I'm updating two days in a row? What? Wow! It's only because editing and revising and proofreading doesn't take near as long as writing does, though... Also, I think it's entertaining that I uploaded chapter 06 on 11/06 and now I'm uploading chapter 07 on 11/07...ha, lol...
Well...moving on...
The odd title of this chapter will be explained later, I promise... I know it seems as far away from canon-like as possible, but the chapter title results from Icy being bored while writing this in the middle of the night and including her oldest cat as a cameo...
Chapter Seven
Call the CDC 'Cause We've Got a Love Epidemic
Ivypool blinked her eyes open. She stretched in her nest. She looked around the den. She was alarmed to find herself still in the medicine cat den. Then she remembered what had happened a few days ago.
I killed Spiderleg…threatened Mousewhisker…threatened Foxleap…
Ivypool turned over in her nest. I'm not going anywhere any time real soon…they wouldn't understand if I told them that wasn't me…especially since Toadstep killed Rosepetal over it…
"Ivypool, good; you're awake," Jayfeather meowed, padding over to her. Ivypool stay laying in her nest and watched him rather than getting up to her paws. "How are you feeling?" Jayfeather asked her.
"Better than I'm supposed to be," Ivypool muttered in reply.
"What have I told you about muttering?" Jayfeather snapped. "Speak up, and sit up while you're at it, too."
"Fine," Ivypool snapped as she sat up. "What do you want from the mentally insane cat? Do you want me to retire to the elders' den or something? Do you want me to apologize for killing Spiderleg? Do you want me to leave the Clan?"
"I want the truth," Jayfeather replied solemnly. "The signs show you're getting worse, but I don't think you're getting worse. You yourself just proved that you've gotten much better. I think your anger came from before your fall," he added. "So I think this is something else. I want you to tell me what this is. Ever since your fall you've been having nightmares. You've been muttering about Hawkfrost in your sleep. What has Hawkfrost done to you?"
"He killed Spiderleg, not me," Ivypool replied. "It was him. I swear it was! I know you won't believe me, but…I told Bumblestripe, and he didn't believe me, which is why I didn't bother explaining it to anyone else, but I know that it was Hawkfrost! Just find Spiderleg in StarClan and ask him! You can do that, can't you?"
"I can, but it's not that simple…"
"What do you have to do to prove that I'm not insane?" Ivypool begged. "It was Hawkfrost that threatened Foxleap and Mousewhisker, not me! It was Hawkfrost who killed Spiderleg, not me!"
"I believe you," Jayfeather meowed. "He took over you; just he took over me earlier that day, right?"
"Y—yeah, exactly, except he controlled my actions, not just my words," Ivypool added.
"You can tell Bramblestar," Jayfeather meowed. "He'll believe you."
"But after Rosepetal's death…which was for nothing, by the way…it's a little hard to tell him," Ivypool meowed awkwardly. "Who was it again that decided it was Rosepetal's fault?"
"Well, it made perfect sense when she said it," Jayfeather meowed, "and if I didn't know about Hawkfrost then it still would."
"Jayfeather, I need to know who said it was Rosepetal's fault first," Ivypool pressed. "Jayfeather, please tell me."
"Anything for you, Ivypool—"
"Not like that!" Ivypool snapped. "I don't know why you feel this way, but you're not yourself, Jayfeather. We've already talked about this, right?"
"I know, but it seems so real…" Jayfeather whispered.
"Wait a minute, what did you say?" Ivypool asked, catching it.
"I said I know, but it seems so real…why does it matter?" Jayfeather asked.
"Why did you say that about it being real? I never said it was fake, I just said that you weren't yourself…but that's a good idea, you know…maybe it is fake…an illusion or something…" Ivypool muttered. "Jayfeather, I want your help in figuring this out."
"Me? You're choosing me over all of those other…"
"Not like that," Ivypool meowed, sighing. "Should I get Leafpool's help instead?" she snapped.
"I can do it!" Jayfeather immediately exclaimed. "You just have to trust me!"
"Then I need reason to trust that your judgment isn't compromised," Ivypool meowed.
"Of course it's not," Jayfeather meowed.
"Jayfeather, you do not love me," Ivypool meowed. "Say it over and over until it sticks in your mind."
"I do not love you, Ivypool…I do not love you, Ivypool…I do not love you, Ivypool…I do not love you, Ivypool…but I do! This is so confusing!" Jayfeather exclaimed after a few tries.
"We'll get it to work eventually," Ivypool meowed. "You heard me say Hawkfrost's name in my sleep, didn't you? Then you know that Hawkfrost has done something. We just don't know what that is, yet. Whatever he's done has made it to where toms are falling in love with me left and right."
"I can't blame them," Jayfeather put in.
"You are one of those toms, so let me continue without further interruptions," Ivypool snapped. "Aside from you and Toadstep, all of the toms that love me have loved some other cat in their lifetime."
"Toadstep had a crush on me when we were apprentices," Ivypool was surprised to hear Briarlight's meow. Briarlight padded up to them and sat beside Jayfeather. "Sorry, I heard you talking and I wanted to see if I could help. I heard everything so far," she added, "so you don't have to fill in any pieces."
"We didn't ask for your help!" Jayfeather snapped. "This is just Ivypool and me! On our own!"
"Thank you for spending your time with us," Ivypool meowed to Briarlight. "You see the severity of the situation for yourself, don't you?"
"Toadstep used to love me, but when I had my accident Spiderleg convinced him to leave me because I couldn't have kits. I never loved him, so I didn't care. That means that Jayfeather is the only tom without a former love that loves you now," Briarlight meowed.
"Actually, uh…there's something I should probably tell you…" Jayfeather meowed awkwardly, shrinking back as if he was trying to hide behind his own pelt.
"What is it now?" Ivypool asked exasperatingly. Briarlight's whiskers twitched in amusement but she didn't say anything.
"You know about the Ancients, right? The cats before our current StarClan. You know that I visited them, right?" Jayfeather asked.
"I do now," Briarlight meowed.
"I knew before, but only because Dovewing told me about it," Ivypool added. "Dovewing says that the Three are reincarnations of three of the Ancients."
"Yes. Dovewing was Dove's Wing, Lionblaze was Lion's Roar, and I was Jay's Wing," Jayfeather meowed.
"Jay's Wing? I've heard that somewhere before…" Ivypool broke off as she tried to remember where from.
"During the war! One of the Ancients greeted you by that name!" Briarlight exclaimed.
"Oh yeah! It was a white she-cat with green eyes, wasn't it?" Ivypool asked.
"Half Moon," Jayfeather replied. "Her name is Half Moon. Half Moon and I fell in love with each other while I visited them as Jay's Wing in my sleep one time. She told me she'd wait for me forever to see me again. She's still waiting for me in StarClan now. When I die…her wait will be over."
"Then so will yours be," Ivypool meowed. "You still love her now, don't you?" she suspected.
"Really?" Briarlight exclaimed.
"I'm not denying it," Jayfeather replied.
"Think about it," Ivypool meowed to Jayfeather. "Think about Half Moon."
"What about her?" Jayfeather asked.
"When you started talking about her, you forgot that you loved me," Ivypool meowed. "See? It's fake after all! It's just a distraction! And an illusion! Now we just have to figure out what caused it."
"Hawkfrost," Jayfeather snarled. "How dare he do this to you…"
"Easy, tiger," Briarlight meowed cautiously. Ivypool glanced at her friend awkwardly before continuing.
"Now we just need to figure out what he did so we can end this," Ivypool meowed.
"We also need to tell the Clan about it so they can stop being distractions and start being helpful additions to our team," Briarlight meowed.
"What team?" Jayfeather asked. "This is just Ivypool and me."
"Briarlight, you can help us any time you like," Ivypool meowed, "despite what Jayfeather thinks. He'd be really kind to you if he wasn't being deceived by…whatever Hawkfrost has done," Ivypool added, unable to find words to describe it.
"Thanks, Ivypool," Briarlight meowed.
"What?" Jayfeather exclaimed.
"Think about Half Moon," Ivypool meowed to him without looking at him. "Think about Half Moon…"
"Thanks, Ivypool. That helped," Jayfeather meowed.
"Now we just need to tell Bramblestar," Briarlight meowed.
"Thank you, Briarlight, because that reminds me to come back to our original conversation," Ivypool meowed, turning to look at Jayfeather. "Whose idea was it that Spiderleg's death was Rosepetal's fault?"
"It's still hard to believe that Hawkfrost did it…" Briarlight whispered.
"Hawkfrost…I'm going to kill him for doing this to you!" Jayfeather snapped.
"Half Moon…" Ivypool meowed to Jayfeather. She turned to Briarlight. "Well? Whose idea was it?"
"Hazeltail's," Briarlight replied. "It made so much sense, too…"
"Hazeltail?" Ivypool asked. She remembered Jayfeather telling her it was Hazeltail who told the Clan about Ivypool's fall…
"You can trust me," Ivypool heard Hazeltail's voice again. She couldn't shake off the sense of déjà vu. She desperately wanted to remember more from this memory, but she couldn't reach as she tried to reach out to it in her mind.
"Ivypool? Earth to Ivypool?" Briarlight meowed.
"Sorry, uh…Hazeltail…it's just…I feel like something's…off about her, but…I can't remember what it is…" Ivypool meowed.
"Your fall!" Jayfeather exclaimed. "You said you were backing away from something when you fell…what if it was Hazeltail?"
"Hazeltail? No! Hazeltail's a good cat! She's my friend!" Ivypool jumped up on her paws as she defended her friend. "How dare you accuse her of doing something to me!"
"Well…she did convince the entire Clan that Spiderleg's death was Spiderleg's daughter's fault, and right after that Spiderleg's son killed said daughter…" Jayfeather added.
"Maybe Hazeltail isn't who she says she is…" Briarlight agreed.
"No! Hazeltail is a good cat!" Ivypool meowed. "Anyone who says differently is insane!"
"Who is insane?" Leafpool asked, padding into the den.
"Uh, um…me…" Ivypool stammered.
"No. We can tell Leafpool the truth," Jayfeather meowed. "She's my mother."
Leafpool lifted her head, amber eyes shining at what Jayfeather said.
"Hawkfrost has done something to Ivypool," Jayfeather meowed.
"We don't know what exactly, but we do know that Hawkfrost took over my body and killed Spiderleg, threatened Foxleap, and threatened Mousewhisker," Ivypool added.
"Not to mention that toms who have already loved someone else in their lifetime are falling in love with Ivypool," Briarlight put in.
"Toms that already have mates falling in love with Ivypool? That's a crazy accusation," Leafpool meowed.
"It's true," Ivypool meowed.
"Really?" Leafpool exclaimed as her eyes widened.
"So far we have Bumblestripe, who is Dovewing's mate, Toadstep, who used to love me, Foxleap, who loved Hazeltail at one time, Mousewhisker, who is Icecloud's mate, Spiderleg, who fathered Daisy's kits, and…well, this is hard to tell you, but…the other one so far is Jayfeather," Briarlight meowed awkwardly.
"No. Jayfeather would never make the same mistake I made," Leafpool meowed.
"It's true," Ivypool meowed. "Jayfeather?"
"It's just…I don't know!" Jayfeather explained. "It's so hard to explain! It's just…"
"Demonstration, please," Ivypool meowed to Briarlight.
"Oh, of course, um…Hawkfrost! I still can't believe he killed Spiderleg…" Briarlight trailed off, looking at Jayfeather. Ivypool waited for his reaction.
"Hawkfrost? I'm going to kill him for doing this to you!" Jayfeather hissed, arching his back as his fur began to bristle.
Ivypool and Briarlight moved their gazes to Leafpool and both burst out laughing.
"Wow! That face was priceless!" Ivypool exclaimed.
"It really was!" Briarlight agreed.
"You two, stop laughing! This is so not funny! Leafpool, um…I can explain…it's just…" Jayfeather trailed off, not finding the words he was looking for.
"Half Moon," Ivypool meowed. "Think about Half Moon."
"Half Moon? I've heard that name before," Leafpool meowed.
"The cat that Jayfeather's loved in his lifetime before me," Ivypool explained. "This is only happening to toms that have loved another she-cat before me. We think Hawkfrost has done something to me to cause this. If Jayfeather thinks about Half Moon then he forgets about his love for me, which leads me to think that his love for me is only an allusion, or distraction, from who he really loves."
"Like a curse of sorts?" Leafpool asked.
"Curse! That's the word! Yes, like a curse," Ivypool added.
"Okay," Leafpool meowed. "This is all starting to make sense, but…if Hawkfrost killed Spiderleg, then wasn't Rosepetal innocent? Did she die for nothing?"
"Yes," Ivypool replied.
"And if Hawkfrost did that, then you're good to go, aren't you? Because you're not insane like we thought you were," Leafpool added.
"Exactly," Jayfeather replied. "Ivypool's never been crazy! She's the smartest cat I know and that's saying something because I'm pretty smart!" Jayfeather added. Leafpool, Briarlight, and Ivypool glanced at Jayfeather before shaking their heads and looking back at each other.
"We need to tell Bramblestar, then," Leafpool meowed. "We need to tell Bramblestar about what Hawkfrost has done."
"What about Hazeltail?" Briarlight asked. "Hazeltail convinced us all that it was Rosepetal's fault Spiderleg died…and then Rosepetal died…if that wasn't the case, then why did Hazeltail do that?"
"I'll talk to Hazeltail while you three talk to Bramblestar," Leafpool decided. "Don't mention Hazeltail or Rosepetal to him. We'll talk about that after I speak to Hazeltail and make an opinion for myself."
"Yes, Leafpool," Ivypool, Briarlight, and Jayfeather replied. Leafpool nodded to them before exiting the den.
"Well, let's go to Bramblestar," Jayfeather meowed.
In Bramblestar's den…
"You want to run that by me again?" Bramblestar asked, narrowing his eyes. "It wasn't Ivypool who killed Spiderleg?"
"No, it wasn't," Jayfeather replied.
"Bumblestripe saw her kill him," Bramblestar meowed. "Her paws were covered in his blood."
"Yes, but Ivypool wasn't in control then," Jayfeather meowed.
"What does that mean?" Bramblestar asked.
"Hawkfrost took over my body and killed him!" Ivypool exclaimed, getting annoyed by Jayfeather's slowness. "Hawkfrost isn't gone like we thought he was!"
"Hawkfrost? Will I never escape from my brother?" Bramblestar exclaimed.
"You've escaped from his anger," Ivypool told him, "but I haven't. I'm the one that betrayed him during the war."
"Dear StarClan…" Bramblestar muttered. "So what now? What do you suppose we do, Jayfeather?"
"I'm going to interrupt to let you know this confirms I'm not insane, so can I please return to my warrior duties?" Ivypool begged.
"Jayfeather? Bramblestar repeated, ignoring Ivypool. Ivypool lowered her head in disappointment.
"I think we should tell the Clan to watch out for Hawkfrost," Jayfeather replied, "but not about his…curse."
"What curse?" Bramblestar asked.
"Hawkfrost put some kind of curse on me, or that's what we think, at least," Ivypool added.
"Why do you think that?" Bramblestar asked, narrowing his eyes again.
"Well…Briarlight?" Ivypool asked.
"Hawkfrost," Briarlight replied, staring at Jayfeather. "Jayfeather, how do you feel when I repeat what you've said about Hawkfrost taking over Ivypool and putting a curse on her?"
"I'm going to kill him for doing this to her!" Jayfeather hissed. He blinked. "Right. I see what you did there," he meowed. "Ivypool, don't—I'm already thinking about Half Moon, so don't you dare say it."
"He knows us well," Ivypool meowed, exchanging an amused glance with Briarlight, who nodded to her.
"What's going on here? Someone explain this to me!" Bramblestar demanded.
"You see…this curse…any tom who has loved a she-cat in the past is, uh…going to fall in love with me if they haven't already," Ivypool replied.
"That is the strangest thing I've ever heard," Bramblestar meowed.
"Then why have Bumblestripe, Toadstep, Foxleap, Mousewhisker, Spiderleg, and Jayfeather all asked to be my mate in less than a half moon?" Ivypool demanded.
"Great StarClan!" Bramblestar meowed. Then he blinked. "Wait a minute…Toadstep and Foxleap?" he asked, tipping his head to the side.
"Foxleap loved Hazeltail until she rejected him," Ivypool meowed. She felt like her memory was about to come back, but when she tried to grasp it in her mind it slipped away from her. Ivypool slapped her tail against the ground in anger.
"Toadstep loved me when we were apprentices," Briarlight explained, casting a confused glance at Ivypool's tail before looking back to Bramblestar.
"Okay…and what about you, Jayfeather?" Bramblestar asked. "I heard your name in there, too, did I not?"
"This is kind of embarrassing, but…when I visited the Ancients that one time, I fell in love with Half Moon," Jayfeather explained. "When I went to the mountains, I saw her again, and she said she'd wait for me forever. When I join StarClan…her wait will end."
"The same mistake your mother made?" Bramblestar asked. "I'm surprised."
"It's not the same!" Jayfeather exclaimed. "The Ancients…they didn't have a medicine cat, and I was a warrior there and…"
"I'm just teasing you, relax," Bramblestar meowed. "Anyway, this curse causes…toms to fall in love with you?"
"Yes," Ivypool replied. "If they aren't already affected, then they will be soon."
"Bramblestar!" Squirrelflight meowed from outside.
"Come in," Bramblestar meowed.
Squirrelflight padded in. "There's a WindClan patrol here," she meowed. "They wish to speak with you."
"Did they mention why?" Bramblestar asked.
"Who all was on the patrol?" Ivypool asked.
"Why does it matter?" Squirrelflight asked.
"It just does," Ivypool replied. "Who is it?"
"Uh…Harespring, Boulderfur, Crouchleap, and Buzzardpaw, Boulderfur's apprentice," Squirrelflight replied.
"Those are all toms," Ivypool meowed. She turned her attention back to Bramblestar. "It's spreading," she meowed. "The effect of the curse…is spreading."
"Maybe it's just a coincidence," Bramblestar meowed, shaking his head. "Squirrelflight, they can come in. Jayfeather is my medicine cat and Briarlight and Ivypool are two of my warriors. It's okay," he added when Squirrelflight narrowed her eyes at Ivypool. "Ivypool is fine. I will discuss that matter with you later."
Squirrelflight nodded. She exited the den and returned a few moments later with a brown-and-white tom, a pale gray tom, a light brown tom, and a younger ginger tom.
Where have I seen that light brown pelt from before? Ivypool wondered to herself. Crouchleap is Larkstrike's brother, and I saw him on that patrol, but…I feel like I've seen that pelt some other place…oh! That's it! Ivypool felt her memory return to her. Right before she had blacked out a few days ago she had seen a light brown pelt in the corner of her eye. Now she knew who it was. It had been Crouchleap. How much does he know? Is that why they're here? She looked to Jayfeather in hope that he had seen her memory, but Jayfeather was focused on all four of the WindClan cats.
"Hello, Harespring. You wish to speak with me?" Bramblestar asked.
"Yes," Harespring replied.
"Why are neither Ashfoot nor Onestar with you?" Bramblestar asked.
"They do not know that we are here," Harespring replied. "We wish to speak with you about one of your warriors. Spiderleg, we think. He is dead, isn't he?"
"Y—yes, he is," Bramblestar replied.
"Do you know how he died?" Harespring asked.
Bramblestar opened his jaws but then closed them again and shook his head.
"One of your own warriors killed him," Harespring replied. "Crouchleap here saw it. It was a silver-and-white tabby she-cat with ice-blue eyes."
"Ice-blue? Harespring, none of my warriors have ice-blue eyes," Bramblestar replied. "The cat in my Clan closest to matching that description is Ivypool over here, but her eyes are so dark they almost match the sky at nighttime!"
"Crouchleap?" Harespring asked, turning to the light brown tom.
"It was Ivypool," Crouchleap replied. "Her eyes were ice-blue, but perhaps it was just the sun. I recognize the pelt that I saw. It was Ivypool."
"Harespring, thank you for coming, but this is an internal matter…" Bramblestar began, but Harespring interrupted him.
"Ivypool trained in the Dark Forest. She is in here now," Harespring added. "How can you trust her? You should exile her immediately."
"I trust Ivypool with my life," Bramblestar replied, shaking his head. "I will never exile her."
"She killed one of your warriors! You should exile her so she can never return to ThunderClan, so she can be in WindClan with us!" Harespring exclaimed. "So we can fight over who gets to be her mate!"
Ivypool took a step back. She hadn't realized it, but she was shaking. "Now do you believe me?" she asked, glaring at Bramblestar with her dark blue stare.
Bramblestar's amber eyes were wide. "I'm sorry, Harespring, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave. You're making one of my warriors feel very uncomfortable."
"Uncomfortable? That's just because she doesn't recognize who she loves yet," Harespring replied. He turned and looked directly into Ivypool's eyes. Ivypool tried to look away, but somehow found herself drawn back into them. "Ivypool, you're mine."
"No, Ivypool is mine!" Boulderfur exclaimed.
"No! She's mine!" Crouchleap hissed to the two older WindClan warriors.
"Hey! Give me a chance, too!" Buzzardpaw exclaimed.
Ivypool took a few more steps back until she found herself leaning up against the wall of the leader's den. She was shaking even more now.
"All of you get away from Ivypool!" Jayfeather snarled, taking a few steps towards the WindClan patrol. "She's none of yours! You know why? Because she's mine!"
"A medicine cat? Good luck!" Harespring sneered, taking a step towards him.
"Ivypool, get out of here!" Jayfeather meowed to her, looking over his shoulder at her. "I'll protect you."
Ivypool forced herself to swallow her fear and step forward. "Oh please. I can take care of myself. I did train in the Dark Forest after all. Besides, Harespring, Boulderfur, Crouchleap, Buzzardpaw," Ivypool spat each of the WindClan cats' names, "Jayfeather has a better chance than any of you do. At least he's in my own Clan."
"Which is why we're here right now," Harespring meowed. "You killed Spiderleg; you should have been exiled a long time ago. Why haven't you been exiled?"
"I fell off a cliff and had a head injury," Ivypool lied. It's kind of a lie, anyway...
"Ivypool, get out of here," Bramblestar ordered her, "before these cats try to tear you apart and eat your remains."
Ivypool looked at Bramblestar with wide eyes. "Now that's just wrong!" She exclaimed while she walked to the entrance of the den.
"Ivypool, get out of here," Bramblestar repeated. "I'll protect you. What does a medicine cat know about fighting?" Bramblestar sneered to Jayfeather.
"It's spreading…" Ivypool whispered to Briarlight. "Briarlight, you better get out of here, too. It's not safe in here."
Briarlight looked back at the toms, which were arguing and stepping closer to each other. "They're going to fight." It wasn't a question, it was a matter-of-fact statement. The two she-cats fled from the leader's den without another word.
Ivypool leaped down and landed on the ground evenly. She looked up to see Squirrelflight staring at her in surprise.
"What's happening?" Squirrelflight asked.
"Um…you and Bramblestar need to talk," Ivypool replied. "Right now," she added.
"Okay…" Squirrelflight started to climb up to the den, but Ivypool stopped her.
"You better take a patrol with you…" Ivypool advised.
Squirrelflight's eyes widened. "Why?"
"To make sure the toms in there haven't ripped any throats out," Ivypool replied.
Squirrelflight said nothing but ran into the warriors' den. She came out with Brackenfur, Cloudtail, Brightheart, Sorreltail, and Thornclaw. Squirrelflight ran back over to her. "Are you sure now is a good idea?" Squirrelflight asked.
"Yeah," Ivypool replied. "But, uh…don't let any more patrols come into the camp if they're only toms and no she-cats."
"Okay…why?" Squirrelflight exclaimed.
"And you better take Brackenfur and Cloudtail back and bring two other she-cats," Ivypool added as she noticed how the two senior warriors were looking at her.
"Great StarClan!" Briarlight exclaimed. "Cloudtail, you're Ivypool's grandfather! Brackenfur, you're her great-uncle!"
"What are you talking about?" Thornclaw exclaimed.
"Thornclaw…you're not affected," Ivypool meowed. "You stay. We need to talk to you."
"About what?" Thornclaw exclaimed.
"Come with us," Ivypool replied.
"Squirrelflight!" Icecloud came running over to them.
"Not now!" Squirrelflight snapped.
"But—Foxleap is missing! Mousewhisker and I have looked all over the territory and can't find him!" Icecloud panicked.
"Briarlight, Thornclaw, and I will go look for him," Ivypool promised. "Icecloud, you get back to the nursery."
"I don't take orders from someone that's insane, sorry," Icecloud snapped at Ivypool.
"For StarClan's sake!" Ivypool exclaimed. "Okay, we're telling them when we get back," Ivypool meowed to Briarlight. "Come on, Thornclaw!" she meowed, running out of camp with Briarlight at her heels. Thornclaw blinked before following them.
Outside camp…in the forest…
"Are you okay?" Thornclaw asked.
"Yes!" Ivypool snapped. "Thornclaw, have you ever loved anyone?" she asked quickly.
"No…why?" Thornclaw asked.
"That explains why you aren't affected! Thank you, StarClan!" Ivypool added.
"What?" Thornclaw exclaimed. "What in the name of StarClan are you talking about?"
"Um…we should look for Foxleap now," Ivypool meowed.
"Ivypool! Briarlight! Thornclaw!" Squirrelflight came running over to them.
"Squirrelflight? What's wrong?" Ivypool asked.
"Bramblestar explained everything to me. The WindClan patrol is gone, and…you need to get back to camp. Yes, Foxleap is missing, but we scented a fox close to camp, so we'll find Foxleap later! Protecting the camp is more important!" Squirrelflight exclaimed.
"Okay. We're on our way," Ivypool meowed.
"Ivypool, I'm so sorry for not trusting you before," Squirrelflight meowed. "I should have. Hawkfrost is…a pain in the tail," she added.
"Tell me about it," Ivypool agreed. "Alright, let's get back to camp."
As they ran back to camp, they failed to see the small gray-and-white she-cat dragging a light brown tom into a patch of marigold, throwing his body on top of a pale gray body, a brown-and-white tom, and a ginger body. All four of the toms were dead, and the small gray-and-white she-cat's eyes were filled with hatred.
"No one touches my Ivypool…" the small she-cat hissed.
However, they did notice a large black tom with yellow eyes.
"Uh-oh," the tom meowed. The patrol stopped at looked at him with gazes of confusion. The tom ignored them and continued. "Someone better call the CDC because we've got ourselves a love epidemic."
The insanity of featuring my oldest cat as a cameo continues next chapter into more detail...
If I think so little of it, then why aren't I taking it out? Three reasons. One, I'm too lazy. Two, I'm not sure what I'd use there instead. Three, cause I love my Kitty. :)
This is the note I put in when I originally wrote the chapter...
Oh yeah, I didn't put the tom in the allegiances because I literally just decided to put him into the story. I'll go ahead and tell you that his name is Kitty. Kitty is a Norwegian Forest Cat, which explains why he is so large (and why his fur is so fluffy, even though you don't know that yet). Now, you're probably thinking something along the lines of "Wow, that's an original name." Well, Kitty is based off of my cat Kitty, even the name. Yes, I have a black Norwegian Forest Cat that has yellow eyes. Now, granted, in real life Kitty is neutered, declawed, and an inside-only cat, but in this fanfic he is a kittypet who lives in a Twoleghouse in the unexplored part of ThunderClan territory, can go outside whenever he wants, is not neutered or declawed, and can understand Twolegspeak, which explains why he mentioned the CDC at the end of the chapter, which explains the really strange chapter name. Isn't that a line from a song or a quote from a movie or something? "Call the CDC 'cause we've got a love epidemic…" Anyway, Kitty can understand Twolegspeak in this story. Well, I think he can understand it in real life, too, but…that's not the point. We're not here to discuss how strange my cats are…moving on…
Is it just me or did part of that note not even make sense? One of those sentences just seemed like a run-on...
Well, that's enough for now. Let the insanity continue next chapter...
~Icy
