CHAPTER NINE - Ivypool

Ivypool sneaked back into camp after talking to Breezepelt. She couldn't help but think that StarClan really did have bees in their brains. Trust Breezepelt? Everything that he says is fox-dung! But then, she remembered that Hollyleaf had told her to trust him - and she did give her life to save Ivypool.

When she finally pushed into camp (using the dirt-place entrance and exit), her paws were heavy with exhaustion and she could barely stand. Her mind was weighing her down with thoughts and anxious worrying. 

Better get some sleep, Ivypool decided, and hurried to the apprentices den. Luckily, nearly every apprentice was asleep. But one warrior wasn't.

Dovewing was wide awake, tail crossed over her paws. The she-cat's green eyes were narrowed in suspicion as she stared at her sister.

"Where did you go?" Dovewing asked, head tilted to the side. "You can tell me, I won't be mad. And, by the way, you look like you're going to fall over. Come sit next to me."

Ivypool hesitated, but hurried to Dovewing's side, slumping down next to her sister. "Why do I have to tell you? You look like you've gone somewhere as well."

Dovewing tensed beside her. "I have not been anywhere! The apprentices must have picked up burrs or something and it must have gotten in my nests."

Ivypool blinked. She could tell just as easily as Dovewing could - she was lying. Ivypool sniffed. "I don't have to tell you; you haven't told me."

"Fine." Dovewing licked a paw and drew it over her ears. "As you said once before - I'll have my secrets and you can have yours."

"Deal." Ivypool grinned and curled in her nest. She needed sleep more than ever. But as hard as she tried to get to sleep, she just couldn't. 

Ivypool ended up staying awake, staring up at the top of the apprentices den and imagining all of the cats dancing in the skies, twirling around the silver stars. If she closed her eyes, she could imagine Hollyleaf and Mousefur and Ferncloud and every other StarClan cat gliding and weaving between the stars. 

Eventually, after hours of imagining and day-dreaming, Ivypool slipped into a sleep, dreaming of StarClan dancing through a star-filled sky.

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When she awoke, Ivypool was being prodded in the side. She opened her eyes to stare into sightless blue eyes. She leaped to her paws, staring in confusion and shock at Jayfeather.

"What's up with you lately?" Jayfeather questioned. "I just wanted to ask if you needed poppy seeds. Oh, and Dovewing just came by-"

"I don't need any, thanks." Ivypool cut in - she didn't want to find out what Dovewing had been saying about her to her petty friends.

"But you'd want to know what she said-" Jayfeather was cut off as Ivypool swished past the tom and out of the den, not even bothering to shoot a comment back at the silver tabby.

 Dovewing bounded up to her, and Ivypool hissed quietly. "Did Jayfeather-"

"I don't want to know!" Ivypool snapped. "You have your secrets, I'll have mine, remember? We made a deal, so stick with it, please!"

"What twisted your tail?" Dovewing made a face. "It's important and you need to know-"

"I don't, okay?" Ivypool barged past her sister and towards the warriors den, poking her head in and sought out the russet-red pelt of Foxleap. 

"Foxleap!" Ivypool hissed and the tom raised his head, blinking sleep out of his eyes. "I need to get some fresh air. Wanna go hunting?"

"What?" Foxleap pulled himself to his paws. "Oh, yeah, sure. That'll be good, I'm starving!" 

As Foxleap and Ivypool headed into the forest, Ivypool caught her sister staring at her, and flicked her tail, turning pointedly to talk to Foxleap. If Dovewing wanted a game, she could have one.

Before long, Foxleap and Ivypool had caught a squirrel, several mice and vole between them. They headed back to came, laughing about how Foxleap had nearly run into a tree whilst chasing the squirrel.

But Ivypool's mind was elsewhere. She couldn't get her mind off the fact that some cat wanted her protected. But from what? Was Tigerheart trying to kill her? Or are other cats plotting to take over the Clans?

Whatever it was, Ivypool knew it wasn't good. She inhaled and exhaled, realizing that she'd have to put every ounce of trust she had into Breezepelt. 

She needed to trust that Breezepelt would keep her safe - and, overall, tell her the truth when the time was right.

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Hope you enjoyed! Wow, we're nearly at Chapter Ten already! Wow! Thanks to all who have read and voted on this story - it really means a lot to me.

Comment nice things, vote and follow if you want. Whichever satisfies you XD

Thanks and g'bye,

Kisses,

- Nat xxx