Two halves of a whole (Jay x Briar AU)

Chapter 1

Briarlight woke up and yawned. She smelled the scent of mouse and looked up at Jayfeather, who was asleep, or at least, trying to go back to sleep. "Thanks for the mouse."

He just grunted. "Where's Leafpool?" He shrugged. "How should I know? I didn't see her walk out."

"You could've heard her. Have you eaten yet?" He sat up. "Not yet. There isn't much on the pile. The warriors need to hunt." Briarlight pushed the mouse over to him with a sigh, wishing she could be a warrior. All she'd ever be was a burden. "You have it. I'll eat later."

Before he could object, which she knew he would, she dragged herself from the den and into the clearing. She stopped outside the medicine den and looked around. Blossomfall, Ivypaw, Cinderheart, and Brackenfur were leaving for a patrol. She sighed again. If only her back legs worked. She looked over at the warriors' den and saw Dovepaw and Lionblaze patching up a few holes in the wall, talking quietly.

She returned to the medicine den and saw that Jayfeather had eaten the mouse and saw now laying in his nest, grooming. She lay down in her nest beside him. "What exercises are we doing today?" she asked eagerly, wanting to do something besides laying in her nest with Millie fussing over her all day. 

"Probably the same as usual. Going around the clearing. Maybe even outside the camp this time. Think you can do it?" Briarlight rolled her eyes, though she knew he was joking. "I can do anything! Soon I'll be able to move faster than a WindClan cat!"

"Sure you will," he meowed, sounding skeptical. "Now come on. After we do some exercises, you'll eat, then do whatever. No objections or protests. Just because you can't hunt doesn't mean you can't eat."

She looked away from him. Even though he was blind, he could still glare at cats. She didn't really know how, but she wouldn't understand. She wasn't blind. Just like no one would understand her. Especially not Millie, who acted like she was a kit. Well, maybe Jayfeather might. He was different too. Sometimes he felt like the only cat who understood her and treated her like a normal cat.

"Well, are you coming or not?!" he demanded, stopping at the entrance with his head turned towards her. She hurried over to him as fast as she could and instead of walking at a slow pace like Millie would do whenever she 'helped' with exercises, he walked at a normal pace. She couldn't really keep up but managed, and by the time they were out of the hollow she was already tired, though she followed, pushing forward with her front legs. Jayfeahter must have realized she was tired since she had slowed down, and he slowed down until he was right beside her. "Just a little further and we'll go back."

She nodded without speaking and they walked a bit further then turned. Jayfeather nearly tripped over a root but she decided it'd be better not to ask if he was okay since she didn't want to be snapped at. They reached the camp and Millie ran over to them. "Briarlight! I've been looking everywhere for you!" she turned sharply to Jayfeather. "You're taking her outside the camp? What if she gets hurt?! She can't be alone with a blind medicine cat! You both could get-"

Jayfeather stiffened and glared at her. "We didn't get hurt. So please, move out of the way and let us pass. We were walking. And she's ready to be out of camp. It's her choice," he replied slowly through gritted teeth, his tail lashing furiously. "Oh--right, sorry." Millie moved out of the way and Briarlight followed him to the den.

He immediately went into his nest and Briarlight could tell he was silently fuming and lay down beside him, pressing against him comfortingly. She felt him relax slightly and take a breath. Is she mouse-brained? I'm surprised Jayfeather didn't attack her. 

She felt a slight surge of anger at her mother but calmed down and dragged herself to the fresh-kill pike and grabbed a vole and went back to the den and ate it.