Sign of the Moon

"Get to Leafpool at once," Jayfeather ordered as he slipped into the camp. He'd been on the dawn patrol with Brightheart, Thornclaw, and Nettlepaw. Around the ShadowClan border his apprentice mistimed a jump while stalking a shrew and got a thorn driven deep into his paw. Thornclaw sent them back while he and Brightheart finished the patrol. "We don't want to give it any time to get infected, especially with it still so cold."

"Right," Nettlepaw murmured, limping past him. "Sorry, Jayfeather. I don't know why I keep collecting thorns like this."

"Never be sorry for something as meaningless as a thorn," Jayfeather told him. He couldn't blame his apprentice when the ShadowClan border was always littered with splinters and thorns. "You didn't see it in time, that's all there is to it. Now go see Leafpool and head to your den. You'll have the rest of the day off while I talk to Leafpool."

Movement across the camp distracted Jayfeather as he parted from his apprentice. Padding toward his den, he scented Briarlight, Morningleaf, Graystripe, and Rosepetal. Interesting. Shouldn't Rosepetal be in the medicine den still?

"Oh, hello, Jayfeather!" Rosepetal called happily. "I hope you don't mind. I requested to visit Briarlight while I'm recovering."

Jayfeather shook his head. "Stay however long you like. This den isn't exclusive to me and Briarlight, you know." He crouched down between Graystripe and Rosepetal. His nest was between the two they were resting in, and their warmth was welcome after the early morning chill.

Morningleaf was prodding Briarlight's hindquarters. "Can you feel that?"

"No," Briarlight replied, with an impatient wriggle of her shoulders and forelegs. "I'm not getting any better, am I?"

"Of course you are." Graystripe, who had been half-dozing in his nest, stood and crossed the den to give his daughter an affectionate lick over the ear. "You're getting stronger every day."

"I am, aren't I?" Briarlight's voice brightened. "Rosepetal, I'll teach you some of my exercises if you like."

"Not yet," Morningleaf told her. As if sensing the young cat's disappointment, she added, "Maybe later, if her leg and shoulder stiffen up. But for now she needs to rest."

Morningleaf padded across the den and crouched beside Rosepetal. Jayfeather listened as she ran one paw over her injured shoulder. "You're healing very well, Rosepetal. There's no sign of swelling or the heat from a fever. It's coming along well," she meowed with a nod of satisfaction. "You can have a poppy seed for the pain if you like."

"No, I'm fine," Rosepetal insisted. "I just want to get back to my duties. I should be hunting, and instead I'm just lying here while I can't even put any weight on my paw."

"That's enough of that," Graystripe scolded her gently. "Did you mind hunting for Briarlight, or any of the cats sick with whitecough?"

"No, but—"

"Graystripe's right," Jayfeather interrupted with a flick of his tail. "If we don't help cats who are sick or injured or can't hunt for themselves, how can we call ourselves warriors?"

Graystripe's paws slid over the earth as he moved to the side of the den. "I have an idea!" he announced. "Why don't I tell you all a few stories about my life in the old forest?"

"Yes, please!" Briarlight mewed. "I want to hear about your apprentice days."

"And how you met your first mate," Rosepetal added.

Purring, Graystripe settled down, shifting until he was comfortable. "As you know, I was raised alongside Skystar, which means we were apprenticed together," he began. "I was apprenticed to Lionheart, and she was apprenticed to Bluestar. We were partners in crime back then." His tone grew wistful. "My parents, Willowpelt and Whitestorm, were always at camp waiting for us to hear what we did that day. We had three other denmates, too: Sandpaw, Dustpaw, and Ravenpaw."