Hmmm...I'm so close to being done with this book. I have one more chapter to physically write out, and then we're done with my summer goal. This should have been up Monday, but was being a jerk to me and not letting me in on this pathetic little netbook. Anyways. It's here now! Enjoy!

Chapter 20: The Poison Stars

"There's a troubled look on your face," Ivypool told Mountainstone. The young warrior looked up from his vole, and Ivypool settled down beside him without care that he hadn't invited her. She poked the vole with a claw. "Want to tell me about it?"

"I've been upset about not being the one to stop the earthquakes," said Mountainstone. "But that's a silly thing to be upset about. Really, I'm frustrated that…I went there, Ivypool. To the Dark Forest. When we stopped them. And I just felt so…helpless."

"Explain it to me," said Ivypool. Mountainstone pushed the vole her direction and sighed, placing his head on his paws.

"During the earthquakes, I can't really control the motion of the rocks," said Mountainstone, closing his eyes. "But I can sense their movements. During the last earthquake, I noticed that they were being moved by what seemed like…cats made entirely out of shadows."

Ivypool's heart froze. She had known that this was coming, had heard it in Hawkfrost's voice herself. Still, it hurt to see it all redeveloping. Had all her hard work in the War of Shadows been for nothing after all?

"I could connect to the rock and, in some senses, figure out where they were coming from. It was a strain, a weak connection, but it was definitely there. Littlefalcon has the power to connect our minds together, and Willowleaf has the power to mimic our powers, so the two of them put a sort of mental link onto us. That way, Skysong could see what I was seeing – the connection – and she could follow it between realms."

"She shares my power," said Ivypool softly. Mountainstone nodded.

"We couldn't go directly there. We were spat out in the Dark Forest, and when we got close, we found Tigerstar, Hawkfrost, and Mapleshade."

Mapleshade? Ivypool thought, narrowing her eyes. Her memories of Mapleshade were scattered and shiver inducing. Back in the War, Mapleshade had tried to make some sort of twisted deal with Ivypool, challenging her to save herself and all those close to her or to live forever in the Dark Forest. Mapleshade had trapped her in a pit of darkness, where Ivypool had nearly died under the weight of shadow cats, but she had been able to break free through a connection between the pit and StarClan. How foolish of her, to think that Mapleshade hadn't been defeated…but to her knowledge, she hadn't entered the final battle, instead hanging back to direct shadow cats into the world of the living.

"Mapleshade slipped into this…burrow, they called it, which is where all the shadow cats were waiting. Birdpaw and Littlefalcon were able to distract Hawkfrost enough so that Skysong and I could go down after Mapleshade, and…" His breath was caught in his throat. Ivypool stared at her former apprentice, not knowing whether to offer him comfort or to let him recover on his own. It only took a moment, and then Mountainstone sighed again. "When we got there, we couldn't see anything. It was like Mapleshade had surrounded us with shadow cats, and she was throwing them all at us at full force." He shivered. "Skysong's air powers did nothing, and there was no rock for me to control. My fighting powers kept me together for a little bit, but Skysong and I got separated.

"Then Willowleaf came in to help us – she could mimic Skysong's ability to switch realms – and we convinced her to use her ice powers to stop the shadows. Mapleshade got free, but Willowleaf's ice froze over the connections between the strange dark burrow and the living world and the Dark Forest."

"So they couldn't get back and start mayhem again," said Ivypool. She processed this for a bit. Mountainstone's experience – the 'burrow' where the shadow cats lived sounded just like the pit of darkness Mapleshade had trapped her in back in the war.

"I wanted to ask you a question about all of that," said Mountainstone, looking up at her with his bright blue eyes. "On Willowleaf's quest, she was told that to figure all of this out, we had to look at the War of Shadows. I was wondering if you knew any connections to that."

Ivypool gave him a thoughtful glance. She was constantly surprised at the determination and pride this young tom brought to her life. He was so serious about knowing all of this, so serious about meeting his destiny head-on and not skirting it on the edges, as she had. He was so different from her, but perhaps that was a good thing. No one deserved such a hellish life as the one she had endured for her twenty moons of life.

"This burrow of darkness you described," she said lowly. "Mapleshade trapped me there once. I got out by going to StarClan."

"There was a connection between the burrow and StarClan?" Mountainstone said. He thought for a moment. "The connection between the burrow and the living world allowed the shadow cats to come and go at will. Do you think…?"

Ivypool had never realized it, but now that he was saying it, it made sense. Her blood chilled. By leaving through that particular connection, she had served to widen the gap. Was it…was it her fault the shadows were now infiltrating StarClan?

"The elders never tell the whole story," said Mountainstone crossly.

Ivypool knew this to be true. Although the elders enjoyed talking about the war, they hated to think of it as being the last war they had fought in all together. They had been undefeatable. Until Graystripe's leg was injured so badly it prevented him from fighting, and Dustpelt had irreversibly wrenched his shoulder, and Sandstorm had finally decided after the battle of the foxes that she, too, would join her friends. Besides, it would do them no good to fill their apprentices' heads with the ideas that some of their current Clan-mates had turned against ThunderClan. Ivypool sighed.

"StarClan chose Lionstar, Jayfeather, Doveheart, and I for a prophecy that predicted that we would defeat the Dark Forest, which, under Tigerstar, tried to come back and create a…new world order. The Dark Forest recruited warriors that were frustrated or upset by their current situations, whether in the Clan or by themselves. I was jealous that Doveheart was getting so much special attention from Firestar. I guess I was an easy choice.

"They trained cats from all the Clans and tried to start little feuds among the Clans under the pretense of making each Clan come up on top. They told me that they were on ThunderClan's side while telling ShadowClan cats that they were on their side. War broke out, partly due to my own foolish desire to show how good I was in battle. Then they started sending the shadow warriors, and Blackstar was smart enough to put the past beside him. Blackstar and Firestar allied against the shadow cats, and then they got Mistystar on their side, too. The Dark Forest felt the appropriate reaction was to appoint a representative from each Clan to help train the others – a general. Breezepelt from WindClan, Mossytail from RiverClan, Redwillow from ShadowClan…and I was ThunderClan's general.

"Then Icecloud and Lionstar found two kits lost in the woods – Bouncestep and her sister, Crouchpaw – and Firestar took them in. Mistystar and Blackstar defended the decision to keep their alliance strong; Breezepelt took advantage of the situation to convince Onestar to attack ThunderClan. Meanwhile, Jayfeather, Lionstar, and Doveheart were making progress getting some of…my warriors out of the Dark Forest, but those who were still devoted to the cause were opposed to taking in Bouncestep and Crouchpaw. When WindClan attacked, Crouchpaw was killed, and Firestar was ready to declare war on WindClan. Jayfeather talked him out of it. It took a bit of diplomacy on all sides, but then Onestar relented and agreed to the alliance.

"The next step was to overthrow the current Clans. Breezepelt had the greatest following, so he and his warriors were able to overthrow Onestar and kick the loyal WindClan warriors out of camp. They took the WindClan queens hostage to prevent Onestar from trying to attack later. RiverClan followed barely a sunrise later, and though Mistystar managed to retain control, the Dark Forest warriors joined WindClan. Firestar challenged the Dark Forest warriors in ThunderClan, so I stepped up to lead them out. But I was expecting kits at that point, so they left without me, and I was taken prisoner. Doveheart and Lionblaze went to ShadowClan and ended up getting in the middle of the ShadowClan revolt.

"Firestar then told all of ThunderClan the truth about the war, with Blossomfall providing information as a member of the Dark Forest that got out before it was too late. You look angry, but you really couldn't back out once you got in too deep. They threatened your family or your life. I heard stories about Tigerstar sending shadow cats to murder kits of cats that tried to walk out. After that, you really had no choice. That's why I was stuck, too.

"Rosepetal had been acting spy in WindClan's camp, and she managed to return and report the plan to Firestar. To make sure that the Clans were attacking first, Firestar sent parties to all the Clans, and everyone teamed up. It was like the stories of BloodClan, when the Clans became one. Then Mapleshade trapped me in a dream, and using my power to come and go between worlds, she forced me to hold open a channel of sorts so that the shadow cats could escape. I broke free when she trapped me in the burrow, and I managed to convince StarClan warriors to help. Tigerheart – yes, of ShadowClan - killed Redwillow and Mossytail, while Jayfeather killed Breezepelt. It's hard to believe, but it's true.

"Doveheart was with Tigerheart, who claimed to be Tigerstar's personal apprentice that was acting double agent for ShadowClan the whole time. Doveheart managed to use her powers to get the cats who had turned to the side of the Dark Forest to fight alongside their former Clan-mates with the knowledge that they would be forgiven. I challenged Hawkfrost and managed to trap him back inside the Dark Forest, but I used up all of my power at once, which stopped the StarClan warriors from being able to actually attack and kill Dark Forest warriors. Tigerstar killed Firestar, and so Bramblestar and Lionstar went after him. Lionstar says he killed Tigerstar by attacking him with both his claws and a ball of shadow darkness. Then it ended. Does that answer your questions?"

Mountainstone processed this without saying anything as he ruled through possibility after possibility.

"I knew you had powers," he said. "What was your prophecy?"

"There will be three cats, kin of your kin, with the power of the stars in their paws. A dark prophet will arise to complete the Good Four, light of light and the first enemies of the darkness. With starlight in their paws, they will defeat the shadows to save the Clans." The words were engraved on Ivypool's heart.

"The stars must shine through the darkness. A friend who seems an enemy will pave the way for the path makers. If they fail, so shall we all. If they fall, so shall the world," she added. "I don't know exactly what that part means, but it's new. "Besides, there are your two prophecies."

"There will be Five, greater than any who have come before them. Nature's gift, they must restore peace to blood, before time runs out," said Mountainstone. "And the longer one."

"When great overcomes good, flame will quench the eternal darkness, water will fall into starlit power, wind will curl the straight lines of truth, rock will knock at the door of balance, ice will freeze the roots of everything, and the land will shake to end it all," said Ivypool. She nodded thoughtfully.

"But the land has shook," said Mountainstone. "That was the earthquake. But nothing has ended. Does that mean we're finished?"

"I think you and I both know the answer to that," Ivypool said softly. Her heart felt cold and achy, like it used to back in the days of the War of Shadows. Mountainstone nodded softly.

"It's all connected," he said. "It must be."

"Hey, lazy lump!" called a voice, and Ivypool and Mountainstone looked up to see Bluemoon and Brackenheart. Bluemoon lashed her tail. "Come hunting, new warrior!"

"Don't let yourself think too much," said Ivypool at the look of mild irritation on Mountainstone's face. "Go have fun with your friends."

"Bluemoon and I aren't friends…" he muttered, but he stood up and lumbered after Bluemoon and Brackenheart anyways, falling into step with them. Ivypool smiled, resting her head on her paws as she watched them go, side-by-side. She saw Brackenheart laugh as Bluemoon cuffed Mountainstone over the ears, saw Mountainstone ram into Bluemoon and make her crash into Brackenheart, but all three were smiling, their tails waving merrily.

Live a normal life, Ivypool urged Mountainstone, watching as her two former apprentices and her daughter strolled out of camp together. Mountainstone and Bluemoon claimed still to not be friends, and StarClan knew that no warrior could stand to hear them bickering, but it didn't quite match up with the way they walked close together, their pawsteps in sync. She smiled to herself, watching as Brackenheart flicked Bluemoon's flank with his tail the way Bumblestripe did when Ivypool made some snide comment.

Her mate came trotting up to her and dropped down with a groan about Cloudtail's mumblings on their early patrol.

"Mountainstone left this," said Ivypool, nudging the vole towards him. "I'm not going to eat this."

"Did you see the three of them on the way out?" said Bumblestripe, his eyes wide. Ivypool purred her consent. "For all the grumbling Bluemoon does about Brackenheart and Mountainstone, she sure gets along well with them."

"She's stubborn and likes being grumpy," said Ivypool.

"I know where she gets it from," teased Bumblestripe.

"Stupid earnest tom," muttered Ivypool, turning her nose in the air. He laughed. She smiled. This is how they should have always been – together, a real family. If it were any other cat but Bumblestripe, she knew she would never have recovered from the war. But here he was, having entirely forgiven her, because Bumblestripe was the one cat she had met that loved with his entire heart. She didn't know how to appreciate it any more than she already did.

XX

Ivypool dislodged the misgivings in her heart and took a few steps forward, giving way to the uneasiness that always spread in her when she was in the Place of No Stars. She had promised never to go here again, but there was something on her mind. Something was making her more on edge than usual, as if the channels between realms had shifted. If her power was what was warning her of what was coming, she would listen and go.

She crept between the trees and shadows, knowing the precise area of the forest she wandered. She had been here too many times. It wasn't far from the main stone hollow where the generals used to meet, back in the days of the war. Ivypool paused to sniff the air and recognized Hawkfrost's scent. She knew it too well. He was nearby. Deciding to do something, Ivypool turned and bounced up the nearest tree, creeping along the too-thin branches without worry about running into a squirrel. There was no fresh-kill here, save a few desolate mice that were essentially just bones.

Without making a noise, Ivypool bounded from tree branch to tree branch, her claws digging in and clinging to the trees with trained precision. She followed Hawkfrost's scent until she caught glimpses of tortoiseshell fur among the shadows. Mapleshade. Gritting her teeth, Ivypool sat back in the tree, her ears perked to hear their conversation.

"The stupid kit's ice was good," said Hawkfrost softly. "It's exactly what we need."

Ivypool swallowed back nervousness.

"Willowleaf's ice will melt," said Mapleshade softly. "You know that."

"So what?" said Hawkfrost. "We have this all worked out. The wall between StarClan has all but disappeared. In a quarter-moon at most, we'll have broken through."

"StarClan and the Place of No Stars, darkness and light," said Tigerstar in a low voice. "Yes. That is right. The balance will be restored."

"We must find a way to maintain what little success we've had," said Mapleshade. Her voice was strained, as if the two toms hadn't figured out that something was going wrong. Ivypool liked hearing Mapleshade sound so disoriented. "We must take away the remaining lives."

"Why do you sound so upset, Mapleshade?" said Hawkfrost through a yawn. "Everything is going according to plan."

"You'll see for yourself what disaster awaits us," said Mapleshade through a hiss. "I would aim for the medicine cat."

"The medicine cat?" said Tigerstar.

"Flame will quench eternal darkness," said Mapleshade in a quiet voice. There was a small silence, and then Tigerstar laughed.

"We have moves still available to us, Mapleshade," said Tigerstar. "Littlefalcon is falling apart. He was never the right choice. Willowleaf is unstable, and Birdpaw is already isolating herself. What then – Mountainstone and Skysong?"

"Littlefalcon has help," said Mapleshade. "Willowleaf is getting over her fears."

"Skysong and Mountainstone are strong," meditated Hawkfrost. "Skysong is wandering an aimless path, though."

"Well, I have nothing to concern myself with," said Tigerstar, stretching. "Nor do you, Mapleshade."

"I have plenty to concern myself with," said Mapleshade. She huffed.

"I will check out the border," said Hawkfrost quietly. "StarClan will fall before long. We don't have long to wait."

"I should hope you're right," said Mapleshade.

Ivypool swallowed. The border? She shook her head. It couldn't be…

Closing her eyes, she focused in, and when she opened them, she was standing on the edge of StarClan. She was not alone.

"It troubles me, too," said a voice, and Ivypool looked back to see Spottedleaf. The pretty tortoiseshell stared at the foggy wall, which was faded. Ivypool could very clearly make out the shapes of dark trees on the other side, see their ominous glow. "I fear for what is ahead."

"What should I do?" said Ivypool.

"Help them," said Spottedleaf softly. She looked up. Her amber eyes were darker than ever before, and she was trembling. "I cannot hold this off much longer. You must forgive me."

"Forgive you?" said Ivypool. "For what?"

Then Spottedleaf's eyes became cold, and the she-cat puffed up.

"Do not interfere," she hissed, and Ivypool backed away. This wasn't right. "You meddle too much, Ivypool. All of this is your fault. Do not interfere."

"Spottedleaf, what's going on?" said Ivypool urgently. She looked up to see that there were more StarClan warriors on the horizon moving towards her.

"When that wall falls, balance will be restored," said Spottedleaf in a whispered voice. Her eyes were alive with fervor.

"Ivypool!" Ivypool heard Spottedleaf's claws sliding out, and then she was pushed to the ground. She looked up and identified Briarlight. "Ivypool, leave! Please!"

Ivypool stared at Briarlight, who scrambled off of her and stood before Spottedleaf.

"Please, Spottedleaf," said Briarlight, her voice shaking. "This isn't you."

"I am what I declare myself to be," said Spottedleaf. "Do not command me, young kit. You do not understand what imbalance this realm is subject to."

Ivypool woke up gasping, and she was staring into shadows and moonlight that lined the warriors den. Shaking, she slowly sat up, being careful not to bother the other warriors in the den. Ivypool carefully picked her way outside. She took a few deep breaths. That wasn't right. Something had been wrong. No, everything had been wrong.

Help them, Spottedleaf had said. I cannot hold this off much longer. You must forgive me.

Ivypool didn't forgive easily, but she did know how to help. If the Five needed her, she would be there, no matter the obstacle, no matter the imbalance around her.

So I kinda just left you stranded with that plot twist at the end of the last chapter. And OOH the plot thickens as Spottedleaf and the rest of StarClan show a darker side...ooooh...

Make sure to review, favorite, follow, and recommend to your friends if you liked! We're SO close to the end!

~Elsi