Time for Dovepaw to make her decision.

Chapter Two

"Well?" Ivypaw pressed staring deeply at Dovepaw.

"Ivypaw..."

A ll Dovepaw could see was that ThunderClan was preparing for battle while ShadowClan was at peace. There must've been some misunderstanding. I don't see how we could be fighting right now. It's almost leafbare. Cats could die!

"Are you sure that's what your dream meant?" Dovepaw suggested. "Maybe we could just askShadowClan. See what's really going on."

"Ask? Are you out of your mind?" Ivypaw spat. "We're training to be warriors not kittypets. I'm going back to camp and preparing for this battle and you know what? I don't care if you come back with me or not! It's clear you don't care at all. You're right if you leave I'll just take your place. I wish I never heard about your stupid powers!"

Dovepaw flinched and her eyes began to burn. This wasn't supposed to happen. Telling Ivypaw about her powers was supposed to bring them closer together not drive them further apart. Was there no hope for their relationship at all?

She stepped forward. "Ivypaw I'm sorry, I just…I don't want cats to get hurt. I don't want you to get hurt."

Ivypaw sniffed. "It's too late for that. I thought that when you came to apologize you were finally…I just can't…I hate you." She turned and charged towards the hollow.

Dovepaw sat alone for a few moments sulking. Ivypaw hates me. Shehatesmeshehatesmeshehatesme. Her pelt began to quiver, and panic rose up in her heart. What if she tells everyone my secret to get back at me? What if she tells everyone my plan to leave? What if she ruins everything?

"No!" Dovepaw growled. She couldn't think about her sister's bitterness now. She needed to stop ThunderClan from warring with ShadowClan, but what could she do? She was only an apprentice. I'm one of The Three! I can do this!

Maybe Firestar would listen to her if she told him ShadowClan wasn't preparing to battle. Would the ThunderClan leader listen? He seemed so ready to please his senior warriors and lead ThunderClan to battle. What if he didn't listen and she got in trouble?

But…but what if she went to ShadowClan? What if she warned them about the oncoming onslaught? Perhaps the two clans could come to a peaceful agreement without any bloodshed. Plus, maybe if she warned Blackstar about ThunderClan preparing for battle, he would see her as an ally and allow her to join his clan.

Who should I go to? Firestar or Blackstar?

Fear held her in one place for a while, but she could feel it in her heart that she made the right decision when she arrived at the ShadowClan border. She had run as fast as her shorter legs could carry her, ThunderClan could pop up at any moment. She never thought she'd fear hearing a ThunderClan patrol as much she did now.

She crossed the ShadowClan border without hesitation. She had no time to lose. She needed to find a patrol now!

"Hello!" She called out as loud as possible. "Tigerheart!" She yowled. She knew the chances of her running into the tabby were low, but she had to try.

"Hey ShadowClan!" She yowled louder. "Come out you—

Her meowed ended in a yelp as she was roughly pinned against rough piney ground. The pines needles dug into her back and sharp claws into her shoulders. The thick scent of pinewood overwhelmed her as she stared into dark green eyes and sharp blaring white teeth.

"Applefur?" She guessed. She recognized the mottled brown she-cat from gatherings.

"Care to explain why you're in the middle of our territory, yowling the names of our warriors like a frog brained idiot." Her attacker hissed.

"I need to speak with Blackstar." Dovepaw managed to utter. Fear made her voice small.

"Why?" A new voice hit her ears. A handsome black and white tom stood beside another black furred tom with grey eyes.

"I came to warn you!" She struggled to escape Applefur's grip to no avail. The ShadowClan warrior had her firmly pinned.

The black and white tom sneered and turned to his dark furred companion. "Hear that Smokefoot? This ThunderClan apprentice came to warn us, ShadowClan warriors."

Smokefoot eyes looked cold. "She's trespassing. Send her off to her clan."

"I want to know why she's here." Applefur growled. "Then we can let her go."

"With a scratch or two." The black and white tom added gleefully.

Dovepaw gulped.

"Shut up Crowfrost." Applefur hissed over her shoulder. Crowfrost rolled his blue eyes and continued to growl softly.

"Please Applefur, ShadowClan's in trouble. ThunderClan is going to attack." Dovepaw tried to sound urgent.

The three warriors glanced at each other. Applefur glared down at her captive, her whiskers twitched in disbelief. "ThunderClan is coming to attack and you, a ThunderClan apprentice came to warn us?"

"Liar." Crowfrost spat, while Smokefoot stayed silent.

This was not going according to plan. Dovepaw began to struggle again as Applefur's paw made her way towards her throat.

"Wait." Smokefoot spoke up. "If she's a spy, she'll need to be interrogated."

"That sounds like a waste of time." Crowfrost hissed. "She needs to be taught a lesson."

Applefur glanced at Smokefoot. "I agree with Crowfrost."

"That's a change." Smokefoot muttered. The other two ShadowClanners bristled at the comment. "We should bring her back to camp. I have a feeling Blackstar will find this interesting."

Crowfrost's eyes widened. "What?"

"I'm leading this patrol." Smokefoot added. "I get to call the shots."

"All right." Applefur's grip on Dovepaw loosened. "Makes it your fault if things go wrong then."

Crowfrost huffed in agreement.

Dovepaw let out a breath of relief as Applefur stepped off her. She could feel the indent in her skin where Applefur's claw were. Maybe it was true that ShadowClan never sheathed their claws, that they were always prepared for battle.

She was roughly nudged onto her feet by Smokefoot. Applefur stared at her expectantly. "You're coming with us."

"Yes!" She meowed. "That's what I want." Smokefoot flashed her a glance.

"Well," Crowfrost called loudly towards the border. "I guess we're just bringing you back to camp then! This isn't suspicious at all!"

Applefur flicked the tom's nose with her tail. "No one's there Crowfrost. Only one mousebrain this time." She meowed glaring at Dovepaw.

Crowfrost huffed for the second time, this time raising his forepaw in annoyance.

Dovepaw only came this deep into ShadowClan territory once and that had been when she and a pair of cats from each clan had brought the water back. They had been welcomed into ShadowClan territory with kindness and an offer of food. Dovepaw didn't think she would be getting the same treatment a second time.

On the way to the camp Crowfrost had only growled at her and even snapped at her once when she fell behind. Applefur gave her a glare every moment or two and her tail twitched as if she had many questions but refused to voice them. Smokefoot didn't look at her at all. These warriors barely spoke but she guessed being silent was a ShadowClan trait.

Tigerheart isn't like that. The tabby wasn't a loudmouth, but he certainly wasn't as quiet as the three that surrounded her now.

Dovepaw realized that even if she herself knew that she was granting the ShadowClan cats a favour that the clan might not see it the same way.

She glanced down at her paws, there was no going back now. She had to push forward.

….

….

…

"What's Blackstar going to ask me?" She asked. There was no way she'd be able to bear this silence.

Applefur didn't look at her. "Questions."

"Like?"

The mottled molly ignored her. Crowfrost let out a sniff of distain.

More silence moments passed, but they reached the ShadowClan camp, a huge dip in the ground surrounded by brambles and tall pine trees only connected to the rest of the forest by a prickly looking tunnel. Smokefoot entered the thorn tunnel first and Dovepaw recognized the voice of Oakfur, a senior warrior. The tom sounded surprised but after a moment Smokefoot reappeared with lean brown tom beside him.

"You're not coming into our camp." Smokefoot explained. Oakfur glared at her and Dovepaw felt his gaze pierce right through her. Why couldn't she be around friendly cats?

She protested "But I need—"

Oakfur cut her off, his voice sounded smooth compared to Crowfrost's husky tone. "We'll see what can be done about your request."

Oakfur nodded to both Applefur and Crowfrost and the two disappeared into the thorny tunnel. Oakfur gave one last look at Dovepaw before disappearing back into the dark tunnel.

Only Smokefoot remained, sitting, and waiting quietly. Dovepaw sighed quietly and her eyes darted around looking for something to distract her for a few moments until the cats returned. She settled on Smokefoot's back. Looking closer, she saw that his back had a purplish tint to it as if it were bruised. In fact, it looked like multiple bruises lined Smokefoot's back, as though whatever wounds he had never fully healed underneath that dark pelt.

The tom was covered in scars too, especially along his flank and back legs. One deep pink cut rode from his shoulder narrowly avoiding the back of his neck.

What kind of training did ShadowClan warriors have to go through? Staring at the marks made Dovepaw's own back ache with false pains. She shuddered and decided to settle on unsheathing and sheathing her own silver claws. She tore at the grass and sighed loudly. Firestar could send a patrol any moment now and if they met her here, her plan would be ruined.

As soon as she was tempted to use her powers to look past the tunnel she heard the shuffling of foot steps. Her ears pricked. Finally!

Blackstar stepped out from the tunnel, he raised his head as he approached and Dovepaw felt a twinge of fear as she realized how intimidating the leader was. Flanking him was Russetfur, a she-cat whose terrifying aura rivaled her leaders and Littlecloud, the ShadowClan medicine cat. Her nervousness lessened a bit as the healer flashed her a sympathetic glance.

Smokefoot dipped his head respectively and Dovepaw did the same.

Blackstar's cold gaze looked her up and down. "Hello Dovepaw." Although he seemed to greet her formally, his tone was not welcoming.

Dovepaw felt stupid. Blackstar wasn't like Firestar. What if he decided he'd rather send her back in pieces as a warning to silly apprentices trying to help other clans?

He continued. "I hear interesting things from my warriors. Care to explain why they found an apprentice far from her den and yowling in the middle of ShadowClan territory?"

Russetfur growled. "Why they brought you here is beyond me. You're an apprentice, you know the code. Unless ThunderClan's decided to stop teaching it."

Littlecloud cleared his throat. "Let's not make her feel too bad. She's young, perhaps she's made an error." He looked at her, hopeful that she would confirm his theory.

Dovepaw felt ill. Only Littlecloud seemed to be willing to give her story a chance "I-I came to warn you." She squeaked.

"So, we've heard." Russetfur replied dryly. "You expect us to believe you're trying to help us?"

Blackstar raised his tail. "Let's hear you claims Dovepaw and let's hope they're satisfactory."

Dovepaw gulped fumbling around for words. "Well I-I…um ThunderClan is…

"Out with it!" Russetfur hissed, Blackstar flicked his tail tip asking for patience from his deputy.

How do you tell a leader that your clan is about to launch an attack on their clan without getting your throat ripped out? Dovepaw didn't know but she tried. "ThunderClan believes that ShadowClan is about to attack and take more territory. They're talking about fighting as we speak. They might even be on their way."

Smokefoot twitched an ear while Blackstar's whiskers twitched. "Why would you tell us this?" He asked carefully studying the young apprentice. "This is most certainly traitorous behaviour on your part and how can we sure that you're telling the truth?"

Dovepaw paused. She didn't want to ask him about joining the clan in front of Smokefoot. Suddenly the thought occurred to her. Why would Blackstar let her join ShadowClan? What could she provide to convince him that she was worth it? Especially since ShadowClan was so against outsiders. To make things worse Dovepaw couldn't forget the kittypet blood that ran through her veins from Cloudtail, she doubted ShadowClan would forget as well.

She ran through scenarios in her mind, everyone of them ended with ShadowClan chasing her away and her having to return to ThunderClan, away from ShadowClan, away from Tigerheart and back to steal attention from Ivypaw.

"I'm no liar," Dovepaw promised. "I want to avoid needless bloodshed." She stood tall and tried to avoid the sinking feeling in her stomach.

"Afraid of blood?" Russetfur's tone was hostile and Dovepaw noticed the glint of the deputy's claws peering from her paws.

"Please," Dovepaw begged. "I don't want cats to be hurt for no reason. I can't allow it."

Blackstar snorted and exchanged a glance with Smokefoot. The dark grey cat held his leader's gaze.

Blackstar sighed and turned back to Dovepaw "You can't allow it? You're suppose to do as you're told, especially since you're an apprentice. I don't have time for this nonsense. He turned to leave.

"Wait!" Littlecloud stepped to block off his leader. Dovepaw heard the larger tom growl and she felt worry for the healer. "If she's being truthful, I think it would be dishonourable to let ShadowClan be attacked on false pretences." The medicine cat seemed to choose his words carefully while looking up at his leader.

Blackstar remained silent as Littlecloud continued. "A pointless battle would waste precious herbs and on the cusp of leaf-bare too."

"True," Blackstar agreed although a bit hesitantly. Dovepaw's tail flickered in nervousness. "I'm not going to allow ThunderClan to think they can bully ShadowClan."

Russetfur seemed to agree with the notion but her tone was still hostile. "We can't let ThunderClan push us around but how can we be sure this apprentice is telling the truth?" She pointed out.

"I believe her." Smokefoot meowed. "This one's too soft to lie."

Dovepaw's face burned. She didn't consider herself soft. Sure, she wasn't as brash as Ivypaw or as forward as someone like Berrynose, but she didn't think she was soft. She was training to be a warrior for StarClan's sake! Also, she had lied straight to Cinderheart's face. I also lie about my powers all the time. That must count for something…not that lying is a good thing but…I'm not soft! Her cheeks burned in embarrassment. Compared to even Littlecloud she knew she looked small.

Blackstar closed his eyes as if in deep thought. His eyes remained closed as he answered. "We've been lenient about the ThunderClan border, a battle would help re-establish our strength." His eyes flashed opened and he glanced up as if running the cons and pros in his own mind. "And yet a battle would waste so much." He turned to his deputy. "Would our warriors be ready?"

Russetfur sniffed but answered. "No, they wouldn't" She seemed hesitant to answer in front of Dovepaw.

"And I'm sure you have the list of reasons why." Blackstar pressed.

"Yes, but I wouldn't speak of them in front of this ThunderClan apprentice." Russetfur retorted. Blackstar twitched an ear but said nothing.

"Then we can't battle." Littlecloud determined. "The clan's safety comes first."

"Very well." Blackstar decided with a raised forepaw. "We will not battle ThunderClan, yet…"

A lump began to grow in Dovepaw's throat. But what?

"ThunderClan still seeks to attack us." He growled. "ShadowClan will defend itself if they do."

Dovepaw felt her body begin to shiver as fear raked it claws down her spine. What could ShadowClan do to show ThunderClan that they had no intent of attacking. Talk? What if they talked?

"Please speak with Firestar!" Dovepaw urged. "Tell him the truth!"

Blackstar's eyes seemed to glow with annoyance at the apprentice ordering him around, but his whiskers simply twitched. "I suppose a diplomatic approach could work."

"We should show that we're not a threat!" Littlecloud meowed, his eyes glowing. "I could give Jayfeather some herbs."

Dovepaw let a breath of relief. The medicine cat seemed excited and willing to move towards peace.

Russetfur grunted but did not disagree with her leader or medicine cat.

"We'll speak with Firestar, but I want both my deputy and medicine cat with me." The ShadowClan leader announced

Smokefoot's eyes met with his leaders. "No warriors?"

"No warriors." Blackstar concluded. "We don't want to be seen as a threat."

"What if something goes wrong?" Smokefoot questioned. His fur bristled. "Take one or two of us with you, just for backup."

"Don't worry Smokefoot." Russetfur meowed. "All three of us are skilled enough to hold them back and retreat to here if things take a change for the worse."

Dovepaw flashed a glance at Littlecloud. Did ShadowClan train their medicine cats like their warriors? Observing the medicine cat more carefully she did notice the faint muscle that lay beneath his light brown pelt.

"I'll gather some coltsfoot." Littlecloud announced and soon the small medicine cat disappeared into the thorny tunnel.

Dovepaw so badly wanted to charge through the tunnel and see Tigerheart but she was nudged backwards by Russetfur.

"Wait here." She commanded, and then she too disappeared into the tunnel.

Blackstar flashed her one last look before turning to Smokefoot. "Make sure she doesn't flee." He ducked his head as he entered the tunnel disappearing like Littlecloud and Russetfur into the tunnel.

She waited in silence with Smokefoot. Again

She fell into the temptation of seeing what was happening in the ShadowClan camp. She concentrated and used her senses to sneak past the thorny tunnel.

Littlecloud was gathering coltsfoot from his den as promised while Flametail, Tigerheart's brother and the medicine cat apprentice gave him a look of disbelief.

"Let me get this straight, we're giving our herbs away to our enemies." He sounded baffled.

Littlecloud gently cuffed the ginger tom's ear. "You have a lot to learn about diplomacy Flametail, it can't always be claws and teeth all the time."

Dovepaw moved on to where Blackstar was sitting on a large flat rock looking down on a group of gathered warriors. Dovepaw recognized few of them, but she noticed Crowfrost, and Applefur among them. They must be ShadowClan's senior warriors she guessed. She noticed Tawnypelt, a ThunderClan born warrior sitting beside a tabby ginger tom, Rowanclaw. If Tawnypelt could join ShadowClan and be born in ThunderClan, then so can I.

"We must be clever." Blackstar was saying. "If we don't return after the first owl calls, Rowanclaw will lead an offensive patrol and Crowfrost will lead an ambush patrol. I want Snowbird and a group of others defending the camp."

Rowanclaw nodded as Tawnypelt pressed closer to him, while Crowfrost nodded proudly. The white furred she-cat she presumed was Snowbird, looked at her leader nervously. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

"We can only hope." Blackstar meowed. He paused and then looked sternly at his warriors. "Do not let the younger warriors hear of this until the time comes."

Dovepaw blinked to herself. Why keep battle plans from half your clan? She wondered if any brave young warriors would eavesdrop on their leader to hear the discussion. Cats often did that in ThunderClan and that was how word travelled quickly. Even she and Ivypaw had listened in on the senior warriors from time to time.

She was smacked into reality, literally. Smokefoot looked down at her with his forepaw raised as if to cuff her again.

"Do you normally stare blankly into space with your ears perked up as high possible." He questioned.

"N-no" She meowed, slightly unhappy that she was disturbed before she could reach Tigerheart.

"Good," He meowed. "because it makes you look like a wide-eyed deer mouse."

Her face burned, and she grumbled under her breath. "I don't look like a deer mouse." I look cool when I'm using my powers…I think. Oh Starclan do I just stare off into space like a weirdo?

"Yes, you do." He replied uncaringly. "Wide eyed, naïve and small. Those are the exact same qualities you share with deer mice.

"That's not true." She protested as he chuckled looking off into grass as if expecting one of the creatures to pop out.

"Yes, it is." He repeated bluntly. "Have you ever seen a deer mouse. I could show you, they're very common in this side of the territory—

"Well your back makes you look like you fell out of tree!" She snapped before catching herself. Oops, don't upset one of the cats you're trying to save.

Smokefoot's eyes widened and he stared blankly at her.

Dovepaw began to apologize. Pointing out a warrior's injuries was a low blow. She knew she'd claw anyone who insulted Brightheart's missing eye and mauled face. "I'm sorry—

"I fell off a cliff."

Oh foxdung! Dovepaw!

She remembered hearing about the ShadowClan apprentice who fell to his death during the Great Journey, but she knew for a fact that Mousefur had said he died. There was no way an apprentice could survive the fall. She took a step back in slight fear. And cats can't come back from the dead!

His lips twitched, and a creepy grin fell onto his face striking fear into her heart. "Oh, don't worry, I'm not dead. I just asked Blackstar to not mention me coming back to ShadowClan. I'm not one for attention you see. I just guessed most warriors would be able to put two and two together. "

Those were the most words Smokefoot spoke to her and they managed to be the most terrifying.

Before she could open her jaws to ask questions the ShadowClan trinity had returned, Littlecloud carrying a bundle full of herbs in his jaws.

"You're taking us to Firestar." Blackstar told her, turning to Smokefoot he meowed. "Return to camp."

She nodded but stole a glance at Smokefoot. The black furred tom had become stoic again, his grey eyes betraying nothing.

Dovepaw tried to look confident as she lead the trinity of a rival clan into ThunderClan territory. No cat spoke as they walked making Dovepaw feel bored. At the same time, she was glad they weren't asking her any more questions and relived that they were coming to speak with Firestar. She almost felt like the hard part was over. She smiled to herself. She had convinced Blackstar to come to peaceful terms with ThunderClan.

"Dovepaw?"

Surprise made her stumble on her own feet. Firestar was flanked by Jayfeather and Brambleclaw. The three were surrounded by no warriors and were approaching the ShadowClan border.

"Dovepaw!" Firestar called again, this time stopping just a paw step behind the borderline. Firestar's fur bristled as his eyes met Blackstar. Confused green eyes darted from the growling Russetfur to the herb carrying Littlecloud.

"What's going on?" He asked cautiously. Brambleclaw stayed silent but his twitching tail showed his shared confusion.

Dovepaw avoided Jayfeather's blind gaze, he too was clearly surprised and irritated. Dovepaw realized how disappointed he would be once he realized what she wanted to do. She tried to make her mind as hazy as possible to stop him from peering in

"We were on our way to speak with you." Blackstar meowed, unfazed.

"So were we." Firestar meowed. "We came to speak with you in private, my cats matched for yours, but I see that its already been done."

"We were warned that ThunderClan was planning an attack. We came to make peace." Blackstar told him.

"Warned?" Brambleclaw echoed, his eyes travelled to Dovepaw. He looked betrayed and upset.

Dovepaw wanted the ground to swallow her up. She'd never felt so bad in her life. She just wanted to skip to the part where she was curled up by Tigerheart and forgotten by ThunderClan. She didn't want to face the terrible looks in her clanmates eyes.

"From Dovepaw I presume." Firestar guessed, his eyes narrowed. "But we can deal with that later. Since you're already here I'll get straight to the point."

"What is it?" Blackstar meowed briskly.

Firestar responded with the same bluntness. "I want you to give the ThunderClan clearing back to ThunderClan."

"What?" Blackstar rasped looking furious.

Dovepaw watched in fear as the two leaders quickly went from paw steps behind the border to almost meeting noses only halted by the invisible border. It was not her place to speak but she wished she could step in-between them and stop the hostility.

"We gave it as a gift," Firestar went on. "but you've pushed at our borders far too often." Although he spoke with conviction the ginger tom now seemed to look uncertain.

"That's not true! It's ThunderClan whose being pushing the border." Russetfur hissed. Her jaws opened to say more but Littlecloud nudged her shoulder. She turned her hiss to him but he didn't flinch.

"We came to make peace." Littlecloud reminded her gently. Gingerly he dropped his offering of herbs at Jayfeather's feet. "A gift from ShadowClan."

Jayfeather sniffed the herbs "Thank you, Littlecloud. Coltsfoot will help Poppyfrost and her kits." He sounded awkward and uncertain.

Dovepaw couldn't help but feel a tinge of righteousness. See the clans need each other She wanted to tell him. She kept her jaws shut although her tail flickered back and forth scattering the pine needles behind her.

Blackstar glared at Firestar their whiskers almost still touching before the white tom surprisingly took a few steps back and gave a short dip of the head, the way one respected a leader of equal status.

"Very well Firestar." Blackstar sounded almost too agreeable. "Take the clearing back."

Dovepaw noticed Russetfur digging her claws into the ground but keeping silent. Brambleclaw and Firestar both looked surprised.

"Oh?" Firestar meowed. "That easily?" his tone was laced with suspicion.

"Only," Blackstar began to speak again, and Firestar's ears perked up as if expecting the ShadowClan leader to challenge him to fight for the clearing. "If you tell me the real reason ThunderClan wanted to attack ShadowClan in the first place."

Brambleclaw's fur bristled. "He told you why, the borders—

"I'm no fool Brambleclaw." Blackstar curled his lip. "What kind of warrior gives a gift and then threatens to take it back through force? ThunderClan once said that the land was prey poor. Why take it back now?"

Dovepaw wondered if Firestar would reveal Ivypaw's dream to Blackstar. She noticed Jayfeather's tail twitching in interest.

Firestar was taken back but his eyes blared with determination. "First you tell me Blackstar, and I want your honesty as leader and as a warrior dedicated to the code."

Blackstar's eyes narrowed and Dovepaw held a breath. Brambleclaw flashed a glance at his leader while Littlecloud seemed to be praying that this would end peacefully.

"Is ShadowClan planning to push past our borders? Will your streams be filled with ThunderClan blood?" Firestar asked, his tone betrayed his urgency.

Dovepaw gasped. Was that what Ivypaw dreamt about? What a horrible message to get.

Amber eyes met green ones. "No." Blackstar promised. He looked a bit caught off guard, but his face returned to his usual stoic features. "The only problem as stated at the gathering were the scent markers. The streams will run only with water."

Dovepaw let go of her breath when Firestar visibly relaxed. "Then there shall be no battle." He dipped his head to Blackstar.

Blackstar gave a curt nod and Firestar turned his back to the border. Jayfeather nodded to Littlecloud and picked up the coltsfoot. Dovepaw could feel shockwaves flowing off the Thunder cats. She knew they were thinking about the possible loses if ShadowClan had decided to fight.

"Oh, and Blackstar," Firestar turned back to add. "ShadowClan may keep the clearing. ThunderClan will no longer challenge your claim to it. It was a gift after all." He continued to walk.

Brambleclaw fixed Dovepaw with a stern look. "Come on Dovepaw, you have a lot of explaining to do."

Dovepaw gulped and didn't move. This was it, this was the perfect moment to reveal her plan. If ShadowClan rejected her she would follow ThunderClan back home in shame and defeat but at least halting bloodshed between the two clans.

"Dovepaw!" The ThunderClan deputy called again sounding irritated. Firestar stopped to see what the hold up was about.

As she opened her mouth to speak Jayfeather's fur flared up in alarm and his eyes revealed panic. Dovepaw guessed he already read her mind. You can't He seemed to be yowling. Think of the prophecy!

"Go on Dovepaw." Blackstar meowed. "Your assistance was appreciated." He added in what Dovepaw assumed was voice of gratitude.

Dovepaw gave a deep breath and let her eyes travel to all the cats around her. This is for the good of all the clans, for my friends, for the clans and for Ivypaw.

"I want to join ShadowClan!" She declared.

Well Dovepaw's made her big announcement and we finally kick off the story. As you could probably tell situations that took placed in the Night Whispers like the sister's fight took place before the battle in this story. Some dialogue from the book is mixed with dialogue from this story.

I imagine that Firestar wouldn't have punished Dovepaw harshly for warning ShadowClan because he did the exact same thing when he was younger. Remember when he warned Tallstar about Bluestar wanting to attack WindClan?

Headcannon: The top three cats in the clan, the Leader, Deputy and Medicine Cat are known as the Trinity of their respective clans. Kind of like how in the Justice League, Batman, Superman and Wonderwoman are the top guns and known as the Trinity.

Headcannon: Although Erin Hunter said that Smokefoot and Smokepaw are two different cats, in this story Smokepaw survived the cliff fall and found his way back to ShadowClan. Some cats know who he is but since his return was never announced to the clans (as per his request) some think he's an entirely different cat or don't even know his story.

Headcannon: We know that Littlecloud once trained as a warrior, I like to think that he still keeps his skills sharp. Sometimes he spars with warriors or his brother when he's bored. He's mentored Flametail in both healing and defending himself.

Double Bless-

XxSelfossObsidianxX