Warriors: The Prophecy of Frost - The Darkest Battle

Chapter 1- Rise and Fall

All the ThunderClan cats returned to camp with a somber mood.

Webfoot and Dewsplash was carrying Silverstar's body. The cats who did not attend the Gathering looked horrified at the sight of their leader lifeless and unmoving.

"What happened?" Fireclaw asked, halting abruptly in front of them.

"The Gathering was ending," Stormleaf began to explain, "then, all of us heard a roar of thunder and a Dark Forest cat appeared! He introduced himself as Snarlfang and warned us that the Clans will be... no more. Then, when Silverstar spoke, he just pounced onto her and ripped out her reminding lives! And he had admitted to killing Brownstar!"

The Clan broke out in chaos.

"Silence!" Hailfall snapped. The Clan quieted down and looked at the deputy expectingly.

"Patrols will go out as normal. I will appoint a deputy before I leave for the Moonstone. StarClan might give us some answers then," he ordered, sounding more like his old self.

The Clan nodded.

"I say these words before StarClan, so that they can hear and approve of my choice," Hailfall seemed to hesitate before continuing. "Spikethorn will be the new deputy of ThunderClan."

"Spikethorn! Spikethorn!" the Clan yowled half heartedly.

The older tom dipped his head in understanding.

"I will leave for the Moonstone tomorrow," Hailfall continued. "Spikethorn, double the guards. The rest of you who have no guard duties, go to sleep unless you want to sit vigil for Silverstar."

As Hailfall padded to Silverstar's body, he felt Frostblaze's wondering gaze on him.

He shook off his thoughts and rested his muzzle on Silverstar's already cold body.

"What would I do without you?" Hailfall whispered.

~~~~

"Touch your nose on the Moonstone and it will give you sleep," Stagwind instructed.

Hailfall obeyed, resting his nose on the shining cold stone.

A heartbeat later, he found himself at Fourtrees. Nine cats, who he had known all his life and a few cats he didn't know, were standing in front of him expectingly.

"Hailfall," they all said at the same time, "are you ready to receive your nine lives?"

"Yes," Hailfall hoped he sounded convincing.

The first cat who stepped forward was his former mentor, Rockpelt. The tom walked confidently to Hailfall.

"With this life I give you courage to know what is right, courage to fight battles for the sake of your Clan," he meowed solemnly.

Hailfall stiffened in shock as he felt an intense pain, yet at the same time, he found himself feeling more... certain.

Rockpelt padded off and the next cat who stepped forward was Spottedpelt.

She looked younger than Hailfall last seen her, her beautiful spotted pelt stained with blood.

"With this life I give you compassion. Use it to care for the young and old, and for the ones who need comfort," Spottedpelt mewed.

This time, Hailfall didn't feel as much pain as he did when he received his previous life. There was a soothing feeling, mixed with the sharp feeling of pain.

Spottedpelt stepped back. The cat replaced her was so small that Hailfall almost thought that there were no cat in front of him.

"I am Volekit, your littermate," the tiny kit introduced. "I died before having a tiny chance in the world, but it is my destiny."