~*Hey, somewhat faster update than usual? Well here's chapter 10, thanks Earthwisper, Icethroat21, Jayfeather Fan19, Nianque, xStormcloudx, NewProphecy, Jaggedwing, Littleflower and K for reviewing. Alright so I wrote this chapter this morning, and it turned out pretty well in my oppinion. So do you think asking for 15 reviews is stretching it? I dont think so because 130 different people were reading my stories yesterday. So I have to make it to 130 reviews, and then I'll update the next day :) Oh and I'm posting the second part of "Slaughter" today, called "Bloodlust"! Please check it out!*~

~Leo~


CHAPTER 10

"So has Icestorm finally cooled down?"

Lionstar looked up to see Foxcatcher padding over to him, a lizard hanging from his jaws. The leader sighed, "I hope so, doesn't she realize how crazy she's acting? Poppyfrost is just trying to tear us apart!".

The red-furred tom twitched his whiskers, "Isn't that what she-cats do best? Act Crazy?" he pushed his paw into Lionstar's side while chuckling. "But don't worry" Foxcatcher grunted, "My sister will get over it, she's been that way since a kit. Just give her a few days and she'll be somewhat normal."

He prayed Foxcatcher was right, though it couldn't hurt to try and talk to his disgruntled mate.

"You two don't understand she-cats at all" a meow came from Whitewing who was sitting a fox-length away.

"How so?" Foxcatcher chimed in, turning to face the older queen. Lionstar's kin sighed, and moved towards the two toms to explain.

"Okay both of you listen up" she meowed, while both the leader and warrior perked their ears as if they were kits being preached by their mother. "Imagine yourselves pregnant with kits, as big as a cow" Whitewing told them, "And then on top of that, your traveling through a scorched desert, without much water or food."

Lionstar and Foxcatcher exchanged a look, he didn't really understand this all before, Icestorm has a right to act crazy!

"And then" the she-cat meowed louder, "Some crazy she-cat is obsessed with your mate, and tries to split you two apart" Whitewing paused as Lionstar thought about what she said.

So Icestorm wasn't really mad at him at all was she? All the elements were against her, and the kits were still half a moon away.

"So..." Foxcatcher trailed off, with his mouth open. "We need to get pregnant to find out what she feels like?".

No answer came from Whitewing, as she just lowered her head and shook it. Lionstar couldn't help but smile, as the red-furred tom turned his head to the side in confusion.

"You know" Ferncloud meowed, padding up to her son, "You never were the brightest of my litters."

The look on the young warriors face was still confusion, but he smiled as well.

"Well at least I don't make scenes in front of all the clans" he stated, casting a glance at his snow-furred sister, who was laying next to Sandstorm and Hazeltail.

"Hey" Ferncloud cuffed her son across his ears, "You should have a lot of respect for your sister, it was hard enough for me carrying Dustkit and Dovekit through the mountains. But I don't think I could have done it through this heat."

Lionstar agreed, but it couldn't have been easy keeping track of two kits through this heat either. Even right now, Ferncloud's latest litter was foraging under rocks, trying to find more Scorpion's.

Those were the large insects Burningheart's patrol brought back, Luckily Midnight told them they were edible. Suddenly Lionstar felt a nudge on his shoulder, Foxcatcher was poking him with a paw.

"What?" he hissed, looking at the young warrior.

"Look who's coming" he hissed, pointing in the direction of a few palm trees.

Lionstar turned his amber gaze, and froze with anger as he saw the familiar tortoiseshell and white pelt of Poppyfrost, padding towards him.

"I think she just wants to make trouble" Whitewing remarked, "I'd ignore her if I were you Lionstar."

Ferncloud snorted, "Ignoring her is what got him in this situation" she turned her gaze to her daughters mate. "You need to confront her up front, put her in her place! You are leader of ThunderClan for StarClan's sake, no one talks to your mate like that!".

"But what if she just causes more trouble" he asked, unsure of what to do.

"If all else fails" Ferncloud shrugged, "Then I'd just banish her."

If only. Lionstar would have liked to do that, but he couldn't very well do it. Why was Poppyfrost acting like this anyway? She used to be a sweet caring cat liker her mother Sorreltail, but now she was just bitter and angry.

"Go" he felt a nudge come from the senior gray-furred queen, and Lionstar stood up.

"Okay", he meowed. You are leader of ThunderClan! Now do as Ferncloud said, and put Poppyfrost in her place!

The sun was beginning to set overhead, but it was still burning hot as Lionstar padded towards Poppyfrost. Her bright blue eyes shone like blue fire in the dusk, and her pelt was as shiny and sleek as ever.

"If only she was as good looking on the inside" he grumbled, as the she-cat acknowledged his presence.

"Well look who came crawling back" she curled her tail as she smiled, "I thought you would have gone crying back to Icestorm by now."

Lionstar cut her off with a sharp glare, "Listen" he growled, "Don't talk, just listen".

The she-cat seemed caught off guard by his tone, and closed her mouth.

"I am the leader of ThunderClan" he began, "I have a mate who is expecting my kits and I love her very much. You are a warrior in my clan, and if you want to continue living in this clan, then stop this fox-dung right now!".

He wanted to say so much more, but Lionstar didn't want to yowl in front of all four clans! Poppyfrost glared at the tabby golden tom for a short moment, her eyes burning with blue fury.

"I know you like me Lionstar" she hissed while padding closer to him, "And there's only one thing that's in the way of us being together. But don't worry" she smiled, "I'll take care of that."

Lionstar turned his head in confusion, "I don't like you Poppyfrost, what are you dense or something?".

But the tortoiseshell ignored Lionstar, as she un-sheathed her claws and padded away. What in StarClan's name is she doing now, is she going to attack someone? But then Lionstar froze in his place, as he saw the direction Poppyfrost was heading in.

Icestorm. Even one attack on the pregnant she-cat could force her to lose the kits, he had to stop Poppyfrost! Bunching his strong muscles, Lionstar leapt at least five fox-lengths in the air, and landed on the hot sand.

But the tortoiseshell she-cat was already far ahead of him, he couldn't make it in time.

"Somebody stop her!" Lionstar called out, to the cats that were grouped ahead of him. Some perked their ears, but two cats stood up.

"She's going to attack Icestorm!" he hissed to Breezepelt and Duskfur, who turned to Poppyfrost. Surprisingly Breezepelt was the first to run after Poppyfrost, only a tail-length behind.

The brown RiverClan deputy soon trailed after him, gaining speed on the angered she-cat. Lionstar turned his gaze to Icestorm who was chatting next to Honeyfern, she didn't know what was happening!

"Icestorm watch out!" Lionstar growled, Poppyfrost was only a fox-length behind her.

The bright white she-cat rose her head to look at her mate for a moment, as Poppyfrost stopped behind her.

"You took him away from me" she growled, as Lionstar approached. "And now I'm taking you away from him".

Poppyfrost launched towards Icestorm, claws flashing in the air. And in a moments notice, Breezepelt launched himself onto the deranged she-cat, grabbing her by the scruff.

Duskfur and Bonepaw helped hold her down, while Icestorm backed away.

"Are you alright?" he asked urgently, running towards her.

She blinked, still shocked by what happened, "Yes, fine."

Lionstar pressed his golden muzzle into her soft white fur, "I love you, I always have and always will."

His mate gave him a lick on the head, "I love you too, I'm sorry for how I acted before. I supposed I can be a bit tempermental."

"A little?" he chuckled, cuffing her playfully.

Icestorm cuffed him back, as more cats gathered to see what happened.

"Hey!" Bonepaw chuffed, "Something's wrong with her, her eyes went white!".

Lionstar rose his head, what was the ShadowClan apprentice talking about? But then he padded over to Poppyfrost, who was laying on the ground motionless. Her breathing was shallow, and she was shaking a lot.

"What happened?" Sorreltail hissed, padding to her knocked out daughter.

"She just fainted" Breezepelt moved forward to examine her, as Midnight pushed through the crowd.

The large badger bent to sniff the she-cat, and rose her beady eyes, "Heat stroke she has, water we need" she growled, as Robinflight ran away to get her some water.

"What's heat stroke?" one cat asked.

"I seen that before" Purdy chimed in, joining Midnight. "When some cat get to hot out in da' sun, in makes um' crazy in the head." A cry came from Sorreltail, who was laying by her daughter, licking her fur.

Lionstar was in shock, so It may have been the heat stroke that was making Poppyfrost crazy, and he did nothing to help!

"What's going to happen to her?" Cinderheart meowed, staring at her sister with intense worry.

Midnight looked up and sighed, "Never wake up, Young cat might."