Dovepaw

Of course I had heard. My heart twisting in pain, covered with a façade of no emotion. "I need to talk to you," I said to Ivypaw, completely ignoring one of my two loves. I had given him up when he had said he was on the Dark Side.

Jayfeather stood beside me, giving mental support. He could see; we were all dreaming, weren't we? "Only Ivypaw," he added, giving a hard glare to Tigerheart.

My façade slipped, and I knew that Tigerheart saw the look of unbearable pain on my face. I covered it up again, but the damage was done.

"Oh, Dovepaw." Tigerheart's heart was full of sympathy. He bounded the few steps over to me. He pressed against me. I was shaking; my façade had slipped again. "I'm so sorry."

Ivypaw stared at us incredulously. I pulled away from him. There was a bit of pain in his eyes, but he covered it up. What had come between us? I wondered.

"Sorry," I whispered under my breath. I stepped closer to Jayfeather. Standing tall with my shoulders squared, I know I seemed very powerful. Though I was an apprentice, I looked old and wise, powerful enough to make the bravest warriors cower.

"Now, Ivypaw, come with me and Jayfeather. Tigerheart, you may as well come," I growled. "There are matters to be discussed, and cats to be taken hostage."

Jayfeather looked at me sharply when said the last part, but I showed no sign of joking. And I wasn't. My sister would make the perfect hostage, being in my Clan and being on the Dark Side.

Dovepaw, you're a real good strategist. I looked at Jayfeather when he said that without talking. It's a new skill, he explained. I nodded a tiny bit.

Jayfeather led the way out of the Dark Forest. I felt so much more comfortable in StarClan's hunting grounds. Still holding my tall stance, I sat down, motion with my tail for the others to do the same. I longed to flop down on the grass, but that would be a weakness.

"Jayfeather, fetch Lionblaze, would you?" I asked. "I'm pretty sure I can handle these two if they decide to leave."

Jayfeather nodded, seeming in awe of me looking the part of one of the Three. Bounding off, he was soon lost to view. I turned my attention to the two traitors in front of me. Ivypaw looked a bit afraid of me, cowering a bit and lowering her eyes respectfully. Tigerheart was staring openly at me, his eyes showing longing.

Tigerheart padded up to me. "You're beautiful," he murmured in my ear. I jerked away.

"Thank you," I said curtly, moving away to sit closer to Ivypaw. She looked at me for a quick second.

"Why does it have to be you with power?" she blurted. "I mean, why wasn't it me?"

"Ask StarClan." I thought about it. "No, ask the Ancients. And how do you know I have powers?"

Ivypaw shifted. Looking away, she said, "Oh, yeah. He—that is, Tigerstar—told us not too long ago. And that you wanted to kill him. And that you would kill us"—she was referring to herself and Tigerheart—"so you could kill him."

I let out a shaky breath. "I forgot that he knew. But, yeah, I guess I do sort of have to kill him. But it probably won't be me. Lionblaze most likely."

Tigerheart was watching me. Watching my awkwardness, my inability to lie well. His amber eyes scrutinizing me, the hairs on the back of my neck raised. My tail twitching, I "watched" him, using my powers. He sighed and shifted position, taking a step closer. And another, and another. He was trying to creep silently up behind me.

Whirling around, I saw him racing towards me.