Chapter 31: Give a Little Love (just don't go soft)

"Frost!"

She walked down the pathway to the meeting place. Opin was calling her, it was important.

"Opin, you must give it time..." A tom spoke. As Frost entered the meeting tunnel, she saw three cats. Opin, with her black and white pelt. The other two, a tom with blue-gray tabby fur and a light ginger tabby tom with black flecks, sat beside Mother at a stone table. Opin's expression was angry, Frost decided the blue-gray tabby tom must have been the one to speak, he was the only one who could anger Opin like this.

"I do not care, Cobalt!" Opin spat, "He is a danger to this whole operation and must be stopped now."

Frost waited patiently by the entrance to the meeting tunnel, it was what she was told to do every time she was summoned, and wondered why she was called in the first place. Opin rarely needed her for anything important.

"Frost." Opin mewed in a strangely calm voice, "Please come here." Frost obeyed, sitting next to the older black and white she-cat. Mother started petting Frost's head with her paw, claws gently digging into Frost's skull, "Frost is the only one here who could possibly understand my pain. She was there when he started proceeding with StarClan's plans. His senses have increased greatly. He's a better fighter and hunter, now that he's not killing in a mindless frenzy. Cats even flock to him to receive their judgment."

The ginger tabby tom spoke up, "We all know this, Opin. But we must take our time with this step." Opin growled, "You know how he reacted when Frost attacked Nightpaw. He nearly gave StarClan more members for their attack on us."

"Frost," Opin countered, "is the one who has seen how weak he's gotten. In the past moon, all he's done is help the other cats and not himself! That's the one part of StarClan's plan he has dismissed, no friends. Both of you seem to have forgotten that, especially you, Speck."

"I'm not saying because he's growing soft, it means we aren't able to attack him." Speck retorted, "I'm saying that even if we attack him now, he has all of his followers to back him up. One of them dies, he goes on a giant rampage in revenge. When he's at his weakest, he's also at his strongest."

Frost listened carefully to this argument. As much as she knew she shouldn't, it was hard to pass up the opportunity to find out how to destroy the cat who killed her. No one should follow that monster. No one should even know that monster. He causes destruction to everyone he meets. He's a threat to everything. He's mostly a threat to peace. This war was Frost's as much it was every other member of the ShadowLands.

"Frost." Cobalt mewed, "Convince your ignorant mother of the death she's going to cause us." The tom had fake pleading in his eyes, though Frost knew he was being as sincere as he could. If there was one thing Frost knew about the leader's of the ShadowLands, it was their flaws.

Cobalt had a tendency to lie, and through that uncontrollable lying, he forgot how to display true emotions. Sometimes Frost felt it was only her who understood what Cobalt went through. Frost could faintly remember a cat who couldn't really show emotions. She just couldn't place a face, or voice, for that cat.

Speck's flaw, though it wasn't as clear, was anger. When Speck got angry, everyone knew to back away. As Speck's anger grows, he becomes more and more likely to thirst and hunger for cat flesh. As far as Frost knew, though, Speck had never actually eaten one of his kind. He usually just...disappeared for a few days. Some call him Cannibal behind his back.

Opin's flaw, however small it is, was something Frost could not think about. It wasn't very important, it could be overlooked for the longest time, but Opin's flaw...it sent shivers down Frost's spine.

"I'm sorry, Cobalt, but I stand with Opin's opinion however stupid it may be." Frost replied to Cobalt's plea.

Opin smirked, "See? She believes me."

Cobalt laughed. Joy, along with anger and sadness, was the only emotion the blue-gray tom could fully show, "She said she would stand by you, not that she believed you. Along with that pitiful statement, she also said your plan was downright stupid!" Then he fell over, laughing.

Frost couldn't help but let out a little giggle, where Speck remained cool and collected. Opin glared at Frost with disgust.

"I though I told you to never insult me again!" Opin grabbed Frost by the neck, "Sometimes, I wonder why I even saved you from your monster of a brother."

Brother... Frost thought. The monster was her brother. She reminded herself of this almost every day. It was easy to forget through her undying hatred for him. Or...half hatred for him. He was her brother, and she should love him. But she didn't. Or...she didn't think she did. Every time the leaders talked about killing him, she would hold back the urge to protect him. Something told her that the monster...wasn't a monster, just a shell of a living cat who was mistreated because of the things he did. But the monster was a monster, nonetheless. At least, Opin said so. Frost couldn't deny her mother. Why do I feel like I need to save him?

"I'm sorry, Opin, but there are some things that I must address." Frost mewed calmly. Calmness was key when dealing with an angry Opin. Calmness around her mother was a skill only Frost could master, "You plan, as amazing as it is, does have many flaws. Like Speck pointed out, Cat will protect those friends he has made over this past moon. And if I may have an opinion, you seem to want to have this done with before you even know what will happen as an outcome."

Opin growled at her daughter, "Of course I know what will happen!" Her eyes suddenly flashed with fear, then anger, "But how could StarClan let him care? That's not part of their little curse. If he starts caring...that's one factor I will not be able to put into our attack." She stood and started pacing, "It's not possible...he must be faking it...he must be..."

Frost glanced at Opin, worry shining brightly in the she-cat's eyes and body, "Mother...you must analyze this carefully. I know you must think everything will fall apart, but surely your plan is simply working it's way through the new changes in environment."

Opin stared at Frost for a long moment, then nodded, "Yes. Yes, it must be. It's the only possible solution." She sat down, and Frost could see the analysis of the situation swirling in her mother's head, "But we must accelerate the continuation of the plan. The ancients must be contacted. I feel this is the only way for our plan to truly succeed."

Cobalt and Speck jumped up in protest, and Frost's eyes widened. This was the most dangerous thing Opin had ever considered. Talking to the ancients was forbidden. StarClan couldn't consult them. The Dark Forest couldn't consult them. The ShadowLands definitely couldn't consult them. If they contacted the ancients, not only would the plan not succeed...the world as they knew it would disappear. Yes, the ancients were that powerful.

"You can't possibly think the possibility of destroying the entire world is worth killing your son!" Speck hissed, "Because it's definitely not!"

"There is no reason why we shouldn't." Opin countered.

"The ancients will kill us before we reach their territory." Cobalt spat through fake voice and emotion, "They aren't worth death."

"My decision is final." Opin stated, "We will travel to the ancients' realm tomorrow at dawn." She turned to Frost, "Gather the best fighters from the ShadowLands. We will need them to get past the guards."

Frost nodded, then ran off. Cobalt and Speck reluctantly accepted Opin's decision. However reckless it might be, it was still their only chance to survive this war. The odds of failure were high, now that StarClan's plan had gone astray. Though, as Frost thought about it, StarClan had planned for the cursed one to not care for anyone and be strong. They probably think that he will have kindness and be soft. They probably think that Cat's sudden kindness will destroy them.

"I guess love is a stronger power than we can even imagine..." Frost mewed to herself. She turned around a bend to find the entrance to the ShadowLands. The guard greeted her.

"What business do you have here today, Frost? I would've though you would be in the living realm by now."

Frost shook her head, "No...I need your strongest warriors. Opin has called for an attack on the forbidden Clan."

At that, everyone seemed to stop. Who wouldn't? The ancients were most likely going to kill everyone after this.

"Listen!" Bramblestar addressed the warriors of StarClan, "The ShadowLands are going to attack any day now, and we must be prepared!" The cats around gave worried glances and murmurs of uncertainty were shared, "Do not be afraid." Bramblestar tried to calm them, "They cannot win. For one thing, we have Cat. He has improved greatly since arriving in ShadowClan."

There were many looks of disbelief that Bramblestar could not understand. How could they doubt him? He was a leader of ThunderClan for StarClan's sake. Leader's of ThunderClan were always destined for greatness. Bramblestar had even lead the six cats on the journey to the sundrown place! He had done so many things, so why were the cats doubting him now?

"Bramblestar." An old gray she-cat stepped forward, "Normally I would be grateful for all the things you've done for us in this time of crisis, but this is not one of those times." She glanced to the side as Bramblestar glared, "All of this...it's not what we are supposed to do as StarClan warriors. We aren't supposed to take control of their lives this much. We're just supposed to guide them."

"What are you saying?" Bramblestar growled.

"I'm saying that me and Squirrelstar have started to release Cat from his...state of mind."

They...released him. Wonderful. Bramblestar couldn't be happier...not. This was not part of the plan. This was going to ruin the Clans forever.

"Bramblestar, you must understand. He can't control himself. He's sent more cats to the ShadowLands than were supposed to. Truly, only his mother was to be sent there. His sister...that was a mistake."

"A mistake?!" Bramblestar spat, "It was not a mistake! Joann was going to turn up just like Opin!"

The she-cat raised her head, "You've grown confused." Her eyes clouded, "Your mind is confused. The power is going to your head."

That was the last time Bramblestar thought reasonably. Too many thoughts roamed through his head. About Opin, Cat, Joann, Squirrelstar, ShadowClan, ThunderClan, himself. They all jumbled into a chaotic mess. And nothing was ever the same after that.

Another installment of your favorite demon story! I will silently await your amazing reviews. (I'M SORRY FOR MAKING BRAMBLESTAR GO COMPLETELY INSANE! don't hate me but I felt Bramblestar was having a bit too much control over the whole situation and it was a perfect time for a completely dramatic moment and I really wanted someone to go insane.)

-Moon