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CHAPTER TWENTY

BONUS ONESHOT: COMING HOME
Half Moon and Jay's Wing were separated for so long, but now he's come home...

Two cats stood in front of Sky: Whitestorm and Lionheart. He remembered them from back when he was Jayfeather. They were influential ThunderClan ancestors, and he had talked with them occasionally.

Around him stood four other cats: his companions, Wind, River, Shadow, and Thunder. Only...they were a little different now. River seemed more like his old friend Macks, Wind more like Macks's sister Josie, Shadow more like Macks's bossy older cousin Annie, and Thunder more like his brother Ryan. Sky, too, felt different, but not like Jeff Crimsen.

He had been Jeff Crimsen for a short while, only three years. It had been very difficult for him to adjust from being a cat to being a human, but eventually he managed to settle down and fit in. He had spent long periods of time being angry—angry at StarClan for not fulfilling his wish. He had wanted to become Jay's Wing, not Jeff Crimsen. He was no longer Jayfeather: he had put his past behind him to live with Half Moon.

But StarClan didn't care, and shoved him into the human world, and later forced him to become Sky. He was peeved about all this, and was not about to go back to the human world.

So when Lionheart said, "You will mysteriously disappear for awhile, only to be called in for very important things that you will experience as you travel through times on your way home," Sky had to protest.

He cleared his throat, feeling rather awkward and uncomfortable about this whole scenario, but said nonetheless, "I really would like to go back in time, to Half Moon. I was promised that when I was given my wish for saving the Clans."

Lionheart frowned and looked uneasily at Whitestorm.

"It can be done," the white warrior said at last, though he sounded very reluctant. Sky resisted the urge to snap at him. He didn't want it to be hard, he just wanted to go home, back to Half Moon!

He had had a lot of time to mull over the events of his last time travel experience. He hadn't really ever thought about falling in love as a medicine cat, but Half Moon... Half Moon made him think. Was it really worth it? But they were so separated—in time, in place, in reality... it was impossible.

StarClan's wish had been his only chance, his only opportunity, and while he would miss ThunderClan, he had made up his mind: he belonged in the mountains, with Half Moon.

It broke his heart again to see the long, sad look his brother Thunder was giving him. Sky had already said his goodbyes, and he wanted to leave. It only made him feel sadder with more goodbyes on top of this.

"Jayfeather, it was bad enough when we lost Hollyleaf, both when we thought she was dead, and when she went over to the Dark Forest and Gingerstar killed her," Thunder said softly.

Beside Thunder, Shadow shifted uncomfortably. Sky felt a slight breeze ruffle his pelt, and he realized he had changed furs again, to become Jay's Wing. He was going home!

"I'll miss you, Lionblaze," he admitted to his brother. They hadn't always seen eye to eye, but they were brothers, and he loved Thunder. He pressed his muzzle into Thunder's fur for a long moment. Then he turned toward Whitestorm and Lionheart.

"I'm ready," he said firmly.

"Um, wait," Shadow interrupted. Scowling, Jay's Wing turned to glare at her. What was it now?

"What about your adoptive mom?" she pressed. "Your friends? My family? They all know you and will ask funny questions when we don't come back with you."

Jay's Wing swore internally. One thing he did like about humans was their extensive vocabulary of curses. His adoptive mother Linda Crimsen would worry like crazy, and Ryan would have no answers—the truth was too outrageous. His friends... Macks, and James from school, Matt from the neighborhood... they would be so sad he had disappeared. And anyone else who knew him would be confused.

"Fox-dung," Lionblaze growled, echoing Jay's Wing's sentiments. "I forgot about that."

Suddenly, Bluestar appeared next to the two StarClan toms. "This is taking too long," she announced. "We can't keep the connection for much longer! Send them home and be done with it!"

"But, Bluestar..." Whitestorm protested, filling her in.

She rolled her eyes. "Toms!" she mewed in exasperation. "Change their memories! Can't you see what's right in front of your face?"

The two toms winced, and muttered apologies.

"I would like to keep my memory of my brother," Thunder pointed out. "And I'm sure my companions feel the same way." The others nodded in agreement.

"We will be very careful in our memory wiping," Bluestar said. "You four will keep your memories. Everyone fully human who knew him will forget that Jayfeather even existed."

Jay's Wing felt a pang of regret that all the humans who knew him would just forget about him, as if he had never existed. He would miss them, but they wouldn't even remember him. Still... seeing Half Moon again would be worth it. Even if she didn't love him any more.

"Goodbye, brother," he whispered to Thunder. To River-Macks he said, "I'll miss you. You were a great friend." Wind-Josie and Shadow-Annie received the remark, "Thanks for everything."

He turned toward Bluestar and nodded. He was ready to leave it all behind and come back home.

In a flash, the world turned white... he was coming home.

It was snowing when he came to. Jay's Wing blinked to clear his vision, then sniffed the air. He was surprised to find he knew where he was: right at the entrance to the cave!

Excited, he bounded through the snow toward the cave. It was night, and there was not a soul awake in the cave. Not even a guard graced the entrance. He would have to change that.

He snuck quietly through the large cave, then ducked into a smaller cave off to the side—the modern Tribe's prophecy cave. Perhaps Half Moon would be in there.

Jay's Wing breathed deeply as he entered. Then his breath caught as he recognized the strong, sweet scent of Half Moon.

There was a gasp from deeper in the cave. "Who's there?" a feminine voice said sharply. Half Moon, Jay's Wing thought giddily.

"It's me, Half Moon," he said softly. "I've come home."

From the shadows, Half Moon appeared, her clear green eyes wide with wonder.

"Oh, Jay's Wing," she whispered. She rushed forward, full of joy, and pressed herself against him. "I knew you would come back."

He purred. "I knew I would, too."