Thanks to Badgerclaw ThunderClan Warrior for leaving an anonymous review. I wrote some bits of this a long time ago.

Chapter 23, The End and The Beginning

There was the customary gathering gossip and noise, and excited wide eyed young apprentices everywhere. Iceshadow felt the urge to smile every time she saw them. She was reminded of her first gathering, and felt a pang that it had not been the joyous affair she had been expecting. But this was her first gathering as a ShadowClan warrior, and excitement and enthusiasm were bubbling up inside her. Moreover, it was not just her first gathering as a ShadowClan warrior. That enough was enough to make her want to tilt her head to the sky and yowl at the stars; but it was her first gathering with Snakeclaw.

Just looking into his shining amber eyes made all the noise vanish as she lost herself in those eyes. All that remained was the gentle noise of the wind in the tree branches above. Once again, he looked directly into her eyes.

Was there something deeper than their apprentice friendship? She found herself thinking on it. Iceshadow was not wondering it; rather she was hoping it. She was hoping it with all her heart and she was remembering Petalstar's words and the pride in those eyes. She was remembering Snakeclaw's voice cheering her on. For not all may see the thorns of a rose, but also in it is beauty. In that moment she was happier than she had ever been. Life was sweet and every moment and every heartbeat felt right; like it should be.

Then Snowblossom burst through the crowd. To Iceshadow, at first she seemed the same old Snowpaw. Enthusiastic, brave, kind, innocent. She had never possessed the anger and rage Iceshadow had within her grasp. But no, as she looked at Snowblossom, Iceshadow saw something more. She saw an age; not an old, decrepit age, but a blossoming, bright age. "Snowpaw," Iceshadow breathed out in satisfaction. This evening had just been completed for her.

"Snowblossom," her sister breathed out. Their eyes found each other and the sisters were next to each other, crossing their paws again like they always had.

"Iceshadow," Iceshadow purred out.

"Or Icerose," Snakeclaw pointed out, mewing a greeting to Forestshadow and Snowblossom.

"I'm Forestshadow now," the handsome tom spoke.

"Congratulations," Iceshadow nodded. Any enmity that had been between them was gone; now they were simply old friends rejoicing to be together again after so long.

"We have some other news, Icerose," Snowblossom said in a breathy tone.

Iceshadow noted the use of her other name without comment as Snowblossom continued all in a rush. "I'm having kits."

Life was going slow as Iceshadow's eyes lit up. Life was full and life was good. "I'm happy for you," she told them. It was true. Every bit of it was true. This day was one of the best of her life.

*.*

It was the day after the gathering, and Snakeclaw and Iceshadow were walking by the ShadowClan and ThunderClan border. The sun was setting beautifully, turning the clouds a pink that vibrated the life that was in the air. "Snakeclaw," Iceshadow stopped him with her tail. Her eyes were all aglow. In those dark blue eyes was a meaning words could not convey. It seemed an eternity before she spoke, and in that eternity Snakeclaw could revel in her gaze. She was beautiful. She was truly beautiful.

"I love you." The wind whispered in the trees around them. It seemed as if life could not go on because life had stopped right here; it had stopped to freeze the best moment of his life forever.

He was about to answer her back with the words of his heart; with the words he had ached to tell her since he heard the awkward, sarcastic, defensive apprentice in the camp for the first time. Suddenly, a thin screech came to their ears.
Snowblossom.

*.*

She saw her sister spinning around, too late to see the monster that was bearing down on her. Shock made Iceshadow's mind go a horrible blank as she saw her sister and the tiny lives inside of her about to die. She saw the forest blurring past so fast she didn't know what she was doing. A rock caught her paw but in the haze of certainty Snowblossom was going to die she brushed the pain away. Th early evening air was cold on her face as she approached her sister, barely realizing what she was doing as her paws slipped onto the Thunderpath and her destiny.

A cry echoed from behind her but she couldn't pick out the words. As she pushed Snowblossom out of the way the blaring golden lights of the monster cut into her vision unti lshe could see nothing but white. Suddenly, pain bit into her side as the monster threw her across the thunderpath. The cry came again, this time Snakeclaw's words ramming their way into ther ears. "ICESHADOW! STOP! NO!"

The forest returned in a spinning mass of branches above her head. She heart panting and suddenly saw Snakeclaw's head above her.

"I love you," she whispered.

He had to run, he had to go. As he sped away from her, her life died away in one moment. In just one moment, it was all gone. The light was to be replaced forever for dark.

*.*

Her eyes snapped open.