I'm really sad that I couldn't get to a computer in the last two days because I had some good news!

The 31st was Harry potter's, J.K. Rowling's, and Beatrice Potter's birthday!

Oh and it was my birthday! ;)

Thanks to my 5 faithful readers Cookies and Cream 1234567, WyldClaw, Mallowfeather of Earthclan, smartblueladybug, and Icyclaws x Sunspark. As always your reviews were sweet and wonderful, and made me smile.

I hope you guys like this chapter!

Chapter 19

Dawnspirit watched Bating closely, confused at her friends sudden reaction. She was staring at Talonclaw as if she had seen a ghost, her eyes as round as moons, and her whiskers trembling. She opened her mouth once, and then closed it, obviously quite unsure of what to say to his introduction.

"Talonclaw, did you say?" she asked, her voice trembling.

The brown tom nodded, puzzled by her reaction. "Why, have you heard my name before?"

Batwing looked at him, and then back at the ground. "Once or twice," she mewed, struggling to sound casual.

Talonclaw once more glanced at her, confused by her odd behavior, then cleared his throat as he looked back at Deerspots. "I found her here two days ago, she had managed to drag herself down into the bushes. From where exactly, I'm not quite sure. I followed her blood trail back a bit past fourtrees, but I didn't bother crossing into Thunderclan territory. I've been taking care of her, Dawnspirit's been helping me heal her."

"I was searching for herbs when I stumbled upon the two of them," explained the medicine cat, her eyes soft as she gazed at her unexpected patient.

"Do you have any idea who did this to her?" Batwing asked, sniffing at the deep gashes along Deerspots' haunches.

Dawnspirit paused, unsure of whether to admit who had done something so horrible. "It was Dreamfire," she mumbled, her voice nearly inaudible.

"What?" Batwing asked, straining her ears to hear.

"It was Dreamfire," Dawnspirit said louder, sinking down onto her paws. Saying the words out loud finally forced herself to accept them. "Dreamfire, the Shadowclan warrior did this."

Batwing stared up at her, horrified. "Oh, Dawnspirit," she mewed, her tone sympathetic.

The she-cat didn't answer, hating the pity. She began to peel off the cobwebs, and replace the with new, fresh ones. Talonclaw began to assist her, chewing up goldenrod and spreading it on the wounds. Batwing watched the two of them, looking quite awkward as she had nothing to do.

"Its Crookedstar's fault," Dawnspirit said shortly, keeping her concentration on the cobwebs and herbs. "He got the whole clan riled up. Now that Riverclan was taken care of, he moved on to Thunderclan, all of the rogues and kittypets. Dreamfire probably just had a lot of anger built up in her, and Crookedstar gave her a target." She paused, glancing up at Batwing thoughtfully. "Its a wonder no one from Shadowclan harassed you at the gathering."

Batwing snorted, shaking her head. "Get up in my face about it? Speckleclaw's easy to bully, he hasn't been in Thunderclan for very long, and only recently became a warrior. But me? I grew up here, I'm a clan cat through and through. If they tried to talk to me like that I'd just attack them, I don't exactly give off a helpless feel."

Talonclaw grinned at her words. "I agree with that, you don't look like someone who I'd mess with. Besides, who cares where you came from as long as you're loyal to your clan? I'm clanborn, but even if I wasn't I'd be just as good a warrior as I am now."

At his words, Batwing's eyes flashed, and she nearly laughed, but looked away before she did. Dawnspirit watched the strange reaction in bewilderment, not understanding what was going on, but she just ignored it.

"It'll be Windclan next," Dawnspirit mewed, her tone sad and defeated. "He'll think of something to blame them for, perhaps hunting all of the rabbits, being too neutral in the clans' affairs, something ridiculous like that. And they'll all eat it up, following his every word, feeding on the hatred." She smiled as she thought of her friend. "Blueflower and I are the only ones left. The ones who can see past his smooth tongue, who can see the true evil behind his plans."

Batwing was silent, not quite sure what to say.

"Things will get better," Talonclaw said softly, his eyes full of hope. "You just have to hold onto what you believe in, don't let Crookedstar turn you into one of his slaves like the rest of them. Remember who you are, and stand up for whats right."

Suddenly, Deerspots' brown eyes fluttered open. "Dawnspirit," she mewed happily, her voice tired and sloppy. She caught sight of Batwing and inhaled sharply. "What are you doing here?" Her face now flooded with not only surprise at the Thunderclan warrior, but also guilt. Her actions were clearly still causing her pain, and this only reminded her of them.

Batwing glanced over at Dawnspirit who was shaking her head quickly, yet she paid the she-cat no heed. "I want you to come back to Thunderclan," she blurted out.

Dawnspirit sighed. "Batwing, leave her be for right now, she's still recovering. You can talk about this later."

Batwing stared at Deerspots with a fierce determination, clearly not going to back down. "How can you have just left?" she cried. "What about Earthkit and Acornkit? What about Addertooth?"

Deerspots sighed, her face full of grief. "I wanted to take them with me but Addertooth wouldn't hear of it. You have to understand, I love them, but I can't stand what happened to Speckleclaw. If I came back to live in the clans, I'd always be in danger."

"But you wouldn't," Batwing murmured, her voice now soft. "Don't you understand? Thats how Thunderclan works, we take care of each other. We watch out for each other. And if one of us is harmed, we avenge them. You swore loyalty to Thunderclan the day you became a warrior. Don't you remember? Uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this clan even at the cost of your life. Those were the words Duskstar recited so long ago, and do you remember what you said to him?"

Batwing paused, staring at the sad she-cat who avoided her eyes. "I do," Deerspots mewed quietly.

"Exactly," she said, nodding. "You swore that oath in front of the whole clan, how can you simply break it now, when your clan, your mate, and your kits, need you most!"

She looked up at the sky, searching for the cats whom she knew were watching. "They're up there," she mewed, motioning up above them. "All of the cats who've died. He's up there too, watching you right now. When you die, you never truly leave the clans. You think that his death is the end for you two, but its not. You'll see him one day, perhaps even in your dreams, and he's always watching over you. Always praying that you'll make the right decision. So which will you choose?"

Deerspots gazed up at the sky, her eyes softening. "I don't think I could face Thunderclan, after what I've done. I've deserted my clan just like Dreamfire said us 'kittypets' do. How can I go back?"

"You think we'll hate you for that? For running away for a day because something horrible happened to you? We've all had our days, no one blames you. We just want you to come home."

At her last word, Deerspots smiled. "Home," she said, the word running along tongue sweetly. "I'll think about it."

Batwing sighed at her indefinite answer, however it was clear she wasn't going to get anything better.

Dawnspirit smiled at this reaction, pleased that the misunderstood and lost she-cat finally had a home. "I have to go back to camp," she mewed, grinning at the three. "Crookedstar will be wondering where I was."

Batwing nodded, smiling and waving her tail in farewell at her friend. Talonclaw simply dipped his head, his eyes twinkling. "Till the next time," he mewed, a faint smile on his mouth.

Dawnspirit laughed and bounded back towards the Shadowclan territory, her steps lighter.

Dawnspirit's eyes flew open.

The cold darkness met her, seeping with fear and the unknown. Regret filled up in the emptiness, replacing what was missing, what wasn't there.

"He must never know that I told you!"

The familiar words rang out through the black, the voice still so protective. It held the emotions of lost love, grief, and affection which was eternal.

"What do you want this time?" Dawnspirit called, her voice echoing through the darkness. "Why am I here again? You still haven't told me yet what this memory is."

Only silence followed, simply broken by her soft pawsteps. Although last time the darkness had been welcoming, now it pushed her away, tossed her out like a maggot ridden mouse. She shivered in its unforgiving presence, feeling as if she had somehow betrayed this memory that she was in.

"For my kits sake, if he knows who she is, she will never be safe."

The usual words rang out through the emptiness, now expected. Dawnspirit strained her eyes, hoping to catch a glimpse of anything which moved. "Why am I here?" she called out again.

"You feel it don't you?" As Nina stepped out of the blank shadows, Dawnspirit saw that her once serene eyes were sparked and angry. "You feel that the blackness is different, now driving you out."

"How did you know that?"

"Because you have not yet full filled your duty!" hissed Nina, her face furious. "You have the power to destroy Crookedstar, to make the clans safe once more, yet you simply moan and grieve with Batwing, doing nothing to prevent the destruction. You now have the ability to fight; you are no longer defenseless! You must use your knowledge to bring an end to this corruption!"

Dawnspirit trembled, shaking her head frantically. "I don't know what you're talking about. I have no knowledge which can bring an end to this!"

"My daughter will never know the horrors of the battlefield." The voices continued in the background, softer now, and there was also some new grief lingering in the words. The tone was different, as if all was now lost.

"Why won't you tell me what this memory is?" Dawnspirit asked, her eyes narrowing as she listened to the words. "Its mine, isn't it? Something that I've forgotten, but why won't you just tell me what is it?"

"It'll only interfere in your path, simply bringing you pain. You're hearing it in your dreams because something is triggering it, something which is reminding you of the past. It is not my place to tell you what this memory means."

Dawnspirit growled in frustration. "If you know, why won't you just tell me? It'd be so easy!"

"Perhaps if you use the knowledge you have to save Shadowclan, I will tell you." Nina's voice was cold as she spoke, pushing down her frustration.

"I've told you, I don't know anything!" Dawnspirit cried, stomping in fury. "Whatever you think I can do, you're wrong!"

"Why are you lying?" hissed Nina. "I know you do, you cannot fool me. What is stopping you?"

Dawnspirit shook, tears filling her eyes. "Please," she cried, shaking her head again. "Just leave me alone. Theres nothing I can do!"

Nina snarled in frustration glaring at the terrified medicine cat. "When Starclan cut themselves off from the clans, I had thought it would be easy to pass on their prophecy, to save the clans myself. However now I see it is not me who has failed, but you. You are the one destined to save the forest, it is only you who can do it. Yet you simply deny what is needed of you." She looked at the ground sadly, memories coming to her mind. "I was once like that. I refused to believe that my actions affected so many others, I thought I could simply ignore my destiny, pretend those suffering weren't there. But you can't do that. I know you're afraid, but you must do this. You're the only one who has the knowledge to bring about the downfall of Crookedstar. You're the only one who can pull back the deceit that has been blinding your clanmates. Please. Save them."

Her last words shocked Dawnspirit. She stared at Nina dumbly, unsure of what to say. The she-cat looked back up, her golden eyes gleaming.

With a gasp, Dawnspirit jerked awake, sweat clinging to her pelt. She shivered in the cold night air, shaking her head to rid herself of the terrifying dream. However the eyes stayed with her. The gleamed before her gaze, shimmering with a cry for help. "Please. Save them."

It was interesting to write Batwing's reaction to her brother from Dawnspirit's perspective, very hard though.

I'd love to hear what you all thought!