Chapter 7 Jaypaw trotted through an open field. He was walking towards the sunset. He swished his tail with pleasure, although something told him this was familiar. He felt the presence of another cat, yet he couldn't tell who. "Jaypaw?" a voice meowed, surprised, from behind him. He turned around. He saw an unfamiliar gray tom with blazing light blue eyes. "Who are you? How do you know my name?" Jaypaw growled, unsheathing his claws. "I'm Stonefoot. I know you because you are my son," Stonefoot answered, his blue gaze full of longing. "No, Stonefoot, you're not my father. My father is Jayshade, and you are Stonepaw's father," Jaypaw meowed. "I am also Stonepaw's father. Here, come with me, I can explain," Stonefoot said, his blue gaze hopeful. "Alright," Jaypaw said. Stonefoot walked through the sunset, with Jaypaw on his heels. Stonefoot jumped into the sun, and Jaypaw halted, surprised. He decided to follow Stonefoot. He bunched his muscles and leaped. As he hit the sun, a stinging sensation as hot as fire shot through his pelt. He winced in pain, but landed on hard ground. Stonefoot was waiting for him. The cold stone spread like ice through his veins. As he followed Stonefoot, he realized they were heading towards fourtrees. Stonefoot climbed up onto the rock. "Listen," Stonefoot ordered. Jaypaw sat beside Stonefoot, and not long after a younger looking Stonefoot came into the empty hollow. The younger Stonefoot sat below the rock. "That is me," Stonefoot meowed. "And that cat," Stonefoot continued as a ginger tabby she-cat hurried into the clearing, "is your mother." Jaypaw watched Stonefoot leap over to her. "Gingerstripe! It's so nice to see you!" Stonefoot purred. Jaypaw watched as Gingerstripe nuzzled the tom. Jaypaw gasped in shock. "But....what about Jayshade?" he asked. "Listen carefully, Jaypaw," Stonefoot mewed. Jaypaw watched as Gingerstripe and Stonefoot climbed a tree. "Stonefoot, there is something you should know," Gingerstripe meowed. "I'm expecting kits!" Jaypaw stared in disbelief as Stonefoot meowed, "a father? Me? I can't believe it! Is there anybody acting out the father?" Jaypaw winced when he heard Gingerstripe's response. "My best friend, Jayshade, is going to act as the father to my kits. He somehow found out about us, but he is keeping the secret for us," she meowed. "Follow me," Stonefoot meowed. Jaypaw followed slowly. And then, he saw himself as a kit, the night he was born. "What are you going to name him?" a younger looking Jayshade meowed, his eyes full of sadness. "I'm going to call him Jaykit. His tail looks like a jay feather," Gingerstripe purred, looking down at him. Stonefoot walked away sadly, and Jaypaw followed reluctantly. He then noticed he was in the ShadowClan camp. He saw Stonefoot was sitting beside a blind white she-cat. "That is Dreamstorm. I became mates with her because she really loved me," he meowed sadly. "Stonefoot, I'm expecting kits," Dreamstorm purred. Stonefoot pressed his muzzle into Dreamstorm's cheek. Suddenly, when Jaypaw blinked, he saw a kit sized Stonepaw. Stonefoot's dead body lay in the clearing. "He looks just like Stonefoot," a large ginger tom meowed. "I'm going to call him Stonekit," Dreamstorm meowed, her gaze full of grief. When Jaypaw blinked again, he saw Stonefoot's body sleeping peacefully in his nest. He saw a flicker of movement at the entrance, and he noticed that Jayshade was sneaking into the den, his long claws glinting in the moonlight. Jaypaw watched as Jayshade tore out Stonefoot's throat, and ran away. Jaypaw gasped in shock. "Jayshade killed you," Jaypaw choked out. "He did," Stonefoot growled. "I should have known. He loves Gingerstripe, and he wanted me gone so he can have her to himself." Jaypaw blinked. He still couldn't believe that Stonefoot was his true father, and that he and Stonepaw were half siblings. He was full of rage. "Gingerstripe lied to me," he growled. "It's about time you wake up," Stonefoot meowed, alarmed at Jaypaw's sudden anger. Jaypaw turned and glared at Stonefoot. "You lied to Dreamstorm and Stonepaw!" he hissed. He leaped at Stonefoot, but before he could feel the rip of flesh beneath his paws, he woke up in his nest. Jayshade was standing over him. "So, you know that I'm not your true father?" Jayshade asked. Jaypaw nodded. "How do you know?" Jayshade smiled. "I walked in your dreams. It's easy, I can teach you." Jaypaw eagerly agreed. "But first, I want to know why Gingerstripe lied to me."
Characters Gingerstripe - ginger tabby she-cat with bright green eyes. WindClan. Stonefoot - light gray tom with blue eyes. ShadowClan. Jayshade - white tom with cold gray eyes. WindClan. Jaypaw - blue-light gray tom with a black and blue striped tail with a white tip. Dreamstorm - White she-cat with blind blue eyes. ShadowClan. Stonepaw - gray tom with light blue eyes and one white paw.
