I have Ivypool's Heart!

exactly what I was thinking! They don’t even do mates, not like the Clan does. Of course they think Rootspring should move on and it would be easy for him to do so. I don’t think they ever truly love the toms they get with.

Ivypool leads the Clan cats down the Thunderpath, and thinks that the best way to finish their quest is to put Bristlefrost from her mind. With the mist clearing, the fox-headed mountain had reappeared. On the morning of the third day, Whistlepaw has another dream, and explains a voice told her that in the shadow of the fox, to follow the white feather. Rootspring snorts it's certainly from StarClan considering how vague it is. Dovewing says the fox is obviously the mountain, but doesn't know what the feather represents. Ivypool says they'll just be on the lookout. As they continue trekking alongside the Thunderpath, Icewing tries to build encouragement by saying at least the mountain is getting closer, though Ivypool isn't convinced. Rootspring mentions he's hungry, and the rest of the cats agree. Icewing then takes the lead from Ivypool, and leads the cats into the dense woodland beside the Thunderpath.

Icewing points out a pine marten to the cats, though only Dovewing is familiar with it. The cats let the pine marten go after it climbs up a tree, and Ivypool spots a finch that looks like a good meal. Before she can though, they spot horses racing down the dirt path in the forest. The cats scatter and climb up trees until the horses leave. After that, they figure that the prey is all gone because of the noise and elect to move further into the forest to find some. Ivypool tries to go after the finch again, but Dovewing suggests going elsewhere. Ivypool is uncertain what she's supposed to do. She figures as Clan deputy and thus the highest ranking individual, it's her job to make sure everyone is fed.

Continuing forth, they spot a rabbit, but fail to catch it. They then spot a group of twolegs sitting around a small fire. Some twoleg kits were chasing each other, and the adult twolegs were laughing. One twoleg is even washing it's horse. Annoyed, Ivypool says they'll go around, her belly growling with hunger. As they carefully try to pass by the twolegs, the horse gets spooked and starts rearing up on it's legs. Ivypool is frozen in fear and doesn't know what order to give, run, or stay still? Thankfully, one of the twolegs comes over and starts soothing the horse. Ivypool silently thanks the brave twoleg for dealing with such a threat. As the get back into the forest, both Rootspring and Dovewing comment how they're going to find prey, but Whistlepaw speaks up and asks where the Thunderpath is, as they lost their sense of direction.

Aside from brief rests and to hunt, the cats continue on their journey. They lost sight of the twoleg trees with black vines, but the fox-headed mountain is clearly in view. Earlier, Ivypool felt the air change to something more tangy, and the ever so distant sounds of sqawking in the distance. Ivypool assumes it's the gulls, as they get a couple around the lake sometimes. Eventually, they come up to a wooden board with an image of a gull on it. Whistlepaw says they must be on the right track, gesturing to a loose white feather beneath the sign. Ivypool is doubtful, since signs and visions don't always make the most straightforward sense. Dovewing suggests camping for the night, since it's getting dark again. Icewing comments she smells funny water. Ivypool says it must be the sun-drown place.

Icewing says no, it's different from that. She then begins walking, then scampering across the path and through the field on the other side. Ivypool follows, spotting the flat land dropping off abruptly. Icewing and Ivypool approach the edge and spot a bunch of small twoleg dens on the opposite side of a wide lake, but the closer side is full of soft-looking grass. Icewing suggests to make camp there. Rootspring, Whistlepaw, and Dovewing come up behind and murmur agreement. Icewing asks Rootspring to help her fish for something to eat. Whistlepaw asks to come help, and Icewing says she'll be more than happy to teach Whistlepaw. Ivypool yawns, and says she'd like to rest a little.

Ivypool wakes up and pads through a track of overhanging foilage. The air is full of rotting vegetation and everything is bathed in a pale, eerie light. Some trees are smothered in clinging vines, while others are bare. Ivypool looks around, and she can't see a single star. She thinks to herself that she's in the Dark Forest, and can tell her surroundings are as gloomy and oppressive as she remembers, but can't feel the dread she once did. Weirdly enough, Ivypool can sense spirits in the shadows, but she doesn't think they can harm her. She can't tell who they are, but she thinks they're cats who have been long forgotten. They're there, but also not. Ivypool surmises that they probably deserve to be there, but it's an awful fate to be left to the mercy of only memories, fading completely when your name vanishes for the last time. She thinks perhaps Bristlefrost may be among the Dark Forest spirits, but pushes the thought away as it's illogical.

A low, hostile voice rings in Ivypool's voice, growling "How selfish of her mother to yearn for it!". Ivypool freezes, confused, but knows the voice well.

Ivypool turns herself around and finds herself staring into the eyes of Flametail. With regret, she remembers how she was ordered to kill him, but the second Tigerstar stopped her from destroying his spirit. Ivypool tries to apologize, but can't get the words out. Flametail's outline quivers, and within a heartbeat, Brokenstar takes his place. Brokenstar sneers at Ivypool, calling her selfish and the Dark Forest is where she belongs. Before Ivypool can object, Brokenstar says she knows he's right, and she's only here on the ever so small chance perhaps Bristlefrost walks among them. Ivypool growls for him to be quiet. Ivypool shuts her eyes hard, and when she opens them, Brokenstar is gone.

She sees a fleeting gray shape dart around in the twisted trees. She calls for Bristlefrost, but when her daughter doesn't halt, Ivypool chases her. Ivypool runs after Bristlefrost, but skids to a stop when the gray shape vanishes at a steep cliff. The cliff plunges into a swampy abyss, with yellow and purple fumes rising towards her and the reek of foul water engulfing her nostrils. Ivypool thinks Bristlefrost is down there, but then sees the gray fur of Bristlefrost hop across and onto an island with jagged rocks within the swampy mess. Gazing across the island, Ivypool spots a familiar brown-and-white tabby. With horror, she realizes it's Beetlewhisker. Seeing him gives her some consolidation, as Beetlewhisker and Bristlefrost can have each other for company. But as Ivypool sees Bristlefrost trek across the island, Beetlewhisker doesn't even react to Bristlefrost at all. Bristlefrost pads past Beetlewhisker like he's not even there.

One last twist of horror gnaws at Ivypool seeing Beetlewhisker and Bristlefrost unable to acknowledge the other. As she wails in horror, she begins to feel herself falling into a darkness. Smothering her like a thick black pelt, until she feels nothing more.

Wait, why is Flametail in the Dark Forest with Brokenstar, Bristlefrost, and Beetlewhisker? He didn’t double die while I wasn’t looking, right?

I think its a dream, it's not real. The bristlefrost and beetlewhisker she sees aren't real either.

Yeah, that definitely wasn't a vision. Or maybe it was a vision that was initially a nightmare? Idk, it reads as Ivypool's mind tormenting her, considering how much she's overthinking Bristlefrost, and this is only ten chapters in.

She was there when Beetlewhisker was killed... you'd think this would be the perfect opportunity to add Antpelt in there, considering she also killed him twice.

The cats continue to follow the gull, eventually coming into a plain but covered in stiff, jagged rocks. Whistlepaw asks if they really need to cross it. Ivypool says yes. Ivypool takes the lead in following the gull across the rocks. The morning had been damp, so the mud is soggy and walking is difficult. The cats carefully pad over the mud and avoiding loose stones, trying to keep balance. Whistlepaw points out some clumps of wilted leaves growing among the rocks. Whistlepaw says they're not much to look at in leafbare, but she thinks they're the pink flowers from her vision, as well as the spiky rocks near the bottom of the cliff. Ivypool notices jagged black rocks jutting out of the cliff near the sun-drown water. Relieved, Ivypool says they should start making they way to the shore, but to be careful as they can't afford injuries now. About halfway down the cliff, she spots some twoleg kits hopping along the rocks and another twoleg chewing on some food. The gull they were following swoops down and steals the food from the twoleg's hands. The twoleg curses the gull, while Ivypool is surprised Snow was right about the gulls as it flies away with the twoleg's food.

Ivypool leaps down the rest of the tail-lengths to the shore. Before she can turn around to see her companions, she hears an angry hiss. She whips around to see an angry black-and-white tom. The tom asks what they're doing here, as this is his territory. Ivypool bares her teeth, and the tom hisses he'll rip her fur off. Before he can, however, Ivypool's companions hop down, and the tom backs down, mutters it's unfair to fight when he's outnumbered. Ivypool assures him that nobody plans on attacking, and they're just passing through.The tom nods, but adds they all smell strange. Ivypool remarks he smells of fish, but adds that they're Clan cats. The tom says he's familiar with the term.

Whistlepaw asks what his name his, and he says it's Jake. Or at least, his old twolegs gave him the name. As a loner, he doesn't really need a name since there's nobody else around. Ivypool thinks Jake is strange, but at least he wasn't being hostile anymore. Jake turns to look at the shoreline and advises them to watch out for crabs. None of them know what crabs are, and Jake explains they're about the size of rocks but with pincers and lots of legs. The twolegs avoid them, so he does too. Icewing asks if they can be eaten, and Jake says he hasn't tried, nor does he want to. Jake nods his head and wishes them good luck, bounding off into the jagged rocks.

Dovewing turns to Icewing and asks if she knows what crabs are. Icewing says she doesn't know, as they get none at the lake and she never encountered them back when they were still in the old forest. (I think this is the first official confirmation of Icewing being born there?)

Whistlepaw says Crowfeather talks about his journey to the sun-drown place sometimes, but he's never mentioned crabs. Ivypool says the idea of crabs sound hard to believe, and perhaps Jake was messing with them. Rootspring says whether he was or not, they should keep moving. They continue on, but aim to get some food since they couldn't earlier. They spot some twolegs and debate trying to get food from them, but elect against it since Whistlepaw was nearly kidnapped the last time. A fish then falls out of the sky, and after some pondering, the cats decide to eat it. Ivypool begrudingly so. As they eat, they spot a seagull circling them, and figure it accidentally dropped it's catch. Icewing says at least it's food, but the seagull dives them to get it's prey back. The cats dodge out of the way. Ivypool and Rootspring claw at the gull as it swoops down, while Dovewing throws the fish closer to the water. The gull shakes off Ivypool and Rootspring, but not before Ivypool spots more gulls plummetting from the sky. Their harsh cries telling Ivypool they were coming in for the kill.

The cats bound off, dodging between the rocks. Luckily, the gulls seem more interested in the fish than they do the cats. Rootspring snarks that he's glad the gulls have webbed feet. Ivypool agrees, and then they spot a moving rock across the sand. Seeing it's many legs, Rootspring goes up to it and taps the rock with a claw. Dovewing calls him a stupid furball and to come back. Ivypool mews it's a crab. The crab scuttles around the cats, quickly followed by more and more crabs. Icewing mutters she doesn't think they can fight them, as their claws would be useless against their hard pelts. Ivypool suggests they run, and gestures to the fox-head mountain and to leap over the crabs. The cats leap over the array of crabs, and scurry into some cracks big enough to house some cats. Keeping an eye on the gulls, who might snatch up a small cat like Whistlepaw and circling overhead, the cats get into the crack. One of the gulls jams it's orange beak into the crack only whiskers away from where Ivypool crouched. Rootspring, after a few moments, says he thinks the crack goes further and he'll investigate. He wiggles further down, and soon, he hollers that they should come further down as there's more room. First Icewing, then Dovewing, then Whistlepaw follow him. With one last glance and hearing the sqawking gulls, Ivypool follows the rest of them.

Icewing says the gulls can't get them in the small crack. Ivypool murmurs their only source of light is the one coming from the entrance, but can still hear the gulls outside and hopes they'll lose interest.

The gulls are still sqawking outside. Whistlepaw remarks that the way the gulls are sounding is just like the way the kits were crying in her vision, wondering if it means something. Dovewing complains her paws are wet. Icewing disagrees, and Dovewing snorts a rebuttal. Ivypool can see Dovewing is indeed wet. She then notices small surges of water at the tunnel entrance, leaving a thin film of water spreading out into the small cave they're in. Ivypool squeezes past Dovewing along the tunnel to the outside. At first all she could do was stand in the crevice and gape at what she saw. The sandy shore was gone, along with the twolegs. Ivypool urges everone to get out of the crevice, explaining the water is rising and the gulls are thankfully gone. The cats climb up a less steep cliff face. Icewing comments that had they waited, they would have drowned in the crevice. Rootspring and Whistlepaw comment they're hungry. Icewing says they should hunt. Dovewing says with the oncoming rain it will be very difficult. They elect to keep heading towards the mountain, but soon as the rain clears, fog rolls in and obscures it.

They come across some twoleg trash, with some discarded twoleg food. Dovewing says she ate trash once and it could have been worse. Ivypool says she did back when she and Tigerstar left the Clans for a while. Ivypool says she wouldn't hold it against any cat if they didn't have any other option, but she doesn't think they're at that stage quite yet. Every cat reluctantly agrees, and continue on walking through the humid weather. Later on, Ivypool spots a big black mass, recognizing it as a wall built of squared-off stones and so high she couldn't see anything on top of it. A narrow stretch of grass ran at the bottom. Dovewing comments it seems like part of a twoleg den, but it smells disgusting. Ivypool doesn't like it either, but scents familiar animals between the reeks of vile. Whistlepaw gestures to some fat fice eating some twoleg rubbish. Icewing says it's clear twolegs live beyond the wall. The cats catch some of the mice with ease and carry them to a sheltered spot among the roots of a tree. Ivypool is grateful to be eating such good food again. Much better than the awful fish earlier.

Dovewing says it will be dark soon. Ivypool mutters agreement, as although the rain stopped, daylight was leaving them. Before anyone else can comment though, a twoleg voice raises in anger. Followed by shrieks of fear and anger from animals. Whistlepaw shivers, and whispers that this is a bad place. Dovewing comforts Whistlepaw and agrees, but says there's nothing they can do. Ivypool says she thinks they could do something, but Whistlepaw says she'd like to sleep there for the night and think on it. Dovewing asks why sleep here, and Whistlepaw admits she's not sure, but she feels they had to come this way and the place seems familiar to her somehow although she's never seen it before. She wants to see what's going on the wall, as she feels it's important. Ivypool hopes that whatever Whistlepaw believes, it's the right thing to do for the sake of their quest.

Tumble Leap is a tom, and Stalk Purr is a she-cat. Stalk Purr is heavily pregnant and already had two litters beforehand, but the twolegs took them away. They describe themselves as wildcats who descend from StormClan.

As of this chapter, I can't find anything description-wise aside from them both being tabbies and taller and broader than the average cat.

okay so here is where they take a hella cool concept and screw it up. Why/how are pure wildcats descended from house cats? I thought they might introduce them as ancestors to the whole species of domestic cat, which would be awesome bc it's true lol. I don't get how they're descended from stormclan, a joint clan between 2 clan cats.

The she-cat calls the Clan cats strangecats. Ivypool asks if they're kittypets. Neither are familiar with the term, so Icewing explains it to them. The tom says they could be considered it.Some animals come and go, while others stay a long time. Like they have. Ivypool says she hasn't seen cats like them. The she-cat, introducing herself as Stalk Purr, says they're likely the last wildcats left. Tumble Leap, the tom, explains the twolegs take their kits away for unknown reasons. Ivypool asks why, and neither of them know, though hate when it happens. Stalk Purr says perhaps it means the twolegs likes them. Ivypool says it doesn't seem like something that would happen if that were true. Tumble Leap explains that twolegs have destroyed most of their home, and many of their number left to find places where prey was running better. Although they said they would come back if they did find something, none of them did. Stalk Purr mutters they're likely the last wildcats.

Dovewing says it's a shame, and as Clan cats they look out for each other. The tabbies are surprised that the cats refer to themselves as Clans. Rootspring asks if it's a coincidence, or if they're perhaps connected. No cat can answer. That is, until Whistlepaw draws a cloud split by lightning and vines in the ground, asking if it means anything to them. Stalk Purr happily mews it's the symbol for StormClan, from which they descend. Ivypool's world spins around her at the mention of StormClan. She wonders what else they might have in common with these strange cats. Whistlepaw introduces herself as a medicine cat and the symbol came to her in a vision, telling them of the huge tree and if they know what it is. Stalk Purr says it sounds like the Star Tree, where their elders communed with their ancestors. Tumble Leap says he went when he was very young, but only once. Whistlepaw bounds up in glee and says it's like their Moonpool. She urgently asks where the Star Tree is.

Both dejected, Tumble Leap says it's been so long that neither can remember. They can give a vague idea, but nothing more. Stalk Purr adds they don't want to lead them wrong. Ivypool grows frustrated as they're so close, yet so far. Tumble Leap begins describing how StormClan was, such as feeding the elders and kits first, honoring their ancestors, and so forth. All this makes Ivypool realize it sounds like one of the lake Clans. Whistlepaw asks if they talk with StarClan. Tumble Leap says he's never heard the term, but at the Star Tree, his elders would walk into it and enter the grounds of their ancestors. Ivypool asks if their Clanmates could help them find it. Stalk Purr sighs and says they're probably the last wildcats left nor does StormClan really exist anymore. They had friends who left on their own quests, but they never returned. Ivypool then asks for the general direction on where to go.

Stalk Purr says she remembers the tree was in a forest, standing alone. She remembers following a stream, climbing upward, and the stream tumbling down in a series of small waterfalls, foaming around rocks. But that's all she remembers. Ivypool says it's better than nothing, and thanks them. She asks if they'd like to come with them on their journey, but both decline. Stalk Purr says that she's unsure if she could feed her kits that way. Ivypool says she'll lose them to the twoleg otherwise. Stalk Purr says she would rather they be healthy than dead, because for all the faults of the twoleg, she and Tumble Leap are at least fed.Tumble Leap adds that when they were captured, they were practically starving. Ivypool notes how discouraged they sound, and wonders if the twoleg sapped their strength and willpower. Ivypool begins to feel bad, but then a twoleg appears, clanging a metal object as he exits out of a den. Tumble Purr says it's feeding time, and urges the Clan cats to escape or else the twoleg may capture them.

consists of the cats leaving the zoo and wanting to get the wildcats out from their enclosure upon seeing how cruel the twoleg is, but decide to find the Star Tree first. Whistlepaw wants to save them, but Icewing assures her they will, but they need to find the Star Tree. Dovewing says the wildcats seemed resigned to their fate. Whistlepaw says they're StormClan and thus must be connected in some way. Ivypool agrees. Icewing says she'd feel comfortable with more information to go on, and insists they should continue forth.

They trek across the plains and find a hollowed out tree, which Whistlepaw assumes to be the Star Tree, but find weasels inside it

is primarily them fighting off the weasels and chasing them off. Whistlepaw finds a gap between the roots of the tree. Ivypool points out that the tree is hollow, but quite high. Though she says they'll do it if that's what it takes. All of them but Dovewing go, as she says she'll stand guard at the top of the tree just in case the weasels or other threats appear. The cats climb the tree. Dovewing wishes them good luck, and Whistlepaw jumps first, landing in a pile of soft leaves but is fine otherwise. At the bottom, Ivypool realizes that there is more space than the tree allows, and perhaps Whistlepaw was right about the tree being special. Icewing says that perhaps to connect with StormClan, they need to think of something tied to their Clans. Ivypool chooses to think about the boundless trees in her territory at the lake, doing her best to relax.

When Ivypool finally opens her eyes, everything had changed. The rotting bark had turned into lighter, healthy wood. A golden ray of light shines through the hole they leaped down. Whistlepaw says she thinks they're having a shared vision, but doesn't think they're in StarClan. Whistlepaw bounds forward, calling for Rootspring, Icewing, and Ivypool to follow her. Ivypool gazes around, seeing everything had changed. The environment was flourishing and undamaged. Ivypool realizes they're looking into the past, or at least it's her best guess.