In my mother’s footsteps

      Jayfeather went into his den, and flopped helplessly on the bedding. After losing the gift, it was especially hard for him. If the ThunderClan medicine cat saw with him at least in a dream, then without him he could not see at all in any way. But the cat had all the other senses of perception sharpened. By the smell, Jayfeather realized that Leafpool, his mother and mentor, was not in the den. But there was another cat, no less significant for Jayfeather...       Briarlight. This dark brown she-cat with blue eyes and an improperly fused spine became one of the few cats that were dear to the heart of a grumpy medicine cat. Not only did she spend almost all of her time in the medicine den, she also became more than just a patient for him...       Yes, Jayfeather did not even imagine that one day he would come to the same thing as his mother - he would violate the warrior code, prohibiting medicine cats from having a mate and kittens. The gray he-cat himself did not understand how it happened - after the Great Battle, when he lost his gift, he and Briarlight literally pounced on each other, comforting, and hating the fate that made them crippled. They just simply wanted to support each other, not thinking at all about the consequences...       Meanwhile, Briarlight crawled up to Jayfeather and snuggled up to him. The medicine cat shuddered - he was not used to such closeness yet. And she-warrior asked quietly: - And what will happen to us now? Jayfeather turned his head in the direction of her voice: - What are you talking about? - About that... That you and I will have kittens... What will they do to you for violating the warrior code? What will they do to me? And what will they do to them?       Jayfeather gritted his teeth: - When Leafpool born us, she gave us to Squirrelflight and Bramblestar to raise... Maybe we can give away our kittens too?       Briarlight pulled away from medicine cat and looked at him in fright. The he-cat understood her feelings, and wanted to say something soothing, but the she-cat guessed it herself, and glancing at her hind paws, whispered: - I will die, right?       Jayfeather sighed heavily: - Yes, it's right. Because of your injury, you will not be able to carry the birth normally.       Briarlight scratched the ground of the tent: - Stupid tree and stupid injury! Because of it, I can't live normally, I can't build a happy life for myself! And this warrior code... Because of it, I can't live happily with cat that I really love!       Jayfeather found she-cat by touch, and tried to gently press her to him so as not to touch the damaged body. - Hush, Briarlight, hush. Calm down. Your spirit will definitely live in our kittens. We'll give them to Daisy, you know, she always helps queens. And their father's name will be a secret for the ThunderClan!       Briarlight visibly calmed down and relaxed in the arms of medicine cat. Then she said softly: - Jayfeather... I haven't told anyone who the father of my kittens is, but it seems to me... The cats are already guessing... Or they guessed, but they don't show it...       And it's true - sometimes, looking at the dark brown she-warrior, ThunderClan cats let their eyes on the medicine den - Briarlight was there almost always, and besides, she didn't communicate with almost any of the cats, except Millie and Jayfeather. So the cats unmistakably identified the father of the kittens of Briarlight. Secretly from medicine he-cat and she-warrior, rumors spread around the Clan that Jayfeather decided to follow in his mother's footsteps, breaking the medicine cat's vow of celibacy.       Jayfeather gently stroked Briarlight with his tail on the her enlarged side: - Even so, I still won't give up my love for you, even if it costs me my medicine cat's post.       She-warrior sobbed: - No, Jayfeather, not at that price. It will be hard for the ThunderClan without such a wonderful medicine cat, - Briarlight rose and licked the he-cat on the cheek.       Jayfeather pressed his cheek to the top of she-warrior's head: - You'd better rest. Go to your place. Do you want me to be with you for a while?..       Briarlight nodded.       Medicine he-cat accompanied she-warrior to the bedding, helped her to lie down and lay down next to her. She-cat licked Jayfeather again - this time in the ear: - And yet... I love you, and I always will. - I love you too. You need to rest.       Jayfeather waited until Briarlight fell asleep, and moved to his bedding. Medicine cat curled up in a ball, covered himself with his tail and soon fell asleep too.

***

      The first thing that surprised Jayfeather, was that he could see. Clean, without turbidity, like a healthy cat. The last time the healer saw this was only in a dream before the Great Battle, before the StarClan took away from him, Lionblaze and Dovewing their gifts. Recovered a little from surprise, Jayfeather looked back - he was in a green clearing flooded with sunlight. Two she-cats came out from behind the tree - one black with green eyes, and the other dark gray with amber eyes. There were sparkling dots on them in places, as if stars were entangled in their fur. Jayfeather immediately recognized them both. - Hollyleaf? Yellowfang? - there was joy in the medicine cat's voice. - Don't rush to rejoice, brother, - Hollyleaf raised a little her paw. - Do you even fully realize what you've done? - Are you talking about Briarlight? - Jayfeather asked in surprise. - Yes, I know that I broke the code, and that she will not survive birth because of her injury. Is that why you came to me? - Exactly, - Hollyleaf replied. - Once upon a time, I also broke this rule, - Yellowfang voted. - And I didn't even imagine what kind of villain my Brokenstar would be. It was my punishment for breaking the code. Yes, maybe your punishment will only be in the death of Briarlight, but look, - the eyes of the former medicine she-cat flashed with an unkind fire. - Look that what happened to me and Brokenstar does not happen to you and your kittens!