Sighing for the hundredth time, Squirrelflight tossed in her nest. Whitethunder and Cherry hadn't returned in two days. Hopefully nothing bad happened between them. 'Hopefully,' she thought sadly. Bramblestar would be spotted walking around the camp to talk and eat, occasionally outside to hunt, but he couldn't move his head much. His neck wounds, though only in the skin, weren't fully healed. They were closed yes, but still a pain to go through.

Leafpool had been ignoring Squirrelflight since the two left, and it was only because Raven was ignoring her. The long legged black tom was seen stuck by Sakura's side all the time, sometimes they would travel out and come back with wounds. Apparently her inner Moonclan had awakened. Mousewhisker didn't say anything to the clan, and not much to his mate, though he did visit her for small chat or just to groom her. Icecloud watched them carefully, still doing the duty she was assigned to. Lionblaze hasn't said to stop it after all. Sometimes she would spot Mousewhisker and Sakura having small chat before Raven came and scared the tom off. She thought it was funny. Cinderheart didn't.

It was banking on sunset when the brambles shook and the Moonclan couple walked in, and to their shock their pelts were brushing like they were stuck to each other. Cherry looked around anxiously, ears twitching, while Whitethunder burned everything with his gaze as he drew himself up a little higher, tail twitching and slightly bristled. As soon as he caught sight of Bramblestar he snarled softly and led his mate to the apprentice den. Squirrelflight watched them with relief, at least nothing bad happened.

Raven saw them and instantly walked over to them, Sakura on his tail. Autumnspot, feeling bold, called the deputy out. At first Whitethunder ignored him, but after a well threatening hiss he went out to face him.

"Well?" He demanded. Cherry was standing a little ways behind him, Sakura close to her side. Raven was there as well, eyes narrowed.

"All is well, nothing is wrong."Whitethunder told him, eyes full of annoyance. "We are still mates."

Autumnspot growled lowly, then stocked past him, purposely bumping his shoulder, and went over to inspect his sister, growling and nuzzling her protectively. Cherry looked mildly annoyed. "I'm fine!" She snapped.

Autumnspot purred. "Father would've done the same," he glanced back at Whitethunder, "maybe more." With one last lick to her ear she went back over to the Mudfur and Longclaw.

Raven sighed and closed his eyes briefly before glancing over at Leafpool. He gave her an apologetic smile, making her brighten instantly. He made to walk over to her, but froze when someone growled warningly at him. To his shock Jayfeather was there, glaring with his fur threatening to rise on his back. Leafpool was shocked as well, staring at him with wide eyes. Lionblaze soon followed, lip twitching slightly in either a snarl or a smile, no one could tell. Raven wisely nodded his head and walked away, but not before giving Jayfeather an approving purr.

Jayfeather then called for Mudfur and Gingerkit. The two came to him. "Watch Bramblestar until I get back? Leafpool and I have to gather moss."

Mudfur cocked her head. He still had plenty of moss from when Cinderheart and Icecloud picked it. "Of course, come on Gingerkit." Gingerkit was excited. He hopped along with her as they made their way to the den.

Leafpool looked uncertain. "Are you sure Gingerkit is supposed to be in there?"

"He keeps sneaking into my den. As long as he doesn't touch anything then he's OK, now come on." He mewed impatiently, hurrying out of the camp. She followed.

~ooo~

They walked in silence. Leafpool was nervous. Why were they outside? "I told them," Jayfeather started.

Leafpool turned to him. "Told them what?" She asked.

"I told them about Thornclaw, and his plans, I told them about everything. I didn't tell them about his true ambitions though, apparently their already knew that."

Leafpool flicked an ear. "That happened while I was asleep?"

"Yes," he murmured, and proceeded to tell her all that happened while calmly walking around in the forest. They were sitting next to a tree just a few fox lengths from the entrance by the time he finished, Leafpool digesting it all. Well, now she knew the reason why Rosepetal and the others didn't participate in patrols, she had a hint that Thornclaw had been exiled. Her first thought was that someone killed him, and that wouldn't have changed her mood one bit. Well, maybe it would've made her a bit happier.

"Leafpool," Jayfeather called, and the she cat blinked at him. And there it was; the small catch in his voice. He was nervous. His tail was twitching repeatedly as he took in a deep breath. "I forgive you."

Leafpool stilled. "You...you what?"

Jayfeather nodded, looking slightly annoyed at repeating himself. "I forgive you."

Leafpool sat there in silence. Jayfeather had uttered the three words she thought she would never hear. Happiness stronger than Lionblaze's confession blazed through her. She did it! Jayfeather forgave her! All she had done wrong hand now been completely forgive! 'Not all,' a voice spoke warmly, and instantly her spirit dampened. Oh no, and just when it was getting good, when she finally had achieved her goal.

Leafpool hung her head and sighed. "Thank you Jayfeather, you don't know how much that means to me, really..."

Jayfeather narrowed his eyes. He had forgiven her, wasn't she supposed to be happy? He winced, there was a 'but' was in the air, and he hated buts.

"But…"

And there it was.

"But...?" He said slowly. He could practically feel the remorse, fear and guilt pouring off if her.

"But, I have done something you do not know of." She paused, and when he slowly wrapped his tail around his paws Leafpool took in a deep breath. "Remember when you had that fever, back with my half-moon deal with you?"

Jayfeather nodded, he remembered that. He felt heavy and couldn't remember anything of what happened prior, not even falling sick. 'Come to think of it,' he thought, 'I haven't done anything to be sick. None of the cats were coughing or wheezing, no one was hot under the fur.' His eyes narrowed into mere slits.

"What did you do?" Jayfeather nearly hissed. Leafpool didn't flinch, she denies it.

"Well, you didn't have a fever. My time was running short, and it didn't look like you were going to forgive me anytime soon, so I decided that if I died I would at least warn the clan of what you and Thornclaw and the others were plotting. The reason Bramblestar knew about Thornclaw wanting to become leader and more was because I, I drugged you Jayfeather. I opposed it when Cherry suggested it, I promise you I did, and I was worried about how it would affect you and your health and I knew it would make you distrust me more than you already did. I expected you never to find out because I thought I would be dead by then."

"I gave you the herb by slipping it into your food, and then led you into your den to talk with you. Then when your tongue started getting loose I prodded you with my questions and greedily took all the information I could. I even, took the ones I know I shouldn't have..."

Jayfeather was livid. How could she betray him like that again?! Tricking him into telling her his secrets...

A thought seized him.

"That how you knew!" He hissed. "How you know about my dreams, what else did you ask me?!"

"Nothing beyond those things I said," she answered quickly. "After I did though, you did ramble on a bit." Jayfeather growled at her, pressing her to go on. "You told me that you didn't want to listen to Thornclaw's lies, which you knew I would never go back to Crowfeather, and that you would have forgiven me had the lies been so convincing. You also said you would've forgiven me if your fear of me betraying you again hadn't been so strong. It was also the first time you called me mother." Leafpool smiled sadly. "It warmed me so much that I wouldn't have mind dying without you forgiving me, and it hurt me because I did indeed betray you again Jayfeather, I brought that fear true."

She looked him dead in his blue eyes. "I am sorry, I truly am. I never expected any of this to turn out the way it did."

The ginger she cat did flinch this time when his expression suddenly turned blank. Unsure of what to do and scared to say anything else, Leafpool sat there and waited for Jayfeather's response. It felt just like when she was waiting for Lionblaze, only this was more serious, more strenuous. The tension was so high in the forest she was sure it was a part of her son and increasing his aura by tenfold. She made sure to breathe this time and told herself she was just imagining something squeezing all the needed oxygen out of her lungs.

When his face morphed into a scowl her heart dropped. She ruined it.

"I don't understand you, you mouse brain!" he scolded. "When someone forgives you it means that whatever you have done up until then is forgiven! You don't go telling them what you did that they don't know about, it makes them distrust you even more!"

Leafpool was shocked. What?

"How were you a medicine cat if you are so stupid?" He muttered to himself, then he lunged at her. Leafpool was surprised, which morphed into complete and utter speechless shock when Jayfeather started to nuzzle her hard, like he was trying to ingrain her sent into him.

"J-Jayfeather!" She shrieked. He glared up at her and boy did that look intimidation.

"Shut up and let me hug you. I need it." The last part was a whispered as he continued to nuzzle her, and as awkward as the situation felt, she allowed it. Of course she would allow it, she would be crazy not to. So she returned the love as best as she could, and was shocked even more when Jayfeather started purring. She purred with him.

They purred and hugged for ten minutes straight, never stopping, before Jayfeather abruptly pulled away. "I want to catch something before we go back."

"Do you still forgive me?" She asked softly. He glared at her.

"Ask me again and I'll hate you for a whole moon." Ok then, where did Jayfeather go? "Now help me hunt." He turned and stalked away.

Leafpool scurried after him. "You are a medicine cat, you can't hunt!"

"I'm taking lessons from Silverclaw; I have to catch a prey before I can move onto my next lesson. So far I've been unsuccessful."

'So that's why he takes so long to come back.' She thought.

"Ok, show me your hunter's crouch." Jayfeather nodded and did as he told, making Leafpool sigh. He was doing it right, but then again he was doing it wrong. 'Moonclan training…'

"Wrong! Lower your haunches, lift your tail...no, not that high!"

~ooo~

When they walked inside it was like seeing Leafpool and Lionblaze all over again, only brighter. And, to their shock, they weren't carrying moss. Leafpool had a squirrel and two birds in her mouth and tail, and Jayfeather was proudly carrying a very plump mouse in his jaws. Millie walked over to them with wide eyes. "Are you two OK?"

Leafpool nodded and dropped her prey. Happiness radiated off of her. "Nothing but a Mother/Son chat." Instantly all eyes fell on Jayfeather. He didn't protest one bit.

"Jayfeather, do my ears deceive me? Leafpool just called you her son and you didn't chew her ear off?" his brother asked in awe.

Gently Jayfeather placed his mouse on the ground and licked his lips. "Mhm, look!" He mewed, gesturing down at the mouse. Lionblaze admitted it was pretty plump, nice and juicy. "Wow, nice catch Leafpool!"

"No, that is not my catch," Leafpool told him eagerly.

Lionblaze frowned. "What?"

"I caught it!" Jayfeather bursts excitedly. His tail lashed eagerly. "I caught my first prey!"

Leafpool purred deeply and licked his head, shocking the clan yet again. "He did excellent too! If everyone didn't know he was blind he would the best hunter in the clan, all he needs to do is practice more."

"Wow really? That's nice for your first catch Jayfeather!" Squirrelflight piped. She and Bramblestar made their way over to him to inspect it.

"Very nice indeed," Bramblestar added. Then, hesitantly, he briefly licked over the medicine cat's ears. Squirrelflight did the same, only with more vigor. Jayfeather's tail twitched again. He wasn't a cat with "Lick away" planted on his heads by the stars, but he accepted them grudgingly as compliments.

'Compliments!' He though eagerly. Silverclaw would be so proud of him!

He quickly scanned the area with and found her and the two siblings sitting back and watching. Silverclaw dipped his head to him. "You did well; do with your rewards as you see fit, Jayfeather. Half-Moon is pleased with you."

He stilled. Half-Moon? She was watching? His chest puffed out even more. His mate was watching him! No doubt she was proud.

Another thought occurred to him; how did she know about him and Half-Moon? 'Firestar!' his figured, and went through a mental rant through his mind.