CHAPTER TWO

"Brackenfur and Rosepetal!" Squirrelflight called to the most un-bloodiest cats. "Guard the camp tonight!"

Brackenfur dipped his head to the new deputy and signaled to Rosepetal. They padded out of camp.

Dovewing stared at the scene. The dens were destroyed, blood was everywhere, and even though cats had put herbs on the dead cats' fur, Dovewing could smell the stench of death as though there were no herbs and she was standing right next to the bodies. And to top it all off, she was confused whether to sit vigil for the dead cats or go to sleep. Firestar was her great-uncle and her leader, and she might not have been there if it weren't for Hollyleaf. Dovewing shivered, remembering the tunnels that she and Ivypool had gotten lost in.

"Dovewing, are you all right?" Bumblestripe snapped Dovewing from her thoughts.

"Yeah, I'm fine... I just need to take walk, I think," meowed Dovewing.

"It isn't safe to go alone," meowed Bumblestripe and Ivypool unanimously. "I'll come with you."

"No. I'll be fine." Dovewing needed some time to be alone. She stood up and padded out of camp.

An owl hooted somewhere in the forest. Dovewing's fur pricked. She picked up her pace and began to run. Out of habit, from when she visited Tigerheart, she went towards the ShadowClan border.

The border smelled of Dark Forest cats. Dovewing left scent markers to cover the smell up.

A dark brown tabby tom stepped out from the bushes. "Dovewing! What a coincidence seeing you here!"

"Not really, Tigerheart. This is almost as though we plan it." Dovewing rolled her eyes.

Tigerheart looked disappointed. "I thought you'd be happy to see me. I'm happy to see you."

Dovewing felt a tug of disappointment. She knew that Tigerheart loved her, and she loved him. But Bumblestripe would be a better choice and that if she ever had kits with Tigerheart, she'd have to leave ThunderClan for ShadowClan or he'd have to leave ShadowClan for ThunderClan, or they'd have to keep it a secret and she knew that somebody would eventually find out. "I am," mewed Dovewing slowly. "But I shouldn't."

"Why not?" Dovewing could feel Tigerheart's warm breath as he crossed the border. "We've been doing this for moons now."

"But it isn't right."

"You never cared about that before." Tigerheart frowned. "I'll never care about it."

"We need to find ourselves proper mates. Not ThunderClan for you or ShadowClan for me."

"But I don't want a ShadowClan mate. I want you. And you know you want me. You told me."

Dovewing bit back the sob rising in her throat. He was right, but he shouldn't be. Dovewing had Bumblestripe now. Tigerheart needed to be let down. "Pinenose is a really nice and pretty cat."

"She's already got a mate. Ferretclaw. And she has kits." snapped Tigerheart. "Dovewing, stop. You've always enjoyed this. Who's made their way into your life now that caused you to stop caring about me?" the hurt in his gaze and the ferocity of his mew made Dovewing take a step back.

"I... I probably shouldn't tell you."

"I'm glad you can trust me."

"Tigerheart, stop!" this was killing Dovewing to see him so frustrated and sad.

"Then tell me!"

"I can't!"

"But you can! You just don't want to!"

"For your sake, and his! Because I know you! If you found out who it was, you'd probably be jealous. And then you'd probably try to hurt him!"

"I'm already jealous, Dovewing. That he's already more important to you than I am."

Dovewing's fur fluffed up. "Nobody will ever be more important than you, Tigerheart," she whispered. "But can't you see? This is the way it needs to be!"

"No, it isn't, Dovewing!" Tigerheart hissed. "We can keep doing this! I don't mind if you never have kits! But I want to be with you!"

"This isn't about kits!"

"Yes, it is! I know you. You don't want to join ShadowClan, or keep it a secret!"

"What about you and ThunderClan?"

"Not anymore."

"Tigerheart!" Dovewing felt as though he'd stabbed her in the heart.

"I'm not good enough for you."

"You are!"

"Have fun with your new mate, Dovewing."

"We can still be friends!"

"Good-bye, Dovewing." Tigerheart padded back across the border and disappeared from view.

Suddenly exhausted, Dovewing slumped to the ground and fell asleep there.

Dovewing awoke to the birds singing. Oh no! It's dawn! I need to get back to camp! as she stood up and ran, she remembered last night's events with a pang. Then she remembered the battle and all the blood and death.

She pelted back into camp, just as Squirrelflight was organizing patrols.

"Jayfeather!" she called to the medicine cat as he padded from his den. "Is there any cats I need to exclude from patrols?"

Jayfeather went around, sniffing cats' wounds. He sniffed at everyone's before he responded. "Dustpelt, Berrynose, and Icecloud." he raised his voice. "And I want them to come with me to my den. Now!" Dovewing knew he was talking specifically to Dustpelt, who was still blood-covered. He had refused to be treated last night and now had infected wounds. Dovewing could smell their sourness as he stalked by her and followed Jayfeather.

"Thornclaw, take Blossomfall and Hazeltail over to the WindClan border and renew the scent markers. Whitewing, take Cloudtail and Toadstep over to the ShadowClan border. Make sure to renew the scent markers. Foxleap, take Cherrypaw and Molepaw out for hunting practice. Rosepetal sat guard last night, so she won't be accompanying you. Well, in that case, bring Graystripe with you. He can help you." she looked down at the gray tom, who's eyes were dark with grief for Firestar, who had been his best friend. "Lionblaze, take Sandstorm and Bumblestripe hunting. And I'll lead the last hunting patrol. Leafpool and Poppyfrost, come with me." she observed the cats left. "Dovewing and Spiderleg, help patch up the elders den. Ivypool, help Sorreltail with the nursery. Birchfall and Mousewhisker, work on the warriors den."

Daisy padded out of the nursery. "Who's guarding camp?" she called. "We need someone guarding the camp! What if the Dark Forest comes back?"

Squirrelflight cursed. "Mouse dung! I don't know!"

"I will! I'm not doing anything!" Cinderheart padded up.

"Thank you." Squirrelflight dipped her head.

"Come on, Dovewing!" Spiderleg called to her over his shoulder, as he padded towards the elders den. "We need to get to work!"

Dovewing hurried after him, wishing that Tigerheart was the one calling to her. If Tigerheart had joined ThunderClan, things would've been so much easier.