This chapter and the next one - which I am really close to finishing! - are pretty short as chapters go. But, I think this one is actually giving information instead of confusing you more. Maybe. Not entirely sure yet. It's a Doveheart chapter, though, and a good buddy makes an appearance...Enjoy!

Chapter 21: The Oncoming Storm

Doveheart found herself in Lionstar's den, as she often did.

"…and I'm worried." Ivypool finished her story, her blue eyes wide. Doveheart didn't know what to make of all of it. StarClan had never acted so unresponsive, so…attack prone.

"Do you think there's something in this theory…balance?" said Lionstar.

"I think it's wrong," said Ivypool.

"I agree with Ivypool," said Jayfeather. He thought for a moment. "Maybe it would be best for me to go to the Moontree tonight and see if I can find some answers."

"Won't you just get a dream from the part of StarClan that Ivypool saw?" said Lionstar.

"I can take that risk," said Jayfeather. "I have a hunch, though. None of you stay up too late. I think you may be dragged into this dream."

"Why do you say that?" asked Doveheart.

"Because something has definitely happened," said Jayfeather. "Something that has changed the tides. So if I go to the Moontree and say I'm looking for help, we may get the warning we need."

"I hope you're right," said Ivypool sullenly. She sighed.

"I'll head there right away," said Jayfeather. "I should be there by sun-down."

"Be careful," said Lionstar. "Do you want me to send a warrior with you?"

"There's no need to worry the Clan," said Jayfeather. "I'll go quickly. I won't be long."

"Thank you, Jayfeather," said Lionstar. He glanced at Ivypool. "I'm glad you told us about this. I'm beginning to worry."

"Only now?" teased Doveheart. Lionstar gave a half-hearted purr and followed her and Ivypool out of his den and into the morning light. Sighing, Doveheart stretched. She had been woken by Ivypool's worries that morning and gone straight to this meeting. It would feel good to stretch her legs and get a little bit of time alone to think.

Cats were already walking up to her, their eyes tired and their fur still matted from sleep. Doveheart smiled, waking up for the second time that day. She loved this job.

"Molewhisker," she called, and the brown-and-cream warrior looked up yawning. "Take Stealthstep and Hazeltail hunting. And make sure to take Snowpaw with you." She flicked her tail. "Thornclaw, you take a patrol out, too. Take Blossomfall and Whitewing with you." She went on in this fashion for a while, her mind moving quickly as she racked off the day's events. And it was worth it to see her Clan nodding and agreeing with her every word. Doveheart hadn't know that she would love being deputy so much. When she was finished, she slipped out of camp and headed off into the trees.

The forest still smelled like newleaf, even though Doveheart knew that Greenleaf would be on its way before long. Sighing, Doveheart listened for the sounds of mice among the roots and got into her hunting crouch. She crept along the forest floor, thinking of nothing but the mice that she caught. After burying her third mouse, Doveheart sniffed and realized that it was nearing sun-high, and that she should head back soon. It felt good to be out on her own, where she could think or choose not to think. Where her problems seemed far away, lost in the tide of normal Clan life. Then the fur stood up on the back of her neck, for there was a familiar scent nearby.

"Get off my land," she said, whirling around. "Tigerheart!"

Tigerheart's eyes appeared first, and then he shamelessly stepped out from the brush and shook leaves out of his pelt.

"What are you doing here," said Doveheart. "This is ThunderClan territory."

"I came to see you," said Tigerheart. "I thought you would come by eventually." His eyes flashed. "I heard the Five finally stopped the earthquakes."

"What do you know of it?" said Doveheart, the fur rising on the back of her neck.

"Relax," said Tigerheart, rolling his amber eyes. "I know because Flametail and I are trying to figure out what's going on as much as you are."

"Why do you care so much?" said Doveheart. "How do you know everything? The pieces don't fit. You can't expect me to trust you."

"You should," said Tigerheart softly. "You used to."

"Yes," said Doveheart, lashing her tail. "Fine, I used to. But you're ShadowClan, and currently you're standing on my land. I hope you have an explanation."

Tigerheart didn't reply until Doveheart let a growl rise in the back of her throat. Still studying the sky, he sighed.

"Flametail says that StarClan is unhappy," he said. "The border between StarClan and the Dark Forest will break apart soon."

"How do you know that?"

Tigerheart met her eyes. Doveheart used to feel chilled to the bone with her attraction to him, but now he was just a ShadowClan cat on her territory. He was still handsome. His voice and his scent and his eyes were still perfect. But she couldn't trust him anymore.

"Because I still think I know more than you do," he said.

"Then if you want to get me to trust you, you'll tell me what you know," snapped Doveheart. "All of these claims to loving me and wanting me, and where's the proof?"

"It's slightly more complex than that," said Tigerheart crossly. He took a step towards her. Doveheart unsheathed her claws, but he continued towards her. Refusing to back down on her own territory, Doveheart stared up at him. "I see a fight coming," he said, and his voice was so low that any other cat would have had to strain to catch his words. "One that rips the Clans in half. I suggest you keep an eye on Willowleaf, especially now that she doesn't have an extra life to protect her."

"You can't possibly know that," said Doveheart, her ears flattening to her head. "They were made warriors less than a quarter-moon ago. And the extra life…"

"That news was passed along via border patrols," said Tigerheart calmly. "I don't know if it's worth me telling you how I know the rest of it. We're in contact with a lot of allies, Flametail and I."

"Tell me what you know," said Doveheart. "Or why did you bother coming here at all?"

"To warn you of the fight ahead," said Tigerheart. He stepped away from her. "You clearly don't want me to be here anymore, so I'll go. You don't trust me anymore."

"How could I?" said Doveheart.

"Because you need me," said Tigerheart, his eyes steady. "When you want me, I'll be waiting."

Doveheart watched him go, huffing in frustration. She had loved him once. Perhaps she could love him again, or still, if the world and the situation were different. But when he taunted her with information she apparently wasn't good enough to receive…Doveheart lashed her tail and hissed.

She didn't have time to think about Tigerheart, especially since his warning was so severe. The others deserved to know this news, particularly as it discussed all the Clans.

XXXX

Sure enough, Doveheart was sucked out of a dream of hunting a squirrel and plopped in the middle of a greying field. The first thing she noticed was Ivypool, Jayfeather, and Lionstar. The second thing was –

"Firestar!" said Lionstar, his tail going up in excitement. "Bramblestar!"

"Where are we?" said Ivypool. "I've never been to this part of StarClan before."

"It's one of the more distant corners," said Bramblestar. "Currently most of those members we'd hope to avoid are gathered around the border."

"This is about the border collapsing, isn't it?" said Doveheart. "What's going on? Why are so many cats there? And why aren't you?"

"It's hard to explain," said Firestar. Up close, the two starry-pelted leaders looked much less like the celestial beings Doveheart had come to expect them to be. They seemed very much alive. "Essentially, we're only here because the Founders sacrificed themselves."

"What do you mean?" said Lionstar.

"The Five Founders of the Clans," said Firestar. "They're incorruptible beings destined to be remembered forever and thus will never fade. To hold the border up for a little longer, they forced themselves to disappear."

"What?" said Jayfeather. "That can't be…"

"That is what has happened," said Bramblestar. "We're riding out the shockwaves on their power. Very soon, we will be a minority, and it will be too hard to send you dreams. So we decided to say as much as we could now."

"The Prophecy of Power was put into creation by the Clan Founders, back when Mapleshade was confined to the Place of No Stars," said Firestar, his starry green eyes flaring. "Because it was never meant to exist."

"So this balance that everyone is claiming is valid," said Ivypool quietly.

"Very much so," Firestar said. "The incorruptible cats of a past era created the Place of No Stars to hold Mapleshade by cutting out a piece of StarClan's hunting grounds. Since then, Mapleshade has been trying to break free of her prison, and to do so, she has tried to open the channels between the shadow burrow – which I believe Ivypool told you about – and StarClan's hunting grounds."

"I took that channel," said Ivypool softly. "Does that mean I opened it?"

"No," said Bramblestar. "I would maybe suggest that you widened it, though. But that channel was always supposed to be there – the burrow, in some ways, maintains the balance. The shadows within it are both good and evil. Their existence is what holds the border together."

"So since Willowleaf froze it…" said Doveheart carefully.

"Yes," said Bramblestar. "It's becoming harder and harder to hold the border up. There are very few incorruptible cats that spend their time here. They would be able to hold the border, but I fear it is too late for that."

"Time is running out," said Firestar, and the two former leaders of ThunderClan exchanged a glance. "You must help the Five to achieve their destiny, no matter the cost."

"Good luck," said Bramblestar. "We all depend on you now."

So, I have put a poll up on my profile asking your opinion on Tigerheart, because he DOES have a role to play in Book 4. I haven't quiiiiite figured out how to end that story arc or direct it, so I thought I would take a general opinion of our good friend in ShadowClan. If you would like to maybe have an impact on the events in Book 4, cast your vote on my profile! Thanks, everyone!

This story is winding down. Wow, it's been quite a ride. I'll have a full schpeal when I finish the final chapter (tonight?), but thanks so much for all of you who have read and reviewed and favorited and followed! I love you all!

~Elsi