AN: Only a couple more chapters left! Strangely enough this story had more reviews than the first - and it has less chapters! Oh well, thanks to those reviewers, and enjoy :)

Chapter 15

A day had passed since Graystripe's betrayal and disappearance. Patrols were sent out to search for him, but to no avail. In the end Firestar was stumped as to where his deputy could be. Stormsong knew that it was only a matter of time before Frostwind revealed herself to the Clans. With the Gathering approaching every cat would have to be on edge.

Stormsong found herself pacing along the camp's edge. She had tried to visit Graystripe once, but memories of what Mousefur had said overwhelmed her.

He is a traitor, she reminded herself. That was what Mousefur had called him, because he had met with a RiverClan she-cat.

"Stormsong, why don't you make yourself useful and go hunting." Stormsong growled irritably when Sandstorm approached her. Because Graystripe was gone she was acting as deputy. "You can hunt near sunningrocks; there's usually prey round there, but watch out for any RiverClan patrols."

Hope swelled within Stormsong's chest when she nodded. Larchpaw had received a healthy dose of training the other day. She had learned partner fighting with Snowpaw. Snowpaw had vowed to take care of Frostwind when their final confrontation came. Stormsong had no doubts that Snowpaw would succeed. She was surprised that Sandstorm had asked her to visit sunningrocks of all places, because patrols were there almost daily. The prey would be harder to find since they all knew there were predators around.

She shook her head and did as she was told after Sandstorm stalked away. The pale ginger she-cat was still annoyed with what had happened to the Clan. Stormsong knew that it would take time for them to get over what had happened with Graystripe.

Her black and silver fur brushed against the ferns as she padded across the territory. By now the snow had melted away, giving way to newleaf warm air. Stormsong welcomed the warm air and was looking forward to the plentiful prey and herbs that would follow.

She didn't stop moving until she reached sunningrocks itself. The river ran smoothly throughout RiverClan's territory.

"I was hoping to meet with you!" Stormsong's eyes widened when Hawkfrost's voice broke the silence. She peered through the throng of ferns to see him standing across the river. "Your scent is blowing in my direction," he added when he saw the ferns quiver.

"Hawkfrost, I'm glad to see you again," she murmured when she took a step forward.

"You look more anxious than usual," Hawkfrost mewed when he caught sight of her ruffled fur.

"Yesterday went from bad to worse," she whispered. "Graystripe... something happened to him and he's acting strangely now. He's turned on the Clan and he went after Frostwind!" Everything came out as a rushing gasp when she finished.

Hawkfrost's eyes widened in disbelief when she told him what had happened.

"Frostwind did this to Graystripe?" he asked. When Stormsong nodded he narrowed his eyes into tiny slits. "If Frostwind is capable of doing that, she could turn any cat against the Clans," he growled. "We have to tell the others about this!"

"If we do that the Clans will take advantage of ThunderClan," she snapped. "We can't let them do that... I can't let them do that," she corrected herself.

The dark brown RiverClan tom snorted and looked away. Stormsong felt her heart begin to sink when she realized he might tell Leopardstar anyways. Leopardstar was the type of cat who took advantage of those who appeared weaker than her.

"I won't tell," Hawkfrost finally sighed.

She looked at him in surprise. There was truth within his eyes, and when she read his mind she could feel the truth. A few heartbeats of tense silence followed before she nodded in acceptance.

"Then will you help?" she asked. "I know the Clans won't work together again, not like last time. If we can get Leopardstar to help, than maybe we could survive."

Hawkfrost still looked skeptically at her. Moons seemed to pass before he nodded.

"I think that's what the prophecy you mentioned means," he meowed. "You are the rain... and I am the sky."

Stormsong's mind churned with confusion. Was this what StarClan wanted? They were breaking the warrior code by working together. Of course she was breaking the warrior code by meeting with him, but her heart clenched at the thought of leaving him. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

She shook her head and tried not to think about it as Hawkfrost brushed against her. He was breaking the warrior code as well by crossing boundaries. He was putting his own life at risk by meeting with her. This was more than just about some dumb prophecy. This was love.

"How will we know when we should work together?" she asked.

"I guess StarClan will tell us," he replied with a shrug.

She was about to say something else when a yowl sounded from behind her. Her ears pricked forward in alarm when she spotted Cloudtail's white pelt sticking out along sunningrock's edge. Horror coursed through Stormsong when she realized that blood stained his white pelt.

"Frostwind sent a band of rogues to attack the camp!" he gasped when he caught his breath. "Stormsong, you need to come back!"

Stormsong exchanged a horrified look with Hawkfrost. He nodded to her and she sprang to her paws. Without hesitation she ran after Cloudtail, who had stumbled through the undergrowth towards camp. She could hear Hawkfrost running behind her, and was thankful that he had chosen to fight alongside her.

Cloudtail was right about the rogues. There were more of them than the ShadowClan cats that had attacked the camp a few moons ago.

With a snarl she lunged into the fray and fought off a mangy looking tom. Hawkfrost fought off several rogues. She spotted Squirreltail and Brambleclaw working together to defend the nursery. Sandstorm and Brightheart clawed the fur off of an older looking she-cat, whose lips were twisted in a snarl.

Her eyes widened in horror when Stormsong spotted Graystripe amongst the group. His yellow eyes still held that glazed over look. The deputy was making his way towards Firestar, who was defending the elders at the moment. She was about to let out a warning yowl when she felt claws rake down her back.

Pain erupted from where the claws had been. She whipped around to see a black and white tom glaring at her coldly. His yellow eyes glowed with the same dull light Graystripe's had.

"What ever Frostwind did to you, it's time to end it!" she snarled.

She leaped forward and managed to pin him to the ground. The tom let out a yelp of surprise at her attack. Within heartbeats her claws were scrabbling over his belly until he cried out in pain. One she was certain he wouldn't come back, she jumped off and landed beside yet another rogue.

This one however was no ordinary rogue. A pair of dark blue eyes gleamed back at Stormsong as her fur stood on end with disbelief. It was Frostwind.