Hii thanks for all the reviews from my last chapter I really appreciate them all ^^ Enjoy the chappie.
The Warrior
Everyone around her became silent as Bramblestar went forward to greet the rogue. She'd heard murmurs of "Hawkfrost," but knew that wasn't at all possible. A stripy tail crept around her shoulders and she began to relax realizing she'd been tense.
"Dovewing? Everything alright?" Bumblestripe whispered. Dovewing gave him a scathing look before returning her attention to the throng of cats surrounding Bramblestar.
"I'm sorry for this kind of intrusion. I'd heard of the warrior clans and thought I'd come and see what it was all about." The tom had a low masculine mew, nothing like Hawkfrost's voice had been. His voice had no hint towards the darkness held within Hawkfrost. She sighed in relief and stopped listening.
"It's not him," She breathed to Bumblestripe.
"Who?"
Dovewing turned to face him, "Hawkfrost of course!"
He rolled his dark eyes at her, "That's because Hawkfrost is dead" At first she glared at her mate for the teasing; However, after further thought, she realized the idea had been stupid. Her attention caught back on Bramblestar as he began to edge his way through the cats to the base of the large oak.
Ivypool was in a state of panic. How could this have happened? Was this what Tigerstar had been hinting at? She'd never heard of cats coming back to life unless they were clan leaders, granted nine lives from Starclan. She knew she could be wrong. After all these dreams it wasn't beyond her imagination to think of those eyes. They had just seemed so realistic.
The clan leaders and rogue started to make their way to the base of the tree. Ivypool dashed out of her hiding place and crept around other cats trying to bustle their way to the front to her sister and Bumblestripe who were close to the tree. She stopped a short distance away from them and whispered "Dovewing?" Dovewing's ears swiveled round to her voice. "Is it him?" Her head shook slowly and Ivypool breathed a sigh of relief. Cursing herself silently for getting wound up, she padded calmly towards Dovewing.
"Hey, I wonder what's going on down there." She said as she reached her sister. The clan leaders, heads bent, were deep in conversation.
"Whatever it is I hope we can go home soon. I'm starving." mumbled Bumblestripe, Dovewing laughed and swept her tail around his shoulders.
"Cats of all clans!" Howled Bramblestar. "A rogue has entered our midst in the hope of becoming-"
"A rogue?" Called a confused tabby. "I thought it was Hawkfrost." Elders around the apprentice shushed him and turned back towards the leaders.
"As I was saying he has come here hoping to become a warrior in one of our clans." Bramblestar continued calmly.
"Riverclan won't tolerate a cat like that. The resemblance is uncanny," Called a Riverclan elder. "I'm sure half the clan would die of shock before we let Hawkfrost back into our camp."
Cats began talking everywhere as cats from Windclan, Shadowclan and Riverclan mumered their agreement.
Mistystar stepped forward silencing them, "The cat we have here today isn't Hawkfrost anymore than any of you all are. He has no more darkness in him than Starclan has in their fields."
"Well said," Dovewing whispered.
"However, I agree this cat," She looked apologetically down at the rogue. "Could cause some disturbances in Riverclan due to his... unfortunate appearance. I will not let this cat join my clan." She finished.
Ivypool surprised herself by feeling a pang of pity for the cat in front of her. He'd done nothing to deserve this kind of discrimination. She surprised herself further by calling out "Then Thunderclan will have him." Dovewing stared at her in shock. Ivypool sat straight and proud as cats turned to her in surprise. She looked directly into Bramblestar's eyes as he considered her words. He nodded at her to continue.
She walked forward to join the clan leaders as everything went quiet around her. She turned to the clans. "I know, as we all do, the terrors the dark forest has brought to our lives. I might even have more against the tom you call him than any of you do. He convinced me of his loyalty, his pride. I even learnt to respect him. I know Hawkfrost." Everything was hushed as she uttered his name. "I knew him better than any of the cats gathered here and this cat here is not him. The darkness may conceal him and convince you he's something else other than himself. But this cat here is not Hawkfrost. And I for one think he doesn't deserve the discrimination you're showing him for looking like another. No cat should be treated than anything more than they are." She caught Dovewing's eyes which shone with pride.
Glancing down at Bramblestar who nodded in consent. She started at his offer but continued on. "It's time we left behind the dark forest. Leave the haunting dreams and horrors behind us. We tell stories about it as if it was a great battle, forget the losses. This cat here proves all of this. It shows our fear of something that doesn't even exist anymore." She took a deep breath and looked down upon the fixated clans. "Well Thunderclan is going to make a new start. By accepting this cat into Thunderclan we mark the day where the dark forest no longer follows our every step." She glanced down at Bramblestar who nodded again at her. She might be overstepping her boundaries but passion roared within her as she called out.
"I name this warrior Hawktail for although he may look like a cat far gone he is not that cat and will not be treated like it." Thunderclan yowled their approval at her as she jumped down from the tree. Meeting Bramblestar at the base she held her head high. The eyes that met hers were filled with pride. "Thank you Ivypool. You've done something for the clans that many might not even realize."
She nodded and began to make her way to Dovewing when a tail tapped her on the shoulder. Turning a pair of ice blue eyes met hers. Holding in a gasp, she smiled. Calming her thudding heart she turned fully to face him.
His striking eyes were filled with gratitude, "Thank you Ivypool." She nodded at him words failing her as all of Thunderclan gathered around her to head home.
After all she'd said why couldn't she forget him? She thought padding, with her clanmates, back to camp.
He followed the silver she-cat with his eyes breathing deeply. Hearing her speak like that for him had risen something in his heart. He couldn't tell her about him He'd win her heart without his name. He needed her and he couldn't explain what he felt but he knew it was right. The nights spent alone in the dark forest with nothing but memories for company had made him realize something. She was the sole thing that had meant happiness for him. Seeing her pride, strength and fierce loyalty had made him want to fight for her.
He would set his regrets right. He would make up for wasted time. He would make himself a tom worthy of her.
He calmed his breathing and put on the mask which was Hawktail.
Ivypool watched quietly from the warriors den as Hawktail followed Bramblestar into his den. She sighed quietly wandering if she'd said the right thing. It was true that no cat deserved the discrimination the clans were showing him but she couldn't shake her feeling of fear every time she glimpsed those icy blue eyes.
"Ivypool?" Dovewing murmured from beside her. She turned to meet her sisters green eyes. "You did the right thing today."
"Thanks Dovewing," she replied.
"You showed the clans that they should learn to forget," she continued. "If you can forget and allow him into our clan then everyone can."
Ivypool nodded and curled up. But she hadn't forgotten, she couldn't forget. Guilt filled her as she slowed her breath. She would just have to show the clan that she had faith in the new tom, that she wasn't treating him differently. Bring about a hope that she didn't believe herself. Yet she couldn't shake the pair of eyes that followed Ivypool into her dreams.
"And I name you Darkheart," after your stealth and swiftness. He held his head proudly as though the name meant something to him. As if this hadn't happened before. He nodded to Rowanstar. He almost chuckled to himself as he realized he'd been given the warrior name of Firestar himself. The irony.
"Have fun with you vigil," Tawneypelt called cheekily. He threw her a frustrated look and stationed himself in the middle of camp ensuring his head remained high and ears pricked as though he felt extreme pride. The fools he thought to himself.
The moon glinted at him from above as he sat watching the entrance to camp. He heard a laughing purr and glanced in the direction of it. Spotting who it was, he smirked.
"Darkheart what a foolish name," She spat. He nodded gravely in agreement. "Well done, your acting is simply spectacular." She mewed sarcastically. "Even Tawneypelt considers you a friend. Not being tempted into disloyalty are we?"
"Never." He replied.
"Good because we are one step closer to our goal. We need them to think you loyal before we can begin our plans."
"It will be soon Mapleshade I promise,"
"You must be ready when they are."
"Of course," he purred. She nodded approvingly.
"Maybe Tigerstar was wrong about you." She muttered, "Continue the task. Ill let you know when to begin." Darkheart nodded as Mapleshade disappeared before his eyes leaving a faint scent of dark behind a faint scent of home.
I found this chapter quite hard to write. I wasn't sure how to put my ideas into words if that makes sense. Would appreciate some honest reviews on this as i'm not sure of it myself :').
5 more reviews before next chappie ^^
