CHAPTER THREE ALREADY?! -legasp- Yeah, you know, break, I get a lot done. =3 So yeah, here is chapter three. Some things are explained, others are not. xD I've already started chapter four but I'm not sure when it will be read.

Thanks to Simpering for another lovely review! You do get another cookie!

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Warriors. I only own Frostpaw, Crowpaw, Thrushpaw, Brackenpaw, Littleflame, Cricketpaw, Rosefoot, Tigerheart, and all the others.

She watched it happen over and over again. When the scene ended and faded to black, she would see it again. The horrible death, the blood as it seeped from Iceclaw's throat and from the mouth of the ginger tom. Her own pain as she stood there, watching it all happen. Her face burned and her shoulder ached, but something else was crying inside of her.

As she watched the death again and again, she realized that this must be what Crowpaw feels like. Seeing the awful death of Sootwhisker, this horrible insanity of seeing a cat die at the paw of another, it was awful. Also, the nagging feeling that she knew the tom. Not Iceclaw, but the ginger tom. The way he moved and the color of his pelt so strong, so familiar.

"She's 'till not awake? 'Ear StarClan, is dere anything you can do?!" The voice of Thrushpaw shattered the dream just as the ginger tom rushed out of nowhere, snagging the throat of Iceclaw for what seemed like the hundredth time. Jolting into consciousness, Frostpaw gazed around a bit fuzzily. Her right eye could see perfectly fine, everything as clear as usual. Though, her left side, everything seemed out of focus, like looking through a fog.

"You're awake!" A voice squeaked as she was approached by the dark gray shape of Crowpaw. He seemed better, livelier. Frostpaw also noticed that she was in his nest; he must've been released by Littleflame. "Are you feeling alright?" He cried, rubbing his face against hers. But as his fur touched her left side, she cried as pain shot through her head and brain.

Crowpaw stumbled back as both Thrushpaw and Cricketpaw rushed forward but all three were pushed aside by Littleflame. The dreamy she-cat sat down next to Frostpaw and looked sharply at her wounds. "Can you see out of your left eye?" Littleflame demanded to know, her tail giving a bit of an irritated twitch.

Frostpaw gulped, should she tell the truth, that everything was foggy? She was the medicine cat, Littleflame probably already noticed. "Barely." She whispered, ducking her head so she didn't have to look at her clanmates.

Cricketpaw snorted with disbelief. "That's better than we thought. We were afraid you were going to lose it completely. Those wounds that the ShadowClan deputy gave you were pretty severe." He growled, not in anger towards Frostpaw but in frustration towards Iceclaw. "Though, the wounds that he received. They were no short than fatal. There was no chance even a strong cat like Iceclaw could survive that kind of wound. Whichever cat did it knew how to kill and was determined to do so."

A familiar wave of despair washed over Frostpaw. She still felt pity to the warrior even though he tried to kill her. He had been driven insane by the death of his mate and kits. Though now, he could be with them in StarClan. "Did any cat find out who that tom was?" She asked wearily, trying her best to sit up, only to be forced down by Littleflame.

"You shouldn't be standing yet, not with the damage to your shoulder." Littleflame warned first but then proceeded to answer Frostpaw's question. "We are not sure, since you were the only one to see him but we have a good idea. We are almost sure it was the same cat that killed Sootwhisker and the same cat that killed those ShadowClan queen and kits. The description fits in every case. Yours, Crowpaw's recollection, and the one of a ShadowClan guard that saw him disappearing over the border."

Frostpaw paused, if there was a cat like that on RiverClan territory that had RiverClan scent, there was no chance they would find him. He was a danger to the whole clan. "So, who does Badgerstar think he is?" She asked after a few moments of silence.

Littleflame shook her head. "He hasn't announced, all we know is that he has a hunch. He has only discussed it with Goldenleaf and some of the senior warriors. Though, I have my own suspicions." She muttered, mostly to herself as she padded away.

Now, Frostpaw found all her friends all over her. "Are 'ou sure 'ou are alright?" Thrushpaw asked quickly, lying down next to her so they could lock eyes.

"She's going to be fine Thrushpaw, give her a couple of days to come around. Though Frostpaw, you have to stay here until your shoulder completely heals so we can keep an eye on you. We also have to make sure the wounds on your face don't get infected because you can lose that eye yet." Cricketpaw advised before heading after Littleflame. He did spare one more glance over his shoulder before disappearing.

"I was so afraid you weren't going to wake up." Crowpaw murmured, placing his ears against his head. "You kept crying in your sleep and everything. We were all afraid. That's why at all times, you had one of us or Cricketpaw." He explained, lying down next to Thrushpaw.

Frostpaw was confused, why would she need one of them, she surely wasn't out for that long. "How long have I been asleep?" She asked shakily, fearing the answer.

Thrushpaw gulped nervously. "A 'ong time, I'm afraid. 'Our suns now. 'Ou didn't sleep the entire 'ime but 'ou were fightin' a fever and were too 'ot to remember." He explained the best he could be Frostpaw as having a hard time understanding for his accent got heavier and heavier as he struggled for words.

"You had a fever most of the time. When you were awake, you were too disoriented and panicked so we had to keep feeding you poppy seeds. Your fever didn't break until just this morning." Brackenpaw called from across the medicine cat's den as he came in. He padded over to where they were all lying down and plopped himself down. "By the way Crowpaw, Badgerstar is looking for you. He says it's time for your evaluation. He will be assessing you." Brackenpaw smiled broadly, motioning toward the exit.

"Really?" Crowpaw's voice broke as he looked nervously out the den. "Badgerstar rarely evaluates apprentices." Without another word, Crowpaw sprinted for the exit and out into the camp.

Thrushpaw released a sigh. "'Amn, he is 'ounger than me yet he gets 'is evaluation first." The tom sighed, placing his head on his paws, furrowing his dark brown brow.

Frostpaw turned to Brackenpaw. "So, when did Crowpaw start talking again?" She asked. She hadn't wanted to ask the question with the gray apprentice around.

"Soon after the battle, I think he got worried about you and snapped out of it. Good thing two, I don't think Littleflame would be able to deal with you both at the same time." He gave a mrrow of laughter at his own joke. Thrushpaw hit him with a tail and Frostpaw attempted a smile but it hurt too much on her left side so she left it at a half of one.

"Hey, you two, get out of here and do some help for the clan. I have warriors coming soon to get their wounds checked out. I don't need you two causing problems." Cricketpaw suddenly appeared over their shoulders, glaring at the other toms before ushering them to their paws and out the exit despite their cries of dismay. "They are such a pain barging through here, thinking they own the den." The tall tom snorted before turning back to his patient. "Why are you smirking like that?" He growled.

Frostpaw let the good half of her face drop. She guessed it did look like a smirk. "Calm down Cricketpaw, they just care about me. You haven't forgotten what it is like to have friends have you?" She teased, sticking out her tongue. Even though Frostpaw was never in the Nursery at the same time as Cricketpaw, being several moons apart, she knew he was close to some warriors. In particular the young Lynxheart and Cindertail, who had all been in the Nursery together as kits. Though, every time she tried to imagine it, Frostpaw would give a small snicker. Cricketpaw as a careless kit was hard to imagine.

Suddenly, Cricketpaw sat down next to her, placing a tail on her shoulder. "Frostpaw, be careful of the cats you speak to." His voice was wasn't his own and when Frostpaw looked up at the tall tom, his eyes looked distant, like Littleflame's. "The dust may have settled for now but a snake is stirring. Watch your paws or you may get bitten." His voice ended in a rumbling growl and then a groan as the apprentice shook his head. "Sorry Frostpaw but…But I have to go." The tom mumbled in a hurry as he rushed off, leaving Frostpaw to just watch after him.

"Be careful how you step. We don't want to tear the wounds on your shoulder again." Cricketpaw advised as Frostpaw stood, leaning heavily on Cricketpaw's side. She managed to firmly plant her paws on the ground and took a couple tentative steps. Pain still swept through her shoulder every time she moved it but it was getting better.

Her sight wasn't completely healed and Cricketpaw said it wouldn't get much better. It was still very foggy but she could make out shapes and colors and see them move. That was enough for her in battle.

Frostpaw still didn't have the courage to look at her reflection yet, knowing the ugly scars that would stretch across her face. Her denmates told her over and over again that they did not look that bad but she could tell they were lying through their teeth.

A white shape slipped through the den entrance as Frostpaw took another couple steps from Cricketpaw's encouragement. Hope fluttered in Frostpaw's chest that it was Whitewind; her mentor had not come to see her since she was injured. Instead, it was Blossomwind, one of the pregnant queens in the Nursery.

She waddled in asking for Littleflame as Frostpaw sat down, taking weight off her bad shoulder. Cricketpaw shook his head but then directed the queen in the direction Littleflame had disappeared before they had started their exercises. Blossomwind nodded silently and went over to where the medicine cat was crouched over some herbs.

"Want to give it one more shot?" Cricketpaw asked, rousing Frostpaw to her paws.

"Can we go outside? I want some fresh air." Frostpaw pleaded, she hadn't been outside the medicine cat's den since they brought her back from the battle seven suns ago. The smell of herbs were starting to get to her head and she could do with some fresh air.

Cricketpaw nodded. "But you have to stay at my side. No dashing off." He teased, flicking her with his tail. He knew quite well that she couldn't really run in any direction.

Taking slow steps, Cricketpaw made sure to support Frostpaw as they stepped daintily through the bramble tunnel. Even though a cold blast of freezing wind greeted it, Frostpaw met it with a smile. It was nice to smell the camp again, anything other than those herbs.

Then she realized with a jolt that her paws were wet. "It snowed!" She squeaked with joy, nearly falling away from Cricketpaw. The medicine cat apprentice snickered at her cry but continued on while Frostpaw slowed down to gaze around the camp. With everything had been turned white by the snow, having dropped heavy. "It's beautiful!" She mewed, breaking a little ways away from Cricketpaw to take a couple careful steps on her own.

Cricketpaw sat down and watched as the apprentice stumbled around, trying her best to regain her balance. He kept an eye on the wound though, that still shown bright red on her shoulder. That ShadowClan tom had managed to get his claws pretty deep in Frostpaw's shoulder.

A sudden uproar echoed from the camp entrance, making both apprentices turn their heads. Frostpaw caught sight of Goldenleaf, Tigerheart, and Rosefoot all surrounding a large ginger tom who struggled between the three warriors. "You mousehearted fools, you can't keep me!" The tom cried, trying to strike Tigerheart, who stood in front of him. The gray tom sidestepped just in time to watch the massive paw strike the dirt.

"Frostpaw, get back in the medicine cat's den." Cricketpaw growled as he backed away from the scene, trying his best to push Frostpaw away without knocking her over. "Now." He commanded, his amber eyes locked on hers.

Something inside Frostpaw made her want to disobey, to see the scene unfold. It was the tom who killed Iceclaw and by the expression that Crowpaw held from across the camp, it was the cat who killed Sootwhisker. "Frostpaw, get inside now!" Cricketpaw nearly shouted, shoving the she-cat into the medicine cats den, nearly tearing her shoulder again.

"Cricketpaw, I think we were perfectly safe." Frostpaw protested from the floor, rage burning inside of her. There was no reason for Cricketpaw to push her, she had wanted to see what was happening. That was the cat that had killed another right in front of her eyes, she deserved to know who he was.

"You will stay here until this matter settles." Another voice was added to the conversation. Littleflame had joined the ground, Blossomwind beside her. The queen looked worried and with a nervous tail twitch, she left the den. Littleflame was left standing above Frostpaw, giving her a look that asked to be defied but Frostpaw could not find the courage. Even though her and Littleflame were reaching the same size, Littleflame was much more powerful than her in many ways.

Frostpaw sat up, wincing as she put some weight on her bad shoulder. "Just one question, who is he?" She asked, looking between Littleflame and Cricketpaw. Surely they would have the answer.

"He's a former RiverClan warrior; he was driven out of the clan when you were young. He killed many of his own clanmates and he still isn't afraid to do so I see." Cricketpaw growled, his claws flexing in the dirt. "He killed my father. Many other cats have hard feelings stacked against him. He killed several other cats." He finished, an awful shudder spreading through his body.

"But what is his name?" Frostpaw cried. She had never heard this story, even though this happened when she was a kit. She should've heard about it. "Why hadn't I heard this story before?"

Both Cricketpaw and Littleflame looked away guiltily, neither of them willing to make eye contact. "I'm sorry Frostpaw; we are not able to tell you." Littleflame muttered before leaving the den, her white tail disappearing into the snow. Frostpaw looked over desperately over at Cricketpaw who shook his head and left after Littleflame.

'Why are they hiding all of this from me? It isn't fair.' Frostpaw thought as she struggled to get to her paws but the pain in her shoulder was too much. She needed Cricketpaw's assistance but she doubted that she would get it.

More shouts came from outside the den, not from the tom but from the clan. Mostly demanding why he was back and how they should just kill him. He was a menace to the clan. Silently, Frostpaw agreed with them. The cat had shown how dangerous he was after he killed the ShadowClan deputy with just one attack. Only StarClan knew what he could do if he were left in camp.

That is it for now. Please remember to review. -sets out plate of cookies and milk-

More things explained next chapter and another battle to ensue. It will all be epic.

-Twilla