Hazeltail

It's been two days since Hollyleaf told us she was in love with Ivypool. She doesn't talk to us now - maybe she's afraid that we won't like her anymore, but Hollyleaf is still my best friend. It doesn't matter to me whether she likes a girl or a boy or whatever. Still, it's unnatural to see her this depressed. I voice my fears to Honeyfern.

"I don't know, Hazeltail," says Honeyfern, shaking her head. "Every time I try to talk to her, she doesn't let me get close. She jumps whenever I put a hand on her shoulder. I think she just needs time, but we should get everyone to talk to her." By everyone, I know she means all the girls in our group.

"Even Ivypool?" I ask. Honeyfern pauses, her cup of orange juice halfway to her mouth. Then, she shakes her head.

"No, we can't. Hollyleaf would get mad."

"What about me?" asks Hollyleaf dully. Her normally smooth, raven-colored bob is matted and messy, and her sparkling green eyes are dull.

"About Ivypool," I say nervously. "We just wanted you to know that it doesn't matter to us who you like or - "

"No," says Hollyleaf. "It's not that that's making me so skittish. I realized you guys would accept me, no matter who I love. Of course you guys are okay with it. We've been friends for nine years. But there's something I haven't told you yet."

My heart drops. Another secret?

Breezepelt

Today, we get a day off to see our families. It's like this every month because most of us go to Camp Warriors during the summer, so we don't get to see our families for four weeks during the two-month summer break. So each month, we get a day off.

Me, I'm not too thrilled, but I'm hoping things will work out. You see, my whole family situation used to be a mess. My mom and dad didn't really love each other. My dad, Crowfeather, tried to run off with his old girlfriend, who was from Thunder, but she wasn't allowed to have a boyfriend, let alone run off to get married. So he came back, and to prove that he wasn't going to run off again, he married my mom, Nightcloud.

He never paid any attention to me, though - I was just an accessory, used to prove that he was going to be loyal.

I had some dark thoughts, and my mom encouraged me. She told me that dad hated me and that I didn't have to listen to anyone. I continued to try to impress dad - I got the best grades, scored the most points on the basketball team… but nothing helped.

So I joined a gang who called themselves the Dark. They welcomed me in, and one of the members, Hawkfrost, took me under his wing as if I were his son. They noticed me, and I began to gain myself a reputation.

That's when Ivypool comes into the story. Hawkfrost took her in as well. We talked a lot, me and Ivypool. She was jealous of her sister, Dovewing, who got tons of attention because she went on a journey to save the lake. I promised her that I didn't think Dovewing was any better than she was, and she told me to give Crowfeather a second chance.

I didn't believe her at first. I still wanted to inflict pain on my father, and all the people who had teased me about my dad's infidelity.

Then, Ivypool found out what they were planning. They wanted to destroy the neighborhoods and have revenge on the people who had made their lives painful. And I wanted that too.

But in the midst of the battle, Ivypool dragged me away from another Wind kid. She said she wouldn't let me kill anybody from any of the neighborhoods, and that she would kill me if I did. And she meant it too, scraping her knife blade against my throat. So I ran, ran away from the girl I loved. A cowardly move, yes, but I didn't want to fight her.

After the raid, I went back, but I was watched like a prisoner. Crowfeather still refused to lay his eyes on me. I'm sure he hated me even more. But when a mountain lion invaded our neighborhoods, I helped the other former Dark kids in fighting it. I don't know why. Maybe I was reminded of Ivypool's bravery, almost sacrificing herself for the neighborhoods. Somehow, all of us felt that we needed to prove ourselves all over again.

Crowfeather explained to me later that he never knew his father, Deadfoot. He didn't know how to take care of me, and mom's anger at him estranged us even more. Things have improved since then - Crowfeather is still awkward around me, and people still whisper about where my loyalties truly lie, but I could be one of the Dark, sleeping in alleyways and gnawing on bones from trash cans, if it weren't for Ivypool.

To this day, I can't thank Ivypool enough for threatening to kill me. It sounds weird, I know, but is it really so strange that I love her?

"Hey," says Ivypool, coming up from behind me. Her hair is tied up in a messy ponytail. "Breezepelt, are you alright?" I shake myself.

"Yeah, fine," I say. "Just remembering the big raid, and being part of the Dark." Instantly, her eyes darken - with thought? anger? I don't know.

"That was a tough time," she murmurs, her hand grazing mine. "But we both got out of it alright. Most of the people who met with them are alive," she says. We bow our heads, remembering Applefur, the brave girl from Shadow, who was killed when she betrayed the Dark, and Beetlewhisker, the Riverclan boy whose decision to leave the Dark cost him his life.

"Beetlewhisker… He'll lie in a muddy ditch forever," I sigh. Ivypool glances at me, then looks down again. Her eyes are bright with tears, so I put my arm around her. I'm still here for you.

"But everything's back to normal now," Ivypool continues. She sounds a bit uncertain, looking over at me and then at Crowfeather's car, which is waiting in the parking lot. She knows that things are still rough at my home.

"Anyways, are you coming to my house tonight?" she asks. I gulp and nod. I'm meeting Ivypool's parents tonight.

"Should I, like, wear something fancy?" I ask. I have no idea how this works…

"No, silly!" Ivypool nudges me affectionately. "Just be yourself. Don't be weird, and don't bring anybody else, because my parents are only expecting you. Are we going to meet your parents some time?"

"Maybe," I say. "They don't really care whether I have a girlfriend or not." Ivypool shrugs, and we sit in silence until Crowfeather honks his horn.

"It looks like you gotta go. Bye, Breezepelt. See ya tonight," she says, then kisses me on the cheek. I get up, ruffling her hair. She giggles, and all our memories of the Dark fade with the autumn breeze.

There's nothing left of them but bad memories.

Blossomfall

I'm still in shock. Toadstep? And a Shadow girl? He tried to tell me she was his acting partner. Huh! If she were only his acting partner, why would he put a kissing scene in his little movie? Whatever, I'm done with him. I guess I'll just stay single for a while yet.

"Hey, Dark girl," sneers a kid as I pass by the elementary school, pushing Briarlight's wheelchair. More people join in the jeering, throwing food at my back. I turn my back on them - this happens every time I pass the elementary school. We were tricked! I want to scream, but I know it'll be no use. Those mouse-brains…. I clench my fists.

"Don't listen to them," Briarlight whispers. "You're a better person than any of them are." I pick up my speed, hoping she's right.

"What's wrong with you?" snarls a voice from behind me. I press on the brake a little too fast, and Briarlight gasps. I turn around and see - Ivypool. For a moment, I'm scared that she's talking to me, but I see that she's at the fence of the elementary school. She looks quite intimidating, but unfortunately, the kids continue to laugh and tease.

"You don't understand how much danger - " she begins to launch into a tirade, but I take the risk and pull her away.

"Ivypool, just ignore them. If you get mad, they'll just tease you even more." She struggles against my grip, then wilts when she sees who I am.

"Oh. Uh, hey, Blossomfall," she says quietly, looking around, as if for an escape route. Then, she notices Briarlight and walks by her side, talking to her.

"Hey B," she says. B? I wonder. How close are they? "How are the legs?" Normally, Briarlight gets mad when somebody asks her about her injury, but she just smiles up at Ivypool.

"Oh, they're better," she responds. "I'm getting much better at using the crutches, but I was just so tired today, so I switched back to the wheelchair." Ivypool nods, and the two exchange more friendly words. I feel left out - I was hoping to have a talk with Ivypool, but she's just shutting me out.

"Where's Dovewing?" I ask timidly. Ivypool glances at me, then motions towards the Shadow neighborhood.

"With Tigerheart," she says gruffly. "Well, I gotta go. See you," and then she trots away.

"She misses you, you know," says Briarlight softly, turning around to look me directly in the eyes. "And she's one of the few people who really understand what it was like, getting tricked by the Dark." I duck my head. I don't want to talk about it.

"Well if she misses me, she could just say so. Because it doesn't look like it," I reply, ignoring Briarlight's surprised look. "Come on, let's go home."

Whoo! Chapter 9 already? Gosh. Next chapter will be Hollyleaf's new secret, Ivypool's feelings about Blossomfall, Breezepelt meeting Ivypool's parents, and Miss Heathertail will have a shining moment.