Post by 𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵 on May 23, 2021 13:37:09 GMT -5
Looking at all their arguments, who do you think handled things worse (even if you think both were in the wrong)? Similar to my BramblexSquirrel and Nightcloud threads, these will include quotes from OotS until AVoS.
These scenes from TFA are fairly minor and even understandable given the circumstances, but since they foreshadow what's to come, I decided to include them anyway.
The Fourth Apprentice
After Dovepaw leaves, Ivypaw acts irritable for being left behind and the two are quick to make up after the former returns. Which brings us to...
Fading Echoes
Night Whispers
They make up after this, and the next time they're in conflict with each other isn't until Shattered Sky due to Ivypool disapproving of Tigerheart.
Ivypool also admits that her protest was due to personal reasons.
In the bonus scene, she also tries to encourage Dovewing to get back together with Bumblestripe, even after their break up seasons ago.
By TS, their relationship is strained again.
Their conflict finally ends with the sisters making amends once and for all after Dovewing comes back.
These scenes from TFA are fairly minor and even understandable given the circumstances, but since they foreshadow what's to come, I decided to include them anyway.
The Fourth Apprentice
“I didn’t dream it, and it’s not a game!” Dovepaw’s anger was giving way to distress, her forepaws working in the earth of the camp floor. Why are they all pretending they don’t know about the stream?
“Come on.” Hazeltail got up and stretched. “Let’s find a shady place to sleep. Maybe we can all dream about big brown animals.” She padded off toward the edge of the clearing, followed by Spiderleg and Mousewhisker. Birchfall skirted the fresh-kill pile and halted in front of Dovepaw. His eyes were serious.
“If you’re making things up for fun, then stop it and say you’re sorry,” he meowed. “If you’re feeling ill, then go ask Jayfeather for some herbs. But stop bothering warriors who have better things to do than listen to nursery tales.”
“It’s not a nursery tale!” Dovepaw wanted to wail like a lost kit. Even my own father is joining in!
Birchfall exchanged a glance with Lionblaze, then padded away with Whitewing. Graystripe and Millie headed for the warriors’ den. Cinderheart rose to her paws. “Get some rest now, Ivypaw. When it’s cooler, I’ll take you for some battle training.”
“Thanks,” Ivypaw mewed, watching her mentor as she followed the other warriors. She gave Dovepaw a hard shove. “Stop showing off.”
Dovepaw stared at her, incredulous. “But, Ivypaw, you—”
“You’re only doing it to get attention,” Ivypaw hissed. Before Dovepaw could respond, she bounded away and vanished into the apprentices’ den.
“Come on.” Hazeltail got up and stretched. “Let’s find a shady place to sleep. Maybe we can all dream about big brown animals.” She padded off toward the edge of the clearing, followed by Spiderleg and Mousewhisker. Birchfall skirted the fresh-kill pile and halted in front of Dovepaw. His eyes were serious.
“If you’re making things up for fun, then stop it and say you’re sorry,” he meowed. “If you’re feeling ill, then go ask Jayfeather for some herbs. But stop bothering warriors who have better things to do than listen to nursery tales.”
“It’s not a nursery tale!” Dovepaw wanted to wail like a lost kit. Even my own father is joining in!
Birchfall exchanged a glance with Lionblaze, then padded away with Whitewing. Graystripe and Millie headed for the warriors’ den. Cinderheart rose to her paws. “Get some rest now, Ivypaw. When it’s cooler, I’ll take you for some battle training.”
“Thanks,” Ivypaw mewed, watching her mentor as she followed the other warriors. She gave Dovepaw a hard shove. “Stop showing off.”
Dovepaw stared at her, incredulous. “But, Ivypaw, you—”
“You’re only doing it to get attention,” Ivypaw hissed. Before Dovepaw could respond, she bounded away and vanished into the apprentices’ den.
“Cats of ThunderClan,” Firestar began when the excited murmuring had died into silence. “At the Gathering last night, all four Clans decided to send two cats to explore the stream and find out if it really is blocked. I’ve decided that Lionblaze and Dovepaw will go to represent ThunderClan.”
Even before Firestar had finished speaking, yowls of indignation rose into the still morning air.
“She’s an apprentice!” Thornclaw protested. “We should send a strong warrior who can cope with the danger.”
“Yeah, what’s so special about her?” Berrynose added.
But all the disapproving voices were drowned out by Ivypaw’s distraught wail. “Why do you get to go when I can’t? Why doesn’t Firestar send another warrior?”
“It’s not because Firestar likes me better, or anything,” Dovepaw reassured her sister. Jayfeather heard her pad over to Ivypaw and try to give her ear a comforting lick, but Ivypaw jerked away from her. “It’s just that I was the first cat to think about something blocking the stream.”
Jayfeather felt guilt flowing over her as she remembered that she was keeping her special senses, and everything she knew about the prophecy, a secret from her sister. She’ll have to get used to it, that’s all.
“I know,” Ivypaw mewed wretchedly. “But I thought we would always do everything together.”
“I wish we could, but we can’t,” Dovepaw replied.
Even before Firestar had finished speaking, yowls of indignation rose into the still morning air.
“She’s an apprentice!” Thornclaw protested. “We should send a strong warrior who can cope with the danger.”
“Yeah, what’s so special about her?” Berrynose added.
But all the disapproving voices were drowned out by Ivypaw’s distraught wail. “Why do you get to go when I can’t? Why doesn’t Firestar send another warrior?”
“It’s not because Firestar likes me better, or anything,” Dovepaw reassured her sister. Jayfeather heard her pad over to Ivypaw and try to give her ear a comforting lick, but Ivypaw jerked away from her. “It’s just that I was the first cat to think about something blocking the stream.”
Jayfeather felt guilt flowing over her as she remembered that she was keeping her special senses, and everything she knew about the prophecy, a secret from her sister. She’ll have to get used to it, that’s all.
“I know,” Ivypaw mewed wretchedly. “But I thought we would always do everything together.”
“I wish we could, but we can’t,” Dovepaw replied.
Dovepaw stood on the rocks at the mouth of the stream that marked the border with ShadowClan. Even though the sun had only just cleared the horizon, the stones were hot under her pads, and the island at the far side of the lake was veiled in a shimmering haze of heat. The journey was about to begin—the quest that she had set in motion when she heard the animals that were blocking the stream—but Dovepaw couldn’t push down her misery at leaving her sister behind. Before dawn, when Lionblaze had come to rouse her in the apprentices’ den, Ivypaw had curled up and pretended to be asleep so that she didn’t have to say good-bye.
After Dovepaw leaves, Ivypaw acts irritable for being left behind and the two are quick to make up after the former returns. Which brings us to...
Fading Echoes
“Have a nice sleep?” Ivypaw asked crossly.
Gray light was seeping through the yew branches. Far above the hollow, the forest roared in the wind. Ivypaw’s pelt clung, sodden and dripping, to her small frame.
Another stormy day.
Dovepaw stretched and yawned. “Have you been out already?”
“Dawn patrol,” Ivypaw huffed. “I don’t see why Brambleclaw made me go while he let you sleep in.”
Dovepaw pricked her ears. Did Firestar tell his deputy about her powers so that he would make allowances too? Why couldn’t they treat her like an ordinary apprentice? She stiffened as Ivypaw went on.
“What’s so special about you?” Ivypaw muttered. “I’ve seen Firestar watching you when he thinks no one’s looking. Now Brambleclaw’s started treating you like you’ve just come down from Silverpelt.”
“I guess they’re just making sure we’re following the rules,” Dovepaw soothed, hoping Ivypaw would believe her.
“And the rule is that you get to lie in a warm den while I’m out trudging through the rain?” Ivypaw snapped.
Blossompaw was washing the drips from her pelt. “We all have to do dawn patrols sometimes,” she pointed out.
“Some of us more often than others,” Ivypaw growled.
“Perhaps Brambleclaw’s got something planned for me,” Dovepaw mewed.
“What? Like an extra rabbit for breakfast?” Ivypaw curled down into her nest with her back toward Dovepaw.
“I’m sorry you had to go out without me.” Dovepaw began lapping at the raindrops caught in Ivypaw’s pelt. I wish they’d send me on the same patrols as Ivypaw, just to make it fair. “At least we’re allowed out of camp now,” she mewed between licks.
“Huh!” Ivypaw grumped, but Dovepaw could feel her relaxing.
Gray light was seeping through the yew branches. Far above the hollow, the forest roared in the wind. Ivypaw’s pelt clung, sodden and dripping, to her small frame.
Another stormy day.
Dovepaw stretched and yawned. “Have you been out already?”
“Dawn patrol,” Ivypaw huffed. “I don’t see why Brambleclaw made me go while he let you sleep in.”
Dovepaw pricked her ears. Did Firestar tell his deputy about her powers so that he would make allowances too? Why couldn’t they treat her like an ordinary apprentice? She stiffened as Ivypaw went on.
“What’s so special about you?” Ivypaw muttered. “I’ve seen Firestar watching you when he thinks no one’s looking. Now Brambleclaw’s started treating you like you’ve just come down from Silverpelt.”
“I guess they’re just making sure we’re following the rules,” Dovepaw soothed, hoping Ivypaw would believe her.
“And the rule is that you get to lie in a warm den while I’m out trudging through the rain?” Ivypaw snapped.
Blossompaw was washing the drips from her pelt. “We all have to do dawn patrols sometimes,” she pointed out.
“Some of us more often than others,” Ivypaw growled.
“Perhaps Brambleclaw’s got something planned for me,” Dovepaw mewed.
“What? Like an extra rabbit for breakfast?” Ivypaw curled down into her nest with her back toward Dovepaw.
“I’m sorry you had to go out without me.” Dovepaw began lapping at the raindrops caught in Ivypaw’s pelt. I wish they’d send me on the same patrols as Ivypaw, just to make it fair. “At least we’re allowed out of camp now,” she mewed between licks.
“Huh!” Ivypaw grumped, but Dovepaw could feel her relaxing.
A bramble rustled a few trees farther upstream and Ivypaw popped out. “Hello,” she mewed, her eyes darting from Lionblaze to Dovepaw. “I-I’ve just found the best patch of moss.”
Lionblaze flashed anger at Dovepaw and bounded away into the forest.
“What did he want?” Ivypaw asked. Her mew was softer than it’d been in days.
“He’s my mentor; he was just checking up on me,” Dovepaw snapped, still prickling from Lionblaze.
“But it sounded important.” Ivypaw padded closer. “Why does he think you know what’s going on in ShadowClan?”
Dovepaw tensed. How much had her sister heard? “I don’t know,” she mewed quickly.
“You’re lying!” Ivypaw scowled.
Dovepaw flinched.
Ivypaw leaned closer still. “What is it with you? Why are you always going off to talk with Firestar? Why is Lionblaze always calling you away for secret conversations?”
“They’re just interested in my training.” Dovepaw hated this. With every lie she felt another barrier of thorns spring up between her and Ivypaw.
Ivypaw curled her lip. “Firestar never asks about my training! What makes you so special?”
“It’s not like that, honestly!” Dovepaw’s heart fluttered with panic. “I don’t think I’m special. It’s…” Her voice trailed away. “It’s just complicated.”
Ivypaw took a step backward. “Too complicated to tell your sister? I thought we were best friends!” She glanced away through the trees, her eyes darkening. “Well, you have your secrets; I’ll have mine!”
Secrets? What was Ivypaw talking about?
Suddenly, Dovepaw remembered Ivypaw’s story about the StarClan cat who’d visited her. She dug her claws into the ground, annoyed with herself. Why hadn’t she shown more interest?
“Have you had another dream?” she guessed. “Another visit from StarClan?”
“Jealous now?” Ivypaw sneered. “You weren’t that interested when I tried to tell you before. Too busy chitchatting with Lionblaze. Why should I tell you now? Are you worried I might be more special than you? Are you worried the senior warriors might start taking an interest in me instead?” Rawness edged her mew, and Dovepaw felt a wave of dismay. She hadn’t realized Ivypaw felt like this.
“I-I’m sorry,” she began.
But Ivypaw was already bounding away into the trees. She glanced over her shoulder. “Clearly not sorry enough!”
I’ll explain it all one day! Dovepaw vowed silently to her. Then you’ll understand!
[...]
Wordlessly, Ivypaw unfolded the wrap and placed a pawful on the nest that Dovepaw was shaping.
“Aren’t you going to speak to me at all?” Dovepaw begged.
Ivypaw ignored her. The honeysuckle rustled and Dovepaw turned to see Purdy leading Mousefur into the den.
“See,” purred the old loner. “I told you they’d have the nests ready.” He nodded to Dovepaw and Ivypaw. “They look lovely. Thank you.”
Mousefur stared blankly around the new den. “It’s very big,” she murmured.
Dovepaw waited for her to start complaining about drafts, but the old she-cat didn’t say anything else, just curled into one of the nests and rested her nose on her forepaws.
Dovepaw wished she’d planted a burr in the moss. Anything to get the elder complaining again. It wasn’t right, seeing her so sad. “Not too
damp?” she prompted.
“I preferred the old nests.” Mousefur sighed. “They smelled of Longtail.”
Purdy glanced at the apprentices and Dovepaw guessed that he wanted them to leave. As she turned to the entrance, she saw him circle down
into his nest, pressing close to Mousefur. With a pang she wondered if she and Ivypaw would ever curl up together like that again. Watching Ivypaw stomp out ahead of her, she guessed not.
“Hey!” Rosepetal called as they reached the clearing. She was standing beside the fresh-kill pile. “Do you want a mouse?”
“Yes, please!” Ivypaw trotted away as if Dovepaw didn’t exist.
Lionblaze flashed anger at Dovepaw and bounded away into the forest.
“What did he want?” Ivypaw asked. Her mew was softer than it’d been in days.
“He’s my mentor; he was just checking up on me,” Dovepaw snapped, still prickling from Lionblaze.
“But it sounded important.” Ivypaw padded closer. “Why does he think you know what’s going on in ShadowClan?”
Dovepaw tensed. How much had her sister heard? “I don’t know,” she mewed quickly.
“You’re lying!” Ivypaw scowled.
Dovepaw flinched.
Ivypaw leaned closer still. “What is it with you? Why are you always going off to talk with Firestar? Why is Lionblaze always calling you away for secret conversations?”
“They’re just interested in my training.” Dovepaw hated this. With every lie she felt another barrier of thorns spring up between her and Ivypaw.
Ivypaw curled her lip. “Firestar never asks about my training! What makes you so special?”
“It’s not like that, honestly!” Dovepaw’s heart fluttered with panic. “I don’t think I’m special. It’s…” Her voice trailed away. “It’s just complicated.”
Ivypaw took a step backward. “Too complicated to tell your sister? I thought we were best friends!” She glanced away through the trees, her eyes darkening. “Well, you have your secrets; I’ll have mine!”
Secrets? What was Ivypaw talking about?
Suddenly, Dovepaw remembered Ivypaw’s story about the StarClan cat who’d visited her. She dug her claws into the ground, annoyed with herself. Why hadn’t she shown more interest?
“Have you had another dream?” she guessed. “Another visit from StarClan?”
“Jealous now?” Ivypaw sneered. “You weren’t that interested when I tried to tell you before. Too busy chitchatting with Lionblaze. Why should I tell you now? Are you worried I might be more special than you? Are you worried the senior warriors might start taking an interest in me instead?” Rawness edged her mew, and Dovepaw felt a wave of dismay. She hadn’t realized Ivypaw felt like this.
“I-I’m sorry,” she began.
But Ivypaw was already bounding away into the trees. She glanced over her shoulder. “Clearly not sorry enough!”
I’ll explain it all one day! Dovepaw vowed silently to her. Then you’ll understand!
[...]
Wordlessly, Ivypaw unfolded the wrap and placed a pawful on the nest that Dovepaw was shaping.
“Aren’t you going to speak to me at all?” Dovepaw begged.
Ivypaw ignored her. The honeysuckle rustled and Dovepaw turned to see Purdy leading Mousefur into the den.
“See,” purred the old loner. “I told you they’d have the nests ready.” He nodded to Dovepaw and Ivypaw. “They look lovely. Thank you.”
Mousefur stared blankly around the new den. “It’s very big,” she murmured.
Dovepaw waited for her to start complaining about drafts, but the old she-cat didn’t say anything else, just curled into one of the nests and rested her nose on her forepaws.
Dovepaw wished she’d planted a burr in the moss. Anything to get the elder complaining again. It wasn’t right, seeing her so sad. “Not too
damp?” she prompted.
“I preferred the old nests.” Mousefur sighed. “They smelled of Longtail.”
Purdy glanced at the apprentices and Dovepaw guessed that he wanted them to leave. As she turned to the entrance, she saw him circle down
into his nest, pressing close to Mousefur. With a pang she wondered if she and Ivypaw would ever curl up together like that again. Watching Ivypaw stomp out ahead of her, she guessed not.
“Hey!” Rosepetal called as they reached the clearing. She was standing beside the fresh-kill pile. “Do you want a mouse?”
“Yes, please!” Ivypaw trotted away as if Dovepaw didn’t exist.
Night Whispers
“Is it true?” Dovepaw marched toward her sister, pelt bristling, half with fear, half with anger.
Ivypaw blinked at her.
Dovepaw took a deep breath. “Have you been to the Dark Forest?”
“What?” Ivypaw stepped back.
“You heard me!” Dovepaw halted and glared at her sister. “Have you been to the Dark Forest?”
“Of course not!” Ivypaw was bristling now, her green eyes wide. “Why would you say something like that?”
“Jayfeather followed you in your dreams.” Dovepaw saw Ivypaw swallow.
“I—I…”
“So it’s true?” Dovepaw’s heart pounded.
Ivypaw’s blue eyes hardened. “So what if I did? It’s the only way I’m going to learn how to be a great warrior. Everyone’s trying so hard to make you the best warrior in ThunderClan; they hardly bother with me. I’m just Dovepaw’s dumb sister—”
Dovepaw couldn’t bear to listen. “How could you be so stupid? The Dark Forest cats are evil!”
“How would you know?” Ivypaw spat back. “You’ve never met one!”
Dovepaw stared at her. “Of course they’re evil. Why else would they be in the Dark Forest? Do you think StarClan sent Tigerstar there because he was good?”
“Have you ever met Tigerstar?”
“No! But I’ve heard nursery tales about him. So have you! He tried to destroy Firestar; he set BloodClan on him—”
“He’s different now!” Ivypaw thrust her muzzle in Dovepaw’s face. “His time in the Dark Forest has taught him the importance of loyalty.” Was that a challenge in her mew?
Dovepaw didn’t flinch. “You’re wrong,” she hissed. “He wants to destroy Firestar as much as he ever did. The only thing that matters to Tigerstar is power.”
Ivypaw curled her lip. “You haven’t spoken to him. I have! He told me everything. How he only became ShadowClan’s leader after Bluestar forced him out of ThunderClan. How he’s always stayed loyal to his birth Clan. Despite everything they’ve done to him!”
“Everything they’ve done to him?” Dovepaw couldn’t believe her ears.
“Who won the battle yesterday?”
“What’s the battle got to do with it?”
“It was Tigerstar’s idea! He’s the one who told me to persuade Firestar to fight ShadowClan. He warned me that ShadowClan was planning to steal our territory. And because of Tigerstar, we stole their territory instead. What’s that, if it’s not loyalty?”
“But Tigerstar is part of the Dark Forest! You can’t trust him! Don’t you see that the battle caused nothing but trouble?” Dovepaw spat. “Winning a worthless piece of land cost Firestar a life and killed Russetfur!”
Ivypaw narrowed her eyes. “Tigerstar is still loyal to ThunderClan. You’re just jealous. You’re jealous that it’s me he’s visiting and not you! You’re scared I might become a better warrior than you! That I might be the special one, and that Firestar might start taking notice of me instead of you!”
“Don’t be a mouse-brain! You’re my sister.” But Dovepaw found herself yowling at empty air. Ivypaw had turned and bounded into the bracken. Suddenly alone in the frozen forest, Dovepaw started shivering.
Her sister was training in the Dark Forest! How could StarClan have let this happen?
Ivypaw blinked at her.
Dovepaw took a deep breath. “Have you been to the Dark Forest?”
“What?” Ivypaw stepped back.
“You heard me!” Dovepaw halted and glared at her sister. “Have you been to the Dark Forest?”
“Of course not!” Ivypaw was bristling now, her green eyes wide. “Why would you say something like that?”
“Jayfeather followed you in your dreams.” Dovepaw saw Ivypaw swallow.
“I—I…”
“So it’s true?” Dovepaw’s heart pounded.
Ivypaw’s blue eyes hardened. “So what if I did? It’s the only way I’m going to learn how to be a great warrior. Everyone’s trying so hard to make you the best warrior in ThunderClan; they hardly bother with me. I’m just Dovepaw’s dumb sister—”
Dovepaw couldn’t bear to listen. “How could you be so stupid? The Dark Forest cats are evil!”
“How would you know?” Ivypaw spat back. “You’ve never met one!”
Dovepaw stared at her. “Of course they’re evil. Why else would they be in the Dark Forest? Do you think StarClan sent Tigerstar there because he was good?”
“Have you ever met Tigerstar?”
“No! But I’ve heard nursery tales about him. So have you! He tried to destroy Firestar; he set BloodClan on him—”
“He’s different now!” Ivypaw thrust her muzzle in Dovepaw’s face. “His time in the Dark Forest has taught him the importance of loyalty.” Was that a challenge in her mew?
Dovepaw didn’t flinch. “You’re wrong,” she hissed. “He wants to destroy Firestar as much as he ever did. The only thing that matters to Tigerstar is power.”
Ivypaw curled her lip. “You haven’t spoken to him. I have! He told me everything. How he only became ShadowClan’s leader after Bluestar forced him out of ThunderClan. How he’s always stayed loyal to his birth Clan. Despite everything they’ve done to him!”
“Everything they’ve done to him?” Dovepaw couldn’t believe her ears.
“Who won the battle yesterday?”
“What’s the battle got to do with it?”
“It was Tigerstar’s idea! He’s the one who told me to persuade Firestar to fight ShadowClan. He warned me that ShadowClan was planning to steal our territory. And because of Tigerstar, we stole their territory instead. What’s that, if it’s not loyalty?”
“But Tigerstar is part of the Dark Forest! You can’t trust him! Don’t you see that the battle caused nothing but trouble?” Dovepaw spat. “Winning a worthless piece of land cost Firestar a life and killed Russetfur!”
Ivypaw narrowed her eyes. “Tigerstar is still loyal to ThunderClan. You’re just jealous. You’re jealous that it’s me he’s visiting and not you! You’re scared I might become a better warrior than you! That I might be the special one, and that Firestar might start taking notice of me instead of you!”
“Don’t be a mouse-brain! You’re my sister.” But Dovepaw found herself yowling at empty air. Ivypaw had turned and bounded into the bracken. Suddenly alone in the frozen forest, Dovepaw started shivering.
Her sister was training in the Dark Forest! How could StarClan have let this happen?
Dovepaw rocked Ivypaw fiercely with two paws. “Wake up!”
“W-what?” Ivypaw blinked open her eyes.
Dovepaw saw that one of Ivypaw’s eyes was bruised and swollen around the socket. “You’re hurt!”
Ivypaw turned away, hiding her injury in shadow. “It’s nothing.”
“Did that happen in your dream?” Frustration clawed Dovepaw. “You were fighting in the Place of No Stars again, weren’t you?”
Ivypaw thrust her muzzle into Dovepaw’s face. “Shut up!”
“You mustn’t go there!” Dovepaw felt heat pulsing from Ivypaw’s swollen eye.
Ivypaw pushed past her. “Keep your whiskers out of my business.”
“Why can’t you see how dangerous it is?”
But Ivypaw had barged away through the ferns.
“W-what?” Ivypaw blinked open her eyes.
Dovepaw saw that one of Ivypaw’s eyes was bruised and swollen around the socket. “You’re hurt!”
Ivypaw turned away, hiding her injury in shadow. “It’s nothing.”
“Did that happen in your dream?” Frustration clawed Dovepaw. “You were fighting in the Place of No Stars again, weren’t you?”
Ivypaw thrust her muzzle into Dovepaw’s face. “Shut up!”
“You mustn’t go there!” Dovepaw felt heat pulsing from Ivypaw’s swollen eye.
Ivypaw pushed past her. “Keep your whiskers out of my business.”
“Why can’t you see how dangerous it is?”
But Ivypaw had barged away through the ferns.
Ivypaw bounced toward them. “We showed it, didn’t we?”
Dovepaw trailed after. “I should have heard it sooner.” The words caught in her throat.
“You were hunting,” Lionblaze told her. “You’re good, but you can’t be expected to hear everything.” But he wasn’t sure that was the truth. Perhaps Dovepaw shouldn’t hunt. Perhaps she should concentrate on using her powers to look out for danger.
Ivypaw faced her sister, scowling. “Why should you have heard it?” she demanded. “We were the farthest from the hollow! Why do you have to act like you’re special all the time?”
Dovepaw trailed after. “I should have heard it sooner.” The words caught in her throat.
“You were hunting,” Lionblaze told her. “You’re good, but you can’t be expected to hear everything.” But he wasn’t sure that was the truth. Perhaps Dovepaw shouldn’t hunt. Perhaps she should concentrate on using her powers to look out for danger.
Ivypaw faced her sister, scowling. “Why should you have heard it?” she demanded. “We were the farthest from the hollow! Why do you have to act like you’re special all the time?”
“Well done!” Ivypaw called from the opposite bank. Her silver-and-white fur was camouflaged against the snow. She splashed through the shallow, freezing water and scrambled onto the shore beside Dovepaw. “Nice catch.”
Dovepaw wrinkled her nose. Ivypaw’s fur was still matted with herb pulp. Then she noticed that Ivypaw’s eyes were feverishly bright. “You should be resting in camp,” she mewed. “Didn’t Jayfeather say those scratches were infected?”
Ivypaw bristled. “So?” She lifted her muzzle. “They’ve got ointment on.”
“I wasn’t criticizing,” Dovepaw mewed quickly. “I’m just worried about you.” She dropped her catch in front of Ivypaw. “Here, have a bite.” She didn’t want to argue with her sister.
Ivypaw shook her head. “That would be against the warrior code,” she pointed out.
“Just take a small bite,” Dovepaw urged. “You look starving. I’ll say it got damaged in the hunt.”
Ivypaw narrowed her eyes. “No, thank you,” she growled. “I’m not the one who likes breaking the warrior code.”
“What?” Dovepaw stared at her in surprise.
“I’m not the one who disappears at night to meet a ShadowClan warrior.”
Dovepaw’s heart seemed to drop in her chest like a stone. Ivypaw knows about Tigerheart! “How did you find out?”
“Did you think I wouldn’t smell him on you?” Ivypaw’s tail lashed. “Not very loyal, is it? Spending every night with a tom from another Clan?”
Dovepaw stiffened. “At least we’re not putting anyone in danger.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Every time you go to the Dark Forest, you betray your Clanmates.”
“That’s not true!” Ivypaw hissed. “I’m learning to be a great warrior so I can help my Clan!”
“Yeah, right!” Dovepaw snapped scornfully. “Just like Tigerstar. He was a great warrior!”
“He was!”
“He became ShadowClan’s leader. He tried to kill Firestar!” How could Ivypaw be so dumb?
Ivypaw glared at her, eyes cold as ice. “Aren’t you going to ask how I recognized his smell?”
Dovepaw blinked, confused. “What?”
“Don’t you think it’s odd how easily I recognized Tigerheart’s scent?”
Dovepaw froze, her blood draining into her paws. She remembered the look Ivypaw and Tigerheart had shared in battle.
“H-how did you know?” Dovepaw cringed beneath her pelt. She didn’t want to hear the answer. She didn’t want to hear that Tigerheart had been seeing Ivypaw, too. That he’d lied to her. That she wasn’t the only ThunderClan cat that occupied his thoughts.
“I meet him almost every night,” Ivypaw crowed.
“You can’t; he’s with me!”
“Not all night.”
Dovepaw backed away. “Don’t say that! He likes me, not you. Have you been following him? Find your own mate! Leave him alone!”
Ivypaw padded closer. “Oh, I don’t like him in that way. I’m not a soppy dove like you. I’m a warrior, and so is Tigerheart.”
Dovepaw wished she were deaf, wished she could see Ivypaw’s mouth moving without hearing the words.
“Tigerheart doesn’t spend every night cooing in your ears,” Ivypaw taunted. “He’s one of the best warriors the Dark Forest has. That’s where his loyalty lies. Not with you!”
“That’s not true! You’re just jealous!” Dovepaw shrieked at her sister. She couldn’t believe these lies. “You’re jealous that I’m a better warrior than you. I always have been and I always will be, and you can’t stand it. And now you’re jealous that Tigerheart loves me and not you! You want to destroy everything I’ve got because you’re jealous. That’s all!”
Ivypaw’s eyes gleamed. “Really? Why not ask Tigerheart?”
“Shut up!” Dovepaw scrambled up the bank. “If you tell anyone that I’m seeing Tigerheart, then I’ll tell the whole Clan you’ve been training in the Dark Forest with Tigerstar, and then you’ll have no friends. Everyone will hate you as much as I do!” She pelted through the trees.
“You forgot your catch,” Ivypaw called after her.
“You take it!” Dovepaw yowled back. “Then your Clanmates might think you’ve done something right for a change!”
Dovepaw wrinkled her nose. Ivypaw’s fur was still matted with herb pulp. Then she noticed that Ivypaw’s eyes were feverishly bright. “You should be resting in camp,” she mewed. “Didn’t Jayfeather say those scratches were infected?”
Ivypaw bristled. “So?” She lifted her muzzle. “They’ve got ointment on.”
“I wasn’t criticizing,” Dovepaw mewed quickly. “I’m just worried about you.” She dropped her catch in front of Ivypaw. “Here, have a bite.” She didn’t want to argue with her sister.
Ivypaw shook her head. “That would be against the warrior code,” she pointed out.
“Just take a small bite,” Dovepaw urged. “You look starving. I’ll say it got damaged in the hunt.”
Ivypaw narrowed her eyes. “No, thank you,” she growled. “I’m not the one who likes breaking the warrior code.”
“What?” Dovepaw stared at her in surprise.
“I’m not the one who disappears at night to meet a ShadowClan warrior.”
Dovepaw’s heart seemed to drop in her chest like a stone. Ivypaw knows about Tigerheart! “How did you find out?”
“Did you think I wouldn’t smell him on you?” Ivypaw’s tail lashed. “Not very loyal, is it? Spending every night with a tom from another Clan?”
Dovepaw stiffened. “At least we’re not putting anyone in danger.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Every time you go to the Dark Forest, you betray your Clanmates.”
“That’s not true!” Ivypaw hissed. “I’m learning to be a great warrior so I can help my Clan!”
“Yeah, right!” Dovepaw snapped scornfully. “Just like Tigerstar. He was a great warrior!”
“He was!”
“He became ShadowClan’s leader. He tried to kill Firestar!” How could Ivypaw be so dumb?
Ivypaw glared at her, eyes cold as ice. “Aren’t you going to ask how I recognized his smell?”
Dovepaw blinked, confused. “What?”
“Don’t you think it’s odd how easily I recognized Tigerheart’s scent?”
Dovepaw froze, her blood draining into her paws. She remembered the look Ivypaw and Tigerheart had shared in battle.
“H-how did you know?” Dovepaw cringed beneath her pelt. She didn’t want to hear the answer. She didn’t want to hear that Tigerheart had been seeing Ivypaw, too. That he’d lied to her. That she wasn’t the only ThunderClan cat that occupied his thoughts.
“I meet him almost every night,” Ivypaw crowed.
“You can’t; he’s with me!”
“Not all night.”
Dovepaw backed away. “Don’t say that! He likes me, not you. Have you been following him? Find your own mate! Leave him alone!”
Ivypaw padded closer. “Oh, I don’t like him in that way. I’m not a soppy dove like you. I’m a warrior, and so is Tigerheart.”
Dovepaw wished she were deaf, wished she could see Ivypaw’s mouth moving without hearing the words.
“Tigerheart doesn’t spend every night cooing in your ears,” Ivypaw taunted. “He’s one of the best warriors the Dark Forest has. That’s where his loyalty lies. Not with you!”
“That’s not true! You’re just jealous!” Dovepaw shrieked at her sister. She couldn’t believe these lies. “You’re jealous that I’m a better warrior than you. I always have been and I always will be, and you can’t stand it. And now you’re jealous that Tigerheart loves me and not you! You want to destroy everything I’ve got because you’re jealous. That’s all!”
Ivypaw’s eyes gleamed. “Really? Why not ask Tigerheart?”
“Shut up!” Dovepaw scrambled up the bank. “If you tell anyone that I’m seeing Tigerheart, then I’ll tell the whole Clan you’ve been training in the Dark Forest with Tigerstar, and then you’ll have no friends. Everyone will hate you as much as I do!” She pelted through the trees.
“You forgot your catch,” Ivypaw called after her.
“You take it!” Dovepaw yowled back. “Then your Clanmates might think you’ve done something right for a change!”
Ivypaw’s pelt felt hot and prickly. “Why didn’t you tell me before?” She didn’t give Dovepaw a chance to reply. “Didn’t you realize how much it hurt to see you being singled out like some kind of super apprentice?”
Dovepaw shuffled her paws. “I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone. No cat knows about Jayfeather and Lionblaze, except Firestar.”
“But they knew about each other, right? And I bet Hollyleaf knew!” Ivypaw was starting to seethe. “It’s your fault I went to the Dark Forest!!”
Dovepaw stared at her. “Wha-what do you mean?”
“The first time I met Hawkfrost, it wasn’t in the Place of No Stars; it was in a field with flowers and sunshine and stuff like that. He… he flattered me; he seemed interested in what I could do, not what my sister could do. No cat has ever treated me like that in this Clan. I’m just your shadow here.”
“That’s not true!” Dovepaw hissed.
“But that’s how it felt! You can’t blame me for listening to Hawkfrost, for wanting to learn all the moves that he taught me.”
“No cat is blaming you.” Dovepaw sighed.
Dovepaw shuffled her paws. “I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone. No cat knows about Jayfeather and Lionblaze, except Firestar.”
“But they knew about each other, right? And I bet Hollyleaf knew!” Ivypaw was starting to seethe. “It’s your fault I went to the Dark Forest!!”
Dovepaw stared at her. “Wha-what do you mean?”
“The first time I met Hawkfrost, it wasn’t in the Place of No Stars; it was in a field with flowers and sunshine and stuff like that. He… he flattered me; he seemed interested in what I could do, not what my sister could do. No cat has ever treated me like that in this Clan. I’m just your shadow here.”
“That’s not true!” Dovepaw hissed.
“But that’s how it felt! You can’t blame me for listening to Hawkfrost, for wanting to learn all the moves that he taught me.”
“No cat is blaming you.” Dovepaw sighed.
They make up after this, and the next time they're in conflict with each other isn't until Shattered Sky due to Ivypool disapproving of Tigerheart.
“Well, I think we should take this vision seriously,” Dovewing meowed, with an exasperated glance at Cloudtail. “I think we should send a patrol to look for SkyClan and offer them whatever help we can. I’d be happy to lead it.”
“I’ll join you,” Lionblaze added, though he didn’t sound as certain as
Dovewing. “If you think we can be spared from defending the Clan,
Bramblestar.”
“I could go with them.” Sparkpelt’s eyes were gleaming with excitement. “I remember where that barn is.”
“I’ll go, too,” Tigerheart volunteered, touching Dovewing on the shoulder with the tip of his tail.
Instantly Rowanstar sprang to his paws. “You will not!” he growled.
Tigerheart was unmoved by his leader’s anger. “You don’t want ShadowClan to have a paw in this affair?” he asked. “After all, the prophecy was made to all the Clans, so it should not be just ThunderClan
that investigates.”
Rowanstar’s only response was a bad-tempered snort. He sat down again, his tail twitching to and fro.
“I think you’re all wrong!” Ivypool had risen now; Twigpaw was surprised by the depth of passion in her voice. “I’d like to find Twigpaw’s kin as much as any cat, but we can’t be sure that the cat Alderheart saw is connected to her. And right now we’re in the middle of a fight with the rogues. They’ve taken over ShadowClan; what if they come for us next? ThunderClan doesn’t have any responsibility to SkyClan—we owe no Clan anything, and I think we should focus on our own problems right now. It’s not like any of the Clan cats who originally drove SkyClan out of the forest are still around.”
“I’ll join you,” Lionblaze added, though he didn’t sound as certain as
Dovewing. “If you think we can be spared from defending the Clan,
Bramblestar.”
“I could go with them.” Sparkpelt’s eyes were gleaming with excitement. “I remember where that barn is.”
“I’ll go, too,” Tigerheart volunteered, touching Dovewing on the shoulder with the tip of his tail.
Instantly Rowanstar sprang to his paws. “You will not!” he growled.
Tigerheart was unmoved by his leader’s anger. “You don’t want ShadowClan to have a paw in this affair?” he asked. “After all, the prophecy was made to all the Clans, so it should not be just ThunderClan
that investigates.”
Rowanstar’s only response was a bad-tempered snort. He sat down again, his tail twitching to and fro.
“I think you’re all wrong!” Ivypool had risen now; Twigpaw was surprised by the depth of passion in her voice. “I’d like to find Twigpaw’s kin as much as any cat, but we can’t be sure that the cat Alderheart saw is connected to her. And right now we’re in the middle of a fight with the rogues. They’ve taken over ShadowClan; what if they come for us next? ThunderClan doesn’t have any responsibility to SkyClan—we owe no Clan anything, and I think we should focus on our own problems right now. It’s not like any of the Clan cats who originally drove SkyClan out of the forest are still around.”
Ivypool also admits that her protest was due to personal reasons.
“This is all my fault!” Ivypool exclaimed with a lash of her tail. “I feel so guilty.”
Bramblestar stretched out his neck to touch the silver-and-white warrior’s shoulder with his nose. “You have nothing to feel guilty about,” he assured her.
“Oh, but I do!” Ivypool insisted, her blue eyes dark with grief. “I was her mentor, and I knew how much she wanted to go and look for SkyClan, but I tried to talk her out of it . . . for stupid reasons, really,” she added with a glance at her sister, Dovewing.
Bramblestar stretched out his neck to touch the silver-and-white warrior’s shoulder with his nose. “You have nothing to feel guilty about,” he assured her.
“Oh, but I do!” Ivypool insisted, her blue eyes dark with grief. “I was her mentor, and I knew how much she wanted to go and look for SkyClan, but I tried to talk her out of it . . . for stupid reasons, really,” she added with a glance at her sister, Dovewing.
Ivypool glanced around nervously. “Tigerheart and Dovewing were quick to volunteer to join the search.” She lowered her voice. “I didn’t think it was a good idea for them to travel together.”
In the bonus scene, she also tries to encourage Dovewing to get back together with Bumblestripe, even after their break up seasons ago.
“Yesterday . . . was that all about?” Dovewing
Ivypool didn't reply at once. Instead she rubbed a paw over her eyes, then thrust out her forelegs, raising her hindquarters give her whole body a good long stretch.
Dovering knew when her sister was stalling.
Finally, Ivypool sat up and cocked her head to one side. “What do you mean?” she asked.
“Don't play dumb,” Dovewing retorted, unable to stop her claws from digging into the moss that covered the floor of the den. You know what I mean. What got into you when you argued against a quest to find Twigpaw's kin?”
“Nothing 'got into' me.” Ivypool replied an edge to her voice “Do you really think ThunderClan can afford to send any warriors away when we're in the middle of all this trouble with Darktail Besides” she went on before Dovewing could respond. “I don't think Twigpaw needs the distraction right now. It would be wrong to get her hopes up she'd only be more hurt if the search turned up nothing Why do that to an apprentice? My apprentice, in case you've forgotten.”
“I haven't forgotten." Dovewing spoke through gritted teeth. “But Twignaw is already upset. As her mentor, you should care about that.”
The tip of Ivypool's tail twitched slowly to and fro. “Might I suggest that you mind your own business?” she hissed. “It's about time you concentrated on things that matter to ThunderClan, and not one of our guests.”
Dovewing wasn't sure what her sister meant by that. Is she hinting something about Tigerheart? Did she insist that the bad idea because he was so quick to volunteer to join it? Would she have had such a problem if a ThunderClan warrior had spoken up?
As Dovewing thought over her sister's words, she noticed that Ivypool's gaze was fixed on something behind her. Dovewing turned to see that Bumblestripe was padding slowly toward them, his gaze half-eager and half-cautious.
Ivypool angled her ears toward him “You should be able to find everything you want in ThunderClan,” she muttered, then rose to her paws and slipped out into the camp, her silver tabby pelt brushing the branches at the entrance to the den.
Dovewing stormed off in the other direction, across the den. She was still frustrated that she couldn't do anything to help Twigpaw—and Ivypool's parting words had just made her more angry.
Ivypool knows Bumblestripe and I aren't mates anymore. Why does the have to keep meowing on about him?
Ivypool didn't reply at once. Instead she rubbed a paw over her eyes, then thrust out her forelegs, raising her hindquarters give her whole body a good long stretch.
Dovering knew when her sister was stalling.
Finally, Ivypool sat up and cocked her head to one side. “What do you mean?” she asked.
“Don't play dumb,” Dovewing retorted, unable to stop her claws from digging into the moss that covered the floor of the den. You know what I mean. What got into you when you argued against a quest to find Twigpaw's kin?”
“Nothing 'got into' me.” Ivypool replied an edge to her voice “Do you really think ThunderClan can afford to send any warriors away when we're in the middle of all this trouble with Darktail Besides” she went on before Dovewing could respond. “I don't think Twigpaw needs the distraction right now. It would be wrong to get her hopes up she'd only be more hurt if the search turned up nothing Why do that to an apprentice? My apprentice, in case you've forgotten.”
“I haven't forgotten." Dovewing spoke through gritted teeth. “But Twignaw is already upset. As her mentor, you should care about that.”
The tip of Ivypool's tail twitched slowly to and fro. “Might I suggest that you mind your own business?” she hissed. “It's about time you concentrated on things that matter to ThunderClan, and not one of our guests.”
Dovewing wasn't sure what her sister meant by that. Is she hinting something about Tigerheart? Did she insist that the bad idea because he was so quick to volunteer to join it? Would she have had such a problem if a ThunderClan warrior had spoken up?
As Dovewing thought over her sister's words, she noticed that Ivypool's gaze was fixed on something behind her. Dovewing turned to see that Bumblestripe was padding slowly toward them, his gaze half-eager and half-cautious.
Ivypool angled her ears toward him “You should be able to find everything you want in ThunderClan,” she muttered, then rose to her paws and slipped out into the camp, her silver tabby pelt brushing the branches at the entrance to the den.
Dovewing stormed off in the other direction, across the den. She was still frustrated that she couldn't do anything to help Twigpaw—and Ivypool's parting words had just made her more angry.
Ivypool knows Bumblestripe and I aren't mates anymore. Why does the have to keep meowing on about him?
By TS, their relationship is strained again.
“That was a dumb thing to say. I’m sorry. You just . . . took me by surprise.” Then the tingling of joy he’d been starting to feel began to fade. “Have you told Ivypool?” Dovewing had always been close to her sister.
“Ivypool barely talks to me these days. I think she suspects I’m seeing you.” She stared at the ground, her eyes full of sadness.
“Ivypool barely talks to me these days. I think she suspects I’m seeing you.” She stared at the ground, her eyes full of sadness.
“Tigerheart?” Hostility gleamed in her gaze. “What are you doing here?”
“I have to talk to you.”
“To me?” She curled her lip. “Are you sure you’re not looking for Dovewing?”
“I’m sure.”
Ivypool growled at him. “Twigpaw saw you and my sister meeting near the border. You know that’s against the warrior code, right? You could get her into big trouble.”
Tigerheart stared into her burning gaze. Urgency writhed like captured prey in his chest. “I love her, Ivypool, and she loves me. But she needs you.”
Ivypool narrowed her eyes. “Is that why you’re here? To tell me that you’re in love, so everything’s okay?” Her mew dripped with contempt.
“She says you’re shutting her out,” Tigerheart urged. “I know you’re angry with her. But she needs someone to confide in.”
“You mean she needs me to approve of what she’s doing so she doesn’t feel so guilty!” Anger sharpened Ivypool’s mew.
“Don’t you care about her?” Tigerheart pleaded.
Ivypool’s pelt bushed. “How dare you?” she spat. “Of course I care about her. And if you cared about her, you’d leave her alone.”
“I can’t.” Helplessness swamped Tigerheart. He wanted to blurt out the truth—that Dovewing was expecting kits. He wanted the truth to fix everything. He wanted Ivypool to forgive Dovewing and reassure her that raising her kits in the Clans would be great. But he knew the truth might make things worse. And telling the truth should be Dovewing’s choice, not his.
“Ivypool.” He gazed at her desperately. “Just talk to her. Please.”
“I will.” Ivypool whirled away with a snarl. “Once she’s stopped seeing you.” Her silver tail lashing, she pushed her way through the bracken and disappeared into darkness.
“I have to talk to you.”
“To me?” She curled her lip. “Are you sure you’re not looking for Dovewing?”
“I’m sure.”
Ivypool growled at him. “Twigpaw saw you and my sister meeting near the border. You know that’s against the warrior code, right? You could get her into big trouble.”
Tigerheart stared into her burning gaze. Urgency writhed like captured prey in his chest. “I love her, Ivypool, and she loves me. But she needs you.”
Ivypool narrowed her eyes. “Is that why you’re here? To tell me that you’re in love, so everything’s okay?” Her mew dripped with contempt.
“She says you’re shutting her out,” Tigerheart urged. “I know you’re angry with her. But she needs someone to confide in.”
“You mean she needs me to approve of what she’s doing so she doesn’t feel so guilty!” Anger sharpened Ivypool’s mew.
“Don’t you care about her?” Tigerheart pleaded.
Ivypool’s pelt bushed. “How dare you?” she spat. “Of course I care about her. And if you cared about her, you’d leave her alone.”
“I can’t.” Helplessness swamped Tigerheart. He wanted to blurt out the truth—that Dovewing was expecting kits. He wanted the truth to fix everything. He wanted Ivypool to forgive Dovewing and reassure her that raising her kits in the Clans would be great. But he knew the truth might make things worse. And telling the truth should be Dovewing’s choice, not his.
“Ivypool.” He gazed at her desperately. “Just talk to her. Please.”
“I will.” Ivypool whirled away with a snarl. “Once she’s stopped seeing you.” Her silver tail lashing, she pushed her way through the bracken and disappeared into darkness.
Their conflict finally ends with the sisters making amends once and for all after Dovewing comes back.