symonybaloney- Lionblaze didn't get 'hut' 'inbattle', nor did he get hurt in battle. He just got surprised and temporarily subdued by Tigerheart.

Pumpkinfur- OMG! OMG! OMG! Did you get an account? AWESOME! Plus, I feel the same about Tigerheart and Dovewing.

Enjoy the chapter.

Chapter Twenty-one

Dovewing had stared in shock as Tigerheart had attacked Lionblaze and saved her from practically being killed by her former mentor. Then, she had stared in shock as he boldly faced Lionblaze and told him nobody could hurt her. Now, she didn't know what to do. Lionblaze obviously didn't either, as he stood, gaping, looking from her to Tigerheart and back again. Finally, she managed to stutter out a few words.

"Tigerheart...? What...?" The cat she used to love dipped his head.

"I understand you no longer have feelings for me, but I could hardly stand by and let you get ripped to shreds, could I?" Dovewing felt her heart ache with the injustice of the situation.

"I do love you Tigerheart. More than you could know, but I can't. I'm so sorry, but I've chosen ThunderClan." Tigerheart nodded, his gaze filled with fresh sadness.

"I know. There are no hard feelings, Dovewing. I understand. I love you too." Dovewing nuzzled him for a heartbeat, before he pulled back.

"I love you Dovewing." He said again before disappearing into the mist. Dovewing lowered her head and began to pad slowly towards camp. She glanced up at Lionblaze. The golden tom looked horrified at the prospect of what he could've done.

"I'm sorry Dovewing I-" but Dovewing didn't want an explanation. All she wanted was to get back to camp. She plodded through the storm, her tail trailing in the mud. When she finally reached camp, she pushed her way into the nursery and curled into a ball in her nest. She heard Lionblaze whispering to Cinderheart, but right now, all she could feel was fresh sorrow from her renewed heartbreak.

Ivypool stretched. Her muscles ached from another expedition in the Dark Forest. Toadstep brushed through the entrance to the warrior's den.

"Finally, I thought you'd never wake up." He purred, butting her shoulder affectionately with his muzzle. Ivypool inhaled his familiar scent. She twined her tail with his as they padded out of the warrior den. Cloudtail rolled his eyes as they headed towards the fresh-kill pile.

"Why not just announce that you're mates already?" he muttered. Ivypool felt her pelt begin to fluff up with embarrassment, but Brightheart shot Cloudtail a sharp look.

"Don't act like you weren't like that too." Ivypool twitched her whiskers with amusement as a flustered Cloudtail tried to deny it. As they sat down to share a starling, Toadstep said,

"I was ready to say we were mates." He purred. Ivypool stared.

"Really?" she gasped. Toadstep took a bite.

"Sure," he replied easily as he chewed. "That's what I would like to be, your mate. If you want me to be yours, of course." That was a no-brainer for Ivypool.

"Of course!" She exclaimed. "I would love you to be my mate." Toadstep nodded, seemingly satisfied.

"Alright then, that's settled. Would you like to take Dewpaw and Snowpaw hunting?" Ivypool nodded and stood. She ducked into the apprentice den.

"Hey Snowpaw!" the white apprentice stirred in his nest next to Amberpaw. His sister woke up when he did. The pink scratch down the side of her face was healing well, and Ivypool was secretly glad that Amberpaw wouldn't be mauled for life like her mother.

Jayfeather was mixing a poultice of marigold and horsetail for Rosepetal's scratch, when Millie dashed into his den. Worry sparked from her pelt.

"Fernkit's cough is back. I think it's worse this time." Jayfeather sighed; Millie was probably making this a bigger deal than it actually was. He searched quickly through his stores, but he didn't have any catmint. He cursed under his breath and grabbed some tansy instead. He followed Millie into the nursery. He was expecting to leave after a few heartbeats, annoyed at Millie for making him come to the nursery, but when he sniffed Fernkit, he smelled the familiar tang of sickness. Fernkit coughed, and her tiny body trembled with the force. Jayfeather sucked in his breath. Shadekit was crouched beside her sister.

"What's wrong with Fernkit? Why can't we play?" Jayfeather ignored her, while Millie reassured her.

"Fernkit will be better soon. She's a bit sick, but Jayfeather's taking care of her. You just need to stay away from her until she gets better, okay?" Shadekit nodded gravely. But as Jayfeather lifted Fernkit and started towards the entrance to the den, Shadekit shrieked in protest.

"Where are you taking her?" she cried. Jayfeather put down the kit.

"I'm taking Fernkit to the abandoned twoleg nest so other cats won't get sick."

"No!" wailed Shadekit. "You can't leave her all alone!" Millie nuzzled her for a moment before saying,

"I'll be with her, she won't be alone." Shadekit stared at her mother.

"What about me? You can't leave me all alone either!" Millie licked her daughter.

"I bet Dovewing or Daisy or Squirrelflight wouldn't mind letting you sleep with them during the night." Shadekit whimpered and flattened herself to the mossy ground.

"What if I get hungry?" Millie glanced at Jayfeather before answering.

"You're old enough now to start eating prey. You don't need my milk anymore." Shadekit started wailing as Millie left with Fernkit, but as Jayfeather left, he heard Daisy comforting her and offering to play moss-ball with her.

Poor Shadekit and Fernkit. Greencough! Also, you might want to reread Chapter 18, I made some minor changes to the prophecy. Well, Dovewing's kits will be coming in the next few chapters, I haven't decided yet. R&R please!