The First Day | Chapter 1
Icecloud was still shaking at the sight of her mother. It was almost like the she was sleeping. Ferncloud had lengthy scratches across her sides, her fur brushed naturally back, trying to cover her wounds, and… the bite mark on her neck. The scent of lavender wafted over the clan, masking the scent of death. Icecloud looked at her mother, trying to remember what she last said to her. She sighed, not remembering and licked her shoulder. Her tongue tasted mint and lavender, and she gagged inwardly.
"May Starclan light your path, Ferncloud." Icecloud mumbled under her breath. She backed away, watching various cats mourn for their loved ones. Dustpelt was leaning over Ferncloud's body, murmuring quietly. One could say he was grieving the most.
Icecloud turned away, her stomach and throat in a tight knot. Being the only daughter to survive kit-hood, she had been adored by her mother. Icecloud had told her everything- how her training was going, what she caught, and even her crushes. She even got her suffix from Ferncloud. She never thought that Ferncloud would die…let alone like this.
"You okay?" A voice pulled her out of her thoughts. She looked up to see Spiderleg, her eldest brother. Icecloud didn't respond, fearing she would cry out, so she simply nodded. Spiderleg sighed, looking at Ferncloud. His eyes looked clouded, as if remembering the past.
"I'll look after Dad. Go get some rest." He commanded. Icecloud complied, willing her body to her nest. Her paws felt like they were being held to the ground, not wanting to move. She somehow made it to her nest, despite her paws and aching shoulders. She curled up, feeling hollow, like something was missing. Her heavy eyelids pulled down, exhaustion and sadness finally pulling her into sleep.
Icecloud heaved herself up, yawning. She stepped outside, seeing cats talk and kits play. She glanced up, seeing that it was sun-high. She looked to the nursery, expecting her mother to come out, but then she scented lavender.
So last night wasn't just some horrible dream.
The bodies had been swept away, presumably buried. All that was left was a small pool of muddy water. Icecloud looked at her wounds from the battle, tentatively licking them clean. She spotted Squirrelflight directing patrols and sat nearby, hoping she would be picked so she could keep her mind away from death. A paw prodded Icecloud. A gray tabby tom was holding a squirrel in his jaws. Jayfeather carefully put it down.
"Eat up, Icecloud." He mewed simply. He sat, staring his blind eyes into her pelt. Icecloud stared back at Jayfeather for a moment before she unconformably ate a few bites of the squirrel to appease Jayfeather, who then left, seemingly content. Icecloud finished the squirrel, despite her lack of appetite.
"Icecloud, could you go on border patrol with Lionblaze, Cinderheart, and Berrynose?" Squirrelflight requested. Her stomach twisted at the sound of Lionblaze but Icecloud nodded, following Berrynose. They went out of the camp, along the Shadowclan/Thunderclan border. Icecloud padded up to the golden tabby tom.
"Hey, Lionblaze," Icecloud hesitantly mewed, heart faintly fluttering in her chest. She had a crush on Lionblaze ever since they were apprentices. Cinderheart stuck close to Lionblaze's side, causing a pang a jealousy to course through her. She knew Lionblaze and Cinderheart had been close lately but they surely weren't mates. Cinderheart was next to Lionblaze, casting a look at him of concern.
"Hey, Icecloud, look, I know you like me, but I love Cinderheart. Okay?" He mewed. Icecloud looked at the ground, falling to the back of the group. It had been hopeless for her to think that Lionblaze might comfort her. Icecloud continued to follow the group, barely looking up to see Lionblaze and Cinderheart talking and purring. Icecloud felt bile in the back of her throat; she was sickened by their love. She was thankful when she finally got back to camp. At least she could be alone rather than be with the lovebirds.
Icecloud curled up, reluctant to do anything. She wanted to talk to her mother more than anything. She sighed, looking at the sun setting. Her stomach growled but she ignored it, lying in her nest. She couldn't sleep; it was like something was missing, so she just watched the clan quietly.
"Icecloud… Icecloud, get up." She craned her neck up to see Foxleap. She stared at him, clearly annoyed.
"What do you want?" She snapped; rather than Foxleap disturbing her sleep he'd disturbed her quiet. His green eyes were shockingly cold and still rather than warm and lively like how they usually were.
"We need to talk privately." He mewed coldly. Icecloud got up, flexing her muscles before trailing behind him. He led her past Graystripe, the guard for the night. The moonlight slid down the treetops, giving the grass a silvery dapple to it. It was beautiful outside, unlike most nights. Icecloud shook off the feeling, glancing at Foxleap.
"Icecloud, I can't have you falling apart like Dad. You need to eat and sleep and talk, just like before." He said seriously. Icecloud darted her eyes away from his.
"It's only been a day, Foxleap. Didn't Mom mean more to you?" Icecloud hissed. Ferncloud had loved her as much as him, even if Icecloud spent more time with her.
"Of course she did! I...I need you to be normal though: for Dustpelt, for your brothers, for Ferncloud." He mewed, practically begging the white she-cat. Icecloud shook her head, replying to her brother.
"It might take me longer to get over her death, okay? Get that through your skull." Icecloud mewed, sinking her claws into the ground. Why didn't he just understand?
"Please, Icecloud, I know you're having a hard time but you have to control yourself." He hissed, tail lashing, frustrated that she still wasn't over the death of their mother. Icecloud stared at him, thinking of a retort when a black shadow dashed across her vision.
"Foxleap, look out!"