Icecloud woke up in the morning, bursting with energy. Around her, she could feel Brackenfur and Hazeltail stir in their sleep. They might have been tired, but not her. Oh no. Today was the first day of her mission to stop Tigerstar from taking over the world.
"I won't fail you, Yellowfang!" she announced dramatically as she leapt into the clearing, her paws tearing at the dirt ground. Some of the warriors shot her odd glances, and Dustpelt rolled his eyes as he stalked past his daughter. Icecloud sniffed. It wasn't her fault that they didn't understand just how important her mission was.
She passed Thornclaw on her way to the fresh-kill pile, stopping for a moment to reflect on just how handsome the golden-brown tabby was. If Firestar didn't die soon, then the beautiful and wonderful warrior would never get a chance to be deputy. Sure, he was a little headstrong, but still. No one was perfect. Except for her.
"Icecloud!" The white she-cat heard her name being called and she turned to see Brambleclaw standing nearby. Almost tripping over her paws, Icecloud scrambled over to the deputy, head held high.
"Yes, Brambleclaw?" she asked haughtily. Excitement coursed through her. The deputy was looking at her! He had addressed her! Briefly Icecloud wondered if Yellowfang had marked her with a special mark that woud show everyone how incredibly special she was.
"I want you to go on the sunhigh patrol with Cloudtail, Birchfall, and Ivypaw," he commanded. "Cloudtail's waiting by the camp enterance. You four are to patrol the WindClan border, understood?"
Icecloud nodded eagerly. WindClan! Maybe she would get a chance to talk to Antpelt. He was a nice enough tom, even if he wasn't nearly as wonderful as Thornclaw. Besides, they were supposed to complete the great task of saving the world together.
Once I complete the GREAT TASK, Thornclaw will definately love me, she thought. Well, that was if he didn't already. Who didn't love the amazingly gorgeous white she-cat? (Foxleap and her parents were exceptions.)
For a moment, she contemplated telling Firestar about her StarClan-sent mission. But the she-cat decided against it. He would just try to steal her glory! That Firestar, such a glory-stealer. No, she would only tell Foxleap, and Thornclaw, and possibly Cloudtail if he asked... and she would definately tell the apprentices! Then they would get her some new moss bedding!
"Ready to go?" Birchfall nudged her. The tom - her brother, right? Icecloud couldn't remember anything anymore - was padding past her. Ivypaw followed him, but she didn't look anything like her father - and she definately wasn't as gorgeous as her white-furred aunt.
Icecloud nodded. "It'll be like we're patrolling as one big family... and Cloudtail. Except Cloudtail is Ivypaw's kin as well and you're doin' that thang with his daughter. It'll be fun!" She smiled encouragingly at Birchfall.
The tom's eyes widened as he cast a furtive glance at Cloudtail, who was standing by the gorse tunnel and watching them. "Icecloud, we've been over this. I'm not doin' that thang with Ivypaw's mother. I'm in love."
Icecloud rolled her eyes and was about to argue when she realized that when Thornclaw finally became her mate, she wouldn't want people doubting them either! She was in love with Thornclaw, it was true. So the white she-cat nodded solemnly. "I understand."
"Are you three coming or not?" meowed Cloudtail loudly from the camp enterance. They all scurried over towards him, Birchfall more sheepishly than the others. Cloudtail eyed the brown tabby just as a protective father might while stroking his shotgun and guarding the door.
"Lead me, Cloudtail!" exclaimed Icecloud. It was the white tom's turn to roll his eyes as he turned away.
"Follow me," he mewed, padding off into the forest as quickly as he could without leaving them behind. Ivypaw followed eagerly. Birchfall shot Icecloud an imploring glance - don't do anything mouse-brained- before running off with the others. Icecloud hurried after him.
She caught up to the others as they neared the WindClan border. Cloudtail was leading the patrol and Birchfall had fallen back. The two she-cats padded side by side in the middle. Ivypaw looked solemn, but Icecloud was purring wildly at everything.
"Hey Ivypaw," she greeted nonchalantly. It was hard to keep her cool when she just wanted to burst out with the good news!
"Hey," replied Ivypaw, glancing up at the older she-cat quizzically. "What's up?"
"Guess what?" Icecloud toned her voice down to an obnoxiously loud whisper that Cloudtail and Birchfall could still probably hear.
The silver and white tabby sighed and rolled her eyes. "I don't know what, Icecloud. Why don't you tell me?" she said, obviously exasperated. Unfortunately, Icecloud didn't exactly clue in to Ivypaw's mood.
"StarClan gave me a really cool secret mission that's really awesome. I'm one of four chosen cats, but I'm the most important," said Icecloud. As she talked, she missed the glimmer of interest forming in Ivypaw's eyes.
The apprentice looked down. "Really, is that so? What's this mission about?" she asked, her voice even and steady.
"Oh, it's just about saving the forest and all the Clans from the evil cat called Tigerstar who's really evil and such." Icecloud blathered on, completely unaware of the strange interest Ivypaw was taking in her words.
"That's exciting," said Ivypaw, lifting a claw to examine it. It glinted dangerously in the sunlight. "Who else was chosen by StarClan?"
"Oh..." Icecloud trailed off. Who else had been chosen? They obviously weren't as great and as exciting as her. She frowned and wracked her brain. "Uh... Uh... Sorry Ivypaw, I really don't remember at all!"
Ivypaw looked disappointed, but she shrugged it off. "Okay. Well, I'll keep your secret, Icecloud," she offered.
The white she-cat purred before running off to the stream that marked the WindClan border. There was a WindClan patrol approaching! The ThunderClan she-cat recognized Owlwhisker, Sunstrike, Boulderpaw - and yes, Antpelt!
She ran towards the brown and black tom, who was scratching himself. Cloudtail ran after her, but stopped at the border. "Icecloud, come back. You're trespassing!" he yowled after her, but she didn't listen.
When Antpelt saw her, his eyes went wide. "Icecloud!" he hissed. "You can't be here."
"Why not?" she asked petulantly.
The black-eared warrior sighed. "Just trust me on this one, okay? I'll meet you and the others at Fourtrees tomorrow night, how about that?"
She nodded eagerly and bounded back as the rest of the WindClan patrol caught up to the relatively young warrior. Icecloud could hear them talking but she ducked behind Birchfall as she came back to ThunderClan territory.
Cloudtail turned on her, neck fur fluffed up. "What was that about?" he hissed angrily.
Icecloud sighed. "I forgot I was a ThunderClan cat," she lied, trying to get out of talking about her secret awesome mission.
Birchfall's eyes went wide. "You forgot."
She nodded fervently. "I thought I was a WindClan cat. I'm really, really, sorry Cloudtail. OH. My stomach hurts. Can we go back please? Okay, I'll see you back at camp!"
With that, Icecloud ran off. Her fellow warriors didn't understand, but one day they would. One day they would see. One day, Thornclaw would love her. She was so wrapped up in these thoughts the whole patrol that she had never even noticed the calculating look in Ivypaw's eyes. Not that Icecloud was even looking for anything out of the ordinary. After all, everything was going to be perfect.