Gleaming light. It's ThunderClan. But Ivypool isn't awake. She walks in dreams. Running out of the warrior's den she greets Hawkfrost. This is routine. Many follow ghostly cats into the Dark Forest to train.
.
Others leave and step into the murky shadows beyond. He sits in the clearing, form extraordinarily flickering under moonlight. Ivypool grinned. The warrior is confident for the long night ahead, expecting a challenging battle or two. "Am I training the newer apprentices again?"
Hawkfrost laughed. A rare sight only saved for Ivypool. "No."
.
The two find comfort among the gigantic woodland. No dreary prophecies. No Tigerstar or other Dark Forest leaders' frenetic divination of war and bloodshed. Ivypool remembers when Hawkfrost shared identical ideals with the Dark Forest. Somehow she was able to soften his violent outlook.
.
"Did you eat enough? I know Clan tasks and training in the Dark Forest can be wearying." Hawkfrost curled around Ivypool. They lie in the tall grass of WindClan and view silverpelt. He missed the stars. Being trapped in immeasurable darkness for moons is terrifying –even for those who accepted their role there.
"Yes. My health is as good as ever."
He eyed her injuries gained when training, saw that they were healed, and nodded.
.
Ivypool knows these moments are short. But to her, are more significant and cherished than anything else. They didn't care about proving themselves or about being the best warrior. Competition with Brambleclaw and Dovewing dissolved completely. Dedication and diligence gave them knowledge to be strong, dependable warriors.
.
"I hope…I hope we can win the war."
Hawkfrost snorted. "If I know anything it's that the Clans are stubborn. They won't surrender."
Ivypool laughed. Her mate's mordant humor always disperses doubt.
His nose rested on hers. "You're one of the strongest warriors I've ever seen. And you know Dark Forest tactics."
"I also have you." She watched the sunrise slowly march above distant mountains and tint the forest in golden light. Turning her head Ivypool wanted to say goodbye, but she heard Clanmates snoring soundly instead. She's back in the warrior den.
.
Deafening war cries. The forest is a blur as two armies' collide. Ivypool and Hollyleaf brawl –terrifying their opponents with their violent battle moves. Like in Dark Forest, blood is an unshakable scent. She tosses one cat, claws the next, and barrels over another. Leaping through some flora she brawls more enemies alongside Blossomfall. The warrior hasn't seen Hawkfrost yet. But Ivypool can't look for him. She must focus on defeating her opponents.
.
Her ears swerve to catch rustling bushes as she's fighting. Shredtail lunges from murky darkness. Redwillow followed. Ivypool evaded Shredtail's attack. Blossomfall chased those who fled into the woods.
None of them moved. The air is still. Faint sounds of battle roared in the distance like a storm. Ivypool glared at Shredtail and Redwillow.
.
"Look who's surrounded." Shredtail chuckled.
"Brokenstar would've made you a deputy if you hadn't deserted the Dark Forest."
"Deputy of what?" Ivypool spat. "Coldhearted cats can't run a Clan. Don't forget your leaders failed."
"They won't this time."
.
Shredtail landed on Ivypool. They flip, flip, and flip. Claws slice Ivypool's sides. She rolls and avoids fatal claws digging into her neck. Her fangs sink into the warrior's faint ethereal shoulder. Redwillow twists Ivypool from Shredtail and clawed her muzzle. She stumbles, stunned. Not long ago had they been friends.
.
"Why, Ivypool?! The Dark Forest knows the best path for us! They know how pathetic and weak the leaders are." Hurt glowed in Redwillow's eyes. "The Clans are destined to fall!"
Shredtail bites Ivypool's leg. She falls on her shoulder. Ivypool punches him and gets back up on her feet. A longs scar appears on Shredtail's chest. "The Clans will be dust and the Dark Forest will win this war! Only those worth keeping in our ranks stay in our army. Like Redwillow here."
.
Several wounds slow Ivypool's movement. Her strength wans. Shouting, Ivypool lunges at her adversary. Redwillow may know all her moves but Ivypool had trained longer.
'Will I die before seeing Hawkfrost one more time?'
Shredtail laughed, swinging his head to look at a cat marching from the woods. One of our most dedicated warriors has betrayed us. Why not show them what happens when-"
.
Shredtail gurgled painfully. He spat blood. Hawkfrost's teeth are sunk into the warrior's throat. In one flick Shredtail is tossed over and hits the ground. A long scar runs upwards, spilling blood. The Dark Forest cat's form fades.
Redwillow sputters in shock. "Hawkfrost! Why did you –he's one of the Dark Forest!"
"And I'm not. Not anymore."
"What?!"
.
Ivypool feels revitalized seeing Hawkfrost alive. She breaks from Redwillow's grasp and tosses him into air. His sides gleam crimson from long scars. He lands painfully on his leg. It's broken. Seeing that he's outnumbered, Redwillow retreats. A trail of blood follows and glows like fish scales under moonlight.
.
The warrior collapses. Hawkfrost immediately runs to her side. "You're bleeding a lot, Ivypool! I'll go find a medicine cat!"
"No," she slowly shook her head. Ivypool felt really tired. "They'll attack you, thinking you're part of the Dark Forest army."
"I can hide and call for them. Lead them to you." But they both knew no medicine cat could heal Ivypool's wounds in time. Hawkfrost stayed by her. His warmth is comforting. Or maybe it's blood pooling beneath the warrior. Ivypool didn't expect to die like this. But she's happy that she helped fight for her Clanmates.
.
It's strangely silent. Is the war over? Or had she been separated from the main battle?
Hawkfrost curled around her protectively. His sharp gaze glanced at the horizon.
Hollyleaf tensed as their eyes met. The she-cat crouched, ready to spring into battle-
"Wait! Hawkfrost saved me from Dark Forest warriors!" Ivypool said.
.
Hollyleaf blinked incredulously. Really? The dangerous enemy that Brambleclaw had warned them about? She warily stepped forward. "The Dark Forest is retreating."
"We…won?" Ivypool closed her eyes and hummed. "Wonderful. That means the Clans will be safe."
Hollyleaf's eyes gleamed desolately at her friend. "Yes. You were very heroic. One of the best warriors I've ever known."
Ivypool chuckled. Her voice is faint. "Thanks. You too, Hollyleaf. Can…can you say goodbye to everyone for me?"
She nodded.
.
Ivypool's last breathe escapes her lips. Her body is still. Hollyleaf's form heaves as she sobs.
Flickering silver light. A form peels from Ivypool's body. It's her in a starry form. She no longer feels pain from her wounds and happily runs in a circle. She rests her tail on her friend's shoulder. "I know it's not the same but I'll always be part of ThunderClan."
Hollyleaf smiled sadly. "I'll miss you. Promise to visit?"
Ivypool grinned. "You? Anytime!"
She stood up on her feet and held her friend's gaze briefly. "Goodbye, Ivypool." Then, Hollyleaf departed into the woods.
.
Hawkfrost's normally indifferent cool gaze melted into love. His nose rests on Ivypool's. His pelt ripples like a leaf-fall leaf crunching under a paw. The Dark Forest's coat changes into silver-white. "Am I accepted into StarClan? I never thought I…" Hawkfrost shook his head and laughed. "I can actually hunt and eat prey again! I can swim without being weighed down by mud!"
Ivypool chuckled. She's never seen him this excited. Beyond the dusk is an army of sparkling see-through cats. Ivypool prodded his shoulder with a paw. "Let's go to StarClan."
Smiling, he raced ahead of her. Ivypool grinned and sprinted alongside her mate. They met with the other StarClan cats and ascended into silverpelt.