Okay, last chappie, peeps! Plus the epilogue, which I've already got written. This one's a little shorter, Leafpool's POV. And I've gotten a lot of requests for a sequal, so I'll organize what I'll do for it, promise!

The combination of the cool breeze and Cinderpelt's sudden raspy snore woke Leafpool up. She lifted her head, blinking sleep out of her amber eyes, and then shivered as she remembered her dream. Images flashed in her mind, much clearer than most dreams she'd had.

Running through the forest...hiding in the ivy. Listening to Brambleclaw's conversation with Hawkfrost and then the RiverClan warrior's abrupt change of heart. Somehow that didn't add up to Leafpool, despite what Brambleclaw had said.

But it was only a dream, anyway, Leafpool reminded herself.

Or was it? Leafpool rarely remembered dreams so clearly- unless they were signs from StarClan. Were her warrior anscestors warning her about Hawkfrost?

Or was it all nonesense? Leafpool didn't know, and her frustration was mounting when she heard Graystripe's mew. "Back from hunting, are you?"

The answer came: "Yeah. I couldn't find anything, though."

Leafpool rushed to the mouth of the cave in time to see Squirrelflight dip her head to Graystripe and set off for the warriors' den. Leafpool looked after her curiously. There had been occasions before when she had been with her sister as she dreamed. Was that what had happened now?

Then Squirrelflight spotted her. "Leafpool! What are you doing up?"

"I..." Leafpool was reluctant to let her sister know she was suspicious of where she had been- especially since she was hiding so much from Squirrelflight already. Why give her a reason to watch Leafpool more closely? "I ate a bit of tough fresh-kill before I went to sleep. It was keeping me awake- bellyache, you know."

Squirrelflight nodded, and Leafpool could see that there were too many thoughts in her own mind for her to catch her sister's lie. "Well, I hope you feel better." She started off, and then looked back for a moment. "And Leafpool? Don't...don't go wandering out tonight, all right? I...just don't."

Well, that settled it. The dream had been real. Why else would Squirrelflight be so concerned if Leafpool left the camp? She was obviously thinking of the rogues. Leafpool stared at her for a moment, wondering if Squirrelflight was going to tell her about it. But her sister didn't, and after a while the medicine cat just nodded.

Squirrelflight looked relieved, and she shot a glance towards the camp entrance. Then she looked back at her sister, finally catching Leafpool's eye. The tabby she-cat saw a light in Squirrelflight's green gaze, a warmth that had abandoned Leafpool herself long ago.

A lightning bolt of giddy joy hit Leafpool, a feeling that was not her own, but that danced inside her like new life, that made her fur bristle and her paws prickle. And suddenly she was able to recall the end of the dream- Brambleclaw's declaration of love for Squirrelflight.

It was a good thing that Squirrelflight turned away then, for there was no hiding the rush of horrible self-pity that clouded Leafpool's face. Her whiskers drooped, her tail fell, and her ears flattened. There was a spark of happiness for her sister inside her, but it was hidden in her own pain.

And then she was back at the Gathering, talking to the medicine cats, when she saw Crowfeather coming. She leaped away into the shadows, to nervous, too unwilling to speak to him.

How come I can't love him? Why is everyone- Sorreltail, Squirrelflight, Brambleclaw- how come they can follow their hearts, are certain where they will lead them, when I can't be sure?

It was so simple for the warriors. They were allowed to do what they wished. They didn't have so many rules- and the wrath of StarClan- holding them back. But Leafpool did. Leafpool was bound in the codes that she had sworn she would never break.

Yellowfang's words came to her again. What do you answer to, Leafpool? Your mind or your heart?

Firestar led ThunderClan as his heart willed him to. Squirrelflight had answered to her heart tonight- when she had spoken of her love to Brambleclaw, and when she had let him take care of the rogues with Hawkfrost, despite her better judgement.

But what did Leafpool listen to? Her heart had led her to the WindClan border the night o fher dream with Feathertail. But her mind had made her turn away from Crowfeather that very same night.

So what do I do now? Leafpool wondered. What is right?

She didn't know. How could she go and find Crowfeather, against the will of StarClan? Leafpool's eyes squeezed shut as she imagined her warrior anscestors sending lightning down on her in their anger- just as they had struck it against the tree to murder Muclaw, not so long ago.

A raspy caw sounded through the air. Leafpool's ears twitched and her eyes snapped open at the sound. She saw the crow- almost the same color as the night behind it- lighted down on the edge of the stone hollow. Leafpool stared at it, and she remembered the feeling, that warm, obvious joy that had registered inside of her, when she had last seen a crow. That had been in her dream, when she had realized what Feathertail had meant. That freedom she had felt. Leafpool's fur tingled, and it was in the beady eyes of the ugly bird that she saw the truth inside her.

I love him. I love him and nothing- not me, not honor, not StarClan- will ever stop that.

And then suddenly she was on her paws. Leafpool's heart purred, for she knew what she had to do now. But no, this was what she wanted to do.

She made her way through the camp entrance. The thorns made barely a sound as she squeezed through, and she was ignored by the drowsy Graystripe, who was heading for the warriors' den in search of Whitewhisker, who was supposed to replace him on guard.

Leafpool paused at the top of the hollow and scented the air. She wondered at the rogues. How were Brambleclaw and Hawkfrost going to get rid of them? She wasn't sure, but she was certain they could do it. Besides, they weren't her biggest worry right now- she was headed in another direction.

The young she-cat was almost dancing across the dark land. For the first time in what seemed like forever, her mind was empty, her heart clear to her. And as she went, StarClan did not send lightning to block her path. But, in truth, it wouldn't have mattered. For Leafpool would have only dodged round it and continued to run.

Leafpool's on board. Will they be together? Reviews are appriciated (of course)!