Um...hehehe...did I leave all you guys hanging for over a month?

...At least the next chapter is here!

Icepaw woke to find herself resting in the medicine den. Mistpaw lay motionless beside her and Crazystorm was nowhere to be seen. Icepaw tried to turn her body around but her soreness took over her. Icepaw moaned in pain.

Duskpaw came trotting in, "Is there anything you need?"

"Where's Crazystorm?" Icepaw rasped.

Duskpaw's gaze darkened, "He's outside helping the Clan. He's trying to get Heatherfur to stop crying. Nutkit and Flowerkit kind of hate their father now. You were very good friends with them and their father didn't really see them that much. Leafkit, I don't know about him."

Icepaw put her head down, "Bring in Crazystorm, please. I need to see him."

"Oh and did you know that he can talk normal? Dad will have to-" Duskpaw mewed cheerfully.

"I just want to see Crazystorm!" Icepaw snapped. Duskpaw had a tendency to talk fast when she was excited.

Duskpaw stopped and turned and stalked out the medicine den. She returned with Crazystorm, and then she nodded and left.

"You wanted to see me?" Crazystorm asked.

"Yes. I wanted to know if you were okay." Icepaw croaked.

"I'm well." Crazystorm cast his gaze at Mistpaw, "I don't know about her."

"Do you know more about, well… the prophecy?" Icepaw suddenly asked.

Crazystorm faced her.

"I'm sorry, if you don't know…" Icepaw looked down.

"You should get some rest." Crazystorm muttered, "I'll be in the inventor's den if you need me."

Without another reply, Crazystorm stalked out the den. Icepaw felt hollow, and a deep fear inside her started to rise.

Mistpaw moaned and forced her eyelids open. Icepaw turned her head sharply around.

"Mistpaw! You're okay!" Icepaw gasped.

"Yes… I am… are you?" Mistpaw whispered; barely able to speak.

"I'm fine." Icepaw lowered her gaze, "Thanks for saving me back there. I should've done something to help you."

"No problem. And, I saved you for a reason," Mistpaw rasped; a worm of guilt squirmed in her stomach, "I decided to spy on you because I was jealous. I thought you were going to persuade Lionstar to praise or do something in your favor again. But when I watched Lionstar attack you, I had to forgive you. You are a gifted, skilled she-cat. I wish I could be as good as you."

"Oh…" Icepaw sighed.

"I'm sorry…" Mistpaw whispered, "Please forgive me…"

"Alright. I forgive you." Icepaw purred; a tear ran down her cheek, "We're still friends."

"Thank… you…" Mistpaw gave a faint purr, and collapsed in her nest.

Icepaw stared blankly at her friend. Duskpaw wandered in and glanced at Icepaw.

"Is there anything you can do for her?" Icepaw asked,

"No. I'm sorry. Her fate lies with MoonClan." Duskpaw mewed flatly.

Icepaw put her head down. Her brain was being taken over by the darkness that threatened her mind. Icepaw's vision became a blur. She saw Duskpaw turn and leave the medicine den.

Icepaw opened her eyes and found herself on an endless field. The grass was stained with blood and the sky were gloomy and grey. Where am I? Icepaw wondered. She squinted. There was a faint outline of a cat. The outline was coming closer, and closer. Icepaw waited, unable to move. Her muscles were sore and she felt like collapsing. The outline was now a ghostly she-cat that stood before Icepaw.

"Icepaw, welcome." the ghostly she-cat whispered.

"Who are you?" Icepaw whimpered.

"I am Brokenheart." Brokenheart mewed.

"Brokenheart?" Icepaw cocked her head, "What a sad name!"

"My hideous mother gave my name to me when I got scarred on the eye." Brokenheart mewed flatly, "She neglected me. I was heartbroken. I searched for a mate. Then I met Brownspots. I had a pair of kits, but then, Brownspots neglected them. I attacked him in rage, killing him. The Clan witnessed this. They kicked me out. When I was traveling through unknown territory, I found my two kits washed up in a stream, dead. My heart was broken. My original name was Brokenface, but I changed it to Brokenheart. For, my heart can never be mended. I do not blame my Clan. I blame my mother for neglecting me."

"What a sad story!" Icepaw's heart pricked with pain, "And one more question, where am I exactly?"

"I can't exactly tell you where we are, let's just say we are in MoonClan and you're having a dream."

"Oh," Icepaw replied, looking down.

Brokenheart beckoned for Icepaw to follow her further into the fields.

Icepaw followed with interest and fear. It was bubbling fast within her stomach.

"We are here." Brokenheart murmured.

"What do you mean?"

"You are going to meet some of my friends here." Brokenheart nodded, "Meet my comrades. Icepaw, this is Longclaw, the tabby over there. The she-cat with one missing ear is Noear."

What odd names! Icepaw thought. They sound like DumbClan names… Now usually Icepaw would have been happy to meet new cats but, these cats were very strange. Noear was eyeing Icepaw gleefully and Longclaw's claws were well, very long. Icepaw wanted to turn into her ball form.

"Tell her why I brought her here." Brokenheart demanded.

"You were brought here to be made a choice." Noear smirked, "Whether you are with us or not."

"Of course I'm with MoonClan!" Icepaw protested; Noear glared at Brokenheart, "Did I do something wrong?"

"No of course not!" Noear blurted, "It's just that, your friend did."

"Who? Mistpaw?" Icepaw tilted her head, "What did she do wrong?"

"Well, once you think about it, she did a lot of things wrong." Noear explained, "First she hated you, next she treated you like an outsider; and not a clanmate, and she spied on you! What kind of a 'friend' is that?"

"But… she…" Icepaw shook her head; Noear was right, what was Mistpaw thinking?

"You could either stand with MoonClan, or stand with the traitor." Brokenheart growled, stepping up.

"I...I…" Icepaw looked around frantically, "I stand with MoonClan!"

"Good," Longclaw turned to Noear and Brokenheart and whispered, "So she is with us after all. She will be a perfect candidate for us."

"I wouldn't be sure about that yet," Noear mewed softly, "She is still a 'paw and doesn't know the area like we do."

"Oh lighten up, Noear! We'll just have to keep walking in her dreams," Brokenheart hissed. "That is all."

Longclaw nodded and turned back to Icepaw.

"Icepaw, we will visit you more often. You will get to know us more. We will help you train and will help you become the best warrior there ever was." Longclaw vowed, "But only on one condition. You must obey and support us in any way you can. Even if it is killing your own Clanmate."

Icepaw thought about this deal, she nodded, "Yes. Of course I will listen to MoonClan." And with that, she vanished into the mist.

Longclaw smirked, "What a fool, beliving this was MoonClan."

"A fool yes, but a powerful cat?" Noear nudged Longclaw, "We need her to think it is MoonClan. Aren't all the Clan cats so loyal to the treacherous heavens above?"

"When the time is right," Brokenheart snarled, "We shall have our vengeance."

Saying these words made Brokenheart feel support, but deep down, she felt a tiny worm of hope that her heart could be mended.

Next chapter will be longer, 2,000 words! :)
And weird things (like what, Tigerstar?) will be explained at some point.
I have started writing on the 2nd book with my friends, which will be much less weird and boring (Tip: Write ahead so that if you can't write you still can post)! But there's 27 chapters to this story, so be patient!
~Dusksong of MeadowClan