"Tangledbranch, Heathersky!" 

Frosttiger stared at the limp body of his mate, pain and sorrow in his heart. He moved towards it and twined his tail with her limp one.

Stormysky was soon next to him, looking at him pain. 

"What am I going to do without her?" Frosttiger asked, tears rolling down his cheeks.

Stormysky frowned and pressed against him, "We'll find a way.. we always do." She licked his cheek and turned, padding away. 

Frosttiger watched after her before he gazed back at Heathersky and laid down, resting his head on her soft fur. 

----

"Frosttiger?"

He snapped his eyes open and gazed at Reggy, who was standing their with a gentle expression. "It's time to let her go."

Frosttiger bit back a retort and got up silently, watching Longclaw and Crookedheart pick the body up and move outside of camp to the burial area. 

Heart prickling with loss, he turned around stiffly and saw that life was going as usual. Apprentices were either eating, going over battle moves, wrestling, or cleaning the elders bedding. The senior warriors, being Sandycloud, Featherfur, Eagletalon, Nettletail, and Silverwind were sharing tongues and sharing prey. Dogclaw and Blueheart were curled up together in the sun, Dogclaw muttering something to his mate who nodded shakily. Foxfur, Dawnlight, and Mousedusk were talking in a small circle, laughing at one another, and Tangledbranch was nowhere to be found, probably out hunting and stretching his legs after staying up all night. 

"I know it's going to be hard for you." Graystar's voice made him look up, seeing the leader standing next to him, green eyes glowing with knowledge. He sighed, "I loved her, but.. Stormysky.. I'm so confused Graystar. I have feelings for Stormysky but I had feelings for Heathersky.. I don't want it to seem as though I didn't care about her." 

Graystar gazed at him steadily before sighing, "Just wait then. Don't leap a gorge when you can't leap a hole." With that she walked off, mewing something to Eagletalon who waved his tail in acknowledgement.

Frosttiger sighed once more and yowled over to the deputy, "I'm leading a hunting patrol!" 

Eagletalon looked up and nodded, "Take Sunpaw with you! Chestnutfligt has been complaining about his apprentice not listening." 

Nodding, he turned and looked at Flamepaw, "Come on you, go get Sunpaw." The ginger she-cat nodded and shot off. The tom turned and looked over at Aldertuft, "Care to join me?" 

The russet tom nodded, "Sure, Thistlestrike! Come with us." 

The gray tom nodded and stood up, shaking dirt off his pelt and followed Flamepaw, Sunpaw, Frosttiger, and Aldertuft out. 

"Alright you two. You are going to do partner hunting, one cat scares the prey into the others paws. Can you do that?" 

Flamepaw nodded and glanced over at Sunpaw who nodded.

"Alright, I'll watch them, you two can go." Frosttiger told Thistlestrike and Aldertuft, who nodded and disappeared among the ferns. 

He gazed at the two before looking around the clearing that was near the MarshClan border before nodding. "Alright, show me what you can do." 

Flamepaw nodded and turned, mouth open. "There's a squirrel, Sunpaw scare it to the right, I'll hide in the bushes." She looked at the golden she-cat who nodded and moved to get in place. 

The brown-gray rodent moved out in the clearing, a nut in it's paws. Frosttiger moved so that it wouldn't run off because of him and watched as Sunpaw darted at it, making it run to the right where Flamepaw leaped out of the bushes and killed it. 

Frosttigers whiskers twitched and he gave the two she-cats a nod of approval then he noticed a buzzard, pecking at the ground.

"Watch this." He crouched and began to advance, freezing when the bird froze and looked around, then began to peck at the ground again.  He froze, wriggling his hindquarters as she shuffled forward and leaped, biting the birds throat to kill it. He turned to the apprentices who were watching. 

"We don't get many buzzards, they usually stay in the moor. Do you see those birds up there?" He pointed to large bird, making the two cats look up.

"What in StarClan's name is that?" Sunpaw asked, eyes wide. 

"A falcon. Be aware of it. It's rare, but if an animal is hungry enough it will eat a cat. I would know." He smiled slightly before he grabbed his kill and beckoned the two apprentices, who stared at the bird before following. 

On the way back, Sunpaw caught two mice. In addition to Thistlestrikes fat rabbit and Aldertufts two robins, they hauled in a plentiful catch. Which was good as newleaf was fading into green-leaf and the days were growing longer and hotter.

As they dropped their prey into the pile, a scent of blood slashed Frosttigers nose, making him look up to see Chestnutflight, Iceheart, and Foxfur limping through the barrier. 

"Lionclaw and a couple of rogues attacked us." Iceheart panted, blood dripping from a gash on his muzzle, "Nettletail.. wait.. Nettletail?" He looked around wildly when Blueheart rushed through, holding the black she-cat who was limp. 

"I couldn't save her!" She gasped, eyes wide in horror and sadness.

Stormysky let out a strangled sob and she rushed forward, burying her face in her mothers fur. Frosttiger let out a growl and he turned, "Dogclaw, Adderstrike, lets go find-"

"No." Eagletalons voice made him look up, eyes narrow, "No one else is going out." 

Frosttigers eyes stretched wide in shock, "He attacked our cats! We must defend them!" 

Mews of agreement met his words, making Eagletalon gaze around warily. "Frosttiger," He mewed firmly, "StarClan honors you're strength and honor, but we need to fortify our camp." 

The gray tom blinked, considering the deputy's words. That would be the more tactful move, Lionclaw is probably betting on more cats showing up to ambush them and weaken us even more. Frustration stabbed at his belly at his brothers deviousness and Eagletalons reason. His paws ached to avenge Heatherpaw, to avenge Nightheart, to avenge Nettletail, to avenge Smallstar. He let out an infuriated growl and dug his claws in the soft ground, glaring at it. 

A tail tip rested on his shoulder, making him look up and meet Eagletalons gaze. "I understand you're anger, but we need to defend the elders." 

Sighing, Frosttiger nodded. "Dogclaw, Adderstrike, and I can go build up the walls." With that, he led the toms away, heading into the forest to collect more vine and bramble. 

As they weaved the twigs and other defensive components, Frosttiger let out a huff. 

Dogclaw looked up, "You want to go out and find him too huh?" He gazed at the blue-eyed tom, who nodded. 

"I understand Eagletalons reason and I agree but.. I guess my feelings are getting in the way."

Dogclaw shook his head, "Never fight you're feelings Frosttiger, they're the strongest thing you have." With that he turned, disappearing into the bramble half-circle barrier that was the entrance to camp.

----

"But why not!" Flamepaw demanded, glaring at Graystar, "I've been an apprentice for a whole five moons, aren't I old enough to do what I want?" 

"When you are a warrior is the day you'll be old enough to make you're own decisions." Graystar mewed firmly, "You're almost a warrior, start acting like one."

The ginger she-cat let out a hiss of annoyance and whipped around, tail lashing as she slumped off. 

It was now green-leaf and attacks were more frequent, most times Lionclaw wasn't there only his rogues that Chestnutflight recognized as Jigsaws cronies. 

"Alright, they attack us near the kittypet border, that's where we'll take the battle." Eagletalon mewed, pointing at a rock that marked the kittypet border on the ground. "We'll need to wait though. I want to make sure all of our warriors are ready and healthy to fight. We'll need as much as we can get."

Nodding, Frosttiger stood up, "I'm going to survey the battle grounds, we'll need to draw them in so cats on the trees can ambush them and push them back." Eagletalon nodded, "Take a cat-"

"No, a group of cats is more noticeable than one." Frosttiger mewed, "I need to go alone, I know when I'm outnumbered, I can take Lionclaw on myself."

"Barely." Rainpebble protested, "Frosttiger, we see what he did to you last time!" He stared pointedly at the many scabs growing on Frosttigers healing wounds. "Frosttiger-"

"He's right." Graystars voice rang through, cutting Rainpebble off. "We need to reserve our strength so we can launch an onslaught. One cat is more inconspicuous than two or three. Frosttiger be careful." 

"I will." Frosttiger dipped his head and turned, moving out of camp heading towards the kittypet border. He gazed around and tensed, highly alert. Dried blood glittered in the sunlight and all prey seemed to have abandoned this part of the territory, making it seem vacant and desolate. He looked around when a deep, rumbling, ominous voice made him tense up.

"Hello, brother." 

A force maybe him stagger, he whipped around, but saw nothing. He curled his lip and looking around.

"Where's that oh so precious StormClan now?"

He felt another force, making him stagger once more and whip around, he saw a shadow in the low hanging branches move but it disappeared. He relaxed slightly, opening up his senses.

"Where's you're precious StarClan?" 

He heard the sound of claws scraping wood as the figure went to lunge at him again and spun on his paws, making the cat skim to a halt.

"Gah!" Lionclaw growled in pain as his paws skidded. 

Frosttiger wanted to launch himself at his brother and rip his throat out, but he refrained, becoming aware of more cats around him.

 Lionclaw growled, "Of course, of all cats to send, they sent you." He sneered, smirking slightly, his sharp canines poking through it. "What are you going to do? Against all of us?" 

He saw figures move from the bush and saw at least ten more cats surround his  brother. His gaze swept the entire crowd and smirked, "What, figured that you couldn't beat me on you're own?" He taunted, tail tip twitching, claws unsheathing. 

Lionclaw snorted, "Big talk, for someone so alone." He grinned then a voice broke out.

"Lion, who is this cat?" He saw a large black and gray tom move forward, an ugly scar across his face, amber eyes narrow. 

 "A fool." Lionclaw answered, "But also a fool that will stand in our way."

The tom eyes stared at him before he nodded towards the cats behind him. 

"Kill."

Suddenly the cats launched forward as the tom, Jigsaw -Frosttiger assumed-, walked away, disappearing around the corner of the Woodwall. 

Lionclaw watched for a heartbeat before turning.

"StormClan, attack!" 

Frosttiger froze as Blueheart tackled one of the cats, Silverwind at her heel. 

Then Foxfur, then Dawnlight, Mousedusk, Stormysky, Featherfur, Tangledbranch, Sandycloud, Aldertuft, Adderstrike, and Thistlestrike. 

He stared around at his Clanmates, heart warming.

I'm not alone.

I'm not alone!

He grinned slightly, the weight of loss on his shoulders lifted as he gazed around at his fighting Clanmates.

"StormClan!" He yowled, launching himself at a nearby dark gray tom. He bit his ear before darting as the tom whipped around. He grabbed his tail and tugged it hard, making him stumble as Thistlestrike leaped on to him.

He darted between his wrestling Clanmates and looked around.

Where-

"GRAH!" 

"Ummph!" He was bowled over, Lionclaw was snarling at him with bloody and slightly yellow teeth. 

"Everytime, ever since that day, they chose you! They ignored me! I refuse to be ignored!" He snarled, lunged to bite his brothers throat. 

Frosttiger pushed his face with a large paw, blocking him. He kicked his brother off, kicking up some dust so that his brother wailed in frustration and rubbed his eyes with his paws. 

Frosttiger leaped backwards and bounced off the tree, then landed on his brother. He gripped with unsheathed claws and churned his hindlegs against his brothers back, making him yowl in pain and rolling quickly squishing his brother under him. 

He pinned his brother down and snarled, "Listen here, brother, I will destroy all that's precious to you. One by one I will kill all of StormClan. Every kit. Every queen. Every elder. Every warrior. Graystar. Eagletalon. All of them. They will die, you will suffer as you watch you're Clanmates die one by one. You hear me, Frost, one by one!" With that he pushed off and turned, "Retreat!" 

Frosttiger rolled up and watched as the group of cats followed Lionclaw around the corner. 

He stared after them as Lionclaws words sunk in.

'One by one!' 

He got up and looked around, they were battered, but not horribly injured. 

"We won!" Foxfur cried, laughing. Mousedusk smiled slightly before frowning at Frosttigers expression. 

"This isn't over. Not by a long shot. Let's go before they come back with reinforcements."

Nodding, the cats followed the gray tom back to camp.

----

"You saw Jigsaw?" Chesnutflight mewed, eyes wide.

Nodding Frosttiger stared back at the battle plan. Eagletalon watched him silently. 

"I don't think their going to attack us at the border. I think they will get us in the open."

"But the only open area is-" Dogclaw blinked, "You think they will attack here?"

"Not now, but I think that's where they will launched their final attack. Lionclaw could of killed me but he didn't. He's keeping me alive." Frosttiger's voice shook with uncertainty and rage. "We need to move our elders and any pregnant queens out." 

"What?"

"We need to make sure their safe!" Frosttiger stared at the surrounding cats.

The senior warriors, Featherfur, Silverwind, and Sandycloud glanced at each other, the deputy stared at the battle plan while Dogclaw stood by. Frosttiger trusted him to support or come up with something else.

Eagletalon looked up at Graystar, who was silent and gazing at the elders.

"Graystar, it's you're call." Frosttiger looked at his former mentor, who sighed. 

"Frosttiger is right, but I think we can move them to Snakerocks, the adders will scare away any cats that come by. We can go to Foxstar and ask him to send warriors to help defend them. If they attack us a second time, we'll make these preparations. Any objections?"

Frosttiger looked at the senior warriors and his friend, who all shook their heads.

"Then it's settled." Graystar beckoned Eagletalon over and led him to her den. 

Frosttiger gazed at the plan and sighed. 

"You're tense." 

He looked up, seeing Stormysky gazing at him with a gentle smile. "I'm trying to keep my Clanmates alive." He objected, gazing into her soft blue eyes.

"You haven't slept well in the last quarter-moon. Take a rest." Stormysky urged, nudging him towards the direction of the warriors den. 

Temptation made his paws prickle but he shoved it away, "I can't, not right now." Stormysky rolled her eyes, "Then I'll make you."

"Wha-" 

Suddenly he was herded by the she-cat, getting closer and closer to the tree trunk den. 

"Stormysky, stop-" 

"La, la, la, can't hear you!" She singsonged, grinning. Frosttiger let out a groan as he was forced inside the den. He glared at Stormysky who was looking at him innocently and sighed, looking at his nest that seemed to be calling him.

"Wake me up in the morning." He mewed, curling up.

"I'll wake you up when I wake up." Stormysky offered, laying next to him. She slid her head under his and purred.

"Fine.. just don't be a doormouse." Was his tired reply as he slipped into a world of black.

----

"Frosttiger! Frosttiger!" 

Frosttiger opened his eyes, looking around groggily. 

"It's the afternoon, get up!" 

Eyes widening, he scrambled up and pushed his way out of the den. "Did anything happen?" He demanded, looking at Icefall, who was the one that had woken him up. 

"Flamepaw was out hunting by herself and she saw Lionclaw scouting around."

Frowning slightly, Frosttiger looked around and glared at Stormysky. "Why didn't you wake me up?" 

The she-cat sighed, "You needed rest. A tired cat in a battle is mousefodder." 

Frosttiger sighed slightly, Eagletalon looked up, "Adderstrike has taken a patrol to scout for Lionclaw and see if they could find the snake-heart himself." He mewed, making Frosttiger nod. 

Graystar looked up, watching her former apprentice thoughtfully before she beckoned Eagletalon and the two padded away, mewing urgently. 

Frosttiger gazed around camp, everything seemed to be taken care of. The walls of the camp were fortified, extra defenses to the elders and, though empty, Nursery was made, and Rainpebble had collected extra herbs and was fortifying his den with brambles. 

He sighed and laid down, sighing as his muscles relaxed. Unfortunately the ease was short-lived as a battle patrol pushed through the barrier, soaked in blood and nicks. 

Frosttiger shot up and Graystar and Eagletalon rushed out. 

Adderstrike and Thistlestrike seemed to have to worst of it. The gray tom was panting. 

"There were so many.. endless streams of cats.." He panted. 

Eagletalon stared at the hurt cats before he turned to Frosttiger, who nodded, then the two looked up at Graystar, who was on her den. 

"Your call Graystar." Frosttiger mewed, making all the attention of the Clan fix on her.

Graystar's gaze swept the entire rank of cats before she let out a furious snarl.

"Let's take back our forest!"