New chapter! Please enjoy! ~Elsi

Chapter 18

Doveheart

Doveheart couldn't breathe. As the Clan dispersed, unsatisfied and perplexed, but not totally angry, she met Lionblaze's gaze from where he sat in the center of the clearing, still looking shell-shocked. She was the first of the two of them to move, but they managed to meet each other halfway.

"So many of them," breathed Lionblaze. "Did you...see…?"

She had seen. She had seen Ivypool speak, and she had seen all sorts of open mouths protesting fall shut. Now she had a complete picture of what they were handling – how could it have come to this? Doveheart had been looking for Dark Forest cats among her Clan-mates, but how…? Both of her parents? Loyal cats like Thornclaw and Foxleap? How could this be happening?

"What do we do?" asked Lionblaze, as if Doveheart somehow had the answers. "What do we…we're trying to help Rosepetal, but there are so many of them!"

He was in a panic, and Doveheart was, too, but for a different reason. She had been chilled by the look in Ivypool's eyes: a horrible, manipulative, and clever smirk that transcended opinions and commanded authority. Her littermate wasn't just a cat who made a mistake anymore. She was leading a full-fledged revolution that hid just beneath the surface of ThunderClan, and perhaps the other Clans – and really, was there anything Doveheart could do to stop it?

"Jayfeather," she stuttered finally. "Jayfeather might know."

They scrambled into the medicine den, still shaking, to make out Jayfeather and Briarlight working in silence over the sleeping kits. Briarlight was first to look up – at the look on their faces, she froze.

"What?" asked Briarlight, her voice a whisper so as not to wake Crouch and Bounce. "What's happened?"

"Jayfeather," said Lionblaze quietly. "Jayfeather, we need you."

Doveheart knew that Jayfeather was just as in-tune to their panic as was Briarlight, but when he regarded them, he did so with utter calmness.

"These helpless kits need me, too," he said. "Do you supersede them?"

"Of course we…" Doveheart began, but then the words dried in her throat at the empty expression in Jayfeather's clouded eyes. Her eyes went to the kits, who lay curled together in the same nest. Matted and dirty kits, the same age as Whitewing's. These were the cats that the Clan was identifying as the enemy. These were the cats the Dark Forest wanted to eliminate.

"Jayfeather, if something's wrong, I can look after the kits," said Briarlight, looking back and forth between her den-mate and the intruders in the den. "It's not a problem, really."

"We need your advice," said Lionblaze. "You're right. The kits are more important. But we…"

Doveheart nodded emphatically, half-knowing that Jayfeather couldn't see it but not really caring, either.

"Please," she said. "We need to talk this out."

Jayfeather hesitated, his tail sweeping in a wide arc once, twice. Then he dipped his head in confirmation, murmured thanks to Briarlight, and led Lionblaze and Doveheart into the back alcove of their den.

"The Clan isn't taking kindly to Bounce and Crouch," he guessed. "Or is there something more?" A tilt of the head. "A challenge?"

Lionblaze recited the story, and Doveheart jumped in on details. Jayfeather sat without emotion, without movement, until Lionblaze was explaining the words Ivypool had spoken and the impact they had had on the surrounding cats.

"Name them for me?" he asked, closing his eyes. Doveheart did. "That's a lot more Clan-mates than I had originally considered."

"Us, too," said Lionblaze urgently. "We were trying to help Rosepetal, but now what?"

"What do you mean, now what?" asked Jayfeather, eyes flying open to a glare so fierce Doveheart wondered if he could see them, after all. "Just because you found out who else is involved doesn't mean you can abandon Rosepetal."

The phrasing of those words made Doveheart think for a moment. Abandon Rosepetal? Was that ever what they were going to do? She supposed that, if they really placed Rosepetal as second and tried to spread out and help more cats, they would be leaving her somewhat. That wasn't an option.

"We'll help Rosepetal out of this situation, then," she said, exchanging a glance with Lionblaze. "And then we'll work on the others."

Lionblaze made a rumble of agreement.

"And the kits?" he asked Jayfeather. "How likely is it that they'll stay in the Clan?"

If this question had an effect on Jayfeather, he didn't show it. Doveheart had been worried, though – if the kits did ask to stay, would they have a real revolt? It was possible, what with so much opposition. Or would Ivypool forbid that sort of action? What were they waiting for, anyways? A trigger?

"I'm not sure," said Jayfeather after a pause. "The kits are scared and far from home, by the looks of it. I can't identify a scent off of them, so I have no idea where they've come from or why they came here."

"We'll see soon enough," said Jayfeather. "Firestar plans on speaking to them when they wake about their intentions. I don't think you'll have long to wait for your insurgence.

"Until then, focus on Rosepetal," the medicine cat added. "One cat at a time."

"Will that be enough?" asked Doveheart. "They have to be planning something. What if it's too late to save just one cat?"

"Saving just one cat is good enough for that one cat," said Lionblaze. "And saving just one cat is better than saving no cats at all." He rolled his shoulders. "What Jayfeather has said makes sense. We should just go on doing what we're doing. It will work itself out."

"I'm not so sure," said Doveheart, but she knew that this was the best course of action. "If it was going to work itself out, we wouldn't be here."

XXXXXXXX

Doveheart lay with her head on her paws and her eyes closed. A part of her knew that she could be doing something with this time – searching for a way to help Rosepetal, hunting, practicing her fighting moves so she didn't forget them – but for the moment, she just wanted to relax in the hot sun. Plus, did it count as doing something if she was within hearing distance of Spiderleg, Whitewing, and Birchfall's conversation. Doveheart was just waiting for it to turn sour. And though she didn't like hearing how her parents' gossip was now darker than she could have ever imagined, she acknowledged that it was her duty to intercept those intentions.

"What do you think?" asked Birchfall. "Firestar's being pretty bold, taking you and Mousewhisker to the Gathering."

"He's just being himself," said Spiderleg crossly. "He thinks that by inviting us, he's being polite and forgiving. It won't change anything."

Doveheart's ears flicked as a chill entered her stomach, but she refused to move. This was relaxation time. She wasn't going to the Gathering, so she had no excuse to sleep, but she didn't care. They all needed some time to rest.

"I used to look up to Firestar," said Whitewing in a tired voice. "Now I don't know what to think."

"There's only one way this Clan will ever get back to how it was before Firestar," said Spiderleg calmly. "And if we keep letting him take in rogues left and right, we'll go nowhere."

"You mean like Whitewing's father?" Doveheart couldn't help herself. Her eyes opened to find both her parents and Spiderleg staring at her in surprise. "If you really have a problem with Firestar, I suggest you bring it up with him."

"Doveheart…" said Whitewing, a touch sadly. "There are some things you don't understand. Stay out of this."

"How can I stay out of it?" asked Doveheart, her fur rising along her neck. "This is my Clan. I can't let you threaten it."

"Mind your own business," said Spiderleg. He got up, brushing past Doveheart a little harder than necessary. "Or you'll regret it."

"What can you possibly do?" snapped Doveheart before she could help herself. Spiderleg refused to answer, so she whirled on her parents.

"Doveheart, please," said Whitewing. "Don't you think it'd be a bad idea to bring in those kits?" Her eyes gleamed.

"Why would it be a bad idea?" asked Doveheart. "We need warriors. What does it matter where they came from?"

"You wouldn't understand," said Birchfall abruptly. "Come on, Whitewing. You should head back to the nursery."

"No, explain it to me," said Doveheart, her voice rising. "Explain why you've betrayed your Clan."

"Doveheart!" snapped Birchfall, suddenly becoming angry. But Doveheart didn't want his words of wisdom, as she would have appreciated when she was a kit. She had thought that Birchfall knew everything. Now she could see how blind she had been to his faults.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather for a Clan meeting!" Doveheart was secretly relieved to hear Firestar's call. It meant that she got to storm away from her parents without them seeing the tears building in her eyes. She just took a seat a little bit away from everyone, turning her head up to the Highledge and refusing to acknowledge anyone who looked her way.

"This is about those kits, isn't it?" Mousewhisker was speaking to Blossomfall not far away. "I hope Firestar makes the right choice."

"Um…" began Blossomfall. "Firestar will make a choice…"

"As you may have noticed," said Firestar a little too cheerfully to be real. "We have some visitors. I have spoken with Bounce and Crouch, who have said that they wish to stay in ThunderClan and learn our ways."

Doveheart closed her eyes, her heart sinking somewhat as the whispers broke out.

"I will not listen to debate on this subject," said Firestar. "There are two kits demanding our help, and we will not deny them an opportunity to become warriors loyal to ThunderClan. Bounce, Crouch, please step forward."

There was silence in the camp apart from the footsteps of tiny kits, although it weighed too much to be right. Doveheart bit her tongue as she heard Firestar go through the ceremony. His voice was commanding, but gentle; their voices were so innocent. How could so many of her Clan-mates grudge those tiny, helpless cats? It wasn't right.

When Bouncekit and Crouchkit were proclaimed part of the Clan, a hesitant silence met her ears. Doveheart dreaded that no one would cross the void, that these two kits would be unwelcome in the most welcoming of Clans. She couldn't raise her voice herself – it was like she had forgotten how.

Then, from the back, a solitary voice raised.

"Bouncekit! Crouchkit!" That was Icecloud. Icecloud, the cat that Lionblaze loved.

Doveheart's eyes flew open as more voices intertwined with Icecloud's, until the sound of cheering reverberated through the camp walls. She found herself tipping her head back and calling out, relieved of her fears temporarily. All around her, she could hear the frustrated silence of those cats unwilling to yell out. But suddenly, they were few and far between, and her Clan was more united than she had thought.

XXXX

Her euphony didn't last – it couldn't have lasted, not forever. She found herself reaching out for Lionblaze as someone who would listen to her and help her sort everything out. She found Lionblaze pressing close to Icecloud, strolling out of camp with her, playing with Bouncekit and Crouchkit with her. To those kits, Lionblaze and Icecloud meant the acceptance that wouldn't be given by the rest of the Clan. Doveheart didn't dare interfere with that.

She gave up seeking out Lionblaze the fourth time he was with Icecloud. Her heart threatened to spill over with all the mixed emotions. Was she afraid of what was to come? Was she angry at Ivypool or Lionblaze? Was she upset by the betrayal of her Clan? Was she just missing Tigerheart?

That last question couldn't have the answer she wanted it to. She needed to forget about him, about all of the fun that had come with being beside Tigerheart. Their moonlit romance seemed years ago, back before the threat was tangible, back before she could even put a name on the threat in the Clans. Now she could. Now it glittered back at her from a thousand eyes – her Clan-mates, or the shadow cats, or both.

She found herself inexplicably in the medicine den, breathing in the scent of tangy herbs and Jayfeather and Briarlight and fading sickness. Jayfeather had taken care of Crouchkit's cold in no time at all, and now the den was empty.

Briarlight looked up when Doveheart entered, her eyes wide.

"Hello, Doveheart," said Briarlight. "Jayfeather's sleeping right now. Is there anything I can help you with?"

She was about to refuse, but then she remembered her last conversation with Briarlight.

"Actually, I just needed someone to talk to," said Doveheart. Briarlight's ears perked.

"Really? What's the matter?" Briarlight was so concerned, but also excited, and that made Doveheart's worries seem just a little farther away. Maybe she could help here.

"Nothing, really," she lied. "I'm a little worried about how the Clan received the kits."

"Me, too," said Briarlight. "Whitewing's kits are taking well to them, but the rest of the Clan isn't happy. You can just sense it." She shivered. "Such a shame. They're wonderful kits."

"They'll be good warriors," agreed Doveheart quietly. She wanted to breach the real problem, but had to hold her tongue. How much did Briarlight know of what was going on? Had Jayfeather told her anything? He wouldn't – right?

"They'll be good warriors," said Briarlight. "But I fear they'll be lonely warriors."

Her eyes were far away, seeing into an imagined future that Doveheart could picture herself. She could see Bouncekit and Crouchkit all grown up, serving the Clan bravely, and never getting the recognition they deserved. Two sisters, isolated from ThunderClan because of the trivial argument in which they'd been involved as kits.

Then Doveheart turned her eyes up to Briarlight again, focusing on the dusky she-cat. Briarlight knew all about loneliness, didn't she? She had been so brave, and she had lost everything because of it. Her friends. Her family. Her chance at fighting for her Clan, falling in love, and living a normal life. Doveheart smiled a little somberly. She had lost her friends too, and her family. Love was out of reach. Fighting for her Clan? What was ThunderClan now, except an idea? As for living a normal life, well…

It wasn't like it was either of their faults. But because of circumstances placed on them by chance or predetermination, they were doomed to living lives their Clan-mates could never understand. Beautiful lives, in their own way. Briarlight was tough. Doveheart was powerful. They were more similar than they had originally realized.

"Have you…seen Ivypool lately?" asked Briarlight tentatively. For a moment, Doveheart wanted to stiffen and refuse the conversation, make up an excuse on how she had to go. But that wasn't what Briarlight deserved. So she shook her head.

"She doesn't want to talk to me, it seems," said Doveheart, attempting without success to write off her emotions. "Why do you ask?"

Half of her hoped that Briarlight would drop the subject, and half of her wanted Briarlight to ask more questions and reveal that she knew about the war, and the Clan's tensions. Half of Doveheart just really didn't want to be alone with this secret anymore.

"Well, it's just that Bumblestripe talks about her a lot," said Briarlight after a moment. Doveheart deflated slightly – she didn't want to know about Ivypool and Bumblestripe. Not yet.

"Oh?" asked Doveheart, only saying anything out of courtesy.

"I don't think anything is going to turn him away," said Briarlight, her whiskers twitching as if this was just a trite piece of gossip. "I worry if it's going to be good for him. Ivypool is…"

Doveheart looked up, wondering if it would get her anywhere if she dared Briarlight to insult her sister. She didn't know why she should defend Ivypool, but…

"…difficult to reach," finished Briarlight, no doubt aware of Doveheart's tension. "I think they could make each other happy, though. If Ivypool ever gives in."

"Do you think she will?" asked Doveheart, half out of curiosity and half out of determination to save her sister. After a moment, Briarlight shrugged.

"Who can say?" she said wryly. "In any case, I think it would be nice if she did. Wouldn't they just make the sweetest couple?"

Doveheart tried to picture it, honestly. But when she tried to imagine Bumblestripe saying something and Ivypool laughing, the vision just morphed into her and Tigerheart. No, she thought furiously, but the thought had entered her mind, and now the day was ruined. It was never about Ivypool, not really. When it came to falling in love, there was only one option for Doveheart, and she could not dispel it form mind.

"They would," she said, but her words were incredibly weak. Briarlight looked up, surprised by the shift. Doveheart offered a smile, knowing it was feeble, and turned to go.

"I should go see if Brambleclaw needs me," she said. "I've spent most of the day doing nothing."

"Oh…kay," said Briarlight weakly, but Doveheart just turned away, her heart racing.

She was halfway across camp, still desparate for air, when she ran right into someone. At once, Doveheart sprung up to apologize, and found herself staring into Ivypool's blue eyes.

"Oh," said Doveheart, and the apology died in her throat. Ivypool's jaws had fallen open, but now they shut. Both sisters stared at each other as time stretched on. "Bumblestripe?" It was all there was to say. Ivypool took a step back, all of a sudden frantic.

"I…" She looked around as if searching for an excuse, and then turned away with a glance over her shoulder. Doveheart followed, hardly daring to process what was going on in the likelihood that she misunderstood her sister's sudden openness. "Yes."

"Bumblestripe?" repeated Doveheart. "Really? This isn't just you lying or trying to win favor with someone so nice? You aren't just going to ruin someone so perfect?"

"What?" Ivypool's eyes were wide – genuine, Doveheart realized. "No! I…yes. Yes, Bumblestripe. No, I would never hurt him…I would…" She looked down, realizing that she had spoken too much. "I don't know."

Then this is real, said Doveheart. She pictured it again, Bumblestripe and Ivypool side by side, careless in love. This time, there was no Tigerheart to replace Bumblestripe, and she didn't take her sister's place. This time, though, all Doveheart could picture was Ivypool's eyes at the Clan meeting, as she commanded her soldiers into place.

"You know he has kittypet blood, right?" she whispered. Ivypool looked up, stunned. "Isn't he the very thing you want most desperately to destroy?"

She spat that final word at Ivypool's feet. The look on her sister's face was no longer vulnerable and sweet – solely furious.

"You're right, then," said Ivypool. "I guess it is all a lie."

Then she brushed Doveheart's shoulder and escaped camp, leaving Doveheart wondering how she could have approached this differently.

Will the rift between the sisters ever repair itself? Will the Clan revolt? How does Ivypool actually feel about Bumblestripe? Let me know your theories and your advice about this chapter, this story, this universe, and my writing in general. I love to know what you guys think!

Next chapter is from Ivypool's perspective, so get excited! See you guys next time!

~Elsi