Warrior cats: The Making of Destruction #2: Trouble in the Forest

Chapter 14

Winterfrost's POV

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"Who's there?" A black tom at the entrance demanded. When he saw it was Winterfrost, she saw his gaze lighten, but not by much as he noticed Panthertuft.

"Winterfrost? Who is this?" The black tom asked, blocking their way to the main camp. Winterfrost looked more closely at the tom, then flicked her tail in excitement.

"Whitepaw, that's you isn't it?" She asked, voice happy.

"Yea! Although it's Whitefang now. I'm really proud of the name. I got it right after the minor battle with Thistleclan. Boy we showed them!" He replied, eyes glimmering as he lost himself in thought.

"You know about Thistleclan?" Winterfrost asked urgently. What had happened to Fireclaw? Was he hurt? Whitefang's eyes darkened.

"Those mangy Thistleclan cats where at the border. They cut through Rainclan's territory just to get to us! Rainclan should have noticed though if they weren't so lazy," He suddenly seemed to remember Winterfrost's old clan.

"Err I mean, they where probably dealing with Thistleclan on the other border... I feel bad for them. They are stuck in the territory next to those no good excuses for cats!" Whitefang clawed at the ground, tearing up the grass in front of him.

"Anyways, why are you here, and who is the cat you've brought with you?" Whitefang brought back the subject.

"This is Panthertuft," Winterfrost meowed, flicking her tail at the shiny black she-cat who had been standing silent through the whole conversation. She was staring at Whitefang but lost in thought too. When she heard her name, she blinked her eyes and looked around wildly as if everyone was staring at her.

"We've come here to ask Dawnstar of one more favor... I already owe Sunclan for saving my life, but I have urgent news." Winterfrost explained quickly. Whitefang hesitated, staring at Panthertuft strangely, then snapped back to reality and dipped his head, stepping aside to allow them to pass. Winterfrost gave a curt nod of thanks before entering the clearing. Cats where rushing everywhere. Some cats sitting outside the medicine den, anxiously pacing in circles muttering miscellaneous words under their breath. Other cats sat outside the nursery, playing with the familiar kits that Winterfrost had seen only a few moons before.

"Winterfrost? Whitefang tells me you have a question to ask for me. Come to my den. Bring your friend, too." Dawnstar's voice sounded from next to Winterfrost and she nearly leaped out of her fur. She haden't noticed the orange tabby she-cat pad up to her. Winterfrost dipped her head in thanks and followed Dawnstar to a large hole in the ground. She crawled into it and was quickly swept in by darkness.

She only knew Dawnstar was in front of her and Panthertuft was behind her because of the soft padding of paws echo in the small tunnel. She felt like she would be crushed underneath the soil when she emerged into a lightened area filled with white crystals... they looked like what she imagined when the elders told her stories about the "Moonstone" in the old territory.

"It's only light in here because of these crystals," Dawnstar explained. Her eyes where full of wisdom and knowledge but her voice was edged with the deep sense of tiredness. Winterfrost knew the old she-cat hadn't gotten rest in a while, worried about what Thistleclan's next move would be. Dawnstar must have thought she was staring for a different reason, because she continued.

"There is only a little line of light that flitters in through the tunnel, you can only just see it's outline if you look closely." Dawnstar meowed. Winterfrost narrowed her eyes and found it was true. It seemed like the smallest, skinniest line in the forest, but it was there. The small stripe hit a large crystal in the middle of the den, which reflected into other crystals, lighting up the area. For some reason, Winterfrost knew exactly how it worked.

"The question?" Dawnstar asked, reminding Winterfrost why she had come to Sunclan in the first place. Panthertuft padded up to sit beside Winterfrost, and she knew that Panthertuft would help her.

"Cloudclan was recently attacked by Dar-I mean, Thistleclan." Winterfrost began, thinking about how she would not allow Cloudclan to look weak but at the same time asking for Dawnstar's help. It didn't seem possible.

"Go on, young cat." Dawnstar prompted.

"Well, the truth is... Cloudclan never really wanted to help Thistleclan at all. They where only helping Thistleclan to gain their trust, but then Thistleclan went too far. There was a battle... several of Cloudclan's cats lay dead in their own camp in their own territory. Thistleclan has taken over Cloudclan territory and we fear that they will take over the rest of the forest if we don't do anything." Winterfrost spilled it all out. There was no way she could think of to make Cloudclan not look weak. She just hoped Dawnstar would have the heart to let Cloudclan stay with them until Thistleclan was taken care of. It seemed like forever before Dawnstar said anything.

"You're asking me to take in Cloudclan until Thistleclan is put right?" Dawnstar asked, ears perked and eyes alert. Winterfrost nodded slowly.

"Is what Winterfrost tells me true? Are Cloudclan in that much need?" Dawnstar asked Panthertuft, turning her orange head to face the black she-cat. Panthertuft hesitated to answer and Winterfrost knew quickly that Panthertuft was having trouble. Would she be loyal to her clan or would it end badly? It was partly Dawnstar's choice, Winterfrost reminded herself. If she was loyal to her clan that could mean telling Dawnstar the truth and Dawnstar allowing Cloudclan to stay in Sunclan. But if she was trying to be loyal and told her anyways, Dawnstar could see the change to drive Cloudclan out of the forest at the condition they where in. Slowly, Panthertuft nodded.

"Okay then, I will send a patrol to fetch them. I will tell them not to attack your warriors, and I think it's best you tell Cloudclan to not attack ours." Dawnstar decided, voice rising in authority.

"One more thing..." Winterfrost meowed as the cats began getting up.

"Yes, what is it?" Dawnstar asked, ears perked.

"I won't be able to stay. Please, don't tell Cloudclan about a cat named Winterfrost. They know me as Winter the rogue and I don't want them thinking I'm a spy. I am no longer in Rainclan so, I could never be a spy for them unless I get accepted back... which could probably never happen." Winterfrost found herself stammering on some words. Dawnstar's look told Winterfrost she understood and that she'd tell her clan not to mention her. Winterfrost gave a sigh of relief. As they left the den and padded out of the camp, Panthertuft padded in front of Winterfrost.

"You could stay,' Panthertuft meowed, eyes sad. Winterfrost tilted her head thoughtfully.

"You and I both know I can't until I figure out some way that no cat will be mad at me." Winterfrost's voice was surprisingly quiet. Panthertuft hesitated before nodding.

"I know I will see you again." She said quietly before bounding in the direction of Cloudclan.

"Me too," Winterfrost whispered and raced away from the camp before any cat could ask her what happened. She would miss Cloudclan, and Rainclan. But she knew what she had to do. It would be dangerous, but she had always known as soon as Thistleclan gave the first battle alongside Cloudclan when she was an apprentice. She doubted it herself though, telling her it was just an idea. But it became louder and louder until the thought was pounding in her head. Starclan was sending her a message. And it told her to go find the first clans, Thunderclan, Windclan, Riverclan, Shadowclan, and Skyclan and ask them for help.