Chapter 12

"Why is this cat here?" Firestar's demand sent thrills of fear down Stormsong's spine.

They had returned with Frostwind. Despite everything that went against Stormsong's will, Frostwind had followed them. Ashfur had not fought her and chased her away. Now she was in the center of camp and could attack them all.

Stormsong tried not to think about it as Firestar glared at Frostwind. She wasn't looking at him in the eyes like she had with Ashfur. Instead she was staring at Graystripe, who was absently poking at the remains of the fresh-kill pile. He looked up and stiffened when he caught sight of her gaze.

"She could stay here," he suddenly offered. "We could keep guards posted to keep an eye on her. If she does anything that looks suspicious we can kick her out in the next heartbeat."

Frostwind did not miss the limp as he staggered towards a shocked Firestar. The ginger leader considered Graystripe's words. A few cats peered out of their dens while Frostwind waited patiently. Whiteleaf and Cloudtail glared at her while Brightheart stayed beside Sandstorm.

"Very well," Firestar finally sighed. "Three guards will be posted to keep an eye on her. If you try anything to harm them, I will kill you... again." His eyes narrowed before he turned to Stormsong. "How is she still alive?" he added in a lower whisper.

"I think she was given more lives than we realized," she replied. "I was told in a dream that she was given more lives, but they didn't say who gave them out." Firestar looked at her in disbelief. "I know it sounds hard to believe but it's true."

"Hopefully she won't cause any trouble with us," he muttered with a shake of his head. "We've had enough problems as it is."

I know what you mean, she thought in silent agreement.

She didn't want to add how strangely Ashfur had acted after Frostwind stared at him. It was as if he had submitted to the smaller she-cat, which sounded mousebrained to Stormsong. When Firestar padded away she decided to use this as a chance to visit Sorreltail's kits.

Though she wasn't close to Sorreltail it was nice to see the future of ThunderClan. She had often watched Ferncloud's kits play outside the nursery, and that was how she got to know them.

The tortoiseshell and white she-cat was sleeping in a nest of moss and feathers. Brackenfur was standing beside her, his eyes glowing with warmth as he watched the four kits. Ferncloud was sleeping nearby, her tail twitching every now and than as she dreamed.

"Have you come to see the new family?" Brackenfur asked when he noticed her arrival. When Stormsong nodded he purred in amusement. "Come forward, they don't bite."

When Stormsong did so she saw four tiny fluffs of fur at the base of Sorreltail's belly. She couldn't help but purr when she saw them.

"This one is called Flamekit, because of how dark red his fur is," Sorreltail mewed when she pointed towards the largest kit. It was a dark ginger tom; his fur was almost russet in color. "The little one to his right is called Aspenkit."

Aspenkit was a tortoiseshell she-cat like her mother. Stormsong nodded and looked on at the rest. The third was a ginger and white kit named Cedarkit. The final kit was a golden tabby kit named Honeykit, because she reminded Sorreltail of what honey looked like.

"You two deserve a big family like this," Stormsong purred.

"We were hoping to have a tom and a she-cat, and now we have two!" Brackenfur boasted. His chest was puffed out with pride as he watched his kits mewl for milk.

She mewed her goodbye to the happy couple and trotted outside of camp. Disappointment flared within her when she saw Frostwind again. Four guards had been posted around her instead of three. Rainstorm, Longtail, Cloudtail and Sootpelt had been chosen for guarding duty.

She noticed how unnerved Cloudtail looked as he glared at Frostwind. She knew that this relationship wouldn't last long. Sooner or later someone would try to kill Frostwind, and for some reason she felt happy about that. Frostwind couldn't be trusted, no matter how convincing she sounded.

She wanted to see if Hawkfrost was around sunningrocks again. Maybe he would know what to do about Frostwind. Mothpool had been one of the cats to go on the journey, so she might know what to do as well.

Once outside bitter cold air buffeted against her fur. Stormsong staggered in surprise when she realized that it was snowing again. She forced back a groan of annoyance and wondered how long leafbare would last. Goldenflower had once said that leafbare could last for moons in the forest. The last leafbare before Firestar joined the Clan had been hard on ThunderClan. So many cats had died because of starvation of sickness.

Stormsong sent a silent prayer to StarClan, hoping that the Clan wouldn't suffer like they had before. It was the last thing they needed with Frostwind in their camp.

Her pelt bushed up as she tried to fight the cold. She was determined to reach sunningrocks before a patrol found her.

To her relief and surprise she saw that Hawkfrost really was there. He was crouched over the river, his eyes studying it carefully. With one swift flash of his paw a fish was thrown out of the water. Stormsong gaped in shock when he dealt a killing bite.

"Enjoying the show?" She jumped when Hawkfrost called out to her. "Not many get to see a RiverClan warrior hunt."

Embarrassment washed over Stormsong as she pushed her way forward. Her ears flattened before she ducked her head.

"How is that you know when I come here?" she asked in a calm voice.

The dark brown tom shrugged. "I guess it's just instinct," he replied. "Something told me that you would be here."

Stormsong studied him critically and wondered if he was telling the truth.

"Have you... had any strange dreams lately?" She felt guilty asking the question again. The last time she had asked it he stood her up at Fourtrees. Would he do it again?

This time he didn't run. Instead he stared at her silently for what felt like moons. Stormsong shuffled her paws in embarrassment when he finally sighed.

"Yes, I have been dreaming lately," he murmured. "I see this sky... but it's stained red with blood, like someone drew a claw over it."

A shudder ran down Stormsong's spine. It sounded eerily similar to the dreams she had been receiving lately.

"Out of rain and sky comes the frost that falls," she whispered.

Hawkfrost's eyes widened and his jaw dropped open.

"I heard those same words from some cat in StarClan... I think it was Crookedstar who told me," he meowed.

"A prophecy... meant for our ears only," she added. "What if StarClan is trying to tell us something about Frostwind?"

"Frostwind is dead, isn't she?" He stared at her in horror when she shook her head.

"We thought she was dead but... someone gave her an extra life in StarClan I think," she mewed. "We're holding her hostage right now until we find out the truth."

Can I really trust him with such knowledge? she wondered. After all he is from an enemy Clan.

"If that's the case than she should be killed now, before anything happens," he snarled.

"I wish I could," she sighed. "Firestar ordered us not to kill her though."

Annoyance flared within her chest when she remembered what Firestar had said. It was as if Graystripe had told him not to kill a cat who was determined to take over the forest. She shuddered at the thought and wondered if Frostwind had done something to Graystripe.

Ashfur had acted strangely during their encounter on patrol. Why shouldn't Graystripe act differently either?

"Meet me here tomorrow night," Hawkfrost suddenly meowed. "Maybe we can work together and figure this out."

Stormsong nodded despite the thrills of fear that coursed through her. She knew that working together was their best option, despite what her instincts were telling her. Together they would stop Frostwind, and fulfill the prophecy created by StarClan.