Cover
Blurb
The Doctor is hiding a secret that he's never told before. Dovewing never expected to be caught in a battle between Dark and Light. Firestar has a vision of his forthcoming future. All have secrets.
But then the Master returns.
All three cats lives are put to the test, especially the Doctor's. Something long ago will come to rise, and the Doctor and the Master will be put to the test.
Secrets will be revealed, and someone will die.
But then the Master returns.
All three cats lives are put to the test, especially the Doctor's. Something long ago will come to rise, and the Doctor and the Master will be put to the test.
Secrets will be revealed, and someone will die.
Chapter One: Everlasting
The Doctor paced around his den in ThunderClan. He'd grew ever the more restless as soon as a long lost secret came to his mind, but dismissing it only made it worse.
Back then we were friends. He kept saying, over and over in his mind.
"Doctor, you all right?" A flame colored tom knew as the one and only Firestar had walked into his den. The Doctor guessed he'd been standing there for longer than he'd been comfortable with.
"Yes. Fine. Completely. How long you've been standing there?"
"Doesn't matter." Firestar looked at his paws in embarrassment. "Whole last adventure taken care of, ThunderClan saved, for now, peace between the Clans. Just feels the right time for a patrol."
"I'm not hunting with a bunch of strange cats that I barely know of if that's what you're talking about." The Doctor scraped at the den floor with his reinforced claws, not meeting the leader's gaze.
"No, Doctor. Just a walk around camp."
The Doctor sighed. "If you insist." He shook out his dusty fur and joined the leader.
"Nice day if you ask me." The Doctor looked up at a cloudless, empty sky and admired it. "Hard to think that there are so many worlds that haven't been explored. And I'm stuck in a camp, millions of miles away from anything."
"You know Doctor?" Firestar looked up at him. The Doctor glanced at him before asking, "What?"
"Some days, you talk absolute nonsense."
"Better than knowing nothing at all. But you know, Socrates once said, 'The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.' Shame he died after drinking poison."
He trailed off and stayed silent for a few moments after that, before he broke it with, "I think here comes Dovewing."
The young gray she-cat scrabbled up between them. "What 'cha talking about?"
"Doesn't matter." Both the Doctor and Firestar replied at once. Dovewing rolled her eyes. "Keeping secrets from me, huh? We'll see about that." She tried to tackle the Doctor to the ground, buy because he was almost three times her size, he was unharmed. "Thanks for the message, I got it." The Doctor replied in a tone of complete irony. "Do you have to follow me everywhere like you're my shadow?"
"I'm too small to be your shadow." Dovewing mewed, and the Doctor did a facepalm, shaking his head. "Symbolic. It means you basically watch and follow me everywhere."
"Oh." Dovewing replied in a tone in which she'd acted like she'd been born yesterday.
"Well, another day, another adventure." The Doctor perked up and ran back down into the ThunderClan gorge. He ran to his den and into the TARDIS, slamming the doors shut behind him. He threw on his cape and immediately went to working on the controls.
Dovewing came in several minutes later, panting heavily. "What I wanted to tell you was that there was a cat on the border that claimed to know you. He said his name was the Master."
Back then we were friends. He kept saying, over and over in his mind.
"Doctor, you all right?" A flame colored tom knew as the one and only Firestar had walked into his den. The Doctor guessed he'd been standing there for longer than he'd been comfortable with.
"Yes. Fine. Completely. How long you've been standing there?"
"Doesn't matter." Firestar looked at his paws in embarrassment. "Whole last adventure taken care of, ThunderClan saved, for now, peace between the Clans. Just feels the right time for a patrol."
"I'm not hunting with a bunch of strange cats that I barely know of if that's what you're talking about." The Doctor scraped at the den floor with his reinforced claws, not meeting the leader's gaze.
"No, Doctor. Just a walk around camp."
The Doctor sighed. "If you insist." He shook out his dusty fur and joined the leader.
"Nice day if you ask me." The Doctor looked up at a cloudless, empty sky and admired it. "Hard to think that there are so many worlds that haven't been explored. And I'm stuck in a camp, millions of miles away from anything."
"You know Doctor?" Firestar looked up at him. The Doctor glanced at him before asking, "What?"
"Some days, you talk absolute nonsense."
"Better than knowing nothing at all. But you know, Socrates once said, 'The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.' Shame he died after drinking poison."
He trailed off and stayed silent for a few moments after that, before he broke it with, "I think here comes Dovewing."
The young gray she-cat scrabbled up between them. "What 'cha talking about?"
"Doesn't matter." Both the Doctor and Firestar replied at once. Dovewing rolled her eyes. "Keeping secrets from me, huh? We'll see about that." She tried to tackle the Doctor to the ground, buy because he was almost three times her size, he was unharmed. "Thanks for the message, I got it." The Doctor replied in a tone of complete irony. "Do you have to follow me everywhere like you're my shadow?"
"I'm too small to be your shadow." Dovewing mewed, and the Doctor did a facepalm, shaking his head. "Symbolic. It means you basically watch and follow me everywhere."
"Oh." Dovewing replied in a tone in which she'd acted like she'd been born yesterday.
"Well, another day, another adventure." The Doctor perked up and ran back down into the ThunderClan gorge. He ran to his den and into the TARDIS, slamming the doors shut behind him. He threw on his cape and immediately went to working on the controls.
Dovewing came in several minutes later, panting heavily. "What I wanted to tell you was that there was a cat on the border that claimed to know you. He said his name was the Master."
Chapter Two: Mortal Enemy
The Doctor froze. "What?"
"The Master. He's on the border looking for you." Dovewing replied. Then she realized the Doctor's sour expression and her expression darkened as well. "You know him?"
"Of course. Well, he's an old...friend." The Doctor paced around the control room, claws clicking on the floor. "He didn't hurt you, did he?"
Dovewing shook her head, and the Doctor almost collapsed with relief. "He just said, 'If you know who and where the Doctor is, I need to see him'."
"Oh, great StarClan." The Doctor whispered. He ran over to Dovewing and practically got in her face. "Watch the TARDIS for me.
He ran out and slammed the door behind him without another word.
He skidded to a halt just at the ThunderClan-ShadowClan border and quickly glanced around. A raven cawed above his head, but that was the only sound.
His ears twitched as he caught a faint sound. The raven cawed loudly. " Oh, for heaven's sake, will anyone let me listen?" He snarled.
Then something attacked, knocking him to the ground. "Did you miss me?" A familiar voice hissed in his ear. "I knew that pitiful little companion of yours would come running to find you."
The Master kept a paw on the Doctor's mouth so he couldn't speak, and he peered into his golden eyes with mock sympathy. "Cat got your tongue, Doctor?"
"Geh' o' o me." The Doctor spat with the little speech he had left. The Master ignored him with one of his mock deafness tricks again. "Should've never come here."
He removed his paw from the Doctor's mouth- a big mistake on his behalf, and the Doctor shoved himself upwards, making the tom land in a near miss besides a tree. "You should pay back for all the pain you've caused me."
The Master stood up, brown leopard-spotted tabby fur ruffling to hide the fact that he'd been injured by the throw. "You're daughter was pitiful. She had to die." The Doctor thought he might've seen a flash of sadness flicker in his icy blue eyes, but it was so brief that he thought he must've imagined it. "And Purple Rose?"
"She should've been my mate. Just one step closer to becoming Allegiance leader. " The Master stared at his paws, but looked back up quickly again, before bowling into the Doctor. They rolled several times before the Doctor gained control and pinned his enemy to the ground. "PURPLE ROSE DIDN'T DESERVE TO DIE!" He howled so loudly he thought even Gallifrey would come running. "YOU KILLED HER IN FRONT OF ME!"
The Doctor held his claws to the Master's throat. "I could kill you like you killed her, you hear me?"
"You won't." The Master choked out with malice in his blue eyes. "Years with your little band of kittypets have softened you. You wouldn't even harm a microscopic organism."
"Just you see me try." The Doctor pressed his paw down harder. "I will kill you and blame ShadowClan for this."
The Master went limp, trying in vain to fool the Doctor. But training in Clan techniques had made him smarter, more clever.
The Doctor lifted his paw off of the Master's throat and scratched his cheek.
"Mercy, Doctor. All you show is mercy." The Master opened his eyes and thrust himself upwards. The Doctor dug into the ground, gritted his teeth, and ran at him again, pinning him against a tree. His breath was deep and quick, and his own golden eyes were filled with so much hatred.
A nonverbal message passed between the two, before the Master screeched loudly, and thrust the Doctor backward.
The gray and white tom tumbled several feet, shutting his eyes tightly as he tried to avoid debris. He stood up and whispered. "Why were we even friends?"
The Master didn't reply. His ears twitched as he heard something. "ShadowClan is coming. I'll show you mercy by telling you to get that injury on your leg checked. Forty-Eight hours, Doctor. That's all you get."
The Doctor lifted up his jacket sleeve; a scratch ran all the way down his left foreleg.
"The Master. He's on the border looking for you." Dovewing replied. Then she realized the Doctor's sour expression and her expression darkened as well. "You know him?"
"Of course. Well, he's an old...friend." The Doctor paced around the control room, claws clicking on the floor. "He didn't hurt you, did he?"
Dovewing shook her head, and the Doctor almost collapsed with relief. "He just said, 'If you know who and where the Doctor is, I need to see him'."
"Oh, great StarClan." The Doctor whispered. He ran over to Dovewing and practically got in her face. "Watch the TARDIS for me.
He ran out and slammed the door behind him without another word.
He skidded to a halt just at the ThunderClan-ShadowClan border and quickly glanced around. A raven cawed above his head, but that was the only sound.
His ears twitched as he caught a faint sound. The raven cawed loudly. " Oh, for heaven's sake, will anyone let me listen?" He snarled.
Then something attacked, knocking him to the ground. "Did you miss me?" A familiar voice hissed in his ear. "I knew that pitiful little companion of yours would come running to find you."
The Master kept a paw on the Doctor's mouth so he couldn't speak, and he peered into his golden eyes with mock sympathy. "Cat got your tongue, Doctor?"
"Geh' o' o me." The Doctor spat with the little speech he had left. The Master ignored him with one of his mock deafness tricks again. "Should've never come here."
He removed his paw from the Doctor's mouth- a big mistake on his behalf, and the Doctor shoved himself upwards, making the tom land in a near miss besides a tree. "You should pay back for all the pain you've caused me."
The Master stood up, brown leopard-spotted tabby fur ruffling to hide the fact that he'd been injured by the throw. "You're daughter was pitiful. She had to die." The Doctor thought he might've seen a flash of sadness flicker in his icy blue eyes, but it was so brief that he thought he must've imagined it. "And Purple Rose?"
"She should've been my mate. Just one step closer to becoming Allegiance leader. " The Master stared at his paws, but looked back up quickly again, before bowling into the Doctor. They rolled several times before the Doctor gained control and pinned his enemy to the ground. "PURPLE ROSE DIDN'T DESERVE TO DIE!" He howled so loudly he thought even Gallifrey would come running. "YOU KILLED HER IN FRONT OF ME!"
The Doctor held his claws to the Master's throat. "I could kill you like you killed her, you hear me?"
"You won't." The Master choked out with malice in his blue eyes. "Years with your little band of kittypets have softened you. You wouldn't even harm a microscopic organism."
"Just you see me try." The Doctor pressed his paw down harder. "I will kill you and blame ShadowClan for this."
The Master went limp, trying in vain to fool the Doctor. But training in Clan techniques had made him smarter, more clever.
The Doctor lifted his paw off of the Master's throat and scratched his cheek.
"Mercy, Doctor. All you show is mercy." The Master opened his eyes and thrust himself upwards. The Doctor dug into the ground, gritted his teeth, and ran at him again, pinning him against a tree. His breath was deep and quick, and his own golden eyes were filled with so much hatred.
A nonverbal message passed between the two, before the Master screeched loudly, and thrust the Doctor backward.
The gray and white tom tumbled several feet, shutting his eyes tightly as he tried to avoid debris. He stood up and whispered. "Why were we even friends?"
The Master didn't reply. His ears twitched as he heard something. "ShadowClan is coming. I'll show you mercy by telling you to get that injury on your leg checked. Forty-Eight hours, Doctor. That's all you get."
The Doctor lifted up his jacket sleeve; a scratch ran all the way down his left foreleg.
Chapter Three: We Were Once Close Friends
The Doctor took his jacket off and threw it to the edge of his den. He puffed up his fur as Jayfeather padded in, eyes narrowed even though he couldn't see him. "What trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?"
"Scratch down my left foreleg. " The Doctor winced as he lay down in his nest and stretched his leg out. Jayfeather padded over to him and ran his paw down his leg. "Seems more than a scratch. I'll fetch cobweb and marigold quickly. Let's hope there are no more fights."
"Then what'll be the point of being a warrior?"
"Stupid, pointless fights don't count." Jayfeather snapped, then turned, and was gone.
Dovewing emerged from the TARDIS and glanced at the Doctor. She looked a bit frightened, then let out a sigh of relief as she realized it was him. "For a moment I thought you were a BloodClan warrior."
"Once was. Trust me, I regret it."
Dovewing indicated the scratch on his leg. "Were you fighting?"
The Doctor nodded, glaring at her to not push the topic further. Buy she didn't listen to him. "You two fight constantly."
"But once we were close friends." The Doctor finished. "Jealousy started this whole fallout. Of a she-cat. Don't ask me about it." The Doctor lay his head in his paws and looked away from the young she-cat. Jayfeather interrupted the whole short-lived peace with a loud grumble. "My mother has to be a know-it-all with herbs." He set the herbs down and worked on the Doctor's leg.
"Now stop your useless fighting with the Master. He does nothing but spite you."
The Doctor snorted, indignant, and flattened his ears to shut out Jayfeather's complaints about random things that didn't matter.
Dovewing, sensing his stress, lay down beside him and started purring to calm him down.
That must've helped him doze off, for he woke up the next day at sunrise. Dovewing was gone, so he sat up and stretched, yawning.
He went inside his TARDIS and threw a black jacket on, then a cape, before walking back outside into the ThunderClan gorge. He was the first one up, he noticed, so he sat back down and sighed. The world with peace is a happy one.
He looked up at the sky. While there's life, there's hope. Hope. A strong word. He murmured under his breath. "Master? I heard my father speaking about him once, but where?"
He stood up and paced around the camp, muttering silently to himself. He jumped up on Highledge once, stood there for several minutes, then noticed Firestar emerging from his den with a loud yawn. "Nice morning?" He called. The tabby looked up at him and cried back, "What're you doing up there?"
The Doctor ran back down to join his old friend. "Have you sent out the dawn patrol yet?"
"Brambleclaw has taken care of that. What're you doing up early?"
The Doctor waved a forepaw absentmindedly. "Nothing, really. "
He was about to speak more, but a frightened yowl interrupted him. "The patrol was attacked!"
Several cats, Brambleclaw included, all limped in with severe injuries. The Doctor gasped as he saw his own daughter, Sundew, among them.
"Who was it?" Both the Doctor and Firestar demanded at once.
"One cat."
"Against seven warriors?" The Doctor had a sneaking suspicion that he knew who it was. "Did he say anything?"
"He demanded.. To see.. You, Doctor." Brambleclaw's legs buckled beneath him, and he collapsed to the ground.
"I know who it is." The Doctor narrowed his eyes as hatred crept through his white-and-gray fur. "The Master."
"Scratch down my left foreleg. " The Doctor winced as he lay down in his nest and stretched his leg out. Jayfeather padded over to him and ran his paw down his leg. "Seems more than a scratch. I'll fetch cobweb and marigold quickly. Let's hope there are no more fights."
"Then what'll be the point of being a warrior?"
"Stupid, pointless fights don't count." Jayfeather snapped, then turned, and was gone.
Dovewing emerged from the TARDIS and glanced at the Doctor. She looked a bit frightened, then let out a sigh of relief as she realized it was him. "For a moment I thought you were a BloodClan warrior."
"Once was. Trust me, I regret it."
Dovewing indicated the scratch on his leg. "Were you fighting?"
The Doctor nodded, glaring at her to not push the topic further. Buy she didn't listen to him. "You two fight constantly."
"But once we were close friends." The Doctor finished. "Jealousy started this whole fallout. Of a she-cat. Don't ask me about it." The Doctor lay his head in his paws and looked away from the young she-cat. Jayfeather interrupted the whole short-lived peace with a loud grumble. "My mother has to be a know-it-all with herbs." He set the herbs down and worked on the Doctor's leg.
"Now stop your useless fighting with the Master. He does nothing but spite you."
The Doctor snorted, indignant, and flattened his ears to shut out Jayfeather's complaints about random things that didn't matter.
Dovewing, sensing his stress, lay down beside him and started purring to calm him down.
That must've helped him doze off, for he woke up the next day at sunrise. Dovewing was gone, so he sat up and stretched, yawning.
He went inside his TARDIS and threw a black jacket on, then a cape, before walking back outside into the ThunderClan gorge. He was the first one up, he noticed, so he sat back down and sighed. The world with peace is a happy one.
He looked up at the sky. While there's life, there's hope. Hope. A strong word. He murmured under his breath. "Master? I heard my father speaking about him once, but where?"
He stood up and paced around the camp, muttering silently to himself. He jumped up on Highledge once, stood there for several minutes, then noticed Firestar emerging from his den with a loud yawn. "Nice morning?" He called. The tabby looked up at him and cried back, "What're you doing up there?"
The Doctor ran back down to join his old friend. "Have you sent out the dawn patrol yet?"
"Brambleclaw has taken care of that. What're you doing up early?"
The Doctor waved a forepaw absentmindedly. "Nothing, really. "
He was about to speak more, but a frightened yowl interrupted him. "The patrol was attacked!"
Several cats, Brambleclaw included, all limped in with severe injuries. The Doctor gasped as he saw his own daughter, Sundew, among them.
"Who was it?" Both the Doctor and Firestar demanded at once.
"One cat."
"Against seven warriors?" The Doctor had a sneaking suspicion that he knew who it was. "Did he say anything?"
"He demanded.. To see.. You, Doctor." Brambleclaw's legs buckled beneath him, and he collapsed to the ground.
"I know who it is." The Doctor narrowed his eyes as hatred crept through his white-and-gray fur. "The Master."
Chapter Four: Do You Remember Those Days?
In his den, the Doctor paced relentlessly. Once or twice, he yowled at the top of his lungs, and tackled the wall, imagining that it was the Master.
But the rock wall proved too much for him, and when he slammed into it for the third time, he felt his shoulder dislocate. He screeches more anger than pain and used his available forepaw to scratch a gouge in the wall with his reinforced claws.
"Great StarClan, Doctor are you okay?" Dovewing stood at the entrance of his den with concerned eyes. "I think RiverClan maybe have heard us with all that yowling from you."
"I think...I dislocated...my shoulder." The Doctor hissed through gritted teeth.
Dovewing gasped, shocked, then ran to find Jayfeather. The Doctor snarled, pacing around the den, while still favoring his injured foreleg. A whole patrol close to death and that retarded cat started it all.
But another side of his mind argued the opposite. A whole patrol is too weak to stop a strong cat like the Master.
He snorted, indecisive. His leg still hurt, and the pain from that was making his mind cloud with confusion. Do I choose the Master's side, or ThunderClan's? Which one am I more loyal to?
He slapped himself across the face with his available forepaw. Stupid Doctor, choosing the Master's side will make you no better than he.
"What trouble have you gotten into this time now, Doctor?" Jayfeather grumbled, his blind eyes narrowed. "Not more fights again, I hope."
" I did get into a fight." The Doctor meowed, and when Jayfeather narrowed his eyes, even more, he added, "With me."
"What did that result in, hmm?"
"Foreleg dislocated." The Doctor reached out to stop the gray tabby before he could take a step further. "I can take care of myself."
"You may have the name of a Twoleg medicine cat, but I don't think you have any healing skills whatsoever."
"You've got no smarts whatsoever." The Doctor countered, baring his teeth even more. Jayfeather butted him to the ground, despite being half the Doctor's size. "Lay down already!"
"Better?" Dovewing entered the den later that day.
"Fine." The Doctor replied without opening his eyes. "Aside from Jayfeather being a gigantic brat." he snorted.
"I know, right." Dovewing almost broke out in laughter, but when she saw the Doctor's sour expression, she mewed in sympathy, "Something still bothering you?"
"Master. That tyrant who almost killed our whole Clan at one point. Don't ask, It was before you were born."
"How old are you?" The Doctor finally opened his eyes at that all-too-familiar question. "I told you already, older than that of all Clan cats combined."
"How old is that?"
"Five Hundred Ninety." the Doctor lay his head back in his paws. "The age of all the Clan cats only equals about one-sixty."
Dovewing stood there, stunned, before shaking her head briskly. "I bet you remember the Clans when they were young."
"I was there. Met Poe's cat, encountered Time Warriors, stuff like that."
Firestar poked his head into the den. "Sorry to interrupt, but the Master was spotted at the border again. We evaded before he spotted us."
The Doctor threw on his cape as he stood up. "Good. We need a little chat. And no one thinks about following me.
Then he stood at the border, pacing around and around as he grew impatient with the Master's return.
"Oh, I'd never thought you'd come." The Master was casually perched on a branch just above the Doctor's head. "Do you remember those days when we were youngsters?"
"You were still my friend then." The Doctor then remember what the Master had said earlier. "You told me forty-eight hours."
"You didn't see my warning, did you?" The Master waved his paw in the air and smiled. "That patrol didn't stand a chance."
"They almost died!" The Doctor spat, his ears flattened against his head.
The Master leaped down from the branch and scratched at the earth. "Should've known better than to come near the border." He sat down and looked at his claws. "Five against one. Doesn't that seem a bit.. Unfair?"
The Doctor didn't reply, looking at his paws. Unfair for them, maybe.
"But you know what? Maybe I'll spare your pitiful Thunder Kitties, and attack WindClan today at sundown. Your little Gorsetail would absolutely love that, wouldn't she?"
"Stop! Shut up!" The Doctor covered his ears. "I've seen that once before, and I don't want to see it again."
"What I may do after that will make the attack on WindClan seem like a simple thorn prick." The Master sheathed his claws, setting his paw on the ground. "I'm going to wipe out the Clans altogether."
He unsheathed his claws again and swiped them across the Doctor's face. The Doctor shut his eyes tight, but when he opened them again, the Master was gone.
Sunset came, and as the Doctor settled in his den, he shut his eyes tightly, as he recalled that this was the time the Master would attack WindClan. He buried his face in his paws. I can't stop him. I can't.
He looked up as Dovewing ran in. He knew what she was going to say. "WindClan is getting attacked." He said before she could speak.
"How do you know that?"
The Doctor looked away with a snarl."The Master. It's him. He's attacking WindClan."
"By himself?"
"He fought an entire pride of lions, for StarClan's sake! And won!" The Doctor gouged at the earth in anger. "Why has he even come here?"
"I don't know, Doctor, but what you described, I hope WindClan stays in safe paws."
"I hope so as well."
As he entered slumber, the Doctor entered the ThunderClan-WindClan border and stared at the camp.
A figure stumbled over the ridge, and he caught the faint scent of blood from inflicted wounds in the battle with WindClan. Was it a warrior?
But the cat didn't have the scent of any Clan he knew.
The figure grew closer, and it dawned on the Doctor who it was. The Master, and he was mortally injured.
But the rock wall proved too much for him, and when he slammed into it for the third time, he felt his shoulder dislocate. He screeches more anger than pain and used his available forepaw to scratch a gouge in the wall with his reinforced claws.
"Great StarClan, Doctor are you okay?" Dovewing stood at the entrance of his den with concerned eyes. "I think RiverClan maybe have heard us with all that yowling from you."
"I think...I dislocated...my shoulder." The Doctor hissed through gritted teeth.
Dovewing gasped, shocked, then ran to find Jayfeather. The Doctor snarled, pacing around the den, while still favoring his injured foreleg. A whole patrol close to death and that retarded cat started it all.
But another side of his mind argued the opposite. A whole patrol is too weak to stop a strong cat like the Master.
He snorted, indecisive. His leg still hurt, and the pain from that was making his mind cloud with confusion. Do I choose the Master's side, or ThunderClan's? Which one am I more loyal to?
He slapped himself across the face with his available forepaw. Stupid Doctor, choosing the Master's side will make you no better than he.
"What trouble have you gotten into this time now, Doctor?" Jayfeather grumbled, his blind eyes narrowed. "Not more fights again, I hope."
" I did get into a fight." The Doctor meowed, and when Jayfeather narrowed his eyes, even more, he added, "With me."
"What did that result in, hmm?"
"Foreleg dislocated." The Doctor reached out to stop the gray tabby before he could take a step further. "I can take care of myself."
"You may have the name of a Twoleg medicine cat, but I don't think you have any healing skills whatsoever."
"You've got no smarts whatsoever." The Doctor countered, baring his teeth even more. Jayfeather butted him to the ground, despite being half the Doctor's size. "Lay down already!"
"Better?" Dovewing entered the den later that day.
"Fine." The Doctor replied without opening his eyes. "Aside from Jayfeather being a gigantic brat." he snorted.
"I know, right." Dovewing almost broke out in laughter, but when she saw the Doctor's sour expression, she mewed in sympathy, "Something still bothering you?"
"Master. That tyrant who almost killed our whole Clan at one point. Don't ask, It was before you were born."
"How old are you?" The Doctor finally opened his eyes at that all-too-familiar question. "I told you already, older than that of all Clan cats combined."
"How old is that?"
"Five Hundred Ninety." the Doctor lay his head back in his paws. "The age of all the Clan cats only equals about one-sixty."
Dovewing stood there, stunned, before shaking her head briskly. "I bet you remember the Clans when they were young."
"I was there. Met Poe's cat, encountered Time Warriors, stuff like that."
Firestar poked his head into the den. "Sorry to interrupt, but the Master was spotted at the border again. We evaded before he spotted us."
The Doctor threw on his cape as he stood up. "Good. We need a little chat. And no one thinks about following me.
Then he stood at the border, pacing around and around as he grew impatient with the Master's return.
"Oh, I'd never thought you'd come." The Master was casually perched on a branch just above the Doctor's head. "Do you remember those days when we were youngsters?"
"You were still my friend then." The Doctor then remember what the Master had said earlier. "You told me forty-eight hours."
"You didn't see my warning, did you?" The Master waved his paw in the air and smiled. "That patrol didn't stand a chance."
"They almost died!" The Doctor spat, his ears flattened against his head.
The Master leaped down from the branch and scratched at the earth. "Should've known better than to come near the border." He sat down and looked at his claws. "Five against one. Doesn't that seem a bit.. Unfair?"
The Doctor didn't reply, looking at his paws. Unfair for them, maybe.
"But you know what? Maybe I'll spare your pitiful Thunder Kitties, and attack WindClan today at sundown. Your little Gorsetail would absolutely love that, wouldn't she?"
"Stop! Shut up!" The Doctor covered his ears. "I've seen that once before, and I don't want to see it again."
"What I may do after that will make the attack on WindClan seem like a simple thorn prick." The Master sheathed his claws, setting his paw on the ground. "I'm going to wipe out the Clans altogether."
He unsheathed his claws again and swiped them across the Doctor's face. The Doctor shut his eyes tight, but when he opened them again, the Master was gone.
Sunset came, and as the Doctor settled in his den, he shut his eyes tightly, as he recalled that this was the time the Master would attack WindClan. He buried his face in his paws. I can't stop him. I can't.
He looked up as Dovewing ran in. He knew what she was going to say. "WindClan is getting attacked." He said before she could speak.
"How do you know that?"
The Doctor looked away with a snarl."The Master. It's him. He's attacking WindClan."
"By himself?"
"He fought an entire pride of lions, for StarClan's sake! And won!" The Doctor gouged at the earth in anger. "Why has he even come here?"
"I don't know, Doctor, but what you described, I hope WindClan stays in safe paws."
"I hope so as well."
As he entered slumber, the Doctor entered the ThunderClan-WindClan border and stared at the camp.
A figure stumbled over the ridge, and he caught the faint scent of blood from inflicted wounds in the battle with WindClan. Was it a warrior?
But the cat didn't have the scent of any Clan he knew.
The figure grew closer, and it dawned on the Doctor who it was. The Master, and he was mortally injured.
Chapter Five: Aftermath
The Doctor snapped out of his sleep. "I guess I was wrong."
Dovewing, who'd been sleeping beside him, snapped awake as well. "What? Bad dream?"
The Doctor bolted into a standing position. "More than that. It's the Master."
"You going to find him?"
"I know where he is. On the border." He looked at the young she-cat in sympathy. "I'm sorry, but I've got to bring him here."
"WHAT?" Dovewing stood up as well, her voice almost a screech. The Doctor shushed her with narrowed eyes. "If there was an injured kit from ShadowClan, would you leave it there to die?"
"No, but the Master's a grown cat." Dovewing protested, then looked at her paws in frustration. "How's a ShadowClan kit have to do with this?"
"Because I need you to help me. You've got to get him to Jayfeather."
He caught the blood-scent on the wind that had been carried their way. "Follow me."
Dovewing looked away in the opposite direction of him, but when he gave her a shove, she followed along. "We may not have much time!" He snarled.
He looked at the ground as he spotted bloodstains along the ground. WindClan must've been stronger than he thought.
"Who won the battle?" Dovewing broke into the Doctor's thoughts. "Not sure..." He trailed off in thought. "Maybe WindClan. The bloodstains are heavier around here. "
"Someone's sure been searching for me." A voice gurgled. "WindClan... Was a bit strong."
"Where are you?" The Doctor called, looking around for a source of the voice.
"A rabbit burrow, over here bastard." The Master's weak voice spat. "You've always been narrow-minded."
"I saw you in my dream." The Doctor stared at a rabbit burrow, the source of the Master's voice."I'm surprised you survived this long."
"I'm...surprised... you had the...audacity... to find me." The Master snarled; the Doctor ran into a burrow and saw the Master lying only three feet from the entrance.
"You know I can't abandon an old friend." The Doctor tilted his head and smiled sadly. "No matter how much he betrayed me."
The Master looked away, and the Doctor thought he saw a flash of regret in his eyes. "Just...get me to... ThunderClan."
The Doctor helped the leopard-spotted cat up to his paws, but he collapsed several times before he could be successful.
Then he led his old friend toward ThunderClan.
Dovewing, who'd been sleeping beside him, snapped awake as well. "What? Bad dream?"
The Doctor bolted into a standing position. "More than that. It's the Master."
"You going to find him?"
"I know where he is. On the border." He looked at the young she-cat in sympathy. "I'm sorry, but I've got to bring him here."
"WHAT?" Dovewing stood up as well, her voice almost a screech. The Doctor shushed her with narrowed eyes. "If there was an injured kit from ShadowClan, would you leave it there to die?"
"No, but the Master's a grown cat." Dovewing protested, then looked at her paws in frustration. "How's a ShadowClan kit have to do with this?"
"Because I need you to help me. You've got to get him to Jayfeather."
He caught the blood-scent on the wind that had been carried their way. "Follow me."
Dovewing looked away in the opposite direction of him, but when he gave her a shove, she followed along. "We may not have much time!" He snarled.
He looked at the ground as he spotted bloodstains along the ground. WindClan must've been stronger than he thought.
"Who won the battle?" Dovewing broke into the Doctor's thoughts. "Not sure..." He trailed off in thought. "Maybe WindClan. The bloodstains are heavier around here. "
"Someone's sure been searching for me." A voice gurgled. "WindClan... Was a bit strong."
"Where are you?" The Doctor called, looking around for a source of the voice.
"A rabbit burrow, over here bastard." The Master's weak voice spat. "You've always been narrow-minded."
"I saw you in my dream." The Doctor stared at a rabbit burrow, the source of the Master's voice."I'm surprised you survived this long."
"I'm...surprised... you had the...audacity... to find me." The Master snarled; the Doctor ran into a burrow and saw the Master lying only three feet from the entrance.
"You know I can't abandon an old friend." The Doctor tilted his head and smiled sadly. "No matter how much he betrayed me."
The Master looked away, and the Doctor thought he saw a flash of regret in his eyes. "Just...get me to... ThunderClan."
The Doctor helped the leopard-spotted cat up to his paws, but he collapsed several times before he could be successful.
Then he led his old friend toward ThunderClan.
Chapter Six: A New Battle
Firestar snarled in his sleep as in his dream, he battled against his oldest enemy Tigerstar once again. The tabby swiped at his throat, but only tore away fur, and when he swiped back-
A yowl interrupted his dream. He growled in frustration, trudging out of his den.
The Doctor saw as Firestar emerged from his den, and noticed the leader's expression grow dark. "What is he doing here?" He shrieked.
"Get Jayfeather." Dovewing snarled back; Firestar's expression remained unchanged, although it was clear he was still angry at the Doctor for bringing a Clan enemy into camp.
The Master was barely conscious, his breathing quick and shallow, and the Doctor heard him muttering over and over under his breath.
"I told you to fetch Jayfeather!" Dovewing's voice grew more urging. "If it was an injured ShadowClan warrior on your territory, would you leave him to die?"
Firestar's eyes flashed with a film of remorse. Covering up something, the Doctor didn't know, but he ordered for Jayfeather.
The medicine cat poked his nose out of his den and sniffed the air. "You brought a traitor into our camp?"
Dovewing opened her mouth to speak the same argument the Doctor'd used earlier, but he sent her a look that meant, "Shut it."
And she shut her mouth abruptly.
"We have to get him fixed up quickly, Doctor." Jayfeather said once he'd reached the Doctor. "
"I...never wanted help...from traitors." The Master spat, his mind clearly muddled with pain.
"I never wanted to help one, but where would that've gotten me?" The Doctor murmured as he led the tabby into Jayfeather's den. He lay him down in a nest, and the Master growled under his breath as he hit the nest.
"I'm suggesting you should leave, Doctor. " Jayfeather picked up marigold, mixed with some other herbs and cobwebs, and went to fixing up the Master.
The Doctor left without any word of protest, but glanced back with a saddened look in his eyes, before heading over to his den to clean up.
He visited twice that day, well, at least tried, only to be turned away by Jayfeather saying that the Master was no better, yet no worse. Unchanged.
But something that Jayfeather muttered after that truly and deeply disturbed him. "You act like you're his brother or something. What's up with that?"
Brothers? Sure... Like that's even in the least bit true. The Doctor rolled his eyes in his thoughts of utter sarcasm. He settled down in his nest, but changed his mind and attempted to visit the Master for the third time that day.
The tabby was standing in his nest, with a determined gaze fixed on the Doctor. "Remember our days back on Gallifrey? We would run down those endless hills and through Silver Forest?"
"You're delusional, all near regeneration." Fur fluffed up during his weariness, the Doctor watched as the Master laughed evilly, blood running down his mouth and dripping to the ground. "Oh, I don't care. Once I'm changed, it'll give me more chances to kill you."
His entire body changed within that instant, leaving a younger cat standing in his place. "I still remember those days, brother."
A yowl interrupted his dream. He growled in frustration, trudging out of his den.
The Doctor saw as Firestar emerged from his den, and noticed the leader's expression grow dark. "What is he doing here?" He shrieked.
"Get Jayfeather." Dovewing snarled back; Firestar's expression remained unchanged, although it was clear he was still angry at the Doctor for bringing a Clan enemy into camp.
The Master was barely conscious, his breathing quick and shallow, and the Doctor heard him muttering over and over under his breath.
"I told you to fetch Jayfeather!" Dovewing's voice grew more urging. "If it was an injured ShadowClan warrior on your territory, would you leave him to die?"
Firestar's eyes flashed with a film of remorse. Covering up something, the Doctor didn't know, but he ordered for Jayfeather.
The medicine cat poked his nose out of his den and sniffed the air. "You brought a traitor into our camp?"
Dovewing opened her mouth to speak the same argument the Doctor'd used earlier, but he sent her a look that meant, "Shut it."
And she shut her mouth abruptly.
"We have to get him fixed up quickly, Doctor." Jayfeather said once he'd reached the Doctor. "
"I...never wanted help...from traitors." The Master spat, his mind clearly muddled with pain.
"I never wanted to help one, but where would that've gotten me?" The Doctor murmured as he led the tabby into Jayfeather's den. He lay him down in a nest, and the Master growled under his breath as he hit the nest.
"I'm suggesting you should leave, Doctor. " Jayfeather picked up marigold, mixed with some other herbs and cobwebs, and went to fixing up the Master.
The Doctor left without any word of protest, but glanced back with a saddened look in his eyes, before heading over to his den to clean up.
He visited twice that day, well, at least tried, only to be turned away by Jayfeather saying that the Master was no better, yet no worse. Unchanged.
But something that Jayfeather muttered after that truly and deeply disturbed him. "You act like you're his brother or something. What's up with that?"
Brothers? Sure... Like that's even in the least bit true. The Doctor rolled his eyes in his thoughts of utter sarcasm. He settled down in his nest, but changed his mind and attempted to visit the Master for the third time that day.
The tabby was standing in his nest, with a determined gaze fixed on the Doctor. "Remember our days back on Gallifrey? We would run down those endless hills and through Silver Forest?"
"You're delusional, all near regeneration." Fur fluffed up during his weariness, the Doctor watched as the Master laughed evilly, blood running down his mouth and dripping to the ground. "Oh, I don't care. Once I'm changed, it'll give me more chances to kill you."
His entire body changed within that instant, leaving a younger cat standing in his place. "I still remember those days, brother."
Chapter Seven: All He Did Was Allow Her To Die!
The newly regenerated Master leaped for the Doctor, and claws became embedded in his neck. "I have enough strength to kill you right here and now, well, but I won't. "
He scratched the Doctor across his left eye and knocked his head against the ground, hard, and the last thing the Doctor saw before the world going dark, was the Master evading camp.
It was moonhigh when the Doctor awoke in Jayfeather's den. It was half-dark, and he gazed about the den for the blind medicine cat.
Once he saw him, Jayfeather had his eyes narrowed in disappointment. "He left again. He was too injured even to move. How's that possible? Did he change his face like you did?"
The Doctor nodded silently. "How long have I been out?"
"Day at least. You were half-conscious most of the time, and I'm truly sorry I couldn't save your vision on your left side."
The Doctor blinked open his left eye. Nothing but darkness. He clawed at the ground and narrowed his eyes.
He caused me this. The Master caused all this pain to me!
His thoughts then filled with Purple Rose's death. He unsheathed his normal claws and dug them into the ground. "All he did was allow her to die!" He screeched; Jayfeather looked at him weirdly and instantly wished he hadn't said that aloud.
"Something wrong, Doctor?"
The Doctor sheathed his normal claws and looked away. "It's nothing, Jayfeather."
"I hope so." Jayfeather flicked his tail and disappeared out of the den.
The Doctor buried his head in his paws and started crying.
He scratched the Doctor across his left eye and knocked his head against the ground, hard, and the last thing the Doctor saw before the world going dark, was the Master evading camp.
It was moonhigh when the Doctor awoke in Jayfeather's den. It was half-dark, and he gazed about the den for the blind medicine cat.
Once he saw him, Jayfeather had his eyes narrowed in disappointment. "He left again. He was too injured even to move. How's that possible? Did he change his face like you did?"
The Doctor nodded silently. "How long have I been out?"
"Day at least. You were half-conscious most of the time, and I'm truly sorry I couldn't save your vision on your left side."
The Doctor blinked open his left eye. Nothing but darkness. He clawed at the ground and narrowed his eyes.
He caused me this. The Master caused all this pain to me!
His thoughts then filled with Purple Rose's death. He unsheathed his normal claws and dug them into the ground. "All he did was allow her to die!" He screeched; Jayfeather looked at him weirdly and instantly wished he hadn't said that aloud.
"Something wrong, Doctor?"
The Doctor sheathed his normal claws and looked away. "It's nothing, Jayfeather."
"I hope so." Jayfeather flicked his tail and disappeared out of the den.
The Doctor buried his head in his paws and started crying.
Chapter Eight: Threats
With his available eye, the Doctor scanned the landscape. That eye was fixed on the distant WindClan camp, that one distant camp that the Master had attacked three days ago and lost.
He wasn't sure what that cat was planning, but he knew it was going to be worse that what he'd tried, and he'd remembered those words from so long ago. "I'll be back, and when I get back, trust me, it'll be worse than you've ever seen!
He shook his head and cleared that thought.
"Doctor?" A voice suddenly sounded, and the Doctor yelped. "Will you stop coming up on my blind side?" He meowed, and turned to face Dovewing, before speaking again. "You've got to remember."
"Sorry." Dovewing, looking suddenly offended, let her head to drop to her paws. "Well, why you up here; Firestar needs you back in camp."
"Oh, does he? I thought he hated me for bringing the Master back into the camp." Especially since he escaped before my eyes. He didn't bother to say that, afraid to hurt Dovewing even more.
"You okay?" Dovewing asked, thoughtfully placing a paw on his shoulder, her blue eyes were pools of sympathy. The Doctor stood there, expressionless, before replying, "I don't know, honestly, Dovewing." He felt like he was the younger one instead of her. "It's just the Master, and all this...this...this nonsense." He spat angrily, more at himself than that to anyone else. "What's Firestar need me for?"
Dovewing shrugged, puzzled. "He just said he needed you, and that 'it's a serious manner'." She said the last words in mockery of the ThunderClan leader.
"Serious manner?" The Doctor echoed, puffing out his fur in a confused manner, also mocking Firestar as well. "Well, let's go."
"Stop getting on my blind side." The Doctor grew frustrated as Firestar paced along his left side, speaking about Clan matters.
Firestar stopped mid-pace, looking at him puzzled for several seconds, and he seemed to realize. "Oh, sorry. Many things get on my mind right now. But I'm telling you, I had a vision of my future. Does Tigerstar kill me?"
"That is a matter to be discussed with Jayfeather." The Doctor didn't want to alter the future any more than it had been, no matter how much he wanted to tell him yes. "I'm a time traveler, not a psychic."
"You're a Time Warrior." Firestar pointed out; in the Doctor's mind, one question asked was, Does anyone know any explanations about kit-cats today? StarClan kill me now. "Jayfeather. NOW." he said.
Firestar sighed like a kit being disciplined by its mother. "Fine. Whatever." he flicked his tail and left the den with a loud snort.
The Doctor watched before following.
The Master whispered quietly to himself in that dark tunnel, pacing relentlessly again. All his thoughts, all his plans were gone, swept away with regeneration like mist in the wind. He'd needed a new plan to wipe out the Clans.
Wipe out the Clans? Of course! That was his plan; he'd wipe out the Clans and act as if nothing happened whatsoever.
He smiled evilly. He just needed to figure out how he would do it.
I'm one step closer, brother.
He wasn't sure what that cat was planning, but he knew it was going to be worse that what he'd tried, and he'd remembered those words from so long ago. "I'll be back, and when I get back, trust me, it'll be worse than you've ever seen!
He shook his head and cleared that thought.
"Doctor?" A voice suddenly sounded, and the Doctor yelped. "Will you stop coming up on my blind side?" He meowed, and turned to face Dovewing, before speaking again. "You've got to remember."
"Sorry." Dovewing, looking suddenly offended, let her head to drop to her paws. "Well, why you up here; Firestar needs you back in camp."
"Oh, does he? I thought he hated me for bringing the Master back into the camp." Especially since he escaped before my eyes. He didn't bother to say that, afraid to hurt Dovewing even more.
"You okay?" Dovewing asked, thoughtfully placing a paw on his shoulder, her blue eyes were pools of sympathy. The Doctor stood there, expressionless, before replying, "I don't know, honestly, Dovewing." He felt like he was the younger one instead of her. "It's just the Master, and all this...this...this nonsense." He spat angrily, more at himself than that to anyone else. "What's Firestar need me for?"
Dovewing shrugged, puzzled. "He just said he needed you, and that 'it's a serious manner'." She said the last words in mockery of the ThunderClan leader.
"Serious manner?" The Doctor echoed, puffing out his fur in a confused manner, also mocking Firestar as well. "Well, let's go."
"Stop getting on my blind side." The Doctor grew frustrated as Firestar paced along his left side, speaking about Clan matters.
Firestar stopped mid-pace, looking at him puzzled for several seconds, and he seemed to realize. "Oh, sorry. Many things get on my mind right now. But I'm telling you, I had a vision of my future. Does Tigerstar kill me?"
"That is a matter to be discussed with Jayfeather." The Doctor didn't want to alter the future any more than it had been, no matter how much he wanted to tell him yes. "I'm a time traveler, not a psychic."
"You're a Time Warrior." Firestar pointed out; in the Doctor's mind, one question asked was, Does anyone know any explanations about kit-cats today? StarClan kill me now. "Jayfeather. NOW." he said.
Firestar sighed like a kit being disciplined by its mother. "Fine. Whatever." he flicked his tail and left the den with a loud snort.
The Doctor watched before following.
The Master whispered quietly to himself in that dark tunnel, pacing relentlessly again. All his thoughts, all his plans were gone, swept away with regeneration like mist in the wind. He'd needed a new plan to wipe out the Clans.
Wipe out the Clans? Of course! That was his plan; he'd wipe out the Clans and act as if nothing happened whatsoever.
He smiled evilly. He just needed to figure out how he would do it.
I'm one step closer, brother.
Chapter Nine: Warrior
"I can't tell you that." Jayfeather said for the last time. Firestar stood up and trudged from the den. The Doctor nodded a farewell, buy Jayfeather stopped him before he could go any further. "I'm not letting you leave yet. I need to see if your eye's infected or not."
"For the last time, it won't restore my sight." The Doctor knew Jayfeather was stalling for something other that what he'd said. "What do you really need me for?"
"You've seen how Firestar dies, haven't you?"
The Doctor nodded, passive. "I can't tell you how. I can't alter the future."
Jayfeather sighed and scratched the den floor. "I just wish..." He let out another loud sigh and stared straight at the Doctor. "I just don't want him dead before he's supposed to."
"I'm still not telling you." The Doctor stood up and left the den without another word.
Night fell over the ThunderClan gorge, bringing a small rainstorm. The Doctor watched outside his den for any sign of his brother. The tortoiseshell pelt wouldn't even be hard to miss.
Finally, he went back into his den, so he wouldn't risk catching a cold, and shook out his fur.
Laying down in his nest and shutting both eyes, he let out a loud breath through his nose.
"Could I talk to you for a moment?" A very wet Mousewhisker entered the den.
Why? You betrayed your Clan. But yet he said, "Fine. What is it?"
"You know that patrol that was attacked about a quarter moon ago?"
"Well?" The Doctor refused to open his eyes to stare at that much-hated face.
"Sundew has died, Doctor. The Master is now guilty of murder, and is not allowed in camp ever again?"
"What?" The Doctor's head whipped up and he snapped open his eyes. He was more in shock from Sundew's death than that of the Master's guilt. "My. Own. Daughter?"
Tigerstrike, and now Sundew. The Doctor put a paw over his muzzle. "I'm done with my brother's threats. I'm going to haul him into camp, and I will kill him before all of you. " He narrowed his eyes. "It's time to prove what a warrior really is."
"For the last time, it won't restore my sight." The Doctor knew Jayfeather was stalling for something other that what he'd said. "What do you really need me for?"
"You've seen how Firestar dies, haven't you?"
The Doctor nodded, passive. "I can't tell you how. I can't alter the future."
Jayfeather sighed and scratched the den floor. "I just wish..." He let out another loud sigh and stared straight at the Doctor. "I just don't want him dead before he's supposed to."
"I'm still not telling you." The Doctor stood up and left the den without another word.
Night fell over the ThunderClan gorge, bringing a small rainstorm. The Doctor watched outside his den for any sign of his brother. The tortoiseshell pelt wouldn't even be hard to miss.
Finally, he went back into his den, so he wouldn't risk catching a cold, and shook out his fur.
Laying down in his nest and shutting both eyes, he let out a loud breath through his nose.
"Could I talk to you for a moment?" A very wet Mousewhisker entered the den.
Why? You betrayed your Clan. But yet he said, "Fine. What is it?"
"You know that patrol that was attacked about a quarter moon ago?"
"Well?" The Doctor refused to open his eyes to stare at that much-hated face.
"Sundew has died, Doctor. The Master is now guilty of murder, and is not allowed in camp ever again?"
"What?" The Doctor's head whipped up and he snapped open his eyes. He was more in shock from Sundew's death than that of the Master's guilt. "My. Own. Daughter?"
Tigerstrike, and now Sundew. The Doctor put a paw over his muzzle. "I'm done with my brother's threats. I'm going to haul him into camp, and I will kill him before all of you. " He narrowed his eyes. "It's time to prove what a warrior really is."
Chapter Ten: Nothing That Doesn't Count
Before he left camp, the Doctor sharpened his claws on the rock wall inside of his den, then, he stood on the ThunderClan-ShadowClan border and screeched, "Where are you?"
"Still wanting to kill me?" The cloaked figure of the Master dropped down in front of the Doctor, smiling evilly. "Well, at least I heard. Glorious news, don't you think?"
"Murdering my daughter isn't 'glorious news'. It's disgusting, and should be punished." He screeched, bowling into the Master and knocking him to the ground. "You want me to kill you, 'cause I've done it before and will do it again."
"Oh, Sundew was your daughter?" The Master was being mock sympathetic to the Doctor now. "Oh, I'm so sorry." He pushed the Doctor off and started circling him, his black cape fluttering in the wind. "I'd no idea. Oh, remember Purple Rose? Do you know what she did to me?"
"I've no idea." The Doctor narrowed his eyes, turning constantly to keep the Master in sight.
"She betrayed me for you, Doctor. You were nothing but a narrow-minded traitor. Tell me what she did to me now, Doctor."
"I can't do that."
"What did she do to me, Doctor?"
"She betrayed you."
"Betrayed who?" The Master pounced on the Doctor, digging his teeth into his scruff, thus pulling him to the ground. "Purple Rose left who, Doctor? Who did she leave?"
The Doctor's mew was muffled from the weight of the Master's paw on his muzzle. "Thif if ethremwy repethithive." He mumbled. "Thecond thime in a monf."
"Did you learn another language, Doctor? I can't really understand you. " The Master slapped the Doctor across his face, jerking his face out of the earth. "I bet ya wanna thank me for that little gift I gave you." He sneered, holding his claws closer to the Doctor's left eye.
"Oh, that's a great idea." The Doctor kicked out his hind legs, sending the Master flying and landing on the ground with a loud THUD. "You're welcome." He dusted himself off and coughed. "I'm very much pleased."
"I'm not done yet. It's nothing that doesn't count, does it, Doctor?"
The Master lunged for the Doctor, but the Doctor dodged, hooking his claws around the Master's cloak collar, and hurling him into a tree. "I don't find it that impossible to fight you. Well, nothing is impossible!"
"You're impossible to fight." The Master said, rolling his eyes in sarcasm. "But, as you just said, nothing's impossible, so well, it's possible to defeat you."
He stood up, only to collapse a moment later.
The Doctor shook his head. "I know you expect me to attack you, but leave. Before I do."
"One week." The Master choked out. "We fight. WindClan border. All or nothing, brother."
"Leave now."
Nothing that doesn't count. The Doctor thought as he disappeared over a rise. Well, everything counts if it's all or nothing.
"Still wanting to kill me?" The cloaked figure of the Master dropped down in front of the Doctor, smiling evilly. "Well, at least I heard. Glorious news, don't you think?"
"Murdering my daughter isn't 'glorious news'. It's disgusting, and should be punished." He screeched, bowling into the Master and knocking him to the ground. "You want me to kill you, 'cause I've done it before and will do it again."
"Oh, Sundew was your daughter?" The Master was being mock sympathetic to the Doctor now. "Oh, I'm so sorry." He pushed the Doctor off and started circling him, his black cape fluttering in the wind. "I'd no idea. Oh, remember Purple Rose? Do you know what she did to me?"
"I've no idea." The Doctor narrowed his eyes, turning constantly to keep the Master in sight.
"She betrayed me for you, Doctor. You were nothing but a narrow-minded traitor. Tell me what she did to me now, Doctor."
"I can't do that."
"What did she do to me, Doctor?"
"She betrayed you."
"Betrayed who?" The Master pounced on the Doctor, digging his teeth into his scruff, thus pulling him to the ground. "Purple Rose left who, Doctor? Who did she leave?"
The Doctor's mew was muffled from the weight of the Master's paw on his muzzle. "Thif if ethremwy repethithive." He mumbled. "Thecond thime in a monf."
"Did you learn another language, Doctor? I can't really understand you. " The Master slapped the Doctor across his face, jerking his face out of the earth. "I bet ya wanna thank me for that little gift I gave you." He sneered, holding his claws closer to the Doctor's left eye.
"Oh, that's a great idea." The Doctor kicked out his hind legs, sending the Master flying and landing on the ground with a loud THUD. "You're welcome." He dusted himself off and coughed. "I'm very much pleased."
"I'm not done yet. It's nothing that doesn't count, does it, Doctor?"
The Master lunged for the Doctor, but the Doctor dodged, hooking his claws around the Master's cloak collar, and hurling him into a tree. "I don't find it that impossible to fight you. Well, nothing is impossible!"
"You're impossible to fight." The Master said, rolling his eyes in sarcasm. "But, as you just said, nothing's impossible, so well, it's possible to defeat you."
He stood up, only to collapse a moment later.
The Doctor shook his head. "I know you expect me to attack you, but leave. Before I do."
"One week." The Master choked out. "We fight. WindClan border. All or nothing, brother."
"Leave now."
Nothing that doesn't count. The Doctor thought as he disappeared over a rise. Well, everything counts if it's all or nothing.
Chapter Eleven: Need You Now
The Previous Master's POV
His claws dug into the ground as he watched what he'd done over past lives. What have I done? I killed his daughter, my own brother's daughter.
Another part of his mind argued the opposite. She deserved to die, you bastard. She was just a pitiful little step closer to conquering ThunderClan.
He shook his head, indecisive. What is happening to me? Mercy? Is this what the Doctor feels like?
He doesn't show mercy all the time.
But one particular memory almost made him collapse in shock.
"Take one more step, and I rip her throat out." He threatened and saw the black she-cat glance helplessly at her mate, the Master's brother. The Doctor.
He was in for a surprise; Purple Rose whirled around, pinning him to the ground and pinning his forelegs uselessly beside him. He struggled, and Purple Rose demanded, "What was it that you wanted to tell me?"
The Master freed a forepaw and unsheathed his claws. "This." With a quick swipe, he tore out her throat, then ran.
"Wh-Why me? Why is it always me? Why'd I caused this much pain? Is it what I deserved?" The Master sobbed, hot, wet tears streaming down his face. "Did I deserve to cause this?"
"You never did." A white she-cat entered his vision. "I'm Star, and I judge whether cats get what they deserve to enter StarClan. I heard your prayer, Time Lord."
"I've done too much; I'm not a Time Lord."
"Of course. You've got two hearts: One for mercy, the other for evil. Which one will you choose?"
"Mercy." The Master whispered. "That's all I need right now."
His claws dug into the ground as he watched what he'd done over past lives. What have I done? I killed his daughter, my own brother's daughter.
Another part of his mind argued the opposite. She deserved to die, you bastard. She was just a pitiful little step closer to conquering ThunderClan.
He shook his head, indecisive. What is happening to me? Mercy? Is this what the Doctor feels like?
He doesn't show mercy all the time.
But one particular memory almost made him collapse in shock.
"Take one more step, and I rip her throat out." He threatened and saw the black she-cat glance helplessly at her mate, the Master's brother. The Doctor.
He was in for a surprise; Purple Rose whirled around, pinning him to the ground and pinning his forelegs uselessly beside him. He struggled, and Purple Rose demanded, "What was it that you wanted to tell me?"
The Master freed a forepaw and unsheathed his claws. "This." With a quick swipe, he tore out her throat, then ran.
"Wh-Why me? Why is it always me? Why'd I caused this much pain? Is it what I deserved?" The Master sobbed, hot, wet tears streaming down his face. "Did I deserve to cause this?"
"You never did." A white she-cat entered his vision. "I'm Star, and I judge whether cats get what they deserve to enter StarClan. I heard your prayer, Time Lord."
"I've done too much; I'm not a Time Lord."
"Of course. You've got two hearts: One for mercy, the other for evil. Which one will you choose?"
"Mercy." The Master whispered. "That's all I need right now."
Chapter Twelve: The Beating of Both My Hearts
The Doctor clutched at the ground helplessly as he watched Firestar leave the den. Sundew never deserved to die. This was never supposed to be possible.
But then his previous words rang in his head. Nothing is impossible.
"It's impossible that that bastard ever entered StarClan in any of his lives." He placed a paw on his muzzle. "My father caused all this. He was nothing but a sick whore. If he'd never fallen in love with-"
He cut his own words off. "Why do I speak like this?" He sobbed; his body shook, wracked with tears that came down his face and landed onto the ground.
"Do I trust the beating of both my hearts? Do they tell me to not trust anyone?"
"Doctor?"
The Doctor looked up at Dovewing; it was too late to wipe his tears from his face, but he sniffed. "What is it?"
"Have you been crying?"
"Doesn't matter. What is it?" He wiped his face and sniffed again. When Dovewing didn't reply for several heartbeats, he snapped, "Well?"
"I heard you. You were crying. "
"Leave please."
Dovewing refused and walked up to him. "There's something going on to every single one of us. Light and Dark are fighting constantly." She paused to let that statement to sink in.
I am the Light.
The Master is Dark.
We have to trust our hearts to get us through anything now.
The Master is Dark....
The Master's cape fluttered in the wind as he crossed the ridge leading into RiverClan. He leaped over a river and sat on a steppingstone in the middle of the creek.
His plan needed to work; he needed to destroy the Clans once and for all if he were to be satisfied. He stared up at a dark void among the stars and told himself that was where he belonged.
In that void. Among the darkness of anything and everything. Everyone. Everything and everyone as well.
That void was as dark as his hearts.
I am the Light...
As soon as the branch came down, the Doctor lifted his head with a look of defiance in his eyes. He needed to train if he were to fight until the ultimate end.
It was his own brother, well, half-brother, he had to fight.
He swiped another branch to the ground, then looked at the stars. That was where his previous lives laid. Where Tigerstrike and Sundew lay. Where Purple Rose laid.
He had to show mercy, after all, his hearts held the Light that would save them all.
We Have To Trust Our Own Hearts To Get Through Anything Now...
They both were now training for the fight. The fight of Dark and Light.
Nothing could prepare anyone for that upcoming battle, that one that would possibly become the doom of both cats.
Prepare....
Something did lurk within both of them. Something more than their brotherhood and race. It was something possibly very dangerous, immortal as well.
Something that'd lurked there
Since the dawn of time.
But then his previous words rang in his head. Nothing is impossible.
"It's impossible that that bastard ever entered StarClan in any of his lives." He placed a paw on his muzzle. "My father caused all this. He was nothing but a sick whore. If he'd never fallen in love with-"
He cut his own words off. "Why do I speak like this?" He sobbed; his body shook, wracked with tears that came down his face and landed onto the ground.
"Do I trust the beating of both my hearts? Do they tell me to not trust anyone?"
"Doctor?"
The Doctor looked up at Dovewing; it was too late to wipe his tears from his face, but he sniffed. "What is it?"
"Have you been crying?"
"Doesn't matter. What is it?" He wiped his face and sniffed again. When Dovewing didn't reply for several heartbeats, he snapped, "Well?"
"I heard you. You were crying. "
"Leave please."
Dovewing refused and walked up to him. "There's something going on to every single one of us. Light and Dark are fighting constantly." She paused to let that statement to sink in.
I am the Light.
The Master is Dark.
We have to trust our hearts to get us through anything now.
The Master is Dark....
The Master's cape fluttered in the wind as he crossed the ridge leading into RiverClan. He leaped over a river and sat on a steppingstone in the middle of the creek.
His plan needed to work; he needed to destroy the Clans once and for all if he were to be satisfied. He stared up at a dark void among the stars and told himself that was where he belonged.
In that void. Among the darkness of anything and everything. Everyone. Everything and everyone as well.
That void was as dark as his hearts.
I am the Light...
As soon as the branch came down, the Doctor lifted his head with a look of defiance in his eyes. He needed to train if he were to fight until the ultimate end.
It was his own brother, well, half-brother, he had to fight.
He swiped another branch to the ground, then looked at the stars. That was where his previous lives laid. Where Tigerstrike and Sundew lay. Where Purple Rose laid.
He had to show mercy, after all, his hearts held the Light that would save them all.
We Have To Trust Our Own Hearts To Get Through Anything Now...
They both were now training for the fight. The fight of Dark and Light.
Nothing could prepare anyone for that upcoming battle, that one that would possibly become the doom of both cats.
Prepare....
Something did lurk within both of them. Something more than their brotherhood and race. It was something possibly very dangerous, immortal as well.
Something that'd lurked there
Since the dawn of time.
Chapter Twelve: Our Fight
Finally, that day came.
The fight that the two half-siblings had been preparing for. The Master had trained, and so had the Doctor, although this fight was slightly against his own will. He'd looked at his claws once or twice before he'd left, wondering to himself, Do I really deserve this? Is this me?
He sharpened his claws on the den floor as he left, looking sadly at Dovewing. "I hope I make it back, Dovewing."
She didn't reply, a single tear streaming down her face. The Doctor faced ahead and left camp.
Meanwhile, the Master was waiting at the edge of the WindClan moor, gazing at his claws as he waited for the Doctor to arrive. Sol, Darktail, All those names I've used. I should've used those chances to take over the Clans.
He shook his head. All that matters is killing the Doctor, then I'll achieve what I deserved.
"I came." The Doctor snarled darkly. "I'm prepared." He showed him his claws, which glinted silver in the light of the full moon. "Gathering night; will StarClan be pleased?"
"They'll be so pleased, Doctor." The Master whispered, he unsheathed his own claws and scratched the ground. "Say, who's been following you this whole time?"
The Doctor briefly whipped his head around and spotted Dovewing. "What are you doing here? I told you not to follow me!"
Dovewing's eyes widened quickly with fright. "Watch out!"
The Master dove for the Doctor, but he quickly dodged out of the way.
"Your precious ThunderClan taught you well. Tell me, Doctor, what life is this, hmm?"
The Doctor had the audacity to say, "Third."
The Master smiled evilly. "All it takes to kill you, then." He sprung for the Doctor and slammed him to the ground. "Get back to ThunderClan,kittypet!" He spat; Dovewing froze for several moments, before finally disappearing over the moor.
"How do you think WindClan will like it when they find the blood of a traitor on their territory?" The Doctor dug his claws into the Master's shoulder and pushed the tortoiseshell onto his back.
"It's your blood they'll find here, brother!" The Master swiped vainly at the Doctor's face; he missed, giving the Doctor a chance to pick him up by his scruff and hurl him several feet.
"What's all this useless fighting about?" It was neither of them who spoke; both of them turned to face a starry black-furred figure.
The fight that the two half-siblings had been preparing for. The Master had trained, and so had the Doctor, although this fight was slightly against his own will. He'd looked at his claws once or twice before he'd left, wondering to himself, Do I really deserve this? Is this me?
He sharpened his claws on the den floor as he left, looking sadly at Dovewing. "I hope I make it back, Dovewing."
She didn't reply, a single tear streaming down her face. The Doctor faced ahead and left camp.
Meanwhile, the Master was waiting at the edge of the WindClan moor, gazing at his claws as he waited for the Doctor to arrive. Sol, Darktail, All those names I've used. I should've used those chances to take over the Clans.
He shook his head. All that matters is killing the Doctor, then I'll achieve what I deserved.
"I came." The Doctor snarled darkly. "I'm prepared." He showed him his claws, which glinted silver in the light of the full moon. "Gathering night; will StarClan be pleased?"
"They'll be so pleased, Doctor." The Master whispered, he unsheathed his own claws and scratched the ground. "Say, who's been following you this whole time?"
The Doctor briefly whipped his head around and spotted Dovewing. "What are you doing here? I told you not to follow me!"
Dovewing's eyes widened quickly with fright. "Watch out!"
The Master dove for the Doctor, but he quickly dodged out of the way.
"Your precious ThunderClan taught you well. Tell me, Doctor, what life is this, hmm?"
The Doctor had the audacity to say, "Third."
The Master smiled evilly. "All it takes to kill you, then." He sprung for the Doctor and slammed him to the ground. "Get back to ThunderClan,kittypet!" He spat; Dovewing froze for several moments, before finally disappearing over the moor.
"How do you think WindClan will like it when they find the blood of a traitor on their territory?" The Doctor dug his claws into the Master's shoulder and pushed the tortoiseshell onto his back.
"It's your blood they'll find here, brother!" The Master swiped vainly at the Doctor's face; he missed, giving the Doctor a chance to pick him up by his scruff and hurl him several feet.
"What's all this useless fighting about?" It was neither of them who spoke; both of them turned to face a starry black-furred figure.
Chapter Thirteen: Mist In The Wind
"Purple Rose?" The Doctor gasped, his legs wanting to give out in shock. His mate from back on Gallifrey, standing right there, before him?
Her violet eyes were narrowed. "Pointless, pointless fighting. And all for what? Achievement? Revenge? You're lucky one of your regenerations made it to StarClan, Master if that."
The Master froze. "What?" Even the Doctor couldn't believe his own eyes; the Master showing an emotion other than that of hatred. "Tell me this is not real. Is your bastard mate speaking the truth? "
Purple Rose raised her head but vanished before she could answer more.
The Master narrowed his eyes and puffed out his fur as if cold. "Your mate was pointless. Everyone related to you was a complete idiot. Our own father, he-"
The Doctor launched himself at his half-brother and dug his claws into his shoulders. "DON'T EVEN SPEAK OF HIM."
"He loved my mother more than yours. You were just a pitiful pile of garbage for him to discard like that." He freed a forepaw and swiped, claws connecting with the Doctor's left cheek.
"I WAS NEVER GARBAGE!" The Doctor spat back, kicking out his hind legs and sending the Master flying against the ground.
"HE DID CARE WHEN SWIRLING RIVER," The Doctor realized his temper flare and calmed himself. "Died."
"But your mother's life was mist on the wind to him." the Master hissed, slowly standing up and checking himself for wounds. "He left her for my mother after."
Straightening their cloaks, both cats started circling each other with eyes narrowed in hatred and malice.
No words passed between the cats before the Master leaped for the Doctor and hurled him onto his side. "Sadness makes you pitiful, don't you know that?"
"No, it doesn't." The Doctor leaped himself upright, leaped onto the Master's back, and slammed his face into the ground with his hind paws. "I showed sympathy for you, and you returned it by blinding me."
"My last regeneration never harmed you seriously. He showed sympathy for you." The Master's head whipped out of the ground. "And look, you tore my left ear completely off." He pawed at the place where his ear was supposed to be. Nothing remained of it, but blood was trickling down his face.
"You'll be deaf by the time I'm done with you." The Doctor snapped furiously, he unsheathed his normal claws, making up for one of the reinforced claws he'd lost in that process.
Just then, a huge weight bowled into him, knocking over and winding him. "These fights are pointless."
It was Firestar. Dovewing must've gone to fetch him, and he'd hurried to see what was going on.
The tabby snarled in his face. "What in the name of StarClan's kits is going on?"
"Why don't you ask me, old cat?" The Master was gazing at Firestar as if he were a piece of prey. "It's been years."
Firestar backed off of the Doctor, letting him stand. "You changed your face. It was after the Doctor brought you in, wasn't it?"
"Shut up." The Master knocked Firestar away, spitting in anger. A flash of regret came to his face, but it was so quick, the Doctor'd hardly noticed.
"You're regretful." Firestar stood up as quickly as he'd fallen down. "I saw that brief look."
"I TOLD YOU TO SHUT THE CURSÉD FREAK UP!" The Master was panting heavily. "You were nothing but a cold-hearted bastard. Where's your stupid Sandstorm to save you,kittypet?"
Firestar looked hurt. "I'm a great leader, blessed by StarClan, AND YOU INSULT MY HERITAGE?"
The Doctor held Firestar back, to prevent him from blowing up (metaphorically, thank StarClan.), and snarled, "Why?"
"What? Has the cat gotten your tongue again?" The Master held a paw to his missing ear, and it came away scarlet. "I may go..." His words trailed off and he collapsed to the ground.
Her violet eyes were narrowed. "Pointless, pointless fighting. And all for what? Achievement? Revenge? You're lucky one of your regenerations made it to StarClan, Master if that."
The Master froze. "What?" Even the Doctor couldn't believe his own eyes; the Master showing an emotion other than that of hatred. "Tell me this is not real. Is your bastard mate speaking the truth? "
Purple Rose raised her head but vanished before she could answer more.
The Master narrowed his eyes and puffed out his fur as if cold. "Your mate was pointless. Everyone related to you was a complete idiot. Our own father, he-"
The Doctor launched himself at his half-brother and dug his claws into his shoulders. "DON'T EVEN SPEAK OF HIM."
"He loved my mother more than yours. You were just a pitiful pile of garbage for him to discard like that." He freed a forepaw and swiped, claws connecting with the Doctor's left cheek.
"I WAS NEVER GARBAGE!" The Doctor spat back, kicking out his hind legs and sending the Master flying against the ground.
"HE DID CARE WHEN SWIRLING RIVER," The Doctor realized his temper flare and calmed himself. "Died."
"But your mother's life was mist on the wind to him." the Master hissed, slowly standing up and checking himself for wounds. "He left her for my mother after."
Straightening their cloaks, both cats started circling each other with eyes narrowed in hatred and malice.
No words passed between the cats before the Master leaped for the Doctor and hurled him onto his side. "Sadness makes you pitiful, don't you know that?"
"No, it doesn't." The Doctor leaped himself upright, leaped onto the Master's back, and slammed his face into the ground with his hind paws. "I showed sympathy for you, and you returned it by blinding me."
"My last regeneration never harmed you seriously. He showed sympathy for you." The Master's head whipped out of the ground. "And look, you tore my left ear completely off." He pawed at the place where his ear was supposed to be. Nothing remained of it, but blood was trickling down his face.
"You'll be deaf by the time I'm done with you." The Doctor snapped furiously, he unsheathed his normal claws, making up for one of the reinforced claws he'd lost in that process.
Just then, a huge weight bowled into him, knocking over and winding him. "These fights are pointless."
It was Firestar. Dovewing must've gone to fetch him, and he'd hurried to see what was going on.
The tabby snarled in his face. "What in the name of StarClan's kits is going on?"
"Why don't you ask me, old cat?" The Master was gazing at Firestar as if he were a piece of prey. "It's been years."
Firestar backed off of the Doctor, letting him stand. "You changed your face. It was after the Doctor brought you in, wasn't it?"
"Shut up." The Master knocked Firestar away, spitting in anger. A flash of regret came to his face, but it was so quick, the Doctor'd hardly noticed.
"You're regretful." Firestar stood up as quickly as he'd fallen down. "I saw that brief look."
"I TOLD YOU TO SHUT THE CURSÉD FREAK UP!" The Master was panting heavily. "You were nothing but a cold-hearted bastard. Where's your stupid Sandstorm to save you,kittypet?"
Firestar looked hurt. "I'm a great leader, blessed by StarClan, AND YOU INSULT MY HERITAGE?"
The Doctor held Firestar back, to prevent him from blowing up (metaphorically, thank StarClan.), and snarled, "Why?"
"What? Has the cat gotten your tongue again?" The Master held a paw to his missing ear, and it came away scarlet. "I may go..." His words trailed off and he collapsed to the ground.
Chapter Fourteen: Survival
The Doctor looked at his own paws, which were covered in scarlet as well, but it wasn't the Master's. It was his own. He'd been wounded.
He placed his paw to his throat, and it came away completely covered in scarlet blood. He glanced at Firestar, who stood frozen.
Did the Master sacrifice himself for me? Or was this another cruel joke?
He stated at Firestar for what felt like an eternity, before his eyes rolled back into his head and he collapsed to the ground as well.
He placed his paw to his throat, and it came away completely covered in scarlet blood. He glanced at Firestar, who stood frozen.
Did the Master sacrifice himself for me? Or was this another cruel joke?
He stated at Firestar for what felt like an eternity, before his eyes rolled back into his head and he collapsed to the ground as well.
Chapter Fifteen: One Last Chance
He'd grown weaker until he felt his legs were nonexistent.
They'd left the Master right there - WindClan would resolve that later - and had hurried away, even though the Doctor could barely walk himself.
"Stop." He begged, his voice hardly more than a whisper. "I can't." His claws scrabbled at the ground helplessly. "I don't want to go... Any... Farther."
"We're almost there, Doctor. I promise you you'll rest soon enough."
"Please. Stop here... Fetch Dovewing. And Jayfeather."
"I can't stop and leave you alone, not with you-" he cut himself off before he could finish, and yet, the Doctor knew what he'd said. "You could always..make me give..in. Old friend."
"Come on, now. Just a few more pawsteps."
Dovewing was sitting beside his nest, sighing repeatedly as if already in mourning. She looked up and noticed him and Firestar, and her eyes grew wide in shock when she saw the Doctor. "What happened?"
"You know what happened." The Doctor snarled back, and tried to step forward, but collapsed on the ground right there. "The Master, the attack, a-and this."
"I can fetch Jayfeather, and he could fix you up and you'll be fine tomorrow." Tears now started to stream down the young warrior's face. "I'm not going to lose you."
"Jayfeather can't fix what happens next." The Doctor shut his eyes and took as deep of a breath as he could. What was that I said earlier? "That one morning, I'd told myself something. " He used the last of his strength to lift his head and look up at Dovewing. "While there's life, there's-"
He didn't get to finish the rest of his words, and his head fell, lifeless.
A very bright glare met his gaze, where three cats stood before him: Purple Rose, Chime, and The Master.
He narrowed his eyes. "What am I doing here? Did I change? Why is the Master-"
"I was forgiven by Star." The leopard-spotted tom meowed, every hint of authority in his tone. "I sacrificed myself, for you."
"You'll change, very soon." All the voices mixed as one, Purple Rose's the loudest.
"Will Dovewing be left in safe paws with him?"
"Trust me." A figure from so long ago appeared close before him: his First Life. "She will be."
They'd left the Master right there - WindClan would resolve that later - and had hurried away, even though the Doctor could barely walk himself.
"Stop." He begged, his voice hardly more than a whisper. "I can't." His claws scrabbled at the ground helplessly. "I don't want to go... Any... Farther."
"We're almost there, Doctor. I promise you you'll rest soon enough."
"Please. Stop here... Fetch Dovewing. And Jayfeather."
"I can't stop and leave you alone, not with you-" he cut himself off before he could finish, and yet, the Doctor knew what he'd said. "You could always..make me give..in. Old friend."
"Come on, now. Just a few more pawsteps."
Dovewing was sitting beside his nest, sighing repeatedly as if already in mourning. She looked up and noticed him and Firestar, and her eyes grew wide in shock when she saw the Doctor. "What happened?"
"You know what happened." The Doctor snarled back, and tried to step forward, but collapsed on the ground right there. "The Master, the attack, a-and this."
"I can fetch Jayfeather, and he could fix you up and you'll be fine tomorrow." Tears now started to stream down the young warrior's face. "I'm not going to lose you."
"Jayfeather can't fix what happens next." The Doctor shut his eyes and took as deep of a breath as he could. What was that I said earlier? "That one morning, I'd told myself something. " He used the last of his strength to lift his head and look up at Dovewing. "While there's life, there's-"
He didn't get to finish the rest of his words, and his head fell, lifeless.
A very bright glare met his gaze, where three cats stood before him: Purple Rose, Chime, and The Master.
He narrowed his eyes. "What am I doing here? Did I change? Why is the Master-"
"I was forgiven by Star." The leopard-spotted tom meowed, every hint of authority in his tone. "I sacrificed myself, for you."
"You'll change, very soon." All the voices mixed as one, Purple Rose's the loudest.
"Will Dovewing be left in safe paws with him?"
"Trust me." A figure from so long ago appeared close before him: his First Life. "She will be."