Many moons had passed since the day Dawnsky had been made deputy. A harsh leaf bare was upon them, and it was a lot colder than the past few leaf bares had been. The lake had completely frozen over, and snow covered the ground in layers.

The bitter wind woke Dawnsky, and she shivered, puffing out her short fur to try and keep warm. She shook her paws, which were numb from the cold. I'd better get the dawn patrol ready. She thought, slowly getting up.

Dawnsky walked out of the den, and saw that the sun had barely risen, "I've still got some time." She sighed, walking back into her den. She curled up, staring at the walls of the warriors den. I wonder what Shadowstripe is doing... he hasn't visited me since I became deputy. She pondered, maybe his goal was to stop me from being leader. Well he's definitely going to fail at that! She smiled in satisfaction, flexing her claws. "He's probably just given up, since I'm already deputy." She whispered to herself.

After what seemed like moons of boredom and staring into space, Dawnsky got up again. "Longfang, Spottedbreeze, Willowfur and Pebblefur. You've got the dawn patrol." She mewed.

She could hear groans from all around the large den. Longfang was the first to get up, and Dawnsky could see signs of age in the seasoned warrior. He slowly got to his paws, "You heard Dawnsky. Get up!" He meowed to the cats that had already fallen back to sleep.

Dawnsky sighed, shaking her head. She was used to getting up early by now, but she understood how everyone hated to leave their warm nests and go out into the freezing cold. She stepped out of the den, her paws immediately sinking in the snow.

"We better get this done quickly," Willowfur shivered, "or my paws are going to freeze and fall off!"

"Do you think any prey will be out this early?" Dawnsky could hear Spottedbreeze complain to Pebblefur.

"Not if they're smart..." he mumbled grumpily back to her.

Longfang walked next to Dawnsky, his jet black fur standing out in the white snow. "They are acting as if they're doing apprentice duties instead of going on a patrol." He let out a mrrow of laughter.

"I can see why," Dawnsky purred, "it's freezing out here."

"So where do you want to go first?" He asked.

"Why not near Sea Clan border?" She mewed, mostly because she wanted to witness the frozen lake that everyone had been talking about herself.

"Sounds like a plan." He nodded.

They walked out of camp and into the woods in silence, observing their beautiful surroundings. Once they reached the SeaClan border, Dawnsky stared at the lake in awe. The rising sun glistened off the ice-covered water, making it gleam. She could see the reflection of the trees all around it and so she walked closer, putting a paw out to touch the shiny ice.

"Be careful." Longfang warned, "That ice can be really thin in some places."

Dawnsky drew her paw back, feeling a sudden chill go down her spine, and not because of the cold. A strange memory sparked in the back of her mind, but she couldn't tell what it was. She stepped back; there was something about the frozen lakeshore that suddenly seemed foreboding and dangerous for some reason.

"Er Dawnsky, you're not going to fall through the ice just by looking at it. Don't worry." Longfang joked.

"I know." She forced a small laugh, "It's just-"

"Are you okay, Dawnsky?" He asked.

"Yeah." She nodded, but she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was trying to tell her something, "Yeah, I'm fine. I just... I don't know. Never mind, I'm fine."

"We marked the border with SeaClan while you both were chatting." Meowed Pebblefur in annoyance.

"Oh. Sorry.... Thank you for doing that." Dawnsky mewed, feeling bad for not helping.

"It's fine." He fluffed out his fur to shake off the snow that had gathered on his pelt.

"We'll go to the Mountain Clan border next." Dawnsky decided, getting up. She glanced back at the lake one more time before turning away and heading into the forest.

***

"Well, the borders are all set!" Reported Longfang, "Let's go back to camp."

"Good idea. I'm so cold!" Spottedbreeze mewed.

Dawnsky nodded, leading the patrol back to camp. She shivered, hoping to take a nice long nap in her warm nest. They walked into the thorn tunnel and entered the clearing. They stopped in their tracks when they saw Nightstar on the highrock and a crowd of cats gathered below it.

"...Birdpaw, your mentor will be Pebblefur, and Adderpaw, your mentor will be Echowhisper." Nightstar declared.

She slipped awkwardly through the crowd, feeling bad that they had missed the ceremony. Almost a moon after Raggedpelt, Specklefrost had two kits. Birdpaw was a pretty calico she cat and Adderpaw was a brown tabby tom with leafy green eyes. She could see the excitement in both of their faces as their mentors walked up to touch noses with them. She smiled, curling her tail around her paws.

"Birdpaw! Adderpaw! Birdpaw! Adderpaw!" The crowd cheered with great enthusiasm.

"Meeting dismissed." Nightstar mewed, heading into his den. Everyone scattered, either going to their dens or heading to the fresh kill pile. Dawnsky stretched and yawned, maybe it's time to take that nap. She thought happily.

"Dawnsky!" Snapped a voice from behind her.

She flinched and turned around when she saw Nightstar, "Yes?"

"My den. Now." Nightstar hissed with narrowed eyes.

Dawnsky turned around, I guess that nap will have to wait... She hopped up to his den and glared at him, "What do you want?" She growled.

"Where were you during the apprentice ceremony?"

"Uh the dawn patrol? You know, we do it every day." She hissed, feeling slightly embarrassed.

"Well, you were late. You completely missed the ceremony." He growled.

"I-I'm sorry! You know, you could have just waited until we were through to start the ceremony. You didn't have to do it while we were half way across the territory!" She pointed out, her tail lashing, "If all you wanted me to come in here for was to argue, then I guess I'll see you later, Nightstar."

"No! I'm not through with you yet!" He growled.

"Well then, what do you want?!" Her fur bristled.

He looked down awkwardly, "Er, I don't know..."

"Well why don't you think about it? Because I'm leaving." She hissed coldly, turning to leave.

"No you're not! I'm the leader and I demand you to stay!"

"Well I'm the deputy and I'm leaving." She growled. What has gotten into Nightstar?

"You know what? Fine, just go ahead and leave! I hate you." He turned his head away.

Her ears went back, "Okay?"

"I wish I hadn't chosen you as deputy." He rambled on.

What is the arguement even about? "So why did you choose me, then?"

"First you take Speckledpath from me, and now-"

"Do not bring Speckledpath into this!" She interrupted, her fur bristling in anger, "And just to let you know, I hate you too."

He stepped back, "Just go!"

"Okay, I will!" She hissed, pushing past him. She angrily stormed off, plopping down on her nest. What was that even about? It's like he just wanted to find a reason to argue with me...I hate him so much. She curled up and closed her eyes, taking her long awaited nap.

She woke up in a large meadow, the long grass swayed in the softly blowing winds. At least I'm not in the dark forest... She stared at her surroundings, waiting patiently for any starry cat to appear.

"Dawnsky!"

She whipped her head around and saw her father and her sister. She smiled happily, walking towards them, "Hello Oakfoot! Speckledpath!" She purred, touching noses with them both.

"Dawnsky, we need to talk." Oakfoot hissed with urgency.

"Is it about Nightstar? Because we definitely need to discuss him." She complained, "Speckledpath, why don't you visit him in a dream or something? He is crazy and he needs help!"

"He is still grieving over my death, you know." She sighed.

"Well, I'm grieving over your death, too but you don't see me acting like that!"

"Everyone grieves in different ways, Dawnsky." She argued, defending her mate.

"But that's not important right now!" Oakfoot interrupted them, his eyes grave and worried.

"What is it, Oakfoot?" Dawnsky asked, shifting uncomfortably at his serious tone.

"Dawnsky, something terrible is going to happen to you, and very soon."

"Could it really be more terrible then what I've been through already?" She asked, not fazed.

"Yes. It can. There is always something worse that can happen, and I'm telling you this because you need to be prepared for it."

She looked to Speckledpath, but she looked just as serious as Oakfoot. She felt fear start to form in the back of her mind, "So... what is it?" She asked.

"All you must know, is that making the right decision is crucial for your survival and wellbeing." He mewed.

"Wait what? But... but I thought Shadowstripe was done with me!" She gasped.

"And where did you get that idea?" He shook his head in sympathy, "Shadowstripe isn't going to be through with you until he gets what he wants."

She narrowed her eyes, "Well, what does he want then?"

"I can't tell you now. But that's not the point, Dawnsky! I know that I've warned you in the past, and you didn't listen to me, but you must listen to me now. If you don't make the right decision when this bad time comes, your whole future will be destroyed. It will effect whether you become leader, and more importantly, whether you go to Star Clan or the place of no stars."

She tensed, "So this will affect... my destiny?"

"Yes." He nodded.

"Well, can you at least tell me what's going to happen so I can be sure to make the right decision?"

"I'm sorry Dawnsky, but this is something you must face on your own." He and Speckledpath started to fade, "I know you can do it. You have a strong mind, or you wouldn't have made it this far. Just remember: make the right decision, no matter what the consequence."

"Wait!" She pleaded, "Please tell me! I can't do this by myself! Please!"

But they both already dissapeared, and the meadow around her faded away. She stood, surrounded by darkness, looking frantically around her.

Suddenly, there was a booming voice that filled the air around her, "Through great difficulty you shall rise like the break of dawn, but beware for the ice is thin..."

She woke up in her nest with a start. She shivered, curling up tighter into a ball. What's going to happen to me?

((Well this chapter took me forever! xD lol i am such a slow writer. But anyways, ONLY 2 MORE CHAPTERS!!!! :0 :D the last major event will happen in the next chapter, so get ready for that :D))