If only they knew the pain he had to go through. No father, a snappy mother and a sister who was "chosen by Starclan" themselves to save the Clan from a disaster. Why am I not good enough for any of them? Iceclaw thought as he patrolled the boarder to Thunderclan.
"Iceclaw? Your head seems full of bees today. Are you ok?"
Iceclaw turned around in surprise. Featherpelt shifted her paws, avoiding his gaze as he tried to form a sentence.
"I'm fine, thank you Featherpelt. I'm just…" He trailed off.
"Having a rough day?" Featherpelt inquired. "It's ok if you are; I still have those troubles."
That's true, he thought as he began moving down the slopes. Featherpelt left Shadowclan because she felt the clan was too assertive, and her being easily scared and having a friend in Windclan made her all the more wanting to join. Shadowclan ridiculed her while Windclan cats hadn't trusted her. He stopped for a minute and brushed up against her.
"It must be hard having to go to a new Clan." He stated as he spotted a rabbit barreling towards it's burrow. In a flash he pounced, and gave the killing blow.
"It-" Featherpelt was beginning to reply when the rest of the patrol sprinted back up the mountain. "Featherpelt! Iceclaw! A Thunderclan cat has crossed our scent lines!" Beetletooth fought to catch his breath while Rushfur kneaded the ground restlessly. This is my chance to show how important I am!
"Let's go! " Forgetting the rabbit Iceclaw bounded to the lake, where a small she-cat was trembling. She's only an apprentice; he realized and smelt fear creeping around her in a fog. "What are you doing on Windclan territory?" He snarled as she shrank down to the ground.
"A dog passed through the territory, and I was afraid he'd catch me!" She wailed, "I twisted my paw!"
"Mousebrain! Running to our territory won't help you!" He spat, causing her eyes to widen in shock. "If they dog was really after you, he would have continued to chase you, not idly keep walking. Your actions were not of a warriors status!"
"Iceclaw. That is no way to treat an apprentice. If you ever were given an apprentice you'd need to be more understanding than that." Featherpelt looked at him, her green eyes blazing in anger. Iceclaw felt his impatience and anger growing, but he knew his friend was right.
"Fine." Grunting, Iceclaw turned to Rushfur. "Head back to the camp; I am bringing her back to Thunderclan."
As the patrol made their way to the camp, Iceclaw walked silently with the young she-cat. The forest was just up ahead, and his pelt tingled in disgust at bringing a Thunderclan apprentice back to camp after aimlessly crossing the border.
"You are very serious and angry for a Windclan cat." The pale ginger she-cat stared at him, her dark green eyes sparking.
"Your very annoying for a Thunderclan apprentice," He hissed. "Though Thunderclan apprentices were always like that."
"I think something happened to you that made you that way." She boasted, her tail fluffing up, "You should really talk about it."
"Applepaw is it?" He asked trying to remember her name, "Not every cat is friendly and bubbly like you Thunderclan cats make us out to be; we are not your allies."
"And if I remember correctly," She pointed out, "Not every cat is irritated and rude either."
"Your very cheek for a Thunderclan apprentice." He pointed out as the entrance to the Thunderclan camp opened up, Squirrelflight distraught.
"Applepaw!" She exclaimed rubbing her face with licks, "Where were you? Are you okay? Your father and I were worried sick about you!" Iceclaw stepped forward, the moon barely shown on his fur. "Your daughter happened to cross into our territory when she thought my sister's friend Harley passed through. My patrol found her and I brought her back."
"Oh! That must have been the dog stench our patrol found. I am glad you are safe Applepaw; now go into the den and get warm." As Applepaw mewed her thanks and rushed into the camp, Squirrelflight turned to Iceclaw, her green eyes questioning.
"How is Spottedpelt?" Ugh, he thought. Everyone always asks about her. "She is fine. She just got her first apprentice."
"I heard she saved Windclan and Shadowclan from an attack from disgusting animals called Fishercats….. She wasn't hurt was she?"
Anger coursed through Iceclaw's veins. Everyone always acknowledges what Spottedpelt did, but never asked if he had helped or if he was okay! "Everything is fine! I went with her on the trip to make sure she would be safe, and we saved the Clans from being lost forever!"
Squirrelflight narrowed her eyes and took a step back, ducking her head. "Thank you for returning my daughter, and may Starclan light your path on your journey home."
Almost every night Iceclaw slept he'd remember terrors and distraught moments from his past. It often appeared as if Starclan sent them to mock him; he'd wake up the next morning angrier than when he had fallen asleep.
"Sunstrike! You must listen to me. Thorntooth died the death of a brave warrior….I am so sorry."
"No! No one is sorry! Starclan have mercy! I have two kits! Who will help care for them?"
"The clan always cares for the kits. You won't be alone."
Iceclaw traveled through the dreams one pawstep at a time. He recalled every memory like he knew every pawstep of territory. Pausing, he held his breath as he remembered the time he and Spottedpelt ventured home to save their Clan from the Fishercats.
Crowstar stood on TallRock, his eyes shining in the starlight. "My warriors," he meowed, "Spottedpelt has returned with the message from Starclan on defeating this terrible enemy. Like Midnight the Badger, Starclan sent another, this time in the form of a dog; he has told Spottedpelt how to stop the terror!"
"Yes! Praise Starclan!" Thrushfur called out.
"No more terror on us! We command the Wind!" Shouted Bristletail.
Crowstar raised his tail in silence. Standing up in anger, Iceclaw called out ,"What about me? Darkblaze and I accompanied her on the journey!" Crowstar looked at Iceclaw and replied, "While you did accompany her, you were not sent on this task. Starclan only sent the message to her!"
"But if I remember, Squirrelflight accompanied you on the journey, and yet so did Stormfur and they were not a part of the dream, it was meant for Bramblestar and Feathertail!" The once cheering warriors grew silent. Feathertail was once a strong warrior, loved by Crowstar; she died to save the Clans…. And Iceclaw just reopened the wound.
"That had a different situation!" Crowstar almost hissed. "You as a warrior must learn when to hold your tongue, and accept that you weren't chosen!"
Iceclaw sank deeper and deeper into darkness; he had been to the dark forest before, and he knew exactly what he wanted and how to get it: revenge.