AN: I hope you guys are enjoying this story as much as I am. Someone asked for a proper SinkingsunXHawkfrost chapter, so I have kindly done so. Its soft and mushy with a tinge of evil to it. Enjoy.

Chapter 24: Betrayal

Hawkfrost bounded swiftly through the tight forest, enjoying the movement in his muscles. They were still stiff and aching from his bout with Darkstripe. He growled angrily but pushed the rage away, now was not the time for anger. A small purr rumbled in his chest, Sinkingsun may have died but that didn't stop him from seeing her. In fact, it just helped him to see her more.

He leaped over a fallen tree, paws clearing the massive trunk in one bound. If only he could tell her how he really felt, without sounding like a creep. His lack of attention to where he was going nearly landed Hawkfrost in a rather large patch of nettles. Only the hideous screech of some bird pulled him from his thoughts. With a growl he swerved around the nettles and nearly plunged himself into a pool of inky black water.

"Curse this forsaken forest," he snarled under his breath as he shook the sticky 'water' from the tips of his paws. But the puddle had been the first sign to turn back for cats that were not accepted in this part of the forest. This such rule included Hawkfrost as well. But he was not about to turn back yet. Sinkingsun waited just beyond these tree's for her welcomer that would never arrive. A cruel smile suddenly spanned Hawkfrost's muzzle as he thought about the scrawny gray tabby tom that now littered the sharp rocks under Jagged Tooth Cliff. That was one welcomer that would never get to welcome another cat to the shadows.

But Hawkfrost hadn't had enough time to dispose of the other welcomers, one of which could be purring away to his Sinkingsun right now. The thought was enough to set Hawkfrost's blood boiling as he began to stalk through the steadily vanishing undergrowth.

The smell of unnaturally fresh water filled Hawkfrost's nose and a sudden blast of cold wind nearly blew him off his paws. He had only ever been to this part of the Dark Forest once, and that had been when he had died under the paws of his brother, Brambleclaw. Oh how wonderful it had been to tear into Brambleclaw's body and chase all life from it. Hawkfrost wrinkled his nose. He was not looking forward to meeting his brother in two days time. Iceshard has returned from Skyward Mountain with the news that they were to go to war with StarClan. Not that anyone knew why.

Rumours had begun that killing her lover had sent Iceshard over the edge. Others said it had simply strengthened her leadership and that taking down StarClan was a necessary thing to do. Tigerstar obviously agreed with Iceshard. Spilling blood was the only thing Tigerstar did well. Other then manipulating the innocent.

The trees thinned out and all Hawkfrost could see was black water, stretching as far as the eye could see. The water reflected the bright stars that twinkled in the night sky. Stars. This was the only place they could be seen from the Dark Forest. Back when StarClan ruled and the Dark Forest remained weak and small, this would be where the leaders would come and choose where a dead cat would go. But now it was just used to drag the dead into a second life of slavery and fear.

No longer was it a place of judgement. No cats would ever be judged in this huge ocean of ankle deep fresh water anymore.

Bright fireflies fluttered across the water, illuminating the dark with their precious and rare light. Hawkfrost felt his troubles ease out of his mind as he stared at the serenity of his surroundings. That was until his eyes came to fall on a golden figure standing in the water, head lifted to stare at the purplish blue expanse above her. From where he stood Hawkfrost could see the stars reflected in her gaze and for once, she seemed happy. She looks beautiful.

He took a step into the water, shivering at its icy feel. Within moments the water was warm, caressing his paw with its lulling waves. He sighed, took a deep breath and then began to pad across the water.

His paw steps made soft splashing sounds that soon grabbed the attention of Sinkingsun. As she turned to look at him, Hawkfrost felt his breath catch in his throat. Sudden nerves overcame him and he began to worry what she might do when she saw him. Run? Attack him? Screech at him?

"Hawkfrost!" Sinkingsun cried and splashed towards the water towards him. Hawkfrost smiled and expected a head bump or even nuzzle. But he wasn't expecting Sinkingsun to throw herself at him and plunge both of them into the water. Hawkfrost laughed as the warm water seeped into his flank and soaked him, but he didn't care. His Sinkingsun was okay. That was all that mattered. "Did you come to find me?" she asked.

"Of course I did," Hawkfrost purred. "I wouldn't be here if I hadn't!" He rolled himself over and pushed Sinkingsun into the water, purring at her shocked cry of outrage.

The two bounded through the starry water, splashing it and each other and tackling each other into the water. Soon both were soaked and laying on top of each other under a tree at the edge of the dark ocean. Sinkingsun gently lapped at Hawkfrost's pelt, smoothing down the fur that had been ruffled by their play in the water. A low purr rumbled in Hawkfrost's stomach as he was lulled to sleep by the rhythmic grooming. "Hawkfrost?" the she-cat murmured.

"Mm?" Hawkfrost mumbled sleepily, blinking open one icy eye to look at her.

Sinkingsun fidgeted, and looked away from his gaze, her eyes searching the stars that glimmered faintly in the open sky. "You know I love you, right?"

Hawkfrost felt warmth spread through his pelt and tingle every nerve in his body. The purr in his chest grew louder and he nuzzled Sinkingsun's neck. "I had hoped you did," he murmured. "I love you too." The two cats entwined their tails and resumed their quiet grooming.

Hawkfrost watched Sinkingsun with warm eyes. "Hawkfrost. Have you ever wondered what happened to StarClan?"

The question stunned him for a few moments. It confused him that Sinkingsun even knew who StarClan were. "What made you ask that?" he asked softly.

"It was something Screech said, before I died. He asked me if I wanted to come here or move on to a better place. I told him that StarClan were gone, lost in time. But are they really?"

"I, uh, um. Come. I need to show you something before tomorrow," Hawkfrost answered. He'd decided to show Sinkingsun StarClan. He figured it would be easier than explaining to her that the Dark Forest had hidden her real ancestors from her. Maybe he'd see Mothwing again. It had been seasons upon seasons since he had seen his sister.

Sinkingsun tilted her head but got to her paws regardless. "What do you want to show me? And why before tomorrow?"

"It would be easier to explain once you've seen something. But we must hurry," Hawkfrost said and licked Sinkingsun's ear. "Don't be afraid. I'll always be here."

The yellow she-cat snorted and narrowed her eyes, "I was raised in RisingClan, fear isn't something I feel."

Hawkfrost rolled his eyes and took off into the forest, twisting his head to make sure Sinkingsun was following. When he was certain she was he returned his eyes to the forest and swerved to the left, taking a short cut through the thicker part of the forest. As the forest began to close in around him he was left wishing how easy it would be to fly there in his hawk form. The idea was tempting, one he had to take, but first he would need to teach Sinkingsun how to access her form.

He smiled. This would be fun. With a grunt he launched himself over a log and came to a stop on the other side. As soon as Sinkingsun appeared over it he reached up, wrapped his paws around her flank and pulled her to the ground with a purr. She glared at him and untangled their limbs. "What was that for!?" she hissed in mock anger.

"I want to teach you something," Hawkfrost began, "something that ought to come in handy."

Sinkingsun tilted her head to the side as an indication to go on. "All Dark Forest cats have the ability to transform into another creature. All of us can do it but only some of us are strong enough to do it. I feel that you are strong enough, but only time will tell if you are."

"How do I do it?" Sinkingsun asked eagerly, eyes shining with excitement.

Her excitement pleased Hawkfrost. He wanted nothing more than to see her happy. "It's easy really. Just picture yourself turning into any animal and wish for yourself to turn into it."

"Any animal?" she pressed.

Hawkfrost nodded. "But you won't necessarily turn into the animal you thought about. Your soul will determine what animal you actually turn into. I'm not all sure on how it works, but I know that everyone has an animal that represents them. My father, Tigerstar, is a tiger, for his ferocity. I'm a hawk, for my swiftness."

Sinkingsun nodded and then closed her eyes. Her shape began to waver and flicker, the edges of her body slowly melting into the forest around them. Hawkfrost waited with baited breath to see what she would turn into. He couldn't imagine what animal represented her.

Her form flickered once more and then she turned. Her fur became light brown feathers that seemed to have a sheen of gold to them, her paw became talons and her mouth became a beak. Hawkfrost stared at her with wide eyes. She was extraordinary. Her animal was some sort of eagle, one with rather nasty looking talons. "Did it work?" Sinkingsun whispered and flinched when she saw her feathers and stretched her wings. "It did work! I'm a bird!"

"An eagle. A beautiful eagle" Hawkfrost murmured before he too shifted into his hawk form. "Are you ready to fly, my love?"

Sinkingsun nodded, opened her huge wings and let out a high pitched shriek that sent an icy cold shiver down Hawkfrost's spine. He launched himself into the air and took off towards the sky. He shielded his face and blasted through the canopy. As the forest slowly faded beneath the two birds they found themselves at peace. For the time they were able to sweep and out of soft dark clouds, they were happy. Hawkfrost swooped down onto Sinkingsun and plucked at her tail with his talons. She screeched and glared at him, a good humoured twinkle shining in her eyes.

They played and enjoyed themselves until Hawkfrost spotted the border. He shrieked at Sinkingsun and then dived down towards the forest. His claws tore away the leaves and branches and landed him safely on the ground where he resumed his normal form.

Sinkingsun landed beside him and transformed back into her form. She smiled brightly at Hawkfrost and entwined her tail with his. "Are we almost there now?" she asked.

"Yes," Hawkfrost answered as he rubbed his muzzle against hers. "Follow me and keep quiet." He didn't wait for her to reply and slunk off towards the border. As they neared it the air seemed to shift in density. It grew heavier and heavier until it nearly forced them to the ground. But, as the trees came to a stop and the darkness grew lighter, the pressure vanished and was replaced by a feeling of peace.

The two cats stepped out from the shadows and were able to gaze down upon the rolling hills and lushes forests of StarClan. Stars glimmered in the rushing rivers and shined in the pelts of StarClanners. Bright sunlight poured down on the land and it just seemed happier than the Dark Forest. Sinkingsun sighed. She wanted to go down there and play in the water. That was until her eyes came to rest on a huge, cold looking stone..mountain that pierced the trees in odd round shapes. "What is this place?" she asked Hawkfrost. "And what's that strange rock formation?"

Hawkfrost took a deep breath before he answered. "This is StarClan. And that rock formation is the home of Redflame, overseer of StarClan and ruler of the eastern lands."

"B-but the High Stars, they told us that StarClan was wiped out! How can it still exist!?" Sinkingsun cried, eyes going wide.

Hawkfrost looked away in same, "We lied. They lied. We just wanted to look stronger than we were. But in two days time StarClan will be wiped out! And we won't have to lie anymore!"

"Why would you want to destroy all of this? Why would you want to condemn us all to the shadows when we could live down there?"

"Because the Dark Forest rules now! StarClan has been exiled and put under the authority of a barbaric. There's a reason Redflame is still ruler of the Eastern Lands. He is a vile cat, one with no morals and no mercy. He rules over StarClan with an iron paw, taking whatever and whoever he wants," Hawkfrost paused to take a breath. "He was one of the first High Stars. And the first to be exiled from the Dark Forest for his crimes."

Sinkingsun blinked at him, "What did he do that was so bad?"

"He wanted to combine all the lands. Make one big kingdom ruled by the High Stars, but the others did not feel that this was such a good idea. So he set about changing their minds, and he wasn't nice about it. Tigerfrost had her tail and ears torn off because she would not lend Redflame her elemental powers to take down the Southern Lands. Jaggedclaw had his throat slit and was tossed off of Skyward mountain whilst still alive because he would not lend Redflame his army to force the Northern Lands to surrender. And Frozenlight, Highest Star at the time, had her insides torn out because she refused to give Redflame any powers to take down the Eastern Lands, or StarClan to you. So he was stripped of his position and sent to oversee StarClan, where he remains today, immortal to age."

The she-cat stared at Hawkfrost with her jaw slack. "He sounds wonderful. So there are more afterlives than just the Dark Forest and StarClan then?"

Hawkfrost nodded. "The Southern Lands are known as the Place of Wanderers. It is the place cats go if they do not wish to enter either the Dark Forest or StarClan. The Northern Lands, otherwise known as the Place of Everlasting Night, are the place cats who are seen as too evil or insane for the other lands go. The Western Lands are here, known as the Place of No Stars or the Dark Forest. And StarClan, otherwise known as the Place of Stars, fill the Southern Lands."

"Wow. And do the High Stars rule over all of these lands? Or does someone else?"

"There are rumours that a higher king sits on a throne made from bone on top of Skyward Mountain. No one actually knows if this is true or not, besides the Highest Stars, for they go to the mountain to converse with whoever is up there. Others say that there is a doorway to another world where the mightiest of cats go when their time here is up. I honestly don't believe either of them. I don't think anyone can actually rule over four different lands made up of four completely different people," Hawkfrost murmured. He glanced at Sinkingsun and was surprised to find her glaring at him with raging eyes.

She cuffed him sharply over the head with a snarl, "How could you not tell us this!? How dare you keep this from the Clans! We deserve to know!" Then she turned and ran, her bright figure vanishing into the forest.

Hawkfrost felt fear run over him like a spider and he set off after her. "Sinkingsun!" he called. "Please, come back!" His fears only grew sharper when he heard a high pitched shriek ring out through the forest. He pelted through bushes, ignoring the sharp sting as they whipped across his face.

He was going so fast that he nearly collided with a dark red pelt. Only digging his paws into the ground stopped him from it, but once he saw who it was and who it was holding down, he kind of wished he had.

A thin cackle came from the jaws of the dark red cat whose paws held a trembling Sinkingsun to the ground. "Well, Hawkfrost, you didn't tell me there was such a pretty she-cat wandering the borders. If you had I would have been here sooner!" The cat's eyes were full of lust as he stared down at Sinkingsun.

"Redflame," he spat. "Let her go."

-000-

"Do you accept your position as leader of RisingClan?"

Shatteredlight stared at her mother with no emotion shining in her eyes. The loss of her father had reduced her to nothing but a shell of the cat she used to be. Her heartbreak had become too painful to carry anymore. So she'd just…turned it off. "I do."

"Then I hereby name you Shatteredlight, leader of RisingClan. Avenge those lost and help those that need it, but do not forget who we are." Risingwhisper licked her daughter on the head and then whispered into her ear, "don't get hung up on avenging your father. You have a Clan to lead, a Clan that needs you more than ever."

Shatteredlight nodded stiffly. "I know." Then she turned and faced the many eyes that belonged to the cats of the six Clans. "You all now know exactly what has been going on during these past few days. Tornheart, an ex member of both RisingClan and CedarClan, has turned rogue and joined forwards with a demon cat by the name of Crimson, this Crimson has an army of mindless zombies that do not feel anything. She seems to want nothing more than to cause our Clans pain and havoc, but she has messed with the wrong cats! We will not be defeated! We six Clans will pull through this and see the dawn on the other side!"

She felt a small burst of pride run through her as the cats in front of her began cheering loudly, chanting her name over and over. She felt like she was unstoppable, nobody would defeat her Clan. No one. Shatteredlight raised her head to stare at the sky above her. You will be proud of me, father. I will avenge your death!

Her eyes flicked to movement at the far end of the clearing and three cats stepped out of the shadows of the forest. Shatteredlight narrowed her eyes in anger as she recognised who it was. She was about to yowl loudly when she heard a soft voice in her ear. "Congratulations, Shatteredlight, new leader of RisingClan." She twitched her ear and stared at the two red eyes that glared at her. Tornheart curled her lip and Jinx lashed her tail, but Crimson remained ever so still, not portraying a single emotion.

"Game on." Then they retreated into the forest and vanished from sight.