So... I kept you waiting so long! I'm so sorry! As it says on my profile, I've been away for a while, and couldn't get onto the internet very often. I meant to update before then, but I completely forgot about it! Shame on me. T.T This chapter is long! Yay for me! I really hope you like it. I was so flattered when I saw that I had six reviews. SIX. ON MY CRAPPY STORY! ON THE FIRST CHAPTER! Thank to all my reviewers! Tigerheart plushies to you all!
Review Answers:
Twistedstep: I'm sorry that I didn't update! I know I suck at grammar... I wish I didn't, but I try! Thanks for the undeserved praise, and this chapter doesn't have a lot of action... The next one will be more exciting!
Fawnspirit: Thanks so much! You're awesome! I'm glad I'm not the only one that thought of them.
Oddstar96: Thank you so much, though I don't think I'm that good. I look up to Erin Hunter so much, and I it really means a lot to me to have somebody say that.
Fawnspots: Eek, I read this after I wrote it. I will do the comma corrections later, I promise! You gave a lot of help that I needed, because I need it all. You're very advanced as I can see. Do you have an account? I'd love to read some stories of yours. I'm glad you like the idea!
Dawnsky: I did want him to have an apprentice, 'CAUSE THAT GUY IS SO OLD! He really needs an apprentice, and I liked Starlingwing's name, so, I chose him. Thanks for asking, though. Do you have an account?
samredlamb7: Thanks so much! I'm glad you like it. Sorry, not too much drama in here yet. Soon, though, soon!
Dovewing POV
She was running... running fast... as fast as her legs would allow her to. Her heart raced, and her muscles ached with exhaustion.
But she had to go on.
A small cluster of deep green leaves were held in place between her jaws by sharp white fangs. The delicious smell made her insides squirm with desire. Catmint.
What is Catmint for? It's for Greencough. That's what this Catmint was for. Greencough. Who had Greencough?
Her essence narrowed down into one instinct. One task that had to be done, no matter what the cost. One action that's importance exceeded every other basic yearning in life. She had to do it.
Run.
She ran, ran past things she knew so well in ThunderClan territory. But it was a blur against the one deed she knew she must carry out.
Run.
At last she slowed to a stop, for reasons that were beyond her simple mind. A scent tickled her nostrils, and danced on the breeze around her. ShadowClan.
The ShadowClan border had no physical appearance. It was merely an invisible barrier that split the soul of every clan cat in all the clans into seperate pieces. But one's heart could not belong to two at a time.
She had crossed in before, at first cautiously, but then eventually she had passed between territories casually without a second thought, as if the transparent walling was never there. She had grown rather accustomed to the foreign smell, though, her heart had always belonged in another clan.
Or so she thought.
By pure instinct she stepped onto to scent line nimbly, until all four paws were in neither ShadowClan nor ThunderClan territory. She walked along the border line nimbly, without a single hair touching either side, as if to portray that choosing one or the other would cause a terribly great sense of pain.
Along the invisible path she walked, Catmint still clenched in her teeth protectively, until the sight of two cats ripped another emotion into her being. Worry.
There was a tom on either side of the border. They lay almost motionless, except for there jaws parting weakly to cough every once in a while. One tom was a gray tabby with thin black bands striping his fur, and round yellow eyes with large, deep black pupils. The other was a brown tabby, with a dark base and stripes that were almost the color of a pitch black night, and burning amber eyes that were narrowed with distrust, but at the same time betrayed a wisp of hopefulness.
Bumblestripe... and Tigerheart.
"Dovewing!" Bumblestripe cried through a sickeningly dry cough. "Help me!
"Dovewing..." Tigerheart whispered, amber eyes widening. "Please..."
In a split second's time, she comprehended the situation. Two toms whom she loved more than anyone else in the universe, both dying with Greencough, lay pleading for her help. Catmint, the only cure for Greencough, sat tucked into her muzzle. She lay down the green leaves carefully. There were only enough for one cat.
She lifted her head slowly. Two pairs of eyes burned into her pelt.
"Please..."
"Please..."
She looked from one tom to the other, lost in her own mixed emotions. Bumblestripe or Tigerheart... ThunderClan or ShadowClan...
Indecision. Utter and complete. It burned with such intensity that her small form threatened to burst with its power. It caused such pain that a scream forced it's way out of her frail lungs, so loud and ripping that only tiny bits of sound worked their way through the thunder.
"Dovewing!" Bumblestripe.
"Dovewing!" Tigerheart
"Dovewing!" Bumblestripe.
"Dovewing! Dovewing, wake up!"
Dovewing shot up, trembling, her breaths shallow and small. She let out a soft mew of surprise when she met the eyes of Bumblestripe, who's forehead was creased with concern.
"You-you're okay!" she exclaimed. The realization of the dream let her hackles fall back down onto her shoulders and her eyes close as she sent a thank you up to StarClan.
Bumblestripe let out a sigh of relief. "Of course I'm okay. You woke up screaming. It was just a nightmare." he said soothingly. Dovewing's breathing slowed and deepened, as she mentally eased. Bumblestripe smiled.
Moonlight pooled at the entrance of the apprentice's den. Cherrypaw kicked her brother as she dreamed, and Molepaw rolled over, letting out muffled mumbles. Ivypool was curled tightly around herself, for once her dreams lacking the harsh training in the Dark Forest.
Too startled to go on sleeping, Dovewing took a step toward the mouth of the den. She turned to Bumblestripe. "I'm... I'm gonna go for a walk."
Bumblestripe cocked his head. "But... it's the middle of the night!" he mewed, confused. Dovewing shrugged.
"I just need to get out of this den." she said, turning away again. Bumblestripe padded silently up to her side.
"I'll come with you." he said, half asking. Dovewing didn't answer, but just made her way through the den, swerving to avoid sleeping warriors and apprentices.
When the moon-washed camp hit Dovewing's eyes, another pang of sadness hit her heart. She had so many memories of Firestar on Highledge announcing something to the clan, of Ferncloud chasing Lilykit and Seedkit away from the fresh-kill pile, of Mousefur sunning herself as she she complained to Purdy about the noise that the apprentices made.
It was all over, they were all gone. It was an unreal feeling, that the Dark Forest was defeated, and the prophecy was fulfilled.
"It's a lot to take in, isn't it?" Bumblestripe said in a low voice. "Firestar, Mousefur, Hollyleaf, and Ferncloud, all gone." Dovewing looked at Bumblestripe, and he smiled at her. "And you! Your power to hear... it's amazing!" he praised. Dovewing had never really thought of her power as amazing. It was more of a burden than a gift.
"Thanks, Bumblestripe." she said breifly. She wasn't really in the mood to have a discussion about the battle, their losses, or the prophecy. She just wanted to slip into the woods and listen... listen to everything. And let all of the troubling thoughts pour out of her soul and just let nature intertwine her with its flow.
She tried to slink away from the pursuing tabby tom unseen, but he followed her as she passed through the camp entrance. Bramblestar hadn't set someone to guard the camp, because everyone was exhausted from the day's toil, and there was no threat that someone would attack, because all of the clans were still suffering from deaths and wounds.
The night air was cool and crisp. It embraced her lungs with enthusiasm, and refreshed her. She felt full of energy, and stretched her ears out to listen to all...
She couldn't hear anything. Just the sounds of Bumblestripe's breathing, and of the crickets chirping nearby. She strained her neck, shut her eyes and concentrated. No more than the average sounds hit her ears. She couldn't hear with intensity... anymore.
She let out as squeak, then a mew, and then a shriek. Bumblestripe opened his mouth and searched for an injury of some sort.
"Dovewing?" he asked slowly. Dovewing looked at him, emerald eyes wide, and just stood there, perplexed. Bumblestripe cleared his throat. "Did you hear something?"
Dovewing shook her head vigorously, and bit her lip. "I didn't hear... anything. I don't have the power anymore!" she yowled, thanking StarClan over and over in her head. "I am truly free of the prophecy!"
It was all over, truly over. No more power, no more prophecy, no more Dark Forest, no more nothing! She was normal now. Bumblestripe looked bewildered.
"But... didn't you like to have a special power?" he asked. Dovewing looked at her paws, thinking, and then nodded slowly.
"Well... it did make me feel important, but sometimes I wish I had no power at all, so that I could be a normal cat, with a normal life, and have an apprentice, a mate, and kits." The words had poured out of her mouth without permission, and Dovewing could feel her skin grow hot under her fur. Bumblestripe took a cautious step closer.
"That's great." he whispered, and ran his tail along her spine. Dovewing shrank under his touch and bit her lip. Bumblestripe's eyes widened, and then he rapidly stepped away from her, and hid his eyes from her view. "I'm sorry..." he said awkwardly. Dovewing was too embarrassed to say anything, and Bumbelstripe cleared his throat. "I'll-I'll go now." he mumbled, and skidded away quickly.
Dovewing sat, stunned, for a few moments, in that place, and looked down at her gray feet, feeling guilty.
I ruined it, and now I bet he won't even talk to me... she thought miserably. Why do I have to be so awkward around toms?
The thought pricked her that she had never felt too embarrassed around Tigerheart. But she shewed it away as she would an annoying bug. That was over now. She had told Tigerheart that they weren't meant to be... though she knew she didn't believe that in her heart.
But the thought of Tigerheart made her feel warm and fuzzy inside... but she felt that way with Bumblestripe, too. They were both sweet toms that were loyal and caring. How was she supposed to choose?
The obvious choice was Bumblestripe. There were plenty of reasons why she should choose him. He was ThunderClan, and he still liked her, whereas, Tigerheart was probably too angry to ever look at her again! But his face was branded into her mind, and no matter what she tried, so far, nothing had been successful in turning her thoughts away from him.
Oh, I'm so torn! What am I supposed to do? she asked the stars. They blinked at her coldly and didn't reply.
Don't worry, I don't plan on updating this late every chapter. I'll be quick as long as I get a review! I'll do it once a week or more, okay? Sound good? Alright. Please review, and be as cruel as you need to be.