Jayfeather's Choice

Chapter 1

[Edit 1- September 8th]

Jayfeather slipped into Stoneteller's dreams. For an entire moon, it was clear that something was bothering her. Now, he would find out what it was. 

"You will find that what I say is going to save your Tribe!" Jayfeather had to bite his tongue to stop himself from gasping. 

"Rock, you son of a-" Jayfeather whispered. He hadn't seen the old cat in real life for several seasons now, but the tom still haunted him in his dreams. 

"I will not just give up on the mountains, Rock! Jay's Wing sent us here for a reason. I trust in him. Not you. You can't even see, why should I trust in you?" 

Jayfeather couldn't help but give a small smile. He, too was once blind, but was able to see when he was in the past. 

Rock let out a dry laugh. "So you will let the precious members of your tribe die because of your stubbornness?" 

"What do you mean?" Stoneteller's body turned to stone. 

"Wake up and find out." Rock hissed. "You should probably take my advice. Follow the rising sun. There, you will find everything you need, including- Jayfeather." 

"I'm sorry, who?" Stoneteller demanded. Rock's large, blind eyes settled on the spot where Jayfeather had been. 

"So, you do want to interfere." Rock growled. "Fine then. I tried fixing the mistake you made seasons ago. But if you want to take the harder trail, then I will gladly guide you along that path." 

Jayfeather froze. He had to get out of here, before Stoneteller turned around and figured out about his power. He quickly slipped out of the dream. 

"I don't know what you're talking about." Stoneteller snapped. "But I am going to leave now. Goodbye." 

--

Jayfeather woke up to Quiet Rain's shriek. Stoneteller stirred beside him.  

"Umm.... Stoneteller, what was that about?" Panic spread across Stoneteller's face. 

"What? How did you see my-" 

"Oh- I was talking about Quiet Rain. She's screaming." Jayfeather said quickly, breathing a sigh of relief when Stoneteller believed him. 

Stoneteller's eyes widened.

"No... he couldn't have... how would he predict... it can't be true!" Stoneteller shrieked

"Wha-" Had Rock tried to warn Half Moon about something? 

 She ran into the den where the rest of the tribe slept. 

"Fluttering Bird! No!" Quiet Rain's eyes were wild with fury and grief. 

"Out of the way!" Stoneteller pushed Clear Sky and Gray Wing aside. Her eyes widened at the sight of Fluttering Bird's body. 

"I.... Rock..." Stoneteller whispered, so quietly that Jayfeather could barely make out her words. She left the cave quickly. 

"Stoneteller!" Jayfeather called. He quickly ran after her. 

"I saw your dream." Jayfeather mewed urgently. Half Moon's eyes widened, but she did not say anything. "We have to listen to Rock, no matter what. The Tribe has to leave now." 

"Nope." Half Moon replied. 

"Yes!" 

"I said no!" 

"I don't care that you said no!" 

"I'm the tribe leader! And I'm staying!" 

"Well you're a really bad leader!" Jayfeather retorted. 

"Why don't you try taking in the fact that you're the reason that a kit has just died of hunger! And that her death is your fault! Because you didn't act soon enough!" 

"Then act now!" 

"It's too late. Acting now won't save Fluttering Bird." 

"So you're just going to let the rest of these cats die?" 

Stoneteller opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She sighed. 

"You're right. We have to leave. All of us. Tomorrow, I'll make the announcement." 

"Good." Jayfeather sighed in relief. 

"Yes, very good." Rock's voice sounded from behind him. 

"Rock?" 

"Who?" Stoneteller demanded. 

"Rock. The one appearing in your dreams." 

"I don't see anything." 

"He's there." Panic gripped Jayfeather's heart. 

"Very good. You are on the path to destroying the Clans." 

"How am I..." Jayfeather strained his brain, thinking of all possible ways that the Clans could be destroyed because of his actions. He couldn't find a single possibility. 

"You will leave now, while you still have a chance! Return to ThunderClan with your Clanmates, so we don't have to make this any harder than it is!" 

"You're making my entire life harder!" Jayfeather retorted. 

"What life?" Rock questioned. 

Ouch. Burn. 

"Just leave me alone, you blind, ugly cat." 

"I may be blind, but I see twice as much as you'll ever see." Rock snapped. He turned his back and padded away, lashing his tail. 

"Umm, Jay's Wing, are you OK?" 

"Rock just came and spoke to me." 

"Do you know Rock?" 

"ummmm... not really." Jayfeather mumbled. "Just... go tell the Tribe that we're leaving tomorrow." 

"Of course. We'll have a better life soon, I promise." Stoneteller whispered sadly.