfang shook her head. "The four original leaders come by very rarely. We only know they exist because they came to talk to us about the Dark Forest."

"What about the fifth?"

"You know about SkyClan, right?" Yellowfang asked.

"From Firestar and Sandstorm's dreams."

"Their ancestors left with them when the five clans split into four. They watch over the Gorge now," Bluestar explained. "I have never met Skystar but I assume he lives in the Astral Plane as well and goes to SkyClan's StarClan when he's needed."

Jayfeather nodded absentmindedly. "Thanks."

"Of course."

Jayfeather woke up to his usual blindness. The other medicine cats awoke around him. Jayfeather jabbed Mothwing with his paw like he usually did so she could wake up and at least pretend that she was talking to StarClan even though every medicine cat knew she didn't believe in spirit cats.

"I have to go to ShadowClan," Leafpool announced.

Jayfeather looked at her. "Why?"

"Runningnose told me that Littlecloud is unwell," Leafpool said.

"Then why hasn't ShadowClan asked for help?" Mothwing asked.

"You know ShadowClan," Jayfeather said. "A ShadowClan cat wouldn't ask for help if he was inside a fox's belly."

"I need to go right now," Leafpool said. She looked to Jayfeather. "Will you tell Bramblestar where I am?"

"Of course," Jayfeather said.

"Thank you," Leafpool said and took off. Jayfeather talked with Willowshine and Kestrelflight a bit about herb remedies then headed off back to his own clan.

Author's Note: Pretty much everything that Yellowfang and Bluestar said is true in the books. Skystar walks with SkyClan's StarClan and the other four original leaders supposedly live in some far corner of StarClan. In this story, they just live in another corner of the sky, one far away from Silverpelt.