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Briarlight wasn't herself, Jayfeather thought, as he came back from gathering herbs for poultices. The she-cat hadn't said hello to him right away like she tended to, and when she apparently noticed he was there, her greeting was quiet, distant, like her mind was somewhere else. And she hadn't been engaging him in deep conversation for a couple of days.
"You've been quiet," he finally remarked as he put the marigold down. He didn't have his mind reading powers anymore, so he was limited to finding out others feelings through awkward words.
"I'm sorry, Jayfeather," Briarlight replied politely, voice still hesitant.
"If you're sick, you better tell me now, instead of musing about it." Jayfeather said. Then he muttered, "It's no burden. It's my job."
"Oh, I'm not sick. I'm just thinking about...Blossomfall." Briarlight replied softly.
"What about her?"
"Well," the other cat lowered her voice, sounding almost embarrassed. "You know how she went to train in the Dark Forest?" Jayfeather twitched his tail in acknowledgment. "Sure, but she's past it all... isn't she?"
"Of course she is," Briarlight said, defensive of her littermate. "And so am I. We all should be. But I've been thinking for a long time...she basically went to the Dark Forest because of what happened to me, right?" Jayfeather said nothing, stunned. "I mean, when you consider what happened step-by-step," Briarlight reasoned. "I went and had my accident, Millie gave me all her attention, while Bumblestripe eventually focused on chasing Dovewing, Blossomfall tried to find some sense of being special...with the Dark Forest warriors." Briarlight's voice shook a bit on the last words.
"Briar—"
"I know its not all my fault, she was the one who went down that path, but I sometimes feel...I don't know, responsible for it all." The she-cat finished sadly. "She's my sister, and it feels like I don't even know her...Oh StarClan," she said suddenly, voice shifting to shock. "Jayfeather, I feel terrible about complaining to you after you lost Hollyleaf."
"It's okay, Briarlight..." Jayfeather began, tone gentle. He was rather touched by Briarlight's concern for him, and her siblings. "You can't take responsibility for Blossomfall's choices. It wasn't your fault that your mother was favouring you, and that Blossomfall became jealous of that. Those were Millie and Blossomfall's choices."
"But I feel like I should have done something, said something." Briarlight replied, still downcast.
"Maybe you could have," Jayfeather admitted carefully, reaching out for her strong shoulder and patting it akwardly with his paw. "But what is done is done, and Blossomfall fought for her Clan in the end. She's grown as a cat. And most of us still have some growing to do." He felt Briarlight relax and lean into him. "Thanks, Jayfeather," she said, voice warm with meaning. "I probably should have a heart-to-heart with my littermates sometime. We may not be as close as when we were kits, but we can continue to have a good relationship, right?"
"Of course. Take me and Lionblaze, for instance. And Hollyleaf." He added quietly. "She is still with us, in our memories." Briarlight leaned in closer, and after listening with his ears pricked to his surroundings, making sure no one was watching, Jayfeather curled up around his soft-furred friend.
Or maybe more than a friend. Much more.