#seaweedkit

[doritopaw101]

Arc1, book 2: Chapter 2

For the second night in a row, Icebelly dreamed.

-Dream-

He was standing in the dark. The roar and stench of a Thunderpath was very close by. Icebelly felt himself buffeted and blinded by the cars that roared up and down with glaring eyes. Suddenly, through the din, Icebelly heard the pitiful cry of a young cat. The desperate wail sliced through the thundering of the monsters.

A sickening crunch of bone made his fur spike and blood began to flow all around him.

-Dream ends-

Icebelly awoke with a start. For a moment he thought that the cry had woken him. But the only noise was the muffled snores of warriors sleeping beside him. A growl came from somewhere near the middle of the den. It sounded like Tiger-roar. Icebelly was a little too unsettled to try to go back to sleep, so he crept silently out of the den.

It was dark outside, and the stars dotting the black sky told him dawn was still far off. With the wail of the young cat echoing in his mind, Icebelly padded over to the nursery. He could see Frostbite holding onto Thornkit and Brightkit like her life depended on it. Brindleface curled their tail around Willowpelt. Redtail laying on his back with Lightkit and Amberkit on his belly and Pouncekit nestled in Redtail's tail. Embereyes and Nettlemist were hugging each other with their kits in between them, Robinwing was in the far corner near Redtail and Goldenflower was...awake.

She held a sweet smile and her amber eyes were soft and kind "What are you doing up Icebelly?"

He nearly fell over "I...couldn't sleep"

Goldenflower motioned for him to come forward and he did. Swiftkit and Lynxkit were huddling on her tail.

"Come here" her paws open

Icebelly was shocked but accepted the offer. He snuggled close to the golden molly, feeling more relaxed then before.

"Bad dream?" she asked

Icebelly only hummed in response and Goldenflower groomed his ears.

"About Shadowclan?" she asked softly

'More like the clan they drove out' Icebelly thought but she didn't need to worry about that "Yeah, it smelled horrible"

Goldenflower chuckled "I bet"

"Ma?" Swiftkit yawned

"Icy" Lynxkit mewed, climbing over nuzzling into his belly fur. Swiftkit quickly followed his sister's lead.

Icebelly purred as he let sleep overwhelm him.

/

"Do you know any place Windclan would go?" Icebelly asked as he gave Whitetail the last of her borage leaves. He and Sandstorm had been told not to do anything they didn't want to which obviously made the two cats more annoyed than grateful.

Neither felt good about being useless to the clan.

Sandstorm stuck to hunting while Icebelly took care of the nursery.

He did plenty with help from Nettlemist and Embereyes. They suggested he join the nursery full time, wasn't a bad idea. He was the one to make sure Marigoldkit and Seaweedkit spent time together as well as Stonefur.

As well as let Doekit, Adderkit, and Volekit some connection to their father.

Since Rosetail died, Oakjaw let Thunderclan keep his kits.

Though it had been somewhat difficult to do separate things when both Icebelly and Sandstorm had gotten the habit of being stuck to each other.

They had their nests close together at first until Icebelly just slept in Sandstorm's nest, the molly complained but didn't push him away.

That got stares that Icebelly didn't understand. He did this with Flamepaw and Scourge back in Bloodclan, it wasn't weird then.

At least he was getting to know Graypaw and Cranepaw a little better, though unlike Miststrike, Lionheart was still a piece of shit and can't let things go.

Dustpaw and Sandstorm still hung out, Dustpaw saying "they've adopted a shadow" when he followed close to them. He dealt with it, at least Dustpaw tolerated his presence.

He avoided Chestnutclaw like the plague.

Whitetail shook her head "No, we lived in a moor we never thought we'd be driven out"

He finished plugging the last noticeable hole in the nursery wall "Did you have family?"

Whitetail beamed "Yes. My fathers are Aspenfall and Cloudrunner and my littermate is Webfoot"

"Were there...any deaths?"

Whitetail lowered her head "Larkfoot, Plumclaw, and...Stoneclaw"

"Is that the sire of your kits?" Icebelly asked

Whitetail nodded sadly "We weren't really in love" she touched the necklace around her neck "We were arranged at kithood, his mother Larkfoot's idea, but we were at least excited to be parents" she looked away "I wish they could be born in the moor"

Icebelly was about to speak when he heard Bluestar's yowl, he didn't move however.

"You should go" Whitetail mewed "It could be important and you haven't really been around most of the clan since your warrior ceremony"

'A ceremony I even didn't deserve' Icebelly thought bitterly 'Pity, they felt sorry for me and Sandstorm, she either hasn't realized yet or ignores it'

"You can't be a shut in Icebelly" she continued "A clan is family"

'I'd rather not be reminded of being watched by Shadowclan' he wanted to hiss but he knew Whitetail was just trying to help and she didn't know about the rape he endured and it was better she didn't "Okay, eat the borage and rest. Yellowfang said you're due very soon"

He padded out of the milk scented den and headed over to a spot near Cherrycloud and Ravenpaw "Do you two know what's happening?"

Cherrycloud shrugged "Not a drop, she just called a meeting"

"I only heard something about territory and clan roles" Ravenpaw admitted "But that's it, are you okay by the way?"

Icebelly nodded, forcing a smile "Yeah, I'm just glad to be back"

"Thunderclan, I have two announcement. First off, after discussion. The role of over-seer shall return to the clans and Miststrike and Leopardstorm have volunteered for this role and any warrior wanting may be trained"

"What's an over-seer?" Gingerblaze asked, Icebelly caught the scent of metal and ash on his pelt but also a faint scent of blood. He must've moved up in rank already.

"A cat that looks over whole mentoring process, they're the cats who'll have priority for apprentices as well" Leopardstorm explained

"May I train as an over-seer?" Cherrycloud called

"Yes" Miststrike purred "We'd be happy to have you"

"Now that that's out of the way" Bluestar stated "Thunderclan, Brokenstar thinks he can intimidate us"

"He's a fool" Sandstorm hissed "Thunderclan isn't scared of anything or anyone"

"Indeed. We will never share hunting grounds with the likes of him" Bluestar declared "However, he makes point. The nursery is growing. Leafbare is nearly upon us which is why I, and the other two leaders agreed to hunt in the moor until Windclan returns"

"If they return" Darkstripe drawled

The clan cheered in agreement.

Icebelly's jaw dropped in shock, he glanced at Cherrycloud "Is wint- er..leafbare that bad?"

Cherrycloud nodded "It takes and takes and leaves only death and misery"

"Doesn't mean we shouldn't hunt on Windclan land" Ravenpaw grumbled

Icebelly felt very uneasy about this. He looked up and saw Fogtail eyeing him, eyes narrowed. Like he was testing him or something, the grudge between them still there.

Icebelly felt a lump in his belly, he knew Whitetail wouldn't be happy that her clan's land was being hunted on by Thunderclan, Riverclan and especially Shadowclan.

/

The dreams kept coming and coming never stopping and getting more and more intense as the days went on.

He started sleeping outside of camp since he kept waking up the Sandstorm and the other warriors and while Bluestar let him stay in her den, she didn't deserve having her sleep ruined.

Sometimes it was hard to tell what was a dream and what was reality. He heard screeching and nearly sounded the alarm if Gingerblaze didn't tackle him which made him remember he wasn't asleep.

Didn't help when he nearly clawed Dustpaw up when he got a flashback of Brokenstar.

Yellowfang seemed to have an idea but never asked him to tell her, he was grateful for that. Thymepaw just kept giving him poppy seeds and lavender to help.

At least the clan was feeding well thanks to the extra prey.

Littlekit, Sleetkit, and Smokeykit were growing stronger than before and with the nursery filled up Bluestar made them honorary apprentices but they couldn't leave camp or receive mentors just yet through they were kept busy by helping Featherears and Gingerblaze with gem shaping and help bring prey for Fuzzypelt to use.

They all thought it was nightmares of Shadowclan and he went along with it, better than the other option.

Goosefeather however showed him more and more visions, the scent of Windclan was forever burned into his nose and mind.

Goosefeather asked him if he knew what he needed to do or was he going to spell it out for him. He shut the old tom up saying he knew dream's purpose: Bring back Windclan. Even if it went against his clan's wishes.

He told only Whitetail and Thymepaw his plan, they were both for it. Thymepaw was always open-minded and Whitetail was being very spiteful at the current situation.

He took the route straight to fourtrees. The great trees looked as strong as they always did.

He expected silence, him alone with his thoughts. He had to do this, had to bring Windclan back.

"Glad to see a familiar face" Icebelly whipped his head to see Silverstream, the silver tabby padded over and purred rubbing his cheek against his.

"What are you doing here?" he asked

"To bring Windclan back, I'm guessing you kept having dreams too?"

Icebelly couldn't help but nod "Kept waking my clan"

"Same. Otterstrike nearly tossed me in a river one time. Glad Greenflower stopped him"

"Were you caught?"

"Nope" the tabby replied "Anyone know you're out here?"

"Only a Windclan molly and Thymepaw"

"Wait what?" Silverstream mewed in shock "I thought all of Windclan was gone"

"I'll explain later but we have to move, we have a lot of ground to cover"

Silverstream nodded "I'll hold you to that"

/

They had come up and stopped at the top of the steep slope on the far side of the oak-shaded clearing, their sides heaving from the climb.

"Is it always windy up here?" Silverstream grumbled, fluffing out his thick fur against the blast of cold air that swept across the uplands.

"There aren't any trees to block the wind, it's what made this territory prefect for Windclan" Icebelly pointed out, her blue eyes scanning the area

"Let's look for the Windclan camp" Silverstream mewed "It'll be the best place to pick up their scent-"

"Or what's left of it" Icebelly interjected "It's been moons let's not get our hopes up to much"

"A patrol did say it was faint, but then again they might have been too busy stuffing their faces with rabbits" he turned his head "It could be washed away by now"

They moved through the heather, keeping their mouths slightly open to pick up the scent. They stopped at the foot of a large flat rock that sloped up steeply, past the tops of the gorse bushes.

"I'll climb up and have a look around" Silverstream offered

"Good idea" Icebelly mewed "But keep your head down"

Icebelly watched his friend creep up the rock. Silverstream crouched at the top and gazed around the plateau, then skidded back down. "There's a hollow over there, I think" Silverstream puffed, signaling with his tail "I can see a gap on the heather"

"Let's check it out" Icebelly replied "It could be the camp"

"That's what I thought" Silverstream nodded "It's probably the only place up here that's sheltered from the wind"

As they neared the hollow, Icebelly raced ahead and gazed over the edge. It looked as if a Starclan warrior had reached down from sky, scooped a pawful of peat from the plateau, and replaced it with a thick tangle of gorse that grew almost to the level of the ground on either side.

Icebelly sniffed. He could smell many scents, all Windclan, old and young, tom and molly, and, in the background, the faint odor of fresh-kill that had long since become crowfood.

Silverstream bounded down the slope and plunged into the bushes, he quickly followed after him. The gorse tugged at his fur and scratched his nose, making his eyes. He could hear the others behind him, he heard Silverstream cursing as thorns sagged his ears. They pushed through into a sheltered clearing. The sandy ground had been trodden hard by generations of paws. At one end of the clearing stood a rock, worn smooth by many windblown moons.

"This is their camp all right" Silverstream murmured "I can't believe Brokenstar managed to drive Windclan out of such a well-protected place!"

Icebelly stepped forward "Let's find the scent trail out of here"

He began to sniff the air carefully and moved forward, following the strongest scent. They followed after her. The scent trail was quite clear now-definitely Windclan, but mixed and pungent, as if made by many frightened cats, Icebelly looked down. Drops of dried blood dotted the ground.

"We're heading the right way" he mewed darkly. Two moons of rain and wind had failed to wash away the signs of suffering.

The trail led them to the far edge of the uplands, where they stopped to catch their breath. In front of them the ground sloped away to the farmland. Far in the distance, where the sun was beginning to set, loomed the towering shapes of Highstones.

The pair started down the slope, carefully sniffing each clump of grass to make sure they stayed on the Windclan trail. "It doesn't look as if they were heading for Highstones" Silverstream remarked. The trail took them sideways into a wide grassy field. They skirted the edge, staying near the hedgerow as Windclan had done. The scent led them out of the field and onto a Twoleg path through a small copse of trees.

"Look!" Silverstream mewed. Sun-bleached piles of prey bones lay scattered in the undergrowth. Mossy bedding had been gathered beneath the thicket patches of brambles.

"Windclan must have tried to settle here" Sliverstream mewed in surprise

"I wonder what made them leave?" Icebelly asked, sniffing the air. "The scent is old"

It only took a few moments before they were both drenched in icy water.

"Starclan why?" Silverstream hissed

"Follow me" he called

He hurriedly raced along as the rain continued to fall. A familiar barn rose up and Icebelly's recognized it as Barley's barn.

"This way" he yowled

"In that?"

"You have a better idea?" he asked "I'd love to hear it, if not let's go"

Silverstream followed him stride by stride. They neared the entrance and to Icebelly's glee the door cracked open and sitting there at the entrance was Barley.

"Howdy" Barley greeted "Looks like ya'll could some shelter for the night"

"P-please" Icebelly pleaded, he felt Silverstream press against him

Barley stepped aside and the two clan cats gratefully entered, shaking the excess water from their pelts.

"Barley who's there?" a voice called

"Just a Thunderclan cat and a Riverclan cat Violet" the black and white tom replied

"No trouble I hope, I don't want my kits hurt" the ginger tabby mewed, shaking hay from her fur. "Name's Mary"

"No Trouble" Silverstream mewed "We just need to do something important"

"What you clan cats need to do now?" Violet called "I've heard of a Thunderclan leader that went on a killing spree of housecats"

"It's complicated but we need to do this whether this is for the good of our clans or not" Icebelly replied

"They won't be happy, I know my clan won't"

"There's some hay beds for ya'll to rest on" Violet mewed "Some blankets if you want"

"Thank you" Icebelly mewed

"Have you two eaten?" Mary asked

They both shook their heads. Icebelly had been so focused on finding Windclan that they forgot to ask Thymepaw for herbs.

Barley stood up "I'll be back in a sec"

Watching the kind loner vanish, Icebelly started grooming himself but then Silverstream started doing it for him.

"How is your fur so knotted?" Silverstream asked in shock "I need a broken shell or something to fix this"

Icebelly chuckled "I'll keep that in mind"

"Are you two from the forest?" a small golden kitten asked, two more kittens close behind him

"Yes we are" Silverstream replied "I live by the river while this fluffball lives in the dense forest, how you mange to hunt with this white fur is beyond me"

"I cover it with mud and other things, Frostbite and Leopardstorm taught me how"

"Jacky, Rose, Joey come back here" Mary called "Time for a nap"

The kittens whined as they obeyed their mother making Silverstream and Icebelly chuckle.

"Now explain the Windclan molly"

"Whitetail came to my clan for her and her kits own safety from Brokenstar and Bluestar allowed her to stay"

Barley returned, two voles so plump it looked like they'd burst open. He set them down "May I share with you two?"

"Sure" Silverstream purred

The taste was heave to Icebelly's mouth, it felt like it melted in their mouth.

"Thank you Barley" they mewed

"Yeah thanks" Silverstream added

Barley dipped his own head "It's no problem at all" he angles his head to the door "Howdy!"

Icebelly and Silverstream turned their heads to see a very pissed Fogtail standing in the doorway.

"What are you doing here!?" Icebelly hissed

"Could ask you the same thing?" Fogtail sneered "Clan life too much for-" his gaze drifted to Silverstream "or having a night with a River cat?!"

Barley placed a massive paw infront of Fogtail and Icebelly remembered that Fogtail was a lot more skinny than the average Thunderclan cat and that Barley was Bone's son.

"I don't want fighting in here" Barley said firmly "If you're here to shed blood you should turn back now"

Fogtail seemed to take a breath and think "Alright we'll...talk"

Barely glanced back at Icebelly and Silverstream "I'll be over there" and with that he padded over to a side of the barn.

Fogtail snorted "Talking, what in the name of Thunderstar's cry are you doing here? and with a Riverclan cat no less?"

"None of your business" Icebelly hissed, their tail lashing "Why are you even here?"

"Saw you snuck out" Fogtail growled "and I made it my business so spill" Fogtail retorted "or is the only reason you're out here was for a lovely romp with a River"

Silverstream snorted "Oh yes, we love being soaked wet before we get it on and-"

Icebelly knocked Silverstream over "Hush"

They glanced back at Fogtail who narrowed his eyes.

"I'm waiting" the older tom drawled

Icebelly rolled his eyes "You'll be waiting a while"

"That's fine" Fogtail made himself comfortable on the hay "You two have all night for your 'romance' before I bring you to Bluestar tomorrow'

Both Icebelly and Silverstream shot up in panic

"No we haven't-" Iceblly bit his tongue

"Haven't screwed yet or something else?" Fogtail sneered

"We can't tell you" Silverstream mewed

"Why not?"

Icebelly ignored the thunder that boomed outside "Tell the clan whatever you want but me and Silverstream need to do something"

"I'm not going anywhere til you tell me why you're both out here"

Another voice came from the entrance of the barn

"We'd like to know as well"

They all turned to see a soaked Silverpaw and Graypaw.

"Why does everyone have to follow us?" Silverstream groaned

"Just get in" Icebelly hissed

As Silverpaw and Graypaw shook themselves off, Icebelly pulled Silverstream over.

"What do we do?"

"Let's tell them, they'll find out eventually"

Icebelly glanced back at the three cats then back at Silverstream "I suppose you're right"

Silverstream rubbed his cheek against theirs "You know I am"

/

It was easier to tell them when Silverstream kept Fogtail's mouth shut when he began to yell.

They were surprised of course but seemed to deal with it but that was because they were sleep-deprived.

Once they were all rested up, they had more thoughts well Fogtail had more thoughts but Icebelly and Silverstream were not going to be swayed.

After they thanks the barn cats for the night, Icebelly lead the group down the trail onward to a thick hedge.

"Do we have to go through that?" Graypaw complained as Silverpaw and Fogtail wiggled through.

"Yes, it will take too long to find a way around" Icebelly stated "I want to cover as much ground as we can"

"Just suck it in," Silverstream groaned as he made his way through with a bit of struggle. Graypaw had the pleasure of being shoved through by Icebelly while Silverstream and Silverpaw pulled him. Beyond a narrow ditch lay a wide earth track.

They continued on the path. Icebelly and Silverstream in the lead, Fogtail in the middle, and Silverpaw and Graypaw in the back.

The cold breeze carried another odor to Icebelly's nose, there was a road nearby. From the other disgusted faces they smelled it too. They pushed on despite the horrid odor. The stench grew stronger and stronger until they could hear the roar of the Thunderpath monsters in the distance. By the time they reached the hedge that ran alongside the wide gray path, it was hard to make out the Windclan trail at all.

"I can't smell it!" Silverstream said in a panicked tone looking from side to side

"We'll find it, everyone spread out and yowl if you find something" Icebelly mewed

Icebelly took Silverpaw, Silverstream went on his own and Fogtail and Graypaw paired up.

"Hey look at this" Silverpaw called

Icebelly looked to where the apprentice was looking. He crept over until he reached a place where the hedge was less thick.

"They must've sheltered here" Icebelly mewed

"The Thunderpath must've scared them off" Silverpaw replied

"With them having had open and wild territory this must've been a nightmare for them" Icebelly commented, Silverpaw nodded in agreement. Icebelly caught the scent of Windclan. He flicked his tail for Silverpaw to follow.

"The trail seems to be leading under here" he mewed "Silverpaw go find the others"

"On it" Silverpaw quickly dashed off

Icebelly squeezed onto the grass verge that lay along the Thunderpath. But on the other side of the hedge the scent trail stopped abruptly.

Damn it!

They regrouped and followed along the scent trail Icebelly found.

"I think I found a marker" Silverstream mewed

"They must have settled somewhere near here" Graypaw murmured in disbelief

"Why would Windclan come to a place like this?" Silverpaw asked

"Not even Brokenstar would want to follow them here" Icebelly answered grimly

"We should rest and hunt for now" Silverpaw advised

"Why would we do that?" Graypaw asked in a shocked tone

"It's really early, Windclan would probably listen to us more if look well-rested and not ragged and crazed" Silverpaw replied

"It's settled then, we rest until the sun is high" Fogtail mewed "I saw a burrow around here we can sleep in there"

/

They all were settling for the moment, they pressed close together, talking about small things.

Icebelly was pacing back and forth. He wanted to go to Windclan now. He had his own curiosity for the clan but to also see Duskstar again. He wondered if he was even still alive.

"In my day I would have ignored them and went over there already"

"Shut up Goosefeather"

Goosefeather honestly was an interesting cat to be around.

"You never told my about your past" Icebelly mewed staring at the gray speckled tom "Only about your family"

"My past isn't pretty, you'll get no happy ending from me"

Icebelly shrugged "The most interesting cats have the worst stories about them to tell" Scourge, Bone, and Brick's pasts were evidence of that.

Goosefeather let out a horse chuckle "Very well"

"As you know, I was born alongside my sister Moonflower to my parents Daisytoe and Rooktail, as a kit you could say I was normal but that didn't last long. One day an apprentice Swiftpaw went missing and a tom. Beetail told me she was in the reeds by Sunningrocks. I told some warriors but they were hesitant to believe me. One warrior didn't believe me but the other two did, soon after Swiftpaw was found"

"I'm guessing there's a but"

"Right you are. But when they explained that I knew where Swiftpaw was, they questioned if I had been out of camp on my own. The Thunderclan medicine cat at the time, Cloudberry took me aside and said I had a 'gift', she told me not to tell anyone"

"Why?"

"It's why Bluestar, Leopardstorm and even you don't tell others you can see ghosts, why don't you tell?"

"Cats in the clan already judge me for my 'outsider' roots, me seeing ghosts would make them more wary of me than they are already"

"Exactly, cats don't like things they don't understand, things outside the warrior code. I became Cloudberry's apprentice at 4 moons old. Many cats judged that, they judged me more when I was made a full seer at 7 moons."

"Really?"

Goosefeather nodded "I got my name by saving some of my clanmates from a kittypet attack, I've always had visions, could see ghosts and could see the future, but I couldn't change it, in some cases causing them to come true"

"The gift wasn't a gift at all was it?"

"It was curse" Goosefeather spat "There was one vision that was always in my crazed mind, A badger and Stormtail bringing it to me"

Icebelly nodded along

"Stormtail was a cat who picked on me, he was also Moonflower's mate was Bluestar's father, by blood anyway, he's also Featherears, Cricketsong, and Fogtail's sire"

"Bluestar told me Stormtail did a lot to her"

Goosefeather laughed so hard he nearly fell over "She'd call that an understatement, she tried to maim him when she was only an apprentice and nearly succeeded if not for Sunstar pulling her off"

Icebelly smirked he could very much believe that. Bluestar is a violent cat, makes sense.

"Icebelly, where are you?" Silverstream called

"I need to go" Goosefeather nodded

Icebelly grabbed the three voles he killed and padded over to the group.

"Was wondering where you were" Graypaw mewed

"Was hunting got a little sidetracked" he replied

"Can I have one of those voles?" Graypaw asked eyeing the rodent

"You just had a squirrel" Silverpaw mewed

"Who didn't eat?"

"Me and Silverstream" Fogtail answered

Icebelly passed over two of the rodents and then began chowing down on the last one.

"I can't wait to see Windclan" Graypaw mewed in excitement

"Yes yes but let's rest up before we go over there" Silverstream replied with a smile

They all could only nod in agreement as they curled up and let sleep wash over them.

[doritopaw101]

Arc1, book 1: Chapter 15

It had been two days since the attack and things have just felt dead.

Cats were just trying to live and nothing else. Icepaw took it upon himself to help Whitetail adjust to Thunderclan life and said he would help with her kitting if she wanted, Embereyes was also a massive help as well.

Frostbite's distress was clear and nothing would help till her kits were back with her. It didn't help with Featherwhisker's suicide. He had gone to snakerocks and let a snake bite him, Chestnutclaw and Thymepaw found him but it had been too late to save him. It had shocked the clan that the old tom would do that. Graypaw and Cranepaw were obviously grief-stricken, Graypaw spent his time out of camp most of the time while Cranepaw refused to talk to anyone, even her brother.

Icepaw rolled over onto his paws but immediately regretted it since his back wounds hadn't fully healed. The new training with Tiger-roar had gotten more intense. They found new ways to try to make him their practice dummy but he learned and beat Darkstripe often. He bonded more with Swiftkit and Lynxkit than he thought he would, they honestly seemed more attached to him than their own mother.

The clan's atmosphere had changed during these harsh moons. No cat was allowed out of camp alone. A group of four or five when they had to patrol. Bluestar gave orders to the more battle ready cats like Robinwing, Nightshade, and Chestnutclaw lead border patrols and they always came back bloody.

Ravenpaw had screeched in camp one day when spots started appearing on his fur for no reason. Icepaw had to calm him down and tell him he was possibly going through vitiligo. When asked what that was he explained it was normally when a black cat would become more and more white as they grew. Chestnutclaw and Dustpaw mocked him about Ravenpaw needing a name change like Whitebird or Ravensnow.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his name being called.

"Hey Icepaw get your fluffy butt up and get over here ya minnow-brain"

Icepaw chuckled as he stood and walked over to a fluffed up Silverpaw. He was also sneaking out to see this feisty tom. Silverpaw had come out as a genderfluid at the last gathering and went up to him first to say it, saying Icepaw's confidence gave him the go to come out. He didn't know how he got himself into meeting with him but he didn't exactly want out.

It gave his mind a distraction from Thunderclan's current state.

"Silverpaw, what do I owe the lovely pleasure?" he purred, he curled his tail over his back

"You looking like you bout to take a nap near the river is what" Silverpaw mewed, pointing his nose in the river

"Sleeping with the fishes, maybe your clan will think I taste good" he joked earning a chuckle from the gray tabby "You certainly look good, wonder if you'd taste as good:

"Maybe-"

An ear-piercing cry made both cats snap their heads in that direction.

"What was that?" Silverpaw asked

"I don't know but we should probably see what it is then warn our clan if its dangerous"

Silverpaw nodded and followed him. The cry got louder until they could hear the words "Help! someone help me!"

They had started in a walk but both switched into a run with those four words. It was more down river but some of the rapids were harsh.

Icepaw's eyes caught something silver in between some rocks, he later recognized it as a cage with a cat inside.

He recognized that voice "Flame!?" he called in shock

Flame seemed to hear his voice "Splinter? The hell are you doing here?"

"Saving your sorry ass, I'm coming come on Silverpaw"

Icepaw jumped in the water, his instincts be damned he rather drown than sentence his littermate to a water grave.

He pushed against the rushing water, he was glad he convinced Silverpaw to teach how to swim. He tried gripping onto the rocks but his wet paws were making it tough but he felt Silverpaw push him up.

He went for the front of the cage "Hang on Flame" he bit onto the handle trying to drive it up so the door would open. He felt himself being pulled down and realized the cage was about to fall into the water.

He thanked the spirits above for Silverpaw's quick instincts. The tabby tom pushed with all his might to keep the cage up "Hurry up Icepaw" Silverpaw mewed through gritted teeth.

Icepaw hurried as fast as he could he unsheathed his laws on his right paw and began to jiggle the lock.

Click

The lock fell into the water and Icepaw bit the handle once more and it finally opened up.

Flame jumped out, clinging to Icepaw for dear life. Silverpaw let go of the cage and let it flow away into the rapids.

"Flame are you okay?" Icepaw asked

"M..My..l..leg hurts" Flame mewed weakly

"We should take her back to my camp it's closer" Silverpaw mewed

"Agreed" he replied

They wasted no time dragging Flame though the water and laid her carefully onto the sand. Icepaw then lifted Flame onto his back and Silverpaw led them through Riverclan territory.

They were almost there when they got stopped by Blackclaw.

"Silverpaw, what is this?" Blackclaw snapped, glaring daggers at Icepaw

Silverpaw rolled his eyes "Stuff it Blackclaw, the cat was about to drown and Icepaw was around to help now let us in so the kittypet can see Mudfur"

"And waste our herbs on a worthless scarp of a cat as if" Suneyes hissed coming up beside Blackclaw.

Stonefur padded over "Blackclaw Suneyes, what is going on here?"

"Silverpaw thought it would be a good idea to bring kittypets here"

"I'm a Thunderclan apprentice asshole" Icepaw spat

"And I'm a fish" Blackclaw sneered

Stonefur rolled his eyes "Blackclaw stop, if this cat needs healing then they are going to get it and besides Icepaw is welcomed in our camp for his sessions with Swanlight"

Blackclaw stared at the gray tom appalled "Stonefur have you lost-"

"I'm quite sane Blackclaw, Silverpaw bring your friends let's go"

Icepaw was thankful that this cat had more brains and compassion than his clanmate. He was laid into the medicine den where Mudfur was sorting herbs.

"Stonefur Silverpaw? what's going on?"

"This cat nearly drowned and she said her leg hurts" Silverpaw mewed

Mudfur got up, picked up Flame and rested her onto a nest "She's freezing"

"I'll warm her up" he quickly rested beside Flame, curling his tail around her shivering body "She's my sister I'll die before I let her go" he declared

Mudfur nodded "I'll see what I can do about her leg, for now sleep"

/

Icepaw felt a paw prod his side. He opened his eyes to see Graypaw looming over him.

"What the-"

Graypaw stumbled back "S..Sorry I was trying to see if you were awake"

Icepaw rolled his eyes, he stood and started stretching "Who did you come with?"

"Well Bluestar's in Stormstar's den, Spottedleaf gave Seaweedkit to Stonefur and she's talking with Mudfur about herbs, Lionheart's outside and Mossthorn's talking with two cats named Stonefur and Mistyfoot"

"Bluestar chose a small non-threatening group besides her and Mossthorn" he concluded "Glad they kept Lionheart away from me, doesn't explain why you're here with me when you're barely in camp, don't get me wrong I understand you're pain"

Graypaw looked away "I wanted to thank you for saving me from Dewflare"

"It-"

"I owe you my life" Graypaw mewed

Icepaw was slightly stunned but let Graypaw talk

"It's part of Thunderclan customs, if someone saves your life, you owe them your life until you repay them."

A voice in his head told him to tell Graypaw he didn't owe anything but the larger part of him told him to hold into this "Alright but don't expect anything crazy so I don't scare ya off"

Graypaw nodded and quickly tried to leave but Flame woke up.

"Splinter? what's going on?"

"It's Icepaw, Flame, and we're in the Riverclan camp since my clan's camp was too far"

Flame turned her head to Graypaw, shrinking back a little "Who are you?"

"Name's Graypaw" Graypaw answered "Son of Thrushpelt, Featherwhisker, and Willowpelt. Grandson of Tawnyspots"

"Graypaw, can you go get Mudfur?" He began licking Flame's ears

"O..okay" the gray tom quickly dashed out and soon after Mudfur padded in.

"How's my patient?" Mudfur began sniffing

"Warm" Flame nuzzled into Icepaw's fur

"Good, your leg was sprained but I wrapped it up but you shouldn't start walking on it anytime soon" Mudfur advised "If it still hurts I'll give a poppy seed"

"O..Okay" Flame mewed

Icepaw stood, licking Flame on the head "I'll be back soon" he and Graypaw left the den and Icepaw got a good look of the Riverclan camp. He saw Swanlight and nodded to her as he walked.

"How's my little minnow?" she purred, leaning to groom his ears

"Great actually" he mewed "Where's the little ones-" Icepaw winced as he felt a bite to his tail "Hey Lakekit, where's your brother?"

He felt a light weight on his back that answered his question. Lakekit seemed to be a mix of her parents while Condorkit hot Swanlight's pelt but thankfully didn't have red eyes but green.

"Kits" Swanlight chuckled

"They're growing well"

"That they are" Reedtail purred as he padded over "They'll be apprenticed soon"

"Will you be there big brother?" Lakekit asked. They had gotten into the habit of calling him that, neither Swanlight or Reedtail stopped them.

"I'll certainly try" Icepaw replied "Though if your brother keep chewing my ears I might be able to hear your names"

"Condorkit" Lakekit whined "Get off of big brother"

Icepaw couldn't help but laugh

"Icepaw, come over here!" Mossthorn called

"I'll see you guys later" Icepaw called and padded over to where he saw Mossthorn talking with Stonefur and Mistyfoot.

Mossthorn turned their head and greeted him warmly "Little hero aren't you"

"I would do it for any cat" Icepaw quickly said, though he knew that wasn't exactly true if it was Chestnutclaw or Robinwing.

"We need more cats with compassion like that, not cats like Blackclaw" Mistyfoot mewed

"Can we not have this conversation again Mist"

"Why? Blackclaw is an asshole from what I saw of him" Icepaw growled "He and Suneyes would have let Flame died if you hadn't stepped in"

"Your only defending him because he's your mate and honestly bro I don't get what you see in him when you have Splashsong. Petalstream had your guys kits five moons ago"

"She kitted" Mossthorn mewed "Why didn't you two tell me I have niblings"

"Didn't ask Mossy" Mistyfoot purred "What about your three kits?

"How many?" Icepaw asked "Wait, who else sired them or is it just you?"

"Two kits" Stonefur mewed "They aren't named yet as tradition, they'll come soon enough, me and Splashong sired them" .

"Graypaw, Mossthorn, Icepaw let's go we're leaving" Icepaw heard Bluestar call with Spottedleaf in tow

The blue-gray leader looked annoyed, her flower necklace looked ruffled too. Icepaw felt her pull him close with her tail "You were brave today, you have guts unlike Stormstar at the moment"

Icepaw couldn't help but chuckle at that but he turned serious "Can I say goodbye to my sister first"

Bluestar nodded "You may but be quick"

Icepaw padded into the medicine den. Mudfur was there but he also noticed Stormstar and Oakjaw were there too. "Flame"

"Icepaw what's going on who was that molly, she looked more pissed than Princess"

"That's Bluestar my leader, I have to leave Flame I'm sorry but you'll be well taken care of here"

"Can't I go with you?"

"No!" he nearly screeched but he quickly regained his composure "I mean you're already here and the travel would be tiring for you at the moment"

"Fine" Flame huffed "I'll see you again right?"

"At gatherings yes, bye sis" he nuzzled his sister before dashing back outside.

/

"Do you know where Spottedleaf is?" he asked Sandpaw

"How should I know?" she sneered licking her paw

Icepaw lashed his tail "Look I don't like you and you don't like me but I want to talk with her"

"Go ask Thymepaw, she's usually knows"

"She's not here mouse-brain" Icepaw retorted "Honestly I'd rather she be here than you, how you're sisters shocks me"

Sandpaw growled "She's behind the medicine den, watching Goldenflower's kits"

"Wait" Icepaw felt his legs stiffen slightly "Lynxkit's loud and shouldn't we be hearing something and isn't that place still under repair from the attack"

Sandpaw looked confused but caught on what he was implying. She pushed past him and ran for dear life, Icepaw followed after. He saw Yellowfang in the distance.

When they got there, Icepaw's fears were true.

"NO!" Sandpaw wailed "Auntie!"

Spottedleaf laid on her side unmoving in a pool of her own blood, Spottedleaf's throat had been sliced through. Sandpaw buried her face in Spottedleaf's neck.

Icepaw would have time to mourn later, he needed to find Swiftkit and Lynxkit. He sniffed around, catching the scent of Shadowclan which he was hoping for. He also caught Yellowfang's scent but also another one.

"Sandpaw-" Icepaw felt a sharp hit to the back of his head and fell with a thump. The last thing he saw was Sandpaw being held down by a black blur.

/

Icepaw stirred, his head throbbing. He woke to the rotten and dull walls of what he could guess was the nursery.

He spotted all of the missing Thunderclan kits. Cinderkit, Brackenkit, Lichenkit, Thornkit, Brightkit. They were all here but he also saw Swiftkit as well.

He quickly padded over and huddled around them "It's okay little ones, Icepaw's here"

"We missed you" Cinderkit whimpered "I miss Mossthorn"

Icepaw licked the kitten gently "I know but I'm here so at least you have me"

'Where was Sandpaw?' he thought, if he was here where was she? 'Did they kill her' he thought with horror. He may not get along with Sandpaw but he didn't want her dead, Redtail, Brindleface, Birchstep, and Thymepaw would be devastated to lose after they just lost Spottedleaf.

He could hear the kittens whimpering more and curled his tail around tighter, they weren't even his and he felt this urge to die to protect them.

He looked them over, Brackenkit had a cut in his ear, he was obviously crying from the pain. The other kits had small scratches. The cuts on Brightkit, Thornkit, and Petalkit's small bodies were where he was most concerned.

"I..Icepaw?" Swiftkit asked

"Yes?"

"A..Are we gonna die?" Swiftkit's eyes watered

Icepaw didn't know how to answer that, he didn't know himself.

"We're never gonna see our parents again, are we?" Lichenkit whimpered. The kittens started to cry and Icepaw's heart broke for them.

"Hush little ones, I'll get you back to your parents and I'll protect you till then"

"Promise?" Brightkit squeaked, she was so small compared to her siblings Brackenkit and Lichenkit.

"Promise"

He heard the sounds of cats near the entrance to the den. A hiss was exchanged and two cats padded in, Brokenstar and Palecloud. The dark brown tabby was

Icepaw stood over the kits, his back curled and tail protectively covering them "What do you want?"

Brokenstar sat down calmly, looking him over while Palecloud mewed "I'm here to check on you and the kits"

Icepaw stepped to the side but kept his gaze on Brokenstar. They stayed like that til Palecloud started sniffing his pelt, more closely his nether regions.

Icepaw hissed at him, hackles rising. Palecloud shrieked back.

"Palecloud, you need to check all our visitors, thoroughly." Brokenstar stated "I'm sure they won't cause trouble in unknown territory"

Icepaw forced his fur flat and let Palecloud examine him.

"Lift your tail" the seer muttered

Icepaw once again forced his back fur flat and obeyed. He jolted when he felt Palecloud's claws spreading him. "W...where's Sandpaw?" he tried to hiss but it came out as a whimper more than anything.

"Alive" Brokenstar sneered "I'm sure you'll see her eventually"

"The kits have some cuts I want to patch up. Icepaw seems fine and he seems very fertile. His kittypet origins could provide big litters for Shadowclan. Dewflare was right about that."

'I'm going to actually kill her' Icepaw thought

"Get to it, Runningnose"

Palecloud nodded and quickly padded out. Icepaw noticed how skinny he was, even for a Shadowclan cat. his fur clung to his pelt and his whiskers were dropped.

'Of course' he thought, feeling his claws sink into the ground "What do you want, Brokenstar? I know you didn't just take us for a fun time"

"I received a prophecy a few days before you arrived in the clans" Brokenstar mewed "About the white fire"

'Like what Goosefeather said' Icepaw realized

"I want the power on my side" the tabby mewed

"Why should I side with you?" Icepaw growled

"Look at me Icepaw" Brokenstar stated "I have two, honestly three clan territories under my control, it's obvious who's going to win"

"If you have so much territory why does it look like half your clan is starving" Icepaw retorted "Oh I know, it's because you'll keep your followers strong so the rest can't fight back"

Brokenstar's eyes displayed nothing, his fangs showed slightly "Think about my offer Icepaw, it's better with your choice than without it"

/

It had four days and it already seemed like a hellscape. Cats so undisturbed as their clanmates beaten before their eyes. The smell made Icepaw want to gag. He had watched Marigoldkit almost die along with her brother if he didn't practically force Wetpaw to step in. Blazefang honestly didn't seemed fazed to it until she had her kit nuzzle her belly and it was like she was a different cat with how she quickly nuzzled her kitten.

He wasn't allowed anywhere without a warrior or two present. It made finding Sandpaw more challenging. Wetpaw had been punished from helping Marigoldkit, Littlepaw was too scared as well was Brownpaw, he couldn't find Frogtail,or Poppyflower, Appletooth wouldn't look at him, Whitethroat wasn't really in a condition to talk to him neither was Badgerfang so they weren't much help.

The only thing he got was from Darkflower telling him "the run empty down den". They were all run down but found out empty meant no rank was there. The elder's den.

He glared at Toadpelt who glared right back "Going somewhere whitedeath" he sneered

"Oh that's a new one" He replied hotly "I'm so scared of you"

Toadpelt growled "I'd suggest you get yourself and get back to the nursery where you belong"

Icepaw snorted "Nah I'd think you should head back to the apprentice den"

Toadpelt's fur stood up "Excuse me?"

"I've seen you fight, you're really bad, who trained you a mouse?"

"Brokenstar trained me" Toadpelt snarled, stepping forward

"Really?" he said in a mock shocked tone "I'm surprised someone like Brokenstar failed with you but what do I expect from a mere Shadow"

Toadpelt screeched and launched himself at Icepaw but training with Nightshade certainly helped his reflexes. He dodged the attack and smirked when Toadpelt crashed into Appletooth who very much didn't mind shredding Toadpelt.

He quickly dashed over to the elder's den, throwing caution to the wind. He wasn't prepared for what he saw next.

Clawface was clinging to Sandpaw's hips, digging into them so much that blood dripped down. Jaggedtooth was holding her head in a lock and it looked like he clawed the back of her ears to keep her in place.

Sandpaw was whimpering and gagging underneath both of them. Tears streaked down her cheeks, and her pelt was filthy and ragged.

Jaggedtooth and Clawface groaned which signaled their release, Jaggedtooth shoved Sandpaw's head further as he came. "Fuck yes, you're mouth is better than Dawncloud's"

"Brokenstar should keep her longer" Clawface hissed forcing more of his weight on Sandpaw as he filled her.

Icepaw wanted to move but he felt frozen to the spot. His legs were unmoving and his jaw only dropped.

"She tried to run for it" Icepaw turned his head to see Brokenstar "I don't tolerate disobedience"

Before Icepaw knew what was happening, he was grabbed. A paw over his mouth to keep him from yelling and over his eyes. He was shoved onto his back on a cold hard surface, he realized he was in Brokenstar's den. The stench made him want to gag and the whole setting made his skin crawl. His head was slammed against the stone, an unsheathed paw digging into his chest.

"My my, Dewflare was right, you are very soft"

"Get-" Brokemstar moved his paw to his throat

"So soft, so fragile, like mollies like you are"

Icepaw spit in his face but in an instant regretted it.

"I'd claw you but this pain will be far greater than anything you've experienced"

Icepaw knew immediately what was happening. He tried kicking with his back legs but Brokenstar was too heavy. He felt Brokenstar at his entrance and he was about to yowl when a paw was shoved over his mouth. He looked up to see...Dewflare.

He felt Brokenstar enter him so roughly, he knew he was bleeding. "Starclan above you're tight" he thrusted harshly and quickly with reckless abandon

"I told you love" Dewflare purred which made Icepaw

Icepaw bit her paw which made her yowl and flinch back in pain. Brokenstar's paw slammed over his mouth, he felt his claws scratch the side of his throat. He tried pulling it off but it was planted and too heavy. He felt his insides tangle as Brokenstar's pace quickened, he felt full and hated how much his body enjoyed this.

"Feisty molly isn't she" Brokenstar groaned

"Raised her well" Dewflare sneered

'You didn't do jackshit!" he screamed under Brokenstar's paw 'Henry, your elderly older brother raised me, Scourge, Bone, and Brick raised me, hell Jake raised me better than you'

"What beautiful kits we'll have, right along with Roachkit, Flykit, and Beekit"

Icepaw felt tears run down his his cheeks, he wanted to curl up and sleep. He wanted to go home, he wanted Frostbite, Goldenflower, Yellowfang, Bluestar, Swanlight.

Brokenstar let out a yowl as he released inside him. Icepaw felt his insides swell and even saw his belly bulge a little.

Icepaw thought it was go over.

Thought

Brokenstar's laugh cracked any hope "Oh I'm not done with you my little molly, we're doing this til you can't remember your name"

And he did, they went on for so long. Icepaw couldn't tell at this point, all he could hear was Brokenstar and Dewflare's laughter.

/

He hurt everywhere and refused to sit. Brokenstar fucked him everyday, in private or no. It seemed some of his warriors took joy in watching his suffering and hearing his cries. He stopped crying on day three. He felt empty but most of all he felt unkept rage. The rage that could rival a mother protecting her kits, hah like he had a mother to do that for him.

Sandpaw, Brackenkit, Lichenkit, and Swiftkit were missing. He overheard the elite say they gave them back to Thunderclan as pity.

Pity, Bluestar didn't do pity.

He kept his face neutral as he watched Dawncloud and Newtspeck nurse the remaining kits. He was glad they were fed but he didn't like the way Clawface looked at him, like the way Brokenstar does. Brokenstar hadn't let anyone else use him, only him claiming him to be his prize and his alone. He didn't groom himself anymore but Clawface and Dewflare kept him clean anyway.

Not like he could do anything. He had a limited food and water supply and he was either watched by Clawface or Dewflare. Oh how he wanted to rip both cats pelts for entirely different reasons.

Dewflare was obvious, her constant mocking of him and how she kept calling him her 'daughter' and how he'll be fat with Brokenstar's kits in no time was wearing him down but Clawface...he was the one who killed Spottedleaf. He mocked him when he told him knowing he couldn't do jackshit. He had no one really.

The only things keeping him sane were the kits, not even the Thunderclan ones. He took care of them and made sure they didn't stray too close to the warriors. It was all he ha dat this point.

"Will Brokenstar have them train?" he asked, speaking for the first time since Brokenstar's daily 'fun' time with him today.

"Depends on his mood" Newtspeck replied sadly as she groomed Thornkit. Out of all the kits, Thornkit fell in the best. It scared Icepaw.

"Count the days til the day they die" Icepaw stated, his head barely moving from the moss bed "Die like so many of the kits right?"

Dawncloud whimpered "My babies, I birth and birth. So much blood. It doesn't matter at all."

"Newtspeck" Palecloud mewed, his head hung low

"He's dying isn't he?" Newtspeck replied, her voice void of emotion

"Who's dying?" Icepaw muttered

"Littlepaw" Newtspeck replied "Clawface and rats got him"

"Let me see him" Icepaw mewed "Please, maybe I could do something"

Palecloud nodded and led him to his den. Icepaw saw the small brown tabby laid on his back, he was covered in rats bites and claw marks.

"I've tried all the herbs I could think off and all the garlic I could use on him, nothing's worked"

Icepaw felt Littlepaw's energy begin to fade and at the same time Goosefeather appeared "He must live" the gray tom said "He needs to live". 'No hi, just he needs to live' Icepaw thought grimly. Goosefeather hadn't talked to him since the first time Brokenstar raped him, only now he decided to show himself.

"What do I do?" Palecloud whimpered

Icepaw thought about telling the seer to go fuck himself but thought better, Palecloud like him and so many of the Shadowclan cats had no choice in anything.

"Figure how to get me and the kits out of here. I don't care how you do it just get it done." he glanced back to the small brown tabby "Let me worry about Littlepaw"

"I'll try my best" Palecloud agreed, he quickly dashed out.

Icepaw turned his head to Goosefeather "What do I do?"

"Sleep next to him" Goosefeather replied "You'll figure it out"

'Sleep?' Icepaw was confused but Littlepaw didn't have time so he obeyed. He felt the mist feeling of sleep pull him and he felt Littlepaw's presence as well. He saw Littlepaw walking along a path, leading to what he guessed was Starclan's hunting grounds.

"Littlepaw!" he called

"Icepaw" Littlepaw mewed "What are you doing here? I'd thought you were with Brokenstar"

'He has my whore of a mother to keep him busy' he said silently "I came for you" he replied "It's not your time yet"

Littlepaw looked back at the path "But it says it is, it's calming" he laughed a little "Better than what's happening in my clan, better than what Brokenstar's put you through"

"What about your brothers and mother?" Icepaw asked "Don't you want to be there for them cause I know they'll miss you so much even if they don't show it"

"You really think that?" Littlepaw asked

"This feeling pulling you will come again one day and you can follow it but I say fight it, you shouldn't die here like this"

"But I'm weak, Clawface said so"

"Fuck him, prove him wrong by living" Icepaw declared "Prove him you're strong by choosing to live and fight"

Littlepaw made a choice, he leaped from the path and over to Icepaw "Let's go"

Icepaw led Littlepaw back the way he came, he glanced over his shoulder at Goosefeather who nodded in satisfaction.

/

Icepaw watched Littlepaw's progress and was glad he was improving so quickly. Palecloud's herbs started to work and he began to be able to walk on his own. Newtspeck had been so shocked when she saw her son "I owe you a great deal for saving my son"

"He didn't deserve to die like that, none of those kits did"

Despite Dewflare, he actually got to bond with his younger siblings, Roachkit the most, she reminded him of Flame.

He knew he shouldn't but he thought of these kits like his own at this point. Not like queens also didn't fill his heart. He cared when Newtspeck broke down when most of her litter died leaving only Whisperkit, he cared when Dawncloud had passed out from exhaustion and made sure she slept soundly. They cared for him and kept Brokenstar away from him.

"I'd think the clan would've come for me by now" he muttered

"I think Thunderclan has bigger problems" Palecloud whispered

"Palecloud?" he whispered back "That you?"

"Yes" the seer replied "I told a patrol and there waiting for you, it's night time so it'll be alright" the gray and white tom looked up to the stars "I hope, now come we don't have much time"

"Come on" Icepaw slowly picked up Cinderkit

Palecloud made to grab Thornkit but the kitten hissed at him to which his mouth was quickly slammed shut

"What's going on-" Newtspeck looked between Icepaw and Palecloud then nudged Brackenkit closer "This'll be your only chance, I owe you kit"

"I'll help too" Dawncloud mewed picking up Brightkit

"I don't want to go" Thornkit whined

"Too fucking bad" Icepaw hissed, he had no time to be nice "We're going"

They slpit in between a hole in the wall and made their way through Shadowclan territory. Icepaw could smell the Thunderclan border, he still pulled at his heart.

"They're escaping" he heard a yowl ring, he realized it was Mossclaw who rang the alarm.

"Don't stop" Newtspeck snarled "Keep going"

Icepaw didn't stop running, never letting go of Cinderkit. He'll be damned if he's dragged to that hellhole again.

He saw the patrol Palecloud told about, he saw Tiger-roar, Bluestar, Redtail, Lionheart, Gingerblaze, Frostbite, and Raveneye.

"Get them!" he heard Brokenstar hiss

Icepaw leaped over the border to which he was greeted by Gingerblaze "Oh Icepaw, I was so worried"

"Worry later, help fight these fox-hearts off" he replied "Dawncloud, Newtspeck, Palecloud get out of here now"

Dawncloud and Palecloud only nodded and made a dash for it while Newtspeck made no such moves "Newtspeck"

"I'm tired of running"

It was a fight for life. Claws flying and blood landing on the ground.

"Give me Icepaw" Brokenstar hissed "Newtspeck you traitor"

"You're the traitor Brokentail" she hissed

The tabby struck Newtspeck harshly across the face and was about to aim for her throat when Icepaw launched himself at him. He scored a shot at his muzzle which made Brokenstar hiss.

"You little-" Icepaw didn't see Dewflare nor her attack on his back. He let out a loud yowl from the pain. He saw Bluestar toss Dewflare violently "Get away from my son!" his leader hissed

"Brokenstar, we got company" Barkfoot hissed

"Shadowclan to me, don't think this over Icepaw"

As they ran for the hills, Icepaw let out a humorless laugh. The pain in his back was horrible but he kept laughing, he was finally free.

/

The rest of the trip was nothing but a blur.

They got all the kits and headed back to Thunderclan. Frostbite, Goldenflower, and Mossthorn were overjoyed at the return of their kits.

He ignored Redtail's words when he told Bluestar about his agreement with Palecloud, he ignored his clanmates questions. He ignored Bluestar soft licks as she hushes sweet nothings to him.

Icepaw felt like dead on his paws. The blood was starting to clot up his fur. He hadn't realized that one of his claws snapped off during the fight.

"Hold still, please" Thymepaw's whimper didn't do much to Icepaw. It only seemed to ease the pain.

"Icepaw" Bluestar mewed, her voice soft as wool "What happened?"

"Sandpaw?" he asked, he felt lighter than air

"She's only woken up today" Thymepaw mewed "She was beaten and so exhausted when we got her back"

"Too much" Icepaw whimpered "It hurts so much"

"What hurts?" Thymepaw asked

Icepaw didn't finish, he only now realized the clan's eyes on him. "Everywhere" was his only reply

"My poor kit" Bluestar muttered, she continued to groom him for moment, clearly not wanting to let him go. "Redtail, get Sandpaw"

It all felt like a blur to Icepaw, his body ached and begged him to rest and his eyes were all over the place. He felt Sandpaw pull him in close, It took him a second to understand Bluestar's words.

"...Tiger-roar, do you believe your apprentice is ready for warriorhood?" Bluestar mewed

"Absolutely" Tiger-roar mewed sadly, his eyes gleamed with sympathy for his apprentice "After what happened, he deserves it"

"Sandpaw and Icepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect your clan, even at the cost of your own life?"

Sandpaw and Icepaw shared a look, 'why now?'

"I do" they both said in unison neither daring the chance to not move up in rank after what they went through. Bluestar never moved from her spot beside the two cats, only pulling them in closer.

"Then by the powers of Starclan I give you your warrior names, Sandpaw from moment forward you shall be known as Sandstorm your clan honors your hard work and speed and Icepaw from this moment forward you shall be known as Icebelly your clan honors you for your skill and commitment to your clan.

"Sandstorm Icebelly Sandstorm Icebelly"

[End of Book 1]