Snowfrost heard Fenastar's caterwaul for a clan meeting. She stretched and slowly walked out of the Warriors den, her snowy white pelt glistening in the cool morning light. She scanned the clearing with deep blue eyes, wondering what the fuss was all about. She took a few steps closer, and saw there was a small area where no cat but one stood. It was Fireclan's Deputy, Icepelt, with three tiny kits in her jaws. Snowfrost pushed her way through to the front of the throng of cats, watching in wonder and confusion. Icepelt carefully set down the tiny bundles of fur. "I bring in these kits from Darkclan. Darkclan's leader, Deathstar, has vowed to kill them! We cannot let them suffer!" Her voice rang through the clearing, bringing either ill or good news, depending on a cat's point of view.
"Why not?" somecat called. The voice belonged to Ratface, a newly appointed warrior. "Darkclan never gave us mercy when they killed my brother, Windheart, so why should we take in these scraps of fur?" Fenastar gave Ratface a stern look.
"Should we give Darkclan the pain they gave us? Do you not remember the pain you felt when Deathstar killed your brother? Do not be cold hearted to the cold hearted. It only makes us fools of fools." Ratface looked taken aback, but shook his head and angrily slumped away to the back of the group, muttering curses under his breath. Fenastar leaped down from the Tallstone from which she was perched to give the kits a quick sniff. Then she turned to the clan. "These kits are starved. Now, they may be from another clan, but they need a home. Someone in Fireclan must take them in as their own." Murmurs of agreement rose reluctantly from the crowd of cats. Snowfur stepped forward, unsure. Snowfrost's sister, Icepelt, looked at her in suspicion. Then Snowfrost saw those kits faces. They were the most beautiful kits she had ever seen. She had made up her mind.
"I will." she said. She stepped before Fenastar. "I will take these kits in." Fenastar nodded in respect. Icepelt looked at Snowfrost.
"Fine sister, if you must. But I do not think that you will be training Hawthornpaw any more. Queens may not have apprentices, you know."
Fenastar stared at Snowfrost, nodding. "That's correct. Hawthornpaw will need a new mentor. Are you sure?"
"Positive." Snowfrost said, "They need me more than Hawthornpaw does." Snowfrost searched the crush of cats for her eager apprentice, Hawthornpaw. She spotted her, and motioned towards the kits. Hawthornpaw's reluctant nod was all Snowfrost needed. She picked up the kits and headed towards her new sleeping place. The nursery.
Snowfrost slowly picked up her kits and padded into the clearing. Fenastar was waiting for her. She set down her tiny kits with care. "I have decided on the names. I think they should be decided as soon as possible." She said, her eyes twinkling with pride. Fenastar nodded, flicking her tail in agreement. Snowfrost bent down and nuzzled a small, ginger colored she-kit. The she-kit slowly opened her emerald eyes, mewling softly. "This one will be called Gingerkit." She said, searching Fenastar's expression. Fenastar nodded approvingly. The kit next to Gingerkit squealed with tiredness. Her soft, emerald eyes pleaded for sleep. Her small, silver pelt rippled and she yawned, revealing small, pointed teeth. "This one, Silverkit." Snowfrost said, rasping her tongue over Silverkit's tiny face. The last kit, a fiery orange tom, pounced on Gingerkit, his pale green eyes filled to the brim with mischief. Gingerkit fought back valiantly, but with her small size, she was pinned down in an instant. She quickly whirled onto her stomach, throwing the tom off. Snowfur chuckled. "And that one I shall name Flamekit." Fenastar nodded approvingly and prayed to Starclan to accept the kits. A movement caught Snowfrost's eye. A small, white figure emerged from the warrior's den. "Good morning, Icepelt." Fenastar dipped her pale ginger head to the Fireclan deputy. Icepelt nodded back. She sat down next to her sister, and Snowfrost and chuckled as Flamekit pounced on Silverkit. Silverkit squealed, and darted towards Snowfrost. She buried herself into Snowfrost's long fur. Snowfrost nuzzled her and gave Icepelt a long look. "Do you think this is what Starclan wants?" She whispered, looking down at her bundles of joy.
"Only the stars will tell." Icepelt said. Her blue eyes shone with something. Snowfur couldn't decide if it was fear, or restlessness.
"Is something wrong, Icepelt?" Fenastar said, seeming to notice it too. Icepelt sighed.
"I can't keep a secret from either of you!" She complained, sighing. She flicked her tail for the cats to follow. She led them into the Leader's den, searching Fenastar for permission. Fenastar's golden head moved up and down curtly.
"I am sorry for keeping this to myself for so long." She started, heaving a sigh of discomfort. Snowfrost pricked her ears forward, drinking in every word. Icepelt's tail twitched nervously. "A few moons ago, I had a dream. I was in the Old Forest. You know, the one that the twolegs tore up with their monsters. Anyway, I was running through the forest, and I came to a clearing. A tunnel of bracken opened up before me, and I went through. I knew this to be the old Thunderclan camp. A rock jutted up in the middle, and lying on top of it, was the leader who renamed Thunderclan to Fireclan, Bramblestar. He, as you both know, was Firestar's predecessor." Icepelt paused to lick her chest fur, obviously uncomfortable with sharing her news, then continued, "He said to me, 'Icepelt, I have a message from Starclan. Four will be divided, three will become great, but one will rule the waters, Blood will be shed on their behalf'. I wanted to ask him what it meant, but he disappeared, leaving me alone in the camp. I turned and saw amber eyes scorching my fur. It was Tigerstar. You know, that powerful, ambitious cat of the Old Times? He lunged and a yowl filled the clearing." Icepelt's eyes were full of fear at recounting the memory. "Then I woke up to find Longtail prodding my side to wake up." Icepelt dipped her head. "There were four kits that Blackfur brought to me." She said, shuffling her paws. "But the fourth kit, a golden kit called Sandkit, wandered off, and we never found her again." Icepelt's eyes were fixed on her paws. Fenastar's expression changed from mild amusement to a look of a scared hostility.
"Why didn't you go after it?" Fenastar said smoothly, though her hackles were raised. Icepelt didn't waver under her leader's steady gaze.
"I didn't have time to look for her. She was already weak and..."
"Already weak?" Fenastar seethed. She put her mouth to Icepelt's ear. "You are starting to sound like Deathstar!" She spat.
Icepelt shrank back.
"I am sorry." She said, dipping her head.
Fenastar nodded. "I should've expected better of you, Icepelt. Fear of the weak does not become you." Fenastar's voice died down a little. She looked at Snowfrost. "You may return to the nursery while I speak with Icepelt." she said abruptly. Snowfrost didn't need a second warning. She hurried the kits into the nursery, tilting her ears towards the two cats. She sighed. Her sister used poor judgment, but what bothered Snowfrost the most was Fenastar's sudden change of mood. Fenastar was an levelheaded cat. Never did she resort to hissing or yelling in a confrontation. Snowfrost's troubled mind was not rested as she fell asleep, her kits curled up close beside her.