Well, those reviews for the last chapter surprised me.

Guys, I beg of you, do not give up on me yet! I have already had somebody do it, and I don't want to lose you. Give this book to chance to really unfold, and hopefully in the future, the sequel won't be as depressing. Please just bare with me, accept what I'm trying to do. This is something new for me.

Also, previous reviews told me that you guys don't like Lionfire, and even though Oakshade is the real evil one, that he is stupid for being influenced by him. And then last chapter you're all like: WTF!? WHY DID YOU KILL HIM?!

Lol.

Disclaimer: I don't own Warriors

Chapter Twenty-two

Frozenpaw carefully picked out the white fur from between Lionfire's claws. She knew that cats would automatically expect she was the one who killed the light brown tabby. At least some of them. Snowshine and Oakshade wouldn't believe it if she admitted it to them directly. They'd think it was a dangerous badger or even a monster that killed their son before they'd believe their enraged medicine cat daughter laid a claw on him.

They don't know how strong I am, she thought with scorn. Strong enough to kill the cat that defeated ShadowClan's leader.

Her heart cracked a bit. How could she have done it? He won ThunderClan so much honor, and he really was going to make it the strongest Clan in the forest. Was she really so stupid to think that she wouldn't be part of it?

Frozenpaw balled the small amount of her fur and buried it under the tree roots. She wouldn't let herself break. She just had to keep covering her tracks. There was know way she would let cats hate her more than she did herself now.

Next, for many hours, she licked her fur clean. The subtle taste of blood expanded into something much more painful. It clenched her heart, and at one point, she had to stop, and collapse, struggling to control her breathing.

When she was done with covering her tracks, she paused. What would she say to her Clanmates? She was gone for so long. They would think they had something to do with it, or they would at least have the suspicion.

Frozenpaw looked side to side? What story could she make up so it matches the scene? A badger or fox? No, it was clearly a cat that did it. A rogue? Better, but what about her? She was with Lionfire, and there would be no way the Clan would think a medicine cat could have fought it off unscathed.

Unscathed? she thought, looking at her flank. I guess I can fix that.

She held up her claws, but looking at them made her vision blur. As she waited for the forest to stop spinning around her, thoughts swam swiftly through her mind:

Look at what you're doing now. Are you a criminal?

Are you crazy? You can't wound yourself just to make your story fit. That's sick!

It's okay. You deserve it anyway. Just get it over with, and go back to camp.

Frozenpaw took a deep breath, vision returning to normal. Twisting, so her paw could reach her flank, she ran her claws over her flesh. Pain swept over her, but she ignored it and leaned down to sink her teeth into her foreleg. She felt blood seep through her fur, but she made another mark at the back of her head, making it run down to the side of her neck. The agony was overwhelming, but she kept making scratches in her legs and sides.

That's it! Stop! Are you trying to kill yourself too?

Frozenpaw lowered her claws to the ground, panting and gasping. She really was a criminal, but she had already done it. If there was a way to reverse it all, she would take it, but there wasn't. She had to keep moving forward.

She slowly headed back to camp, paw steps unsteady and sluggish. As the bramble tunnel began appearing to sight, her head pounded, spots flashed around her and her belly churned. When she broke through the branches, she felt all eyes on her.

All in an instant, Frozenpaw broke down, collapsing and struggling to breathe. She coughed and gasped, trying hard to regain her breath. A few cats rushed up to help her, including Hailblaze and Leafpelt, but everyone else just watched, uncertain of what to make of the situation.

"Frozenpaw," Hailblaze said. His voice sounded far off. "What happened?"

She looked up at him, swallowed, and spoke.

"L-Lio-Lionfire...is...d-d-dead."

Hailblaze and Leafpelt gasped, looking at each other. Suddenly, another cat was beside them, and Frozenpaw recognized Oakshade, but she was too shocked, to care. "What did she say?"

"Lionfire is dead," Hailblaze replied sorrowfully.

Oakshade's eyes went round, and he tensed. "My son...?" He whirled to Frozenpaw. "Did you...why...?"

Hailblaze snarled at him. "I know you're upset, but don't blame Frozenpaw. She's clearly just as hurt and distraught as you, if not more. Open your eyes! Look at her!"

Oakshade just growled back.

More cats began crowding around. Flickerstar pushed to the front, right beside Hailblaze. "Tell us what happened, Frozenpaw."

She looked up at him, and couldn't bare to look any longer to see how disappointed he was; disappointed to know that his best warrior been killed in his own territory.

"Well," she whispered, voice heavy with regret. She swallowed it before continuing. "We were taking a walk...in the territory. It was near..." she paused thinking, but covered it up with a cough. "Tallpines. Something didn't smell right. There was an intruder in the territory, but before we could do anything, it attacked. First it attacked me, giving me these, wounds."

Oakshade hissed. "And how did you manage to live?"

Hailblaze silenced him with a glare.

"But before...he could kill me, Lionfire attacked him. I was too hurt to help. I was nearly unconscious...The rogue...killed...him with a blow...to the neck..." Frozenpaw was lightheaded as she spoke the last sentence. Not only had she killed her own brother, but she was now lying about it.

"Frozenpaw get to my den," Hailblaze ordered. "You're too weak. Make way!"

He grabbed her scruff and pushed through the congregation. Her eyes could no longer stay open by the time they got through. Her paws went completely limp and blackness engulfed her. Even the murmuring around her faded to absolute silence.

She had never been so pained in such calm darkness.

Frozenpaw's eyes fluttered open. The medicine den was almost fully dark except for a shaft of light raining in from the entrance. Hailblaze sat there, cutting off some of the path of light, his face shadowed with both the night outside and grief.

"What's going on?" Frozenpaw asked.

Her mentor flicked an ear. "Lionfire's vigil. I stayed in here to watch over you." He padded over and touched his nose to her ear-tip. "Your fever went down, and the bleeding has stopped. You can go out there is you want. I know you never had a good relationship with him, but he is your brother."

His words were fox-claws to her heart. He was her brother, and her only real family. Oakshade and Snowshine never cared about her, and though he tried so long to deny it, Lionfire did, even if it was deep down.

"I know it's hard," Hailblaze soothed. "If you don't want to see him, it's okay. They found his body near Tallpines. It is pretty awful." He looked off into the distance, eyes clouded. He shook it away.

"No," Frozenpaw said. "I want to see him."

He didn't reply for a long time. "If you wish. I won't stop you."

Frozenpaw slowly stood. Her paws were weak but she managed to stagger outside into the clearing. She could see most of the Clan sitting near the Great Rock, but she couldn't see her brother's body. She went up, bracing herself for what she was about to see.

She stopped when she saw him. His blood had been all licked up, and his fur was nice and groomed. He was lying on his wound, so she could not see it. His eyes were closed, but his mouth was still frozen into a soundless scream forever lost in her memories. She swallowed, and settled right beside him.

A cat clawed the ground across from her. Frozenpaw looked up to see Oakshade and Snowshine, leaning against each other. Snowshine's eyes were closed and her expression around it was beyond any sadness Frozenpaw had ever seen. Oakshade was glowering right at her, look challenging.

Does he know? she thought, but didn't show her worry. She gave a slight smile, that said she was expecting what she saw, and stared back at Lionfire.

I'm so sorry...Are you in StarClan? They'd welcome a great cat like you. Something pinched her heart. I can't believe I never saw it...

Yay! Sorry this chapter is a few days later than usual. I just got braces and they have been stressing me out. :( Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter. Please review!

~Destiny