Im BAAAACK to this story! War of Shadows keeps making me happier and happier, even as it is winding down. This is a really important chapter for Doveheart. I hope you'll agree once you read it. :D Enjoy!

Chapter 24

Doveheart

Doveheart looked up, suddenly alert, as Berrynose, Bumblestripe, and Mousepaw burst into camp to bear the same information Doveheart already knew.

"Berrynose?" Firestar was already hurrying down from the Highledge with a small gathering of senior warriors hard behind him.

"It's as we feared," said Berrynose. "RiverClan has maintained power, but they have suffered serious casualties. Their warriors have gone to join those in WindClan."

Doveheart found Lionblaze at her side, and Rosepetal and Icecloud weren't far behind. She wasn't sure what they wanted her to say, so she paused before deciding on simply reporting the news.

"It's systematic," she said. "It's like they've been given an order to show themselves."

"Why now?" asked Lionblaze furiously. "Why after all this time?"

"Doesn't that mean we're next?" asked Icecloud. Doveheart stared at the white she-cat as that same conclusion hit her, and she hissed in dread. A flash of gold caught her eye, and she saw that Firestar was leaping back on top of the Highledge.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" The Clan was already at fierce attention, but the cry gathered them closer. What Doveheart mentally called the "prophecy-aware" group sat together at the edges.

"I have a horrible feeling about all of this," said Lionblaze softly. Doveheart nodded, saying nothing. Up above them, Firestar cleared his throat and pulled on his fiercest leader look, one that he had mastered by now.

"You all know about the WindClan revolt that occurred a quarter-moon ago, in which WindClan renegades overthrew the Clan and drove Onestar and loyal warriors from WindClan territory," he said. "I dread to announce that RiverClan has suffered turmoil as well." He paused as this news hit a stunned-silent crowd. "Yes, it is as we have dreaded. Rebel troops in RiverClan have gone to join their companions in WindClan. While RiverClan was able to suppress its revolt, it was something I should make you aware of."

Usually, there would have been murmurs and outcries, but it was still in ThunderClan's camp. Too still – the calm before the storm. Doveheart could nearly hear every single warrior in ThunderClan refusing to move, waiting on a cue that perhaps only some of them realized they were waiting on.

"I am not Mistystar, nor am I Onestar," said Firestar sternly. "I will not allow for this rebellion in my camp, and I am not going to be forgiving or ignorant about this."

"Oh, StarClan," said Lionblaze. "He cannot possibly be…"

Lionblaze didn't need to finish his sentence, for Doveheart had reached the same conclusion.

"This is why," said Firestar, "I challenge the leader of ThunderClan's renegade faction to step forward, take their allies, and leave ThunderClan immediately."

"He's doing it," said Icecloud, her eyes wide.

"Renegades?" said Millie, alarmed. "You cannot be saying that there are traitors among us."

"I will not take the chance," said Firestar sternly. "My decision is final. Step forward now, or shall your Clan-mates turn you in?"

He turned steady green eyes towards Doveheart's corner of camp, yet even as her throat went dry under the decision, there was a light and familiar laugh.

"Well, then," said Ivypool from outside the nursery. "You heard our fearless leader. It seems, troops, that we do not need to stage a coup after all. We make for WindClan!"

"And who will help you, dear queen?" That whisper made the confident smile drop from Ivypool's face, and all eyes went to Thornclaw, who stared stoically.

"There are traitors among us!" Cloudtail got to his paws, spitting. "We will stop them, as real ThunderClan warriors!"

Another decree had never started chaos better than that one did. At that very moment, three things happened at once. The first was that Cloudtail leaped, spitting, onto Thornclaw, knocking aside an appalled Millie to get there. The second was that Mousewhisker turned and plowed into Berrynose, who screeched in fury as both toms fell. And the third was that Birchfall tipped his head back and yowled as he and Whitetail streaked towards the entrance.

Doveheart saw her parents leave with a twinge of pain in her heart, but she didn't stop to worry about that any longer for the look on Briarkit's and Windkit's faces. She found Icecloud beside her, and then she skidded to a stop before the two kits.

"Whitewing?" said Windkit, still emptily staring towards the entrance. Doveheart glanced over her shoulder to see that Mousewhisker and Thornclaw had shaken off their opponents, and had joined Whitewing, Birchfall, Rosepetal, Spiderleg, and Foxleap at the entrance to camp.

"It will be alright – " Icecloud's words fell on empty ears and dropped into nothing as Ivypool screamed. Doveheart took off running, but found that Ivypool's yell had been out of sheer fury.

"You will stay here, and you will provide some answers!" Brambleclaw was yelling, and Ivypool looked huge between her kits and her puffed up fur.

"I will say nothing," she hissed, but the deputy stepped closer. Doveheart pushed through a ring of warriors, but Sandstorm faced her, stopping her from going closer to Ivypool, who was now being shuffled into the nursery.

"I'm sorry, Doveheart," she said. "Firestar has forbidden you from talking to Ivypool."

"What?!" said Doveheart, faltering. She tried to catch a glimpse of still-yelling Ivypool, but her sister was muffled and tossed aside, and Doveheart was left facing only Sandstorm.

"Firestar doesn't want you near Ivypool," said Sandstorm in a calm voice. "You're too likely to give her the benefit she doesn't deserve."

"Don't you think I can handle my own sister?" said Doveheart. "For my Clan's sake?"

"The fact that you're struggling so hard does not help your case," said Sandstorm. "I'm sorry, Doveheart. Firestar ordered it."

"All of this seems wonderfully planned out," said Doveheart. Sandstorm gave her a tired look. "What's going to happen to her?"

"We will hold her prisoner, for the time being," said Sandstorm. "In Ivypool's position, she holds information that we will need. But she is also in a precarious condition, one that does not hold much hope for her bargaining."

"When was all of this decided?" asked Doveheart. "Why weren't we told?"

"If by we you mean your little group of conspirers," said Sandstorm curtly, nodding at where Icecloud and Lionblaze had reconvened, "I will have to ask you to realize that you don't have clearance to everything. And all of this was carefully planned since the moment WindClan revolted. Firestar will determine how ThunderClan survives, Doveheart. I'm sorry, but you cannot take that task from him. No matter how important you believe yourself to be."

Nodding despite the sting evident on Doveheart's face, the slender sandy she-cat slipped past her without another word.

"I sent Rosepetal with the others," said Lionblaze. Seeing her face, he frowned. "What's the verdict on Ivypool?"

"Essentially," said Doveheart curtly. "We're being undermined by the one cat I really thought we could trust." She relayed the message in a monotone, watching their faces fall. When she finished, Lionblaze shook his head.

"Firestar knows what he's doing," he said.

"We know what we're doing," said Doveheart. "I've never seen him with the power of the stars in his paws." She shook her head, trying to reduce the hiss in her voice to something less suspicious.

"You're upset, and that's reasonable," said Lionblaze. "Try to see it Firestar's way."

"I'll go talk to Ivypool," said Icecloud softly, touching Lionblaze's shoulder with her tail tip. "At least I can be helpful that way."

"Thank you, Icecloud," said Doveheart. The pretty she-cat smiled.

"You should talk to Briarkit and Windkit," said Icecloud. "They still don't understand that their parents just walked out on ThunderClan. And…"

"I'm their kin, I know," said Doveheart. She took a deep breath. "I'll tell them an abbreviated version of what's going on."

"They deserve that much," said Icecloud softly. Doveheart nodded, gently padding over to her siblings. Briarkit deserved that much, Windkit deserved that much – who didn't deserve as much? A couple of tweaked details, a hurried explanation, and a lie thrown into the mix for fun. And safety. What was she to say, now that the lines had been drawn? Was the entire Clan to know that they were fighting a war with an invisible, dead enemy?

XXXX

Doveheart hopped from paw to paw, her muscles tense and ready. She was being sent to ShadowClan with Brackenfur, Cloudtail, Sandstorm, and Lionblaze to warn Blackstar to remain vigilant until the dust settled in case ShadowClan had traitors.

"I don't know if this will do any good," said Cloudtail, flicking his tail back and forth absently as they waited for a ShadowClan patrol.

"It's a nice gesture," said Sandstorm. "And it shows ShadowClan that ThunderClan is still able to support them in the days ahead."

"And hope that they will support us, I'm assuming," said Brackenfur.

Lionblaze and Doveheart exchanged a glance, and Doveheart perked her ears up to listen.

"Good, a patrol is nearby," she said. No one challenged her assertion, and soon enough, a patrol of three headed into sight. Smokefoot, Crowfrost, and…Tigerheart. Excellent.

"Smokefoot," said Sandstorm, stepping forward. "We're hoping to be able to speak to Blackstar as soon as possible. Could you escort us to your camp?"

"What's this about?" asked Smokefoot, looking around at them, perplexed.

"We come with news," said Sandstorm. "A warning that Blackstar should hear."

"Your Clan has split, like the others, hasn't it?" said Crowfrost, his eyes wide. Sandstorm calmly gave an assertive nod of her head. Crowfrost and Smokefoot exchanged a glance, but Tigerheart was still staring at Doveheart. Noticing her tension, Lionblaze took a step closer to Doveheart. She shouldn't have been grateful for the support, but she most definitely was. She didn't like the way Tigerheart was looking at her.

"Come with us," said Smokefoot, and five ThunderClan cats stepped into ShadowClan territory after their escorts. Smokefoot took the lead, and Cloudtail, Brackenfur, and Sandstorm followed suit. That left Crowfrost, Tigerheart, Lionblaze, and Doveheart to tail behind, with Crowfrost ahead. Tigerheart leaned closer to Doveheart, making a shiver run up her spine.

"Can I borrow you for a moment?" he said. "I just need a word."

"Why should I give it to you?" whispered Doveheart.

"Doveheart, just a moment," said Tigerheart. "Please."

Doveheart stared ahead, towards Crowfrost and Lionblaze and the others. It would be easy to duck out for a moment and have Lionblaze cover for her, but should she? Presumably not. This was an important meeting.

"Give me one reason why I should," said Doveheart.

"Because you want to," said Tigerheart. "And to say you don't is a lie, because I can see it in the way you can't meet my eyes for more than a moment."

Doveheart knew he was right, and she gritted her teeth. Lionblaze glanced over his shoulder, partly to glare at Tigerheart, just as they slipped into camp. She nodded at Tigerheart and sped up to walk beside Lionblaze.

"I need a moment to talk to him," she said.

"This isn't a good idea," said Lionblaze. "You promised you were done with him. What could he possibly have to say?"

"It's about Ivypool," lied Doveheart. "I'll just be a second."

"Fine," said Lionblaze. His amber eyes were conflicted, but he sighed, glancing up at the ShadowClan camp. "Please be quick."

She dropped back behind him as Lionblaze started talking animatedly to Crowfrost, and Tigerheart headed to her side.

"What do you want?" she demanded.

"Your forgiveness," said Tigerheart. He looked at her with big amber eyes – just like he always did – and offered a smile. "I told you I would get out, and I did."

"Did you?" said Doveheart crossly. "I'm pretty sure I would have heard."

"From who, Ivypool?" said Tigerheart. He cast his eyes to the ground, frustrated. "Ivypool wouldn't tell you anything. "Ivypool hates us both."

Doveheart felt as if he had hit her, but she stood tall, glaring at him.

"I don't believe you," she said. "Why should I?"

"Because I've been a spy all along," said Tigerheart furiously. Doveheart just stared. "For ShadowClan. I was drafted into the Place of No Stars, and so I agreed, because I knew it was my responsibility to tell ShadowClan what was going on. I've been doing my duty to ShadowClan."

"Do you expect me to believe that?" said Doveheart. She made herself glare, finding herself more angry than she had thought. Suddenly, all of her rage was at the surface and being directed with laser-like precision towards the treacherously beautiful tom before her. "You flip whenever it suits you. One minute you're promising to change, and the next you've been a spy this whole time? Stop, Tigerheart. Just stop."

"Doveheart, you know I love you…"

"No," said Doveheart, turning to glare at him. A moon ago, perhaps, the words would have warmed her heart. Now she couldn't take them seriously. "No, I don't know that."

"What more can I offer you as proof?" said Tigerheart, laughing in disbelief. "Doveheart, I've done everything for you. I gave up my training, my position as a spy…what else can I show you that will make you believe me?"

Doveheart stared at him. Somehow, the fact that he was getting angry made her less angry. In fact, it rather soothed her, because for the first time, she was seeing Tigerheart as something other than calm.

"I would run away with you," said Tigerheart in a quiet voice. "If you want to."

His eyes were so hopeful, his voice so tender, and Doveheart didn't know what to say. Yes, she was angry and sad most days. Yes, she found little more to do inside ThunderClan's camp but sit around hoping that things would happen. Yes, she hated her current state of being. In the back of her mind, she could imagine a world where she and Tigerheart ran free, without obligation and duty, with only a family of their own creation and no more worry about prophecies and shadowy warriors.

But Doveheart wasn't a kit anymore, and that was why she squared her jaw, stared him in the eye, and said what was really important.

"Tell me what Tigerstar wants with Ivypool," she said.

"Ivypool?" said Tigerheart, indignant and confused. "Why do you want to…fine. She was one of his precious generals, the leader of ThunderClan's troops, but then she had to go and get pregnant, and all under the name of a cover." He scoffed. "Tigerstar half wants to keep her on as his strategist and half wants to rip her apart."

"Which half do you think he'll choose?" asked Doveheart, her heart beating faster. How did he know all of this? He was a spy who had been accused and kicked out, right? A spy with all these intimate, personal answers…

"The half to rip her apart, of course," said Tigerheart, blinking. "It's the strategic move."

"How do you know all of this?" said Doveheart. "Unless you're a spy on the other end of the spectrum, of course." Tigerheart took a step back, his eyes going wide.

"Doveheart, no…" he said in a low voice.

"Just admit it, you traitor," spat Doveheart. Her voice carried over noise that fell silent, and Doveheart looked around, finding that the two of them had come to a stop just outside of ShadowClan camp. Taking a deep breath, Doveheart took the last few steps into camp, where her own warriors were already staring at her. "You're a traitor to the Clans, just like the others!"

Tigerheart's crestfallen face was the final thing she saw before her words triggered a chaos that threw them apart.

Screw you, Tigerheart. No, don't worry, I have a bit more Tigerheart wrangling to do before he can get away that easily. Although I'm really proud of Doveheart for prioritizing. You go, girl. You don't need no man to make you strong.

Kind of a cliff-hanger, so I'm posting the next chapter right away. Read on!

~Elsi