Ivypool's Decision (COMPLETED)

Hunting

"Ivypool, wake up!" Blinking, Ivypool made out the pale gray pelt of her sister, Dovewing. "What happened? Were you in the Dark Forest?" she fretted, giving Ivypool's injured shoulder a lick. "I told you, I'm fine!" Ivypool muttered, but Dovewing still ducked out of the den. Ivypool heard her sister call, "Jayfeather!"

Growling softly under her breath, Ivypool wished she could tell the whole Clan that Dovewing was seeing Tigerheart. That'll stop her from being so annoying, that's for sure! However, she needed ThunderClan to believe that she was helping them.

A few moons ago, she had spotted Mapleshade and Tigerheart discussing battle plans together. She had only been an apprentice... Mapleshade had spotted her, and told her to tell Firestar about the Dark Forest. However, the whole plan was to fool him, to feed him false information. The ThunderClan leader never lost his kittypet weakness; he believed all her lies easily.

"Ivypool." Jayfeather's gruff voice jolted her from her furious thoughts. "What happened in the Dark Forest?" "Oh, Tigerstar was holding a meeting, and I accidentally let a rebellious thought out," she mumbled, lying through her teeth, acting like she was embarrassed. Sighing, Jayfeather began, "Ivypool, I thought you'd have more sense than that! We can't let Tigerstar know that you're spying..." By then, Ivypool had already lost interest, turning her head to roll her eyes. Jayfeather should really stop yapping like that, she thought.

Finally, Jayfeather finished treating her wounds, and backed out of the den. Pushing after him, she asked Brambleclaw, "Hey Brambleclaw, can I go lead a hunting patrol?" Eyeing her injuries curiously, he reluctantly replied, "All right, since Jayfeather isn't chasing after you yet." Struggling not to let her irritation show, Ivypool called, "Blossomfall, Birchfall, coming with me?" Scrambling to their paws, her Clanmates joined her. 

In the forest, Blossomfall quickly spotted a blackbird, and working together, the three cats easily caught it. Ivypool reflected on how well they knew each other, even better than normal Clanmates. Hearing Birchfall's belly growl, Ivypool teased, "Wow, is that thunder? You certainly belong in ThunderClan!" 

Ducking his head, her father mewed, "I'm hungry, that's all." "Then...why don't we eat the blackbird?" suggested Blossomfall, looking at Ivypool. " Good idea," she replied, pleased that the tortoiseshell she-cat had thought of it. She was Ivypool's Dark Forest apprentice, after all.

Back at camp, Ivypool dropped her prey- two mice and a squirrel- on the fresh-kill pile when Mousewhisker came hurtling to her. He whispered, "Thornclaw and I arranged with the ShadowClan cats last night to practice battle moves together last night. Do you want to come? Brokenstar said that it shouldn't be more than three, though." "Sure!" Ivypool exclaimed. "When do we leave?" "At sunhigh. See you then!" Mousewhisker answered, then headed away to share a thrush with Hazeltail, his sister.