'At every occasion I'll be ready for the funeral
At every occasion, once more, it's called the funeral.'

'The Funeral' - Band of Horses

Chapter Nineteen: Lorn

In seven days they had moved away from the forest and down into the grassland that sprawled for moons before them. Leaving the forest behind had opened up an entirely different world for the Chosen from Clans hidden within the thicker parts of the valley. Instead of being constantly protected from prying eyes by a cover of leaves they found themselves opened bare to the world.

Few trees graced the grasslands; those that did were thin, growing together in small clumps that dotted the rolling hills. Long grass and wild flowers grew in excess. Prey ran plentiful despite the air still being sharp with cold.

Paws thudded against the ground and bodies slid through the long grass. Loud laughter filled the morning air as the Chosen thundered in pursuit of a rabbit that tore across the hills. They'd found themselves relaxing the further away from their old homes they travelled, falling into a smooth routine. Waking early in the morning, travelling throughout the day stopping or diverging from their path whenever they saw fit, and staying up late into the night to share stories or watch the star-filled sky above them.

It was a pleasant routine. But it was starting to bore Icepetal.

She craved spontaneous events, constant changes in the world around her that forced her into situations she'd never faced before. Life in SnowClan had occasionally presented such situations but even they had grown normal over time. There was only so many times she could take down a few of Crimson's soldiers before it became redundant and boring.

The rabbit turned abruptly to the left, shooting between Willowclaw's big, clumsy paws and leaving the surprised tom in its dust. Yet the rabbit – as well as the other Chosen – had not expected a particular orange she-cat to move so quick on her paws. Littleflame leapt out behind the rabbit and gave chase, following its sharp turns with surprising ease.

Icepetal remained at a fast lope further in front of the rabbit in case it managed to escape Rainpatch's 'master' plan. She snorted and fell back into her thoughts.

As a team they'd all become closer since leaving the valley. Clan borderlines no longer existed between them, they were now just five cats journeying out into the unknown to kill a tyrant and return peace to the world. "Easier said than done," she muttered to herself, once again casting her eyes over to the rabbit.

Following a little ways behind Littleflame was Willowclaw no doubt cursing himself to the stars and back for his clumsy paws. Rainpatch was waiting in a ditch further ahead to snag the rabbit as it leapt over it as long as his plan worked. Eaglestrike appeared to be cutting an arching path through the grass that would place him just in front of the rabbit's nose if he ran a little quicker.

Her eyes narrowed. Something strange was going on between the leader of their mismatched group and his very good CedarClan friend. She'd noticed recently just how often the two wandered away from the others to whisper quietly to each other. She'd seen the looks he sent that burned Littleflame's orange pelt; looks of concern and of affection. She'd heard the quiet murmurs uttered from a sleeping maw come nightfall, the words 'dead' and 'watching' falling into a repeated mantra every night.

Coming to an abrupt stop upon the slope she'd been loping alongside Icepetal once again scanned her surroundings – a habit that had worsened recently. The grasslands looked innocent enough. But there was no way they were entirely empty of life. Other creatures no doubt called the rolling hills and pockets of trees home. Soldiers with dull brown fur and yellow eyes just had to be stalking through the grass in search of both the Chosen and any other unfortunate loners or rogues they stumbled across.

A dull pain throbbed in the back of her mind and she raised a paw to rub at her head. Darkness seeped into the edges of her vision. Squeezing her eyes shut she tried desperately to stop the slimy voice from working its way out from her memories.

"Just leave them behind. They are all going to die. Surely you don't want to die so young..."

She growled under her breath. Frozengaze. Even the slightest reminder of that foul, egotistical, smug, bastard sent her mood spiralling into a dangerous mix of ferocious anger and pitiful uncertainty. The last time the fox-heart had invaded her mind Willowclaw had nearly lost his tail.

When the tom had commanded her to join Crimson's army she'd lost all control over her body. Every muscle and limb had gone numb. Her mind had felt so very far from her body. It was like she had been an imposter hiding within her own flesh, looking out into the world through eyes that were not her own.

Every word he'd said to the others she'd heard loud and clear but then there had been words shared only with her that had echoed in her mind alone.

"You don't believe in your team. I can see the negative thoughts dripping from your mind. You don't believe you can do it. In fact you know you're all going to die."

"That's not true!"

"Oh don't be naive, kit. You know just as well as I do that you're lying. Admit it. Come on. Just say those pretty little words."

"The day I admit anything to someone as foul as you will be the day I die!"

"How do you know that today isn't the day when you will die? Your team, the Chosen as you've so eloquently named yourselves, are beaten. They can hardly hold their heads above their shoulders let alone raise claws against an entire army. What was a group of five pathetic Clan cats ever going to do against a kingdom?"

"Numbers don't win battles. Strength and courage and belief do."

"Pathetic Clan cats and their pathetic beliefs of courageous acts and brilliant heroism."

"We are not pathetic! We are the strongest force in this world! Nothing and no one can ever silence us entirely!"

"Your spirit is enlightening. How is it that you manage to remain so optimistic even in the face of your own death? Perhaps you could be of greater use to me alive than dead..."

"I will never stoop so low as to help you."

"Oh? And what if I told you that I wanted you to stand by my side as my queen? We could overthrow Crimson together, you and I, and take her throne. We could rule the world. No one would ever look at you as some filthy rogue."

It had been in that moment where she'd done something she'd never expected to do. She had considered the offer Frozengaze had presented. To rule the world had sounded so enticing, so tempting to her ears. Perhaps it was the idea that no one would ever look down at her again or that everyone would be obliged to obey her every word made it seem so charming.

But the moment had passed in a flurry of confused thoughts as she'd struggled to break the tom's hold on her body. She'd felt herself raise her chin knowing how vulnerable it left her. She'd felt the claw dig into her skin, slicing through it and drawing blood.

The pain had brought her crashing back down into her body.

But it had left her feeling empty and guilty.

What would the others say if they found out she didn't believe they'd be able to kill Crimson? If they discovered how close she'd come to nearly joining the enemy? Willowclaw would be so angry.

A cheer rose from the ditch where Rainpatch had been hiding at the exact same moment that a foreign weight crashed into Icepetal's side, sending her tumbling down the hillside. Sharp claws latched themselves into the side of her neck and she felt flesh tear.

Releasing a yowl of anger she flipped her attacker over her head, yanking the claws from her neck before they both crashed into the long grass at the bottom. Through the blood rushing through her ears she thought she heard Willowclaw shout her name.

Pale amber eyes glared at her from a round, flat, silver face. "Clan cat," the spotted tabby leered. "Strange to find one of you so far from your valley." He rose to his paws, licking the blood from a split lip. "You must be one of the Chosen. Lucky me."

Icepetal struck with the speed of a snake. Sinking her teeth into the tom's ear and claws into his shoulders, she ripped flesh from bone, revelling in the sound of his pained groan. Oh how she loved to fight. A paw dug into her stomach followed by another and forcefully shoved her off her prey with a rumbling growl. Before she could slither to her paws the tom slashed at her face, painting red down her cheek.

The scarlet drops rolled like tears, splashing to the ground beneath her paws.

He sunk into a low crouch in front of her, smiling mockingly. "I don't think I ever introduced myself, Clan cat. The name's Tr-"

Blood bubbled from between his lips as Icepetal bit down hard on his throat, waiting for his weakening body to stop shaking. "Never," she snarled around his throat, "let your guard down, stupid."

Amber eyes lost the light of life, fading to a dull colour as the tom gave a final shake and ceased to breathe. Icepetal opened her jaw enough to let the body drop into the small puddle of blood that was already beginning to form.

"Icepetal! Are you alright!?" Willowclaw burst from the grass to her right followed by Littleflame. Both were panting as if they'd run all the way to the valley and back.

"Fine. No need to act like I can't handle myself," Icepetal replied smoothly. She felt the wound on her neck sting but refrained from flinching. It was only shallow and would heal quickly.

The tabby shook his head, pressing his nose gently to her uninjured cheek. "Aren't I allowed to worry a little?" he murmured.

"Oh get off," she grinned. "As long as you don't pester me too much you can worry all you want."

She glanced away from Willowclaw to find Littleflame staring at the space just above the lifeless body with a look of sadness in her eyes. It was such a strange emotion to see directed at the tom that had attacked her heartbeats ago.

Blue eyes narrowed. Just what was Littleflame playing at?

Icepetal opened her mouth to bite out a stinging comment but the limp body of a hare thudding into the side of Willowclaw's head left her speechless. "Told you I'd be able to hit him!" came Rainpatch's voice as the WaveClan tom trotted into view with a lopsided grin plastered across his muzzle.

The grin faltered slightly when he saw the blood, "woah. I didn't hit you that hard did I?"

"I doubt you could hit anyone that hard," Eaglestrike purred as he shouldered through the grass. "The only reason you caught that darn hare was because it tripped over my paws and practically fell into you." He ignored Rainpatch's defensive cries, swinging his head to look at Icepetal. "What happened? Who's the dead one?"

Icepetal ran her tongue along her muzzle. "Never got round to asking his name. He jumped me a little ways up that hill. Said he'd been looking for Clan cats. He knew we were the Chosen as well, and that he was lucky to have found us. Didn't really get to say much else before he was choking on his own blood."

"Such a lovely cat aren't you?" Rainpatch snorted.

Eaglestrike hit the older tom with his tail. "I wonder why he was looking for Clan cats this far from the valley. Maybe we weren't the only ones to escape during the fire."

"Could he have been one of Crimson's soldiers?" Willowclaw questioned.

"If he was a soldier then why was he travelling alone? Don't her soldiers usually travel in groups?" Littleflame meowed.

"He could've broken away from his group?" the RogueClanner said. "Decided to scout ahead for a little while?"

Icepetal paused in her grooming, "there are no other cats apart from the Clans and Crimson's soldiers that know of the Chosen. Even then not many of her soldiers know of us. He was able to recognise me. Must've been in the valley whilst we were still there."

"So we've decided that he's definitely a soldier then?" Rainpatch added. "Because if he is we need to get out of here before the others he was travelling with come looking. I'd rather not spoil my appetite by having to fight for my life again."

"Not everything's about you," Willowclaw grumbled but began to shuffle away from the dead soldier regardless.

"He's so happy."

Silence fell on the group and all eyes fixated upon Littleflame. The small she-cat had returned her gaze to the space above the soldier. A small smile was steadily growing on her muzzle. "He looks so much younger."

"I didn't hit you on the head as well, did I?" Rainpatch broke the silence, leaning towards Littleflame with a curious look.

"She's fine," Eaglestrike responded hurriedly. He nudged Littleflame's shoulder and she looked at him from the corner of her eye. "Not here," he whispered. "Later."

Icepetal's previous concerns flared back up like a forest fire, roaring back to life in a way that left her a little breathless. Now she was really curious to know just what was going on between those two. A shared glance with Willowclaw showed that he too was slightly curious.

A loud roar ripped through the morning peace, louder almost than the thunder that rolled between strikes of lightning. Four quieter shrieks of pain followed and then all fell deathly silent. Even the birds had ceased to chirp.

"We need to go," Rainpatch urged in a hushed whisper. "We need to go now."

No one argued with him, leaving the hare and the lifeless soldier behind in a bloody puddle oozing with the stench of death and of Clan cats.

None of them noticed the shadow flitting silently through the grass. Not one of them noticed it lean down to inhale a deep breath of the scents surrounding the scene of death. Not a single eye caught the wicked smile that curved the corners of a white muzzle. No cat was around to hear the words uttered.

"Gotcha."

-000-

A shadowed forest had risen from the grasslands, hardly as big as the ones back in the valley. In fact is Icepetal squinted and tilted her head a fraction to the right she was nearly certain she could see the open grassland on the other side.

The trees were thick and rose high into the sunhigh sky, creating an impenetrable canopy of rich green coloured leaves. Little light could make it through, so little foliage grew on the forest floor. A few scraggly bushes and clumps of tough grass had managed to thrive off the dirt ground that was covered in a layer of leaf-mould.

Their sides heaved in a struggle to inhale as much air as they could into their burning lungs. Bellies rumbled their protest of having left the hare behind. Fresh kill, a drink, and a long nap couldn't have sounded any better to the exhausted Chosen. It'd felt like they'd run to the valley and back.

Icepetal flopped onto the cool grass just outside the edge of the forest, cooling her heated body in the soft breeze that whispered through the short grass. Fur brushed against her own as Willowclaw lay down next to her. He rested his head on her side and smiled softly, amber eyes slowly sliding closed.

"You've got that lopsided grin again," the tom's voice vibrated through her skin.

She swapped the grin for a light scowl. "No I don't."

"Don't lie to me, Icepetal. I can always tell when you're lying," he purred.

A sudden feeling of uncertainty washed over the SnowClanner. Stretching her neck she got as close to Willowclaw's face as she dared. "What would you say if I told I did have that lopsided grin?"

His eyes opened a fraction, widening in surprise when they saw how close she had gotten. A soft smile spread across his muzzle. "I don't know what I'd say," he answered slowly. "But I do know that I'd be happy."

"Getting soft on us are we, Willowclaw?" Eaglestrike's voice cut into their hushed conversation.

"Shut it, PhoenixClanner, or I'll break you," was Willowclaw's growled response though he didn't make any attempt to sit up.

Icepetal found that she quite liked the feeling of his head resting against her side rising and falling with each intake of breath. She could feel the soft purr that vibrated in his throat. It made her heart flutter strangely. A sad sort of feeling drowned out the pleasantness. You'd never speak to me again if you knew how I nearly betrayed you. You'd never look at me with so much warmth and affection in your eyes again. I really don't deserve your attention.

"You couldn't break me if you tried," Eaglestrike retorted.

The amber eyes that had been oozing content pooled with anger, red hot and violent. "Is that a challenge?"

"Will you two stop comparing egos?" Rainpatch spat. "It's annoying. You're both pretty. Now can we move on and find some prey in this forest?"

Both toms grumbled grumpy responses under their breath that Icepetal couldn't help but laugh quietly at. They were both just kits in the bodies of grown warriors pretending to be all grown up and mature.

"It looks so dark in there," Littleflame finally spoke up after catching her breath. "Too dark for much prey to live."

"RogueClan's territory is dark forest similar to this and we still find plenty of prey. You've just got to look in the right places," Willowclaw replied as shuffled to his paws.

Icepetal pretended not to miss the weight on her side as much as she did. "I thought you hated hunting," she said.

"Just because I hate it doesn't mean I never did it," he replied.

"We're not going to find any prey sitting around here. Come, whilst there's still daylight," Rainpatch huffed, trotting into the coolness of the shadowy forest.

Passing from the grasslands into the forest felt strange but welcoming for the Chosen that had spent most of their lives under the shelter of leaves. It felt like moons had passed since they had felt the familiar feeling of damp leaf-mould under their paws or smelt the scent of sap leaking from trees.

For Icepetal it was nearly perfect. All it missed was snow. She missed the feeling of snow crunching under her paws, the way it took perfect balance to walk across thick fields of snow without plunging through. The hope of coming across snow during their journey was rapidly fading. She could tell that leaf-bare would end soon; the chill in the air wasn't as sharp as it had been back in the valley.

They paused at a small creek that bubbled through the forest to sate their burning thirst whilst scenting the air for any sign of prey. Littleflame had been right. There appeared to be no prey at all hidden in the darkness of the small patch of forest. It was beyond strange to not find any prey whatsoever. What they did smell, however, left them wondering whether entering the forest had been a good idea at all.

The smell of death haunted the air.

Worried glances were exchanged but no words shared. No one wanted to alert whatever lived in the forest to their presence. Silently – with nods and shakes of their heads – they began to creep further into the shadows, curiosity outweighing danger, all while thinking how they'd be fine if they were attacked. There were five of them after all.

It was in a dip in the ground a little ways from the creek surrounded by a circle of gnarled, old trees that they found the origin of the stench. A small pile of lifeless bodies were heaped up. Blood soaked bodies with limbs nearly torn off and eyes open wide, glazed with fear. Flies buzzed above the pile creating a dull droning sound.

Littleflame bit down hard on her tongue to stop from shrieking.

From within the forest echoed a scream: "Ibon!"

The Chosen backed away from the bodies as the sound of paws thudding against the forest floor grew louder with each frantic passing beat of their hearts. "Stay close," Eaglestrike swallowed, "fight together, as a team."

But what stalked around the thick trunk of a gnarled tree and looked down into the shallow dip turned their blood to ice.

Legs nearly bigger than them, shoulders loaded with taut muscle, a striped tail almost as long as its body, lips pulled back to reveal fangs that could crush skulls. Blood dribbled from the corners of its mouth from which a struggling dark brown tabby dangled from. Greed flitted across intelligent orange eyes, and then it bit down on the tabby's head. A loud crunch rang throughout the silent forest as the tabby's head caved in under the pressure of the monster's jaws.

A monster, sporting orange and black striped fur, prowled closer, the now unmoving body of the tabby swinging from its mouth.

"As a team," Eaglestrike repeated though his voice was hoarse and lacked any of the previous confidence. "Together."

The monster flung the body onto the pile and turned its burning gaze onto the Chosen. Towering over all of them it grinned, threw back its head, and released a roar to rival thunder; a roar that was terrifyingly similar to the one that had sent them running that morning.

"Now!" Eaglestrike yowled at the same time that two figures darted into view from behind the trees.

Icepetal threw herself at the monster with a loud screech, striking at its face with her claws before scrambling under its belly to avoid a massive paw that was intent on crushing her body. A drop of fear set the fur on the back of her neck bristling. They were but five tiny kits when compared to this monstrous cat-like creature.

A shout brought her back to the fight. Lurching to the right after ripping her claws through its soft belly fur – so thick her claws only just nicked skin – she leapt atop the monster's haunches, digging her claws into its back to stay on when it bucked up.

From the corner of her eye she could see Willowclaw and Rainpatch working together, wrestling with the beasts forelegs in an attempt to get at its face. Swinging her head to the left she spotted Littleflame and Eaglestrike ripping flesh from strong shoulders.

Satisfied that none of them needed her help she focused on clawing her way up to the monster's head leaving tears and rips behind. A loud cry of pain halted her advancing and she looked back just in time to see the monster rip vicious claws across Eaglestrike's side leaving behind gouges so deep she could've sworn she saw bone.

Blood gushed from the gouges but the PhoenixClanner did not cease fighting. Battling the pain with nothing more than a wince he bit down on the monster's paw before it could bat Littleflame away like she was a harmless kit.

"Stop fighting him! You'll only die!"

"Leave them, Blute. We can fetch Ibon's body whilst they're distracting the beast. We don't need Clan cats hanging around our territory."

Unfamiliar voices clashed with the sounds of battle in Icepetal's ears but she refused to give the strangers much more than an icy cold glare, continuing her struggle to reach the monster's head. The others were slowly wearing the monster down but she quickly realised that the beast only got angrier.

Reaching its head she set about sinking her claws into its burning eyes but with the constant violent movements of its head she was struggling to find a perch without slipping off. None of the others were uninjured.

Rainpatch was sporting a nasty puncture wound on his shoulder. One of Littleflame's hind-legs was twisted at a funny angle and her left side was soaked with blood. Icepetal was surprised Willowclaw could even see there was so much blood spattered across his face, leaking from claw marks and a mutilated ear.

Her claws found her target, sinking into the squishy eye of the monster with a satisfying squelch. The monster let out a screeching roar that left a ringing sound in her ears. It threw its head back, catching her by surprise so much that her grip was lost and she found herself sliding down its head towards the bloody muzzle lined with terrifyingly sharp teeth.

"Icepetal! Jump!"

The shouted order came far too late for Icepetal to follow it.

She could feel the monster's gaze burning holes in her pelt as she struggled to sink her claws back into its face and haul herself to safety. A deep growl thundered from within the beast as it tossed its head into the air, flinging Icepetal up into the air.

In one agonising heartbeat she could see droplets of blood rising into the air beside her, hear the sound of the others screaming her name, and smell the sharp scent of fear slicing through the sickening stench of death. And then the heartbeat passed as a set of ridiculously powerful jaws closed around her midsection.

Pain flared up as teeth punctured her skin with a stomach-lurching crunch.

Black dots swam before her vision. Her jaw fell open in a soundless cry of pure agony. She could do nothing but watch as blood – her blood – splashed to the ground. The sounds of cats shrieking her name could hardly make it past the rushing sound in her ears.

The jaws crunching tight around her midsection let go and she slid to the ground, splashing into the puddle of her blood that as growing with each passing heartbeat. A shadow fell across her, a shadow so big it had to be the beast leaning down to finish her off. She felt its hot breath rush over the side of her face. Inhaling a deep breath she waited for another wave of pain to arrive before darkness claimed her entirely.

"Her enemies are my enemies."

In a flurry of loud shouts and growls the beast turned and vanished into the shadows.

"No, no, no. Oh no. Stay still. Keep breathing. Stay with me. Come on, you can't leave me. Not now, not before I..." Willowclaw's voice cracked as he buried his face into her bloody neck fur. "Please. Stay."

Icepetal allowed a gust of breath to push past her lips.

Her eyes slid shut despite his mumbled protests.

She took a long breath.

And fell still.