Ivypool's Lament

|Chapter XIII|

Ivypool woke up to the sunlight streaming in the Warriors' den. She blinked. Wasn't I supposed to go to the Dark Forest last night? She thought to herself, a little confused. She heard voices outside the den, and poked her head out to see who it was. It was Tigerheart.

"Can I please talk to Ivypool?" Tigerheart asked, seeming a bit flustered.

"Why should I let you?" A tortoiseshell she-cat, Blossomfall, retorted.

"Because I need to talk to her? It's important and has to do with MS."

Blossomfall's neck fur was bristling, but she stepped aside and walked over to the fresh kill pile. Tigerheart saw Ivypool and walked a few steps towards her.

"Where were you last night, Ivypool?" Tigerheart asked.

"I'm not exactly sure," Ivypool answered. "I went to sleep, but never woke up in the Dark Forest."

Tigerheart looked at her, then at the entrance. His gaze was questioning. He looked back at Ivypool.

"Well, I guess I'll see you at the Gathering tonight," he meowed, padding towards the entrance.

Ivypool sighed, then realized that last night was the last Dark Forest night. She got up, and started towards the entrance. Dovewing stopped her.

"Where are you going?" Dovewing asked, curious.

"Does it matter?" she retorted, not in the mood to talk to her sister.

Dovewing looked hurt, "I just thought I could come with you, that's all."

"B-But what about the kits?" she asked, shocked.

"Bumblestripe is with them. So, can I go wherever you're going?"

Ivypool thought for a moment. This could be a good time to convince Dovewing.

"Okay... But I'm going to talk to MS," Ivypool meowed. "Are you sure you want to come?"

Dovewing's eyes widened, but she quickly regained her composure.

"I guess I'll come anyway, I need to spend more time with MS if you want me to trust him," Dovewing gave in.

Ivypool silently celebrated on the inside, and led them outside the camp. They didn't get very far before realizing they were being followed. Dovewing turned around, her ears swiveling. She sighed, and reached her head into a bush. She pulled Rainkit out. The little kit squirmed in defiance. Dovewing put him down.

"What are you doing out of the nursery?" Dovewing asked, her mew stern.

"I got bored, so I followed you!" Rainkit mewed, his eyes sparkling.

Dovewing looked like she was going to scold him, but Ivypool quickly intervened.

"Dovewing, let him come. It wouldn't hurt if he met his leader, right?" She reasoned.

Her sister looked thoughtful, her fur lying flat again. She finally nodded in agreement.

"Alright, but that doesn't mean you're not in trouble!" Dovewing meowed, looking at Rainkit.

Rainkit bounced happily, then followed the two she-cats as they continued their trek to the Gathering Island. They walked in silence, nothing but the gentle lapping of the lake water interrupting their quiet walk. Rainkit was splashing in the cool water, water droplets clinging to his gray pelt. By the time they had reached the Island, his thick coat was shimmering with droplets.

Ivypool stepped onto the treebridge, stumbling a bit when she was suddenly teleported. They were in the center of the island.

"MS?" Ivypool called.

Rainkit was bouncing around, excited by what he saw. Dovewing just sat down and started to groom herself, obviously a little nervous. Ivypool called his name again, but got no answer.

"Where is he?" Ivypool mumbled.

Rainkit bounced forward, bumbing into something. His little eyes widened, and he bounced again.

"MS, where were you?" Ivypool asked, a little annoyed.

"I was watching from a tree, I was a little suprised to see Dovewing here," MS meowed.

Dovewing looked like she was going to say something, but bit her tongue. She looked at him.

"I've been told to trust you," Dovewing meowed. "I figured that if I spend more time with you, I'd trust you a lot more."

MS looked at Dovewing, his gaze empty. Rainkit bounced again.

"I really want one of those!" Rainkit mewed, looking at MS' green Twoleg pelt.

MS looked like he was about to answer, but Dovewing cut him off.

"You most definitely will not have one of those!" Dovewing scolded. "Twolegs use them!"

MS looked at Rainkit, who's tail and ears were drooping.

"Let him have one, Dovewing. It won't hurt," MS meowed.

Dovewing's expression changed. She looked as if she was fighting herself on what to do.

"It's not like it's bad, right?" Ivypool mewed. "I mean, I have this necklace that he gave me."

Her sister looked thoughtful. She sighed.

"Okay, he can have one," she gave in.

Rainkit's eyes sparkled, and he looked at MS. The powerful tom's eyes turned grey, and a small blue Twoleg pelt appeared on Rainkit. The little kit squealed. He ran around, his eyes sparkling. Ivypool looked at him for a second, then turned to MS.

"MS, why wasn't I called to the Dark Forest last night?" Ivypool asked.

"You had done what you need to," MS meowed.

"What about Snowtuft?"

"Both he and Darkstripe are coming back to the Clans."

Ivypool's eyes filled with warmth. At least she did something to help in this new era.