Warriors: The Prophecy of Frost - Danger Lurking

Part 2: Chapter 8- A Trade

Hailpaw was tucking into a sparrow at the freshkill pile. Rockpelt was on a patrol and Fernpaw went to train with her mentor.

He was just finishing it when Honeyfrost brust in the camp, looking panicky. Froststar went towards her first and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I can't find Fernpaw!" Honeyfrost replied in panicked gasps. "It's already past sundown and she didn't come back!"

What. Hailpaw looked at them in shock.

"Did you try finding her?" Froststar asked, and her eyes was filled with anxiety.

"Yes," she mewed. "But I can't find her anywhere!"

Froststar nearly stumbled in shock, but Patchheart caught her and he pressed against her comfortingly.

"I will send search parties," Silvercloud mewed, in attempt to calm the ThunderClan leader.

Froststar nodded blankly.

My littermate... is gone? Hailpaw thought, as his sight began to cloud in anguish. Why didn't I protect her better?

"Eat these, you will feel better," came the soft voice of Stagwind. She must have sensed his distress.

Hailpaw licked up the herbs and felt a bit calmer, but it didn't help the pain that he felt in his heart.

A sound distracted him from his thoughts and he jerked his head towards it. Hailpaw saw a brown tabby tom walking in the camp.

He saw Froststar widened her eyes, then narrowed them in hostility.

"Jaws," she growled. "Why are you here?"

The tom smirked and he mewed, "Well... I was having a nice stroll and then, I saw a poor lost cat. So I took the cat into my den."

"You took Fernpaw!" Froststar yowled in anger.

"That's right," Jaws replied, licking his lips as if he just had a piece of prey. "And I am here to strike a deal. If you want your precious kit back alive, you will have to come with me willingly."

"Just shred him!" a cat called out.

"But," Jaws mewed. "If I leave here with so much as a scratch, Fernpaw will die."

Hailpaw stared in shock at the rogue that threatened Froststar. How could he demand for Froststar to come with him? She would surely die! But if she doesn't... Fernpaw will die.

He could tell that Froststar was struggling with a decision.

"I don't have all day," Jaws growled at her.

"I will go with you," Froststar mewed slowly. "I will not resist."

"Good," he laughed. "Come here now, and Fernpaw will return safely to your Clan. And I would like to tell you that my camp is heavily guarded."

Jaws left with Froststar following him. Hailpaw felt relieved that Fernpaw was coming back, but his mother had to go.

Why? Hailpaw wondered. Why are things like this?

~~~~

Froststar followed Jaws with her head low. At least Fernpaw will be safe.

Suddenly, Jaws turned around as soon as they left ThunderClan territory. He raked his claws down her pelt fiercely. Froststar wanted to fight back, but if she did, Fernpaw would die.

"You will be held hostage," Jaws growled. "If you even think of escaping, you will be killed by my rogues."

Froststar nodded grimly.

They reached Twolegplace and she saw a board-shouldered rogue running towards her menacingly.

"Don't worry, Scar, the mighty leader won't resist," as Jaws spoke, Froststar bristled in anger.

Scar smirked at her as she went in cautiously. There were many rogues, and all of them glared at her as she was led to a hole.

Without warning, Jaws pushed Froststar in. She grunted in pain and gazed up. Jaws was instructing a tom.

"Bark, guard the prisoner well," she heard him growl. "Do a good job and you will have your rewards."

Bark nodded and stood guard near the hole.

I don't think I could escape so soon, Froststar thought desperately.

~~~~

When Fernpaw had returned, she was welcomed by Patchheart, who stood waiting at the camp entrance.

"I'm so glad that you are safe," he purred.

Fernpaw closed her eyes, feeling her father's warm fur. "Wait, where is Froststar?" she asked.

Patchheart glanced at her and his face fell. "She went in your place," he mewed.

"What?" Fernpaw gasped. "Why did she do that for me?"

"We had almost no choice," Patchheart mewed sadly. "You would be killed if Froststar don't go."

"But she might be killed too!" she wailed. "Was it all my fault?"

"It's not your fault," Patchheart comforted her. "Now, we are making a plan to rescue her."

Fernpaw nodded, slightly unconvinced.

"Don't worry," he mewed. "No cat messes with ThunderClan."