Chapter Two

When they reached the ThunderClan camp, Jaypaw stormed through the tunnel entrance, past Stormfur (who was on guard duty), across the clearing, into the medicine cat's den, and straight to his nest. He had already curled up with his tail tip over his nose and was fegning sleep when Leafpool came up. The medicine cat took one look at her "sleeping" apprentice and then disappeared into her own den.

As soon as she was gone, Jaypaw lifted his head and stared off into space, literally. Willowpaw's words, that little "I love you", kept repeating themselves over and over again in his mind. He kept seeing her, as if on instant replay, saying it over and over. Those three, simple words that were somehow managing to turn his entire life upside down.

Why couldn't she have ust kept this to herself? he thought bitterly to himself. Why'd she have to burden me with all of this? I never asked for this.

True, a familiar voice answered. Jaypaw jerked his head in the direction of the voice, so startled that for a moment he couldn't see. It was a further shock to him when he actually saw the cat staring back at him. At first he thought it was his father, Brambleclaw, and indeed the resemblance was stunning, but then he noticed a subtle difference in the narrowed amber eyes and a scent washed over him.

He sighed. Tigerstar. He should have known. "I'm dreaming, aren't I?" he asked, not really expecting an answer.

"Naturally," said Tigerstar, dipping his head and blinking his amber eyes in a friendly way. "You know, Jaypaw, I can't exactly help you with your Willowpaw problem, but I can help in other areas."

Jaypaw slid his gaze towards Tigerstar. It was part of his philosophy not to trust anyone. Then, rather spontaneously, he burst out laughing, his whiskers trembling violently with the force of his mirth. "Ha ha ha ha! You're just pulling my tail. What use would you, of all cats, have for a blind cat like me?"His laugh, while light, carried a rather bitter undertone.

Tigerstar looked hurt, and meowed, "I don't want to use you for anything. I want to help you. You have a lot of talent, Jaypaw, even if you and everyone else doesn't recognize it. All I want to do is to help you recognize and enhance those talents. What you do with them afterwards is your business."

Jaypaw regretted his earlier outburst and hung his head. "I- I'll think about it," he promised. Tigerstar nodded his head and disappeared. For the rest of the night, the gray medicine cat apprentice slept peaceful, undisturbed dreams.

"Jaypaw, time to wake up."

The gray apprentice blinked open his jay blue eyes and saw- nothing. Sighing, he got up, stretched, and padded after Leafpool, his mentor. His tail dragging behind him, he began tiredly sorting herbs. Boring, boring, boring. This was what he hated most about being a medicine cat. No battles, no excitement, just sitting inside his den all day sorting stinking herbs. Bleh. Boring. Jaypaw had always felt he was always much better suited to a life in the forest.

Leafpool must have noticed how down her apprentice was feeling, for she stopped in her own herb sorting and said, "You know, I think these herbs are all properly sorted. Why don't we go out into the forest for some practice fighting? We can join Ashfur and Lionpaw."

Jaypaw's ears pricked at this suggestion, and he nodded vigorously, his whole demeanor brightening considerably. "Let's go then. Come on." Leafpool exited the den and Jaypaw followed her. Soon they were out of camp and had arrived at the training hollow.

Lionpaw and Ashfur were already there, as were Cinderpaw and Cloudtail. The two apprentices had been engaged in a practice battle watched by their mentors, but had stopped as Jaypaw and Leafpool appeared. "Hi Jaypaw! Hi Leafpool!" greeted Cinderpaw, rushing up to touch her nose to theirs. Jaypaw just nodded in response.

"What are you doing here, Leafpool?" asked Ashfur a little more than sharply. "There are no herbs to be collected here." He appeared to be sneering, and a sudden chill of cold dislike swept over Jaypaw, surprising him.

The gray apprentice opened his mouth, prepared to make a sharp, sarcastic come-back at what he took to be a personal insult, but Leafpool's tail sweeping into his mouth prevented him from doing so. "True," replied Leafpool patiently. "We're here for battle training, same as you. Medicine cats have to know how to defend themselves too, you know." Despite the politeness of her tone, Jaypaw couldn't help but hear some of the same dislike in her voice, overlayed by a pacifying will.

Ashfur decided to leave it at that and with a snort of contemt turned away. Cloudtail glanced between the two, his foster brother and grand niece, then sighed and nodded for Leafpool to join him. "Why don't you have Jaypaw match up against Cinderpaw? Then you'll have a better idea of what you need to teach him." Leafpool blinked gratefully at the white warrior and nodded for Jaypaw to join Cinderpaw.

Jaypaw gritted his teeth, but did as his mentor had told him anyway. The way Cloudtail had made his proposal had made it sound as if Jaypaw had absolutely no idea how to fight. Well, he'd show him! Just because he couldn't see didn't mean that he was entirely helpless.

Crouching low, he waited patiently for Cinderpaw to make the first move. This would give him the advantage, for although he couldn't see what she was doing, the noise she made while doing it would be enough to let him know where she was. He turned out to be right. When she pounced at him, her hindpaws scraped the leaves on the forest floor, creating a dry rustling noise. Jaypaw rose to meet her, but mistimed his counterattack, ending up sprawled in an undignified position on the floor of the training hollow, Cinderpaw's paw on his chest pinning him down.

Use your hindlegs, suggested a thought in Jaypaw's head. He had no idea where it had come from, but he was grateful for it nonetheless. Using his hindlegs, he pushed up against Cinderpaw's belly and shoved her off of him. She rolled neatly away, only mildly surprised. He scrambled back to his paws and stood, ready to meet her should she try to attack again.

Pounce on her, urged the thought, but don't put all your weight on her, just enough to shove her down. Considering the thought a credible source of information concerning battles, Jaypaw did as it suggested. As he felt the leaves slide from under his hindpaws though, the thought suddenly cautioned him. Wait, she's deciding to change position.

Jaypaw decided that he would carry on with the plan as is, just changing direction. Taking a deep, silent breath in order to scent her new position, the blind cat launched himself off the ground in a mighty leap. Sailing through the air, he cursed silently at his own bad luck as he heard Cinderpaw passing by underneath him. When he landed, all four of his paws thudded heavily on the ground and then, as if there was nothing else that would be more embarassing, he slipped and fell with a surprised yowl. Quick as a flash, Cinderpaw had pinned him down. He made a feeble attempt to break free, but to no avail. The fall had beat all the air out of his lungs, leaving him tired and breathless.

"That's enough. Good work Cinderpaw! Jaypaw," meowed Leafpool, stepping forward from where she, Cloudtail, Ashfur, and Lionpaw had been watching on the sidelines.

Cinderpaw leapt off of Jaypaw and padded up to her mentor excitedly, leaving the medicine cat apprentice to pick himself up. "I was awesome, wasn't I?" she asked, purring, as Cloudtail congratulated her.

Jaypaw spat some dirt and leaves out of his mouth and twitched his tail tip irately. The battle had been going in his favor until he slipped. It had only been pure, dumb luck that Cinderpaw had won. The fact that Leafpool had barely acknowledged him afterwards was just a further blow in the face.

Lionpaw came forward and made to rub against his shoulder in a gesture of sympathy, but Jaypaw veered away and hissed, "Leave me alone!" He felt his brother's eyes following him as he turned and left the hollow, and he felt slightly guilty aboiut the sadness he sensed there. Angrily, he pushed the feeling away and continued on through the forest, not caring where he was going and too absorbed in his thoughts to notice.

Eventually he paused when he felt the wind, strong and fresh, battering his thin gray pelt. Scenting the air, he realized that he was at the lakeshore, the gentle slapping of the waves on the shore filling his ears. Allowing the sounds and scents to wash over him, he felt himself lulling into a sense of peace. Realizing this, he struggled out of it, angry.

He had to rely on his senses for everything; he couldn't even tell where he was without someone having to tell him or him having to listen or smell for clues. Well, he was fed up with it! He was sick and tired of being blind. Of not being able to be a warrior because of it. Well, not any longer! he thought. Tigerstar, I accept your proposal.

Excellant, answered Tigerstar's voice in his head. You shall be an exceptional apprentice.

Jaypaw smiled. Finally, a mentor who took him seriously. He was so elated he has almost forgotten about Willowpaw.