Chapter 3

Time: Moonhigh

Setting: The Island

Willowshine's POV

I sink my claws into bark of the tree bridge. I may be able to swim if I did fall, but I still don't trust its reliability. I feel my paws hit grass and heave a sigh of relief. I group up with my clan and follow Mistystar to the heart of the island.

I let my eyes scan the clearing. I spy my target. Jayfeather is sitting near the Littlecloud and Kestrelflight; who are busy chatting away. He however, keeping to his introverted ways, is sitting alone.

I feel a ball of anxiety welled up in my chest float away. Wait! What did I care if he was here?

"Are you okay" Mothwing asks.

It was only then I realized my fur was puffed out stupidly, my tail fluffed out and my fur sticking in odd clumps.

"Um, yeah fine" I say, heat spreading over my face in a wave.

She shrugs and begins to trot toward the others. I run my tongue through my pelt quickly before racing after her.

Time: Moonhigh

Setting: The Island

Jayfeather's POV

"Hello Mothwing, Willowshine"

Both she-cats return the greeting. The scent of herbs and fish twists into my nose. Such a sweet

smell. Something flutters in my chest like a thrush. NO! I pin it down, and give a fatal bite; but it flutters

up again happily.

My heart pounds, my ears burn. A chill dances down my spine.

"Jayfeather are you okay?"

I can hear her breathing. My heart races, my legs tremble, my stomach turns. I clear the lump in my throat. "I'm f-fine" I whisper

My mind is spinning. I can't breathe, I can't think.

"Windclan will speak first" comes the booming meow.

I slip further away from the others. I let everyone's sound go silent and float into my thoughts. I've seen her in my dreams before, her dark tabby pelt, her dazzling blue eyes.

She was a good friend. Wait? We were NOT friends. I hated her. Didn't I?

I shake my head. My clan was leaving. I get to my paws. I can hear paws on earth all around me

with the familiar scent of Thunderclan. For the first time tonight I feel calm. I let my mind go blank,

letting my paws lead me back to camp. I stumble toward my den. The scent of herbs hits me like a wall. I plop into my mossy nest happily. The humidity presses in on me as my conscious fades. I let my

eyes close lightly.