A bit of blood warning for this chapter since it's the Dark Forest and I plan on making them a little more vicious.

For fifteen minutes of fame
What would you do
Who would you hurt
And who would you screw
Would you kill for the sake of making a name
For fifteen minutes of shame

Egypt Central "15 Minutes"

Chapter 8

Ivypaw was clever.

Cinderheart had always praised her for her intelligence and her mother had often wondered where she got the trait from.

She always thought before she leapt.

The plan to rescue Dovepaw had taken three days. For three days, she gathered a force of warriors who would dare defy Firestar to rescue her sister and for three nights she had gone over the plan with Hawkfrost and Tigerstar who greatly approved.

"Bumblestripe, Blossomfall, Rosepetal, Hazeltail, Mousewhisker." She listed off the cats that would help in her attack to Hawkfrost. "Oh, and Foxleap is leading."

Hawkfrost nodded approvingly. "And you made Foxleap think that it was his idea."

Ivypaw nodded. "All I had to do was cry about missing Dovepaw and go on about how they were torturing her for ThunderClan information." She pushed down the feeling of guilt for twisting Foxleap like this.

"You're right about the torture and you've gathered a full force." Hawkfrost praised. "I say if you win this, Firestar might make you a warrior."

Ivypaw couldn't hide her glee. "I know! He won't believe his eyes once he sees that we have Dovepaw back and that we beat ShadowClan."

"Perhaps you could even take the clearing back." Hawkfrost was always pushing for more.

Ivypaw had no intention of taking the clearing back. She just wanted to see her sister's stupid face again and shred Tigerheart's fur. She didn't care that he was a Dark Forest clanmate, he was a part of ShadowClan.

"There's only one problem." Ivypaw confessed while glancing at her silver coloured feet.

"Which is?"

"We don't know when to attack." She explained. "We can't attack now since there's extra patrols on the ShadowClan border but if we wait too long the others will lose their nerve."

Ivypaw felt Hawkfrost's tail under her chin. He tilted her head up and purred. "Little strategist! I'll give you the answer to that."

He whipped around and began to draw a circle in the dirt with a long claw. "Attack after the gathering."

Her eyes widened. "Is that even allowed?"

"Is torturing a ThunderClan apprentice, your own sister allowed? No! But ShadowClan twists her mind every waking moment!" Hawkfrost hissed.

Ivypaw shuddered and soon anger overwhelmed her. "They have no right!" She spat.

"Show me your plan." Hawkfrost instructed.

Ivypaw drew some lines in the dirt, the way she had seen Tigerstar do when he planned for mock battles. "If we attack before the gathering patrol gets back, they'll be less cats in the camp. We won't hurt any innocent cats like kits or medicine cats—

"Who do you think makes the herbs to hurt her mind." Hawkfrost growled. "Even the medicine cat is evil!"

Ivypaw nodded but in the back of her mind she thought. Hurting a medicine cat is against the warrior code. I won't let that happen.

She continued with her plan. "Grabbing Dovepaw is the most important thing, but we'll teach the warriors and apprentices a lesson."

Hawkfrost nodded looking proud. "What if you made the warriors chase you into the forest and trapped them."

"But we don't know that much about their territory." She meowed sounding confused.

"I'll guide you." He promised. "You've done well Ivypaw." He praised.

She beamed. "You've been an excellent mentor."

"I want you to meet some cats." Hawkfrost told her. "A…reward for being so promising."

Ivypaw tried to hide her excitement. She knew that there were other cats here but she had never gotten to see them. Well I have met Tigerheart here…and Antpelt and Hollowpaw but I want to meet some real Dark Forest cats.

The grassy meadow he often took her too began to fade away and Ivypaw lifted her paw in surprise as the ground changed beneath her. That had never happened before. With a flick of his tail he ordered her to follow him.

Dark fog began to overcome her vison and the scents of Hawkfrost became cloudy and hard to follow. With a squeak of surprise, she tripped over her feet.

"H-Hawkfrost I can't—

"See?" A pair of bright green eyes flashed and Ivypaw yelped in surprise leaping backwards. A tall ginger and white she-cat stepped forward grinning widely.

Bravely Ivypaw stepped forward. "W-who are you?"

She felt Hawkfrost's tail on her shoulder. Her second mentor had returned. "Meet Mapleshade, she's…been here for a long time. She's one of the oldest warriors and she's going to teach you a special move."

Mapleshade snorted, Ivypaw noticed that there was a reddish tint to her green eyes. Turning to Hawkfrost she saw that his blue eyes also now held the red tint. It stained his eyes like blood spilling into a lake. It was unnerving. However, Ivypaw was too curious to feel afraid.

"Are there other cats?" She questioned loudly, glancing around the slender she-cat.

Mapleshade snorted and curled her lip. "Only the best little one. Snowtuft, Deadeye, Shredtail! Show the new cat your faces!"

One by one she saw three more cats peer through the darkness. One cat, a bulky black tom with one open green eye came forward to sneer at Ivypaw. He circled her like she was prey. She bared her teeth and he laughed. "Oh, this one has spirit! I'll enjoy breaking it."

Hawkfrost coughed and glared at the tom. "Watch it Deadeye," He whispered. "He was a ThunderClan cat a very long time ago, ignore his…mannerisms."

A ragged dark brown cat with barely a tail left turned to Mapleshade. "Are we sure she is the one? She's hardly bigger than my last meal."

Ivypaw growled. "What happened to your tail?" She taunted.

Instantly he was in her face baring long canines. "My mother held me down while my brothers tore it to pieces. Never trust kin!" He spat before shoving her backwards.

Wide eyed she squeaked feeling embarrassed but fearless. She turned to the last cat, a white tom with long ear tufts. "And this is…"

"Snowtuft." The pale blue-eyed tom answered. "Once a ShadowClan medicine cat till those traitors suffocated me to death."

"That's…brutal." Ivypaw breathed. "What happened to both of you sounds terrible."

"Oh, it's okay." Deadeye chuckled. "They fix the hollowness in their hearts by training cats like you to overcome such treachery."

Flinching slightly, she stepped closer to Hawkfrost "You asked if I was the one?" Ivypaw meowed. "What did you mean by that?"

"A time of light is coming to the clans." Hawkfrost answered her.

"What's wrong with light?"

"It's a blinding light." Hawkfrost growled. "One that will destroy the already fragile warrior code. The clans will fall to it without…saviours to guide them to safety."

"Like me?" Ivypaw asked.

"Once you're fully trained," Mapleshade purred. "you'll help save the clans. You'll be the strongest and most clever cat in the forest. You'd be able to rival StarClan."

"Woah." She whispered. "What will I have to do?" This sounded so much better than having Dovepaw's weird powers. She would be able to challenge StarClan! The thought alone made her feel powerful.

"We'll explain when the time comes. For now, you must train harder than ever! Your enemies train as we speak!" Mapleshade hissed. "Show me what you've learned."

Mapleshade leaped at her without warning, knocking Ivypaw off her paws. The ginger and white she-cat pummeled at Ivypaw's stomach until she wanted to spew up her prey. Ivypaw swiped at Mapleshade's throat and rolled onto her feet. She nimbly bit at the she-cat's feet until she was knocked roughly backwards.

Ivypaw stood up coughing, the taste of blood filled her mouth and her nose was bleeding. Hawkfrost had never been that rough with her before!

"What was that?" Mapleshade hissed. "How are you going to rescue your sister with that nonsense?" Deadeye and Shredtail laughed. "She is not the one!" She hissed at Hawkfrost.

"Wait." Hawkfrost told them calmly.

Ivypaw snarled and threw her weight into Mapleshade's chest catching the she-cat of guard. Before she could be grabbed she rolled and bit at her knee joints instead of her feet. The older warrior lost her footing and stood on her hind legs to balance. Ivypaw tore her claws through her exposed white fur, blood sprayed onto her forelegs.

She stepped back panting heavily. "How's that for nonsense?" She spat. Hawkfrost was nodding in approval. Snowtuft looked impressed.

Mapleshade let out a hoarse laugh as blood dripped from her belly. "Clever piece of dung aren't you?" She stood up. "You should've gone for my throat."

"But that's a death blow!" Ivypaw protested. "I'm no killer."

"You kill prey every day." Snowtuft pointed out.

She felt disgust pour into her belly. "Cats aren't prey!"

Deadeye laughed loudly. "Oh, cats are the exact same as prey when you have them cornered." He flexed his claws as if savouring a precious memory.

Ivypaw felt sick. "I don't want to kill…warriors don't kill."

"What if some cat tried to kill you or Dovepaw?" Hawkfrost asked her gently. "You know, I died because I couldn't defend myself. My killer ripped open my stomach and left me to bleed in the stream. Then when he returned home, he made it sound as if I tried to kill him." He meowed bitterly.

Her eyes widened in shock. "What types of cats did you all meet?"

"Terrible ones." Mapleshade meowed. "Here in the Dark Forest, cats who've been wronged in life come here to teach others to protect themselves instead of hiding in StarClan like cowards. I had a tom who broke my heart and blamed me for killing our kits when it was his fault!"

"Where is he now?" Ivypaw asked.

"I made sure he…left the after life." She told her. "To protect any other cats, he could hurt."

"But killing…" Ivypaw glanced down at her bloody paws. She had promised she would do anything to protect Dovepaw, did that include taking some other cat's life? Of course!

She looked up. "I'd only kill to defend myself and my clanmates." And Dovepaw

"Excellent." Mapleshade meowed brightly. "Shredtail show her the technique. My wounds are too severe."

Ivypaw woke up feeling achy, her paw outstretched in the air still practising the move Shredtail had shown her. She looked to the empty nest beside her. She had left Dovepaw's nest untouched and it still carried her scent.

"I'll bring you home." She promised.

She stood up and groomed her ruffled pelt. The one good thing about having no other cat in the den was that no cat would question her about her injuries. She winced in pain once she reached her belly, her stomach would have welts on them in the morning.

She had been ejected from the Dark Forest early, although unhappy that her training was cut short she was partially glad to be away from the cats who had terrible endings. Even though the cats thought she could be a saviour for the clans she wondered if she could really do it?

She licked her swollen foot. She couldn't go to Jayfeather for herbs. He would ask questions and be upset with her. Maybe he'd even tell Firestar and she couldn't have that happen. The leader didn't know what was coming to the clans.

She limped out of the apprentice den to meet with the others. Although she was tired she knew she had to meet with Foxleap and the others to make sure that they didn't lose their nerve. Ever since they had all agreed to attack the ShadowClan camp they'd been meeting nightly to discuss the idea.

She met them at the entrance of the camp, Foxleap gave her a shocked look. "What happened to you!" He loudly whispered.

"Hush!" She hissed. "I was training and I hurt myself okay! Don't wake cats up!"

Foxleap flinched back looking hurt. "I just wanted to make sure that you were okay…"

She felt bad for snapping at the tom. "I'm sorry I'm just…cranky since Dovepaw's been taken."

He nudged her gently. "Don't worry I get it. If Icecloud was taken I would fight StarClan to get her back."

She pulled away. "Y-you didn't tell her, did you?" Icecloud was known for being chatty. Even though they could use the warrior's skills, Ivypaw knew that the white she cat would blab everything out eventually.

Foxleap shook his head. "I didn't want to. I don't tell her everything you know." He joked.

"Will you too stop chatting so we can leave!" Blossomfall hissed from the shadows. "Hazeltail can't distract Thornclaw forever!"

"Let's go." Ivypaw whispered. She ignored the look Blossomfall gave her when she noticed her limping. Blossomfall shot a worried glance at her brother who shrugged.

She darted forward but heard Foxleap whisper to them. "Don't worry about her, she's just doing extra practise." She silently thanked Foxleap for backing her up.

The group reached their practising spot. Immediately Blossomfall got into a battle stance. "Come on Bumblestripe, pretend I'm one of the warriors who took Dovepaw!"

Ivypaw noticed a dark gleam in Blossomfall's eyes but it passed by so fast she almost thought she imagined it. The she-cat almost seemed happy that Dovepaw was gone. With my sister gone, Blossomfall doesn't have to worry about her brother ditching her anymore.

Bumblestripe leapt at his sister and playfully cuffed her ear. Ivypaw resisted the urge to roll her eyes. This wasn't a game! They were disobeying Firestar and attacking a rival clan, if they were caught…she felt a lump in her throat. Failure was not an option she could afford.

"Let's be serious guys." Foxleap meowed. The way he stood told Ivypaw that he really did think he was leader of this operation.

Rosepetal looked conflicted. "You know…part of me is really nervous about this whole attacking ShadowClan thing."

Mousewhisker nudged her. "Those maggot pelts took one of our apprentices hostage. We're doing the right thing." The cream furred she-cat still lashed her tail nervously.

Ivypaw quickly stepped in. "I had another sign!" She needed to do something to convince these cats.

Foxleap's eyes brightened. "Let's hear it."

"I saw…the moon, it was round bright and shining and—

"You want us to attack at the full moon." There was horror in Rosepetal's tone. "That's… that's…"

"Against the warrior code." Bumblestripe finished. "Ivypaw, we can't just attack during a gathering because you had a dream." His tone was laced with suspicion.

"Dovepaw's being tortured for secrets as we speak!" She hissed. "Don't you care about her at all?"

"Of course, I do." Bumblestripe snapped. "I just hope we're doing the right thing."

"We are." Foxleap assured the tom, turning to Ivypaw he added. "I'm glad we have you to guide us with your dreams."

Ivypaw purred in satisfaction and touched her tail to Foxleap's shoulder. "Thank you for being such a good friend."

Foxleap's whiskers twitched and Ivypaw caught a hint of disappointment in his green eyes. Before she could ask what was wrong he cleared his throat and spoke to the group. "Let's practise leaping down on them again."

Ivypaw sat still and watched Mousewhisker pair off with Rosepetal, his half sister while Bumblestripe faced Hazeltail. As Blossomfall challenged Foxleap she saw the thick furred she-cat shoot her a glance of anger. Ivypaw held back a hiss, what was Blossomfall's problem?

Silently licking her wounds, she wondered why Blossomfall had even agreed to the plan in the first place. She and Ivypaw had always argued over the tiniest of things it was hard to imagine her going along with the plan.

Watch her, her loyalty is not solid

She almost choked on her tongue, Hawkfrost was sitting right in the middle of the training grounds, his words barely above a whisper. His body like a shadow in the darkness, the only light that came from him was his blood tinged blue eyes.

Before she could open her mouth to speak, he brought his tail to his lips asking for silence. Her eyes darted around anxiously to her clan mates, her gaze fell on Blossomfall as did Hawkfrost's. The broad shoulder tom curiously circled Blossomfall with interest.

Blossomfall had just leaped onto Foxleap and rolled with him, for a minute Ivypaw was afraid they would roll into Hawkfrost and that he would be discovered but the pair rolled right through the shadowed tabby as if he wasn't really there.

Ivypaw's jaws dropped. She leaned forward trying to understand how the two cats could've just gone through the tom's solid body, unless… it wasn't truly solid. It was as if Hawkfrost truly was part of the shadows.

She shook her head and closed her eyes. As soon as she reopened them Hawkfrost was gone from sight but the chill running down her spine persisted and for a moment she wondered if she could truly trust a cat who she feared.

Ivypaw had barely gotten to practise battle training. Foxleap had protested and told her to that she needed to see Jayfeather after they snuck back into the camp. She was too tired to argue and she let her heavy steps carry her back into camp.

No cat was awake and the group quickly dispersed back to wherever they needed to be. Ivypaw sighed deeply and let her gaze fall over the weren't more cats up and training? She lashed her tail in annoyance, it was almost if no cat cared anymore about the fact that Dovepaw had been taken.

A part of her mind was yowling, telling her to stomp right to Firestar's den and demand him to send a patrol to fetch his sister. Another told her that Firestar was wise and experienced and maybe not sending a battle patrol to ShadowClan was the right thing to do.

"He is weak minded."

She felt the cold whisper in her ear. She didn't turn around. Would Hawkfrost just follow her around everywhere now? Feeling irritated, achy, and bit nervous she padded towards the medicine cat den.

"Jayfeather?" She called.

The blind tom poked his head out slowly and tiredly. He sniffed at the air and let out a surprised sound. "Ivypaw? What happened to you?"

"I…I'm practising on my own." It was a partial truth. "just to get Dovepaw off my mind."

He stared at her with blind eyes for a while. Creepy even though he can't see me it's like he's trying to look into my head. She shuddered at the idea of the grumpy medicine cat peering into her thoughts.

"Have you been practising with a badger?" He grumbled finally. "Come inside and don't wake Briarlight."

Ivypaw nodded thankful that he didn't prod further. She tip toed around Briarlight, the she-cat lay sleeping peacefully with her useless legs splayed out behind her. Every so often her nose twitched and she smiled as if having a good dream.

Even though Briarlight was sweet and all-around kind, Ivypaw knew that she believed that Dovepaw hadn't been taken and that alone made Briarlight a cat to be weary off especially since she was loved by the entire clan.

I wonder what you'd think knowing your brother and sister are going to be attacking ShadowClan with me Ivypaw thought to herself as she waited for Jayfeather to gather herbs. If it had been you who was taken the clan would do anything to get you back. Her claws dug into the dirt and she felt surprised. Where had that bitter thought come from? She didn't hate Briarlight.

"She's loved by the clan for doing nothing."Came Hawkfrost's hushed words. "While you're the only cat thinking ahead about what to do. All the love she gets should belong to you."

Ivypaw hesitated and looked down at the sleeping Briarlight. What was taking Jayfeather so fox dung long to get those herbs! "Briarlight…is a good cat." She responded evenly.

A snort was her reply. She watched Hawkfrost step beside her and stand above Briarlight. "Even the purest minds harbour darkness. If she were a warrior what do you think she'd be like?"

"She is a warrior."

He rolled his eyes. "No, she's not." He almost purred.

"Leave her alone." Ivypaw hissed. "Why are you here anyways? Are you even really here? I saw Blossomfall and Foxleap roll right through you!"

Briarlight stirred and tiredly opened her sky-blue eyes. "Ivy…paw what'reyoudoingere." She mumbled before yawning. The she-cat didn't even notice Hawkfrost standing over her.

He's…he could kill her right now and she'd never realize what happened.

Hawkfrost chuckled and raised a paw over Briarlight's head.

"No—

The she-cat fell right back to sleep.

Ivypaw widened her eyes. Jayfeather where are you?

"I suppose it's amusing to keep her around. I was only joking with you Ivypaw relax. I put her right to sleep." Hawkfrost meowed. "Jayfeather said not to wake her after all."

Ivypaw bit her tongue but said nothing. She didn't understand what she was feeling right now. Briarlight could've been hurt and all she did was say no. Why didn't she leap forward and push Hawkfrost away? What would have happened if she died? The clan would be sad... and I'd feel guilty but…She didn't like these thoughts, they felt dark and wrong. Honorable cats didn't think this way.

"I have the power to rival StarClan Ivypaw. I am a Dark Forest warrior and with that comes both strengths and weaknesses. As the full moon draws nearer I can appear in the living realm and only cats with connections to me or StarClan can see me." He looked back at Briarlight. "That explains why none of your friends saw me."

"So, I have a connection then?" Ivypaw meowed. "What about Leaders? Medicine cats?" Could Jayfeather see Hawkfrost if he came back?

Ignoring her question, he went on. "When the full moon comes I am a fully corporal cat with real claws and teeth when you can no longer see the moon I am back in this shadowy form. I can make cats fall sleep among other things."

"Like?" She pushed, the sting of her wounds began to leave her and she glanced down in complete shock. Lifting her paws and bouncing on her feet she found that she was no longer covered in wounds.

"Those with a deep connection to whatever I am can reap benefits." He purred. "The way I healed you right now is similar to the way StarClan heals a leader from loosing a life."

Ivypaw couldn't help but lean closer. "That's amazing! What else?"

He curled his lip baring sharp white teeth and turned his head. "I can also tell when silly little medicine cats eavesdrop on things they shouldn't."

Ivypaw gasped and fear ran through her body. Following Hawkfrost's cold gaze she saw Jayfeather crouching quietly in the corner with herbs in front of him.

"Hawkfrost." He meowed coolly. "You knew I was here the entire time." He avoided Ivypaw's eyes.

"Well I've heard from across the line that you're interested in how things work in the Dark Forest." Hawkfrost replied.

"Leave this place!" Jayfeather stood up and hissed. "You're a trickster! I don't know what you've told Ivypaw but you're a liar."

Hawkfrost muzzle twitched and Ivypaw thought he looked like was about to laugh. "Oh really? Have I told her more lies than you?" He shot back.

Jayfeather's tail twitched in annoyance but the scent of fear was in the air. Ivypaw wasn't sure if it was from the healer or her.

"Jayfeather, Hawkfrost is helping me." She meowed. "Believe me!"

"You're too young to understand the gravity of what's happening." Jayfeather growled. "I'm a Medicine cat."

"You're arrogant." Hawkfrost shot back baring his teeth. "It seems you've been spending too much time with Yellowfang, age doesn't equate to wisdom. Even you can see that."

"You think you're wise?" Jayfeather raised his head high. "I know what game you're playing and you can't harm me if you want to keep playing."

Hawkfrost took a step back and peered outside the den towards the rising sun. "You truly are blind."

Ivypaw watched in awe as the shadowy form of Hawkfrost disappeared like smoke.

She turned to Jayfeather. "Are you going to tell?" Ivypaw felt worry nip at paw pads. There was no way she was giving up training.

"What are you doing?" He snapped.

Her ears flattened. "Nothing wrong! I'm training to help my clan." She growled. "He's not evil and if he was he's changed!"

"Darkness never changes." He retorted. "Hawkfrost can teach you nothing but evil."

"He healed me." She pointed out. "Without herbs or anything. He cares for me, he wouldn't do anything to—

"You're an idiot if you think he cares about you." Jayfeather breathed.

Ivypaw lowered her head and sneered at him. "You keep secrets too! Hawkfrost told me!" That wasn't true but she needed Jayfeather to believe she had leverage over him. This way he wouldn't tell any cat about her secret.

Jayfeather paused for a long time, he glanced up in thought before shrugging. "I never said I would say anything so don't try and blackmail me because even if you think you can you can't."

"Then what do you want me to do?"

"I want you to be a loyal warrior." He told her.

Her fur bristled. "I am loyal, and I can prove it. I will prove it."

Jayfeather snorted and bent his down to sniff Briarlight, checking to make sure that she was all right. "Whatever." He muttered. "Do as you like Ivypaw, let's only hope you don't regret this."

Welcome to the end!

To me the battle between The Dark Forest and StarClan was supposed to be huge after all it basically was a fight between heaven and hell. As much as I loved The Last Hope I was hoping the battle would be more epic and a bit darker.

I think Ivypaw would a very good manipulator, she convinced cats of the Dark Forest that she was a spy and they rarely doubted her. In this story, she convinced the younger warriors to attack ShadowClan and they trusted her word.

Foxleap has a little bit of a crush on Ivypaw and just wants to make her happy, his common-sense bell isn't ringing as well as it should at the moment. The others will have their reasons revealed later.

Headcannons

I want cats from the Dark Forest to be creepy as possible. StarClan cats are made of stars literal balls of fire which represents their warrior spirit. Cats from the Dark Forest are made of shadows and have dark blood almost black to represent their spirit.

Like Hawkfrost said cats with deep connections to StarClan or the Dark Forest can see the dead cats. This includes leaders and medicine cats.

Dark Forest cats have a tinge of red in their eyes making them look blood shot because they can never rest because of the atrocities they've committed.

The border between the Dark Forest and StarClan is known as "The Line."

Double Bless

XxSelfossObsidianxX