I was a warrior by then. I would talk more about my apprenticeship. I could, in fact, talk all day about it. But I don't have a day to tell my story, so I'm afraid all I can say about my childhood is that I was a healthy, precocious young cat who was sometimes too smart for my own good. I wasn't considered particularly special or different at the time. I was just a normal warrior. After Rainstar chose me as the new deputy, other cats started noticing me more. I was no longer Iceclaw, ordinary warrior. I was the Iceclaw, deputy of Thunderclan! Thistlethorn congratulated me, and I basked in my hero's praise. I had no way of knowing what was going through the dark cat's mind.
I remember as clearly as if it were yesterday. I remember…
"Shadowclan is attacking!" Thistlestorm raced towards me, yowling. My eyes widening, I spun to face him as he skidded to a stop, panting heavily. "Longear, Ashpelt, and Swiftfoot are already fighting. You and I can face them, and that should be enough." He hesitated, then added, "Rainstar doesn't need to come." Our eyes met briefly and I knew what he meant: Rainstar was on her last life. Being our medicine cat's mate, it wasn't surprising that Thistlestorm knew this. I nodded, secretly proud to have a chance to be fighting alongside this noble warrior, and we raced off to face Shadowclan.
