Since the Clans formed long ago, medicine cats have never taken mates. It was considered part of their duties. But after the war, Starclan recognized that each clan had suffered great loss. Warriors were buried and there was a noticeable lack of she-cats able to repopulate.

So a change was made.

At the next clan gathering, all four medicine cats imparted their vision on their clanmates. To make up for the significant loss, medicine cats were now to take mates of their own. It was a hard change for clan elders to accept, but if Starclan had spoken then there was no refuting it.

The new decree seemed to come as a relief for some medicine cats. Willowshine of Riverclan had been eyeing a tom she liked for months. Older ones like Barkface in Windclan had a harder time finding a mate he truly wanted to settle down with, but he was getting there.

"Well," Lionblaze came to his brother's side, a teasing gleam in his eyes. "You gotta pick a mate now."

Jayfeather stared ahead, unseeing. The annoyed twitch of his ears gave him away. "Yes. I was there when they told us."

"Any idea who?"

Jayfeather rolled his eyes, which was answer enough for Lionblaze. Truth be told, Jayfeather had no idea who he'd mate with. When your entire job in the clan is defined by not being allowed to mate, you don't really stop and think about which she-cat you'd like to have kits with. That was a waste of time, and Jayfeather despised wasting time.

"I know someone," Lionblaze offered. Partially to be helpful, but partially to tease his brother's current predicament. "Come on, you'll like her."

Jayfeather's sullen expression didn't change, though he was intrigued. He prided himself on knowing everyone in Thunderclan, but there were a few new warriors that had been former loners that had yet to end up in the medicine den.

He'd have to pick a mate regardless, so what did he have to lose by trusting his brother just this once?