(Next chapter is upz! It's short, I know. D: well, half length. Whatever you wanna call it. All is peaceful.)
"Are you sure you are able to take this walk?"
"Jayfeather I swear on Starclan's name if you ask me that again I will claw you to shreds. I'm fine!"
Jayfeather snorted and shook his head before heading out the camp with the other close behind. The two then met up with the other medicine cats and traveled to Moonpool. "How are you fairing Leafpool?" Littlecloud asked. "You weren't at the last gathering or Moonpool. You sure you are OK?"
"Are you another Jayfeather?" Leafpool snapped at the small tom. Her eyes then softened, as did her voice. "I'm sorry for snapping at you, but my sister and Jayfeather won't take a hint that I am fine. I know you only voice your concern."
"Did you go to Starclan?" Willowshine asked in silent awe.
Leafpool chuckled and shook her head. "I had a choice to, either jump into my father's pool or the pool holding a bluejay's feather..." She glanced up at Jayfeather, who was walking ahead with Mothwing. "My kits needed me living, and the prophecy wouldn't come true with my death."
"Wow, well it's great to have you here with us still Leafpool." Kestrelflight purred and bumped her shoulder happily. The six cats pooled into the cave, Mothwing taking up her position somewhere in a corner while the others took their places around the Moonpool. Closing their eyes and touching their noses to the cold water, they drifted off into a deep sleep.
"A dark enemy lurks among us," Firestar whispered in Jayfeather's ear. The grey tom was surrounded by darkness, so when he turned he couldn't see anything. A loud wail made him whimper. He knew that voice.
"Leafpool?! Leafpool!"
He broke off into a run. The wailing grew louder and louder, until a ginger body was spotted curled up into a tight ball and trembling madly.
"It can't be, it's too dark, too dark! I can't be dead again, I can't!" She wailed.
Jayfeather watched in shock as she continued to cry out. Slowly he moved closer to her and softly placed his paw on her taunt back, rubbing it soothingly. "Its OK Leafpool, I'm right here, you aren't dead anymore."
The trembling subsided a little, and like a timid kit Leafpool looked around. "It's still dark," she whispered.
Jayfeather nodded his head. He was use to the dark, but that didn't mean he liked it. "I'm right here Leafpool," he murmured and lied down to curl around her. The two stayed like that for seemingly hours, until paw steps alerted them of another presence. Jayfeather looked up first, fur bristled. He sighed in relief when he saw Hollyleaf and Bluestar. Firestar and the two Moonclan cats appeared moments later. Jayfeather hissed at them.
"Leafpool is afraid of the dark! Why did you leave her here?!" He hissed at them. Were they so mouse-brained as to leave the she cat in what she feared?
"We didn't leave her here, someone pulled her here." Bluestar commented with hesitation. She casted her cautious eyes around the area. "It is not safe to talk here, let us go." Jayfeather coaxed Leafpool out of her curled up position and followed the Starclan warriors until they walked into a bright light. Leafpool relaxed immediately when she realized they were in Starclan, not in the dark abyss of nothingness.
"We are sorry, Leafpool." Firestar mewed sincerely. "We did not know this would happen. We don't know how it happened. We never would've left you in that place." Leafpool purred as Firestar gave her four apologetic licks on her head. She knew he didn't do it, but that didn't stop her from being afraid. "Now is not the time to worry about that though. For now, your clans will be at peace, four at least four moons. We neither see nor sense any trouble coming to you anytime soon."
Jayfeather nodded his head, though he couldn't miss the light tremor in Flameblood's posture and the raw anger leaking from his eyes. "Flameblood?" He asked. The red tom looked at him and narrowed his eyes.
Firestar shook his head, blinking his amber eyes. The amber orbs turned somber. "Old wounds have not been patched up and healed. Loose ends have not been cut. Beware of the darkness. Watch for lies of the deceiving."
Leafpool whimpered and shook her head. "Why?"
"Jayfeather, in four moons you need to be almost done with your training with Silverclaw and. Flames not tamed can cause a forest fire." Flmaeblood mewed urgently.
'Like you?' Jayfeather thought with a sneer. He shook his head.
"Beware of darkness and trickery in the clan, but other than that we have four moons of peace?"
"Yes you do," Hollyleaf purred, a proud and mischievous look in her eyes. It only took him a second to know what was going to happen, though that didn't stop the purrs and cuddles from attacking him. And to make it worse the others sat there and laughed. The audacity!
"Hollyleaf, get off!"
With a hard nuzzle the light grey she cat climbed off him. "I'm just happy is all; you can't blame me for not pouncing on you." She pounced on him again, and Jayfeather hissed and batted at her. She nimble moved away and laughed, then took off. Hissing in irritation he ran after her and tackled her to the ground.
Soon they were playing tag, chasing and tackling each other. Jayfeather didn't know when it happened, but he felt so happy, like a kit. 'I've never done this as a kit.' He realized with joy, so it saddened him when it grew dark. Hollyleaf still played with him until there was nothing but black, so he didn't mind a bit.
~ooo~
Jayfeather didn't know he was purring until he reached the border to where the medicine cats meet. Mothwing snickered at him and shoved him playfully. "What's with you?" His face turned deadpan as he looked away, embarrassment crawling over him like fire ants.
"Nothing...uh...good night..." Quickly he walked away. Leafpool gave them all a shrug and big them farewell as she followed him.
Both of them walked side by side to each other, something Leafpool never thought possible. If anything it would've ended with an earful of hate and sneering. Now it was peaceful, calm and serene. Right before they reached the entrance Jayfeather stopped. Leafpool looked at him quizzically. "Jayfeather?" She asked. He blinked his eyes and shook his head before sitting down.
"Leafpool..." Leafpool was concerned. Why was Jayfeather so nervous? "I never told you about what happened while you were asleep, did I."
Now that she remembered, he didn't, and she still wanted to know. She sat down and stared at him. "Well, I'm well healed now; I think I deserve to know."
The grey tom's ear twitched before he shook his head. "I'll tell you tomorrow."
"What? Jay-"
"I'm tired and I need rest. Flameblood and Killerfang aren't exactly leaving me alone right now."
Leafpool narrowed her eyes dangerously, venom seeping into her voice. "What do you mean not leaving you alone?"
"It's nothing, don't worry about it." With that he turned and practically ran into the camp. Leafpool hissed in annoyance but followed him, glancing at him as she passed. He was standing in front of the medicine den. "Good night Leafpool." He muttered loud enough for her to hear before he vanished.
Leafpool stopped and stood staring at the den for a full ten seconds. What?
"Looks like he's finally getting over it!" Chery chirped as she padded over to the warrior. She was supposed to be sleeping, but who said she followed customs?
"What?" Leafpool mewed absently. Cherry scoffed and nipped the ginger's ear. "Come on, bed time. Lionblaze wants you close and away from Raven." She whispered with a smirk. Leafpool felt her fur grow a little warm. She really did hate the Guardian thing and didn't understand why he did it.
The two she cats walked into the warriors den, Cherry splitting to go to the apprentice den with a silent goodnight and curled up in their respective nests. She spotted Lionblaze's piercing gaze through the darkness.
"Go to sleep." She snapped.
The tom rolled his eyes. "I'm not a kit," he murmured, though he did curl up. He only closed his eyes after he was sure Leafpool was asleep.