Thirteen

The sun was just beginning to rise when Dovestar rose from her nest. She arched her back in a stretch, feeling more than comfortable after sharing her nest with Tigerheart. Admittedly, it had been cooler that night, so she was grateful to have a companion by her side.

She didn't realize until then how much she missed sleeping in the warrior's den. As noisy and busy as the warrior's den had been, at least there were plenty of bodies to keep each other warm in the coldest nights of leafbare. It was with that mindset that she decided to relieve Olivelight and Perchfang of their guard duty. She hoped it hadn't been too cold for them. With leaffall on the way, the nights were getting noticeably colder.

She emerged from her den, blinking against the pale golden hue that streaked across the sky. Other cats were already awake as they headed out for patrols. It wasn't lost on her that Hollyleaf hadn't been there to organize said patrols. Instead, Tigerheart was the one who told cats which patrol to be part of. He threw her a wary look that pleaded to talk later on, and she acknowledged that notion.

Dovestar turned to where Perchfang and Olivelight were sitting. To her relief, she noticed that neither cat had fallen asleep during their vigil. Olivelight put as much distance between herself and Perchfang, though he didn't seem to mind. His pelt was fluffed up to keep himself warm throughout the night.

"You two can get some rest," she meowed after reaching them. Olivelight's shoulders heaved with relief as she straightened up, while Perchfang's eyes lit up at the prospect of getting some much needed sleep. "Grab some fresh-kill first; you've earned it."

Both cats did just that, though Perchfang actually had the decency to thank her while Olivelight kept characteristically silent. Dovestar shook her head in amusement at the sight. She didn't take Olivelight's behavior to heart. After the argument she had with her father, it would take time for both cats to recover from it.

Once that was finished, she finally reached Tigerheart. He had been waiting patiently until she arrived, though she could see the anxiety written across his face. She also hadn't missed the fact that Forestpelt was keeping a close eye on Olivelight. She knew that was another problem they would have to address sooner or later, but she could only handle one problem at a time.

"Hollyleaf told me the other night that she had some business to tend to," he explained once they were alone. Dovestar's ears flattened in surprise when she realized what that implied. "She hasn't come back… I know she's capable of handling herself, but with Lightning and other threats out there—"

"I get it," she cut him off with a sigh of frustration.

They made a rule that no cat should leave camp without a companion. The attacks from Lightning and his gang were getting too frequent. The last thing they needed was for their deputy to get hurt for being foolish.

She closed her eyes for a brief moment and allowed her senses to pick up on Hollyleaf's presence. One advantage to being able to hear from a distance was that she could pick up on cats she knew. Hollyleaf had become a valuable ally in their time of need. And thankfully, she wasn't difficult to track down. To her surprise and relief, she traced Hollyleaf's pawsteps towards ThunderClan's old territory.

Her eyes opened wide as she realized why.

"She's at the stone hollow," she whispered. Tigerheart merely stared at her in surprise until he remembered her hearing abilities. He, Hollyleaf and Mothwing were the few cats that knew about her abilities. Because she, Jayfeather and Lionblaze hadn't fulfilled the prophecy, StarClan never took her abilities away. She planned on using them to serve her Clan in the best way she could, especially if it meant looking for her missing deputy. "I'm guessing that she's grieving privately."

Tigerheart dipped his head in acknowledgement. Something dark swept across those amber eyes. She knew they never had the chance to properly mourn over the loss of their families. True, they held vigil and paid their respects with proper burials. But it wasn't the same as giving each other the chance to mourn.

"I should go and find her before Lightning does," he let out a sigh of his own.

He was ready to leave when Dovestar stopped him.

"No, I'll go." Tigerheart looked as if he wanted to argue when she threw him a steely glare. "We're both technically from ThunderClan. It would be better if someone familiar is with her if she is grieving." The dark tabby finally saw reason in her explanation. He still wasn't happy with the idea of letting her go on her own, especially with threats like Lightning and the Dark Forest out there. "Keep an eye on the Clan, and don't tell them where we went."

The last thing she wanted was to stir panic. The Clan was already on edge thanks to Lightning's attacks.

To her relief, Tigerheart didn't argue this time. Instead, he rubbed his muzzle into hers and looked at her warily. She knew what he was worried about. A knot formed in the pit of her stomach as she left him reluctantly. This was something she needed to do on her own. She knew Hollyleaf wouldn't think her for being there in the first place. She didn't want to make things worse by bringing half the Clan.

With that thought in mind, she made her way to the stone hollow that was centered in ThunderClan's old territory.

...

It had been days since she last stepped foot in this part of the forest.

Every broken branch or every leaf that fell was enough for her to nearly leap out of her fur. She was already on edge over the fear of getting ambushed by gangs or other predators. Knowing that she was back in the scene where the battle took place made it worse. It brought back bad memories of a time when the Clans were desperate. When division fell heavily among the Clans, and the threat of war inevitably broke out. That division was what led to the Clan's ultimate downfall. She knew somewhere deep down that the Clans could have survived if they worked together like they used to.

That's why we were born in the first place, she thought guiltily.

When she was first told about the prophecy of the Three, she wasn't sure what to make of it.

At first, she was excited to find out that she had the ability to hear beyond what cats normally heard. Then she finally understood what it meant to be involved in such a prophecy. Her life was constantly in danger. She was meant to be part of something bigger, and it drove a wedge between herself and her sister. It was only then that she found herself wishing she hadn't gotten involved in that prophecy.

Dovestar held back a sigh as she finally reached the stone hollow that made up ThunderClan's camp.

The thorn barrier entrance had been torn away during the battle. Bits and pieces of the old entrance could be found scattered around the area. She could have sworn she saw the paw prints of her old Clanmates there as well. Her stomach twisted in a knot at the thought of seeing them alive. She knew they were gone. If they had been alive, she would hear them. The only presence she could sense was Hollyleaf's.

"I remember where everything was," Hollyleaf finally cut through the thick tension surrounding them when she arrived. Dovestar's ears pricked forward when she noticed that plants had begun taking over areas that used to be flattened out by cats. Any traces of the old Clan were mostly gone, save for the stale scent that still lingered. "Firestar's den was over there by the Highledge. And Jayfeather's den was over there by that rocky bluff."

"The warrior's den was on the other side of the Highledge," Dovestar remarked when she reached the black she-cat. Hollyleaf blinked in surprise when Dovestar pointed out spots that she recognized. "I remember spending a lot of time there with Birchfall and Whitewing. Ivypool would join us all the time to share tongues or eat."

"Jayfeather and Lionblaze found a secret meeting area just beyond the old dirtplace tunnel," Hollyleaf meowed thoughtfully. "We were always coming up with schemes to leave camp and explore the territory, even as kits."

Dovestar couldn't help but purr when she recalled how many times she and Ivypool used to try and escape. Their mother's sharp eyes never let them wander too far from camp. Any guard keeping an eye out would make sure that they were brought back before a predator snatched them up.

She often found herself wondering how different their lives would have been had the Clans not been lost. Mothwing kept reminding her that she couldn't look back at what could have been. The past was in the past, and she couldn't change that. The only thing she could change was the future by acting in the present.

She let out a quiet sigh and sat down beside Hollyleaf, not missing the guilt sweeping across the black she-cat's face.

"I'm guessing there's a reason you decided to come back here?" she asked curiously.

"I never had the chance to tell my family how much I love them," Hollyleaf admitted. Dovestar tilted her head in surprise as Hollyleaf let out a sigh of her own. "When I returned to the Clans, I hoped that I could make up for my wrongs. I felt so remorseful towards my mother and Crowfeather, but I know he wasn't entirely at fault for what happened."

Dovestar thought back to how the Clan reacted when Hollyleaf did return. She admitted to killing Ashfur and announcing that Leafpool was her mother, not Squirrelflight. That bit of news couldn't be easy for anyone to deal with. From what Dovestar recalled, Hollyleaf had always looked up to the warrior code, which was why she took their lies so personally. Lionblaze was the one who said that her loyalty to the code was what led to her downfall. Though Dovestar suspected it was so much more than that.

She couldn't imagine what Hollyleaf was going through at that time. Learning about the fact that her own mother had been lying to her was one thing, but finding out that a medicine cat was her mother made it worse. A shiver swept through Dovestar as she found herself wondering how painful that must have been. Not just for Hollyleaf, but for Lionblaze and Jayfeather as well.

"I think… at the end of the day, your family would have forgiven you for everything," she murmured. It was Hollyleaf's turn to look at her in surprise. "You were only back in the Clan for a few days before the Dark Battle, but Lionblaze and Jayfeather always talked about you. Jayfeather was usually more reserved about it, but I know that he missed you. Lionblaze was openly vocal about it."

Hollyleaf flicked her tail when she realized what that implied.

Her family still cared about her in spite of everything she did. She had to live with the guilt and regret of killing Ashfur, even if her actions were justified. Firestar was still willing to let her back into the Clan even after everything that happened. There had been a few cats that were openly vocal about banishing her or returning the favor. Firestar had been dismissive of those cries, knowing full-well that death wouldn't get them anywhere.

She never understood why so many cats were against letting Hollyleaf back into the Clan. Yes, she killed a cat in cold blood. Though her actions were justified in self-defense. Ashfur hadn't been a very popular cat in the first place, but losing a Clanmate was never a good thing.

Dovestar knew somewhere in the back of her mind that this was what she needed to hear.

Kind of like what I needed to hear when I was grieving, she realized.

"Thank you," Hollyleaf finally purred. "You know, I was always a little jealous of the fact that my brothers found another cat to fulfill the prophecy." Dovestar couldn't help but gape at her as Hollyleaf met her gaze. "But I'm starting to realize that I was never meant for that role. You're perfectly suited for that, and you're suited for the role of a leader."

It took a few heartbeats for Dovestar to register what Hollyleaf meant by that. She couldn't hide the purr that followed as realization dawned on her. This was the first time anyone had acknowledged her role as leader since LakeClan formed. While she didn't feel as if she was suited for the role, that didn't stop her from taking charge.

"I suppose I should say thank you," she replied thoughtfully. "Not just for those words but also for helping me along the way. I am grateful for it."

Hollyleaf merely nudged her playfully before deciding they had enough reminiscing for one day.

Dovestar happily followed her lead, though not without feeling her stomach twist again as they left the old camp behind.

She glanced over her shoulder, suddenly aware of the cat that she could feel the presence of their Clanmates around her. They might not have been around physically, but she could feel their spirits with her. And the warmth that swept through her was enough for her fur to stand on end.

...

The sun was just beginning to set by the time she and Hollyleaf returned. They stopped to hunt for a while before heading back into camp, just to make a point that they hadn't left for mousebrained reasons. The knot in her stomach hadn't left since then either. She could barely hold down the mouse she ate while sharing it with Hollyleaf, which earned a look of concern from the black she-cat. The last thing she wanted was to admit that something else was bothering her stomach, but she knew what was going on.

She tried pushing away the growing unease as they got back into camp. To her surprise and relief, everyone acted as if nothing happened. Tigerheart had been keeping them busy by organizing patrols for Hollyleaf, ensuring that no cat questioned where they disappeared to.

"I take it the trip was worth it?" he asked when she reached him.

"It was… interesting," she replied vaguely. She glanced in Hollyleaf's direction, not missing the fact that the black she-cat hadn't stopped watching her stiff movements. "To be honest I wasn't sure what to expect when I found her. But she needed time to grieve like the rest of us."

Tigerheart's face softened when he realized what she meant by that. Leading the Clan had given her the perfect distraction from the nightmares that used to plague her. She still suffered from said nightmares, but they didn't happen as frequently as they used to. Now that they were sharing nests again, she rarely suffered from nightmares unless she was feeling incredibly stressed.

"Considering what we've all been through, I'm not surprised she needed that," he said quietly.

"I was actually thinking it might be a good idea to show the younger cats our older territories," she meowed thoughtfully. She had been thinking of that since she left the stone hollow with Hollyleaf. It would be good to keep the memories of the old Clans alive through younger generations. Even if the old Clans were gone, they would still be remembered through stories told by the older cats. "We could make that part of their training so they understand what the Clan is here for."

She didn't want to add in the fact that they would also know what they had to lose. Tigerheart purred in agreement and suddenly twined his tail around hers. It wasn't until meeting his amber eyes that she found herself swimming within their warmth.

"Look at you, finally taking charge and acting like the leader you always were," he purred. Dovestar ducked her head in embarrassment when she realized what he was implying. She lacked the confidence that most leaders had. That was part of the reason Minnowtail always argued with her. Though she also knew the dark gray queen had other reasons for arguing over her decisions. The moment didn't last when something else swept across his face. "I should probably warn you that Flosspelt's kits arrived while you were gone. She had a healthy litter of three."

That was enough to catch Dovestar's attention.

She knew Flosspelt was close to giving birth before the warrior ceremonies. She hadn't thought of the consequences towards leaving the Clan during that time. Though it sounded as if Mothwing had everything handled. She let out a sigh of relief and leaned into him, relishing the comfort he provided.

"That's good to hear," she murmured. The idea of kits was enough for her stomach to twist in a familiar knot. The same knot she had been experiencing for the last couple of days. "More kits are always a welcome sight in the Clan."

"Even if those kits aren't ours?" It took a few heartbeats for Dovestar to register what Tigerheart said. She blinked a few times as he stared at her with an intense gaze. One that Mothwing normally reserved when she was pushing herself too hard. Her mouth opened and closed a few times as she tried to respond, only for Tigerheart to glance in the direction of the nursery. "Mothwing mentioned it the other day. She said that you haven't been able to hold down a proper meal for the last couple of days now."

Dovestar swallowed hard as she realized what he meant by that. She didn't know how to respond. Her mind was running a mile a minute as she tried to comprehend what he was telling her. If he managed to figure it out before she had, then she surely wasn't ready for that role. It wasn't until feeling him nudge her that she flinched.

"I didn't want to jump to any conclusions," she admitted guiltily. "But I have been suffering from morning sickness for the last couple of sunrises."

She hated keeping that information from him, especially since she knew he was only looking out for her. To her surprise and relief, Tigerheart merely hummed in understanding.

"We have been spending more than our share of nights together under the stars," he reminded her with a pointed look. He looked more amused than anything else when she gave her chest fur a lick of embarrassment. "And I remember a certain someone mentioning how much she looked forward to having kits of her own one day."

She might have said something along those lines during one of their nightly sessions. The last thing she expected was for those desires to suddenly become reality. She let out a purr of her own and twined her tail with his, returning his earlier gesture.

"If I remember correctly, you were the one who insisted that we spend the night together and think about our future," she deadpanned. Tigerheart was hardly surprised or embarrassed that she said that out loud. It hadn't been one of his better moments, but he was right about discussing their future together. "And if what you're assuming is true, then this means that we are officially mates."

"I never said we weren't mates," he scoffed incredulously. Dovestar blinked in surprise when he brushed his muzzle across her cheek tenderly. "I've always had feelings for you, even before LakeClan was formed. And now we can start a family without worrying about breaking the warrior code."

Her heart nearly skipped a beat at that.

Admittedly, she had been worried about what StarClan would say if they were caught together. While his sister and Ivypool had accepted their relationship, that didn't mean the whole of StarClan approved.

Still, her tail curled at the thought of being a mother.

She never dreamed of being a mother or leading the Clan in the past. She had been content with her life before the Dark Battle. Back when life wasn't so complicated and the biggest problem she had was worrying about her sister dying to the Dark Forest.

Maybe my life was always as complicated as it is now, she thought guiltily.

Dovestar let out a sigh of contentment and rested her muzzle against his shoulder, ignoring the strange looking passing warriors were giving them. By now, most of the Clan knew that they were together. She wouldn't want things any different. For the first time in seasons, she felt happier than she ever had. And something told her that their lives were about to get even more exciting with kits on the way.