Give Deathwing what it wants. How would Stormfrost do that? Let it take over her body? Let it hurt everyone she knew? She couldn’t do that. But she needed to get rid of it. Stormfrost thought this as she kicked a tree, practicing for the war. She knew it would do no good. Deathwing was the fighter, not Stormfrost! She winced every time she kicked the tree, worried about it, and worried that Deathwing would take over. But it didn’t come. Clearwing kept coming over and checking on her, asking where her fighting spirit had gone. He should be spending the time training his warriors, not asking her. She almost wanted Deathwing to take over. Almost. Stormfrost nickered at herself. The war was driving her crazy. Deathwing was driving her crazy. Ancestors, her life was driving her crazy. Stormfrost took a break to fly above Dawn Meadow, looking down at the controlled chaos below. Was this Desathwing’s doing? It almost seemed like it. She wished she had someone who would truly understand her. But no one did, not even Grassfeather. He was training with the yearling colts. They were putting all the weanlings to work. None of them except Stormfrost would be at the front lines. They were really just learning to fight for defense. Grassfeather was learning Sun Herd’s unique style of fighting from the air, learning how to drive enemy steeds to the ground. He was too young to fight, but he was exhilarated to try. His stallion blood was running to him early. He saw her circling from above. “Stormfrost!” He called. “Or is that the almighty Deathwing?” What was wrong with him! It seemed like he wanted Deathwing to come. He was crazy! Crazier than her! Deathwing meant death! It hadn’t killed anyone yet, but with the war, it was only a matter of time. As Stormfrost was looking down at the training colts, Ashroot surprised her by flying up behind her.

“Has it come yet?” Ashroot said nervously.

“No,” Stormfrost answered. Ashroot had formed a plan. She thought that the next time Deathwing came, Stormfrost wouldn’t fight it. She’d release all control and let it have all the blood it wanted until it was satisfied. But Stormfrost couldn’t let it happen. So many pegasi would die if she let Deathwing have control! It wasn’t worth her sanity to endanger her herd. She hadn’t told Ashroot yet. She wasn’t planning to. She would fight as hard as she could against Deathwing and let herself be torn in two. Maybe then her herd, maybe even Desert Herd, could be saved. She wasn’t excited about the pain it would surely bring, but she had no choice. She couldn’t let the thing win.