Ivypool shifted uncomfortably in her nest. She didn't want to go to the Dark Forest. She hadn't felt like training in the Dark Forest lately, even if she was no longer loyal to Tigerstar, and only went there to spy on the other Dark Forest cats.

Besides, I'm not tired. I'm going to follow Dovewing.

She stared at her sister's nest. Ivypool knew that Dovewing was only trying to make it look like she was asleep. Of course, so was Ivypool.

Oh, don't tell me you've really fallen asleep.

Then Ivypool saw moonlight reflect off of a pale-green eye. Dovewing was awake. The pale-gray she-cat looked around the warriors' den, and slowly rose to her paws. Ivypool watched her pad out of the den, waited a little while longer, so Dovewing would believe that nobody was following her, and then finally rose to her own paws.

Ivypool peeked out of the warriors' den. Her fur prickled with confusion when she saw Dovewing.

What in StarClan's name is she doing?

The gray warrior was peering into the other dens. Was she trying to make sure that no one was awake? Ivypool crept closer to her, only to dive into the empty apprentices' den as Dovewing's head started to turn in her direction.

Ivypool saw Dovewing simply shrug, and continue on her way to the camp entrance. She reached the top of the stone hollow, with Ivypool following stealthily close behind.

Ivypool followed her sister as she darted through the forest. With every huffing breath that came out of Dovewing, Ivypool thought she could hear, "I'm coming...I'm coming..."

Ivypool had to restrain herself from cursing out loud. How could Dovewing feel so happy about breaking the warrior code like this? She had to be the most mouse-brained cat in the history of the Clans!

What seemed like lifetimes later, Dovewing and her hidden companion arrived at the greenleaf Twolegplace. Dovewing turned her head from side-to-side, obviously searching for Tigerheart. "Where is he?" Ivypool heard her whisper.

Suddenly a cat, playfully yowling, erupted from the bushes. "Surprise!" he yowled. In an instant, Ivypool recognized the cat as Tigerheart. For a few heartbeats, Dovewing and Tigerheart tussled in a playful ball of gray-and-brown fur.

Finally the tussle stopped when Tigerheart had his paw pinned on Dovewing's chest. For a second, Ivypool wanted to spring at the dark-brown tabby and save her sister, but the playfulness sparking in their eyes halted her.

"All right, all right," Dovewing meowed, "You surprised me. Now would you get off me?" "But of course," Tigerheart purred, before letting Dovewing get to her paws. Tigerheart leaned forward and touched his muzzle to the she-cat. "I'm so glad you came," he purred, "I've really missed you."

Dovewing purred back, "I've missed you too."

Tigerheart gazed at Dovewing for a little while before asking, "So you're not mad at me anymore?" Dovewing met his gaze and replied, "Well...no, I'm not. I realize now that you didn't mean any harm. That you were only doing what you thought was right. That you had no control over what your Clan did to get the catmint. That I was wrong to hate you."

Ivypool gazed at her sister. She had never heard Dovewing speak so gentle. She had spoken friendly and calm before, but never that gentle.

She must really love him.

Tigerheart rasped his tongue between Dovewing's eyes and meowed, "Follow me. I've got something to show you."

Great. More traveling?

Stifiling a groan, Ivypool followed Dovewing and Tigerheart through and out of the greenleaf Twolegplace, into unknown territory.

When the two other cats stopped at a Thunderpath, Ivypool huddled in the undergrowth a few fox-lengths from them. "See that on the other side?" she heard Tigerheart meow to Dovewing. "It's a hollow," Dovewing remarked.

Tigerheart nodded. "It doesn't belong to anybody; I've checked. So, why not make it our little place. Forget that old, shabby abandoned Twoleg nest. This hollow could be ours, and only ours!"

Oh, how cute. They have their own little place.

Ivypool saw Dovewing stiffen as Tigerheart stepped onto the Thunderpath. "What's wrong?" the dark-brown warrior asked over his shoulder, "There's nothing to be afraid of. I can't smell or hear any monsters. It's perfectly safe."

Dovewing didn't seem to be convinced, and she let out a little hiss of fear as Tigerheart started streaming across the Thunderpath.

Could she be using her powers to hear or see any monsters? There must be one coming.

Suddenly, Ivypool saw it coming closer to her sister and the ShadowClan warrior. Its sleek, dark pelt shone in the light of its own eyes, and the air reeked of its stench.

"Tigerheart!" Dovewing yowled as she pelted across the Thunderpath to Tigerheart. The monster was a tree length away from them. Ivypool had to look away as its growl turned into an ear-splitting screech. She opened her eyes back up as its usual growl returned and slowly faded into silence as the monster stormed away.

Oh, no...

Dovewing and Tigerheart were lying motionless on the other side of the Thunderpath. Ivypool wanted to wail in grief and loss. She was about to run across the Thunderpath and to their sides, burying her nose into their fur, but she stopped herself. Dovewing and Tigerheart were rising to their paws.

They're okay!

The rush of heartache and contempt returned as Tigerheart pushed his nose into Dovewing's fur. "You saved my life," Ivypool heard him murmur. "I had to," Dovewing murmured back, "I couldn't let you get killed by a monster. I...I would never forgive myself."

For a few moments, Ivypool's contempt was replaced with understanding. If she was in love with any tom, she wouldn't dare stand by and watch him get killed. She would fight for his safety and honor.

Tigerheart flicked his ears to grab Dovewing's attention. Ivypool looked past them and saw a silver-colored, shiny web stretched as far as the eye can see. She saw the two other warriors padded up to the web-thing and she heard Dovewing meow, "Now, what in StarClan's name is this?"

"Not sure," Tigerheart replied, "I think it's a Twoleg border."

"You mean they don't leave markers?"

Tigerheart shrugged. "What do you expect? Twolegs are just plain weird, even the blindest rabbit could see it."

I wonder what they use to make it. Does it hurt when you touch it? It looks sharp.

"There's a small creek under it," Tigerheart continued to Dovewing, "It's shallow, so we can squeeze under this whatever-it-is without worrying about drowning."

The dark tabby tom crept away from Dovewing, and slid under the web-border. A few heartbeats passed before Dovewing did the same. Ivypool waited a little while longer, to ensure that she won't get too close and be found out, dashed across the Thunderpath, and followed Dovewing and Tigerheart's path under the web-border.

Staying low to the ground, Ivypool caught short glimpses of two cats running through the undergrowth, purring and yowling happily.

Finally, Dovewing and Tigerheart stopped at the dip of a hill. Tigerheart whispered something to Dovewing, but Ivypool couldn't make out what he was saying.

Ivypool saw Dovewing's eyes glow with love and excitement, and the two cats charged down the hill. Ivypool peered down the hill after several moments, and saw the tabby tom and smoky she-cat sitting on a flat rock, their pelts touching and tails twined. Moonlight shimmered down from the trees above them, turning their pelts to silver.

For once, Ivypool actually felt happy seeing the two cats down there. Happy for Dovewing. Her sister had finally found the tom that she could have a future with.

But it's against the warrior code. Their relationship would never work out! What would Firestar and Blackstar say if they found out about their feelings?

Ivypool shook her head, and continued watching the two other warriors. Tigerheart turned his head to Dovewing, his amber gaze burning with passion and love for her. "Dovewing," he meowed, "I love you." Ivypool wasn't surprised by Dovewing's reply of, "I love you too, Tigerheart."

All of a sudden, thunder crackled in the distance. Lightning flashed, blinding Ivypool for an instance. Rain fell, splashing around Dovewing and Tigerheart. "Look," Tigerheart meowed over the sound of the rainfall, "Over there. There's a hollow tree we can stay in until the storm passes."

"But what if it continues till dawn, or maybe even the entire day?" Dovewing fretted, "We'd be here for ages. What would our leaders say?"

Why didn't you think of that a long time ago?

"It shouldn't," Tigerheart reassured her, licking between her ears, "Come on." Dovewing and Tigerheart got to their paws, and curled up next to each other in a hollow tree with ferns surrounding it.

Ivypool, on the other hand, didn't have a cozy, fern-covered hollow tree to shelter in. Shivering from the cold of the raindrops that soaked her tabby-striped fur, she darted through the undergrowth, until finally arriving at fallen tree.

Sighing, Ivypool squeezed into the narrow, hollowed-out log, and fell into an uneasy sleep.

Dawn light shimmered into the log, waking Ivypool. The silver tabby-and-white warrior squeezed out of the log, and stretched. She suddenly stiffened as she realized how far away from camp she was, and how soon her Clanmates would be waking up.

Oh, no! I've got to hurry!

"Well, what do we have here?"

Ivypool's fur prickled with surprise at the voice behind her. Reluctantly, she turned around, and came face-to-face with Dovewing.

"So you do care, huh?" her sister growled, "Couldn't keep to your own fur, could you? Or maybe you're just jealous?"

Ivypool narrowed her eyes at the Dovewing and hissed, "Of course not! It was for your own good. You're a fool, Dovewing."

"Oh, am I?"

"Yes, you are! What, did you think that just because I'm your sister means that I can brush the fact that you're purposely breaking the warrior code off my shoulder like a tuft of loose fur? Well, it doesn't! Don't you see? That rainstorm was a sign from StarClan! It's obvious that they disapproved of you two meeting here!"

"Maybe so," Dovewing snarled, "Or maybe they disapproved of you following us?"

"Yeah, right!" Ivypool snapped, "Right when you two said that you loved each other...Boom! The rainstorm started. Do you think that's just a coincidence? I don't."

"Look here, sister," Dovewing snarled, pushing her muzzle into Ivypool's face, "I'm sure you hate us arguing as much as I do, so I have an idea. Just keep to your own fur, and we won't have to go through this!"

"Whatever!" Ivypool hissed, "I don't need this! And I don't you or Tigerheart! You want me to leave? Fine, I'll go. If that's what makes you happy!"

Not even giving her sister time to reply, Ivypool pelted through the hollow, her heart thudding and blood roaring in her ears.

She was so lost in thought and anger, that she didn't suspect the searing pain of something ramming her, or the roar of a monster as it ran along the Thunderpath.