Jayfeather's tail twitched with anticipation. Tonight was the half-moon gathering: where Alderpaw would get his full medicine cat name. I wonder what it will be like for him. I remember my naming ceremony. It was great. 

"Alderpaw, let's go! Jayfeather's fidgeting!" Leafpool called. 

"Coming!" Alderpaw replied, bounding towards the group. Together, they set off. 

_

Jayfeather sighed and rolled up his bundle. You're three quarters of the way there! Come on! You can do this! He couldn't do it. He collapsed to the ground. I can't take it. I never realized how much Briarlight meant to me! 

He heard Briarlight and Lionblaze return from their walk. It was impossible not to hear! They were laughing like a pack of hyenas! Does she like him more than me? 

Lionblaze padded to the medicine den while Briarlight dragged herself into the nursery. "Bro, I just stole your bitch!"

Jayfeather got up and staggered a little bit. "W-what? My... bitch? Lionblaze, I'm a medicine cat, I have no bitches," he pointed out. 

Lionblaze laughed. "Yeah, you don't anymore! Briarlight's having mah kits!" He sang, twirling around like a tiny kit. 

"SHE'S PREGNANT?" Jayfeather roared. Lionblaze shrank. 

"No! I mean that... Jayfeather, you have no idea what I'm talking about, do you? I mean that Briarlight was totally in love with you before your, 'break'!" He flicked his tail, and Jayfeather could just imagine him rolling eyes. 

"I'm sure she doesn't actually love you," he said dismissively. "Do you.. like her or something?" He added. 

Lionblaze shook his head. "No, Jayfeather, I was just messing with you. And she probably doesn't like me, either. I just like ruffling your fur!"

"What? You're not messing with me by telling me that!" Jayfeather rolled his sightless eyes. 

"Oh yes he certainly is," Hollystar sounded behind them, Cinderheart snickering at her side. "Jayfeather, your fur is literally ruffled right now!" 

Jayfeather licked the tufts of fur sticking out of his pelt. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Lionblaze was always too loud." 

"No!" Lionblaze bellowed, leaping onto Jayfeather. 

"Hey, quit it!" The play fought for a little bit until Hollystar broke them up. 

"That was extremely entertaining, but I'm afraid it must stop," she chuckled. "Lionblaze, will you lead a border patrol on the WindClan border? Squirrelflight, will you choose who goes with him?" She asked.

Lionblaze nodded curtly, winking at Jayfeather as he slipped away. Do... do I love Briarlight? No. She's a friend. I mean, I'm just really interested in her. I suppose I've just... never really had a real friend, Jayfeather thought about what Lionblaze had said. 

Alderheart padded over to him. "Um, Jayfeather, Briarlight wants you," he mewed, flicking his tail. Jayfeather bounded into the medicine den.

"Briarlight, what is it?" He asked urgently. She just looked embarrassed. 

"Um, I wanted to tell you that I counted the days wrong. Our break ends today!" Briarlight lowered her head.

Jayfeather was overjoyed. "Good! Do you want to go do something... fun? Like... fish? Mousewhisker likes fish," he mentioned. "You're good at hunting, or, you can be. You just need the best teacher in the Clan! Brightheart! Oh, well, I guess she's in the elder's den now, but whatever, she wouldn't mind. But I feel like we should be together alone or something, I don't know, what do you think?" 

He couldn't hide his excitement, jumping up and down. Briarlight laughed and nudged him with one paw. "Don't jump if I can't jump, too!" Jayfeather stopped jumping at smiled at her sweetly. 

"Fishing sounds great-and funny, too. You're faster than me. If a RiverClan warrior gets angry at us, you can get Brightheart then!" Briarlight suggested. 

"Great idea," Jayfeather mewed fondly, following Briarlight out of the camp. 

_

"Hah! You catch fish like an alligator! It's less with your jaws and more with your claws!" Briarlight laughed, flicking her head toward the pile of fish beside her. It wasn't that big, not big enough to feed the whole Clan, but big enough to feed a fifth of it.

"Yeah right!" Jayfeather rolled his sightless eyes and caught a fish at once. "No wonder RiverClan is so fat!" He and Briarlight laughed at that one for a while. 

"Maybe we should bring this back to camp. It's a lot," Jayfeather noticed, nudging Briarlight softly. She nodded her head in agreement. 

They padded back to camp together, giggling at a few shallow jokes. Once they entered the tunnel, cats all around were gossiping. Hollystar had her eyes fixed on the pair as they walked in. 

"Jayfeather, I would like to speak to you privately," she mewed, guiding him to her den. "I don't have to be formal about this, you're my brother, so I'm just going to say it. You and Briarlight better watch it. Now that your break is over, you guys were quick to hang out. Are you sure you don't have any feelings for Briarlight?" She demanded urgently, her green eyes ablaze. 

Jayfeather staggered back in surprise. "Of course I don't! If she has any for me, that's not my problem. I love her as a friend," he insisted. He was sure that it was true. Briarlight was a friend, not a partner. Maybe if Jayfeather hadn't been a medicine cat, things would be different between them. But he was a medicine cat, and there was no changing that. He liked - no, loved-being a medicine cat, and he wouldn't give it up just for Briarlight. 

Hollystar looked unconvinced. "Okay, then show me. If a moon goes by and you too are still just good friends, I'll let you go. But from now on I'm going to have to watch you, and every time you go out Lionblaze will be there, too, got it?" She lashed her tail at Jayfeather, almost seeming angry. 

"Hollyleaf, I know you. Yes, you're leader. Yes, you're Hollystar. But you're acting like Hollypaw and Hollyleaf right now. Think like Hollystar," Jayfeather advised. "Sit down. Calm."

Hollystar lowered herself into her nest, tail curled around her paws. 

"Now close your eyes. And just think. Is this really the best solution?" For the first time since the Dark Forest battle, it seemed like StarClan themselves wanted Jayfeather to sympathize with Hollystar, and the memories from Hollystar flooded into Jayfeather's mind.

"Lionpaw, why were you with Heatherpaw? Lionpaw! LIONPAW! WHY-"  

"Lionpaw, stop! Please! Let me help you! Please!"

"Jaypaw! We can't steal!" 

"I can make Leafpool and Crowfeather pay for what they made you think."

"YOU DON'T WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR THUNDERCLAN! You want what's best for you!" 

"Code one of the warrior code, Hollypaw. Defend you Clan. So why are you acting like you're about to run away from your problems?" 

"Jayfeather, Hollyleaf, and Lionblaze are not my kits."

"Hollyleaf-what-are you-what are you doing-HOLLYLEAF, GET OFF OF ME!"

"No... Hollyleaf... you can't... kill..."

"Yes, I am the killer." 

Jayfeather understood now. Sol, Ashfur, the code-Lionpaw and Hollypaw were so distant. It seemed like something was going on, but Jayfeather was never told. This is why Lionpaw and Hollypaw seemed to hate each other. That's why Hollystar loves the code. It's because when the cats close to her didn't follow it, they would become distant, and she would always lose someone. 

"Hollystar... I am so sorry. Do whatever you like. I understand now." He padded out of the den, leaving Hollystar with her problems to deal with. Jayfeather needed someone happy and bright. Hollystar's problems were big and many. Why was she so sad? She always seemed so... serious, but bright and cheerful. Was she really bottling up that many feelings? Did Cinderheart know? She needed to talk to Lionblaze about it. That would've helped. 

It didn't matter when Jayfeather realized that he was padding to the medicine den to talk to Briarlight.

"Briarlight... I need your help."