Fallen Holly Leaves (Storm)

Holly Leaves frowned. “What do you mean?”

The tom sighed, glancing down at his paws for a few heartbeats before looking back up at his sister. “I suppose I’ll figure it out eventually. It’s not as if I’m missing anything back home.” The tom sighed softly.

She nodded.

Jayfeather frowned. “I’ll have to prove it, somehow.”

Holly Leaves shrugged. “It’s not like they know they need one, unfortunately.”

Jayfeather sighed. “I guess I am going to have to help figure out which one of these cats should be the first Stoneteller.”

She watched him quietly.

“Is that why I’m here?” The tom mewled into one of the pools, hoping for some sort of sign to help guide him. The surface of the water was not disturbed, however, besides an occasional drop from the ceiling.

Holly Leaves nodded, a small frown forming on her face.

Jayfeather nodded. “These cats need a Stoneteller...” the realization came to him. They wouldn’t become the tribe without a strong leader and competent healer assuming that mantle.

Holly Leaves frowned at him. “You know perfectly well why,” she said, her tone sharp. This was the den for the Healer and the place to communicate with the Tribe of Endless Hunting. Rising Moon, however much she knew, was not the Healer.

Jayfeather glanced around the secret cavern one more time. “With all this water, why aren’t you using this place as Rising Moon’s den?”

Holly Leaves shrugged. “Not as much as you and Leafpool, but she does well enough.”

“At least Rising Moon knows what she’s doing,” Mewed The tom finally, pulling away from the alternate version of his sister after finding the wound care she’d received to be satisfactory.

Hollyleaf shifted underneath his scrutiny, a little uncomfortable.

Jayfeather frowned slightly at the scars, leaning in invasively close in the darkness to ensure she was being treated properly.

Holly Leaves frowned and shifted so that he could see the fresh scars on her back. “I was attacked by an eagle a moon ago.”

Jayfeather tilted his head. “Not allowed to leave? Why not?”

Holly Leaves arched a kittybrow. “Well, you wanted to talk and I’m not allowed to leave the cave at the moment. It seemed the most private.”

Jayfeather flicked his ears, and glanced around the Cave of Pointed Stones once more. “Did you bring me in here for a reason?”

Holly Leaves nodded after a moment, obviously thinking it over, and met her brother's gaze. "Your Hollyleaf should be back soon," she told him softly. If she survived, was the grim thought that went through her head. The other Hollyleaf had had no Fallen Leaves to care for her; she might very well have died in the collapse.

Jayfeather’s ears perked at the mention of his brother’s apprentice. “Yes. Ivypaw became Ivypool, and Dovepaw became Dovewing.”

(You look up Sign of the Moon, and on the wiki page there is a link you can click to get chapter-by-chapter notes)

Holly Leaves looked thoughtful, thinking over her time in the tunnels. Did I know about this? She asked herself. "I don't think I was watching for that," she said softly. "At least, I don't remember it. Are Cinderheart's and Lionblaze's apprentices warriors yet?"

(Yes, they are. Dovewing and Ivypool became warriors shortly before the trip to the mountains)

Jayfeather thought for a moment, needing to remember as many of the details as he could to help this Holly Leaves determine what was going on. “Hmm... I received a sign from Starclan. I was told to come back to the Tribe. I’m there now, or, I was. I don’t know.” The tom was so confused by all of this.

Holly Leaves hesitated then asked softly, "Where are you in your personal timeline? I never knew that my Jayfeather had traveled to the past even once, let alone twice."