Jayfeather & Half Moon/Briarlight

3

  Jayfeather limped quickly into camp, scenting the air desperately. Was Briarlight alright?

  Alderheart rushed out to meet him, worry coursing through the young cat's body. Jayfeather quickly asked about Briarlight, continuing to walk to the medicine den without a pause.

  Alderheart walked beside him, informing him in a worried, tight tone. "She refused to be treated until she saw that you were safe and treated to. I... I could only wrap a cobweb around her wounds, but that's not stemming the blood flow well. I fear she may lose this fight."

  Jayfeather whispered words unfit for a young kit's age below his breath, quickening his pace even though the wound at his side hurt him. Millie and Graystripe rushed out of the elders den, but Leafpool held them back.

  Jayfeather could hardly concentrate on anything, the sounds and senses all around him dulling to his heartbeat. Briarlight may not have that heartbeat by the end of the day. Just the thought of that sent shivers down Jayfeather's spine. All he could focus on now was Briarlight. And how foolish she was. "She shouldn't have leaped into Breezepelt's way. She shouldn't have waited to be treated." He whispered over and over, worry making his voice rough.

  Alderheart, overhearing him, whispered in a soft voice, "But she did. For you."

  Jayfeather's eyes were blazing when they turned to meet Alderheart's. "Well, she made a mistake."

  Brushing past the cover of leaves, Jayfeather moved as quickly as he could to the corner, where he could smell blood and Briarlight's scent. "Briarlight," he called. 

  Briarlight's soft mew drifted through the suddenly stuffy room. "Jayfeather..."

  Jayfeather's panic rose in him. Turning, he quickly shooed the other cats that had come to check on Briarlight out - including Millie. Millie was about to say something, but after glancing at Briarlight once, she nodded and left the den quietly even though he knew she was trying to keep her worry down. A moment later he heard her talking with Alderheart. 

  Jayfeather returned back to Briarlight's side, and not for the first time, he hated his disability of not being able to see. "What were you thinking?" Jayfeather snarled, his heartbeat getting faster as he detected the scent of blood that overpowered her sweet scent.

  Briarlight coughed, her throat gurgling. Her chest heaved in shallow breaths. "Jayfeather..." she whispered in a soft voice.

  Jayfeather set to work, his paws working over the herbs quickly. "Don't speak." He ordered, trying to settle his panic and worriedness.

  A brush of cold wind came in. Bramblestar stood there, his eyes flicking between the two cats. "Leaf-bare is fast approaching us. Briarlight, how are you feeling?"

  Jayfeather shivered. This was the worse time to have leaf-bare. "Get out," he snapped at the leader. Bramblestar blinked at him in shock, then took in his whole posture. Nodding in understanding, he left.

  Jayfeather was about to spread the poultice against her chest wounds when she pushed his paws away. "Treat... yourself... first," she whispered.

  "Are you mousebrained?" Jayfeather mewed, forcing her weak paws away and smearing the poultice into her wounds. She winced, flinching underneath his firm, steady paws. "I'm not going to let you die, Briarlight. You're going to survive."

  Turning away, he scooped up a bundle of cobweb. "I'll make sure of that," he whispered under his breath.

  "Why, can't live without me?" Briarlight tried to joke, but her energy soon drained away again.

  Jayfeather wound the cobwebs around her chest, stemming the blood flow as best as he could. "Don't move, alright?"

  "Doesn't look like I'm going anywhere," Briarlight continued, but cut off abruptly at the end. Jayfeather heard a worrying gurgling noise as she struggled to breathe.

  In a quick, swift movement he gently rubbed her throat. She moved away after a while, breathing still shallow but consistent. He sat back on his haunches, wondering what else he could do for her. Relief was far from his mind.

  "Go, rest." Briarlight mewed, her voice small in the suddenly dark den. Night had fallen. It was going to be cold.

  After checking on her, Jayfeather patched up his own wounds and curled up in his own nest.

  Jayfeather woke up in the middle of the night, his ears catching the rustle of leaves as Briarlight shifted uncomfortably in her nest. Sleepily, Jayfeather got to his paws. He padded over to her, bending down to sniff. The poultice and cobwebs were still intact, but... she was shivering.

  Jayfeather suddenly realised how cold it was. His fur fluffed out, he gently leaned down and licked her head, brushing her fur the other way. Pity for her - and part sleepiness - made him lie down, keeping her warm.

  Briarlight's blue eyes blinked up at him, sleepy and troubled. "Jayfeather?"

  "I'm here, Briarlight. I won't leave, I promise." He whispered at her, laying his muzzle gently on her pelt. "Go to sleep. I'll be here."

  "Thanks, Jayfeather."

  "Anything for you." Jayfeather said, eyes closing as he drifted off. 

Author's Note: 

What do you guys think so far? :3 Sorry if I don't post often, but I will get around to it :)

~Jayhow