Echoflight took a moment to pick a mouse out of the fresh-kill pile, feeling a little guilty. It had been two moons since she had last seen Silverspots; the she-cat had not come again to the Cave of Peace. In the two moons, Speckleflower had said goodbye to Echoflight. Amberclaw had too. She only had Dawnmist left.

Bored, Echoflight padded, with the mouse, back to the nursery to check on her kits.

"Mother!"

"You're back!"

"I was gone for about three minutes," Echoflight purred, tucking Waterkit and Redkit into herself. "Where's Daisykit?"

Redkit looked abashed. "I tried to stop her mother..."

"Oh, dear," Echoflight sighed. Daisykit was always making trouble. At least Redkit and Waterkit were calm and peaceful.

Suddenly, Frogfern came into the nursery, Daisykit in his jaws. "I found her trying to sneak out of camp," he mewed in amusement.

"Father!" Daisykit complained.

"How were your days?" Echoflight questioned.

"Lonely," Waterkit scuffed the ground with a paw.

"Why?" Frogfern interjected, glancing at Redkit and Daisykit. "Where were your littermates?"

"Daisykit wanted to sneak out of camp and Redkit went to help Jayfeather and Larkleaf in the medicine den," Waterkit explained.

"Redkit, Daisykit, you three must stick together. Littermates are important. Don't let anything break your bond," Echoflight mewed solemnly. "I wish my littermate was here."

"Why aren't they here?" Redkit asked.

Echoflight and Frogfern shared looks and Frogfern shook his head slightly. "Never mind, kits. How about we have a game of moss ball?"

Echoflight lay in her nest that night, thinking. When would she be able to help Silverspots?

I'm certain that Silverspots loves Ebonywind, but she keeps denying it. I can't force her to see the truth, though.

Waterkit let out a small mew in his sleep and she gazed lovingly at him before guilt pierced her. I haven't been taking care of them. Waterkit shouldn't be lonely. Daisykit should have a talking to. Redkit shouldn't have to escape to the medicine den. They need their mother.

But Silverspots needs White Dove.

Leaving her nest once again, she gazed into the stars. It was almost the full moon, she remembered. The glowing river would be beautiful tonight.

It was a shame that Silverspots wouldn't come, anyway.

Little did she know that Silverspots had been waiting at the Cave of Peace before finally giving up, thinking that she had taken too long to admit to herself.

The next day, Echoflight went out to the Cave of Peace. In the bright light of day, it looked ordinary. It looked...off. The moss was scattered around.

Echoflight took a deep sniff and scented Silverspot's fading scent.

Mouse-brain! She was here last night!

Determined to find Silverspots, Echoflight raced into ShadowClan territory, ignoring the scent of pines. The darkness made her shiver, but she plodded on, desperate to help Silverspots.

Sounds of sniffling made her alert and she tracked the noise to a small den in the woods. Inside was Silverspots.

"There you are!" Echoflight shook her gently.

Silverspots looked up with big, watery eyes. "Y-you came!"

"Of course, I came!" Echoflight lied. I didn't.

"I'll come tonight, I really will," Silverspots begged. "Don't quit! I...I finally admitted to myself. You were right!"

"I would never quit," Echoflight touched her nose to Silverspot's flank and the she-cat shrank back.

"Sorry, it's just that Ebonywind used to do that," Silverspots added upon seeing Echoflight's confusion.

"Hey you! Stop right there!"

"Oh...no. Fox-dung!" Echoflight cursed.

Three ShadowClan warriors stalked towards them, tails lashing menacingly. Slategaze, Jaggedstrike and Pinestone all had fury in their eyes.

"ThunderClan trespasser!" Jaggedstrike yowled.

Echoflight looked to Silverspots for help but was surprised by what she did. Silverspots lashed out and pummelled Echoflight's exposed belly, her eyes saying I'm sorry.

She tried to defend herself, but she was overwhelmed and surrounded. Her body ached and multiple wounds had begun to bleed.

Echoflight turned and ran.

"What happened to you?!" Goldenperch exclaimed as Echoflight limped into camp.

"ShadowClan," Echoflight muttered.

"They invaded our territory?" Goldenperch's fur bristled and her eyes flashed.

"No, no," Echoflight realized her mistake. "I was in their territory."

"And why were you in their territory?" Luckystar leapt down from Highledge, eyes glittering with fury. "If you ask me, you've been taking this White Dove stuff too far. You are a warrior! You cannot go trespassing into other Clans' territory!"

"I'm sorry!" Echoflight wailed. "But I had to help Silverspots!"

"You're supposed to do it at the Cave!" Luckystar hissed, ears flattening.

"Fine! Exile me, then! I'll keep helping every cat!" Echoflight flared. "Exile me like you did to another cat! Blind me if you must!"

Luckystar's aggressive stance dropped and she sighed deeply. "No, you have kits and friends. I won't make the same mistake twice."

Echoflight winced. She knew they were both thinking about Demonclaw.

"But I will help you," Luckystar added. "I think it's time for White Dove to be revealed. I think it's time for all the cats to know who you are."

Echoflight was momentarily surprised and quickly regained her composure. "I believe it is, too. More and more cats are figuring it out."

"Let all cats gather here for a Clan meeting!" Luckystar yowled, bounding up to the Highledge. Echoflight followed her silently.

"What is it?" Jayfeather growled. "Some of us are busy!"

Luckystar ignored the medicine cat and mewed, "It's time for Echoflight to be known to all the other cats. I'm going to send three patrols to each of the Clans. Lightningstrike and Leafsong, you go to WindClan. Duskpelt, Dawnmist and Frogfern, you go to RiverClan. Pineleaf, Skyheart and Thunderstorm, you can go to ShadowClan. I need these patrols to tell the Clans that I'm calling an emergency meeting between all the leaders and deputies tomorrow night at the gathering island."

"That's cutting it close," Cinderheart remarked. "The gathering is the night after tomorrow night."

"If all goes well," Luckystar met Cinderheart's gaze. "Then it will work in our favour."

Echoflight met with Silverspots at the Cave of Peace that night; the latter admitting that she did love Ebonywind.

"I'm weird, aren't I?" Silverspots whispered.

"No," Echoflight insisted. "You are perfectly normal. She-cats can love she-cats. You are normal, Silverspots! Trust your instincts."

"How do I stop it from hurting?" she whimpered back.

"I told you briefly before," Echoflight dipped her head. "Focus on other things that make you happy. With time, you will find another love, Ebonywind is not the only one out there for you. It will take time, and it might be painful, but if you can focus on other things that make you happy, other cats that make you happy, it'll hurt less and you'll be happy again."

"Thank you, Echoflight," Silverspots breathed before charging out of the Cave.

Echoflight sat by herself, the moonlight reflecting on her black fur. Her amber eyes gazed out of the cave and she wondered.

I'm struggling to balance a mate, kits, warrior duties and White Dove duties all at the same time. How long can I keep it up for?

A/N - this chapter was kind of rushed but all in all, it's not terrible