Hailstar brust out of the den after hearing a commotion. "What is going on?" he asked.

"Some of our warriors brought a message," Spikethorn replied grimly, "from Snarlfang."

Hailstar quickly padded to the cats and was surprised to see Frostblaze there.

"What is the message?" he demanded anxiously.

"The battle... is in five days," Lilyflower mewed shakily.

Hailstar's blood turned to ice after hearing his Clanmate's words. "Five days?" he gasped. "That's too soon!"

"Then we must train harder," Timberclaw spoke up, with a determined look on his face.

Frostblaze nodded in agreement. Blazestrike shifted his paws nervously.

"Have you thought of just... giving up and become loners?" he asked, turning to look away from them.

"What?" Frostblaze snarled. "I thought you were braver than this, Blazestrike."

"I'm sorry," he muttered. "It's just a thought."

"Thoughts or not, the battle will still go on," Hailstar growled. "Spikethorn, send out the hunting patrols. I want the fresh-kill pile fully stocked. Ask some cat to organise the battle training sessions. Get some to fortify the thorn barrier."

"Of course," Spikethorn mewed.

Hailstar then turned to Frostblaze to talk to her, but she was already gone.

~~~~

Frostblaze stormed out of the camp, feeling frustrated and furious, mostly because of Blazestrike. I can't believe he's a coward!

She vented her frustration on the grass, tearing clumps of it using her claws. Why? Of all cats it has to be him to suggest breaking up the Clan.

Suddenly, the warm and musky scent of mouse caught her attention. Instinctively dropping into the hunter's crouch, Frostblaze pounced and easily caught the unsuspecting mouse in her claws.

She buried her prey under a tree and went to look for more prey. While I'm here, I should hunt.

After hunting for a while, most of her angry fadded away and she began to feel more relaxed and calm.

Frostblaze let her paws take her towards Tallpines. Maybe I should go to the Moonstone to talk to StarClan. Perhaps they will tell me something useful.

The light gray and white she-cat was about to head towards the Moonstone when she heard a rough and furious voice calling for her.

"Hey, you!" a brown tom stomped up to her. "Have you seen my useless flea-bitten kit?"

Frostblaze wrinkled her nose at the Twoleg stench that lingered on the kittypet.

"No, how does your kit look like?" she asked, forcing herself to sound polite. I should chase that kittypet off after this. He's on ThunderClan territory!

"Light ginger tom," he snapped. "He also have green eyes."

"But that's Pinepaw of RiverClan!" Frostblaze mewed in shock.

"That kit is in a Clan?" the brown tom yowled. "Take me to him so that I can give him a lesson."

"No, because you have trespass enough on my Clan's territory," Frostblaze snapped irritably. "Get out now or I will make you."

"Fine!" he growled. "Can't you at least tell him to meet me by my housefolk's house?"

"Okay, if you insist," she decided. Annoying kittypet or not, he sounds pretty desperate.

Frostblaze padded back to where she buried her prey to carry it back to camp. I will take the message to Pinepaw then head to the Moonstone.

Back at the camp, her Clanmates were busy - Dustfur was working on the thorn barrier with help from Sparrowshadow and Berryheart, Spikethorn organising the patrols, and the hunting and border patrols padding out of the camp.

"Frostblaze!" Hailstar hissed, running towards her. "I need to talk to you."

"I don't want to talk now," Frostblaze sighed. "Maybe tomorrow."

"Okay," he agreed, walking off.

After dropping off her prey at the fresh-kill pile, she padded out of camp and towards Sunningrocks to find Pinepaw and give him the message.

Walking briskly, Frostblaze found herself at Sunningrocks. Fresh RiverClan scent hit her nose and she spotted Breezestar fishing - alone.

She watched the RiverClan leader skillfully swiped at the water. A silvery fish was caught in his claws, wiggling and struggling to escape. Breezestar gave it a quick bite and the fish stopped moving.

"What do you want?" he asked, facing her.

"I want to deliver a message to Pinepaw," Frostblaze mewed. "If it's okay with you of course."

Breezestar narrowed his eyes. "Fine," he finally decided. "I will get Pinepaw. You may talk to him, but not long."

The blue tabby tom then padded off, grabbing his fish along with it.

Frostblaze sat on one of the stones and waited patiently for Breezestar to get Pinepaw. Thank StarClan that Breezestar was nice enough to get Pinepaw here.

Not long after, a light ginger tom walked towards her. He stopped on his Clan's side of the river and tilted his head questioningly.

"Breezestar said that you have a message for me," Pinepaw mewed. "What is it?"

"A brown kittypet asked - demanded - me to tell you to meet him at his Twoleg's den," Frostblaze replied.

"If you see him, tell him that I will be there," Pinepaw mewed, lashing his tail. The light ginger apprentice then turned around and stalked off.

Frostblaze turned to head for her destination, the Moonstone. I better get going before any cat realises I am missing.

Just before Frostblaze stepped out of the territory, a familiar cat ran towards her.

"Frostblaze, wait!" Blazestrike called, skidding into a halt in front of her.

"What?" she snapped.

"Look, I'm sorry for suggesting that..." he trailed off.

"I am just disappointed at your cowardice," Frostblaze growled. "I need to go now."

"I said it for a reason," his voice sounded shaky.

"Tell me then," she meowed curiously, her hostility fading.

"I-I have been having nightmares," Blazestrike mewed, closing his eyes, "of you dying..."

Frostblaze looked confused. "Why...?"

"I'm afraid to lose you, don't you understand?" Blazestrike snapped, turning to run off, leaving Frostblaze stunned and shocked.