Chapter 5

A squirrel scurried pass Dovepaw's paws and she let out a mewl of excitement. Laughing as she ran after it, she felt comforted by the tall birch trees that surrounded her and the brittle leaves that were at her feet.

The squirrel darted up the white bark and squeaked indignantly at Dovepaw. Dovepaw shrugged and decided to chase something else. There was plenty of prey around for leaf fall. She could hear them all around, scurrying and carrying seeds into their tiny dens, preparing for the long winter.

She sniffed and turned her head back searching for her patrol. Lionblaze would have chastised her for loosing that squirrel by now and if he didn't do that she was sure that Ivypaw would tease her a bit.

"Hello?" She called out.

Strange

She turned back still feeling light and happy. Perhaps her sister was trying to play a prank on her. Her tail shook and her eyes darted around looking for Ivypaw's silver and white coat.

"Can't prank me!" She meowed loudly. Again, there was no response. She frowned beginning to feel confused. She stretched out her senses to the ThunderClan camp but could not find it. Frightened, she concentrated and imagined the hollow and her clanmates but still there was nothing.

"Where's the camp?" She meowed, panicked. Her senses were failing her, all she could hear was the ripples of the streams and the prey running around like normal.

She began to search around the forest. She looked carefully, making sure to check under every single piece of bracken and every hole in the ground. She ran past the looming birch trees until she was in an oak forest, and then she was in a place full of hazel. Her paws ached, and she collapsed onto the ground feeling exhausted.

She felt as if she'd been running for days. Where were her clanmates, her kin? She struggled to stand up but fell back down when she felt the cold chill of leaf fall run down her spine. Where was she? She didn't recognize this place. It felt like home, but it lacked ThunderClan scent.

She was alone

She stood ignoring the shaking feeling of fear inside of her. She was a warrior apprentice, she wouldn't just lie down and wait to be eaten by some fox. Even if her senses were failing her she could still use the skills her mentor had taught her.

She closed her eyes and began inhaling the air deeply. Her eyes shot open when the heavy scent of pine filled her nostrils. She turned to her left and noticed that the bright oak forest had begun to lessen and that replacing it was a dark pine forest. She shivered.

The pine trees were not inviting like the birch trees had been, instead it looked as if a pair of glowing green eyes were watching her from the trees.

"Hello?" Dovepaw called out hoping the creature behind the eyes was friendly.

"Hello." The voice was a meow of a she-cat. Thank StarClan!

Dovepaw perked up. She allowed herself to venture further away from the oak forest but never crossed into the darkness.

"Could you help me?" Dovepaw asked. "I'm a little lost."

The she-cat closed her eyes for a long time causing the green glow to disappear before reopening her eyes. "I cannot help you find your way young one, I can however guide you."

Dovepaw's fur bristled and her tail drooped unhappily. This she-cat just contradicted herself. Mistrust grew. Could this she-cat be one of those Dark Forest cats? Wait…was she dreaming?

"Am I dreaming?" Dovepaw called out sounding unsure.

"Of course!" The cat scoffed. "It seems you regret your decision."

Dovepaw blinked. Her decision? What was she talking about? She thought she was just—a wave of memories washed over Dovepaw. With each memory, her heart sank deeper. She remembered fighting with Ivypaw, arguing with Lionblaze, betraying ThunderClan and joining ShadowClan.

She swallowed. "I-I don't have any doubts." Dovepaw meowed. In all honestly, she wasn't sure anymore. She left ThunderClan to be with Tigerheart and protect another clan. Looking back at it now, her reasoning felt weak and stupid. How could she leave ThunderClan behind?

"Don't try to deceive yourself," The she-cat meowed, she stepped out of the shadows and Dovepaw saw that she was a graceful looking cat, her pelt looked to be made of the sunrise and glimmered in the darkness. She seemed to carry herself with even more dignity than the leaders she knew.

"I'm not deceiving myself. Who are you?" Dovepaw asked.

But the she-cat shook her head and sniffed. "After all ShadowClan is already full of murderers, hypocrites and codebreakers." She cocked her head to the side. "The clan alone causes more trouble to themselves then all the clans combined. They've planted their own downfall."

The former ThunderClan apprentice looked at the she-cat in shock. How could one speak so disrespectfully about any clan and yet…and yet a part of Dovepaw wondered if it was true. The clan was so hostile compared to ThunderClan even with cats like Tawnypelt and Tigerheart. Maybe it would've been better if Tigerheart was the one to join ThunderClan. I should've asked him. Why didn't I ask him?

Still, she felt defensive towards the she-cat. How dare she speak about ShadowClan in that way? She couldn't stop her fur from bristling again.

The she-cat seemed to notice and laughed haughtily. Licking her chest and flashing Dovepaw a prideful glance she purred. "Why so angry little bird? I would know best about my own clan don't you think?"

This made Dovepaw pause. She finally noticed the stars dancing in the cream furred she-cat's pelt. Her heart skipped a beat. This was a StarClan warrior! That must mean she was in StarClan.

She couldn't help letting out a sigh of relief. "Thank StarClan! I thought you were a Dark Forest cat." Dovepaw meowed.

The she-cat sniffed again. "Thank StarClan? I've always hated that expression. The founders are so arrogant already."

Dovepaw cocked her head again. This she-cat seemed so different from the gray she-cat who Dovepaw first met in StarClan, before she had gone on the beaver journey. This cream furred she-cat seemed to believe she was above it all.

The StarClan warrior rolled her eyes before looking down at Dovepaw. "My name little bird, is Dawnstar. I was the leader of ShadowClan a very long time ago."

"You—

Dawnstar cut her off with a hush. "Listen carefully. The path you've chosen was not the one laid out for you. You've strayed from your destiny."

Terror flowed into Dovepaw. "So joining ShadowClan was wrong?" StarClan, how could she have been so stupid. Ivypaw was right but still it didn't sit well with Dovepaw. Something in her other than her devotion to Tigerheart was telling her she'd made the right decision.

"It's not fair that only ThunderClan has the Three." She began to protest. "I wanted to give some other clan a fair chance too."

"Right, and your little meetings with Tigerstar's kin have nothing to do with it? Tell me Dovepaw, why ShadowClan? RiverClan and WindClan don't have warriors with powers either." Dawnstar pointed out.

"I…" How could she explain the special feeling she felt to Dawnstar? "I could just feel it? ShadowClan's the right choice. I know it is." Dovepaw tried to look confidant.

"Oh really? You'd listen to your gut over the wisdom of StarClan Ancients?" Dawnstar began to laugh. "Well you certainly have the becomings of a ShadowClan cat. However," Dawnstar leaned in closer. "You also have a feeling of regret, this loneliness and fear. ShadowClan has no room for such things."

Dovepaw puffed out her chest. "I can push it back! I won't have any regrets." I hope

"Then you must come into the shadows." Dawnstar sternly told her.

Dovepaw's resolve was not broken. Without thinking she leapt over to Dawnstar's side into the shadowed pines. She landed ungracefully.

Dawnstar stared as Dovepaw readjusted herself. Her eyes glittered with an ancient wisdom and she mumbled something under her breath. Dovepaw sat up beside Dawnstar, her eyes shown with newfound determination.

"Dovepaw I have so much to tell you but not all in one sitting." Her gaze grew serious. "I only wish for ShadowClan to have peace." Her voice was drenched in sorrow and she closed her eyes tightly. "We've never known true peace."

Dovepaw bravely pressed against the leader. "I can help! I'll help ShadowClan as best as I can." She promised.

"Peace will come on the dove's gentle wing"

Dovepaw shivered, her part of the prophecy felt even larger now. The words echoed loudly in her ears over and over again. According to StarClan she had strayed from her path, but she'd never felt so…right about something before. The sadness she felt from Dawnstar was overwhelming and Dovepaw wanted to do whatever it took to save ShadowClan from whatever danger was coming. ThunderClan had Lionblaze and Jayfeather, ShadowClan only had her. She had no room for regrets.

Dovepaw's dreaming was interrupted by snarling. She raised her head warily, she felt uncomfortable laying on the cold stone floor. Blinking tiredly she looked at her surroundings. Ferretpaw had obviously not completed his mission of staying up all night and was snoring softly. The two apprentices Pinepaw and Starlingpaw had returned and were sleeping soundly as well. So clearly, she was the only cat hearing the hissing.

Her body felt tired even though her mind was awake. Dawnstar was the longest she'd ever been beside a StarClan warrior, she wondered if she'd see the graceful Leader again. She'd have to, right? Dawnstar said she had more to tell her.

The hissing grew louder and Dovepaw cautiously poked her head out of the den. The pale blue sky let her know that it was early morning but far to early for sunrise. She stared into the open camp, no warrior roamed the camp or heard the hissing.

She allowed her senses to carry her to where the argumentative growls were coming from. She felt surprised as she was taken to the Leader's den. Would it be rude to eavesdrop? Dovepaw was feeling braver since her dream and decided that just once it would be okay.

Russetfur was still in Blackstar's den. The she-cat's coat reflected crimson in the morning light as she paced about her leader. "I don't understand!" She hissed at Blackstar.

"I don't understand why you've kept at this." The leader meowed, sounding irate.

"You're being foolish." Russetfur warned, soon she was almost nose to nose with the white tom even though she had to tilt her head up a bit to reach his eye level.

Dovepaw was sure they were arguing over her, but she'd come in the late evening. Why was the deputy still in the leader's den? Could they have been hissing about this all night?

"Russetfur," She heard Blackstar begin. "I've told you already my dreams are filled with blood and death and this might be our chance to avoid it for once. What more could you want?" There was agitation in his meow.

Russetfur's snorted. "I know! I can feel you squirm and kicking as you sleep. You need to speak with him. You have to."

As soon as she heard the concern in the deputy's voice Dovepaw was sure she stumbled onto something private. She wanted to turn away to leave them to bicker but at the same time she wanted to hear more about Blackstar's dreams. Perhaps it had something to do with the coming danger.

Even with her ears straining to hear them, their voices began to lower and grow softer. The leader gave mumblings and Russetfur flattened her ears, her lips curled until Blackstar whispered something so faint that Dovepaw missed it.

Dovepaw blinked, she missed Russetfur's response. She growled, why couldn't her powers work the way she wanted them to work? She could no longer hear or see the conversation. The only thing she understood was that Blackstar had been having horrible dreams.

"Why are you staring at Blackstar's den so hard!" Pinepaw's shrill voice brought Dovepaw out of her thoughts and she turned to stare at the black apprentice who yawned tiredly.

"I wasn't?" Dovepaw tried to meow but her voice sounded squeaky. Curse her inability to lie like Ivypaw.

"You were." This was the voice of her new mentor, Rowanclaw. As she made eye contact with him he stared at her as if studying her. He made a certain "tsk" sound. "Problem number one, you have a tendency to stare at things and loose focus of what's in front of you."

Dovepaw felt humiliation nip at her flank as Pinepaw began to laugh at her. She gritted her teeth. Smokefoot had pointed that out when they first met. She didn't want every cat to think she just blanked out from time to time.

"Pinepaw since you're up I have a task for you." Rowanclaw meowed looking unimpressed with the black apprentice's attitude.

Pinepaw let out surprised meow. "But I was up all night, I caught four pieces of prey! Ratscar said I should sleep."

Rowanclaw snorted. "Your clan is grateful for your hunting skills, but you should know better than to laugh when the assessment of a fellow clan mate is taking place."

Pinepaw gave Dovepaw a dirty glare. "But she's not a clanmate! She's an outsider!"

Rowanclaw cuffed the apprentice. "Hush. Your brother and Ferretpaw are sleeping. It's a simple task, show Dovepaw where we collect our nesting material and then return her in time for the dawn patrol. Then you can sleep the day away like a badger if you'd like." He sternly told her.

Dovepaw was thankful when Pinepaw only let out a huffy "fine" in response and nothing else. Pinepaw's hostility was to be expected but it still stung like a thorn.

"Come on Birdpaw." Pinepaw called tauntingly before heading out of the den. Dovepaw followed.

"It's Dovepaw." She corrected.

"Sure Swanpaw." Pinepaw responded. "I got it."

As Pinepaw led her to what she called the collecting place and tried to show her how to roll up moss like she was a new apprentice all the while "forgetting" her name Dovepaw's thoughts drifted to Dawnstar. There was so much more she wanted to learn about the leader.

"Hey Starlingpaw!" Pinepaw nudged Dovepaw roughly.

"That's your brother." Dovepaw pointed out.

"Unfortunately." Pinepaw muttered just loud enough for Dovepaw to hear. "Did you see what I did with the moss?"

"I already know how to collect moss." Dovepaw meowed sounding irritated. "I'm older than you."

"I'm seven moons old." Pinepaw argued back. "You're super small!"

Dovepaw decided not to point out the fact that they were the same height. "I'm nine moons old." Dovepaw told her new den mate.

"Doesn't matter," Pinepaw hissed. "Blackstar says that you have to start all over again. I'm going to be a warrior before you!" She unsheathed her claws and Dovepaw was afraid that the apprentice would leap at her but instead Pinepaw just darted past her, growling furiously.

"Real mature." Dovepaw muttered. She bent down to roll up a huge wad of moss for her new nest. She carried the soaking wet moss back towards the way where Pinepaw came from. Some of it slipped out of her jaws and she let out a muffled sound of frustration. As she bent down to pick it up she felt fur brush her own and pine scent filled her nose again.

"Here let me help you with that." Tigerheart bent down to pick up her soaking wet moss and frowned. "StarClan! You got the worse moss, sorry about that. I'd give you my nest if I could."

Dovepaw purred happy to see the tabby. "You're awake?"

Tigerheart smiled at her. "How could I sleep knowing you're in the next den. I came looking for you. Then I heard Pinepaw complaining about you."

Her ears flattened. "Yes, she doesn't seem to like me much, not many cats here do."

Tigerheart nudged her gently. "I like you, honestly don't worry about it Dovepaw, by the next moon everyone will like you, I don't see how they couldn't"

Dovepaw pressed into his fur purring even louder but then pulled away. She remembered Ivypaw taunting her about spending all night with Tigerheart in Dark Forest. She looked into his amber eyes and saw only gentle warmth. It must have been a lie to spite her. Tigerheart was too good for the Dark Forest.

"It sucks that you have to do dawn patrol." Tigerheart sympathized. "It's getting so chilly now…" He looked around. "I want you to have a warm nest, usually we let the apprentices figure this out on their own but there's warm dry moss hidden in the giant log beside the medicine cat den. Littlecloud wouldn't mind you taking some and Flame—

"Ahem."

Both cats moved away from each other as soon as they spotted Rowanclaw staring at them through narrowed eyes.

"M-morning Rowanclaw." Tigerheart sputtered, his face was full of embarrassment. "I was just showing Dovepaw…"

The ginger tom cocked his head slightly. "How to collect moss? She isn't stupid Tigerheart." He brought the tip of his tail to his forehead as if annoyed. "She can't have an easy time here, I know you two are close."

Dovepaw froze, how did Rowanclaw find out? Were she and Tigerheart being to obvious about their close friendship.

"Journeys always bring cats closer together. Trust me I know, but Dovepaw can't have you giving her the easy way out." Rowanclaw meowed and Dovepaw's shoulders slumped in relief. The warrior thought she and Tigerheart were close because they went on the journey to bring back the lake, nothing else.

"I know Rowanclaw." Tigerheart meowed, his tail still fidgeted anxiously as if expecting his father to accuse him of meeting Dovepaw for other purposes.

Rowanclaw sniffed. "Make sure that you do. I need Dovepaw now, we're going to observe the dawn patrol and learn the territory."

"But she hadn't made her nest yet." Tigerheart spoke up again.

Rowanclaw sighed and Dovepaw felt guilty for causing Rowanclaw to reprimand his son. "You know what son, just make her nest for her since you're so eager."

Tigerheart brightened and he flashed Dovepaw a look promising to make her a dry and comfortable nest. Dovepaw resisted the urge to begin purring again. Tigerheart was sweet.

Rowanclaw flicked his tail for her to follow and she did, ignoring the pangs in her stomach. She hoped she could catch a mouse to eat.

When Rowanclaw had told her that she was going to observe the dawn patrol she thought that it meant that she'd be patrolling with them not standing from twenty fox lengths and watching them mark the RiverClan border. I guess they want to keep me away from borders for a bit.

"Shouldn't I patrol with them? "She had asked her new mentor. He'd shaken his head and looked down at her telling her that she smelled too much like ThunderClan still and that it would confuse scent markers.

He was right she guessed but she still felt so bored. Lionblaze had been eager to show her the territory when she was first made into an apprentice. With Rowanclaw she was simply just watching four cats walk really slowly. She lay down as Rowanclaw sat up, he seemed deep in thought as if he didn't really know what to do with his new apprentice.

So, she sat in silence with him until she smelled something fishy. Her fur bristled, and she stood up. "RiverClan patrol." She warned.

Rowanclaw blinked surprisingly at her. "There's no RiverClan patrol." He assured.

Dovepaw shook her head and stared forward until she saw four other shapes pop up from the RiverClan border. She swore she saw Rowanclaw's jaws drop in shock. Dovepaw lifted her chin up proudly. She would show him that she could be useful.

Using her extended vision, she could see the RiverClan deputy, Reedwhisker along with a timid apprentice tailing him. Flanking the deputy was Pebblefoot and another young apprentice who seemed to be taunting the former apprentice. Dovepaw frowned. What would the ShadowClan patrol do? Try and pick a fight?

"How did you know?" Her mentor looked curious.

"I smelled them." Dovepaw meowed, she wondered if she had spoken too early about the RiverClan patrol. She didn't want to give her powers away, who knew what ShadowClan would think if they found out she could spy on any clan in the forest.

"From twenty foxleaps away?"

"How could I miss that fishy smell?"

Rowanclaw chuckled and Dovepaw felt her feet lighten. She was grateful for getting a cat who seemed nice as her mentor. She was even more grateful when Rowanclaw didn't press her for more information.

"Watch what Tawnypelt does." Rowanclaw told her.

Dovepaw obeyed. Tawnypelt was leading the patrol, she wondered how the she-cat felt about Dovepaw joining ShadowClan. Walking evenly with the she-cat was the lithe Oakfur, his bouncing apprentice Ferretpaw and Toadfoot the warrior she had travelled with to bring back the water.

Ferretpaw spotted the RiverClan patrol first and almost darted forward to growl at them but his mentor Oakfur stepped on his tail holding him in place and stopping him from causing trouble. Tawnypelt greeted Reedwhisker respectfully and the RiverClan cat responded in kind.

Their interaction was short and almost forced. The ShadowClan cats soon left the RiverClan patrol alone to do their business. Dovepaw was surprised to see how minimally the patrols had spoken with each other, it was much different from the way ThunderClan and ShadowClan interacted with long glares and loud insults.

"ShadowClan has no qualms with RiverClan." Rowanclaw explained. "We try not to rustle their pelts and they do the same."

"What about ThunderClan?" Dovepaw asked.

The warrior's fur bristled. "Depends on the patrol we meet." He dug his claws in and out of the ground.

...

He threw his head back and sighed. "This is stupid."

"What is?" Dovepaw stood up in concern. Had she done something wrong to upset the warrior or was he having second doubts about training her.

"This starting all over from the beginning dung, Blackstar's being dramatic. You're clearly more than half trained. Treating you like you've never left the nursery before is a waste of time." Rowanclaw complained.

"What should I do then?" Dovepaw meowed.

"I'll tell you." Rowanclaw meowed, he turned and let out a yowl to the ShadowClan patrol. They made their way over in a short run.

"What's wrong?" Tawnypelt asked her mate. "Are you in trouble?"

Rowanclaw shook his head "You were right. I got bored. She's going to show us her hunting skills." He said bluntly. Tawnypelt rolled her eyes at her mate while Oakfur sniffed but blinked his eyes looking too tired to argue.

"Um Blackstar said she's suppose to start all over again." Toadfoot meowed. "You're going to tick him off."

"We won't tell him we did this." Rowanclaw flicked the younger tom on the nose in a friendly manner. Dovepaw was glad the shadow cats were having actual conversations in front of her. However, the thought of going against Blackstar's wishes made her uncomfortable.

"I bet I can catch more prey than she does." Ferretpaw declared. "She can't catch frogs or lizards."

"Who would want to?" Tawnypelt affectionately cuffed the young tom. Turning to Dovepaw she meowed. "I know what it's like to be a stranger, I want you to able to feel safe."

Toadfoot grunted. "Safe in the shadows, right…"

"I'm glad you don't think I'm a threat." Dovepaw meowed. The warriors still seemed off but at least they were talking to her now.

Oakfur yawned. "ShadowClan has seen spies before, we were even spies once ourselves in a different time. You, my dear are no spy. Crowfrost needs to calm down."

Dovepaw felt slightly offended. "How is a spy supposed to look like?"

Oakfur smiled, his teeth blared like lights in the dark. "Not like a deer mouse."

Dovepaw's face burned. "Did Smokefoot—

"Yes." Every cat except for Ferretpaw meowed.

She wanted to bury herself in a hole. None of the warriors took her seriously now but at least the patrol didn't hate her.

Rowanclaw turned to her. "Alright Dovepaw, time to show us your hunting skills. And remember no one tells Blackstar."

You've reached the end!

Rowanclaw and Tawnypelt bet on whether or not Rowanclaw would disobey Blackstar's orders. Rowanclaw thought he could treat this apprentice like a newborn kit but he just couldn't. It was too boring. This won't be the first time he disobeys his leader.

Also I read Bramblestar's Storm and found some things odd about it. In the Power Of Three series Rowanclaw is supportive of Tawnypelt to the point of calling Russetfur out for calling her disloyal. When Blackstar freaks out during the gathering Bramblestar's Storm Rowanstar is the calm one and seems to have the approval of most cats…but then as soon as he's leader he turns into a mega douche and Tawnypelt acts super submissive to him and finds it easier to talk to her brother in a rival clan then her leader and mate. What happened?

Needless to say Bramblestar's Storm was…okay. I hated the love triangle between Bramblestar, Jess and Squirrelflight. Brambleclaw's always been okay to me but personally this book in my opinion didn't do him justice. I did enjoy the Erins showing Dustpelt's grieving process, it felt real and was heartbreaking. Also…my favourite leader Blackstar drowned…I don't know I guess I always imagined him going down in a battle.

Bramblestar's Storm will not be canon to this story. Although I might borrow some plot points.

And because I don't want to lead anyone on I'm letting you know right now that this isn't a Dove/Tiger story. I don't know who Dove will end up with as of now heck even though I say this isn't a Dove/Tiger story she might as well end up with him. It's fair game for any tom or she-cat for Dove's heart.

Double Bless-

XxSelfossObsidianxX