Stop thinking about her, mousebrain, Jayfeather scolded himself as he sorted through his stock of herbs. It was times like these he wished a cat would come to him with a problem. A bellyache, an infected scratch, anything to get the pretty she-cat the haunted his dreams every night. The blind medicine cat felt like yowling to StarClan, begging them to stop these temptations he felt for his beautiful clanmate.

Soft, delicate pawsteps caught his attention. His heart hammered in his chest as he picked up the sweet, fragrant scent of Cinderstep. He kept his back turned to her, but could still feel her piercing blue eyes burning into his pelt. “Um, Jayfeather?” she mewed. Jayfeather let out the breath he was holding and shivered with delight at the sound of his name on her tongue.

“Yes Cinderstep? Is everything alright?” he mewed sincerely. He would fight all of StarClan to assure she was safe and happy.

He heard her shuffle her paws nervously. “I was wondering…”

“Yes?” he mewed eagerly. A little too eagerly. He felt hesitation radiate from her fur. “What were you wondering?”

She took a deep breath. “I was wondering…Well, you’re going to the Moonpool tonight, right?” Jayfeather nodded slowly, curiosity creeping through his pelt. “I was wondering if—this is going to sound really stupid.”

“Go ahead,” he purred reassuringly.

“I was wondering if you could take me along with you.” Shame and embarrassment blew in his face like a strong wind. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to, it’s just I had this dream and…”

“Of course I’ll take you, Cinderstep.” Jayfeather rose to his paws and smiled. “The other medicine cats won’t be there, since it’s not the half-moon, so we can avoid awkward questions. I’ll meet you outside the camp just before moonhigh.

He felt her surprise like a tangible object. “Um, okay.” She turned to leave. “Thank you Jayfeather. Thank you so much.”

Jayfeather padded out of the hollow, his sleek, gray fur groomed and shiny. He lifted his nose to the sky and sniffed out Cinderstep’s familiar scent. “Hello, Jayfeather,” she mewed shyly as she headed over to him. She licked his shoulder. “Thank you again for doing this.”

“Don’t mention it.” He smiled warmly. “Come on, let’s get on, then.” He bounded through the territory, his pelt rubbing against hers. He blushed under his skin and made sure he kept his sightless eyes away from her face. “Almost there,” he panted. Cinderstep mewed in relief.

When his paws hit the rocky surface, he skidded to a halt. Cinderstep almost bumped into him and murmured a soft, “Sorry.” Jayfeather padded up the slope, glancing over his shoulder. “You ready?”

“Yeah—I think…”

Jayfeather smiled warmly. “Don’t be scared. It’ll be fine.” She purred in gratitude and padded after him. Her breathing became more ragged as they neared the Moonpool. Jayfeather stroked her flank gently to soothe her. “This is it,” he breathed when they reached the peak of the hill. He heard her inhale sharply in surprise.

He slid down to sit beside the small pond and glanced up at the gray warrior. “So, do you want to share tongues with StarClan or just watch?” he asked politely.

“I—I think I’d better do what you’re doing.” She slithered down beside him. He could feel her body shaking. “What do I do now?”

“Just touch your nose to the water and StarClan will enter your dreams.” She nodded and slowly bent down to touch the water. Within moments, her breathing slowed and Jayfeather knew she was in StarClan now. Not wanting to waste a moment of seeing her beauty, he shoved his nose down to the water and waited for his warrior ancestors to come to him.

“Cinderstep?” he called. His heart thudded anxiously. Where is she?

“Jayfeather.” The gray medicine cat whipped around, his heart aching when he saw the slim, ginger she-cat before him.

“Leafpool,” he murmured. He raced up to her, pressing his face into her fur. Just within the last moon, Leafpool had left him to journey to StarClan. She then revealed to him that she was his mother and his father was Crowfeather. Ever since then, he had taken every opportunity to visit the Moonpool to see his mother and mentor. “Oh Leafpool, I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you too, darling kit. You have grown into a fine tom and a wonderful medicine cat.” Jayfeather let out a purr of affection. He pressed his cheek to hers. “But I hate seeing you in so much distress.”

His tail drooped. “I just can’t stop thinking about her, Leafpool. I—I love her.” Leafpool purred and rasped her tongue over his ear.

“Oh, my kit, I know. Believe me, I know. And StarClan has laid down a path for both of you. One that twines together like vines.” Jayfeather’s heart went wild.

“Does this mean StarClan approves of us being together?” He could have leapt for joy at the mere thought of it. He and Cinderstep bonded together as mates, forever. The idea made him as giddy as a kit before being made an apprentice.

Leafpool smiled warmly and nodded. “There are some cats that do not agree, but no cat can deny what has been shown to us. There’s no way to stop your destiny.” Jayfeather purred with pure delight and thrust his nose into his mother’s fur.

“Oh thank you, Leafpool. Thank you so much!”

She licked his shoulder gently. “You are welcome, my son.” She pulled away to look at him with her amber eyes. “Now, I believe there is someone waiting for you.” Jayfeather’s heart skipped a beat and he turned to see Cinderstep padding toward him, her blue eyes shining. He yowled with happiness and bounded over to her.

“Oh Cinderstep,” he purred, rubbing against her, breathing in her scent.

“Jayfeather,” she breathed, thrusting her head under his chin. “Jayfeather, StarClan. They told me that…”

“I know, my love. They want us together.” He licked her shoulder. “And I do too.”

She pulled away and looked into his pale blue eyes. “I do too, my love. I do too.” His heart pounding, he twined his tail with hers, never taking his eyes off her beautiful gray fur.