The tom pushed forward, ears perked and eyes darting from bush to bush. 

The slightest of winds shook the leaves of the plant making him snarl and investigate a bit only to get stopped by a small snort.

"Calm down." Came Stormyskys amused mew, eyes glittering in the moonlight. Frosttiger tensed up, then relaxed as he realized he was acting like a fretful queen. "Okay, okay." He sighed and padded over to the beautiful gray she-cat. The two of them had been spending allot of time together, it was nice, Frosttiger thought, he enjoyed the company of her presence.  

Thistlestrike looked behind him, "Come on you two." The tom mewed, "We can't leave the others waiting." 

Nodding, Frosttiger sped up and took a place next to Graystar as they overlooked the Gathering. BreezeClan cats were already there and by the looks of it, they recently got into a battle. Nicks and minor scrapes were present, but the one thing that surprised Frosttiger was the fact that Smallstar was nowhere to be seen. 

He glanced at the narrowed-eyed leader besides him, "Graystar?" 

"I know." She mewed. Eagletalon let out a sigh, "Better ask instead of stand here, the apprentices are getting restless."

Now that Eagletalon mentioned it, Frosttiger became very aware of Brackenpaw and Flamepaw shuffling around. Sablepaw, who normally was quiet, was hopping from one paw to the other. Stripepaw, who was now the apprentice of Icefall, was excitedly chatting to Adderstrike, who was now Sparkpaws mentor as Goldenspruce joined the elders recently. Fernpaw let out a small huff, making Frosttiger chuckle. 

"You're right." Graystar murmured, she raised her tail and pointed the tip down to point down. Frosttiger charged down the hill and slowed slowly as a black tom bounded up to him.

"Crowwing." He greeted, dipping his head to the tom. He had a scratch on his flank that was poulticed thickly, "Battle recently?" He prompted, tail flicking to rest around his paws as he sat down.

Crowwings blue eyes darkened, "Cheetahfoot will tell you about it." He looked away, tension, so thick Frosttiger swore he could claw through it, sparked between the two.

Frosttiger turned to walk off and soon became aware of the hostile gaze of the BreezeClan cats burning into his back. Confusion swiped at his belly, What did we do? He thought. A fishy scent reeked into the bundle of scents and he looked up, seeing Oakstar charging across the thick tree trunk that connected his territory to GreatStones. 

He watched as his Clanmates followed, an apprentice slipped and plunged into the water, letting out a yowl of horror before they resurfaced, wading through the rough waters Frosttiger now could make out the color of fur they had. It was male, black with white patches and honey colored eyes. He pulled himself up the bank and collapsed, panting. Oakstar rushed over to him and sniffed his fur before he picked him up by his scruff and waited until the tom was able to hold himself up.

Frosttiger smiled, obviously Oakstar was his mentor, he could feel the affection between them even from this far away.

He looked at Flamepaw, who was talking to Stripepaw excitedly, "I can't believe you like him!" Flamepaw laughed at her friend, making her swipe at her in indignation. Frosttiger rolled his eyes and bounded up to Chestnutflight, who was talking Mousedusk. "It's weird how quickly things have changed." the longfurred cat was murmuring. Frosttiger let out a soft mew of agreement, making the tom look up at him. 

Mousedusk looked at him, "Frosttiger, I know it must be hard for you.. he was your brother." 

"He was a traitor." Frosttiger mewed simply, shrugging. Truth be told, Frosttiger was aching inside. He was all to aware of the empty spot in the warriors den where Lionclaw had once slept. The two of them fought, but he was kin. Frosttiger grew up with him and watching him run off, getting treated like an everyday trespasser, hurt worst than any words would be able to describe. No words can describe that sort of pain, that sort of agony, that sort of lost. 

"The Gathering is starting!" He heard Foxstar, who had joined the group atop Leadersrock, yowl. 

He looked up and saw Cheetahfoot rush forward, "Smallstar was attacked by a StormClan cat!"

Silence met her words, then he heard Blueheart yowl, "That wasn't any of us!"

BreezeClan let out a furious snarls and growls, obviously thinking that the forest cats were just trying to save their pelts, but Graystar silenced the whole area of the sharp look. 

"Cheetahfoot." She began calmly, "What did this StormClan cat look like?"

The tan she-cat recoiled a bit, eyes wide, "Golden tabby with the most horrifying green eyes I'd ever seen." Cheetahfoot replied uncomfortably. 

Lionclaw.

That thought sparked through all the StormClan cats, including Stripepaw as she let out a loud wail, crouching in a fetal position, tears rolling down her face. Flamepaw pressed against her, as did Fernpaw, both staring sadly ahead. Stripepaws anguish didn't go unnoticed by any of the surrounding Clans, as Mintpaw looked at the she-cat worriedly, she went to approach her but Nettlebush stopped her. 

Cheetahfoot blinked then looked at Graystar who was looking away, "That wasn't a StormClan cat." She hissed, glaring at the she-cat.

Yowls of protest met her words, but Cheetahfoot silenced them, "I don't understand."

"You will." Graystar mewed darkly. "Finish your report." 

Cheetahfoot stared at the leader flabbergasted, but she continued, saying prey ran well and that they had a new warrior, Raggedstep. 

When she retreated, Graystar rushed forward, "I want to warn all Clans of the golden tabby running around." She growled, fur bristling. 

Foxstar looked up, "Do you mean Lionclaw?" He asked, earning a glare from Graystar, "Don't. Say. That. Name." Foxstar flinched and stayed quiet, "Lionclaw has commited treason." She continued, gasps and wails met her words, "He caused the death of one of our kits, intentionally injured one of our apprentices," Frosttiger noticed a couple of cats looked at Stripepaw who was trembling. "and is an danger to all Clans, if you see him do not attack him alone, he will kill you." Graystars gaze swept through the group beneath her. "I take it that Smallstar is okay?"

Cheetahfoot nodded, "He's all well, thank you for telling us of this danger." 

Bloodclaw and the others nodded their thanks, all looking troubled. 

Oakstar, who looked sorta horrified, padded forward stiffly, "We've scented some StormClan cats on our territory, but I'm guessing it was Lionclaw so I'll excuse it this once." Something told Frosttiger that he was lying, though he knew it wouldn't be appropriate to call his bluff. He watched as Oakstar finished his report, not really registering his words just listening to his voice.

Foxstar padded forward and called out his report, but Frosttiger wasn't listening, his gaze fixed on the bushes outlining the surrounding area. "Frosttiger?" His ear twitched when Stormysky's breath hit it. 

"Yes?" Silently thankful he didn't stutter, he gazed in the she-cats sky blue eyes, awaiting an answer. "Stop being so jumpy." The she-cat nudged him gently, rubbing her cheek against the toms. Frosttiger let out a soft purr, "I can't, he's out there.." His gaze flicked to the bushes once again, only for a tail to get slapped in his face. "Stormysky, what if he actually goes through with the attack?" 

"He would of already done it." 

Slowly, Frosttiger began to realize that the she-cat was right, he was being sophomoric and unreasonable. If Lionclaw was going to attack then he would of done it.

Sighing in defeat, he looked up and noticed that Graystar was jumping down, "StormClans leaving!" She yowled, leading her cats away. Frosttiger followed before he surged forward, catching up so he could walk with Rainpebble. He took up a slightly defensive position, making sure that he stood between the bushes and his brother at all times. "Frosttiger." Rainpebble mewed in an amused tone, "Good to see your on alert."  

"What? No.. I-" He glanced down and noticed that he subconsciously took up a standard defensive position and glared at Rainpebble, who was looking at him smugly, "Shut up." 

"Yes," Came Graystars mew, "I would hope that he is alert." 

Rainpebble looked at the leader before snorting, "Lionclaw isn't the smartest but he wants to attack when we least expect it, it's that simple really." He mewed, "Besides, he's smart enough to know that attacking in a full moon, with his pelt, isn't a good idea." 

Frosttiger smiled sadly, remembering when he made fun of Lionclaws pelt, saying that even on the darkest night he could never lead a battle patrol because he'd stick out more than a fox in a badger den.

"I suppose. But we need to be alert." Frosttiger mewed stubbornly, looking at Rainpebble. The tom looked back at him in amusement, "Who made you deputy?" The medicine cat mewed, tail twitching in amusement as Frosttiger let out a scoff and looked forward. 

Chestnutflight snorted in amusement and slowed his stride until he padded beside Frosttiger, "He's right you know. You are acting like a new deputy!" He chuckled, "Eagletalon isn't worried." Frosttiger looked at the russet tom, who was relaxed and was talking calmly to Graystar. 

"Well maybe he should be." Frosttiger grumbled quietly, making Chestnutflight roll his eyes. A scent caught Frosttiger off guard and he looked up, "I smell blood." 

Rainpebble was already pelting forward, "Come on!" He roared, making the group race to catch up with him. As they neared the clearing in which they set up camp, Frosttiger heard loud wailing, blood scent cut his nose sharply, making him nauseated. 

Graystar pushed through the barrier, "What's going on?" She demanded, looking around. 

"It's Sunpaw." Brokenpaw mewed irritably, "She fell out of the GreatOak and landed on a thorn bush." His amber eyes flickered in annoyance, worry, and amusement as the golden she-cat limped forward only to break out in a wail and stop.

Graystar relaxed slightly, her fur beginning to lie flat. "Rainpebble.." She looked at the gray tabby who nodded and padded forward, motioning for Sablepaw to join him.

As the two worked together, Frosttiger sighed. "She probably woke up StarClan with that wailing." He muttered, making Brokenpaws whiskers twitch. "It's not like you haven't ever gotten a thorn." The dark tabby pointed out, making Frosttiger snort.

"No, but I don't wail about it." With that he moved forward, muscles beginning to ache and eyes becoming heavy. "Night, Brokenpaw." He mewed, licking his sons broken ear, he did the same to Sparkpaw and Mudpaw before disappearing inside the warriors den. 

He moved into the corner and curled up in his nest, pulling his bushy tail over his face to block out any light and slipped out of consciousness.

He opened his eyes, finding himself in a dark place. He let out a growl and looked around but noticed that this wasn't the Dark Forest. His eyes narrowed, his fur began to bristle. He heard some scrapes and whipped around, snarling only to recoil when he saw it was Riverice, her eyes hallow and empty. A strange wheezing sound was coming out of her mouth, as though she was fighting her breath that she no longer needed, and what seemed to be black tendrils wrapped around her paws and legs to her underbelly.

He let out a strangled gasp and backed up, paws scrambling over themselves, but this wasn't over. Tigerfang came next, his wail even more bone chilling. His eyes bulged out of his skull, it seemed that even the smallest hit would make them pop out. He felt a pressure build in the back of his head and let out a growl. 

Nightheart. 

Scarpelt. 

Mousetail. 

He let out a wail and turned, seeing Darksoul standing there. Expression guarded.

"What do you want?" Frosttiger snarled. 

The tom opened his mouth to answer but only a strange yowl was emitted, making Frostiger back up but notice he was surrounded by dead cats. The pressure in his head made it throb and ache in ways he didn't know it could, he crouched, belly on the ground, holding his head in his paws as the ache grew as the cats grew closer. 

"You did this.." A voice whispered.

"How could you?" Another one said.

"We trusted you." The voices grew louder, joining together with the wailing and yowling and wheezing. 

"Stop it!" He cried, "Stop it!" 

Suddenly a bright white light made him look up. The darkness was gone, replaced with outlines of starry trees and bushes. He saw a mouse scratching at a nut but soon it raised his ears, looking at something behind the gray tom and ran off, abandoning his food. 

The gray tom turned, seeing a small long-furred gray tom. His muzzle was small and taut and he was lithe and well-muscled. His fur was a pale gray that faded into white as it neared his underbelly, he had an sideways dark gray arch staring from his eye and ending a ways from his mouth with a smaller one in front of that. His eyes were ice blue.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Featherstar." The tom replied, "Yes, the Featherstar that defeated Darksoul." He gazed at the tom with knowledge and something else. 

"Why do you look so unhappy?" He asked, staring at the leader. His bushy tail twitched, he turned and beckoned the tom, "Come Frosttiger." 

The large cat followed the much smaller leader, silence lay thickly between them when Featherstar stopped at a circular pool. He touched the starry water and Frosttiger saw himself, laying in his nest completely relaxed. "We watch over you Frosttiger. We watch over everybody." The gray-and-white tom touched sighed, "You are part of a prophecy, I know how it feels. To be destined to something you never wanted a part of." Featherstar looked at Frosttiger, "I too, lost my brother because of this." 

Frosttiger frowned slightly, "I'm sorry." He mewed, making Featherstar nod. "I am too. Look in the pool Frosttiger, see your fear, your strength, and your destiny." 

The tom looked at the shimmering water and soon he saw blood, trees soaked, bushes soaked in sickly scarlet liquid. He saw cats fighting cats, claws unsheathed and lashing to and fro only for a large paw to squish them. The image flickered up to a evil pair of eyes and a triumphant smirk but then light broke through the gray and swirling sky, making the eyes close and the figure back up. A starry cat stood there, glaring at the dark figure. With a lunge, the starry figure and the dark figure clashed and a golden aura pulsated through the forest and light replaced blood and darkness. 

"No!" 

The figure stood atop a high rock, head held proud and the words resonated deep within every fiber of Frosttigers being. 

Frosttiger's eyes widened and the pool returned to normal and the tom looked up at Featherstar. 

"What does it mean?"

"It means that dark and light will meet, and light will win."

-----------------

The days went by quickly, Frosttiger hunted and patrolled, but it was strange.

Lionclaw has not been seen since his exile, which Frosttiger found... relaxing and horrifying.

The tom sighed for the umpteenth time and looked over at Graystar, who was talking to Blueheart. His whiskers twitched in curiosity and he went to pad over to them when he was tackled. 

"Ah!"

"Frosttiger!"

He looked up and saw his mate looking at him, red eyes wide in excitement. "I'm becoming a warrior today! I did my assessment and Blueheart thinks I did well! I'm becoming a warrior! We- We can finally.." she blushed and looked away, tail tip twitching.

Chuckling slightly, Frosttiger got up, "Let's take a walk." He mewed, beckoning the soon-to-be warrior. 

Heatherpaw nodded and followed him, fur brushing. 

Frosttiger noticed Stormysky watching them but brushed it off, smiling as Heatherpaw leaned against him.

The two padded in silence, affection resonating between them then they stopped, looking out silently at the river near Sunningrocks. A comfortable silence lay between them, fur brushing, tails twined.

"Fernpaw is becoming a warrior soon to." Heatherpaw murmured, making Frosttiger nod. "My sons are next with Flamepaw and Brackenpaw."

"I feel bad that Sablepaw is going to be an apprentice for awhile longer." 

"Don't, it takes someone special to be a medicine cat." Frosttiger mewed, licking her ear, "Let's not talk about that. Not now."

The white she-cat hummed in agreement and pressed against him, "It's been so long..We've haven't seen each other for awhile."

"Graystar keeps me busy." Frosttiger chuckled, Heatherpaw frowned, "Sometimes I think she thinks you're the deputy instead of Eagletalon." 

"Don't be like that." Frosttiger licked her again, "I could never be the deputy. If.. something happens.. if something happens I'd choose someone who's been a warrior allot longer than me."

Heatherpaw rolled her eyes and smiled, "We can have kits."

"They'd be beautiful."

"Do you want to?"

"Kind of." 

"Then we should.. later."

Frosttiger felt his heart warm and melt, "Yeah.. later." He mewed, smiling.

Heatherpaw looked up and noticed the sun was dipping. "We should head back, my ceremony is soon." 

Nodding, Frosttiger followed the she-cat into the forest, but soon he became aware of someone watching them. Dread lay in his belly as he stopped, ears perked and moving, trying to hear anything in the bushes. 

"Heatherpaw..." He began to warn when something launched out of the bushes with a furious yowl.

A powerful force hit Frosttiger, stinging pain as claws ripped his flesh made him hiss and kick the attacker off. He spun onto his paws and glared at the intruder, only to let out a surprised gasp.

"Lionclaw." 

His brother glared at him through narrowed green eyes but said nothing.

He let out a snarl, "What are you doing here traitor?" He spat, glaring at his brother, making his expression turn into that of rage.

"Me?" Lionclaw spat, "A traitor? Look at you! You're my brother, kin is stronger than Clan, so why did you choose them over me?" 

Frosttiger froze before he growled, "I would never follow you. I would never betray StormClan!"

Lionclaw recoiled before he growled, "Then I will rip you're precious StormClan apart. Starting. With. Her!" He lunged at Heatherpaw, making her yowl in rage and pain.

"Heatherpaw!" He dived into the two fighting and grabbed is brothers pelt with his claws and threw him off, "Get off her!" He snarled as his brother lashed around to hurt him.

He stepsided and lashed out a heavy paw, making his brother dazed but only for a second so he rolled onto his side and slipped under his brothers body, lashing out a claw on his soft underbelly and exploded up, making him stumble but he recovered and leaped onto the gray toms back and hold his head with his forepaws. He felt his hindlegs get knocked out from under him and landed on the ground hard, making the air leave his body. 

"I. Will. Not. Be. Humiliated." He snarled going for a killing blow, but a loud snarl made him look up.

Frosttiger felt the weight of his brother leave his back and he scrambled up, seeing a tuft of white get flung to the ground, blood soaking her fur.

"Heatherpaw!" He yowled, before rage made his vision red and he hurled himself at his brother, lashing out rake after rake, he felt himself get clawed a couple of times but he was berserk so it didn't register. 

He pinned his brother down, claws at his throat, making Lionclaw cough and look up.

Frosttiger glared down at his brother, blood dripping down his whiskers and muzzle, glowing in the fading light. His ice blue eyes radiated with rage and murderous intent, making the golden tom gulp.

"You won't do it." Lionclaw croaked, making Frosttiger's eyes narrow. 

"You're right. I won't." He released his brothers throat and held him down, "Because that's not a warriors way." 

Lionclaw let out a gasp, obviously his words cut much deeper than they should of. 

"Run away Lionclaw." Frosttiger glared at his brother, making him open his mouth but then dart into the ferns, heading towards GreatStones.

Exhaustion made Frosttigers paws heavy, but he forced himself to move towards his fallen mate. "He's gone.. you can get up now." He mewed, nosing her cheek making her emit broken purrs. 

"I can't.." She whispered, "It hurts.. he.. I'm dying..Great StarClan Frosttiger, it hurts!" She sobbed.

Frosttigers eyes widened and he looked at the gash on her underbelly, it was deep and was meant to kill.

Which was exactly what it was going to do.

Frosttiger knew that she would die on the way back to camp by blood loss and even if she didn't the cut would breath infection and cause allot of discomfort and herbs. 

Green-leaf has never felt so cold.

"But.. we we're going to have kits." He whispered, tears rolling down his face as he touched her muzzle with his, "We we're going to have a family."

"That was never my destiny my love." Heatherpaw croaked, making Frosttiger's eyes widen. "I love you.. I love you so much.. but I cannot share your destiny.." She smiled at him, "Hunt and fight well, my love, goodbye." The light from her eyes faded and she let out a slow breath before she laid still.

Frosttiger stayed silent before a wail ripped through his throat, making his whole body shake in grief.

He lowered his head and gazed at Heatherpaws limp body and let out a choked sob. Reaching down, he grabbed her scruff and picked her up gently, moving through the forest. 

A numb, cold feeling left him empty as he pushed through the bramble entrance. 

"Heatherpaw?" Tangledpaws voice sparked many mews and cries from his various Clanmates. 

"Heatherpaw!" Eagletalon sobbed, eyes wide. Hawkthorn let out a soft 'No..' and he moved forward.

"Frosttiger, who did this?" Chestnutflight asked.

With the eyes of his entire Clan resting on him, he answered.

"Lionclaw."