Disclaimer: I absolutely do not own Warriors, but I wish I could own some of the characters as pets. xD

Author's Notes: So, like everybody and their brother, I'm all for Ivypaw becoming evil, but what if the battle actually snaps her out of the growing darkness within her? What if she ends up feeling horror and guilt beyond belief? That's what I'll be exploring in this fanfic. Also, please note that the Lion/Ivy relationship in this fanfic is just friendship, but if you want to see it as something else, more power to you. ;)

Enjoy!

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The Aftermath

(Lionblaze POV)

The ThunderClan cats padded back to the camp in somber silence. Every head was bent, every paw was weary, every pelt was bloody, and every heart was shattered. It had been a dark and sad day, a day that had brought the death of the noble ShadowClan deputy, Russetfur, and a day that had marked the beginning of a long and terrible war with ShadowClan.

And Firestar had lost a life.

"He's losing a life." Sorreltail's grim words were still ringing in Lionblaze's ears as the battle patrol finally reached the hollow that was ThunderClan's camp.

No cat spoke as they entered the clearing. The cats who had stayed behind were now slowly coming out of their dens, sensing that something was wrong.

"How did it go? How did it go?" Cherrykit was squeaking with excitement. "Did we win?"

"Hush!" Poppyfrost scolded her daughter sternly, as she drew her close with her tail. "Something terrible has happened."

Cherrykit's eyes widened, and she went silent. By now, all of the ThunderClan cats were gathered around Highledge, waiting for Firestar to speak. Firestar was gazing at his Clanmates with sorrow. Though he had recovered physically from losing one of his lives, emotionally, he was broken. His once-bright and lively green eyes were now dull. His head was down, and his posture was slumped. It pained Lionblaze see the great leader like this. He glanced around at his Clanmates, and he could see that they felt the same way, too.

"Cats of ThunderClan," Firestar began in a raspy voice, "we have won, but at a terrible price. ShadowClan will not forget this battle any time soon, for it has brought the death of their beloved deputy, Russetfur."

Several of the warriors gasped, and some of the older ones even looked grieved.

"I, too, have lost a life," Firestar went on, "and if it weren't for Lionblaze, I probably wouldn't be standing here right now."

Lionblaze felt bitter as his Clanmates murmured half-hearted praise. He didn't deserve it! He didn't deserve to be acknowledged as a hero.

I killed a cat! he thought to himself. There is no honor in that! A true warrior doesn't need to kill in order to be victorious!

"Though it was Russetfur who was the one to take my life, I don't hold it against her. She was only defending her Clan, which is what any honorable warrior would do. Let us hold a moment of silence for her," Firestar mewed.

Every cat bowed their head respectfully, and Lionblaze was once again overwhelmed with feelings of guilt, shame, and horror.

I killed her. I killed her. I'm a murderer, no better than Tigerstar.

"Cats of ThunderClan, it grieves me to say that we are now at war with ShadowClan," Firestar meowed, his voice cracking.

Ferncloud and Daisy gasped in horror, while Poppyfrost wrapped her tail protectively around Molekit and Cherrykit. Purdy let out an eerie wail beside the elders' den, and the younger warriors looked stunned beyond belief.

"ThunderClan, have faith!" Firestar suddenly straightened up and his eyes brightened. He looked more like the wise and confident leader he had been before the battle, and a small hint of hopefulness had crept into his voice. "We will prevail! Look at what we've faced before. We came out victorious in the end-stronger and wiser than ever. We will survive!"

At this, the ThunderClan cats let out a ragged cheer, and most of them began to look more hopeful. Dustpelt, however, let out an angry yowl.

"Have faith!" he growled. "How can you say that, Firestar? It was StarClan who sent the dream, sign…whatever it was…to Ivypaw. It was StarClan who sent us to our deaths today!"

Lionblaze stiffened as Firestar replied, "I don't know why StarClan sent that dream to Ivypaw. I refuse to believe that they wanted any cat to suffer. All I can say is this: StarClan had a reason for sending Ivypaw that dream, and we must believe that everything will all work out in the end. Don't lose faith in StarClan, Clanmates. For without faith, we would be without hope, and without hope, we would be nothing." He raised his tail to signal that the end of the meeting, and the cats in the clearing retired to their dens.

Lionblaze sighed. Somehow, he couldn't believe that StarClan had sent the dream to Ivypaw in the first place. But why would Ivypaw lie to her Clan leader? She's only an apprentice! He didn't want to accuse Ivypaw of anything, but at the same time…

His thoughts were interrupted as Dovepaw padded up to him.

"You fought well," he praised her warmly. Dovepaw nodded, but Lionblaze noticed that her green eyes were round with worry.

"What's wrong?" he questioned his apprentice with concern.

Dovepaw shuffled her paws and mewed, "It's Ivypaw. She's in the warriors' den right now. She keeps saying over and over again that the battle was her fault. She seems really upset, and I'm worried about her."

Lionblaze sucked in his breath. Why was Ivypaw feeling so guilty?

"Take me to her," he ordered Dovepaw.

Dovepaw led him into the warriors' den where Jayfeather and Whitewing were crouched over Ivypaw. Ivypaw was lying down, her blue eyes wide and shocked. She kept repeating, "It's my fault. It's my fault."

"What's wrong with her?" Whitewing wailed to Jayfeather. "Why is she acting like this?"

Jayfeather sighed. "My best guess is that she's just in shock over the battle. Nothing poppy seeds and a good rest can't cure."

"Why do you feel so guilty, Ivypaw?" Lionblaze mewed calmly. Whitewing and Jayfeather both jumped at the sound of his voice.

Ivypaw lifted her head. "It's all my fault, Lionblaze."

"And why do you say that?" he queried. "Any cat could've had that dream. StarClan just chose you."

Dovepaw piped up, "You were great, Ivypaw! You sure taught Starlingpaw not to cross a ThunderClan apprentice!"

"Yes," Whitewing agreed, gazing at her daughter proudly. "Many of the warriors are talking about it now. They're so proud of you, and you should be proud of yourself."

Ivypaw nodded, but Lionblaze noticed that her eyes were still anguished. He turned to Jayfeather and whispered in his ear, "We need to talk."

Jayfeather gave him a small nod and told Whitewing, "Ivypaw will be fine, but she'll need some poppy seeds to help her sleep tonight. I'll go and get them now."

Lionblaze and Jayfeather padded out of the warriors' den and into the clearing where the sun was setting. Once they reached the privacy of the medicine den, Jayfeather whispered, "I think I know what's on your mind. You don't think StarClan sent her that dream, do you?"

"No," Lionblaze replied quietly. "I don't want to unfairly accuse Ivypaw of lying, but I just know in my heart that StarClan would never have let us fight such a devastating battle.

"I agree," Jayfeather mewed. His blind blue eyes were dark, and he looked thoughtful and unusually solemn. "I have only one thought: Dark Forest."

Lionblaze gasped. "You think that the Dark Forest sent Ivypaw that dream?"

"Yes, and I also believe that she's been receiving training from Tigerstar and Hawkfrost."

"I've kind of suspected that myself, actually," Lionblaze mused. "I saw the signs, but I just didn't want to believe it."

"What signs?" Jayfeather tipped his head to the side.

"Well, for one, didn't it strike you as odd that Ivypaw seemed to become so good at hunting and fighting in a such short amount of time?"

Jayfeather nodded.

"I've also noticed that she would wake up sore and tired, as if she had been fighting in her sleep. She would limp sometimes, too, and I've seen scratches on her. Dovepaw also told me before that Ivypaw seemed secretive around her. It all makes perfect sense to me."

"Well, Lionblaze, you speak from experience. I've noticed these things, too," Jayfeather meowed. "If you say that Ivypaw is being trained by Tigerstar and Hawkfrost, then I trust that you are right. Now the question is…what do we do now?"

"I will speak to Ivypaw first thing tomorrow morning," Lionblaze growled. "One way or another, this has to stop."

Jayfeather's glanced up sharply. "You're not going to hurt Ivypaw, are you?"

"Oh, no!" Lionblaze quickly reassured his brother. "I'm going to tell her my story and hope that she sees sense."

"Good."

"I just don't understand, though," Lionblaze sighed.

"What don't you understand?"

"Why Ivypaw turned to Tigerstar in the first place," Lionblaze growled, tearing at the grass with his claws in frustration. "I know Tigerstar uses cats by taking advantage of their weaknesses, but what weakness does Ivypaw have that Tigerstar could possibly take advantage of?"

Jayfeather shrugged. "I guess we'll find out tomorrow."

"Yes, I guess so," Lionblaze sighed. "Goodnight, Jayfeather."

"Goodnight, Lionblaze."

/

End Notes: Lionblaze confronts Ivypaw in the next chapter!