I know I'm making a bunch of cats warriors in this fic, but they really need to be made warriors. It's part of the whole plot. And if this chapter seems a little rushed, I'm sorry.

Chapter Ten

"And then, Snowfrost attacked Mistypaw, Skyfoot's apprentice – or, now, it'll be Mistycloud – on her own territory. Nightcloud had no idea that it was she who had done it. Mistycloud died soon after that, but her brother, Ebonyclaw, requested that she received her warrior name."

I was talking to Iciclestar. We were sitting next to the river, rather close to Fourtress. Both of us were sure that none of the other Clans would notice us around there. Iciclestar needed to hear what Flamestorm had done so far.

"Anyway, when Mistycloud died, Nightcloud went to tell Snowfrost about it. Snowfrost believed that Mistycloud had been his apprentice, but she wasn't – Ebonyclaw was. So Snowfrost was shocked to learn that there Ravenfur had two kits, not one. She ordered her warriors for Nightcloud to be killed – but I was there, and I pulled him out of it." I tried not to say it with a swagger.

"Wow." Iciclestar's amber eyes blinked. "So why did Snowfrost want both of Ravenfur's kits?"

"Because there's a prophecy." I repeated the whole thing to her once again. It was getting tiresome to keep saying it. "The descendants of the five cats who were apprentices during Firestar's time as an apprentice are the ones who will defeat Flamestorm if Glacierstar falls." I shivered. "Dovekit told me. I really hope that the last part doesn't come true. I suppose Snowfrost thought that Ravenfur's kits would be the easiest to destroy, as her mate had one of them as an apprentice."

Iciclestar nodded. "I get it." She swished her silver tail in anticipation. "That Flamestorm sure knows how to manipulate Clans to do things."

I sighed. "Yes, she does. That might be what Flamestorm's planning to do – manipulate the other Clans into destroying me."

"Maybe we should warn the other Clans about her."

"No!" I exclaimed. "That would mean explaining that I was once a Twoleg. I can't do that – the other Clans would defy me and not care if Flamestorm took me down."

"Right." Iciclestar twitched her ears. "Then maybe the only thing we can do is wait for Flamestorm's next move."

"Yes, that's what I was thinking," was my response. "We should get back to our Clans now."

"Yes," answered Iciclestar. She climbed to her feet headed toward RiverClan territory. Just as she was about to swim gracefully across the river, she turned back toward me. "Glacierstar, ever since I betrayed Flamestorm, I've been having horrible dreams."

I sighed bitterly. "I knew she'd do something like that."

"Yes…every night I dream about myself – dying. Nine times, I die, each of them a different way." She shuddered. Every leader's worst fear – dying nine times. "The last one always seems to end with me falling into flames."

"Ignore them," I told her. "She wants you to be scared."

"Okay," she replied. "Good night, Glacierstar."

"Yeah…see you, Iciclestar."

The two of us headed back to camp, in two different directions.

"Glacierstar! Where have you been?"

It was Dragonheart. The black, gray, and ginger she-cat was hurrying toward me as I returned, her tail fluffed out in anxiety.

"I sent patrols in every direction to look for you," she sniffed. "Where were you?"

I shrugged. "Hunting. I thought we could use the fresh-kill." I pushed past her. "I want to see Spiraltail's kits."

I was feeling grumpy and nervous because of what Flamestorm had promised. Iciclestar's dreams didn't help much either. I entered the warm and sunlit nursery, where four queens and seven kits were staying inside. When Whiteflower spotted me, she let out a huge purr.

"Glacierstar!" she exclaimed. "How are you?"

I dipped my head. "Fine, Whiteflower," I replied. "Enjoying the nursery?"

She glanced at her belly. Her kits had not yet been born. "Yes, it's much better than that dirty Twoleg home."

"I imagine it must be." It was Sprucecloud from the back of the den. She and Morningcloud were the most resentful toward the she-cat's return. Fortunately, Whiteflower never picked up any of it.

I spotted Spiraltail near the back and padded over to her. Dovekit and Blizzardkit were having a huge playfight. I poked Dovekit gently with my paw, hoping to get a prophecy or something from StarClan out of her.

But I got nothing. Dovekit continued to wrestle with Blizzardkit on the ground, rolling down the slight slope. Spiraltail purred loudly at the sight of them. I had been incredibly stunned when she had told me that her mate was Bramblestar – a secret she had kept hidden for so many moons. I figured out that she didn't want to tell anyone because she didn't want her kits to appear special because their father was the old leader of ThunderClan – or perhaps it was because Bramblestar was Tigerstar's son, and they carried on the generation.

"Glacierstar," mewed Spiraltail, "something has been bothering me. I know who Blizzardkit's mentor will be…Leafstorm, of course…but what about Dovekit? I was thinking Skyfoot or Fangmouth, maybe Squirreltail, she hasn't had an apprentice in a while…but who will it be?"

I thought hard about her question. I wasn't sure I wanted StarClan's link to be mentored by an ordinary warrior. So I told her,

"I'll mentor her."

Spiraltail stared at me in complete shock. "But…Glacierstar…you already have Creampaw."

"Creampaw will be a warrior very soon. I'll make him a warrior in a few days, in fact," I added.

My daughter stared at me curiously. "You've taken a liking to Dovekit," she mewed. "Why are you always trying to talk to her?"

I hesitated, wondering what to say next. I couldn't exactly tell her that her daughter was the link to StarClan. So I just mewed, "I don't know, she's just a good little she-cat." I shrugged.

Spiraltail grunted in agreement and watched her two kits playfight. Morningcloud's kits, Pinekit and Rustkit, were about to join in. They were half a moon younger than Spiraltail's.

Right, I thought, gazing at all four of them happily play fight, I'll mentor Dovekit.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join me beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting."

The cats of the Clan circled below me for Creampaw and Glitterpaw's warrior ceremony. I felt rather nervous because I wasn't exactly sure if Creampaw was ready to accept his warrior name – but I needed to make room for Dovekit.

But then, what about when we had to fight the foxes? I thought as I flicked my tail at the two apprentices. Their white pelts were groomed sleekly for their ceremony. I purred loudly and looked up at Silverpelt.

"I, Glacierstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of their noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn."

I looked down at the tom and the she-cat and meowed in a loud, clear voice, "Glitterpaw, Creampaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your own life?"

"I do." Glitterpaw's mew, quiet and anxious.

"I do." Creampaw spoke louder with excitement.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Glitterpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Glitterpool. StarClan honors your bravery and justice, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

I had spent a long time thinking about Glitterpool's warrior name. I couldn't decide the best one for her, until I heard an old Firestar tale about a cat named Graypool. To honor her memory, I would name Powderstripe's apprentice after her.

I turned to Creampaw, my apprentice, after completing the ritual with Glitterpool. "Creampaw, from this moment on you will be known as Creamwhisker. StarClan honors your confidence and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

Creamwhisker purred loudly and bent to let me rest my head on his. I felt incredibly proud of him. This white-pelted tom had probably been the best apprentice I'd ever had. I almost felt sad that it was going to end, that I'd never be able to train him once again.

"Glitterpool! Creamwhisker! Glitterpool! Creamwhisker!" the Clan chanted, over and over.

Ebonyclaw rose to his feet to congratulate them as I leapt down from the Highrock and watched from a few feet away.

"Good names," he told them, swishing his dark tail around his paws. "I'm glad that you're warriors now."

Creamwhisker dipped his head and Glitterpool purred loudly. Fangmouth was just coming over to repeat Ebonyclaw's words to his old den mates.

As I headed over to my den to fall asleep, I noticed a pair of green eyes watching me from the nursery. It was Dovekit. Awfully creepy, the way she was staring at me. I knew that she was telling me that something would happen, soon.

I was both eager and nervous about the next Gathering half a moon after my apprentices' warrior ceremony. Eager, because I'd be able to see if Flamestorm had messed anything up. Nervous, because I wasn't sure if I'd be able to handle it.

I chose the cats to go to the Gathering very carefully, leaving nearly half of the Clan behind to guard it. I made sure that Ebonyclaw, Creamwhisker, and Glitterpool were included. I knew that all three of them were very excited about their first Gathering as a warrior.

Bringing Dragonheart and a few other cats with me, I brought them all to the Gathering. The remaining two apprentices, Creekpaw and Rosepaw, were coming as well. Before we had left, Spiraltail pulled me aside.

"Glacierstar, I think that Dovekit is ready."

My heart leapt. This was exactly what I wanted to hear. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. She seems perfectly capable, and she is definitely six moons. You'll be mentoring her?"

I nodded. "That's right. And Leafstorm will mentor Blizzardkit."

I was glad that Leafstorm was getting an apprentice. She was finally able to teach what her mentor, Cinderpelt, had taught her so many moons ago. I hoped that Blizzardkit would be a worthy apprentice.

"Look! There's Talonstar, ShadowClan's leader."

Rosepaw and Creekpaw were standing on the edge of the slope, staring down at the many cats beneath the four trees. They were pointing out the fiercest warriors and the leaders of Clans. As I too stared at Talonstar, I could see that he looked unusually thin. All the ShadowClan cats that I noticed looked like that. With a lurch I wondered if something had happened to them – or if Flamestorm had something to do with it.

I padded down the slope, flicking my tail for my Clan to follow me. They rushed to meet their friends in different Clans. I headed toward Iciclestar.

"Hello," I greeted, about to ask about Flamestorm.

"What's wrong with the ShadowClan cats?" she interrupted. "They look so gaunt."

"I know," I agreed. "I noticed that. You don't think…?" I let it hang, not wanting any cats to overhear.

The silver-pelted she-cat shrugged. "She might take advantage of it."

"This might be her third plan," I whispered. "Two of them have failed, but she's never mentioned it in my dreams. Maybe she's given up." I let out a purr of amusement but froze when Crowstar stalked past me, glaring.

He didn't say anything to me, but when he whispered something to his deputy, Stonyfoot, the other gray tom just gave me an uncomfortable look. I looked down at my paws. Stonyfoot still respected me, even after he had tried to kill Nightcloud. I wanted to say something to him, but a loud yowl from Talonstar made Iciclestar and I hurry to the top of the Great Rock. The huge gray tom wanted to speak quickly.

"Cats of all Clans!" yowled Talonstar. "ShadowClan requires your assistance."

I glanced nervously at Iciclestar and Dragonheart.

"Our Clan was recently hit with a very powerful sickness, and with the conbination of Twolegs scaring away all of our prey, ShadowClan is doing horribly."

I didn't believe him. It was the middle of greenleaf – surely there were no sicknesses then.

To my surprise, Talonstar turned toward Crowstar. "Crowstar, I have seen how well your Clan is doing. We must ask you to let us share your hunting grounds."

To my even greater surprise, Crowstar considered it. Then he mewed, "It would hardly feed all of us, both our Clans."

"I'm sure you have enough," insisted Talonstar.

WindClan yowled out outraged cries. "Never!" It was Slatefoot, a light gray tom. "Place one pawstep on our territory, and we'll rip you to shreds!" The rest of the Clan yowled their agreement.

Unexpectedly, Crowstar turned to me. "I'll need ThunderClan's help," he mewed. "Perhaps you could spare about a fifth of your usual weekly fresh-kill?"

I hissed. "No."

The three of us debated. Iciclestar remained silent, watching. I think she was quite glad that RiverClan was left out of it. By the time the Gathering was over, nothing had been decided, and the Clans left in an irritable state.

Crowstar sidled up next to me, his teeth bared. "You'd better give in," he hissed. "Otherwise, I'll tell all the Clans about your son."

I froze. Nightcloud! Angrily, I snarled, "Snowfrost was his mate!"

"Yes, but my Clan knows about it," he replied, and with a purr of laughter, followed his Clan back to WindClan territory.

He was right. ThunderClan had no idea about Nightcloud and Snowfrost. I realized with a jolt what Flamestorm was trying to do – unite WindClan and ShadowClan against me. She knew that she had no chance with RiverClan, as their leader was my ally.

I led my Clan back to camp in very low spirits. Well, I thought dryly, I guess Flamestorm still hasn't given up. But how is she able to do things like that? Perhaps when Dragonheart killed her, she hadn't killed her…properly. Like that made any sense.

I almost forgot Dovekit and Blizzardkit's apprentice ceremony when I returned to camp, and stumbled through the words.

"Blizzardkit, your mentor will be Leafstorm." I watched as mentor and apprentice touched noses. "You are ready to learn the ways of a medicine cat, and until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as Blizzardpaw." I paused, wondering if my decision was the right one. "And I will mentor Dovekit."

Dovekit's huge green eyes widened in surprise as the Clan murmured in astonishment. I could tell that they were stunned that I'd choose another apprentice when my old one had become a warrior half a moon ago.

"Until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as Dovepaw." I stepped down to touch noses with her as the Clan chanted the two apprentices' new names.

"When you are in a tale you have once heard, be sure to watch the dragon."

I realized Dovepaw was speaking to me. It sounded like a prophecy! I repeated it over and over again in my head. A tale I have once heard…in a tale? That didn't really make sense. But the dragon had to be Dragonheart…

"Glacierstar." I looked up. The cat in question was standing right in front of me. "I've been thinking about what Talonstar wanted…"

Be sure to watch the dragon…for what? Would she betray me, or be in danger?

"Are you listening?" Dragonheart interrupted my thoughts. "I said, we might be able to convince Talonstar not to get help from Crowstar."

"Oh…really? When will we do this?" I was having a hard time tracking. My mind was still on Flamestorm, Dovepaw, and a prophecy.

"Tonight." Dragonheart's green eyes gleamed. "We should speak with him as soon as possible."

I hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, tonight." I didn't like the idea all that much, but Dragonheart was right – we needed to make a decision before Talonstar and Crowstar could speak together.

"Okay," I agreed. "Let's go."

"I hate these swampy ShadowClan marshes," complained Dragonheart as we trudged through the shallow water. "It gets my fur wet." She shook, spraying water all over me.

"Hey…" I protested. I sighed and shook as well. "Dragonheart, maybe, when you killed Flamestorm, you didn't do it properly."

She stared at me. "What?"

"Well, how else would Flamestorm be able to do all those things?"

Dragonheart shrugged. "Maybe it had to do with how we're sisters."

I started to answer, but froze when I spotted the tall grass rustling close by. A patrol? I thought wildly, and started to move away from it, flicking my tail at Dragonheart for her to follow me. Unfortunately, my friend was already pacing toward the grass. I wanted to call her back, but I was afraid the patrol, or whatever it was, would spot us.

I had no choice but to follow her. I walked, keeping my shoulders low and using my best stalking crouch, after Dragonheart.

But then –

A huge light, reflected by the moon, exploded in my face. I recognized the Moonstone…and Flowertail was holding it in her mouth. (a/n: They never mentioned how big the Moonstone was…)

"Hey!" roared Dragonheart. "Give that back –" In a second, she was gone. Disappeared, vanished into thin air. I ran forward, terrified.

"Dragonheart!" I screamed. Flowertail turned the stolen Moonstone on me, too, and suddenly I wasn't where I thought I was…

I jerked awake suddenly. The first thing I noticed was that my fur was damp and soggy. I wondered with a jolt if my head was below the water – but no, as I felt around with my paws, the water had somehow become shallower. I couldn't drown in it. Slowly, slowly, I rose to my feet.

I felt terrible. My whole body was aching. Then I remembered – Dragonheart. Where was she? I looked around wildly, but my best friend was no where to be found. With a sinking feeling, I remembered Dovepaw's prophecy. I hadn't been able to watch Dragonheart because she disappeared before I had a chance.

I looked around – realized that the Thunderpath wasn't there. Instead, a stretch of trees replaced it, turning into grassy moorland and swampy marshes. I was terrified. What was going on? When I looked behind me, I saw that Twolegplace was gone too. There was no trace of any Twoleg structure anywhere – the Carrionplace had disappeared, too. I wondered if this had happened to the other Clans and they were stuck back here with no Twolegs, but then I realized that there were no scent of the Clans on this territory at all. None. Like ShadowClan didn't even exist.

I needed to check on ThunderClan. Padding nervously toward the dense forest, I picked up traces of scents, and as I walked deeper in, they became stronger. At least I know there are cats here, I thought…before an explosion of blue-gray fur tackled me.

"Rahh!" I yowled in shock – this cat had taken me completely by surprise. I rolled over and dug my claws into its back, and let go of me. I watched as the small young cat launched at me again, but I simply batted it away. When it was too tired to go on any more, it collapsed on the ground in a heap.

This cat was a she-cat. Her fur was so blue-gray that it could have been blue. She was obviously an apprentice, judging by her small size. I just sat there, watching her. When she regained her strength, she leapt to her feet and snarled,

"Get off TigerClan's territory!"

"TigerClan?" I repeated blankly. "What…don't you mean…"

A tale I had once heard…of course! The time of the Great Clans! But I had always imagined that they really were big cats – lions, tigers, leopards. But they were just plain domestic cats like we were.

The apprentice sniffed uncertainly. "Are you from LeopardClan?" she demanded.

"Er…no…I'm from ThunderClan."

"What? ThunderClan?" The apprentice stared at me with a puzzled expression.

"Listen," I mewed, "have you seen a cat with a black, gray, and ginger pelt? She's my best friend."

The small apprentice hesitated. Then, "Maybe. We have just captured a prisoner who was trespassing in the clearing."

Prisoner? "What…what are you planning to do to her?"

She shrugged. "Probably kill her. Trespassers on TigerClan territory always die!"

I felt the ground sway beneath my paws. Dragonheart was going to die!

"Look." The apprentice hesitated. "If you really don't want your friend to die, then offer to help us win the war with LeopardClan."

"All right," I mewed slowly. My mind was having a hard time wrapping around all this.

"You haven't even told me your name."

I hesitated. I decided not to mention that my name had a 'star' after it, signifying that I was a Clan leader. "Glacierclaw," I replied, using my warrior name.

"I'm Reefpaw." Reefpaw stared at me with a puzzled expression. "You have a Clan name."

"Yes…we are from a…Clan far away," I told her. "Now, could we please go save Dragonheart?"

Reefpaw didn't seem to be thrilled with the idea, but she nodded. "Yes… I hope I can convince my Clan."

"What? They wouldn't listen to you?"

Again, Reefpaw hesitated. Then, "Pantherclaw, my father who is also the deputy, thinks I am worthless because I am small. Since Pantherclaw is one of the greatest warriors in the forest, the whole Clan also hates me, except for my mentor, Foxheart, and my best friend, Crystalpaw."

I felt an unexpected wave of sympathy for this poor apprentice. She did seem to be a bit weak to me, since I was able to knock her away so easily…perhaps, if I got to join this war, I'd be able to win Reefpaw her dignity.

I still think that chapter was rushed…

All right – when Glacierstar and Dragonheart are in the times of the Great Clans and all, things are going to get a little…violent. Just to warn you. For the next chapter, both Glacierstar and Ebonyclaw will narrate.

Now, please, review!