Blazespirit continued to survey the camp while Frostwing slept. She'd fallen asleep on his feet but Blazspirit wasn't to keen on waking her up just to get her off his feet. She'd probably bit hi s head of. He watched the rain pound down, flooding the camp. It was unlikely the others would be back until the rain stopped. He glanced down at Frostwing. A small spark of jealousy tried to light flames of hate inside him. After all Frostwing had done now she was going to be deputy? She was always so bossy during training, impatient for almost everything else, abrasive about most things, aggressive towards everyone, and just blunt for everything!

But now that Blazespirit looked into it he saw how some of these qualities would help a leader. Bossy could also help deliver orders, aggressive would prevent any cat from getting close to her, abrasive; great arguer, and bluntness would help her not to put up with any fox dung from others. He wasn't sure about abrasive and impatient but they probably fit in there too.

Why would Riverheart want Frostwing as a deputy? There were many other cats with more experience than her who would fit the job. Though Frostwing had seemingly been deputy since the others left. She had organized dawn patrol and hunting patrols as well as evacuating the camp up to higher ground.

Frostwing stirred in her sleep. She rolled over and Blazespirit had to prevent her from rolling over the edge. Frostwing's toes twitched and her body gave a slight spasm. Blazespirit remembered that Frostwing had always been a bit of a restless sleeper. She always kicked and rolled and fidgeted in her sleep. It had been really annoying when they were kits and apprentices. Every night Blazespirit had been woken up by her fervent and relentless kicking. Occasionally she yowled out loud. Most of the time it was just a yowl but once Blazespirit remembered waking up to her uttering something softly under her breath. It sounded like a plea to save some one. It had been a brisk leaffall night with no moon. Her words were eerie and scared Blazespirit out so much he stayed awake for hours.

Frostwing's tail was still curled around his. This had been something they had done as small kits during a storm. They nestled closely together as if the storm was unable to affect all three of them together. Her head rest softly on his paws. Her gentle breathing rustled his fur. The rain pounded a steady rhythm on the roof. The kits had been play fight and were know all worn out and nestled around Mapleleaf who was washing Gingerfur's kits. The smell of milk wreathed around him. He heard the soft breathing of Frostwing and the other cats. Most them, with nothing better to do had fallen asleep. Lightning lit up the den briefly as thunder boomed but this time it sounded far off, almost dream like. He felt his eyes closing almost instinctively.

"Reminiscing about the old days?" A soft purr spoke to him. His eyes snapped open. It wasn't storming, and it wasn't day time. A full moon cast its eerie light in the den. Not a cloud was in the sky. He turned his head.

There was a white cat sitting next to him, her eyes an icy blue, like Frostwing's.

"Hello Blazespirit," She meowed softly.

"What's going on? Who are you?" He asked jumping to his paws.

"Relax," She chuckled. "I am Snowstorm,"

"I-I don't know you," He stammered. "I should really go. I wouldn't want me clan mates to worry you see. If they worry too much they might go looking for me and then get lost in this storm and maybe they won't be able to find their way back and then they'll die because something happened to them and it will be all my fault for not-"

Snowstorm let out a morrow of amusement. "You are just like Dewdrop!"

Dewdrop? But that was…

"How do you know my dad?" He asked. Now he was curious.
"You wouldn't remember me," She meowed sadly. "But I was Riverheart's mate. I died kitting. It's a shame I couldn't watch my children grow up." She looked wistful. "I knew Dewdrop very well. He had a habit of word vomiting like that too."

"oh," Blazespirit felt a little sheepish. Then he realized he had no idea where he was.

"You're dreaming," Snowstorm answered his question before he asked it. "This is a message from StarClan."

Why would StarClan ever speak to him?

"So what is this message?" He asked, sitting down again.

"A warning really," She corrected him. "Something dark is coming to the forest."

"Well that's helpful," He growled. Couldn't StarClan be more specific? Why the vague hints that only made sense after you had the battle?

"Watch it," her blue eyes flashed dangerously. "I was a very skilled warrior in my day, ask your mother, I was her mentor."

"I'm sorry," Blazespirit apologized quickly.

"This danger is something that can only happen as the bonds that have been forged through out the clans snap from the fights and rivals of many moons." She meowed quickly. "If you don't fortify these bonds soon the entire forest is in grave peril. You need to make sure the forest is unified so that this threat cannot and will not come."
"But you said they are already snapped! How can I strengthen something that isn't even there?" He asked frantically.

"How should I know?" She asked. "You'll figure it out all in due time, I promise."

Suddenly a loud yowl disrupted the conversation. The yowl wasn't like anything Blazespirit had ever heard. It wasn't even cat like. Snowstorm's eye widen.

"I must go!" She leapt to her feet.

"Wait! Is there anything I should know?" He asked her. "Please?"

Snowstorm gave him a pitying glance. "You're existence will never be easy. It is one of the most difficult ways of life I've ever seen a cat have. I believe StarClan gave you this path because you were the only one who could follow it."

The ground started shaking. Blazespirit tried to stand but the vibrations forced him down. Things grew misty, hazy almost.

"The very fabric of this dream is being attacked!" Snowstorm yowled. "I was afraid of this."

"WhatdoIdowhatdoIdowhatdoIdowhatdoIdowhatdoIdowhatdoIdowhatdoI-" Blazespirit began to panic. He had no idea what she said but it sounded bad.

"I will return you to the surface but here is my last piece of advice:" She came up to him and wrapped her body around him protectively and whispered into his ear.

"Though your path will have many twists and turns remember that your heart is the best guide StarClan could give you," Her voice was soft and filled with sorrow. "Follow your heart, no matter where it leads you. There is nothing else you can do sometimes but listen to your heart."

Then everything got brilliantly bright. So bright, Blazespirit closed his eyes and fell into nothing.

Author's Note: Thanks for all the feed back! Please continue to help me find ways to improve. Special thanks to RebelleGirl and Hawkclaw of ThunderClan for all of their help. Both these people are super duper awesome and you should go check them out RIGHT NOW! I MEAN RIGHT NOW!

Now I have a second announcement. I am currently on hiatus- or a sort of break- due to school issues. As a result The New Hero, and some of my other works, will not be getting new chapters nearly as often. I have decided to make this decision as a result of school starting up. I am starting high school and I do have to pay more attention to my grades. As it turns out, high school is hard! I actually have to study! O.O

But, again, thank you so much for your continued support.