//-:-::-:-//

"Hey Dovewing, can we talk?"

I glanced up from my morning wash to see my sister standing over me, looking worried.

"Sure," I muttered absentmindedly.

I was still thinking of the Gathering last night, of what Tigerheart had said and RiverClan's 'rebels'. But mostly Tigerheart. Was Ivypool really falling for Mousewhisker?

The said she-cat laid down beside me,"It's about Mousewhisker. I think he has feelings for me."

I made a very unintelligible noise.

"Furball?" She murmured.

"Mmh" I cleared my throat,"So, do you have feelings for him?"

Ivypool's eyes widened,"I—I don't know. He's a good friend, but I can't say I've ever thought of him as something more than that,"She paused to shift a couple of pebbles shyly with her paw,"Honestly, the—"

"Hey Ivypool!"My sister's former apprentice, Snowbush, was calling her,"Come with me on this border patrol! I'm leading it!"

Ivypool smiled,"I gotta go."

So you don't like Mousewhisker. . . That's . . . That's good. . .

Oh, who am I kidding? I wanted—no needed to be with Tigerheart, even though it broke the code. He stole my heart, I couldn't help it.

Just one more night wouldn't hurt anything. I'm doing this because I love him, so it can't be that bad.

I want to sprint all the way to the ShadowClan camp just to tell him, but that would be crazy. I would have to wait until the next time I saw him.

I let out a mrrow of excitement. I couldn't wait!

//

"Alderpaw, it has come to my attention that your paws will lead you down a special path. This is why your mentor will be Jayfeather even though Leafpool is still with us."

The dark ginger tom's serious face was betrayed by his shining, amber eyes. Jayfeather's expression was placid, and Leafpool looked pleased. If I squinted at the brown tabby cat, I could see a few specks of gray on her muzzle.

Oldie, I sniffed, I've heard her complaining about her sore joints to Jayfeather. She should just retire and stop bothering the professionals.

"Dovewing, are you listening?"

I was snapped out of my thoughts by Bramblestar's irked voice,"Huh?"

The Clan leader's daughter was beaming at me, tail flicking. Inwardly groaning when I realized what was going on, I padded towards Sparkpaw and acknowledged her with a nod.

This is just great. I don't need some apprentice always following me around!

"You are an excellent hunter and very loyal to your Clan. I hope you pass down these qualities to your apprentice."

"Sparkpaw! Alderpaw!" The Clan cheered.

As the Clan cats dispersed to do their daily chores, Sparkpaw bounced around me like a rabbit on catnip.

"What are we going to do first Dovewing-san? Huh? Huh? Huh?"

I was ticked off, but I decided to hide that from little, energetic Sparkpaw," I'm going to show you the territory!"

Sparkpaw squealed,"Yay! Squirrelflight told me a whole bunch about our territory, and about all the other Clans, too! Where are we going? Huh? Huh? Huh?"

I glanced slyly at the young cat,"To the ShadowClan border."

//

The pine forest was still, not a frond of bracken swished. I took a deep breath, drinking in ShadowClan's rank stank, searching for Tigerheart's sweet one. I found it, but it was from yesterday. I sighed.

Maybe if I wait for a moment, I'll see him.

I was pretty sure my new apprentice was trying to hunt somewhere behind me, but I was too intent on looking for my love to check. I started to poke holes into a large maple leaf with my claws out of pure boredom. Just when I was getting ready to give up, I saw a shadowy shape slithering through the brambles straight towards me!

I leaped onto my paws gleefully,"Tigerheart!"

Instead of a elegant, broad shouldered tabby, a lanky gray she-cat marched into view.

My jaw dropped, and so did my stomach,"I—I can explain—!"

"Don't bother," the ShadowClan she-cat's back was arched and her tail was fluffed out,"I know you love Tigerheart!"

I glared at her, claws peering out,"So what? He loves me, too! The borders between us will not stop us!"

The she-cat snarled and swiped her black forepaw in front of my face,"Get away from him! He's mine, you tom stealer!"

"You don't tell me what to do!" I hissed, crouching down.

My claws were all the way out now, and they were itching to dig into that she-cat's face! She looked ready the pounce, but she had an uncertain look in her bright yellow eyes. She got up, and gave a look of full of undeniable hate.

"Leave him alone, or suffer the consequences,"

She then disappeared into the shadows.

How dare she tell me to stay away from my Senpai? Tigerheart-senpai is mine and only mine. If she bats just one flirty eyelash at him, I'll make sure she's never able to wink again. Or blink. . . Because I would gouge out her eyes!

"Hey Dovewing-san,"Sparkpaw suddenly jumped out of the bushes behind me,"I almost  caught a crow! Look at the feathers! Look!"

"Uh that's nice, Rockpaw,"I muttered, lost in thoughts about tearing the ShadowClan cat's throat out.

"Rockpaw? I ain't no Rockpaw! I'm Sparkpaw! Sparrrrrrrrrkpaw!"

The rest of the small cat's chattering was drowned out by the agonizing yowls of that filthy gray age-cat.

She will pay.

//

I knew I was slacking on my mentor duties, but talking to Tigerheart was way more important. Sparkpaw didn't seem to mind, and she was always adventuring by herself. I spent most of my time near the ShadowClan border, using hunting as an excuse.A moon passes, and nothing out of the ordinary happens except for Mousewhisker's disappearance.

The whole of ThunderClan was pricked into action. We searched and searched, but found no clues to where he had vanished to.

"He's really gone,"Daisy cried out after what felt like the thousandth day of searching.

"We have to keep looking,"Thornclaw muttered to Bramblestar.

"He probably ran away!"Dewnose  growled.

"Why would he?" Berrynose snarled, rounding up on the gray and white warrior.

"Maybe RiverClan scared him!" Stormcloud suggested.

"Or maybe RiverClan catnapped him!" Ivypool hissed.

All of the ThunderClan cats started to agree with my sister, and their insults and promises of vengeance rose to a clamor.

Bramblestar silenced them with a yowl,"The gathering is tonight. I will question Mistystar, and if I have any reason to believe her warriors may have done something to Mousewhisker, we will begin to prepare battle plans to save him."

//

RiverClan didn't show up to the gathering, unsettling every cat. As the leaders spoke to one another in hushed tones, I darted around the clearing, searching for a certain tom.

"There you are, Dovewing!"

I purred, and touched noses with my mate,"I've looking for you everywhere!"

"Sorry,"He murmured,"Rowanstar got pretty riled up by Minnowtail's speech. I couldn't get away long enough." His eyes sparkled,"Does this mean what I think it means?"

I nodded, smiling my brightest smile,"Yes, let's meet at the abandoned twoleg den outside of the territories tomorrow!"

We rubbed noses one final time and went our separate ways. As I bounced back to the cluster of ThunderClan cats, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that I was being watched.

//-:-::-:-//

(I really wanted to get this published today so sorry if there are any mistakes! >~<)

Who is Tigerheart's other lover?

What will she do to Dovewing?

What's happened to RiverClan?

Where is Mousewhisker?

Why is DaFoxThatTalks suddenly using Japanese phrases?

Yay for First Readers! Bubblyti  IndianaSolo221 LizzardLady123

//VOTES, COMMENTS, AND CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED//