Warriors: The Prophecy of Frost - Danger Lurking

Chapter 10- The Battle Within

"Spikepaw?" Froststar mewed. "But I thought you don't have a littermate." Stormleaf didn't reply immediately, only staring at Spikepaw.

He looked older than her, well muscled and tall. "I will tell you what happened," Stormleaf mewed finally.

"Nightstar was still the deputy that time. RiverClan was very hostile because of their deputy, and you could expect that the attacks are not approved by Streamstar, the leader of RiverClan. One day, they attacked our camp. Me and Spikepaw were still training, so we were no match for the strong warriors. I was busy ushering in the kits when a huge RiverClan warrior attacked me. I was injured, but Spikepaw came to defend me." She stopped to look at her brother, who shifted his paws nervously.

"He was wounded, and I tried to take him to Leafnose, but he collapsed, unmoving. I thought he was dead but I didn't get a chance to bury him as another RiverClan warrior came. Days after the battle, I went to the place where I left him, but it was covered with rocks," Stormleaf finished.

Froststar remained silent, thoughts running through her mind. "Spikepaw, tell us your story," she mewed.

The brown tom nodded as he spoke, "I was heavily wounded, and I fainted as she carried me. I woke up, but I could tell that I was on my way to StarClan soon. I managed to drag myself to a Twoleg nest and collapsed. I was saved by a kittypet who helped me. Back then, I was too scared to say anything, but the kittypet told me that her name is Feather."

Froststar widened her eyes in shock. "I know her," she mewed. "So she was talking about you!"

Spikepaw dipped his head. "After that, I went off somewhere for many moons, not staying in the same place each time. I found myself at a lake, where I found Feather again. I wanted to go back, and now I am here."

"My name is Stormleaf now," she purred, reminding the ThunderClan leader that Spikepaw is unaware of the changes.

"I am Froststar, the leader of ThunderClan," Froststar mewed, and Spikepaw seemed surprised. "Nightstar was leader, right?"

She nodded and added, "Brownstar was the leader after him."

"Brownstripe," he muttered to himself. "What else?"

"Appleshade is my deputy," she mewed. "Stagwind is our medicine cat and her apprentice is Sunstream."

"Dustfur and Icetail got their warrior names too," Stormleaf mewed. "Spottedpelt and Russeteyes are elders, Flowerfeather is dead."

"She is my mother," Froststar mewed sadly.

"I see," Spikepaw closed his eyes. "So many changes, I'm afraid that I can't fit in."

"You will," Froststar mewed. "In fact, I will make you a warrior." Spikepaw smiled as she called for the clan to gather.

"A long lost apprentice have came back to us," she announced. "His name is Spikepaw."

Surprised mutters came from the clan. Froststar nodded at Spikepaw and she began, "I, Froststar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. Although he have not had his warrior accessment, he has proven himself today."

Stormleaf looked proudly at her brother and Spikepaw was very excited.

"Spikepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and to defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?" she asked.

"I do," he replied.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name: Spikepaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Spikethorn. StarClan honours your courage and perseverance, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."

"Spikethorn! Spikethorn!" the clan yowled and at the same time, an anxious voice yowled, "Honeyfrost's kits are coming!"

~~~~

"Hurry!" Emberstorm urged. Stagwind was carrying some herbs while her apprentice carried a stick.

"Bite onto this," Sunstream instructed.

Honeyfrost bit onto it, resisting a yowl of pain as the first kit came. It was a striped tom, and he let out a tiny wail.

"One more," Stagwind encouraged her as he gave another yowl.

This time, it was a white tortoiseshell she-cat, with amber eyes. "They are beautiful," Emberstorm purred, licking one.

"Go ahead," Honeyfrost mewed. "Name one of them."

Her mate bent down to lick the tom. "His name will be Stripekit, named after my mother."

"The she-cat's name will be Berrykit," Honeyfrost purred.

"Good names," Goldenfeather mewed kindly. "They will be warriors soon." Froststar stared at the new kits, worry in her gaze.

"They are borned in a dark time," she sighed. Emberstorm whipped around to face her, his gaze hardened with determination. "And I will protect them to my last breath, if necessary."

~~~~ (2 days later, at night)

"Where are we striking?" a rogue asked eagerly. A messy tom faced the rogue with a grin. "Soon," he replied. "Soon, all of you will sink your claws and teeth into the pelts of the clan cats!"

"They stole our prey!" one yowled.

"They scarred us all into the shadows!" another snarled.

The leader, a black and gray tom, growled, "Follow me, to victory!" With pounding paws with vengeance, they charged towards the ThunderClan camp where a ginger she-cat looked at them in alarm.

"Attack!" he screeched, pouncing onto the she-cat, who collapsed under his claws. "Help!" she yowled.

"No one is going to help you!" he snarled, ready to slice her throat. Then, a familiar brown tom crashed into him.

"You again!" he spat.

"I am Spikethorn, rogue," the tom growled, swiping at his face.

"I have never seen you before," he sneered. "You are a coward, running away from your clan."

"I am loyal than you have ever been, Longdrop," Spikethorn snarled. "I came back, and unlike you, I didn't betray my clan."

Longdrop curled his lip with anger. "Rogues! Shred him!"

Suddenly, the light gray and white she-cat that he hated most appeared. "Longdrop," she spat, her fur bristling such that she seemed twice as big.

"Frostkit," he taunted.

Froststar glared at him. "Your band of rogues will be defeated once and for all. This treachery must be stopped."

"Never!" Longdrop growled. "I was meant to rule all the clans! To destroy them into dust and make a new clan!"

Froststar stared at him with furious eyes. "ThunderClan, attack!"

That's when the true battle started. Both leaders pounced at each other, to kill the other, but one fights for the sake of one, and the other fights for all.

Longdrop heard shocked yowls as more rogues came. "Foolish clan cats!" he snarled. "You are now outnumbered!"

He had Froststar pinned down and she couldn't budge or break free. "I am strong!" he growled. "I will defeat you!"

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A/N: The battle begins! Will Froststar manage to defeat Longdrop, or the other way around? Find out in the next chapter. :D

P.S. Welcome to the clan, Berryheart. ;)