A/N: Well, I was feeling ambitious, so even though I should be working on a different story, I had inspiration for this chapter, so it's up sooner!
Thanks to TheJesusFreak777, Mossyfire the Cat and Little Brookie Butterfly for reviewing!
One reviewer pointed out that it does not make sense that all the Original SkyClan cats would be dead, and I thought they made a very good point. I also noticed a few mistakes I made when creating them, (There were two Jayfrosts and Toadpaw was apprenticed to three different cats) and so the allegiances are updated slightly.
Another reviewer asked what Daylight Warriors are. If you have not read SkyClan's Destiny, Daylight Warriors are housecats that are warriors by day and return home to their owners by night. Erin Hunter owns warriors.
"-And then Willowstar lead the patrol all the way around and back to camp! Ooh, I could just claw Cinderstripe's eyes out!" Icefeather was steaming from Cinderstripe's little joke on patrol. She had never spoken with him much, but he had seemed decent enough - kind, friendly. Thankfully, Ashcloud seemed to understand where she was coming from. She had listened patiently as Icefeather told the whole story, and only now began to speak.
"You're kidding! Those toms are mousebrains headed for a load of trouble." The pretty gray she-cat sympathized. "Willowstar will see they get what's coming to them if she ever hears anything like it again. I just can't believe - We do as much work in this clan as any other warrior! We hunt, patrol borders, and care for the kits and elders. But because we sleep in a twoleg den, we get no respect!" She fumed.
"Finally, someone understands! Thank StarClan." Icefeather gave Ashcloud an affectionate lick on her ear, smoothing down a tuft of hair that was sticking up.
Ashcloud nodded. "Anyone who doesn't understand what you're trying to say needs to start thinking straight." The gray warrior stood up. "I'm due for a visit to Wrensong's kits - I promised them I would play Rabbit with them." She let out an affectionate purr - at four moons, the three kits were a bundle of trouble. Twice they had already tried to sneak out of camp, and Mintkit had fallen into the river once. But since the drought, it wasn't too dangerous, and the kit had escaped unharmed, though not without a healthy does of fear for the better.
Icefeather let out a mrrow of amusement. "Have fun!"
"Oh, I'm sure I will." With a flick of her tail, Ashcloud padded over to the corner of camp where the three kits scrambled around, finding footholds in the camp's walls and climbing up a few paw-lengths before jumping - or falling - back to the earth. Their squeals could be heard from where Icefeather sat, twitching her tail in amusement.
"I'm not going to be a rabbit again! You be it, Thistlekit!"
"No way, Lilykit! I'm going to be a hunter! You two can be the rabbits!"
"That's not fair! I never get to be the hunter! Ashcloud, tell Thistlekit to let me be a hunter!"
Rolling her eyes in amusement, Icefeather's head shot up, her ears pricked as she heard her name being called. "Icefeather! Care to join us on a water fetch?" The voice belonged to Larksong, a pretty tabby she-cat. Icefeather nodded and got up, spying Dapplepaw next to her mentor, as well. Ever since the rain had left, cats had to take moss and soak it in water from the river since the pool that had formed in one of the caves had tried up and the elders were especially tired. Thankfully, the water source was near camp, but warriors had to make trips frequently to get water for the kits and elders, as well as getting a drink themselves. However, the river was getting smaller each day - a problem at the peak of greenleaf.
Picking up a wad of moss from the pile at the edge of camp, the pure white she-cat joined the other two. Without speaking - as their mouths were full of moss - the three padded down to the river at a brisk pace. The moss was dry and sharp, pricking uncomfortably in Icefeather's mouth. She was thankful when, after several minutes, they finally arrived and she was able to gulp water from what had formerly been a majestic, rushing river. As the icy-cold water filled her mouth, she let out a deep sigh of relief.
A few feet away in a sandy wash, Dapplepaw splashed around, not seeming to mind a bit that her fur was damp and would be tangled and messy later.
"Dapplepaw, get out of there!" Larksong glanced disapprovingly at the tortoiseshell apprentice. "We're here to gather water for the Clan, not to splash around like featherbrained kits!"
"But Larksong, gathering water is so boring!" The apprentice complained, looking up from her play, fur dripping little droplets of water that caused little ripples in the river's clear surface.
Eyes narrowed and tail twitching, Larksong opened her jaws to snap back a reply, but Icefeather spoke first. "Dapplepaw, pretend that each wad of moss you carry is...a herb that will make sure all of your clanmates are never sick again, no matter what. And the sooner you bring it back the happier your clanmates will be." She invented the tale as she spoke, stringing words together.
Dapplepaw cocked her head, considering Icefeather's wild fantasy. "Okay!" She mewed cheerfully, grabbing her wad of moss and soaking it with water. Larksong ducked her head and grabbed hers, as well. Icefeather followed, shaking off a few drops of water that had landed on her whiskers. Dapplepaw lead the way back to camp, with the two warriors lagging behind. Strangely, however many times Icefeather glanced over at Larksong, the pretty tabby would not meet her eyes, only look away - in contempt? Embarrassment? Why? Is it because I interfered with her apprentice? Larksong was a tough warrior, but she had never struck Icefeather as overly sensitive like that.
So what was it?
Tail twitching nervously, Cinderstripe sat by himself in a corner of the camp, eating a small vole. The sun was setting, but warmth and humidity still lingered in the air, making everything hot and sticky. He could tell by the way Icefeather's gaze was as sharp as claws and the way Bluegaze had stayed out of his way to avoid him that the two were both offended. They have a right to be. Icefeather shot another glance at him, clearly trying to make a point by sitting with some friends but not eating a scrap of prey.
His pondering was interrupted by his mother, striding up to her kit with confidence oozing. "Cinderstripe, what's this I here about you offending some kitty-warriors by calling one fat?" Her tone was neutral. Great, the news has spread. How many other cats know about it? "Walk with me." Frostfoot gestured to outside of camp. Forcing Cinderstripe to abandon his vole, he got up and followed his mother.
"Well? Is it true?" She asked in a hushed whisper once they were minutes away from the sandy camp.
"Um...well, you see...yes." He admitted, hanging his head. Now that his initial anger and confusion had passed, he just felt guilty.
"Cinderstripe, I couldn't be more proud of you if you defeated ten rats at once in battle." Her meow had become excited, not angry or upset with him.
"Really?"
"Absolutely. You're finally learning to speak your mind and have your own opinion - and it couldn't be on a better subject, really. I've always known that Leafstar was unswayable on the topic, but perhaps now that Willowstar has taken over she will see reason. She is a young leader, and should not be so opposed to new ideas - or rather, old ideas that new cats are speaking up about." Frostfoot gave her son an affectionate lick on the ear - something she hadn't done since he was a kit.
"But Willowstar was angry - not pleased or thoughtful!" Protested Cinderstripe. And I didn't mean for any of this to happen in the first place. The one time she's proud of me it's because of an accident.
She's proud of me. As upset as he was, he could not help but feel foolishly prideful - he had done something to make her proud of him for the first time in moons, and she looked at him with satisfaction, not with a disgusted scowl and the unspoken question - Why can't you be like other warriors?
"Of course she was - she had to be firm and not offend the daylight warriors when it happened, but chances are she is pondering it in her den right now!" Came Frostfoot's excited reply. "The gorge-born cats are swifter hunters then kittypets. We have known hardship - the hardest thing they have dealt with is a splinter in their paw, perhaps a split claw. They will never compare to us - SkyClan will be strong without them!" Her quiet tone became louder as she finished, eyes shining with pride for her Clan.
"But some of the kitty-warri - er...daylight warriors have SkyClan blood. Their paw pads are hard and tough, not easily scraped." Cinderstripe pointed out, trying to clean up his mess. The daylight warriors contribute, I have to stand up for them!
"That is something that they inherited from ancestors. They did not earn it! SkyClan will be stronger when they are gone." She repeated. Looking behind her, she added, "We better get back to camp shortly. Warriors will start wondering where we went, and the kitty-warriors come this way to return to their twoleg dens." Her mouth folded into a sneer. "It would be a shame if they were to overhear."
Forcing himself to nod, Cinderstripe watched as his mother turned and padded back to camp. I wasn't strong enough to stand up to her. I never will be. I am weak. The words did not sting, he knew them to be true. Forcing himself to stand up, he followed his mother.
The sky was nearly black as Icefeather padded with Bunglefoot, Mosspaw and Flamespot back to their twoleg dens. Flamespot and Mosspaw discussed some sort of combat technique they had practiced that day, while Bunglefoot hung back with Icefeather, walking without sound.
"What's with you today?" The young tom asked, breaking the stony silence. "You've hardly said a word and you've been on edge all day - I can tell."
Icefeather blinked in surprise. "Just a long day, a little tired. That sort of thing." She had a feeling she wasn't being very convincing, but so be it. A glance at the nests told her she was almost home.
As she had suspected, the darkness did not conceal the fact that Bunglefoot's expression was one of skepticism. "Really."
Forcing her meow to sound energetic, the white she-cat nodded. "Yup! I'm sure a rest will get me back to my usual self again, I just need some sleep." Not waiting for an answer, she quickly cut across the territories of neighboring nests to get to her own. The usually lush green grasses were dry and a bit brown - the drought was even affecting twolegs. The cat-entrance to her nest was open, and Icefeather was greeted by a blast of cool air. The house was nearly silent, but she could hear one of the twolegs clattering around in the nest's dirtplace.
Though she had not eaten since that morning, she was not at all hungry, and ignored the dry pellets of food she despised - only curled up in her soft-wooly cat-bed. It did not bring the comfort and peace it usually did, and it was many hours before she drifted into sleep.
A/N: So, what did you think? Please review and if you have time answer one or more of these questions!
1. Who is your favorite cat?
2. Who is your least favorite?
3. What/who would you like to see more of in upcoming chapters?