Willowshine woke up to voices she didn't recognize.

Her eyes widened to the sight of Jayfeather right next to her and in a nest of weird, colorful moss.

Great StarClan! Where am I?

She felt relieved as it all came back to her. Oh, yeah. The twoleg den with apple-pawed Jayfeather and Jinx and his loner family.

Without moving her head, she peeked through the hole in the wall and outside.

Still dark, and still snowing. Willowshine observed. How harsh the weather in leaf-bare has been!

The voices jolted her back to the loner family. They must've returned while I was asleep.

"Why, I think it would be wonderful for Jayfeather and Willowshine to join us for Christmas!" A fluffy brown she-cat was meowing. "The more, the merrier! Right, Jinx?"

Willowshine noticed the she-cat's belly was swollen. Kits? Maybe Jinx's?

"Sure, Rose." Jinx shrugged. "Once they wake, we'll invite them to stay. I don't think they will, though. The foggy-eyed one seems deathly afraid of me and the she-cat doesn't seem to trust me at all."

Willowshine considered it. Stay or leave? What's Christmas?

...

Jayfeather woke to a paw on his shoulder. Who-?

"Oh. Hi Shiny." he whispered, not wanting to raise his hoarse voice, and rolled his eyes in the annoyance that she was still there.

"Shh."

Though Jayfeather was blind, he could sense that outside was still night.

A lively fire cracked in the hole in the wall, warming the den.

A gentle breathing stirred the air, and the medicine cat could tell that some other cats were here and were asleep.

It was peaceful... up until Jayfeather realized he had no idea who was in the den with him.

Willowshine stuffed her fluffy tail in his mouth so he wouldn't start yowling.

"Shh! Don't wake Rose! She mustn't panic; it's bad for her kits."

"A queen is in here?"

"Yes. She's expecting a few kits and I don't want her to worry too much; its bad for them."

Jayfeather kneaded the weird substance he was laying on. "How did I get over here? What is this?"

"I heard Jinx call it a 'blanket'. I dragged you over here."

"Okay."

"Are you okay? You were asleep for some time, now."

"Really? I'm fine."

"Anyway. What do you think of Christmas, Blindface?"

"Christmas? What's Christmas?"

"I heard Jinx and Rose and Tawny talking about it. I think they said a white cat by the name of Sandyclaws comes every Christmas to deliver gifts to all the cats all over the world."

"Sounds interesting." Jayfeather answered truthfully. A bit like a story for kits.

"They want us to join them for Christmas Moon. What do you think?"

"Me and you?" Jayfeather hid a grimace. A whole moon spent here with Shiny? "Maybe."

"Or we could tell the Clans about Christmas so we could all celebrate. Or both. We could invite Jinx to the Clans so he and his loner friends can teach us how to celebrate Christmas and tell us some stories and activities, and then the day before Christmas, you and I could come here for the big day. I think it'd be fun!"

"You really want to learn Christmas that much?"

"Of course."

Jayfeather sighed. Why is she asking me? Of all cats, why me? She doesn't even like me! I know I don't like her. Maybe because Jinx wants both of us here and Willowshine wants to fulfill Jinx's every waking wish.

Jayfeather forced himself not to hiss loudly with exasperation and mewed. "Fine. We'll take them to the Clans and then we'll come for Christmas Moon." Maybe if I agree and spend most of my time doing something besides activities with Shiny, it'll go by faster.

"Thanks, Blindface." Willowshine yawned. "Jinx and Rose will be really happy."

Jayfeather was about to make a big deal about how he wanted to be referred to as 'Jayfeather' instead of 'Blindface', but he was overcome by sleepiness.

Stupid fainting spell.

And fell straight to sleep.

...

"Really? You want to invite us to your Clans?"

"Yes!" Willowshine beamed. "You can show us some fun activities to do for Christmas, and for Christmas Moon, Jayfeather and I will come to your den!"

Jinx looked to Rose, who seemed delighted. "Oh, it sounds so wonderful! Jinx, Tawny, we have to! Please?"

Jinx and the tortoiseshell she-cat put their heads together, considering it.

Finally, Tawny meowed, "Good idea. I guess we could spread the word of Christmas."

Rose rubbed up against Jinx. "Oh, thank you! It will be so fun!"

"Let's go!" Willowshine gave a little hop and bounded ahead.

Jayfeather flattened his ears. "Weirdoshine."