Chapter 8

"Northsong, StarClan told me that only by reciprocation will I return to a stable path. I need you to love me Northsong... Please..."

"Frostflight, I've kinda always liked you. Of course." The black and white tabby touched his nose to Frostflight's, purring with closed eyes.

Frostflight opened her eyes. The fantasy replayed in her mind again and again. Northsong had to love her. The white she-cat looked up to the dark sky, where the full moon was almost at its height. Thank StarClan Northsong wasn't going to the gathering tonight. She had told him earlier to meet her in the forest at moonhigh, she just hoped he would come.

A rustling in the bushes alerted Frostflight. Northsong had come after all. The tom emerged into the clearing, icy eyes emotionless as always. Frostflight tasted his scent in the air, his beautiful, wonderful scent. She paused. Was that another cat's scent along with Northsong's? No. She decided. Northsong couldn't have brought any other cat.

"Northsong." She dipped her head. Frostflight couldn't be sure if he responded. Her heart was pounding so hard that she wouldn't be able to hear it if all of StarClan came and yowled in her ear. "StarClan told me something."

Frostflight knew this time that Northsong hadn't spoken. He simply cocked his head.

The she-cat took a deep, shuttering breath and began to recite the message. "Only by reciprocation can you return to a stable path." She murmured. "Northsong, it means that you are destined to love me."

Now it seemed Frostflight's heart had stopped entirely. She waited for response, but was greeted only with the silence of the nighttime forest. It seemed to drag on for moons.

"Northsong?" The mew came from a bush. Northsong turned his head to look at the large she-cat slipping out, her tortoiseshell and white fur standing out against the forest floor.

"Hazelrise?" Frostflight hissed in surprise. She looked to Northsong with narrowed eyes. She was even more astounded that the tom didn't look surprised in the slightest. It was as if he had planned this... "You, you brought her here?" Frostflight yowled the words. Her eyes burned with a cold fire. Her pelt stood on end. She unsheathed her claws into the soft floor. Her teeth bared in a ferocious snarl.

"What?" Hazelrise meowed. "You can't hurt us!"

But Frostflight didn't care. She lunged forward with flashing teeth and claws. She landed on top of Northsong, bowling him over and pinning him on his back. She raked her claws down his belly. She was only vaguely aware of his paws battering her stomach. Frostflight's burning rage blocked out any pain. She pushed her head down and sunk her teeth into Northsong's neck. Blood poured from his wounds and she could feel his blows becoming weaker and weaker against her. She grinned at the taste of his blood in her mouth.

A large weight knocked Frostflight from Northsong's now limp body. Hazelrise. The tortoiseshell she-cat's teeth grazed her shoulder, but despite the blood pouring from the new wound, Frostflight felt no weaker. She rammed her claws into Hazelrise's belly, opening a huge tear. The warrior fell off of her, loosing large amounts of blood from the stomach wound.

"You betrayed me, you both betrayed me." Frostflight spat, her brown eyes ablaze.

"What are you doing?" The desperate yowl stopped Frostflight in her tracks. A tiny brown she-cat had stepped in.

"This is none of your business, Fawnpath."

"Yes it is." The little cat hissed.

Frostflight, overcome with rage, leaped forward, grasping Fawnpath by her scruff. In one swift move she flung her former friend into an oak across the clearing. A loud snapping sound exploded as Fawnpath hit the tree, followed by a bloodcurdling yowl. A bone had surely been broken.

Frostflight stood in the center of the clearing, paws and mouth drenched in sticky blood. As it dripped a crimson tide formed at her feet, seeping through the blades of grass and drowning them. Her brown eyes sweeped over the three cats, unconscious and bloody. Frostflight's stomach dropped. She felt pain and weakness seep back into her body. She had almost killed three cats, she had finally gotten revenge on Northsong, yet Frostflight felt powerless.

She used her last bit of strength to pad over to Northsong. Tears dropped from her eyes, mingling with blood as they fell on Northsong's fur. Frostflight felt power drain from her body. She fell down upon Northsong, weeping and wailing.

"I'm sorry." She murmured. "I'm so sorry."

The forest was silent. Frostflight simply lay there, long white fur stained with crimson, eyes wet with tears. The only sound was the young warrior's occasional sob. She sat there, just listening to Northsong's slow heartbeat. She couldn't tell how long it was, but it didn't even matter.

"You should be."

Frostflight's eyes snapped open. Northsong was stirring. For the first time in seasons emotion burned in his ice blue eyes. Pure rage. Frostflight slid to the ground as he rose. Northsong stood over her, pinning her down with paws on her shoulders. She winced as his claws reopened a wound.

"What was that?" He spat at her.

"I, I didn't..." Frostflight stammered.

"Why are you so annoying? Just leave me alone for two heartbeats will you?"

The white she-cat rose a somber yowl. Northsong hissed in reply. His teeth dug into her hind leg while his claws battered her belly. Frostflight was covered in more blood until she was barely recognizable.

"Please!" She begged. "Don't hurt me!"

But the pain was already over. Northsong had fallen to the ground again. His bellt wounds were drenched in blood. His eyes had glazed over. Frostflight knew what was happening.

"Northsong!" She pushed herself forward, with much pain, to lay beside him. She placed her paw on his chest and felt his heartbeat grow steadily slower. Frostflight pushed her nose into his neck fur, drenching it with her tears. "Don't leave me."

Then he was silent. His heartbeat stopped and his body went cold and limp.

Northsong was dead.

A voice echoed in Frostflight's ears, it seemed to come from everywhere. Bouncing off the trees and radiating from the ground.

This was not meant to be. You must have reciprocation.

Frostflight wept harder. "Fine! I will never be sane! Northsong has left me. Who else am I to love?"

The voice didn't answer. Frostflight was left in the forest. Alone and drowning in blood. She bit down hard on her paw, pain spreading throughout her.

What have I done?

AUTHOR'S NOTES

You cannot just sit there and tell me that was expected.

Should I have kept Northsong alive?Did this surprise you?

Tell me what you thought!

For all wondering, THIS STORY IS NOT OVER! I will be continuing it!