Thanks for all the reviews guys! This is the last chapter of Part One-Broken Dreams, so don't click away unless your house in on fire or you missed a chapter. If you are still reading this, TOTALDESTINYFAN, Fuzzkit is in here.

And please, don't hate me when this ends.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Warriors belongs to Erin Hunter

Chapter Twenty-Four

Time dragged, but four moons had passed.

Clan-life was going well for ThunderClan. Thankfully, they did not get into anymore trouble with ShadowClan. Breezestar had kept quiet at the Gathering after the battle happened, just moving along with the usual announcments. Runningstar had unfortunately passed away a couple moons back and now Pinestar led WindClan.

But within ThunderClan, there were thankfully no more deaths. Frozenpaw was grateful that the dark times, as she and Hailblaze called we're had passed. The Clan stopped grieving over Lionfire and Mousewhisper a while ago, and even though there were no reminders any longer of what she had done, she still saw graphic images in her head when she slept.

Dusksky's kits became apprentices and were now Mumblepaw and Sweetpaw. Stoneclaw was given his first apprentice when at the ceremony and now he and Mumblepaw were training hard. Sweetpaw was given to Branchtail for mentoring. Plus, new kits were born to Whitefur and Rabbitfoot named Fuzzkit, Larkkit and Gorsekit. Frozenpaw liked watching the three of them as they played outside the nursery. Fuzzkit's amber eyes reminded her of Nettlepaw.

And still yet, no one suspected a thing. She couldn't decide if she wanted them to or not.

It was a half moon Gathering that night at Highstones, and Frozenpaw was not excited. The last few had gone the same way: Squirrelfur teasing her when she arrived; Whispershadow and Spiralwhisker standing by like they weren't part of anything; be holding the same beauty she would always for the rest of her life; nothing happening for the entire time.

Since her last complex dream, there had been nothing but absolute darkness, silence and air in her sleep. And if she was lucky, a slight breath of chilled air. It was either nothing, or everything she didn't want. And with those two things and only those two things to accompany her on the spiritual side of her medicine cat journey, it was clear she was meant to make her mistake all along, and she was never destined to be a healer.

She was never destined to be anything.

Smallfeather laid in the medicine den, hind leg stretched out. She had caught herself in a tangle of thorns and branches, and by pulling herself out, she had scratched her leg bad. Three red marks ran from her hip to the end of her ankle. Frozenpaw had to chew a lot of dock leaves to get enough pulp to cover the wounds.

"There," she said, finished. "It'll sting to stretch the leg for a few days. It'd be best if you stayed off of hunting parties for a few days, but if it doesn't hurt to walk, you can go on border patrols." She paused. "Just don't be getting yourself tangled up in bushes anymore or we'll run out of herbs."

"Thanks, Frozenpaw," Smallfeather replied, standing unsteadily. "I'll go rest now." She hobbled out on three legs.

Frozenpaw sighed. She actually remembered my name. That would usually feel good...but now it just feels wrong.

"Good job," Hailblaze's voice sounded, startling her out of her thoughts. "Now you even have the attitude of a medicine cat."

"I've been training for eight moons. What do you expect?" she returned.

The gray and white tom looked at her for a while, studying her.

Suddenly he burst out, "What does a chervil plant's roots help with?"

"Bellyache," Frozenpaw replied almost immediately, taken aback.

"What about poppy seeds?"

"Shock, distress and they help you sleep," she said. "Why are you-"

"Thyme."

"Anxiety and nerves."

"Stinging nettle."

"Swelling."

"Borage leaves."

"Help bring milk to Queens and brings down fever."

Hailblaze stopped. He wore a look of approval on his face. Ever so softly, he laughed, a deep, throaty laugh. "And the difference between catmint and watermint?"

"Catmint is for greencough and watermint is for bellyache, Frozenpaw meowed, just looking at her mentor, refusing to answer a question wrong but also wanting to know why she is being asked.

"Well," Hailblaze breathed. "Color me impressed. I was not as quick and easy with Shadewhisker, and you look like you don't even know what's going on. Truth is, I can ask you many more questions than you've eaten mice about herbs but I think it's clear now." He looked on and his whiskers twitched. "You still appear to me that you have no clue what I'm talking about. Take a guess."

Frozenpaw blinked. "Well...I've just been overwhelmed with all this last minute work...and I still think about Lionfire..."

Hailblaze nodded. "I see...but you have to know what I'm speaking of."

"There's a half moon Gathering tonight," Frozenpaw put in. "But what does that have to do with you randomly pelting me with questions about leaves?"

"You know, you seem two really know this stuff," said her mentor. "Eight moons of training could really wear you out. I told you the training took longer than a warrior's. It's about time you earn your full name."

That's when she began to feel sick. Her stomach churned even though she had not eaten all day. Her vision went out of focus and she stared at her paws, waiting for everything to stop spinning.

Her ceremony. How could she not think of that?

She had worried about her belonging this whole time and whether or not it was the right thing to just carry on with her life. Her heart would always tell her no, but her mind would always be set on forgiving herself and forgetting what she did. After moons, it was all still fresh in her mind, and now...how could she do it?

But she had to. No one would omit the fact that she had killed her own brother, they'd leave in a place in the world she didn't want to be of she didn't do it herself first.

And what about Hailblaze? What would he think? He had always been more of father to her than Oakshade ever was. If he knew, it would ruin whatever dignity she had left.

"Okay," she said. "Finally."

They were the first to Highstones. Frozenpaw sat fidgeting, not only was it freezing cold, but she had never been more nervous in her life. She knew she had made her decision but would StarClan forgive her?

Would she see Lionfire?

Moments later, Spiralwhisker's figure started coming up from the Thunderpath. Beside him, was another cat that Frozenpaw hadn't see before. He was small, like a kit, and had long, tabby fur. When the two arrived, Spiralwhisker introduced him.

"This is my apprentice, Ripplepaw."

"Hi," Ripplepaw said bashfully.

"Welcome to the world of medicine," Hailblaze said. You're lucky to have Spiralwhisker as a mentor. He's very smart."

"Thank you," he said.

Squirrelfur and Whispershadow soon both arrived, and they were ready to go to the Moonstone. Squirrelfur walked beside Frozenpaw wearing a smug expression.

"Still an apprentice?" she asked. "I was done moons before you."

"I'm getting my full name tonight," Frozenpaw growled. "And you should learn to shut your face."

"Hey, stop it," Hailblaze snarled.

"Yeah Frozenpaw, stop it," Squirrelfur hissed.

"You, too," Hailblaze warned. "Don't be like a kit."

They both didn't say another word.

The Moonstome in leafbare life sent an even colder chill down Frozenpaw's spine than in any other season. And when she reached forward to have her nose touched by the silver, she would be paralyzed by the cold for a heartbeat. Things were different there now. Beautifully cruel.

"Ahem," Hailblaze said. "There is something I'd like to say before we sleep. The time has come for Frozenpaw to become a full medicine cat."

Something on the inside of her turned to stone.

"Frozenpaw had her heart set on a different path early in her life, but she made the brave decision of veering away from her dreams and taking the path of a healer."

Her blood ran as ice.

"She is very talented in this art, and I'm sure StarClan will welcome her among their gorgeous ranks of the spiritual world."

Her thoughts ran wild.

"So now I say..."

This is really happening. I'm becoming a full medicine cat of ThunderClan. I didn't want this path but I didn't deserve the other one.

"I, Hailblaze medicine cat of ThunderClan, call upon all of my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice."

But now I wonder...do I deserve this one?

"She has trained hard to learn the ways of a medicine cat, and I hope you are to guide her even further down her path for many moons."

Is there another way?

"Frozenpaw..."

Where would it lead me?

"Do you promise to uphold the ways of a medicine cat, to stand apart from rivalry between Clan and Clan, and to protect all cats equally, even at the cost of your life?"

What good will it do to say no? "I do." No...what have I done?

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I name you Frozenleaf."

I really don't deserve this. I can't have this...I can't...

"StarClan honors you for your loyalty and justice..."

No...no...no! This isn't right! I-I can't!

"And we all welcome as a full medicine cat of-"

"No!" she yowled, filling the cave with her cry. "No! No! No! I can't! This-this isn't..." She collapsed, gasping and sobbing. It went darker as cats stood over her. They were speaking but she couldn't hear them. Her heart was beating in her chest so loud, it drowned out everything else.

But one statement she heard loud and clear.

"What is wrong?"

A tail brushed her back.

"Get off me!" she snarled, leaping up. Hailblaze withdrew and stared at her with wide, eyes that held an odd mixture of questioning and concern. "Stay away!"

The others were pressed against the wall. Ripplepaw looked so frightened, it shattered everything else.

"I AM NOTHING! STAY AWAY, STAY AWAY!"

She turned, claws scraping the stone floor. The dark tunnel that was the exit called to her, while the Moonstone pushed her away. She shot one last glance at Hailblaze. The horror that appeared in his eyes at that moment made her wonder what kind of horrifying monster was hidden within the depths of her gaze.

She ran...

and ran...

and then she was outside...

she ran...

and ran...

and then she jumped over a log...

she ran...

and ran...

and then...

she...was...gone.

I bet all of you are hating me right now. You might as well just punch me in the face and call it a day. I'm not really liking myself right now either, so don't tell me that you hate me, just tell me what you thought of this chapter.

But guys, please don't give up on me. This was only Part One, not the end, Part One. Okay? I worried that if I don't make that clear you'll all stop reading because this is so depressing. :( I'm scared. Please reassure me. Please...

~Destiny