In which Elsi sucks at chapter names. A lot.

Anyways, hi, everyone! This chapter took me a while, I must admit. I still don't know if I'm entirely happy with it. Still, it helped me reach my NaNoWriMo goals, and it's PARTICULARLY long. It's about the length of a Fidelity chapter, which means - long. Long long. Long. Probably don't expect such greatness in the future.

This takes place like a day after Chapter 6. Also, I apologize if Doveheart's name pops up in this scene. I screwed up and forgot she was gone. I think I fixed it all, but if it shows up, don't get too confused. That's just a screw-up on my part.

Enjoy!

Chapter 7: Family Matters

Skysong didn't know what to say.

"Bluemoon's mind entered the Dark Forest even before it entered the world of the living?" said Birdpaw. "That's exactly what he said?"

Mountainstone nodded.

"He also was almost daring me to destroy StarClan," said Mountainstone. "He was so convinced that we would do it."

"That's ridiculous," said Lionstar. "We know you wouldn't."

"Doesn't seem so far-fetched, actually," said Littlefalcon. Silence fell as the others looked at the small golden tom. He lifted his amber-blue eyes. "What? I can see what Tigerstar's argument would be. Don't we need that?"

"Bluemoon knew him?" said Birdpaw. "On sight?"

"That doesn't make sense," said Lionstar. She glanced at Ivypool, who was particularly quiet, way too quiet to have just heard that her kits were now targets. "Ivypool?"

"It does make sense," said Ivypool. "I kitted while fighting a battle in the Dark Forest."

"It's true," said Jayfeather. "I thought Bluemoon and Greyheart were born after you came back, though."

"I must have dragged them with me," said Ivypool. She closed her eyes, tight. Skysong felt a little ill as she watched the proud she-cat shake her head. How would Skysong deal with that sort of responsibility? She and Ivypool had a power in common, the same power that had been responsible for this.

"We must help Bluemoon and Greyheart," said Lionstar at once.

"What?" said Mountainstone. "She said she wouldn't tell anyone what she saw."

"She should not have to deal with this information alone," said Lionstar. "And Greyheart should be informed immediately. Like it or not, we now know that those two are going to be involved."

"Ivypool?" said Birdpaw gently, but Ivypool didn't answer. Skysong felt her stomach churning just imagining being in the silver warrior's paws – she would hate to actually know that her kits had to be dragged into this mess, especially if her own powers were to blame. Was this how Lionstar felt, then, constantly? She guessed she hadn't looked at it from Lionstar's perspective.

"You should tell them now," said Littlefalcon, turning to Mountainstone.

"Now?" said Mountainstone. "It really isn't time-sensitive."

"If I didn't know you better, I'd say you were hiding from something," said Birdpaw. Mountainstone gritted his teeth, and Skysong saw that it took all his effort to not snap at the medicine cat apprentice.

"I really think it would be better to give Bluemoon some time to deal with this."

"She's going to be looking for support," said Jayfeather. "Lend it now and you avoid her putting her trust in the wrong people." He tilted his head to the side, reading Mountainstone just as Skysong was intending to do. Skysong tentatively opened his mind with her powers, just enough to see what he was feeling. It was fear alright, fear of some past encounter. By a brief search of Mountainstone's surface thoughts, Skysong could make out memories of Bluemoon's screams, of her eyes wet with tears. It startled her just as much when Mountainstone shook his head violently and glared at Skysong.

What do you think you're doing? Skysong had forgotten that Mountainstone had always been the best at telepathy, out of the five of them. She smiled sheepishly.

"Mountainstone, Skysong, why don't you help Ivypool explain the situation," said Lionstar. "I'll call them in here so you can talk privately."

Skysong blinked at her address, but before she could protest, Littlefalcon had tapped her on the shoulder with his tail.

"Good luck," he said. "I hope they take it alright."

He joined Birdpaw on their way out the den. Then it was Skysong, Mountainstone, and Ivypool, who seemed to still need a moment to struggle with what she was feeling.

"Hey," said Mountainstone, stepping closer to Skysong. "Not cool."

"Sorry," said Skysong. "I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Asking would work, too."

"Did you seriously push her away?"

"Wouldn't you have?" Mountainstone's features darkened, as they did when he was angry. Skysong would have taken a step back, had she known that the anger wasn't actually because of her. "Greyheart's involved in this, too."

"That's different." Greyheart's involved. The realization hurt her somewhere between her temples and in her heart.

"Oh, is it?"

"Yes! Greyheart is my…"

"Go on, I'm sure he would love to hear you say it."

"Point is, he would understand."

"What, I was just going to tell Bluemoon the truth?" said Mountainstone.

"What about the truth?" Skysong broke away from her brother, glancing near the entrance of the den. Both littermates lingered there, perfect images of Ivypool and Bumblestripe from the distance. Skysong swallowed at the look in Greyheart's blue eyes as he approached them. "What's this about, Skysong?"

"It's a bit of a difficult story," said Skysong. She took note of Mountainstone smirking out of the corner of her eye. To avoid both situations, Skysong trotted over to Ivypool, who looked up carefully.

"Ivypool?" Bluemoon pronounced her mother's name as if she was sinking into her hunting crouch – delicately. Ivypool looked up at her daughter. "I…had a question."

"Yes," said Ivypool. Bluemoon blinked. Carefully, Ivypool stretched to her full height and looked at her kits in the eye. "Yes, I kitted while in the Dark Forest. There is a possibility that you were actually born when I was…"

"What?" Greyheart blinked a few times. "I don't understand."

Bluemoon looked to Mountainstone for some sort of grudging permission, and he nodded. Then Bluemoon turned to her brother.

"An apparition of Tigerstar appeared to me…" She was off, explaining everything in precise detail. Skysong could almost see the scene herself. Even thought she had heard Mountainstone explain, Bluemoon was far more interested in the details, as to be expected of a cat who was new to the entire situation. Skysong watched Greyheart take it all in – the shock, the pain, the despair, then the soft acceptance Skysong had come to connect with Greyheart.

"So," he said, turning to Ivypool, "this is because you were a spy?"

"Yes," said Ivypool. "Tigerstar had me fight a major battle."

"While you kitted?" said Bluemoon.

"Yes."

"So you…?"

"Kept going back and forth, yes," said Ivypool. "It is within the power of the Dark Forest to summon a cat, even if they aren't asleep. But the pain of kitting woke me up repeatedly, so I swung back and forth." She shrugged, and Skysong was amazed at how casually the lie came out. Ivypool, it seemed, was accustomed to lying to everyone, even her own kits. Skysong cast a glance at Greyheart, who looked up at her at that moment. It hurt to see him just accepting this supernatural event.

"I know it can be hard to take in," Skysong said.

"No kidding," said Bluemoon. "I want to know why it even matters. I thought Tigerstar was gone. That's what all the elders stories say."

"Elders tell stories of past wars, not current ones," said Ivypool. "What matters is that Tigerstar is a very real threat. You don't have to worry. It's being dealt with."

There were a few precious seconds of silence, to be broken, of course, by Bluemoon's biting laugh.

"It's being dealt with? Do you really expect me to accept that as an explanation?"

"Bluemoon…" said Mountainstone.

"Don't you say a word," said Bluemoon, silencing Mountainstone with just a glare. "A ghost of a cat long dead appeared to me and told me that I belonged to him. Now I'm being told that he actually may have some claim over my brother and me? I'm not accepting your passive voice explanation as an excuse."

"Bluemoon, it's alright," said Greyheart. He nudged his sister's shoulder fondly. "These things are kept secret for a reason."

"And I'm demanding to know if that reason is really better than giving someone peace of mind," said Bluemoon. "I could be sucked up by a demon cat any day now, and you won't even let me in on the secrets you and Lionstar are keeping?"

"We won't let anything happen to you," snapped Mountainstone, getting to his paws. Skysong pressed her tail to her brother's flank to calm him, but the sparks between them wouldn't be soothed away, no matter how Skysong and Greyheart tried.

"Bluemoon, Greyheart, I'm sorry." Ivypool was so bare in front of her kits. It sort of scared Skysong. "I know how it feels to be alone, to feel like you're not as special."

"Do you?" said Bluemoon. "It feels to me like you've been more special than you've let on."

Mother and daughter exchanged a long, painful glance.

"Please understand, just for a little bit," said Ivypool. "I'll tell you everything as soon as we can find a way to do it without hurting the Clan."

"You're already hurting the Clan," said Bluemoon. "There isn't much left." She shook her head. "I can't understand your secret keeping, but I'll trust for now that it's for the good of the Clan." She glanced between Ivypool, Skysong, and Mountainstone. "I demand answers."

"We'll figure out a way to get them to you," said Ivypool. "Bear with me, Bluemoon, please?"

"Leave it at that," said Greyheart to his sister. Bluemoon nodded cautiously. Greyheart glanced up and gave them a smile, a perfect Greyheart smile. "Please, when you know something, tell us."

"You can't tell anyone about this," said Ivypool as her kits turned to go. "I'm serious. Not even Brackenheart." Bluemoon hissed at that, her tail waving in protest to the taunt. But Skysong was glad Ivypool had made the joke.

"Brackenheart?" said Mountainstone as soon as Bluemoon was out of earshot.

"Where have you been?" said Skysong, nudging her brother. "Bluemoon and Brackenheart have been dancing around each other for moons."

"I thought Brackenheart was still hung up on Willowleaf."

"It's kind of hard to be hung up on Willowleaf when she's obviously padding after another tom," said Skysong. She shook her head. "I really wish she wouldn't."

"You really dislike Mouseclaw that much, huh?" said Mountainstone, a teasing smile on his face. The two siblings waved their tails to Ivypool, seeing that the older warrior needed another few moments to take it all in after the discussion. Skysong shrugged. It wasn't as if she really disliked Mouseclaw, honestly, but…it was all a little dicey, wasn't it? He had been Willowleaf's mentor, and at one point, Willowleaf had suspected him of growing too close to a RiverClan she-cat. Yes, he had proven to be fairly loyal to Willowleaf, but the last thing she needed was to lean on another cat as much as she leant on Mouseclaw. It left a funny feeling in Skysong's stomach.

"I just want as few cats involved as possible," said Skysong. "It's becoming so much harder to differentiate Clan and prophecy."

"I don't want them to become the same," said Mountainstone. "I feel like, if that ever happens, it will be the end for real."

"Maybe it's inevitable, then," said Skysong. "Maybe we're nearing the end. Prophecy-fulfilling time."

"Do you think that's really how this works?" said Mountainstone.

"I guess it has to be."

"I guess."

"Seems sort of calculated, though."

"Do you think we'll be ready?"

"I think we have to be."

Mountainstone nodded, appearing fairly forlorn. He made a soft noise in the back of his throat.

"So, Bluemoon and Greyheart are now officially part of the equation," he said. "More cats to worry about."

Skysong nodded. She had always feared that one day Greyheart would be dragged into this mess – it was part of the reason she had tried so desperately to stay away from him. Maybe he had been involved all along.

The thought occurred to her with the gravity of lightning strike, and Skysong suddenly stood straighter.

"Revelation?"

"I'll see you later." Skysong bounded the remainder of the way down the Highledge, making a beeline for Greyheart, who had separated from Bluemoon and now was wandering towards Stealthstep and Brackenheart, on the other side of the clearing.

"Greyheart." As always when she called, Greyheart turned around right away.

"What is it?" said Greyheart, frowning.

"I just realized," said Skysong. "We're finally on even footing." She beamed, her heart fluttering. She had never been given this sort of an option – the chance to be so close to Greyheart, the possibility of actually being with him. It was something Skysong had tried to put out of her mind, but now it was open.

"What?" said Greyheart. He blinked. "Are you saying…?"

"You know me," said Skysong. "You know me better than I know myself."

"Apparently you know me better than I know myself, too," said Greyheart. The look about him was wrong, and it gave Skysong reservation. Hadn't he been the one waiting on her? It suddenly seemed reverse. Had she been wrong? Skysong felt heat gathering in her cheeks, and her defensive comments rose to the forefront of her mind. Skysong had to fight to keep them out of the way of their conversation.

"I thought…this would mean…"

"Skysong…" Greyheart looked pained. "You're still keeping secrets from me."

"But you're involved now," said Skysong. "That means I don't have to stay away from you." If anything, her words had a negative effect, and Greyheart's frown deepened. "Oh, come on. Aren't you happy I'm finally giving you the time of day?" Her words slipped out meaner than anticipated. "Sorry, I…"

"Didn't mean that, I know," said Greyheart. "But you did mean it earlier, that you don't have to stay away from me." He sighed. "I haven't changed, you know."

"You're involved," said Skysong.

"You can't just decide I'm good enough because you found out I had a strange and supernatural birth," said Greyheart. Skysong slid away from him. It had never been about how good enough Greyheart was – or was it? She had, in essence, been holding back from him due to him being normal.

"Oh, now who's playing hard to get?" she muttered. It hadn't been what she had meant at all. She had meant to apologize, or something of the sort – some sort of recognition that her words had been misguided. Skysong still wasn't sure she understood why he was so reluctant.

"I'm not playing hard to get," said Greyheart, eyes flashing. "I – Skysong, you don't get to do this. You don't get to select one member of the Clan over another based on…on…on being involved in whatever it is you're planning!" Worried that the rest of the Clan may overheard, Skysong hissed softly between her teeth.

"You said you knew it was a secret for a reason," said Skysong. "You know I can't tell the rest of the Clan what's going on."

"Well, I wasn't going to encourage my sister to pick a fight," said Greyheart. "You know, I have half a mind to agree with Bluemoon."

"What's gotten into you?" said Skysong. He was losing his cool, his ever-present calm and cheer that defined him.

"This Clan isn't a group of pawns for you to push around," said Greyheart. "We're supposed to be a family, one big family, not a sect of normal cats and a few elite. No matter the secret, you can't put it before ThunderClan."

"I'm trying to save ThunderClan," said Skysong. What was his problem, anyways?

"From what? Spiritual cats in the trees?" Greyheart's words were punctuated by his fury in a way Skysong had never heard. It nearly frightened her. This wasn't the cat she knew so well – he was fired up by something now, something new, and she didn't like seeing it.

"It's much more complex than you think," said Skysong.

"I'm not simple-minded."

"Well, stop treating my issues as though they can be solved by the likes of you!"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Greyheart's eyes flashed dangerously. He looked almost like Mountainstone in a bad mood, lurking over her head and showing off that he was well built. Were it not for the anger on his face, Skysong would have reminded herself that he was handsome, and that he still wanted her.

Except now he didn't.

"I never should have come to you," said Skysong. "You know, I wanted to give you a chance, - give us a chance."

"Yeah, because you suddenly found out I'm some magical dark cat," said Greyheart. He laughed more bitterly than even Skysong was accustomed to. "Sometimes, you really are hard to like."

"So don't bother," said Skysong. "What's holding you back? Go on, hate me, laugh at me. I'm just a foolish she-cat that ripped your heart in half, is that right?"

Greyheart realized very suddenly what he had done, as if the way Skysong couldn't stop herself from trembling wasn't indication enough.

"I would never hate you," said Greyheart. "But I'm not willing to let you choose me because of the way I was born. It doesn't work like that."

"Then enlighten me, oh wise one, how does it work in Greyheart land? Last time I checked, it had a lot to do with throwing yourself at a she-cat no matter how many times she rejects you." Skysong gritted her teeth together in order to stop her tears from falling, and she choked out her words again. "I didn't – "

"I know you don't mean half of what you say," said Greyheart. "Skysong, this Clan…we're a family. ThunderClan is everything to me. You can't divide it in half with your secrets and higher purpose. Until you can see that, I have to side with the part of my family not trying to split it up."

"Why?"

"Because someday, Skysong, I would like to start a real family with you. It would hurt too much to see you break our family just as easily as you would break ThunderClan."

At the frozen shock on her face, Greyheart licked his lips and touched his nose to her cheek, lingering for a moment too long before backing away. His typical soft smile was back. Skysong didn't know if that made her glad or not. Her heart was beating too fast to really figure it out.

"Think about that, okay?" he said. Skysong nodded stiffly, and Greyheart shifted back towards the other young warriors as if their conversation hadn't happened. As if his entire world hadn't flipped upside – which Skysong was now realizing was exactly what happened. How could she demand something of Greyheart when he had just discovered that he had been claimed by the Dark Forest?

She felt like a top-notch mouse-brain, so, her cheeks burning, Skysong turned and made her way into the forest for some space.

A family? Her pelt was on fire. Skysong trembled with the very thought, but she had to admit that something inside her was already purring. She had always known Greyheart loved her, but the thought of really being his mate, of having his kits hadn't entirely registered in her mind. Did she want to be a mother?

She thought about Ivypool, about how the normally made-of-iron she-cat had been brought so low by the anger of her kits and the realization that they could be in danger. Were Skysong in Ivypool's position, she would have died on the spot, or at least passed out from the exertion and the pain. Now that she considered it, Ivypool had to be a whole lot tougher than Skysong had thought – which was saying a lot. To be a mother, to see your own kits turn against you and blame you for their problems…Skysong shivered at the thought.

It dawned on her that she wouldn't mind having Greyheart's kits.

What would they look like? Her pelt was grey, as was his, but they were far from the same. Would their kits have Greyheart's thick black stripes, or would they look more mottled, as she did? Would they have his eyes, his broad shoulders, his peaceful demeanor, his smile? Would they have her temper, her disdain, her…her powers? Was it possible to pass on her powers? She supposed that was impossible – Greyheart would have started displaying Ivypool's powers. Although, Mountainstone and Lionstar shared powers, too…could it have been that somehow, their powers had deviated from Lionstar's? She supposed that was a silly theory.

It then dawned on her that Greyheart was right: she couldn't even think about having a real family when the entire Clan was falling apart. ThunderClan had stopped being her true family when she was a kit, when she had first found out that she was different. But she loved it all the same. She loved ThunderClan with everything she had. Maybe the time had come for her to re-embrace the Clan as the family she really needed. For that, she would need to tell them the truth: her powers, the rift in the heavens, everything. Suddenly, it didn't seem like a difficult prospect.

It was becoming increasingly true that the Clan was going to be involved in this final fight. For all of Skysong's life she had clung to this secret, harboring it from all eyes. She had told her littermates. Then her parents. Then Ivypool, Jayfeather, and Doveheart. Then Brackenfur. All of that had been long ago, but it was still…it wasn't as if horrible things had happened just because Skysong told the secret. Brackenfur had been subject to Willowleaf's mistakes. The other adults had already been involved.

But now Greyheart is involved. The idea appealed to her. It would feel good to tell Greyheart. He had been kept out of her life in this way for too long. Soon the entire Clan will be involved.

"We can't keep the secret much longer," said Skysong to open space. The forest didn't answer her, but she didn't need anyone to give her answers anymore. Sorreltail and the others had a major squabble planned with Lionstar, and if Skysong didn't put a stop to it, the Clan would fall apart. The only way to mend the Clan - to put the family she had always, always had, even in the times she tried to ignore it – was to tell them her truth.

Oh! There's a new poll on my profile, and it would be really awesome if you could check it out! I want to see which OC's you guys like best, for...ahem, figuring out how much heartbreak I can work into this. Mwahaha. I'm half kidding. Anyways, please let me know! If you have a really strong opinion, you can leave it in the reviews. I would like that, actually. :)

You guys are the best! Thank you so much for your views, reviews, favorites, followings, all of that. I really appreciate your support! Keep it up ;)

Next chapter: The Present and the Future (Littlefalcon). Hopefully it will only take me two infinities, instead of six. Littlefalcon is so hard to write...

See you soon!

~Elsi