Elsi: Today is Elemental Saturday! So, I've been working on this for a really long time, but I could never put it all together. Today I did it! I did three chapters (total - one of them is for the regular series) today, which is really super good for me. And they aren't crappy little baby chapters either. Well...not as crappy as some of the others in the past. Yay. That's good!

Elsi: Okay, so this is a Dovepaw chapter, and it's action-packed and exciting! It also has a lot of angsty-Ivypaw and Tigerheart...oh, boy. Anyways, there aren't any creepy shadows in this chapter. Hehehehe I will lull you and the Clans into a sense of calm...yesssss...

Elsi: In other news, I don't own ANY of these characters! That's why I'm writing fanfiction...if that wasn't clear...

Elsi: Okay, that's enough. ENJOY!

Chapter 7

Dovepaw

Pushing through layers of leaves, Dovepaw let her senses spread out and breathed in the cool night air. In WindClan, new kits slept soundly. That was good. After sensing no disturbances – none except for the occasional nightmare or apprentice grumbling about not going to the Gathering – Dovepaw turned back to join the others.

She gasped, finding herself face to face with Tigerheart.

"Hey, Dovepaw," said Tigerheart warmly, making her glow. "I saw you come back here. Is everything okay?"

Dovepaw nodded enthusiastically.

"I just needed a moment away from other cats," she said. "There's…a lot going on." Tigerheart gave her a deep and understanding look.

"Can I join you for your moment?" he asked. Dovepaw smiled in spite of herself and nodded. "Why don't you tell me what's going on?" Dovepaw took a deep breath, not sure what to say. Could she really tell him about the shadowy warriors lurking about?

"I…"

"You can trust me," said Tigerheart. StarClan help her, why did he have to be so nice-looking? And she did trust him, too. Maybe it wouldn't be too bad to tell him about the shadow warriors…ShadowClan could be having the same sort of troubles!

"There are these weird…things," Dovepaw admitted. "Like cats, only made of this weird darkness stuff, and you can't hurt them, and if they bite you, they plant this venomous stuff in you. Jayfeather has been having trouble getting them out."

At Tigerheart's confused look, Dovepaw tentatively began to explain the story of how Jayfeather had just reached into Squirrelflight's throat, and how the shadow cats attacked them. All the while, Tigerheart's amber eyes grew bigger and more intense. When she was done, she was out of breath. Behind her, she could hear the Gathering beginning.

"We should go back," Tigerheart said. "Dovepaw…" He broke off suddenly, searching for words he could not find. Dovepaw studied his handsome features for any sort of reaction. At last, Tigerheart looked up and leaned over to lick her ear, making her pelt heat up. "It's okay, Dovepaw. I'll help you. Promise."

She let him brush out of the shadows first, and then followed. At once, her sister's scent crashed over her.

"Traitor," hissed Ivypaw in her ear. Dovepaw turned to Ivypaw, her breathing coming in quick gasps.

"You listened to my conversation!" she said.

"Of course I did," Ivypaw said sharply. "You were revealing secrets to Tigerheart. ThunderClan secrets."

"Oh, knock it off, Ivypaw," said Dovepaw, angry now. "You hate ThunderClan now. All of those disgusted looks and disdainful sniffs. Don't think I haven't noticed."

Ivypaw's eyes lit up with fire, and she growled a warning.

"You're making a huge mistake," she said. "You have no idea how stupid you're being, Dovepaw! Being with a cat from another Clan."

"I'm not with…"

"Don't think I haven't noticed," parroted Ivypaw. "You're always sneaking out to meet him in the middle of the night, when I'm not looking, or at Gatherings. What else have you told him, anyways? Our patrol schedule? Our battle techniques?"

"Ivypaw!"

"If you hadn't noticed, Dovepaw," Ivypaw said curtly. "We fought a huge battle with ShadowClan less than two moons ago. What makes you think they're over those wounds, huh?"

"You're wrong…" Dovepaw said, hurt. What if ShadowClan was being attacked by the shadows, too? All of the Clans should be cautious.

"What are you two going on about? Mistystar is talking!" From behind them, a voice that could have been any of their warriors hissed a warning. Ivypaw shot Dovepaw a look of venom.

"Sorry, Berrynose," she said bitterly, and stalked off to go sit on the other side of the ThunderClan party.

XXXX

"Dovepaw," Lionblaze said softly, but Dovepaw didn't want to listen to him. "Look, Ivypaw told me you were talking to Tigerheart about the shadows."

Dovepaw looked up in surprise and shot Ivypaw a look of betrayal. If her littermate noticed it, she didn't give away any indication; she just followed Cinderheart and Brackenfur into the trees. What else did Ivypaw tell Lionblaze?

"I thought it was best," Dovepaw said quietly. "I don't want any cats to die because we kept this knowledge to myself."

Lionblaze's hard amber eyes softened, and he nudged her.

"I know you're trying to do the right thing, Dove," he said. "Just be careful what you say to who, okay?" Dovepaw nodded obediently, relieved. It seemed like Lionblaze didn't know a thing about their night meetings – that was lucky. So Ivypaw really was trying to look out for the Clan, not blame her sister.

Sighing, Dovepaw let her senses flow out, knowing that any second now, Lionblaze would snap into mentor mode again and ask her one of those basic questions all mentors asked. There was fairly good prey out – for leaf-bare, anyways. Dovepaw identified a particularly close mouse nearby and wondered if they had time to hunt. No, ShadowClan came first.

She looked towards ShadowClan, listening and scenting the air. What came back to her made her stiffen.

"ShadowClan!" she hissed, making the four others turn. "They're too close, they're…" She closed her eyes to get a good picture. "Hiding in bushes, it seems like. No…someone's in the tree. They're in the trees!" She flung open her eyes, looking up.

"What are you going on about, Dovepaw?" asked Cinderheart. Lionblaze scented the air, his eyes wild. Ivypaw shot Dovepaw a glare and tilted her head to the side, trying to prove her earlier point. "I don't smell anything."

"ShadowClan are attacking," insisting Dovepaw. "They're going to ambush us at the border. They know we're coming!"

"Come on," Brackenfur muttered, and he shoved through the next layer of bushes. "Ivypaw or Dovepaw, go back for help."

"I'm not going anywhere," hissed Ivypaw. Helpless, Dovepaw turned on her heels and charged back through the trees. Then something huge crashed onto her. Dovepaw yowled in surprise and rolled a ShadowClan warrior off of her, turning and finding Ferretpelt there, leaping. He sank his teeth into the back of her neck, pinning her to the ground.

"Where are you going, fluff-ball?" he spat. Digging her claws into the ground, Dovepaw concentrated on her training and shot up again, knocking him backwards. A spinning pile of seething fur and teeth, Dovepaw sank her claws into Ferretpelt's side as he moved to recover, making him yelp. Before she knew what was happening, his teeth sank into her ear, making Dovepaw screech in pain. Her vision flashed red, and then she kicked him off, sinking her claws into his belly and giving him a painful bite on the side of the neck. At the squeal she wanted, Dovepaw kicked the ShadowClan warrior off of her, leaving him stunned, and took off. The others would need her help. As she ran, she cast her senses backwards. Lionblaze was his normal pulsing ball of fury, while Ivypaw and Cinderheart fought side by side against a quartet of ShadowClan warriors and Brackenfur shook off three warriors at once. That was bad. They couldn't keep that up forever.

Darting into camp, Dovepaw yowled the alarm.

"ShadowClan at the border!" she yelled. As she stood there, the world spun, and it was all Dovepaw could do to stay on her paws. No…she had to go back.

"You should rest," Jayfeather said in her ear. "Come on, Dovepaw. You're hurt." Dovepaw shook him away, seeing the patrol that Bramblestar was sending.

"I have to go back," Dovepaw said, and she ran alongside them, falling into step with Blossomfall and Bumblestripe.

"This is so exciting!" mewed Blossomfall. Bumblestripe gave his sister a confused glance, and she shrugged.

"We can finally get ShadowClan back!" she said.

"I think that's what they're thinking," Dovepaw said. Bumblestripe meowed his agreement, just as the patrol crashed through the trees. She saw a flash of yellow fur out of the corner of her eye and leaped into battle again, wrestling a confused black apprentice off Lionblaze's back.

"Thanks," said Lionblaze before throwing himself to assist Brackenfur. Before Dovepaw could reply, the apprentice she had just yanked to the ground was on her, a hissing and screaming mess. She dodged and ducked desperately, but her vision was blurring. She couldn't lose! Not now! She was a good apprentice, taught by the best! She was almost a warrior!

Furious, Dovepaw struck out with a paw, and her lucky blow caught the apprentice – Pinepaw, Dovepaw remembered – by surprise. Pinepaw yelped and shook her head, giving Dovepaw a chance to slip behind her and pounce on her back.

Another huge blow knocked her to the ground, and another warrior stood in her dizzy vision. Dovepaw fought to get to her feet, but then, all of a sudden, a streak of silver dashed before her to sink long claws into the warrior's muzzle. Ivypaw!

"Don't just stand there!" shouted Ivypaw as her opponent whimpered in pain. Shaking her head again and clearing the last of her dizziness, Dovepaw jumped back at the recovering Pinepaw, scraping her claws down an exposed black flank. Crying out, Pinepaw backed away, running for the bushes behind her.

Dovepaw turned to see that Ivypaw's opponent had succeeded in pinning her down and was moving claws for her throat. No!

"Hey! That's my sister!" screamed Dovepaw, and she launched herself for the warrior, knocking him to the ground and scratching mercilessly.

"I can fight for myself," said Ivypaw, but then she was gone to another corner of battle. Her unknown warrior got to his feet, hissing and kicking, and threw Dovepaw across the clearing with a smash. Aching, Dovepaw got to her feet, but her opponent had vanished. She could still fight! She would always still fight, no matter how tired she got.

Then, she heard Blossomfall yell out in pain, and Dovepaw charged towards the noise, finding her former den-mate locked in furious combat with Olivenose. She leaped into the fray, finding Olivenose's back easily and locking her teeth into the scruff of her neck to pull her away from Blossomfall.

"Thanks, Dovepaw," panted Blossomfall. As Blossomfall rocketed her claws down Olivenose's exposed belly, Dovepaw let go and rolled out of the way. Olivenose spat blood onto the ground before retreating back, wounded.

"ShadowClan, retreat!" The order was shrill, and the remaining enemies retreated into the trees. Dovepaw watched them go, her vision blurring the whole time. She shook her head to clear the dizziness, but nothing happened – just a dull ache in her head. Wobbling on her paws, Dovepaw turned to look at Brambleclaw, who had led them into battle. As she fell, Lionblaze caught her on the other side.

"Careful," he said. "Let's get you back to camp. You fought brilliantly, Dovepaw."

Grateful, Dovepaw leaned on him until they returned. She collapsed only on Jayfeather's orders and felt another sting of pain as Jayfeather slapped a poultice onto her wounds.

"You mouse-brain," Jayfeather said furiously through a mouthful of herbs. "You could have been killed. You should have stayed!"

"I had to go back…" Dovepaw coughed. "It was my fault…"

That was surprisingly clear for her state of delirium, but Jayfeather gave her a curious glance. Dovepaw knew that it was her fault, no matter what anyone (Lionblaze) would argue later on. She had exposed a Clan weakness, just like Ivypaw had warned her. That was treason. Why would Tigerheart betray her like that?

She brooded on this for the rest of the night, rotating sore paws and wishing in vain that sleep could take her. Tigerheart seemed fond of her the whole time. She'd just been trying to help…why had he taken the information about the shadow warriors to his Clan with the intent of attacking? Could it not have been Tigerheart's idea? That was still possible, wasn't it?

In the morning, Dovepaw struggled to her feet and found, amazingly, that the worst of her wounds no longer made her head throb in agony. Jayfeather cleared her to leave his den, although under different circumstances, he probably wouldn't have. He still had white-cough patients to deal with, and battle scars could be handled elsewhere. As she stumbled into the camp, Dovepaw looked around for Ivypaw. She hadn't noticed her littermate in the medicine den, so maybe she was alright. It took a little while, but she finally noticed Ivypaw eating alone in the far corner of the frosty camp.

"Hey," Dovepaw said quietly. "Can I sit?"

"No one's stopping you," Ivypaw said. She didn't speak as Dovepaw sat.

"You were right," Dovepaw murmured, dropping her head onto her paws. "I shouldn't have told Tigerheart any of that."

"No, you shouldn't have," agreed Ivypaw. "They took total advantage over us. Guess your little mate doesn't love you like you thought."

That stung more than any of Jayfeather's herbs or Ferretpelt's blows, and Dovepaw choked on her words and her tears. Then, something occurred to her.

"They knew our tree attack," Dovepaw said. "I never…I never told Tigerheart about that. And, they knew when our border patrol was going to come through."

"Sure you never told Tigerheart any of that?" said Ivypaw dryly. Dovepaw read the bluff in her littermate's eyes and gasped, sitting back on her paws again.

"Border patrol schedule and battle strategies," she said. "Those are the exact things you said at the Gatherings." Ivypaw narrowed her eyes in fury.

"Are you accusing me of betrayal?" she spat. Dovepaw glared at her.

"Should I?" she asked in a low voice. Ivypaw opened her mouth to reply.

"All cats old enough to catch their own fresh-kill gather under the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" Firestar's call took them all by surprise, and the two sisters exchanged one last look of loathing before returning to the rest of the Clan. Firestar stood on the Highledge, looking not in the least bit worried. That was good. What was going on, then?

Dovepaw searched the crowd for Lionblaze – he always knew what was going on – but couldn't find him. She settled instead beside Blossomfall and Rosepetal.

"As you all know, yesterday, ShadowClan attacked one of our border patrols," Firestar said imperiously. "We defeated them, but not without significant contributions from all of our warriors. However, today, I wish to recognize our two apprentices." Firestar's eyes found Dovepaw. "Dovepaw and Ivypaw, step forward."

Her heart in her throat, Dovepaw did as she was told, finding Ivypaw once again. The two sisters exchanged a glance, and this time, Dovepaw found no malice within her heart or Ivypaw's eyes.

"Dovepaw spotted ShadowClan first, and ran back to warn the Clan," Firestar reported. "But then she returned to battle and continued to fight. She performed as bravely as any warrior. And Ivypaw fought admirably in battle, never tiring, always helping her Clan-mates. It has been a long time since I have seen an apprentice perform battle moves as flawlessly as Ivypaw did yesterday. Today, it is time to make them warriors."

Dovepaw's paws began to shake in excitement. Warriors! Finally, they were going to be warriors! Firestar tilted his head up.

"I, Firestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these two apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as a warrior today." His eyes turned to Ivypaw. "Ivypaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," said Ivypaw.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Ivypaw, from this moment you will be known as Ivypool. StarClan honors your courage and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan."

Firestar leaned forward, resting his muzzle on Ivypool's head, and Dovepaw watched as her sister licked Firestar's shoulder. Dovepaw's breath caught in her throat as Firestar's green eyes passed to her. She stepped up past Ivypool.

"Dovepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," said Dovepaw, her tongue barely able to form the words for excitement.

"Then," said Firestar with a smile, "by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Dovepaw, from this moment you will be known as Doveheart. StarClan honors your intelligence and enterprise, and we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan."

Doveheart licked her leader's shoulder when commanded, and then stepped back to stare at her leader. She and Ivypool exchanged a thrilled glance.

"Ivypool! Doveheart! Ivypool! Doveheart!" The sound of her new name, and of Ivypool's, rose up from the crowd as if they were rising for battle. Basking in the glory of the moment, Doveheart lifted her head high.

All of this may have been her fault, but she had fought like a warrior! That was what mattered – that, and that she fixed what she had destroyed.

Elsi: Look! There's a next chapter! Read on, my good friends! Or, if you would be so kind, leave me a review using the nice button below. I'd appreciate how you feel about my versions of these characters.

Elsi: Oh, and to re-iterate, YES I KNOW HER NAME IS DOVEWING. I love the Dovewing/Dove's Wing thing, but as the Ancients don't play that big of a part in my version of the story (sorry!), I thought it would be more fitting to name her Doveheart. Also, I started this story after Fading Echoes came out and she didn't have a warrior name then...

Elsi: Thanks for reading!