Frosttigers paws tingled as he padded through the forest, the talk with Graystar still hot on his mind. Why me? Frosttiger thought, confusion burning in his pelt, I never wanted to be part of some prophecy that might destroy the forest!

"Frosttiger!" He jumped at Dogclaws low growl, "Stop being scatterbrained, you're on hunting patrol, with you roaming and not paying attention to where you put you're paws we might as well just send you back." He snapped, tail tip twitching crossly.

Shame burned in Frosttigers pelt as he nodded. Chestnutpaw gave him a confused look but Frosttiger shook his head, telling the tom not to ask without saying a word. It was a half-moon after the battle, everything had finally calmed down and so he was on a hunting patrol with Dogclaw.

"The forest is so quiet.." Heatherpaw commented, tail tip twitching. "Are you sure we can catch anything?" She looked at Thunderheart, who was her temporary mentor, ears perked.

Thunderheart looked at her, "Maybe, but with us talking it's bound to echo." He told her, indirectly asking her to be quiet and pushed forward.

Frosttiger moved next to her and twined his tail with hers, licking her ear and whispering, "Just wait until you're a warrior.. we can go whenever where ever we want.. just us.." He murmured, making her blush and nod. "Sounds nice.." She whispered.

Smiling he looked forward and saw Thunderheart, Dogclaw, and Chestnutpaw looking at the two, a smile ghosted over Thunderhearts face, Dogclaw had an eyebrow raised, and Chestnutpaw was smirking teasingly, "You two done mooning over each other? Come on, it's newleaf! This is our chance to restock on food!" Chesnutpaw purred, though no real annoyance was in his voice.

Frosttiger rolled his eyes and rushed forward, looking at the owl tree, memories started to flood back but he forced it away, the monstrous bird had not returned, there was nothing to fear anymore.

He dropped as he saw a plump and old finch pecking lazily at the ground.

He slid forward then leaped, sinking his teeth into the throat of it, killing it. He looked up, seeing Heatherpaw leap in a bush and a heartbeat later come out with a plump mouse.

"Only catch what the Clan needs!" Dogclaw called and padded off, tracking something.

Frosttiger looked at Heatherpaw, purring, "Just us? Great." He laughed at her flustered express, suddenly he was tackled, making him topple over. "Ah!" He yowled, then laughed as her soft paws battered his face.

He growled and wrapped his paws around her shoulders and his hind paws around her hunches and flipped her over pinning her down, now it was his turn to batter her.

"Ah!" she yelped then kicked his under belly hard, making him let out grunt and let go of him.

She escaped and laid down next to him laughing, she let out a purr nuzzled close to him.

He smiled and twined his tail with hers, "I love you Heatherpaw.." He whispered.

"I love you too." Heatherpaw whispered back, licking is cheek.

Smiling, Frosttiger stood, "We need to bring the prey back." He meowed, picking up his finch, he waited for her but when she didn't emerge right away he started to go into panicked mode.

His ears pricked, but then she came out, carrying her mouse and a plump vole, "I saw it near the border to Greatstones, I know vole is you're favorite so I caught it." She told him, blushing.

He let out a purr and nodded, he kinked his tail over his back and set off towards camp.

He pushed his way through the bramble entrance and looked around, everything was peaceful but his thoughts instantly went back to the meeting with Graystar the night before.

He sighed and looked at Rainpaw, who was padding up to him, "I'm looking at the rat bit." He informed, looking at the clump of fur that was loss on his shoulder, "Come with me." He turned and led his brother through the vine of the medicine cat den.

He watched as his brother disappeared inside the herb store and come back with the necessary herbs to treat him.

He chewed a tall-stemmed thistle with dark leaves into a pulp and spit it on the rat bite and then chewed some dock, marigold and horsetail into a poultice and made a motion to roll on his stomach, obeying, Rainpaw snorted and spit it on his chest instead. It was being pesky and not healing correctly, it wasn't infected but it wasn't healing as quickly as the medicine cat had hoped.

"Let me see you're ear." He mewed, making the tom get up and sit down.

His brother blinked and licked the blood off of the tearing and turned away, "You're fine... how about you're eye?"

"It's fine, you fret as though you're a queen." Frosttiger teased.

"I fret because you're my brother." Rainpaw retorted, but his tone was warm, like honey.

"When are you getting you're full name?" Frosttiger asked, curiosity burning his pelt.

"Today." Whispersong mewed, "We meet the medicine cats tonight and I think he'd much rather get it tonight then wait after the Gathering."

"Why do the medicine cats meet twice?"

"Because things can happen between one meeting, the gathering, and the next meeting. It's easier this way, though the trip is tiring." Whispersong replied, tail twitching, "Rainpaw, can you go fetch some dandelion, Adderpaw got stung by a bee."

"Sure, can you check Ealgetalon, he has an infected scratch."

Nodding the two medicine cats disappeared inside the herb store, coming out and going separate ways.

Frosttiger followed them out and sighed at the sun beating down on him, he suddenly froze as he heard groans of pain coming from the elders den.

He rushed inside the den and saw Mousetail laying down, Ivytail licking his fur, Scarpelt and Reggy wait in the corner, watching sadly as their denmate died.

"Mousetail.." Frosttiger choked.

"He's old Frosttiger." Scarpelt sighed, "StarClan needs him now.."

"Frost...tiger.." Mousetail rasped, "Come...come here."

Frosttiger padded forward and crouch in front of him, "Mousetail.. I.."

"Stay strong Frosttiger.." Mousetail breathed, "You are going to face a choice that no normal cat would be able to make. You are not normal Frosttiger.. you have to power to make or break.. I know you will make the right choice.. I know... May StarClan light your path... Frost....tiger.." He let out a long, drawn out sigh and felt limp, his sightless eyes now dull.

"He hunts with StarClan now.." Reggy whispered, walking over and wrapping his tail around Ivytails shoulders.

Ivytail nodded, "Hunt well brother.." She started shakily, "I'll see you later.."

Frosttiger stared at the dead elder and then sighed and lifted him gently moving him into the clearing.

Rainpaw looked up from where he was treating Adderpaw and stared, "Mousetail?"

Graystar padded out of the shadows of her den and blinked in shock, then dipped her head, "He hunts with StarClan, he served his Clan well, may you find good hunting, swift running, and shelter when you sleep." She let out a shaky sigh and turn, Iceheart walked up to her and whispered something in her ear and the too walked away.

Frosttiger watched with narrow eyes before he followed, crouching in the mint bush next to the leaders den, "Yes Iceheart?"

Iceheart stayed in place then looked at the mint bush directly at Frosttiger, "Get out of there." He mewed, making him pad out he looked confused.

"What's going on here? You two have been acting weird and secretive since last quarter-moon." He shifted his gaze between his former mentor to his father, watching as the two exchange looks, seemingly coming to an agreement.

"Iceheart is..." Graystar started but faltered as Frosttiger looked at her with narrow eyes.

"I'm her mate now.. I love her Frosttiger.. I love Graystar." Iceheart exploded, looking at his son.

At first, the tom didn't feel anything, then confusion and anger flooded him as though a wall had been broken down.

"What? But what about Riverice? She's you're mate not her!" His tail lashed, "Where's you're loyalty?"

"Where's yours." Iceheart asked, voice now cold, "I know about you and Leopardclaw."

Frosttiger felt his blood run cold as his father mentioned that name, "I stopped, how long is this going to last huh?"

"Until the end." Came Graystars meow, "Frosttiger, you're father was devastated after Riverices death, you saw him. He was a rain cloud around camp looking for someone to drench. He's happy now, with me, can't you just be happy?"

"Happy that my father isn't staying loyal to the one he had kits with? I think not." He spat, tail lashing, he glared at the two cats before turning tail and stomping off, "I loved you're mother Frosttiger.. you know that."

He froze at Icehearts words, "If you loved her you wouldn't betray her like this." He said, then walked off, disappearing inside the warriors den.

He stepped over Crookedheart and Goldenspruce, who were cuddling, and felt a stab of guilt.

Iceheart loved Graystar just as Crookedheart loved Goldenspruce, and he knew that Crookedheart had a mate before her, it was the same thing and he knew the way he acted as completely out of turn and unfair. He knew that an apology was due but decided to wait and see how far the two would take it.

"Frosttiger." He opened his eyes and saw Darksoul looking at him with a narrowed eye, "You shouldn't be worrying about mates right now."

He blinked, feeling slightly uneasy that the tom had seen him with Heatherpaw.

"Why not?"

"If you want to be the best warrior then you don't need anything holding you down!" Darksoul spat, tail lashing.

"I love Heatherpaw! Butt out!" Frosttiger retorted, "You train me, you don't control me. I have my own free will, I can stop coming whenever I want." He glared at the tom as uncertainty flooded his crimson amber eye.

"How do you know Heatherpaw even wants to be mates with you? She's still a 'paw' she can change. Don't leap a gorge when you can't leap a hole." He mewed.

"I'm not, I'm following my heart, and my heart is telling me that I love Heatherpaw. I can be a great warrior with a mate you know!"

Darksoul looked skeptical but then he beckoned Nightstar out of the bushes, followed by Oakfire, a brown tabby she-cat with red eyes, and Snowleap, a white tom, "Frosttiger, attack Nightstar."

Frosttiger blinked then looked at the black she-cat tensed.

"GO!"

It was over quick, he stared at Nightstars lifeless body, now fading into the ground of the shadowy forest.

"You killed her.." Lionclaws voice singsonged, he looked up seeing the tom pad out of the bushes. "I wonder how Heatherpaw would feel." He smirked wickedly, tail tip twitching.

Frosttiger let out a snarl and tackled his brother, pinning him down, and baring his teeth, "Don't you dare." He snarled, "I will turn you into crowfood if you say a word."

Lionclaw, who usually looked smug, had a uncertain and scared glint in his eyes. "You wouldn't-"

"Try. Me." Frosttiger snarled, tail lashing.

Lionclaw flinched then growled, "You're too scared to kill a Clanmate." He smirked.

"I suppose Icepaw would love to hear about you're little meetings as well?" Frosttiger glared at his brother as he flinched, "Don't tell Icepaw."

"Then don't touch, look, or talk to Heatherpaw." Frosttiger spat, letting him go.

Darksouls eyes shifted from Lionclaw to Frosttiger before jumping on the rock, "It's time for you to leave." He growled, "Frosttiger, you need to get you're life in line. Either you want to be the best or you want to be average."

Frosttiger glared at him and closed his eyes, opening his eyes to see Tangledkit wrestling with Brokenkit in the clearing.

It was sunup now, soft sunlight gently beat down on the clearing, lighting it. Sandycloud was sharing tongue with Eagletalon a few tail lengths away, keeping an eye on the two toms.

Frosttiger blinked then padded up, "Brokenkit, when he lashes out a paw duck and twist, then spring to your paws." He mewed, making the tom look at him,

"Hey! No fair, you're helping him!" Tangledkit whined, tail lashing over the ground. Frosttiger looked at him, whiskers twitching, "You're almost six moons old, you don't need my help. My kits are only three moons old," he crouched, tucking his paws under his chest, tail tucked close to his body, "Now show me a hunters crouch."

Tangledkit dropped, his eyes narrow his body completely still but he was off balance. To point this out, Frosttiger reached out a paw and jabbed him softy, knocking him over, he heard Brokenkit start to laugh. "You look like a badger!" He scoffed. Tangledkit scrambled to his paws and gave a shake, huffing, "As if you can do better!" He growled, glaring at the dark tabby.

Frosttiger blinked then looked at his son, "How about you show me you're hunters crouch Brokenkit?" The tom looked up, looking surprised then glared at him and crouched, his body completely still but he, too, was off balance and Frosttiger pushed him over. Now it was Tangledkits turn to laugh, "Who's the badger now?" He taunted playfully.

Frosttiger blinked then nudged the two kits, "Do a hunters crouch both of you." He ordered, shifting his eyes between the two. He stood to his paws and watched as the two dropped."Both of you need to shift you're weight to the left," he explained, "and both of your stances are too tight, widen it." The two obeyed and soon, both of their crouches were perfect.

He nodded in satisfaction, ""Good," He noticed Bluehearts kits watching from the shadows, "Come join us, you're almost ready to become apprentices yourselves." Stripekit, a silver she-cat with black rings on her long tail, was the first to come out, her green eyes shining. "Okay!" She mewed and crouched low, her stance was pretty perfect, "Drop your tail." He mewed, turning to assess Sunkit and Flamekit who followed their sister and was now crouching, hearing her tail slap the ground. Sunkit was okay but Flamekits was the best. "Flamekit, nice!" He mewed, surprised.

She beamed at his praise and straightened up. "Thanks! I watch Thistlepaw and Icepaw sometimes when they train in the clearing." she admitted, embarrassment making her ears droop. Frosttiger gave her a comforting lick, "Watching is how you learn." He mewed, then looked at Mudkit and Sparkkit. "Are you two going to join us?"

Mudkit padded forward and crouched, as did Sparkkit, earning a nod from his father. "Good." He nodded and looked around.

Tangledkit was talking to Flamekit, tail twitching.

"Having fun with the kits?" He turned to the sound of Stormyskys voice, the she-cat was sitting down, watching him with amusement. "Yeah, Flamekits hunters crouch is amazing." He told her, nodding towards the ginger she-cat. Stormysky looked at her, "I know, I've caught her practicing moves that Thistlepaw and Icepaw do." she blinked, "She does them well but not even Eagletalons fighting ability can add up do yours Frosttiger." She gazed at the tom intently, making him stare at her, before turning, "Hawkthorn, Foxfur, Adderpaw, wanna go hunting?" She called to the cats, who nodded and followed her out the bramble entrance.

He watched her before shaking his head and looked up, hearing Graystar come out and jump onto her den, "Alright!" She called, making everyone stop and look up, "I want Goldenspruce, Alderpaw, Iceheart, and Lionclaw go to the MarshClan border." She mewed. For a second, Frosttiger was confused as to why she was setting up patrols but then he remembered that Eagletalon was resting, as he took watch last night. "Silverwind, Dawnlight, Nettletail, and.." She looked around, "and Crookedheart, go to the DeltaClan border, make sure they don't think just because we offered them a place to stay they can waltz on our territory." She told them. Silverwind nodded and led her patrol off.

"I have a question I need to ask"Nettletail and Dogclaw," She called, before they left, "Come to my den once you get back Nettletail, "Dogclaw, come." She waved her tail and disappeared inside her den, Dogclaw following after.

He looked around then shrugged, "Heatherpaw?" He asked, poking his head into the apprentices den.

"Yes?" She asked, lifting her head.

"I'm bored." He told her, ear twitching.

"Go to sleep." She told him, "Lay with me.. It's lonely."

Nodding, he layed down, curling himself close to her and wrapped his tail around her protectively. She slipped her head under his and let out a soft and pleased sigh. I'll protect you always.. Frosttiger thought, feeling a purr rise in his chest.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here, beneath Highledge, for a Clan meeting!" Frosttiger opened his eyes groggily, looking up. Heatherpaw raised her head and blinked "What's happening?" She asked softly. "I don't know, let's find out." He got up and sat down next to Rainpaw, who looked up.

"Though there has been many deaths recently, the Clan must go on and to do that the, arguably, most important ceremony is going to take place." Excited murmuring of the Clan began but was silenced as Graystar continued, "Dogclaw, is Thistlepaw, your apprentice, ready for his warrior ceremony?"

"He passed his assessment with flying colors," Dogclaw dipped his head, "he has trained well and I feel confidence in saying he is."

Graystar looked at Nettletail, "Nettletail is Icepaw ready to become a warrior?"

"She has trained well, I am confident to say yes she is." Nettletail dipped her head.

Frosttiger sensed the excitement of the Clan as well as the soon-to-be warriors as their leader beckoned then to stand in front of her.

"I, Graystar, leader of StormClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices." Frosttiger perked his ears, hearing Thistlepaw draw in a sharp intake of breath, "They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Icepaw, Thistlepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your lives?"

"I do!" They replied, Thistlepaw forcing himself to be louder, earning a glance from Icepaw.

"Then by the powers of StarClan," she went on, "I give you your warrior names. Thistlepaw, from this moment you will be know as Thistlestrike." The gray tom dipped is head in thanks, earning a proud look in his former mentors, Dogclaw, eyes. "StarClan honors your bravery and skill in battle, and we welcome you as a full warrior of StormClan." She pressed her muzzle to his head and he licked her shoulder and he backed up, watching as Icepaw gazed at her leader. "Icepaw, from this moment you will be known as Icefall. StarClan honors your determination and kindness." she pressed her muzzle to her head and Icefall licked her shoulder.

"StormClan is proud of you two, may you serve your Clan faithfully." Graystar finished, gazing at the two with pride.

"Icefall! Thistlestrike!" The Clan welcomed the new warriors, their yowls rising above the trees.

Frosttiger pushed his way through the crowd, looking at the two, "I look forward to patrols with you two." he purred. Thistlestrike nodded, "And if we see MarshClan on our territory we'll shred them" He cuffed his shoulder, making him nod. "Definitely." he agreed.

"When will we be warriors?" Alderpaw called, looking at the she-cat that stood atop Highledge.

"Soon, when you're mentors agree that you are ready." She told him and jumped down marking the end of the meeting.

Frosttiger gazed around his Clan, pride making his heart swell but it faded as soon as he saw Lionclaw, sitting in the shadows, glaring at his leader as she weaved between her Clan.

There was so much hatred in his eyes, as he searched his brother he froze, blood was on his paws, turning his otherwise golden fur, red.

Beware the one with scarlet on his paws, beware

He stared as his brother padded away, disappearing through the bramble barrier.

There was a time Frosttiger would of never thought of his brother as a threat to his Clan and to him but now that sense of security was slowly fading away.