The Adventures of Iceear and Fernpaw!
Sophie's (aka Iceear) parts
Robin's (aka Fernpaw) parts
Iceear and Fernpaw stretched in the early morning sunlight. Finally, finally, they were apprentices. Iceear's mentor was Foxtail. Foxtail was as sneaky as any fox and about the color. His tail was bushy and resembled that of a fox. Fernpaw's mentor was Lightheart. Lightheart had a pretty silver pelt with flecks of white that mimicked the night sky. Secretly, Fernpaw thought that they should have named her Silverpelt, after the night sky, but that name belonged to StarClan.
"Fernpaw! Today's the day!" Iceear said happily. Fernpaw agreed.
"It is! I can't believe we're apprentices!" Fernpaw agreed. It was hard to believe that she and her best friend were really ThunderClan apprentices.
"Hey! Ferny and Icecicle!" An annoying voice called. Fernpaw and Iceear groaned. It was Windnose. Windnose made his way over to the other two apprentices.
"What do you want, Windnose?" Iceear asked.
"Nothing. I just heard that you'll be training with me today. Skytail is sick and Bluestar says that Foxtail is training me today." Windnose said. Iceear groaned.
"Goodie, goodie." She said under her breath as Windnose walked away and Fernpaw laughed.
"Good one, Iceear!" She said.
"Thank you, Fernpaw. Come on, we have to find Foxtail and Lightheart."
Iceear and Fernpaw walked out into the sunlight to see the entire clan gathered around the great rock. They walked forward steadily, keeping to the back of the clan. Bluestar stood on the top, waiting for the clan to settle.
"Today, my fellow cats," she announced loudly for the clan to hear, "We are faced with a new task and danger. Last night, Twolegs were spotted in our territory." The cats of the clan went back on their haunches and began to his. Bluestar calmly waved her paw and they went silent. "They had long pieces of pelts with drawings on them. Our brave warrior, Skytail, stayed and listened to what they spoke of. He was rewarded for his deed by the Twolegs by being wounded with a detached claw-like thing. What he has found out, is that they plan to extend the Thunderpath through our territory."
Fernpaw and Iceear looked at each other and gasped along with the clan. This could not be good.
"But Windnose said Skytail was just sick!" A warrior named Whitestorm said. Bluestar nodded.
"Yes, he is. The wound was infected by dirt by the Thunderpath. I know nothing more. Though he was hurt, he followed the Twolegs across the Thunderpath into ShadowClan territory. He wanted to learn more and did not think of the dangers. Fireheart, will you ask Yellowfang if he is alright?" She asked, turning to Fireheart. Fernpaw knew Fireheart had been born a kittypet...maybe he knew those Twolegs?
"Fernpaw, you and Iceear will hunt with Windnose today with Foxtail. Lightheart, I would like you to lead the morning patrol." Bluestar said. "Find any scents of those Twolegs and track them anywhere in our territory, but do not leave ThunderClan borders, and go nowhere near the Thunderpath." Lightheart nodded and turned to Graystripe, Sandstorm, and Dustpelt.
"What do you think of this?" Iceear asked. Fernpaw didn't know.
"I think we are going to war with the Twolegs."
Foxtail turned and found his three charges.
"We will be hunting near the middle of our territory today," he spoke in a deep voice. "Follow me." They went through the tunnel and into the woods. Here, Foxtail turned his ears forward and opened his mouth to keep alert for any humans.
Windnose turned to Fernpaw and Iceear.
"I bet I will catch a bird," he said snootily, "I hope that you will catch something. I mean, I have gone hunting before."
Fernpaw and Iceear sighed. Windnose always bragged about how he has snuck out of the camp at five moons old and took down a small mouse. When Bluestar had found out, she had ordered Windnose to start training a month late, as punishment. Still, he thought it was worth it.
"Quiet!" Foxtail hissed. They all stopped in their tracks. Right ahead of them, not more than two leaps away, was a human.
"Foxtail, what do we do?" Windnose hissed. Iceear and Fernpaw snickered. Windnose was actually scared!
"Shh! Stand our ground!" Foxtail said crossly. Fernpaw knew that this brave warrior and his own apprentice were scaredycats when she and Iceear weren't scared at all
"Fernpaw, run back to camp and warn Bluestar of the Twoleg. Iceear, you find Tigerclaw." Foxtail said, mentioning the ThunderClan deputy.
"He wants me to get that tyrant?" Iceear asked Fernpaw, referring to Tigerclaw.
"Apparently." Fernpaw answered. "Go!"
Iceear and Fernpaw separated. They hadn't even begun their warrior training and now they were already being treated like them with various tasks. Fernpaw ran as fast as she could to the ThunderClan camp.
"Bluestar! Bluestar! Come quick!" Fernpaw screamed. Fireheart appeared from Bluestar's den.
"Fernpaw! What is it?" He asked as Bluestar joined him.
"Twoleg! Twoleg! A Twoleg is in our territory!"
Bluestar looked calmly into the eyes of Fernpaw. "Where are Foxtail and Windnose?" She asked.
Fernpaw caught her breath and replied, "They told us to come and get you for help. They are going to try to fight them!"
Bluestar's eyes flashed and she looked to Fireheart. He nodded. "Let's go," Bluestar said as she ran out of the camp.
...o0o...
Iceear ran as fast as her small legs could carry her. Straight ahead was the Thunderpath, with Tigerclaw sitting at its edge. She ran straight to him and stopped.
Impatiently Tigerclaw looked at Iceear. "Why are you here, young kit?" He said in a sneering voice.
Iceear ignored his insult, "Foxtail sent me. There are Twolegs in our territory and we need your help" Or so Foxtail says, she added in her head.
Tigerclaw nodded and slowly stood, "Show me where." Iceear took off in a dead run, and after a few seconds noticed that Tigerclaw was not behind her. She stopped and turned back.
"Come on!" She yelled, seeing him walking some distance behind. He sighed and caught up.
"We have had bigger emergencies in the past, what is the rush?" He said, swaggering. Iceear looked at him in disbelief.
"You are the Deputy!" She screeched at him, "You are supposed to help the clan!"
He sighed once again and motioned for her to lead the way. She ran and this time he followed. What is wrong with this cat, Iceear thought as they reached Foxtail and Windnose.
"Tigerclaw! Thank StarClan!" Windnose said. He looked at Iceear. She had found Tigerclaw and she was proving to be braver than him. He didn't like it. He didn't want some little kit to be a warrior because of her bravery before him! But all Iceear had done was get Tigerclaw...surely that wasn't brave! Not to mention she had just begun her training with Fernleaf or something like that. Fernpaw, that was it.
"What is it, Foxtail?" Tigerclaw asked, no concern what so ever in his voice.
Does Tigerclaw actually care what happens to ThunderClan? Iceear wondered. He didn't seem too concerned that they were moving into their territory. HIS territory. He was supposed to tell an protect the Clan and care when things like this happened! Deep in her heart, Iceear believed Fireheart would make a better deputy, but Bluestar trusted Tigerclaw and there was nothing to go against him to banish him.
"Twolegs, Tigerclaw! They're here! Look!" Windnose hissed. He flicked his tail towards the Twoleg. It's back was to them and it didn't seem to hear them.
"Don't worry, Windnose." Iceear said, trying not to laugh at the fear in Windnose's voice.
"Quiet!" Tigerclaw snapped. Iceear stopped talking.
"Iceear! Windnose! Foxtail! I got Fireheart and Bluestar!" Fernpaw cried as she crashed through the bushes.
"Quiet!" Tigerclaw hissed angrily. "Do you want to make that Twoleg hear you, you stupid furball?!" Fernpaw flinched. Something about Tigerclaw's anger scared her. Iceear had had enough.
"Don't you scream at Fernpaw!" She screamed. And at that, the Twoleg turned and began to crash towards them. It bent down and snatched up Foxtail.Then it ran off towards its nest and was gone. Tigerclaw spun around.
"See what you did, you idiot! You just costed ThunderClan one of its bravest warriors! Get out of here you stupid kit!" He hissed at Iceear. Iceear looked shocked, then hurt. She turned and ran.
"Iceear!" Fernpaw called as her best friend ran off into the woods. She tried to run after her, but was held back by Tigerclaw. Fernpaw spun around and let out her anger.
"Why did you say that to her?! It wasn't her fault!"
"That runt doesn't belong in ThunderClan, and if you want to stay with us, you better keep your trap shut!" Tigerclaw hissed back.
"What is this I hear about not being able to be in the Clan?" Bluestar said calmly, her eyes showing her anger and confusion.
"Because of that stupid kit, Icetail or something, Foxtail got taken by a Twoleg!" Tigerclaw said with acid in his voice.
"Her name is Iceear and it wasn't her fault!" Fernpaw said. Tigerclaw batted hard at her ear, making it bleed.
"QUIET!" he demanded. Bluestar rose up on her hind legs and had her claws extended at Tigerclaw.
"Must I remind you that that is not how you treat a kit?!" She said. Tigerclaw stared at her for a second before calming down. Bluestar stood back on her four legs again and turned to Fireheart.
"The forest is no place for a new apprentice. Will you find her for me?" Bluestar asked Fireheart. He nodded and ran off, with Fernpaw not far behind.
...o0o...
Iceear ran until she reached the edge of the forest near the Thunderpath. Tigerclaw's words rang in her mind. She lay down on the grass and felt sadness fill her heart. It really was her fault.
Someone called her name out in the distance, but she did not move a muscle, her despair filling her whole being. The yelling got closer.
Iceear didn't even here the Twoleg until it was too late, and she was in his arms.
"Iceear! Iceear, no!" Fernpaw screamed as she ran at the Twoleg, but Fireheart held her back.
"No, Fernpaw! You'll get captured, too!" He said.
"I don't care! He's got my best friend and he's not keeping her!" Fernpaw said. Before Fireheart could grab her, Fernpaw scampered after the Twoleg and Iceear with unsheathed claws. But she swip, Iceear bit the Twoleg hard on the hand. He dropped her and she ran for cover with Fireheart and Fernpaw
"Iceear! Are you OK?" (I almost put IK!)
"I'm fine! Fernpaw, what happened to your ear?" Iceear asked.
"Tigerclaw swiped it when you left." Fireheart said.
"Why I outta..." Iceear started, but Bluestar and Tigerclaw coming through the ferns caused her to stop.
"I see you caught up with Iceear." Bluestar said and Tigerclaw just scowled at the apprentices. She turned to Fireheart. "I want you take a patrol out to try track Foxtail." She said and Fireheart nodded and bound out towards the camp. Iceear and Fernpaw looked at each other and were off behind him.
As they walked through the tunnel into camp, Iceear muttered into Fernpaw's ear.
"I agree with Fireheart, Tigerclaw is dangerous!"
"What do you mean?" Fernpaw mewed, confused.
"I've heard him muttering to himself about what he has to do about Tigerclaw," Iceear replied shyly.
Fernpaw opened her mouth to speak, but at that moment, Bluestar summoned the clan to the Highrock.
"One of our loyal warriors was taken by a Twoleg while on a hunting trip," she said. Hisses and sputters came from the cats of the clan. "Foxtail will need to be rescued. Do I have any volunteers for the mission?"
Sandstorm and Fireheart both walked forwards, along with Graystripe. As Fernpaw looked at the warriors, something caught the corner of her eye. It glinted gently in the sun the glare hearting her eyes. Her eyes widened as she realized what it was.
"Twoleg!" She screamed and ran towards the Highrock.
"Twoleg! Twoleg! Everyone scatter!" She screamed.
"Alright! Everyone to Sunningrocks! Climb the trees! NOW!" Bluestar hissed and everyone scattered.
"Fernpaw! Fernpaw!" Iceear screamed as she scanned the crowd for her best friend. She dodged cats as she continued to search. "Fernpaw!" Someone clamped down onto the gruff of her neck and began to drag her from the camp. It was Graystripe.
"Are you crazy, Iceear?" He hissed though his mouth was full of fur.
"Lemme go, Graystripe! Lemme go!" Iceear said.
"Fireheart! Fireheart, quick! You take Iceear with you to Sunningrocks! She won't go on her own!" Graystripe said when he caught site of Fireheart. Fireheart was conducting his fellow clanmates to Sunningrocks
"No! I'm coming with you!" Iceear said, but Graystripe shook his head.
"I'll bring Fernpaw back, Iceear! Go with Fireheart." He said and was gone.
"Come on, Iceear!" Windnose said. He wanted her to move though he didn't like her or Fernpaw. He just thought they were fun to tease.
"No!" Fireheart finally picked her up and dragged her to Sunningrocks where Iceear could do nothing but wait to hear the fate of her best friend and other clanmates.
...oOo...
"Alright, Fireheart, Tigerclaw, what is the report?" Bluestar asked the next day.
"Seven are missing." Fireheart said.
"Who?" Bluestar asked.
"Warriors Graystripe, Dustpelt, Sandstorm, Willowpelt, and Longtail. Apprentices Fernpaw and Brightpaw are gone, too." Fireheart said sadly. His best friend was gone and so were his fellow warriors.
"No!" Iceear screamed. Graystripe promised! How could he have gotten himself captured? Were there more than one Twolegs in the forest?
"Send out a hunting patrol. The remaining apprentices will stay in the camp and tend to the queens and elders." Said Bluestar.
"No! How can you send out a hunting patrol when eight of clanmates are out there in the paws of a Twoleg?" Iceear screamed at her clan leader.
"Iceear..." Fireheart hissed under his breath.
"Fernpaw's out there and I'm going to find her!"
"Let her join the patrol, Bluestar." Said Tigerclaw. He wasn't concerned; he just wanted the annoying apprentice gone.
"Alright, Tigerclaw." Bluestar said.
"Hey, if Iceear's going, I'm going too! Brightpaw's out there with the others!" Fireheart's apprentice, Cloudpaw said. He and Brightpaw were best friends, too.
"Fine. Both of you along with your mentors, go out looking for our missing clan mates. Take Lightheart, too." Fireheart, Lightheart, Cloudpaw, and Iceear exited the camp in search of missing clanmates.