Blinded by the Truth (Jayfeather x reader)

Chapter 14

Resting his head on his paws, Jaypaw gazed blindly at the camp. His heart felt weighed down by the prophecy. I guess knowledge really is power. Jaypaw sighed. He need to go to the Moonpool again, to share with StarClan. 

After all warriors and apprentices fell asleep, Jaypaw slipped out of his den to the dirtplace tunnel. "What are you doing here?" [Y/A/N]'s voice sounded beside his ear. 

"Making dirt," Jaypaw snapped.

"You're almost outside the dirtplace tunnel. Tell me the real reason." Jaypaw could hear the authority in her voice. And the curiosity. And her thoughts about following him anyway.

"Fine, I'm going to the Moonpool." Jaypaw pricked his ears for any sound that told him that [Y/A/N] had already dashed off.

Instead, her tail shot up in excitement. "I'm coming with you," she announced.

Too tired to argue, Jaypaw slipped out of the dirtplace tunnel and followed the familiar route to the Moonpool. [Y/A/N] was scrambling to catch a mouse behind him. 

Jaypaw was beginning to feel like a normal apprentice until his paw got stuck in a rabbit hole and twisted painfully. Jaypaw pulled his paw out and tested it tentatively on the ground, relieved that it could take his weight. [Y/A/N] didn't say anything, but Jaypaw knew that she was watching him out of the corner of her eye.

At the edge of the Moonpool cliff (whatever its called), Jaypaw could feel [Y/A/N]'s anxiety as if it were his own. "Are you sure you're allowed to be here?" [Y/A/N]'s pelt was fluffed out so that she was twice her usual size.

Jaypaw's pelt prickled self-consciously. "I've been here before."

"I guess I'll wait for you here." [Y/A/N]'s gaze shifted uneasily.

Jaypaw shrugged. "Fine by me."

He padded down the spiral path leading to the Moonpool, feeling the paw marks of all those cats before him and heard voices in his ears.

He dipped his nose into the Moonpool and opened his eyes again, expecting to see Spottedleaf. Instead, he saw a ragged black she-cat, her nose so close to his face that Jaypaw yelped and jumped back. "You came back," the she-cat hissed.

Jaypaw lifted his chin. "Of course I did."

The she-cat (she's Yellowfang btw. im to lazy to type 'the she-cat' over and over again) examined him from nose to tail-tip. "You want answers," she spoke as if she were stating a fact.

Jaypaw flicked his tail irritably. "Of course I do."

Yellowfang thrust her muzzle close to Jaypaw's. "What answers?"

"The prophecy. Everything." Jaypaw felt helpless. He in truth had no questions. He just came to get reassurance from StarClan. And by StarClan, he meant Spottedleaf.

"Here's my answer for you: you have to become a medicine cat." Yellowfang's tail waved gently in the air, as if she were excited to see his reaction.

"A medicine cat?" Jaypaw yowled, outraged. So StarClan clearly agreed with Brightheart. "I can be a warrior, you know."

Yellowfang continued her third lap around Jaypaw. "With that ability of yours? I don't think so."

"So I can see in dreams. Every other cat can see as well!" Jaypaw was desperate.

Fourth lap. "It's your destiny, so follow it!" Yellowfang hissed. Fifth lap. I can't! What about [Y/A/N]?

"No! Being a medicine cat is a waste of life!" Jaypaw growled. Yellowfang stopped. 

Yellowfang stopped. "So you think Leafpool was a waste of life. Spottedleaf was a waste of life. Cinderpelt was a-"

"That's not what I meant!" Jaypaw interrupted. 

Yellowfang looked him in the eye. "Then tell me. Why do you insist on being a warrior?"

Jaypaw avoided meeting her gaze. So I can be as good as others. So I can be what I've wanted to be since I was a kit. So I can be with [Y/A/N].

Yellowfang flicked her tail, satisfied. "Go tell Firestar. That's your part in the prophecy."

"Why?" Jaypaw protested weakly.

"Do you think you'll be a good warrior if you can feel every cat's pain in battle?" Yellowfang didn't let Jaypaw respond. "I'm not going to explain how being a medicine cat isn't a waste of life. Go see it for yourself."

Weariness tugged at Jaypaw's bones and his vision began to fade. Trust me on this. I know you. 

Jaypaw opened his eyes to his familiar blindness. He dashed up the Moonpool slope to where [Y/A/N] was sitting. "What's the hurry?" She meowed.

"I need to tell Firestar something!" Sensing Jaypaw's urgency, [Y/A/N] pressed her side to his and guided him across the forest. I guess it's easier with [Y/A/N] guiding me, Jaypaw admitted grudgingly to himself.

In the middle of their run, [Y/A/N] broke off from him to chase a mouse. Jaypaw stumbled and realized how much he was leaning on to [Y/A/N]. 

They dashed through the thorn tunnel, and headed straight for Firestar's den. Hollypaw was at the foot of the rocky tumble. 

"Do you need help getting up?" Hollypaw offered. 

"He's never going to agree," [Y/A/N] growled and grabbed Jaypaw's scruff and pulled him up the rocks.

Hollypaw bounded up behind them. [Y/A/N] nosed him gently into the den. "Go on," she urged.

Jaypaw looked back blindly at [Y/A/N], hoping she would come with him. When she made no move to follow, he padded nervously into the leaders' den.

"What can I do for you, Jaypaw?" Firestar's tone held traces of amusement. 

"I need to become a medicine cat," Jaypaw blurted. He heard a muffled gasp from [Y/A/N] outside the den. "Sorry Hollypaw," he added to his sister.

"No worries, I quit anyway," Hollypaw assured him. 

"Did you discuss this before?" Firestar meowed. 

Jaypaw shook his head. "The decision to take you up as an apprentice is Leafpool's," Firestar told him gently.

Jaypaw nodded numbly. Firestar's attention flicked to [Y/A/N]. "Why are you here?" He demanded.

"I accompanied Jaypaw to the Moonpool," [Y/A/N] responded. Jaypaw felt a rush of joy and grief. He was going to become a medicine cat apprentice! He pushed [Y/A/N] out of his mind, and focused on his future as a medicine cat instead of his future with her. I'm so sorry.