Chapter Two

Ivystar shot out of her nest in alarm. She sighed, shaking her head slowly. Her pelt was ruffled and her mouth felt dry. Beechtail's words rattled in her head. What had he meant? How could the clan possibly fall at a time like this?

"I'll not be able to sleep again," she murmured. Ivystar padded out of her den, nudging the lichen aside. The camp glowed dimly in the moonlight. Above, the warriors of StarClan glittered among Silverpelt. Faint breathing from the dens stirred the air, and Cindertuft's kits squirmed and mewed in the nursery. Mapleclaw still stood vigil in the middle of the clearing, her tail wrapped around her paws and her eyes half closed. Her striped flanks rose and fell.

Morningbird now stood watch, her back stiff. Ivystar sprang down the rockfall and trotted over to the tan she-cat. Dipping her head, she mewed, "I'm going to stretch my legs. I've been restless."

Morningbird turned to face her leader, her green eyes glinting. She nodded.

Ivystar crouched and crawled through the bramble tunnel. She lifted her head and tasted the air. The faint aroma of prey drifted on the breeze. She padded forward through the trees, her paws crunching on the pine needles.

A familiar scent suddenly slammed into her- DarkClan.

Ivystar dropped into a crouch, her ears pricked. She smelled Pantherpelt, for sure, but who was the other? And what were they doing in DuskClan territory? She stood, neck fur bristling fiercely. Yellow eyes gleamed in the darkness. Ivystar growled quietly.

Pantherpelt's head shot up in alarm. Her eyes flashed with surprise as she saw the DuskClan leader. A huge tom, fiery pelt dimmed by the darkness, stepped in beside the she-cat. His tail lashed, cold gaze locked on Ivystar.

"I- Ivystar!" Pantherpelt stammered.

"What are you doing in DuskClan territory?" Ivystar hissed, "Especially at night?"

The tom stood straight, challenging Ivystar. "We were passing through to get to SwiftClan territory. Pantherpelt needs to speak with Screechstar," He snarled. "Do you dare stop us?"

Ivystar reluctantly let her fur lay flat.

"Fine, but I'm going to escort you out of our territory," she meowed, "I can't trust either of you."

Pantherpelt dipped her head quietly. The enormous tom scoffed ungratefully.

"Very well," He growled.

Ivystar padded over to the pair, flicking her tail as she ushered them along.

"I suppose it's only fair I ask what your name is?" The DuskClan leader inquired.

The tom straightened, lips curled in annoyance.

"Flamestorm," He said.

The DuskClan she-cat shook out her pelt roughly.

Pantherpelt stepped on lightly, pelt brushing Flamestorm's fur. Ivystar glanced over at the two cats.

"You two are close, I take it?"

The ginger tom snorted.

"Of course not!" He spat, deliberately swerving away from Pantherpelt. Pantherpelt's yellow eyes grew sad, and she lowered her tail.

"Ah." Ivystar said, flicking one ear. "Sorry to intrude."

The three cats trotted through the forest, Flamestorm still tense and ready to defend himself if Ivystar decided to turn on him. They padded on in silence, their neat pawsteps thudding lightly over the grass and pine needles.

Finally, the SwiftClan scent drifted into Ivystar's muzzle.

"I'll leave you here," She mewed, "If I see you on our territory again, DuskClan will have their warriors ready." Ivystar dipped her head to the DarkClanners, watching them pad across the borders.

"Farewell, Ivystar," Pantherpelt mewed quietly. Flamestorm rested his tail tip on her shoulder.

"Come on," He meowed.

The gray and white she-cat flicked her ears, gazing after the cats under they vanished into the ferns. She gave her fur a shake.

Ivystar turned and sprinted away from the SwiftClan border. The sky was a pale gray. Ivystar's paws pounded against the soft forest floor, her tail streaming out behind her, enjoying the feeling of the wind in her fur. As she neared camp, the buzzing of the clan at dawn drew nearer. Ravenwhisker was assigning patrols.

"I want Ashstorm, Ambermoon, Crowstep, and Robinscreech to go on a hunting patrol.." He began. As Ivystar padded through the bramble tunnel, his thick meow grew louder. "..And Greeneye, Nightshade, Haildrop, Blacktail, and.." He paused. "Ivystar? Would you like to join the border patrol?"

Ivystar padded over to her deputy.

"Of course, Ravenwhisker," She mewed, "It's not like I've been running through the forest since moonhigh."

The leader looked down as a thick bundle of fur suddenly rammed into her foreleg.

"Oh! Ivystar!" The kit scrambled to her paws. Her eyes glowed with admiration as she looked up at her leader, fluffy tabby fur sticking out in all directions. Cindertuft came bustling after her kit. She scolded loudly,

"Larchkit! Get back here this instant!"

Ivystar stifled a purr of amusement and nudged the kit to her mother. Cindertuft stalked angrily towards Larchkit.

"Watch where you're going next time!" The fluffy gray queen snapped.

"It's alright, Cindertuft," Ivystar mewed, "Kits will be kits."

Cindertuft shook out her pelt roughly.

"I won't have impolite ones scampering around camp!" She retorted. "Come on, Larchkit. You won't be leaving the nursery for a while." Cindertuft strode away with her kitten on her paws. Larchkit's tail drooped, lively eyes dull.

Having five must make you irritable, Ivystar thought. Would she ever have kits of her own? She doubted that she would find another tom; not after Beechtail's death. She was scared of losing him all over again. She shuddered violently as her former mate's agonized yowl played in her mind.

Greeneye lifted his head, addressing his patrol.

"Alright. I think we should remark the SwiftClan borders, as no cat has in a few sunrises," He suggested.

Ivystar nodded. "It sounds alright to me," She mewed. The rest of the patrol murmured in agreement.

"Okay, let's go," Greeneye said. As the cats started to make their way to the bramble tunnel, Rainpetal hurried out of the fern overhang that constructed the medicine cat den.

"Ivystar!" She called.

Ivystar halted and turned towards her medicine cat.

"Rainpetal?" She mewed, "What do you need?"

The tabby she-cat gestured to her den. "We're running low on burdock and cobwebs. While you all are out, could you collect some?" She asked. Rainpetal held a plant that looked as though it had porcupine quills lodged in it.

The leader leaned down to sniff the burdock, storing the scent in the back of her head.

"Make sure you get the roots as well," The medicine cat continued; "They hold the most healing powers."

Ivystar nodded. "Of course, Rainpetal. We'll have plenty for you."

The medicine cat dipped her head. "Thanks. I'd go out and look for it myself, but I have to prepare for my walk to the Moonpool."

Ivystar lifted her head in alarm. "Oh, yes, that's right. Tonight is the half moon, isn't it?"

Rainpetal nodded. "I mustn't use up any more of your time. Be on your way!" She turned and bustled through the cluster of cats back to her den.

Greeneye straightened. "Right. Come on," he meowed. He ducked under the bramble tunnel, vanishing into the forest. Ivystar stood behind her clanmates, sending them onward with flicks of her tail. Ivystar slid after the last cat.

When Ivystar stepped into the forest, the patrol had gathered in the undergrowth.

"Split up." Greeneye ordered. The five cats nodded.

"Ivystar, would you like to hunt together?" Blacktail turned to his leader, tipping his head questioningly.

"Of course," Ivystar replied. The tom's eyes were bright. He dipped his head briefly.

"Come on, then." He mewed, brushing past her. Ivystar looked after him. He was quite a handsome tom.

Ivystar jerked her head up, shaking it vigorously.

There's no time to think about toms. And even if I were to have kits later on, it would be impossible with my leader duties.

The she-cat straightened herself and padded after Blacktail.