Here's chapter 1! I actually planned to have this out earlier, but I took a nap on Friday and didn't get around to it. And then yesterday I dealt with FanFiction's stupidity, so yeah.

Reviews:

Whitespirit: 1) Yeah, I had issues uploading the chapter for the entirety of yesterday. I ended up deleting the story and reuploading every chapter, because nothing was working. I'm glad you liked it, though! Well, originally I considered Violetstar possibly exiling Hazel and Spiritmask going with her. The plot line after that would've been Hazel and Spiritmask looking for Dove so Violetstar would accept them back into SkyClan. But I didn't feel like having a PoV for their part of the story, so I instead used your suggestion, apprentice duties for three moons and upped it to six. Violetstar was cutting Hazel slack, though- Hazel is a valuable member of SkyClan and Violetstar can't risk losing a good warrior. Plus, this SkyClan is like family. 2) Floyd is a creep, and he'll be getting what he deserves during this book. He won't live to see the end, I'll tell you that much.


Firegaze padded alongside Dylan, his warm fur brushing against hers. It's been about a half moon since we've left…we've gotten really deep into Twolegplace. She cast a sideways glance at Hazel, who hadn't spoken all day. She's not going to speak when Stone is around, is she? Stone, Firegaze's temporary mentor, had been snapping at Hazel whenever she said something, so it was no wonder Hazel didn't want to talk. I never knew Stone could be so mean…

"Wait, I think I smell something." Ivy broke the silence, sniffing the air. Firegaze checked for the scent Ivy smelt. That's… "Dove's scent. She's nearby! Let's go this way." Ivy flicked her tail, urging the rest of the patrol to follow. Stone sighed and followed Ivy, while Hazel continued walking while staying a considerable length away from Stone. Firegaze entwined her tail with Dylan's as they continued their pace. I still can't believe he loves me… Dylan purred softly, trying not to receive any attention.

Stone narrowed his red eyes, glaring at the Twoleg dens. "Do you think a Twoleg captured her?" He asked, anger edging his mew. Does Stone hate kittypets or something? That anger sounded pretty defensive. Ivy nodded. "They'd better not harm her while we're saving her!"

"I doubt they'd do anything of the sort, Stone. If you didn't know already, me and Dove used to be kittypets. Of course we left that life behind, but we remember enough to understand Twolegs a little." Ivy mewed diplomatically. The way Ivy acts, I would doubt that in a heartbeat. "Not all Twolegs are horrible and unkind. If she was taken in, most likely it was a more friendly one than most. She'll be fine in that regard. What I'm worried about is something far more dangerous for her…" What's that? Firegaze wanted to ask, but the words stuck in her throat. Someone else will ask it anyways.

Dylan tilted his head. "Why's that?" Ivy sighed, shaking her head. This must be a difficult topic for Ivy, then.

"Well, Dove's always been considered very beautiful for a she-cat. There were quite a few toms in the past who've tried to woo her, and they failed because luckily she doesn't understand the concept of flirting. But one time, there was a rogue who'd came to our camp, when we were still the Ten Flames." Ivy explained, sorrow heavily weighing on her voice. It must get worse from here.

"Oh." Hazel murmured. "I think I remember what you're talking about."

Ivy slightly nodded to Hazel. She turned back towards Dylan. "You and Blaze were newly apprenticed. Firegaze and River were almost ready to be apprenticed as well, so I doubt you'd four would remember from way back when. The rogue stayed with us for a while, and he'd taken a worrying interest in Dove. Far too worrying." Her claws dug into the earth, leaving marks on the ground. "So I decided to take the initiative and ask Dove what was going on with them. She told me that he'd asked if she wanted to take a walk with him."

"What kind of walk?" Firegaze whispered.

"The kind of walk you take when you have a mate!" Ivy spat, her fur bristling. This talk must really be hurting her… "I told her to stay out of his sight for the day, since I was too worried about what he might do to her. Once that filthy rogue saw me, he somehow managed to mistake me for Dove. He forced me to go hunting alone with him, and…well, I had his kits." So he was the father of Ivy's kits. Hazel licked Ivy's shoulder sympathetically, while Stone stroked Ivy's back with his tail. Both Ivy and Dove have had to go through so much…

"What happened to the rogue?" Dylan asked, his meow barely a whisper. He's worried about upsetting Ivy further. I can understand, but why ask now rather than later? She's clearly in a state.

Ivy looked down at her paws. "After he'd finished with me during our walk," Ivy spat out the word walk with pure anger. "I-I…couldn't control my rage at that point. I attacked him, and…killed him." Ivy…killed a cat…? That's against the code! Well, we weren't SkyClan at that point, but that's still horrible! Dylan seemed to have the same react as Firegaze. I don't blame him. That's shocking.

"D-Did you still care about your kits?" Dylan murmured, still in shock. Hazel sharply glared at him.

"Of course she did! Only a fox-hearted queen wouldn't care for her kits!" Hazel snapped, her fur bristling. No wonder she's upset. She can't have her own kits, so she adopted Blaze. Firegaze could remember hearing multiple times that Hazel was barren, meaning she could never have kits of her own. I feel bad for her…she must've really wanted to have her own kits with Spiritmask. That must explain why she raised Blaze like her own. Dylan blinked, his lime green eyes wide.

Ivy sighed. "I did, and I really loved them while the moment lasted. But during my kitting, they all died. All three of them." She whispered hollowly. "Two toms and a she-kit." So if they hadn't have died, we would've had more denmates? I wish I could've seen them once before they moved on… "And I don't want Dove experiencing that kind of pain. It isn't worth it."

"I wouldn't want Dove to go through that either." Hazel mumbled, her pelt brushing against Ivy's. "We should start looking before something like it does happen."

"As much I hate to admit it, I agree with Hazel. Dove won't last long here." Stone nodded. He pointed to one of the Twoleg dens. "Maybe we could ask around?" Ivy flicked her tail, signalling him to look. "Firegaze, you come with me." Firegaze glanced at Dylan before leaving. Stop worrying so much…he'll be fine. What harm could a kittypet do?

"Stone, Hazel will also coming with you. Firegaze isn't exactly as seasoned as Dylan, since he's been training longer. You'll need some more firepower than that." Ivy suggested, although it didn't seem very suggestive to Firegaze. Stone opened his mouth to retort, but thought better of it. Hazel padded up to Firegaze and Stone, her pelt pricking self-consciously. Ivy turned to her apprentice. "Come on, let's ask around. And keep your claws sheathed, we're not looking for a fight!" Dylan grumbled to himself before following Ivy the other direction from Firegaze. StarClan, let them come back safely.

"Come on, Firegaze! Quit daydreaming and get over here!" Stone snapped at her. Firegaze quickly followed after Stone and Hazel, her fur bristling with anger. Stone's changed so much since he got me as his apprentice! At first he used to be so nervous and jumpy, but now… "Jump up on here." Stone and Hazel were on top of a fence. Firegaze leaped up on top of almost falling onto the other side. Looking down, she could see a kittypet chasing a butterfly. Why? It's not even prey.

"Excuse me down there!" Hazel called to them. The kittypet looked up at them. The cat was a mottled cream and brown tom with green eyes, and for the most part looked confused. "We're looking for a friend of ours. Have you seen a spotted silver tabby she-cat around?"

"Hmmm…yeah, actually! She's in that house down there with my brother Floyd." He mewed cheerily. "Would you like me to show you where?" Stone narrowed his red eyes.

"No-" Stone's hiss was cut short when Hazel slapped her tail over his mouth. "I mean, yes, we'd appreciate that." The kittypet smiled and pranced over to the left side of the yard and climbed up the fence. He stood atop it in an unbalanced fashion, but managed to keep from falling over. Stone signaled for Hazel and Firegaze to come with him.

"Floyd's in the house at the very end over there. But I don't recommend going that way- there's a group of vicious cats that live down there who'll attack any trespassers!" He yelped. Oh, they're vicious all right. "If you go down there, you'll need more cats that can handle themselves then just yourselves."

"Thank you. We'll be on our way now." Hazel meowed briskly, her voice on the edge. She really wants to get this over with, doesn't she? "Stone, let's go find Ivy." Stone's red eyes gleamed with anger, but he said nothing. Hazel jumped off of the fence, landing neatly on the ground. Firegaze landed beside her, her paws stinging from the impact. Owowowowowowow… Stone reluctantly jumped down, now standing beside Hazel.

Stone growled. "So Dove's been taken captive by a Twoleg. Just great." His mew was drenched with sarcasm. He looked at Hazel. "Where do you think Ivy and Dylan are?" Hazel shrugged her shoulders.

"I think they went the opposite direction, idiot." Firegaze snapped, walking the opposite path from where they'd taken off. Ivy and Dylan's scents walloped her nose; they were close. She took off towards the scent, not caring if Stone and Hazel were following her or not. Seriously, Stone can be such a mouse-brain! Firegaze's paws skidded to a halt. Ivy and Dylan were in front of her, talking to a cat she couldn't recognize. Who's that? The cat was a brownish gray she-cat with amber eyes listening to them intently, her ears pricked forwards. There were two young kits by her side, play-fighting. One was a mottled cream and brown tom, and the other was brownish gray like the older cat. They must be related…and I think I know who their father is… The she-cat turned to look at Firegaze, just noticing her standing there. Her eyes widened, shock and surprise lighting through them. Is she…scared of me?

"You! You're Violet's- I mean, Violetstar's daughter, aren't you?" She meowed, gaping a little. Firegaze nodded, unsure of what to do. "Oh, thank the stars! I've finally gotten to meet one of my sister's kittens!"


QotD: What do you think of Stone, Firegaze's temporary mentor?

He's okay, and I quite enjoy seeing him and Ivy interact. He has become more harsh to Firegaze, though. Probably Ivy's influence on him.