Tigerstorm's heart raced as she spotted Blizzardtail and Cloudfall. She hadn't been able to shake the way they had acted in the dream. It had to be them! Who else sounds exactly like them! She slipped through the entrance and breathed in the fresh scent of the forest as the rushing of the two stream sounded from around her.

"Okay..Icebird, Hazelstar, and Cloverfang told me to meet them by the lake." She thought whispered.

She started heading for the lake. She purred at the sounds of chirping birds and the warm sunlight that hit her back. However, the sunlight had soon disappeared behind a large cloud. The dark gray cloud was mingling with others. Great..Rain. She picked up her pace. She began wondering about the dream she'd had.

"How could they even..Wait, it's a dream. It might not even have happened! I'm not a medicine cat! Nor am I leader! It..It has to be nothing..Right?" She asked aloud

"Tigerstorm?"

Hazelstar's faint voice shook her out of her stupor as the gray and white she-cat ran toward her. Tigerstorm spotted the flecks of silver that traced her leader's muzzle. How many lives could she have left? Not to many...She looked around Hazelstar and saw Leafpaw at her side.

"We've been waiting. Come. Redpelt and Stonetail are here as well. You three may practice some of your skills while we train our apprentices." She told her.

Tigerstorm nodded as she saw the group of cats. Redpelt was speaking with Stonetail while Icebird was chastising Airpaw. She noticed a small scratch on Hawkpaw as she came closer.

"Alright. Tigerstorm, go work with Stonetail and Redpelt." Hazelstar meowed

She sat next to the two warriors as Hazelstart flicked her tail for the others to follow. Redpelt stood up and looked at them, his golden eyes shining.

"Tigerstorm, attack Stonetail with sheathed paws and Stonetail, try to defend yourself."

Stonetail stepped back a tail-length as Tigerstorm stood up. Her body tensed up as she looked at her former mentor, remembering her days as an apprentice. She ran at Stonetail as the dark gray she-cat leapt into the air, doing a back-flip. Tigerstorm smirked at the she-cat and stood up on two legs for a few moments, hitting her back. Stonetail, distracted, landed on the ground clumsily, falling down in the process. Tigerstorm puffed out her chest in pride as Redpelt nodded toward her.

"Excellent work." He said as Stonetail got up

"Indeed. She's learned much."

Tigerstorm purred in happiness as Redpelt turned his gaze to Stonetail. "You okay?" He asked. She nodded as Tigerstorm heard a rustle behind her. Two glowing blue eyes were sitting inside the bushes as fear tingled down Tigerstorm's spine. Cindershade? Her mate padded into the clearing, his fur was matted and his eyes glowed with annoyance.

"Tigerstorm." He meowed, "May I speak with you?"

"She's busy." Stonetail retorted

"Let her go." Redpelt concluded, "He needs to speak with his mate."

She caught a glance of anger and fear swarming in his eyes as Tigerstorm padded toward him. She heard him purr warmly and she relaxed. His tail was layed gingerly on her back as they padded away from the training area. She walked ahead of him and stayed near the water, wanting to see if any fish were swimming in the water.

"So-" She began

She tripped over something and fell into the water. She sucked in water, gagging on it. Her eyes went blurry as the water burned them. She thrashed around, trying to get to the surface.

"Tigerstorm!" Cindershade's muffled mew allowed her to relax.

She swam to the top, but felt something gripping her tail. Great Starclan! I can't die by drowning! She turned around and saw a large stone on her tail, holding it down. Her gaze was rimmed with darkness as her lungs burned in her chest. She pushed as hard as she could, trying to get a breath of air. She tried to call for Cindershade, but she couldn't open her mouth without swallowing more water. Her eyesight went blurry as she began to black out. This is it..I'm gonna die! She began to go limp as she blacked out.

...

She coughed loudly as her eyes flew open.

"Tigerstorm!"

Looking up, she saw Dawnstream looking down at her with wide blue eyes. Amberfoot was smiling with relief as she tried to get up.

"Stay there. You need to rest."

Her heartbeat slowed down as she laid her head on the moss. Dawnstream was still there and Tigerstorm smelled a new scent enter the den. Cindershade's dark gray tabby pelt appeared.

"Oh thank Starclan you saved her Cindershade!" Dawnstream cried, "I couldn't live without my sister!"

The tom smiled as his gaze flickered to Tigerstorm. She watched him pad over and lay his tail on her.

"May I have a bit of time to speak with my mate?" He asked

"Of course." Amberfoot meowed

The two cats left the den, leaving the couple alone. Cindershade was looking at her tail, something shining in his icy eyes. Tigerstorm glanced at it and her eyes grew round. My tail! A small part of it at the tip was missing and was starting to heal.

"The rock landed on that." Cindershade said with a smirk

"Landed?"

"You acted like a pure idiot yesterday, letting the fish swim away. I looked like a fool coming back with one fish! You also showed me how clumsy you could fight! You only let Stonetail fall to the ground and hit her once! Easily! Easily! You could have pinned her down and you let her go!"

"She's my clanmate!" Tigerstorm hissed

He lashed at her with a sheathed paw, but it slammed into her eye, pain searing through her.

"Silence!" He warned

Tigerstorm shrank back in fear as Cindershade flexed his claws. "You deserved what happened today. I wouldn't let you die though.."

It dawned on her then. H..He knocked me into the water? He..He dropped that large rock on my tail! All because I let prey escape from his claws! She felt her pelt slightly bristle.

"Attack or do anything harmful to me, you'll lose more of your tail or go for another swim." He threatened

Tigerstorm's mouth dropped open in awe. "You're sick!"

"No..I'm just better than you." He mewed, "I have the power to control you. For..Who would they trust more? A cat who's delusional due to almost dying or me? You see..I control you and this clan. They just don't know it yet. And..Don't you dare mention this to any cat. Or else, you and them will die at my claws!"