So many reviews from all of your amazing readers. We have to keep it up. We have two more chapters before the epilogue people, and just to clarify, there IS going to be a sequel that continues Frozenleaf's journey. As for this chapter, enjoy, and leave a review when you've finished?

Nightstorm: Born of True Destiny does not own Warriors

Chapter Forty-Eight

She felt like she was in darkness for only moments by the time she opened her eyes again. She stared blankly at the cave ceiling, gray and dark. She heard nothing around her except for a whistling wind that sang eerily outside. Her mind felt blank and hollow, consisting of no thoughts or emotions. She watched as she closed her eyes again, and it all went dark and silent.


The next time she revealed her gaze, she was facing A different direction. The opening of the cave, gave off nothing but sheer blackness, a mark of the night, and the whistling wind she had heard earlier had turned to a shrill howl, and left her cold and shivering. She didn't move; her body was numb, and her thoughts were none.

Suddenly, warmth slipped into her pelt, and her eyes flicked up. She didn't see anyone looking down onto her, so she sighed, waiting for someone to speak.

A mumble sounded.

"Greyson?" her voice was as empty as her thoughts.

"Who is Greyson?"

A shape circled her and found her eyes, staring into them patiently.

She let it flood in to her blank mind, expecting nothing, but what she got was a sharp prick of sadness. She raised her head, eyes darting from corner to corner, like she was looking for something that was never there.

"Ice."

Her eyes found the shape - Nettlepaw - and her gaze shone with dread. She lifted herself on her aching paws. "He is dead isn't he? They're all dead!"

Nettlepaw appeared frazzled at the insanity in her voice, but he didn't move back. He moved closer and stood right before her as she collapsed, burying her head into his shoulder.

"They're all dead now, Nettlepaw," she whispered, sobbing now. "They're dead because of me."

Nettlepaw was still against her. She swore she couldn't even feel the rise and fall if his chest as he breathed. Finally, out of the silence, he whispered back, "You've asleep for a day. You fell asleep one night and woke up the next. Does that make any sense to you?"

She quieted her crying, digesting his words. "It's been a day?" she asked him.

He confirmed with a gentle nod.

"What is the moon like? Is it full?"

Nettlepaw's meow was rippled with confusion. "I, uh, I don't think so. Ice, what are you planning?"

Ice pulled away from him and looked up into his amber eyes, a small smile beginning to lift the corners of her lips. "I know the best time to attack," she told him. "A Gathering."

Her comapanion didn't copy her expression of happiness. "Best time? Are you sure?" He stepped back too. "Ice, I had my concerns about the first plan. Just us against the whole of ThunderClan, but now you're telling me that we have a chance against all four of the Clans?"

Ice's smile didn't falter. "It's perfect. They will all be there. They will all see that I mean it when I talk revenge. All of them, Nettlepaw. I'll destroy them all!"

"I don't think you hear the words coming out of your mouth."

"Of course I do!" she exclaimed. "Trust me when I say it's perfect. And if they were to attack, only three or four cat can surround me at a time, and that can't be too much of a problem. Besides, you'll be there to help me." She paused. "If they even recognize me, they'll underestimate my strength. They'll go easy on me."

"If you're trying to kill them, chances are they'll try to kill you right back."

Ice smiled at him like he wasn't serious. "Like I said," she laughed, "Trust me."

Nettlepaw stared at her disbelievingly. He finally emitted a long, deep sigh. "I don't know how I can argue with you unless you can see how it pans out for yourself. Ice, I need you to make another promise to me."

She waited.

"Promise me you won't die."

She threw her head back and laughed, the cackling sound echoing around the cave. "Of course I won't die! Do you not have faith me? You know me, I'm strong." She crouched, like she was about to attack something. "And those stupid Clan cats have a weakness. A little something called the warrior code. Those mouse-brained words give the Clans their limits. We'll find our way to maneuver around it."

Nettlepaw clearly wasn't convinced, but he said nothing to argue. "Fine. Now tell me, who is Greyson?"

Ice winced as he said his name. She swallowed a sound of sadness and growled. "Don't you ask me that. I beg of you don't just leave it as it is, and let's continue our journey."

"But it is still late night, Ice. Wouldn't you much rather get going when the sun comes up...and when you have recovered from your sleeping spell? Those paws must not be good to walk on after an e tire day of not using them."

"No time," she said quickly, rushing past him. "Let's go. Now. If we're ever going to get there before tomorrow night at the full moon-"

"Right, right," Nettlepaw muttered. "Fine."

Ice stood, seeing how her paws felt after not being used for so long. For a moment they felt like they wouldn't hold her weight, and a tingling sensation swept through her legs, but the feeling ebbed away leaving only an icy ache that she knew would wear off after a while. "Shall we go?"

Nettlepaw turned and led her out of the cavern. The first thing she felt outside was a wall of freezing air falling down over her body, and she tried to convince herself that it was only the chilly leaf fall around them, but that same feeling iced it's way over her heart, like a warning, but she ignored it. How could anything be warning her actions? She was alone. No ancestors to guide her.

Through the rest of the night they pushed on. Nettlepaw seemed to trail sluggishly behind, his eyes heavy and his paw steps unbalanced. Ice didn't give a thought at him. They had to get there before the moon was full, and the Clans finished their Gathering. Everyone would feel her pain then.

When the sun rose in front of them is when the rocks slowly began to disappear, and were replaced by the same moor they had met a few days back. It had taken them so quickly to make it through this journey, but so long on the way to the Twolegplace. Ice shuddered at the cold of the blizzard as the memories of herself fighting against the bitter wind and snow, sticking to her face came flooding in.

The past is behind you...look to the future! You can decide between painful memories or beautiful predictions. This was the second time she heard a voice speak in her head. If she didn't know any better, she would have just guessed it was her own thoughts, though she was certain they weren't coming from her own mind.

Nettlepaw was panting behind her. Ice whipped around and growled, "What?"

He glared at her. "What do you think? How are you not exhausted?"

"Because I'm driven," she snarled. "You better lighten up and walk faster, or we'll never get there on time."

"Do you know how fast you've been walking?" asked Nettlepaw, baffled. "We're so close, right now! I say we rest until sunhigh, maybe eat something, and then get back on our paws. You can't possibly expect me to enjoy this."

"You're lucky we're not traveling in the blazing sun," Ice hissed, shooting him a callous glance. "Then you'd be bowing before me begging. We're continuing."

"Ice," Nettlepaw sighed. "We'll be in Clan territory before the sun sets. Do you really just want to wait around there where we can get caught by Clan cats?"

He had a point, but Ice didn't like to be wrong, so instead of admitting that she was wrong, she asked him something. "How are you so familiar with this area? It's been so long since you've came back to the Clans."

Nettlepaw replied simply. "I remember being here, near that tree -" he flicked his tail to a tall, ancient looking tree off in the distance, "- when a couple of rogues attacked me. I escaped, but still left them with a few scratched they wouldn't forget. I doubt they're here now, so we really should stop."

Ice didn't reply.

"Did you here me?"

"You're wrong. I think they're still here."

"What?"

"The scent is fresh. Really fresh."

Nettlepaw shook his head, astounded. "Well, isn't that chance! Do you think that could mean anything, Ice?"

For the last time, she snapped inside her mind, StarClan doesn't watch me, and doesn't send any sort of omens or signs to me signaling danger or mistakes or anything! All faith has been lost. It is a mere coincidence. Aloud, she said, "But it doesn't matter. I can take them." She raised her head to the sky and yowled, "Show yourself! We aren't afraid!"

Ice and Nettlepaw, both fixated their eyes on the tree that waved its branches to them as the wind attacked. She could have sworn that she saw something move at the base of the tree and stalked up slowly. She repeated her threat.

This time, a red cat with a missing ear revealed himself, yellow eyes like fire. Following him were two others, one a bright ginger she-cat with matching yellow eyes, and the last a black and white tom with a bed of scars covering his shoulders and flank. He looked the most intimidating, but even so, Ice wasn't afraid.

"Three?" Nettlepaw asked. "I thought there were only two of you." He directed his gaze to the black and white cat. "I've never seen you before."

He showed his stained yellow teeth. "I'm new around here."

The red tom stood taller, to show that he would speak. "You're in our territory, weaklings. Leave now, or feel our claws."

"I'd love to see you try to lay them on me," snarled Ice.

"Ice..." Nettlepaw warned.

"So," the red cat hissed cooly. "We have a feisty little she-cat who is way to confident in herself, and a cowardly tom who doesn't want any trouble."

"I'm not worried about her," Nettlepaw told him. "You're the ones I fear for."

The red cat nodded. "I stand corrected. You're both way too confident in yourselves."

Part of Ice, a very little part, screamed at her, Arrow and Blade! This is he same thing! You don't want to hurt them! But the rest said, Perfect practice for the Clans. "Overly confident? Come at me."

The red cat chuckled. "It's your death bed." As quick as a snake, he lunged for her. She dodged just by a mouse-length and then turned her head, to snatch the red cat's single ear. He screeched as she pulled him back to leap on him and wrestle him to the ground.

By that time, the black and white tom and the ginger she-cat had attacked. The ginger she-cat went straight for Ice, who sensed her coming and reached up to grab her scruff and drag her down beside the red cat. Her claws sliced back and forth over their backs each time the tried to move. The red cat was the first to roll away from her claws and jump up, attacking her again. His teeth buried into her shoulder. Grunting at the pain and hot blood that rolled through her fur, Ice flailed her paws several times before finally striking something. The red cat's weight shifted and it was enough for her to twist and slip far enough to successfully grasp his own shoulder.

The ginger she-cat grasped her scruff and pulled her away. Once on her back, the ginger she-cat pinned her to the ground. The red cat came up behind and laughed. "I knew you couldn't beat us."

"Think again," she hissed and raked her hind claws down the belly of of the ginger cat. Then she lifted herself up and sliced her forepaws up the she-cat's chest to her neck. She crumpled to the ground, and before the red cat could even react, Ice spun around and rammed into him, getting a grip on his throat before biting down hard enough and listening to his gargled yowl before he collapsed in her jaws. She dropped him and whirled to look at the fight between Nettlepaw and the black and white cat.

Nettlepaw was pinned and by the looks of it, the attacked was about ready to sink his jaws into his neck. Ice ran at him and crashed into the black and white cat. In a frenzy of teeth and claws, Ice managed to slide her own across his belly, deep. He thrashed for a few minutes and then lay still in a pool of blood.

Ice turned to look at her friend. "You see? This is why I should destroy the Clans. When they see what I can do, they'll bow down before me or die trying to overpower my strength."

Nettlepaw just stared at her painfully.

She cocked her head. "Are you badly hurt?"

He shook his head, closing his eyes tightly.

"Then what is it?"

Ice noticed the bitterness in his voice, and it was difficult to ignore, but she said nothing, for the rest of the way there.

Poor Nettlepaw. What do you think is on his mind? The next chapter is the last one before the epilogue. And I'm going to ask you right now not to hate me. It's sad.

But, hey! We'll have a sequel. Be excited! Frozenleaf's story is only beginning!

~ Destiny (Nightstorm)