Eyesore: The Weight Of Souls

Chapter Fourteen

Grief eating through his bones, Jaypaw curled his body around his stick.

"Fallen Leaves, why did you lie about the rain?" Jaypaw uttered into the emptiness that surrounded him, blue-bodied and brittle. Jaypaw had no idea what the time was, but everything was still. There was time to sleep. He closed his eyes, but sleep was an unhappy spirit, restless and seeking something vacant.

Jaypaw snapped open his eyes, unable to ignore his curiosity. It leeched at him, draining his body dry. He stood up, unable to stand it anymore. He needed to know who these cats were. They had to connect to this prophecy, otherwise, he wouldn't be having these visions. It couldn't be a coincidence that the only cat who could see Fallen Leaves was the blind one in prophecy.

He walked out of the burrow, hauling the stick out with him. Gulping in air, he smelled that the cat guarding camp was Antpelt. He listened for the sound of slow breathing, of snuffles, but heard nothing. Frozen in place, Jaypaw crouched by the burrow, planning his way out of camp. He knew if he made as little noise as possible and waited for a distraction, he could make a break for it. After waiting for what seemed like moons, he heard the sound of the moonhigh patrol coming back. 

"Thistleheart!" At Antpelt's call, Jaypaw picked up his stick and hurried, neck bent in an awkward angle to hold the stick, half dragging it away.

In the nighttime air, the heat of the sun pressed against the grass, feeling clammy and hot. The cool greenleaf nights had become hazed over with dampness that made his skin crawl.

Jaypaw scuffed his paw along the ground, searching for the tunnel opening. The grass gave way under his paw, slipping down to an unstable burrow below the ground. Jaypaw reminded himself to tell one of the older tunnelers that they needed to strengthen this burrow so that there'd be no accidents. He dropped his stick into the tunnel, listening to it roll to the bottom. Jaypaw pressed a paw against the hole. It crumbled underneath him. The slope felt steep, and Jaypaw had to take a moment to mentally prepare himself before leaping into action. Dirt showered to the tunnel floor as he ran down the slope. He skidded, half tumbling down. Landing in a heap, Jaypaw lay winded for a moment. Jaypaw shook dirt from his fur, getting to his feet. He coughed, embarrassed even though he was alone.

Paws scanning over the rock-and-dirt ground, Jaypaw searched for his stick. His right paw knocked against a piece of wood, rocking the stick. A surge of relief bubbled over his lips as he locked his jaw around it. Jaypaw didn't have the same mental visuals that told him the way to go, since he couldn't map the territory out visually. Even in visions, he relied on his touch. He'd etched the world into his paws. They knew which tunnel lead to where. Jaypaw navigated through the network of tunnels, travelling from camp to somehere near the Moonpool. He caught glimpses of soft yellow light filtering through the tunnels. His clanmates must be looking for him now if they were all awake. He quickened his pace.

He walked until his paws ached, till his limbs felt heavy, till his tiredness caught up with him. Jaypaw knew he was around the same area where he'd seen Fallen Leaves. He'd been following the same tunnels but had seen no sign of the tom. It wasn't like he could dream his way into finding Fallen Leaves; the cat was a ghost. Jaypaw slowly sunk down to the ground, body too weary. Excuses flashed through his brain as he planned what he would tell his mentor and the rest of his Clan when they found him.

"Why are you back here?" A quiet voice inquired.

Jaypaw's drooping eyelids snapped open. He sat up, twisting around. He could make out a blurred, faint feline hovering in front of him.

"Fallen Leaves!" Jaypaw exclaimed. "I've been looking for you!"

Fallen Leaves sighed, sitting down. "I hoped you would."