{NEW STORYLINE SOON} Frostflower's Return

Chapter Three 🐾

     Frostpaw was standing in a sunny meadow. She was confused. How did I get here? Frostpaw thought. A cat covered in smoke was sitting in front of her. 

     "Who are you?" Frostpaw asked, "Why did you bring me here? Where am I?"

     The cat ignored her question and mewed, "I come with a prophecy. Darkness will arise yet again, and only the frosted flower's choice shall defeat it."

     "Tell me what it means!" Frostpaw cried as the cat faded away. The only thing she got was a twitch of an ear. The dream faded away.

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     "Frostpaw! Please, wake up!"

     Frostpaw blinked awake. The world was blurry. Then it refocused and she could see Snowdrop crouching beside her in the medicine den.

     "Where are the dogs?" Frostpaw asked hoarsely.

     "I chased the dog that attacked you away. Morningwind, Opalwing, and Mintpaw chased another dog away. Oakstar killed the last dog. It's in the clearing." Snowdrop answered. Peachflame came padding over with a few herbs.

     "Oh! You're awake!" Peachflame exclaimed. Sunpaw came behind him. He looked glad to see Frostpaw awake.

     "A cat visited me in my dreams." Frostpaw said. 

     "What did she tell you?" Sunpaw asked.

     "Darkness will arise yet again, and only the frost flower's choice shall defeat it. That is what she said. The cat looked golden under all that smoke." Frostpaw said.

     "Darkspirit killed Honeyfrost, my sister. She was golden like that too." Snowdrop said distantly, lost in memories. Frostpaw was suddenly aware of searing pain coming from her scruff and she couldn't feel her forepaw. She glanced down and saw that she couldn't move her foreleg and her scruff was covered in chewed up herbs.

     "Who's Darkspirit?" Frostpaw asked, trying to get up, but failed.

     "My father." Snowdrop snarled. Frostpaw stared at her mother in shock.

     "My grandfather. He killed his daughter?!" Frostpaw asked, astonished.

     "Yes. Darkspirit had gone mad." Snowdrop explained, "My mother, Aqualeaf, had died of greencough, so she didn't know. No more talk about this now." Snowdrop, her head hanging low, left the medicine den.

     "Can I leave?" Frostpaw asked Peachflame.

     "After I relocate your foreleg."

     "I dislocated it?" Frostpaw asked. Peachflame just nodded and stood over her. He gripped Frostpaw's foreleg with his teeth, placed his paws firmly on her shoulder, and yanked backward. Frostpaw cried out in pain but the pain vanished a few heartbeats later, leaving only throbbing from her leg, but she could move it.

     "Now you can go." Peachflame said, backing away.

     Frostpaw got up, stretched, and padded out the medicine den. Frostpaw gasped. The Thunderclan camp was in more chaos than she imagined. Fur and blood littered the ground and in the middle of the clearing was a body. Frostpaw came closer and saw her mentor, Icefur, dead. The white tom's throat was ripped out and his body was covered in wounds. Frostpaw flicked her tail from side to side. It seemed wrong to not grieve for Icefur, but she didn't know him at all and she wasn't sad. 

     Frostpaw!  Frostpaw cocked her head. Who was speaking to her? 

     Frostpaw!  The voice yelled again. 

     Who are you?  Frostpaw asked the voice. 

     I am a friend, I promise you.  The voice said. 

     How can I trust you?  Frostpaw asked again. 

     I can teach you things, and at night, today, I will take you to meet me when you sleep. The voice chuckled. 

     Okay. I accept. Frostpaw answered. Should I do this?  Frostpaw wondered.

     "Hey! Frostpaw! If you weren't standing beside Icefur's body, your eyes clouded over, you can see it's moonrise!" Riverpaw called to Frostpaw, padding toward the apprentice den.

     "Coming." Frostpaw said, padding into the apprentice den, curled into her nest, and fell asleep.

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     Frostpaw looked around in bewilderment. Where was she? This place was all dark and creepy!

     "Ha ha, there you are." 

     Frostpaw turned. A cat was standing behind her.

     "Are you the cat who was talking to me in my mind?" Frostpaw asked. 

     "Yes. I am Shadowclaw." The cat said, "Are you Snowdrop's daughter?"

     "Yes. Are we in Shadowclan? It's so dark!" Frostpaw asked. The cat said nothing, just beckoning with his tail for her to follow and padded into the forest. Frostpaw quickly followed him. His ear flicked, signaling her to stop. Frostpaw stopped. A cat slinked out of a bush and stood in front of her. Frostpaw was terribly terrified.

     "Three, two, one, fight!" Shadowclaw yowled. The cat in front of her launched himself at her. Frostpaw didn't have any battle training, so she scrambled away as the black cat swiped at her with outstretched claws. Rage overcame her terror, and she felt strangely calm. Frostpaw lashed out with her paw, catching the cat by the head, unbalancing him. As he fell, Frostpaw leaped onto the cat and slashed her claws across his throat. The wound bubbled blood as Frostpaw leaped away from the pool of blood slowly expanding. The cat thrashed and howled, then he fell still.