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Thick snow had fallen overnight, covering pale green grass with a blanket of cold powder. Grey clouds still bubbled and boiled in the sky but it could not stop the red light pulsating from the low hanging blood moon. It cast an ugly feeling down on the cats living underneath it. Sure the sun still rose every morning but every cat could tell that it was rising less and less each day. The Clans were worried that one day…one day they'd wake up but the sun wouldn't and they'd be stuck in eternal darkness ruled over by a bloodthirsty she-cat. Not that Crimson ever really made her presence known within the six Clans anymore, not since she'd raised her mountain kingdom from the ground and taken her two blood-oath takers plus the strange tom with her. Yet there were always rumours of a shadowy figure gliding through the forest with eyes as red as blood. Even when Crimson was so far away she seemed so close.
Still her army remained behind slowly growing with each passing day. Every now and again a living cat with control over his or her memory would appear alongside the army, working alongside them. It was clear to the Clans that Crimson no longer needed to brainwash cats for them to work for her. Rogues wanted to be part of this growing army and were travelling from all over just to become soldiers. It was horrifying to know that just beyond the Clan borders a huge army was growing waiting to attack once again.
Paw steps crunched against thick snow as a patrol of six cats made their way slowly across their territory. They didn't talk to each other because there was no need to. There was nothing to say. All they needed to do was travel to the far border with RogueClan, make their way along it until it became the border with CedarClan and then return to camp. Just like they did everyday and had done every day for what had felt like moons.
"I hate the cold and I hate the snow," one grumbled as she lifted one white paw and shook snow from it.
The leader of their patrol turned his golden brown head to shoot an annoyed glare at the she-cat, "well there's not much I can do about the cold and the snow, Icepetal."
Icepetal sneered, "You could stop dragging me on these stupid patrols. It's not as if we have a shortage of capable warriors, we have more warriors than any of the other Clans!"
"Which makes us a larger target to Crimson and her cronies!" he growled back with a rising voice. "Patrolling the borders allows the rest of the Clan to have peace of mind knowing that we have yet to be invaded. Or would you like another attack like the last one to occur?"
A small tortoiseshell she-cat sidled up to the arguing cats with chattering teeth. She barged her way in between them with a disappointed sound slipping from her mouth. "Aspenthorn is right. Having a larger Clan does make us a larger target but it also means we stand more of a chance against an attack because of our large numbers. Can't you two try and see this from a positive side? Leaf-bare is drawing to a close and soon prey will return. The lower parts of our territory will be snow-free whilst the upper parts get a little warmer. Hostilities between Clans are always less during new-leaf. Settle down, take a deep breath and let's get this patrol over with."
Icepetal lashed her brown tail before allowing the fur that had risen along her shoulders to flatten. Her Clan mate had a valid point but it still annoyed her that Aspenthorn kept organising her on patrols with him this early in the morning. She raised her head to look into the pale blue sky to find that the sun was only just peeking over the mountains. Behind her she knew the blood moon hung in the same place that it had risen. A shudder ran down her spine. It worried her that the sun didn't make it very high anymore. How long would it be until it didn't rise at all? A long time she hoped. "You like me too much, Aspenthorn," she teased coldly with a bat of her eyelids, "always putting me on the same patrols as me."
"He has a mate," a dull voice called through the silence of early morning as the fourth member of their patrol joined the three cats where they had stopped. "Even if they hardly get on anymore."
Aspenthorn shot the lithe silver she-cat a nasty look wanting nothing more than to apply a little blood to her faint tabby markings. "Your opinion isn't needed in this argument, Silverwater."
The tabby rolled her eyes and fell back into silence, cold green eyes clouded with grief. A chilly morning breeze ruffled their leaf-bare thickened pelts as they waited for the two remaining members of their patrol to plough through the snow and catch up. Squeals of delight pierced the silence as the tip of two pale brown ears peeked through the snow. Icepetal stifled an amused purr at the sight of only the long-legged apprentice's ears sticking through the snow. Her squeaks of delight as she ploughed through the snow were a pleasant thing to hear instead of moaning, grumpy, arguing cats. From behind the apprentice jogged a dark gray tabby, a smile curling at the corners of his muzzle as he grabbed the apprentice's pale brown scruff and hauled her on top of the snow.
Muffled voices could be heard as the tom demonstrated to the apprentice the art of walking light enough to stay on top of the snow instead of falling through it. "These patrols always take longer when we have an apprentice tagging along," Aspenthorn remarked with an annoyed tone and a sideways glance at the tortoiseshell she-cat, "I'm glad you didn't bring your apprentice, Pebblefrost. She's about as lively as a rock."
Pebblefrost rounded on him with a snarl and bared teeth. It was so unlike her to get angry that Icepetal took an uncertain step back. "How dare you speak about your daughter like that! She's just shy around warriors and I don't blame her seeing that they're all as bad tempered as you!" she snapped, cuffing Aspenthorn's ear hard. He winced and rubbed it with the side of his paw.
"Keep your claws to yourself or," he leaned in close to Pebblefrost's ear, "I'll tell Darkstar about your little meetings with that tom from RogueClan. Didn't Screech and Berrypaw's relationship scare you away from getting serious with toms from other Clans? More kits – half-Clan kits – are just what SnowClan needs right now."
Icepetal heard everything the arrogant tom said and refrained from allowing her claws to slit a slice out of his ear. She understood his concerns about more kits but it really wasn't his business what toms Pebblefrost was seeing. Sure the warrior code says that relationships with cats from different Clans are wrong but she saw them more as guidelines instead of rules. "Does it really matter whether or not she is seeing a tom from another Clan?" she hissed icily.
The look in Aspenthorn's amber eyes was a mixture of shock, confusion and anger as his lip curled followed by a shaky hiss. Icepetal didn't miss his claws sliding out from their sheaths and she did the same with hers, prepared to launch herself at this tom and teach him a lesson. "Sure you'd think that, rogue! Why'd Oakfrost even bring you and your siblings back with him? He should've just left you behind to die with your mother like the filthy rogue scum you are!"
A feral screech tore itself from Icepetal's throat as she leapt at Aspenthorn with outstretched paws that snaked around the tom's golden brown neck and dragged him down to the ground. Her hind legs pounded his stomach viciously as her forepaws tore into his shoulders and neck. "Never speak about my mother that way!" she shrieked through a mouthful of his fur.
"Let me go, crazy rogue!" Aspenthorn hollered as he tried to untangle himself from Icepetal but she was out for blood and wasn't going to be letting go anytime soon. He – after realising he'd have to fight his way out – sunk his teeth into her leg and yanked it, pulling Icepetal off of him and allowing him to flip over onto his paws. Once on his paws Aspenthorn swiped at her face, his claws drawing a bloody line on her cheek. Icepetal screeched and swept his paws out from under him before pressing her claws into his throat.
She panted slightly, drops of blood rolling off her cut cheek, as she stared down at the tom with stormy eyes. "I wouldn't kill such a handsome tom such as yourself," she masked her hurt with flirtatious behaviour. "But if you ever mention my mother in that way again I'll tear your eyes out and shove them down your throat so that you can watch me tear your heart out through your chest!" With a last cuff of Aspenthorn's head she stepped off of him, retreating to where aspen trees grew thick and marked the beginning of SnowClan's forested territory. From the shadows she could see Honeypaw and his mentor finally catch up with the rest of them, looks of surprise cast on their faces. She couldn't blame them. A warrior should never attack her own Clan mates.
Icepetal hung her head in defeat. She too often wondered why Oakfrost had brought her and her siblings back to SnowClan with him. According to him he'd found them mewling pitifully beside the bloody body of their mother with the stench of Crimson's soldiers radiating from her vicious wounds. Why hadn't he just left them there to die beside their mother? Often she questioned why she stayed in a Clan that didn't appreciate her or her siblings. Her sister had had the right idea. Ebony had left before her warrior ceremony saying that being alone by herself was better than being alone surrounded by other cats. Icepetal hadn't understood what her sister had meant but now she did.
She was alone in a Clan full of cats with only her brother and remaining sister for company.
A ragged sigh fell from her parted mouth as she turned away from the rest of the patrol that were still fussing over Aspenthorn and his minor injuries, turning her face to the peacefulness of the forest before her. Tweeting early morning bird calls sounded every few heartbeats as the forest slowly woke up from its peaceful slumber. A chilly breeze wafted the scents of prey, flowers and the faint scent of RogueClan towards Icepetal and she inhaled them greedily. She loved the forest when it was still waking despite the fact that the ground was still covered with snow. A raised head allowed her to see the morning blue sky through the tree leaves. Streaks of fading dawn colours – gold and orange and pink – mixed with the blue. Then there was the red hue stretching out to taint the blue.
Seeing the red caused Icepetal to snarl quietly. She hadn't been alive when Crimson had taken over but she'd seen her fair share of murder caused by the red-eyed she-cat that rarely showed herself amongst her subjects anymore. Even her cronies, Jinx the pretty blue-eyed rogue and Tornheart the Betrayer, were hardly ever seen. Only mindless soldiers with ugly brown pelts and dulled yellow eyes and rogue soldiers were seen.
"Something bothering you?" a deep voice broke the peacefulness of the forest. Icepetal tore her gaze from the blue sky to look into a pair of immaculate golden-coloured amber eyes. She felt her breath hitch in her throat at the sight of Aspenthorn's friendlier and handsomer brother.
"Just marvelling at the sky," she replied smoothly. "What are you doing all the way out here so early in the morning, Lightningfall? Not looking for me are we?" She winked and sidled over to the golden tabby, allowing her tail to brush lazily over one of his thin dark stripes.
Lightningfall batted his eyes in a joking manner, "oh, Icepetal, how did you guess?! I need to learn how to lie, sneak and hide better? Would you teach me?"
Icepetal debated hitting him. An amused purr rumbled in her chest as she butted his broad shoulder with her head. "Anything for you, handsome," she purred with a sultry tone.
"Anything indeed. But unfortunately I have a mate whom I love deeply and would never do a thing to hurt her. Better luck next time," he chuckled, shouldering Icepetal gently.
"That's never stopped you before," Icepetal grumbled. "Why is it that every tom in this confounded Clan has a mate?"
Lightningfall's expression darkened considerably as he sunk his claws into the frozen ground. He glanced sideways at the pretty she-cat with a narrowed gaze. "You promised to never speak of that night and you've stuck to that promise for a while. Don't break it now. Besides it was only one night. You of all cats I expected to understand the term 'one night only'."
The white she-cat with wiped at her brown face with a cold paw, "what would've happened if I had have gotten pregnant, Lightningfall? What grand excuse would you have come up with then? Forced me to keep quiet about it or lie and say they belong to a rogue and then ignore the fact that the kits looked like you? You really don't think these things true." Icepetal trotted off with a lash of her brown tail, not looking back to see if Lightningfall was following. She wanted to at least make it to the border before returning to camp.
Heavy footsteps from behind her told her that the tom was indeed following although she didn't know whether it was because he was angry or just looking for something to do. She hoped it wasn't the latter. "Really, Icepetal? The chances of you becoming pregnant from a single night are pretty slim. Not only did I betray my promise to Mintfeather but you also broke the no speaking whilst on vigil rule as well as left the Clan unguarded! I was hardly in the wrong that night!"
Icepetal twisted her head to spit at him. "Don't you bring my vigil into this! You knew darn well why I wanted to break the rules regarding vigils and you quite happily agreed knowing that you'd be breaking a promise you made to your ditsy mate."
Lightningfall's face twisted into an expression of anger and hurt, "don't you dare speak about my mate in that way!" he shouted before his paws got tangled up in a lone stick. The ground rushed up to meet him with a soft thud that vibrated the snow under Icepetal's paw.
As if a spell had been broken both cats forgot their anger and resentment towards each other and collapsed into fits of amused purrs. Icepetal took a deep breath as her purrs came to a halt, drinking in the cold air as it refilled her lungs. She smiled an amused smile down at her friend as he scraped snow and ice off of his face with a large paw. He returned the smile before scrambling back to his paws and shaking the snow from his pelt. "I hate it when we argue, I really do," Icepetal admitted pressing her nose against Lightningfall's cheek.
"So do I, it always leaves a foul taste in my mouth afterwards." He sighed sadly when Icepetal withdrew her nose from his cheek. "You're a great cat, Icepetal, and I'll be jealous of whatever tom strikes your fancy enough that you fall in love with him and make him your mate despite the fact that you seem to be more flirty than romantic. I can hardly imagine you settling down with a tom and having kits but I suppose it'll happen one day, maybe when I'm old and have gray fur," he winked, "just promise me you won't do anything stupid and get yourself killed before then."
Icepetal blinked at him, surprised at how much he cared for her; a rogue with no Clan blood whatsoever. "I promise I won't get myself killed before you have gray fur and before I have a mate and kits no matter how unlike me that sounds. Would you like to finish a patrol with me? I kinda have a hunch that the other members of the patrol I was on won't be finishing it today."
"Why's that?" Lightningfall asked, trotting beside Icepetal as they resumed the patrol.
She smirked. "I may or may not have attacked your brother and then threatened him."
"Tell me everything, right now!"
-000-
The patrol was going well; no signs of any border crossings or anything like that. It annoyed Icepetal a little to found out that – yet again – the Clans were still peaceful. A little battle or hatred was interesting. Right now her life just seemed to be the same day after day. Wake up, patrol, return to camp, go hunting, return to camp, flirt with a few toms, eat, be yelled at by said toms mates, sleep and then wake up to start it all over again.
She scowled as her thoughts returned to Crimson once more. All this peace between Clans was caused by fear towards her. If she was dead then that fear would go away and the Clans would return to how they were in elders tales, fighting over food and territory. Sometimes even the Game of Blood sounded more intriguing and fun that this life. She hadn't been part of SnowClan when the final Games had been played. According to Lightningfall's father, Brackenclaw, they'd been punishment for a group of cats from RisingClan trying to escape the valley and hunt down Crimson. Two cats from each Clan had been dragged by their tails and thrown into a network of underground caves and told to fight or die. Silverwater's father and sister had been SnowClan's tributes back when she was still an apprentice. The small she-cat had watched as her father murdered her sister in cold blood and was then struck down by a WaveClan tom.
Silverwater had never really been the same since.
"You're deep in thought again, Icepetal. Thinking about Crimson?" Lightningfall nudged the she-cat gently to draw her back out from her thinking. She did that a lot lately and it worried him slightly. She used to be so lively.
Icepetal shook her head to clear her thoughts – a habit of hers. "Yes. For some reason I seem to be thinking a lot about just her recently. Crimson always manages to sneak back into my thoughts no matter what I'm doing."
"That's Mistress Crimson to you, scum." The voice that slipped through their conversation hissed like a snake, dripping with malice and hatred. It was a deep voice, detailing the strength Icepetal knew she would find within a thickset, bulky tom when she turned around. Yet through the hiss coated with hatred she could sense an aura of pain and grief. The speaker had witness his fair share of death, she was sure of it. With a barbed tongue ready to fire off sharp words, Icepetal turned and met the keen, hawk-like gaze of a large gray speckled tom with a black muzzle and stripe running down his spine. Beside him stood four mindless soldiers, their emotionless yellow eyes focused on the two warriors that hovered dangerously close to RougeClan's territory.
"Calm yourself, Jasper. They will not attack when so badly outnumbered." The second voice that spoke was clearly female. It was softened by an innocent tone, dulled by grief, hardened by power and sharpened by a want to survive. Icepetal refrained from taking a halting step back by the amount of power she could feel surging from the voice of this hidden stranger. Whoever it was she sounded so innocent.
From behind the rogue who had been called Jasper stepped out a sleek yet muscled black she-cat with flecks of red scattered across her fur. Her eyes remained focused on the ground where neither Lightningfall nor Icepetal could see their colour. Scars laced her muscled body both old and fresh whilst every time she-cat breathed she winced. It was clear to Icepetal that she was injured and it was also clear to her that this she-cat held a different kind of beauty; dangerous and dark. Curiosity to know the colour of this she-cat's eyes tugged at the corner of her mind. Was she hiding them?
"Who are you?" Lightningfall demanded carefully. He too could sense the power radiating from this strange she-cat and he had figured that she was not just another one of Crimson's soldiers. She was more important.
The she-cat raised her head and allowed her eyes to flick up from the ground. Icepetal held back a shocked gasp at the sight of the green orbs that looked more like rich, dark green leaves set into the she-cat's skull. Realisation formed in the back of Icepetal's mind. There was only one cat – renowned throught out the Clans – with such green eyes. "Tornheart the Betrayer." The words came out as a snarl as Icepetal stepped over the border to thrust her muzzle into the face of Tornheart so that her own muzzle hovered mere whiskers from the traitor's. "Rather risky of you showing your face around here, especially so close to your former Clan, don't you think?"
"I know the consequences of my actions have left most cats in the Clans to hate me but when I say I am here on a peaceful mission then I mean it. Lying is one thing I will not do happily or easily." Tornheart cocked her head to one side as curiosity pooled into her green eyes. "You are Icepetal, are you not?"
Icepetal took a stunned step back, blue eyes stretched wide with disbelief. "How..how'd you know my name!?" she exclaimed.
The black she-cat shifted her shoulders, "that is none of your concern." Tornheart's eyes fell on the circular scar on Icepetal's shoulder, a place where fur had refused to grow. Icepetal felt the traitor's gaze on her scar and shifted it out of sight, uncomfortable at the interest it sparked in Tornheart's eyes. "Where did you get that scar?" she asked breathlessly.
"Is it really any of your business? If you must know I've had it since I was born; just a random circle on my shoulder where no fur will grow," Icepetal sniffed in response, drawing a tongue over the scar in question. "I'd hardly call it a scar. More of a birthmark, really."
"Birthmark…yes," Tornheart breathed absently. Silence fell upon the group of cats as Tornheart's eyes became clouded. It was clear that she'd fallen deep into thought. Jasper shifted closer to his leader, claws sliding from their sheaths in case the Clan cats decided to attack. The soldiers did the same.
Lightningfall tugged on Icepetal's tail with his teeth, drawing her back to him. He placed his muzzle near her ear and began to whisper, "Why do you think Crimson's right-paw cat is all the way down here?"
She shrugged in response for she really didn't have any idea. "Maybe she's checking up on the Clans for Crimson? I'm not sure, Lightningfall. Whatever the reason is I doubt it's good."
The tom grunted in response and lapsed back into silence. Icepetal grasped the silence as another chance to study the she-cat that had betrayed the Clans more closely. Tornheart was no longer the small, innocent, scared she-cat that she'd always been described as; with little muscle and shy nature. Muscle bulged and rippled whenever she twitched or even moved a clear sign that Crimson was a demanding master. Or that Tornheart had wanted to bulk up and become stronger than she had been. Scars ran thick across her body; her muzzle was particularly scratched up and a long scar had narrowly missed cutting into her left eye. Icepetal deduced two things from this. One; Crimson was a cruel master and inflicted painful punishment on a regular basis. Two; Tornheart had seen a lot of battle recently. She couldn't pick which one she preferred.
Icepetal peered closer to the black furred she-cat trying to figure out her age. She knew Tornheart was older than her by quite a few moons but she didn't know how many moons. From elder's tales she knew that Tornheart had never finished her Clan based apprenticeship but it was assumed that Crimson had taught her the ins and outs of battle and hunting. Or Tornheart had been forced to learn during battle. Icepetal cringed. That didn't sound particularly nice. Tornheart had an aura of prowess around her that was easy to miss if one became preoccupied by the power radiating from her. She seemed to hold herself in a proud way as if she held pride in who she had become and what she had done. Icepetal curled her lip and then sensed wisdom beneath the pride, prowess and power. It confused her. How could one so young hold wisdom so strong that it radiated from her very being?
Her time of studying was up as Tornheart straightened, green eyes penetrating Icepetal's very soul. She shuddered. "Icepetal," the traitor's voice was a mere murmur, "may I speak with you alone?"
"Alone? Why would you want to do that? Aren't I just Clan scum?" Icepetal shot Jasper a filthy look which was returned with a growl.
Tornheart sighed tiredly and for the first time Icepetal could see the weariness – the exhaustion – that pulled down on the she-cat's body. She cocked her head. Tornheart had travelled a fair way it seemed. "Please. It is extremely important."
A shoulder nudged Icepetal's flank so she turned to look into Lightningfall's worried golden eyes. She smiled reassuringly but she knew it did not reach her eyes. "If I speak with you how can I know that your soldiers will not attack and kill my friend?"
"You have my word." Icepetal snorted in disbelief earning a narrowed gaze from Tornheart. "I do not break promises easily just as I hate lying. Your friend will remain unharmed." Neither Clan cat moved. They simply remained standing, ear and tail tips twitching as they mulled over what they could do. It was Icepetal that stepped forward first, allowing her entire streamline body to pass over the border with RogueClan. Tornheart's muzzle quirked up in a tiny smile, "thank you. You won't be disappointed, I assure you. What I have to say involves you greatly. Come over here please."
"Wait!" Jasped called hoarsely. "Don't you want me to come with you? You know, in case she attacks?"
The black furred she-cat gently shook her head, green eyes brimming with thanks. "That won't be necessary, Jasper. To this she-cat I have promised the safety of her friend and in return I hope she will keep me safe. I won't be long." Then she turned and trotted further into RogueClan territory, where thick pine trees cast long shadows dancing across the forest floor. Icepetal took one last look at Lightningfall before following Tornheart into RogueClan territory.
She hadn't walked very far before she came upon Crimson's crony, head bowed and muttering strange words under her breath. Icepetal's brow quirked up in a questioning look. "Don't look at me like that," Tornheart didn't even raise her head. "I am merely casting a spell to make sure what we say cannot be heard by any other cat."
"Casting a spell!? That's stupid! Even the youngest kit knows that magic isn't real," Icepetal scoffed as Tornheart continued to mutter her strange words.
Moments passed before the black she-cat looked up with clear, focused eyes. "It is not magic. It is a gift I was given. Regardless of whether you believe in spell-casting or not it is now safe to speak here without the chance of some cat overhearing us."
"Given by whom?"
"Does it matter? All that matters is what I am here to speak to you about and if you don't mind I'd like to get on with it before Crimson notices my absence and sends her army to look for me."
Icepetal stared at the she-cat standing before her. "Crimson doesn't know you're down here? What's so important that you can't tell your own leader where you're going?"
"Because what I am about to tell you will lead to Crimson's destruction."
That got Icepetal's full attention. Had Tornheart discovered a way for the supposedly immortal she-cat's downfall? "Why would you want Crimson dead? Aren't you one of her closest supporters?"
Tornheart hung her head slightly in shame, "when Crimson took my Blood-Oath she withheld as much information from me as possible; preyed on my weaknesses at the time of entering RisingClan as a new apprentice to draw me into what seemed like a good future. I had no idea at the time that Crimson planned to take over the Clans with as much force as possible. When I found out what she was going to do I began to feel remorse and hesitated before I did anything she asked. Eventually Crimson grew tired of my constant changing thoughts so she took over my mind. That's why I've done what I've done for the past moons. I had no way of stopping myself. But I'm free of that my mind control now and I bring with me a prophecy."
"Prophecy?" Icepetal's ears twitched at the word. Prophecies were useless words unless given to the correct cats; the ones that knew what they were doing. Realisation dawned on her and her blood rain icy cold. "Oh no. No, no no no! Don't tell me I'm part of this prophecy!"
"You are. That scar on your shoulder isn't a scar but a mark that four other Clan cats have. It shows that you have been chosen to save these Clans and the world by destroying Crimson once and for all, but we have to find the others first." Tornheart continued to speak but her words were lost on Icepetal. She stood deathly still, blue eyes focused on nothing at all. Fragile thoughts bounced around in her head. She, a cat with no Clan blood in her veins, had been chosen as one of their saviours? Obviously the prophecy's creator hadn't thought very well about the cats chosen. "Icepetal? Are you listening?"
She shook her brown head, her usual habit when it came to chasing rogue thoughts from her mind. "Not for the last bit, no. Sorry, it's just a bit much to take in. Would you mind telling me what the prophecy said so that I can comprehend it completely?"
"Of course. Five have been chosen; born in the darkest of times; blessed by the purest of hearts; soiled by the harshest of lives. They will cast out the shadows and bring back the light. But not without hardships, for all victories must be won with loss," Tornheart recited easily.
Icepetal nearly laughed. Blessed by the purest of hearts? She hardly had a pure heart, more like a blackened heart that was all shrivelled up and on the verge of death. But she bit back her laugh to stare intently into the green depths that were Tornheart's eyes. "Who gave you this prophecy?"
"The four Upholders, age old spirits that control destiny, time, change and fate. I doubt that you will get the chance to meet them in this life or the next seeing as Crimson's dark power is leeching the very life force from them," Tornheart replied bitterly with a curled lip before her face fell into a deep sadness. "They were the only cats I had left that cared for me and I have been forbidden to ever see them again thanks to Crimson."
"I thought you said you were free of Crimson's mind powers?"
Tornheart nodded, "I am. But I still have to act as if I am still trapped by it or she will simply corrupt me again and without access to the Upholders I'd have no way of ridding myself of her again. Which is why we have to be quick! You must come with me so that I can find the others so your journey can begin. It will certainly take you a while to reach her kingdom once she can finally see your faces in her dreams and sets trap for you."
The white she-cat pinned her ears to her skull, taking a hesitant step back. "She can see our faces in her dreams?" Her voice shook. "So she'll find me regardless of whether I go with you or not?"
"Yes. And when she finds you she will kill you with no remorse to make sure she is safe."
"Oh. Can..Can I have a little while to think about this, Tornheart? So that I can decide whether you're telling the truth or if you're leading me into a trap? It's all a bit much to take in. Surely a cat such as yourself would know what it's like to be presented with a choice and have little time to think about it? Didn't you betray the Clan last time you were given a choi-" Icepetal could not finished her sentence before she was thorn violently to the ground with a snarling, hissing sound dripping into her ears. She wriggled in an attempt to free herself but Tornheart's grip was strong as her claws dug into Icepetal's fur drawing dots of scarlet blood. "Y-You promised Lightningfall that you wouldn't hurt me!" she choked out.
Tornheart's tail lashed as her lip curled and her claws dug a little deeper. "Never call me a liar or even insinuate the fact that I might be a liar. I never lie." The air crackled with wild power as a rumble of thunder – low and loud like the roar of a lion – rolled across the sky despite the fact that there were no clouds and the sky was still a pale blue. A cold, icy feeling began to spread through Icepetal's veins as she felt her blood literally begin to freeze. She gasped, and then choked. "I speak the truth, Icepetal of SnowClan, this world will die if you do not rise to the call of destiny and kill Crimson. No longer can you think about the wellbeing of only yourself. As a team, you and the others will need to work together despite your differences." The black she-cat's eyes seemed to almost glow with an eerie green light but then she took a heaving breath and calmed, allowing Icepetal to scurry to her paws, desperately gasping for her as the ice in her blood melted. "You have until tonight to make up your mind. Then we must leave. I will wait for you on the border where we first met. I trust you will make the right decision."
A popping sound filled Icepetal's ears as the sudden feeling of being watched seeped into her body. From the bushes behind her stepped out Jasper and his patrol of mindless soldiers. His eyes were drawn tight with worry as he saw Tornheart's panting form but calmed slightly when she waved her tail at him in a disagreeing manner. "Putting that shield up turned out to be a good idea after all." Jasper smiled slightly at the words of his master. "I will remain around RogueClan territory until tonight when Icepetal will return to speak with me once again. You, Jasper, may return to the main encampment along with your squadron as I have no need of you anymore. Your service has been most valuable, dear Jasper, and I thank you for it." Tornheart smiled warmly; a smile that reached well into her eyes. Icepetal blinked in surprise. The she-cat before her was a ruthless killer, apparently a sorceress and partly had control over the Clans but was also compassionate – on the outside at least -, warm hearted and kind.
"No," Jasper growled with a stamp of his paw. "I have been told to remain with you at all times and I plan to stick by those orders I have received. Sorry, Tornheart, but I'm stuck with you until you leave the Clans again."
Tornheart sighed sadly before catching and holding Jasper's gaze. "I'm sorry," she whispered as her eyes began to glow green again, "but this is more important that you and your kit-like feelings. It means the world to me that you care enough to defy the word of your master but you are just a rogue talking to a ruler. I really am truly sorry." Even her eyes were sad as Icepetal watched Tornheart cast a spell.
"Of course, Lady Tornheart, it has been a pleasure travelling with you and I hope I see you again in the near future," Jasper rumbled as he bowed, much to Icepetal's surprise, low to the ground.
"Thank you, Jasper," Tornheart murmured as she watched the tom trot into the shadows in the direction of RogueClan's camp. She turned stiffly to eye Icepetal. "You best be returning to your Clan before they start worrying. They will need every warrior they can get before the sun sets this evening."
Icepetal's neck snapped to the side as her breath caught in her throat, "what do you mean!?"
"Crimson has decided that SnowClan has grown too large and needs to be…cut down to a smaller size," Tornheart answered slowly and uneasily.
"Oh, no." Icepetal's heart rate sped up as she whirled around on her paws, pausing to shout at Tornheart, "I will return here tonight, I promise you that!" before shooting off to where Lightningfall no doubt waited for her.
Snow sprayed out behind her as she dug her paws further into the snowy ground in the hopes of speeding herself up. There was no way she was going to let Crimson cull her Clan because it had grown too large over the past moons. As she ran she recalled an elder speaking about a similar attack on RisingClan two moons after Crimson had taken over. It had been an attack that had left RisingClan with few warriors and fewer hopes as their deputy at the time, Dancingwave, was left mortally wounded. The she-cat had been forced into the elders den far too soon. RisingClan was now the smallest Clan by far, more like a family group than a Clan; lead by Fallenshadow's remaining daughters, Singingriver and Dawningsun.
During Icepetal's lapse of concentration she failed to notice the border looming before her thus crashing straight into Lightningfall, sending them both tumbling to the ground in a pile of limbs and fur. She groaned whilst Lightningfall simply remained silent with a stunned look on his face. "What" he said after a moment's hesitation, "happened that caused you to hurtle into me?"
"Tornheart told me that Crimson had ordered an attack on SnowClan because we'd grown too large, too much of a threat to Crimson's rule. It supposed to happen today! Oh, Lightningfall, we have to get back and help them!" Panic threatened to overwhelm Icepetal as her breathing came in quick, short gasps. Her eyes widened largely as she stared down at her closest friend. He pressed his nose gently to her cheek.
"Calm down," he murmured. "We will return to the Clan and warn them. We have enough warriors to survive an attack like this if we can get to them first. Up on your paws now!" As soon as their paws hit the ground and they were standing straight up they took off towards their camp, paws flying across the snow as it slowly began to thicken as the forest thinned around them.
Lightningfall leapt over a log before shouting out to Icepetal, "so what did Tornheart the Betrayer want to talk to you about!?"
Icepetal opened her jaw to answer when the ghost of a breath stirred the fur within her ear and brought with it an eerily familiar voice. "Don't tell a soul about the prophecy or your journey will be over before it's even started."
She almost stumbled over a root that had broken the surface of the ground. "I wouldn't be able to tell you even if I wanted to! But it's important enough that I have to leave the Clan for a little while!"
The look on Lightningfall's face as he swerved dangerously around a tree to run alongside Icepetal was one of pure horror mixed with a little shock. "What do you mean you have to leave the Clan!? Both ducked under a low hanging branch and broke free from the forest into the freedom of the open snow plain. They sped up, hugging close to the ground. SnowClan's camp still lay hidden behind a rise in the earth that had created a hill.
"It's important, Lightningfall, really important. I'm not even sure if I'm going to go yet but if I do I might be gone for a long time. But I'll come home! I promise!"
Lightningfall grunted in response, a sound that Icepetal nearly missed over the sound of the wind howling in her ears. Their paws met the raised earth of the hill and they threw themselves up it, muscles shrieking in protest as their claws scraped against rocks hidden under the firm snow. As they reached the crest they were greeted with a horrifying sight. An entire army of dull pelts dotted with a few coloured pelts poised outside the bramble barrier that enclosed SnowClan's camp within a dip in the ground. Before Icepetal could stop it a shrieking howl ripped free from her lungs but it was too late. The army launched forwards and the peaceful morning was met with shrieks of surprise and howls of agony.
Another siege for another camp had begun and Icepetal threw herself down the side of the hill, legs extending to their full length as she frantically pelted towards her family and friends. The bramble barrier had been shredded to near non-existence so she was met with no resistance as she pounded through it and plunged into the fray of battle.
Blood spattered her fur as claws sliced through fur. Cat grappled with cat as life and death played yet another deadly game with their living pawns. Icepetal shuddered every time a body hit the ground and did not rise again, regardless of whether they were enemy or friend. They had lived a life before Crimson had sucked the life from them. Her thoughts were shattered when a bulky tom with angry yellow eyes seemed to rise up from the ground beneath her paws and send her tumbling to the ground with a swipe of his massive paw. In an instance her battle training all came rushing back to her and she rolled to the side to avoid the massive paw as it slammed into the ground with the force of a small tree. With speed rarely found in SnowClan cats Icepetal surged to her paws, snaked them around the tom's chest and bit into his throat.
He screeched, paws flailing as he tried to pry the she-cat from his chest but she wasn't letting go until his heart stop beating. In a panicked attempt to save himself the tom drove his chest into the ground, knocking the air straight out of Icepetal as her teeth withdrew from his neck. She snarled weakly in response before coiling and striking like a snake, claws snapping into the corners of the tom's eyes as she pulled herself up using his thick form as an anchor. His cry of agony rang out through the chaos of battle as blood streamed from the incisions made by Icepetal's claws. She grinned viciously at him before plunging her teeth back into his throat.
Within moments his last breath was drawn, his body crumpling to the ground with a hoarse cry of pain as his blood pooled around his neck. Icepetal hardly had time to inhale a deep breath before a sharp pain radiated from her lower back. She spun on her heels with a feral screech, claws slicing through her attacker's face. Dull brown fur got lodged in her claws as she drew away, emotionless yellow eyes staring back at her. Before another blow could be launched, Icepetal pounced forwards and ripped her claws through the soldier's throat. It hit the ground with a thud but no sound of pain threaded from its throat. A shudder rain through Icepetal; didn't these soldiers feel pain?
-000-
The battle raged long into the afternoon. Endless streams of blood had stained the snow in the camp scarlet as flurried paws kicked up mud from under the snow. It mixed with the blood and the snow to create a sludge of sorts which just made fighting even harder. Bodies lay strewn in crumpled heaps across the camp, dry and fresh blood staining their pelts. Icepetal's paws slipped in a thick puddle of blood and she hit the ground, hard. Stars danced across her eyes as the air was once again knocked from her. Every inch of her body ached dully, not used to such strenuous fighting in a confined space for so long. She was exhausted and her exhaustion was starting to take its toll. Her eyelids fluttered open but then she wished she'd kept them closed. Before her eyes in a puddle of blood so small it was easy to miss were the bodies of Ravenkit and Beetlekit. Beside them, laying in a crumpled mess of flesh, blood and fur, were the bodies of Honeypaw, Brightpaw and – Icepetal's hard came to a shuddering stop – Mintfeather; Lightningfall's mate.
She held back a choking sob at the amount of death that lay before her. Kits, apprentices and a warrior struck down before their time. It was in that moment, surrounded by death and war, that Icepetal made her decision about Tornheart's request. Crimson's bloodshed had to stop and she was going to stop it even if it meant her life might end. One life in return for the lives of many seemed fair enough.
A shadow loomed over her followed by a snarl and the overwhelming smell of death. Icepetal knew it belonged to one of Crimson's soldiers so without sparing another glance at the bodies she rolled onto her belly – a risky move – and kicked up with all her might, hind legs connecting with its skull with a sickening crack. The soldier hit the ground but Icepetal didn't wait to see if it was alive. She launched herself at the nearest enemy and snapped his neck before moving onto the next, teeth puncturing it skull as she bit down on its forehead. A well aimed kick sent the soldier crashing into a waiting SnowClan warrior who immediately ended its life.
Icepetal's eyes searched out her next victim and came to rest on the hulking form of Jasper as he sat atop the boulder from which Stoneclaw – who had taken over leadership after Darkstar's mind was attacked – often made announcements from. Extreme hatred bubbled over inside Icepetal as rage clouded her vision. She'd kill him and then tear his head from his shoulders. With the image of his bloody head rolling through the camp burned into her brain, Icepetal trotted towards the boulder with unsheathed claws sinking into the sludge. Her pelt was no longer white but a mix of brown and red; her eyes narrowed and filling with rage and her tail lashing. She looked intimidating and ready to kill, which she was.
Jasper didn't see what was coming until it hit him in the side, tearing shreds of flesh from his right flank. He howled in pain and then recognised his attacker beneath all the grime that had attached itself to her fur. "Icepetal." The name hissed through his gritted teeth as she hauled herself atop the boulder.
The fighting around them stilled as cats – even those with no minds – turned to watch their battle leader face off an enraged she-cat that had killed so many. "Jasper," Icepetal spat the name like it was poison, "I hope you are prepared to die because you will not be leaving this camp with your head on your shoulders."
The tom shivered slightly, "we do not have to fight," he pleaded quietly. "If you just give up some of your cats to die then we will leave."
"Shut your cowardly mouth or I'll rip it off to!" Then Icepetal attacked teeth and claws biting into Jasper's skin. He retaliated by driving his shoulder into her gut driving the air from her lungs yet again.
Their fight moved off the boulder when Icepetal threw Jasper off her, watching with glinting eyes as his body collided with the sludgy ground. She followed albeit more gracefully only to receive a sharp clout to the head which sent stars trailing across her vision. Pain blossomed from her throat as claws sunk into it. The tables had turned considerably with Icepetal's life hanging in the balance at the claws of Jasper.
She closed her eyes, exhaustion tugging at her muscles yet again. She was too tired to fight on and that exhaustion had finally caught up with her. A small sigh left her mouth as she waited for her throat to be torn open as the claws slowly dug deeper and began to trail sideways, ripping skin as they went. But death didn't come. A shriek of agony did though and forced Icepetal to open her eyes. What she saw brought a slight smile to her face.
Lightningfall stood over Jasper's fallen body, a thick stick driven straight through the rogue's body to where his heart used to beat. His eyes were glazed as blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth, dripping into a sticky puddle that had begun to form beneath him. "I think you owe me big time," Lightningfall's voice was hoarse.
"Probably," Icepetal replied weakly. She wanted nothing more than to fall asleep right where she was until her eyes saw that the sun had almost sink completely and the eerie red glow from the blood moon intensified. Her exhaustion vanished as she jumped to her paws, blue eyes focused on Lightningfall's sad golden eyes. "I have to go," her voice was nothing more than a mere murmur. "I do. But I'll come home as soon as I can, I promise."
The tom's face fell considerably. "Are you sure you can't stay? Do you really have to go? The Clan needs you right now…"
"What I am going to do will help the Clan, all of the Clans," Icepetal replied softly. "Goodbye, Lightningfall." She pressed her nose to his shoulder, a small purr rumbling deep in her chest. He rested his chin on top of her head and sighed sadly.
"Goodbye, Sunshine." The use of his nickname for her sent tiny thrills racing through Icepetal's body but they were soon overcome by sadness as she broke their embrace and slinked out of camp making sure no other cat saw her, disappearing into the gathering darkness with a heavy limp.
SnowClan
Leader: Darkstar- Dull, brown pelted tom with Crimson's trademark emotionless yellow eyes
Deputy: Stoneclaw- Blue tabby tom with gray tail tip
Medicine Cat: Flickerfur- a light brown tom with a white underbelly, chin and tail with blue eyes. His body is covered in dark brown dapples. (Lazuli-Gerudo) Apprentice; Brightpaw
Warriors:
Dawnsplash- Cream calico she-cat
Mintfeather- Fawn tabby she-cat with light throat and chest
Silverfur- Fluffy silver she-cat with patches of white
Blizzardfang- Gray tabby tom with black paws and spots
Whitefire- Pure white tom with a dash of orange on his chest Apprentice; Owlpaw
Rabbitheart- Pale ginger tom with long whiskers and a good nose. Large green eyes (ExplosionsAreFun)
Nettleflame- A lithe, skinny, small-framed, spiky-furred, brown tabby she-cat with pale green eyes and a snow white belly (Blizzardsnow)
Sootsplash- A long-legged, spiky-furred, black tom with a splash of white fur on his chest and mossy green eyes (Blizzardsnow) Apprentice; Eaglepaw
Aspenthorn- A large, broad-shouldered, sleek pale golden brown tabby tom with white paws and pale amber eyes (Blizzardsnow)
Lightningfall- A large, broad-shouldered, awkwardly long-legged, golden tabby tom with thin, dark stripes and golden-coloured amber eyes (Blizzardsnow)
Duskwing- A long-legged dark gray tabby with dark amber eyes and a white dash in his chest (Blizzardsnow) Apprentice; Honeypaw
Gingerstripe- Large bright ginger tom with dark ginger stripes running through his pelt. Narrow, fiery amber eyes (Joyful Call of Soaring Wren)
Pebblefrost- Small tortoiseshell she-cat with white and black patches. Piercing blue eyes (Joyful Call of Soaring Wren) Apprentice; Dustpaw
Scorchpelt- Dark ginger tom with dark brown streaks through his fur. Narrow amber eyes (Joyful Call of Soaring Wren)
Icepetal- White she-cat with a brown face (darker towards eyes and lighter towards the edge of her face) and a brown tail. Her eyes are a brilliant blue, inherited from her mother
Oakfrost- Smoky brown tom with splashes of black, green eyes
Dustclaw- Brown tabby tom with a white underbelly and muzzle, blue eyes
Bluesplash- Pale blue she-cat with black clouded tabby stripes and a white tail tip, dark blue-green eyes Apprentice; Smokepaw
Silverwater- Small, lithe silver she cat with very faint tabby marks. She has piercing, cold emerald green eyes (Silverwind1313)
Sparrowtail- A slender, long-legged, sleek pale brown tabby she-cat with pale green eyes and white paws (Blizzardsnow)
Thornstrike- A broad-shouldered dark brown tabby tom with dark amber eyes (Blizzardsnow) (Brother to Sootsplash and Sparrowtail) Apprentice; Thistlepaw
Tigerstripe- Dark brown tabby tom with bold black stripes
Apprentices:
Brightpaw- A small pure white she-cat with bright ginger patches and sky blue eyes (Blizzardsnow)
Thistlepaw- A broad-shouldered, spiky-furred, dark gray tom with pale amber eyes (Blizzardsnow)
Eaglepaw- A long-legged, spiky-furred, dark golden brown tabby tom with white paws and pale green eyes (Blizzardsnow)
Dustpaw- A dusty brown tabby she-cat with mossy green eyes, white paws, and a white muzzle (Blizzardsnow)
Smokepaw- An average-sized, long-legged, broad-shouldered, spiky-furred, dark gray tom with swirly silver marking, white paws, a white chest, and yellow eyes (Blizzardsnow)
Owlpaw- A small golden brown tabby tom with wide yellow eyes and a white chest (Blizzardsnow)
Honeypaw- A long-legged, thick-furred, pale brown tabby tom with white paws and dark green eyes (Blizzardsnow)
Queens:
Ashberry- Pale gray she-cat with round green eyes that dim to a pale yellow on the outside. Darker gray spots dot her pelt, and she has a white front paw and black back paws and ear tips (Joyful Call of Soaring Wren)
Leafbreeze- A slender, long-legged, elegantly long-furred, dilute tortoiseshell and white she-cat with pale green eyes (Blizzardsnow)
Kits:
Cedarkit- Dark brown tom with white patches and dark amber eyes (ExplosionsAreFun)
Beetlekit- Bright ginger tom with black paws. Green eyes (Joyful Call of Soaring Wren)
Ravenkit- Black she-cat with gray patches and white flecks, icy blue eyes (Joyful Call of Soaring Wren)
Breezekit- Gray tom with a white flash on his chest and leafy green eyes (Joyful Call of Soaring Wren)
Maplekit- A tortoiseshell she-cat with long fur and pale green eyes(Blizzardsnow)
Pinekit- A large long-legged dark brown and white tabby tom with amber eyes (Blizzardsnow)
Bumblekit- A broad-shouldered silver and black tabby she-cat with white paws and pale amber eyes (Blizzardsnow)
Elders:
Mistybreeze- Fluffy blue she-cat with white splotches, retired early due to a crushed spinal cord
Brackenclaw- Large golden brown tabby tom with amber eyes and a battle-scarred pelt (Blizzardsnow)
Creamflower- Cream-colored she-cat with white dapples and sky blue eyes (Blizzardsnow)
AN: 8551 words. I think I just broke my record for longest chapter. Don't ever expect another chapter to be this long ever again :') Seriously, this took me all weekend to do but it's an important chapter, sets the scene and introduces one of the main characters.
It might be a while until the next chapter is up because I still have allegiances to fix up. Also, thank you to all those that submitted cats! You guys are awesome.
-Hunter