I'm so sorry guys! I have had a long time of unsteady internet use, and I had this chapter written up, I just needed to upload it. I'm promise you that future updates won't take this long.

Review Answers:

Fawnblaze: Though I hate to cause you agony, I can't believe I did! Are you serious? Thank you! And you aren't a mouse brain. I know quite a few, and you don't seem like one. ;)

Sinora Saphire: I'm glad that you like this story. It's always fun to right about a character's dilemma. There's so many ways to describe their feelings! You asked for me to update soon, and I let you down. Shame one me. T.T *spanks self* Internet problems, sorry!

Guest: Thank you!

Starwings22: Thank you for the undeserved praise! Sorry for the long wait on the update.

xXAurora LightsXx: Love is flying every which way is this crazy roller coaster story! Oh, hey, Fawnspots. I'm glad you made an account. Any stories yet? And yes, I get better, but I'm still not that good. Ah, you said you could not wait, and yet I made you. Sorry! I hope this chapter doensn't disappoint you.

Ivypool POV

She sank down low on her haunches, eyes narrowed, tail still. The crow's beak beat against the ground in a rapid, steady rhythm, oblivious to the predator lurking in the shadows.

Ivypool bit her lip in concentration as she prepared to pounce. The tension in her back legs propelled her forward in the instinctual technique all cats, from house cats to clan cats to lions, used while hunting.

Despite her focused appearance, Ivypool's thoughts were elsewhere. In her mind was centered on a handsome tom who smiled a pure white smile, fangs clasped together in a certain air that drew her to him. Ivypool shook her head. Where was she getting these thoughts! They felt so wrong, and yet they clicked into place with her personality so perfectly... just like his smile fit into-

A flapping noise brought her back out of her own fantasies and into the real world, where she was on a hunting patrol. The crow had sighted her and quickly taken flight out of her claws' reach. Ivypool scowled, and a frustrated groan arose from behind her.

"C'mon, Ivypool! Focus! That's the third piece of prey you've missed today!" Dovewing growled, her gaze following the crow's path through the sky. Ivypool whipped around, a snarl carved into her expression.

"I just-I just have a lot on my mind, okay! With so many losses, and-and all the work we've had to do, I'm just not myself," Ivypool defended.

Her silver sister cocked her head, and gave her an are you sure? look. Ivypool glared defiantly back at her, mouth not opening. Dovewing finally looked away and sighed, eyes closing.

"I'm just worried about you, you know? You were so sad when Hawkfrost killed Hollyleaf. You told the story as if Hawkfrost had killed you," Dovewing mewed with concern.

Hawkfrost! Ivypool had completely forgotten about him. Hawkfrost had charmed her, in a way. He had sealed upon her a certain adoration. When she had figured out his true intentions, deep inside of her, their had been a bit of betrayal, but Ivypool had never really fallen in love with him.

"Ivypool!" Dovewing prompted.

Ivypool cleared her thoughts thoroughly. "Sorry, sorry. I-I think I should go back to camp because... because I have a stomach ache!" she stumbled, trying to cover up her true emotions. Despite her lie, Dovewing grinned in comprehension.

"Not true! Now could you tell me what's really bothering you?" she asked, green eyes pleading. With an exasperated breath, Iypool gave in. Though her secret was surprising and against the warrior code, she trusted Dovewing.

"Fine, fine. I'll tell you. It's just a little crush, but-"

Dovewing's eyes twinkled, and she squealed, "Ooh, it's Toadstep, isn't it? He's been padding after you for moons now, and I never thought you realize it! Oh, Bumblestripe and I went on a walk yesterday, and I totally messed it up! But... you and Toadstep are totally meant to be! Just think of your kits!" She was talking fast and gleefully in an endless stream that made no sense to Ivypool at all.

"Maybe one will look like me! Oh, and what if one had Toadstep's white pelt with black patches, and your blue eyes! And the names, oh, I can think of a million for you. Ravenkit, Whisperkit, Songkit, Stripekit, Patchkit, Bluekit. Oh, I'm so happy for you!"

Ivypool sat gawking at her for a few seconds, then closed her mouth and shook her head. "No, no, it's not Toadstep," she told Dovewing, who first frowned, but then pricked her ears in curiousity. "It's somebody less, well less..."

"Go on, spit it out, Ivypool!" Dovewing urged, eyes wide.

"Well, a tad less ThunderClan," Ivypool finished at last, cringing at the words being spoken aloud. She waited for Dovewing's reaction with eyes sealed tightly shut.

"Ivypool... do you... from... another clan?!" Dovewing yowled. Ivypool shushed her urgently, but Dovewing wouldn't stop. "Are. You. Crazy? That's so risky and, well..." Dovewing paused there. Ivypool waited for something, but all she caught was a hint of remembrance in her eyes.

"I know, I know, but... I can't stop thinking about him! His eyes, his fur, his scent, him in entirety! I've-I've fallen in love with him, Dovewing," Ivypool confirmed, half to herself, and half to Dovewing.

Dovewing bit her lip, but then shrugged. "Well, I guess everybody has a crush on someone. But you'll probably get over it," Dovewing said casually. Ivypool wasn't so sure. "I had a thing for Tigerheart when I was just an apprentice. But every now and then, I look back and... oh Ivypool, I think I still like him a teensy bit..." Dovewing smiled at her, showing white fangs.

Ivypool wasn't so sure of herself now. Maybe she shouldn't tell Dovewing... Dovewing looked at her expectantly, and Ivypool took a deep breath, and decided to tell her sister the truth.

"Well, you see, the tom I'm falling for..." Ivypool paused, and gulped her fear. "I love Tigerheart."

Dovewing made a face. Her angular muzzle was drawn back into an expression full of shock, tinged with anger, and lightly sprinkled with disgust. But this expressive facial reaction morphed into a snarl as quickly as it had appeared on her face.

"What?" she growled slowly, her muscles tensing, and at the same time her body was trying to hide the emotions that were exploding from within. "What did you say?" she asked a voice of hidden menace.

Ivypool's hackles rose, and her claws sprung from their sheathes to defend herself in case Dovewing pounced. "I said I love Tigerheart." she said boldly, though inside, she was a cowering mouse.

Dovewing sat back down on her haunches to try and calm herself, though her eyes were still wild with rage so unlike Ivypool's sister. "But... I-I thought you didn't like him." she said quietly, not meeting Ivypool's eyes.

Ivypool eased back down as well, and exhaled in relief. "Well, I didn't, but then, during dark forest battle, while I was fighting Hawkfrost with him, I fell for him." Ivypool admitted. She liked the sound of her voice when she allowed her feelings for him out.

Dovewing remained silent, a faraway look in her eyes. "Oh... uh, okay." she said flatly. Ivypool was confused by her small, emotionless reaction, but she kept her comments to herself, and went on.

"Oh, I wish I didn't like him. He's a ShadowClan cat, and I'm a ThunderClan cat. But, when I think of him, I just know that I love him. And plus, I think he may feel the same way, even just a tiny bit." Ivypool mused, half to herself. She liked the thought of Tigerheart wanting to curl around her, wrap his tail around hers.

Dovewing had bristled. "Oh... I don't think so. He probably doesn't like you," she denied quickly. "I mean, maybe, just a tiny chance. But, he hates you, remember? With the whole Flametail incident?" Dovewing was talking firm, assuring voice that made Ivypool uneasy.

"You really don't think he's gotten over the whole deal about his brother? I-I was only doing it to maintain Brokenstar's trust," Ivypool thought. She looked at her paws. She had forgotten about that.

Does he really still hate me? she thought. The warm hope that he might like her back ebbed away quickly.

"Yes, Ivypool. I don't think he likes you. I mean, he might have forgiven you to some point, but, that means that he does no more than tolerate you," Dovewing told her. "There is no chance that he has feelings for you."

Why is Dovewing working so hard to convince that he doesn't like me? Ivypool wondered. Maybe she's trying to assure herself as well.

"Maybe you're just jealous," she blurted, cringing after she said the words. Dovewing's eyes darkened, and she bared her teeth.

"Of course not!" she hissed. "I don't have any sort of affection for that stupid tom! You're a mouse-brain to even think that!" she yowled at Ivypool, her fangs a mouse-length from Ivypool's face. Dovewing was being harsh and judgemental, unlike her usual positive self.

"You alright, Dovewing?" Ivypool asked, concerned for her sister's health. Dovewing growled.

"I'm fine! You're just being a bird-brain today, silly notions of a romance with Tigerheart, hunting like a Twoleg's dog! I've had with you!" the silver she-cat spat.

Ivypool clenched her teeth in anger. "Fine! You're being a snobby fox-heart anyway!" she snarled. With that, Dovewing spun on her heals, and stalked off, tail waving tauntingly.

Ivypool groaned, and flung herself to the ground, collapsing as if her legs were useless. "What is wrong with this world?" she demanded. Of course, as there was no one around to listen save the trees and prey, and trees and prey don't answer your questions, no one answered.

Ivypool was tired. She had no reason to be, for she had spent the afternoon not hunting and thinking and talking. But she was tired. Her eyes drooped, her knees were unsteady, and her brain felt like mouse-dung.

Maybe my brain is mouse-dung, she thought. Dovewing was right. There was no chance that Tigerheart had feelings for her. After all, who would have feelings for a she-cat with a mouse-dung brain, and who tried to kill his brother. It was all a silly notion, just like Dovewing had said.

But, as is the way of love, even if there was not a chance in a million, Tigerheart still remained the only thought in Ivypool's mind of mouse dung.

"Why?" she whispered. "Oh, for StarClan sake, why me?"

I hope you liked this chapter! I feel like I didn't use quite the right wording when Dovewing and Ivypool were talking after they had both admitted that they liked Tigerheart.

Oh, and by the way, you should really check out the story Motherless by samredlamb7. The author is getting better every day.

You should also read and review my friend Moonflight of RiverClan's only story Bushes will Rustle, Water will Flee. She's just starting out, and could use some positive encouragement!