Chapter 4
In two days, Icestar planned on attacking the rebels at the barn. But before she could do that, she sent Mudwhisker and Frostheart to find out whether the rebels really were at the barn or not.
Mudwhisker wasn't quite sure how he felt about attacking former clan members but there was nothing he could do about it. An order was an order. But the strange thing was, if the rebels were the enemies, why were they all such nice cats? Mudwhisker met all of them and no matter how he looked at it, Mapleshine and her friends couldn't be seen as enemies to him.
But that didn't change anything.
The brown tom sat in silence as he waited for Frostheart to join him. They were supposed to leave at dawn. Eventually, the she-cat walked past him and said, "What's taking so long? Let's go already." He decided not to mention how he was the one waiting on her.
Moments after leaving camp, the two cats broke into a run as they headed for the moor.
At first, Mudwhisker wasn't quite sure why Frostheart was chosen to go with him. They were supposed to sneak around the barn discreetly but her white fur was very noticeable even with Leaf-bare on its way. After asking around, he learned the former Shadowclan deputy had a reputation for being very swift and unnoticeable when the situation called for it. And somehow Icestar found out about it. But if that was the case, then why was he chosen to go? Mudwhisker wasn't exactly the stealthiest cat in the forest.
His thoughts were interrupted when the two cats reached the moor. Being back in the strong breeze was so refreshing. The wind was cold and crisp; another warning that Leaf-bare was coming. It was also much darker in the early morning. They should have no problem sneaking around.
"We're almost there," Frostheart said loudly, trying to get her voice over the sound of the wind. The tom found it amusing how she was struggling to keep up with him now that they were in the wide open field.
The barn soon came into view in the distance. This would be the first time both cats got close to it; neither of them knew what to expect.
Without hesitation, they rushed forward. As they closed in on the barn, there was yet to be any sign of the rebels. It wasn't too surprising since there were only four of them.
The two Forestclan Cats avoided the main entrance and hid in the bushes next to the barn.
"How should we get in?" Mudwhisker asked the she-cat in a hushed tone.
Frostheart glanced around her surroundings for a moment. Mudwhisker followed her gaze. There was a tall tree next to the building. One of the branches reached very close to a high opening in the side of the barn. "We can climb the tree and jump inside. The rebels are probably asleep right now. If they're not, then we'll have to make sure there's no one in the room before we go inside."
The brown tom nodded and ran towards the tree and jumped towards a branch. He dug his claws into the bark when he reached the lowest branch and pulled himself up. Frostheart followed him up, having much less trouble then he did. They jumped from branch to branch until they could see into the barn.
"There seems to be no one in the area," Mudwhisker said quietly as he looked inside.
Frostheart passed him and leaped inside. Mudwhisker glanced around to make sure no one was watching and followed the white she-cat.
When then got inside, the two cats hid behind a few wooden creates in the corner. They were on the second floor of the barn. If the rebels were there, they would most likely be on the first floor.
Before either of them moved, Mudwhisker listened carefully for any noises. There was something; a very faint noise but he couldn't quite figure out what it was. It was possible the sound was someone whispering.
Frostheart glanced at him and turned to the set of stairs that headed down. They didn't look too strong; just a few boards of wood, basically. Instead of walking down, the cats stayed at the top and looked down. So far, no one was in sight.
Frostheart gestured down the stairs with her head to show she was going down and Mudwhisker nodded. She quietly paced down the steps until she reached the last one. Mudwhisker glanced behind himself nervously and followed.
Frostheart looked around the corner and immediately turned around again. When Mudwhisker looked at her in the eyes, he could see how alarmed she looked.
"What is it?" the brown tom asked as softly as possible. She moved out of the way for him and he looked behind the corner as well. There, in the middle of the barn, was Mapleshine, Redshade, Rainshadow and Greyshadow.
It's true! Mudwhisker thought to himself. They really are here.
Heartbeats after seeing them, Redshade turned in his direction. Mudwhisker backed up quickly, hoping he wasn't just seen.
Around the corner, they heard the rebels talking. "Did you see that?" It was Redshade speaking.
"What?" Mapleshine asked.
"I don't know. I just saw something."
"Let's check it out," Rainshadow meowed.
Mudwhisker began to panic and turned to Frostheart but she was already hurrying up the stairs. Hearing the sound of paws coming closer, he did the same. The two cats headed for the window and leaped out.
Redshade got to the second story of the barn a heartbeat after the Forestclan cats escaped.
After landing back on the ground, Mudwhisker and Frostheart charged for the nearby bushes and waited in silence until they were sure no one was around, looking for them.
"Good going," Forstheart said sarcastically at last.
"Don't blame me for that," Mudwhisker said in his defense. "The same thing could have happened to you."
Frostheart shrugged and padded out of the bushes. "Anyway, we know the rebels are hiding there so let's go back to camp and tell Icestar." She began walking towards the forest.
"Wait," the tom said before she could take another step. "If you don't mind me asking, are you okay about fighting these cats? I mean, they were our clanmates."
Frostheart turned to Mudwhisker and studied him for a moment before answering. "They're no longer in the same clan as I; which means, Rainshadow and his friends are now my enemy."
Mudwhisker was shocked by her answer. "How could you say that? Wasn't he your friend in Shadowclan? Don't you care about him?" He replied, unable to stop himself from asking.
Frostheart gave him a glare that told him she was getting irritated. "Of course not," she said sourly and turned away. Despite her answer, the look in her eyes said otherwise. She did care; she just couldn't bring herself to face the truth.
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Two days have passed since Icestar send Mudwhisker and Frostheart to the barn. When they returned, they told the leader about the rebels staying there.
And now, the day has come to attack. Icestar already organized who would be going. Since there were only four cats, it wouldn't be hard to outnumber them. Streamheart, Dawnfall, Pineclaw, Crookedstem, Longpelt and Raventail are the cats who would go. She was careful to choose mostly former Riverclan cats since none of the rebels were from Riverclan. She didn't want cats who had a bond with the rebels to go or else they might hesitate. And that would ruin the entire raid. As for Streamheart and Dawnfall, they were loyal cats. Icestar knew they wouldn't screw it up.
The six of them already knew where and when to gather. Icestar told them to meet at the camp entrance at Sundown. She wanted them to have the cover of night while they attack. And if they get lucky, the rebels might be asleep by the time they get there.
As she waited for the day to end, Icestar sat on top of the Great Rock lazily, watching the warriors live their everyday life. At calm times like these, the white she-cat couldn't help but wonder why she always felt like she was missing something. Since she joined the clans together, something wasn't quite right but she couldn't figure out what it was.
Already tired of the thought, Icestar leaped down and glanced around the camp. One of the annoying parts of being a part of such a large clan is she hardly knew most of the other cats. She recognized most of them but they weren't cats she particularly wanted to have a long conversation with. At least in several moons, kits will one day grow up around these cats and get to know them right at the beginning. Icestar is willing to sacrifice herself and her own needs for the sake of the future generations. That was the whole point of combining the clans in the first place.
Having enough of her boredom, the leader began pacing through the camp, in search of a cat she actually knew. Before long, a cat appeared in her head and she decided to search for her.
Icestar changed her course for the nursery. There were currently only two queens inside; Flowerfrost and Silverheart.
When Icestar walked into the den, the two she-cats were laying in their nests, talking to each other. Flowerfrost paused when she saw the leader. "Oh, hello Icestar," she said cheerfully. Ever since she became a queen, Flowerfrost seemed a little more cheery around camp.
Icestar said hello back and sat down across from the she-cats cats. "How are you two doing?"
"Pretty good," Silverheart answered casually.
"Yeah," Flowerfrost agreed. "So what brings you, Icestar?"
Icestar sighed. "Nothing much. I just wanted to drop by; say hi"
Flowerfrost smiled. "Oh really," she said suspiciously.
"Yep. So are you two excited to have kits?" She asked, changing the topic.
Silverheart lit up. "I can't wait," she said excitedly. Then Icestar suddenly realized she didn't know who Silverhearts' mate was. She didn't want to embarrass herself by asking though.
She turned to Flowerfrost. "How is Blackspot doing?"
"He's fine. Busy being a warrior, I suppose. I wish I could join him in hunting and patrols but he insists that I stay in camp," she said with a long sigh and looked at her paws. Before Icestar could respond, the light she-cat looked up and an idea popped into her head. "Do you ever want to have kits?"
Icestar was startled. "Uh, I don't know. I don't really think about it."
"Well if you had kits with Breezetail, I'm sure they would be adorable."
Icestar jumped to her paws. "B-Breezetail? Why do you say that?"
Flowerfrost and Silverheart both looked confused. "Well he kind of let the whole clan know he likes you, remember?"
How could I forget? "W-Well, we're not mates."
The queen tilted her head. "Why not?"
"Uhh, I don't know. Just… because. I guess I've been sort of busy… And I'm still busy. See you later." Icestar left the den a little too quickly. When she was around the corner and out of sight, she took a deep sigh. Why does the mention of Breezetail make her so nervous?
"Icestar!" A voice from behind surprised the leader and she spun around in alarm.
"What is it, Oakpaw?" Ever since word got out about attacking the rebels, Oakpaw refused to leave Icestar with a single moment of peace.
"Please let me go on the barn raid," the apprentice said urgently.
This wasn't the first time he asked. "Why do you want to go so badly, anyway?"
"I, uh, just want to help the clan." Icestar looked at him sternly, knowing that wasn't the truth. At least, not the whole truth. "Alright, I just want to talk to Rainshadow."
That made more sense. Since Rainshadow was his old mentor, she understood why he wanted to talk to him. "Sorry Oakpaw, but the cats who are going have already been chosen. Besides, you're still an apprentice."
"So? I can still fight," he said in defiance.
Icestar sighed. "If you want to go just to talk to Rainshadow, I think you should re-think it. Not much talking will be done during the fight anyway."
Oakpaw opened his mouth to reply but no words came out. Instead he just looked away, lost in his own thoughts. Seeing as the conversation was over, Icestar said goodbye and kept walking. She still had to prepare for the raid. It would be time to send them off soon.
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Redshade paced back and forth, wondering if there was anything he missed. Not thinking of anything, he turned back to the others. Mapleshine, Greyshadow and Rainshadow all waited for him to speak. Night has fallen and they were ready to head out.
"Echopaw should be waiting for us by now," the red tom finally pointed out.
"So we should hurry," Mapleshine meowed.
"Right but remember only a few of us are going. We can't leave the barn unprotected."
"Why not?" Greyshadow asked. "If no one's here, then what do we have to worry about?"
"It just doesn't seem wise. Anyway, Rainshadow and I will go to meet with Echopaw and carry out the plan."
"Are you sure?" Greyshadow asked in a concerned tone.
"Of course… Why do you ask?"
"Well, I know you and Icestar were friends. Are you sure you'll be able to do it? Maybe I should go-"
"No, I know what I'm doing." In all honesty, he didn't really want to be the one to capture Icestar but as the leader of the rebellion, he felt like it was his responsibility to go. Rainshadow would be able to pull it off; he had confidence of that. But Mapleshine, being Icestars' apprentice, probably wouldn't be able to attack her. Greyshadow would be able to carry out the plan too but Redshade didn't want too many cats going.
"Alright, if you say so," Greyshadow replied and avoided the red toms' gaze.
Redshade walked towards the exit and looked outside the barn. "It's already dark. We should go now," he said and glanced at Rainshadow.
The dark tom nodded. "Alright. See you later," he said to Mapleshine and Greyshadow and the two toms walked out of the barn and ran through the moor, closing in on the forest and the camp.
As they sprinted through the moor, the toms noticed a group of cats just at the edge of the forest. They were most likely a border patrol of a hunting party. The two quickened their pace and slowed down once they reached the forest.
"Where are we supposed to meet Echopaw?" Rainshadow asked, keeping his voice down.
"At the edge of camp… We still need to get the barn scent out of our fur," Redshade pointed out. Rainshadow agreed and they both took a moment to rub their pelts against some strong-smelling plants and the ground. Redshade never liked being covered in leaves and mud but it was necessary.
Once they took care of that, the toms continued towards the camp. "We should probably hide out in a nearby tree until we spot her." Rainshadow nodded.
The two toms hid in the thick bramble near the camp when they got close. Through the plants, they were able to see right into Forestclan camp. But at their current position, it was only a matter of time before they were noticed. Probably being a little too close, they backed up and climbed a tree so they could spy inside but from a much better distance. "Now we just wait for Echopaw," Redshade whispered.
After a while of waiting, they finally saw the silver she-cat walk casually out of camp. Once she was out of view from the Forestclan cats, she began searching around her, looking for Redshade and Rainshadow. The two toms jumped out of the tree to greet her.
"Good timing," Redshade meowed to the apprentice.
"I hope I didn't keep you waiting," she said shyly. "So what's the plan?"
Redshade cleared his throat before speaking. "At first, I was thinking we should just sneak into her den but there are too many things that could go wrong if we do that. So then I got a better idea: Echopaw will tell Icestar she found a special herb or something and lead her out of the den and over here. Far enough from camp so no one will be able to overhear or see what happens. Then Rainshadow and I will come out. Even with nine lives, she won't be able to take on both of us. Then we simply bring her back to the barn and discuss dividing the clan."
"I hope you thought that part out," Rainshadow scoffed. "Even if the plan works, she'll just say that it was Starclans' will and everything she's always been saying."
Redshade smirked. "Don't worry; I thought everything through."
"Hold on," Echopaw interrupted. She looked nervous. "I don't know about this… I mean… I have lying. And I don't think I'm very good at it… It all seems a little too… devious."
Redshade turned to the young apprentice. "Echopaw, you know how important this is. And I know you can do it," he said with a warm smile.
Echopaw looked at her paws for a moment then back at the red tom. "Alright. If we're going to pull this off, I better go now."
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Icestar ran into her den and sidestepped away from the entrance, panting. The group of cats who just left camp and Oakpaw has been following her like an angry kit. He kept demanding to go along and bombed her with all sorts of crazy ideas and suggestions (all ended with him somehow running into Rainshadow). She tried countless times to tell him to leave or bother someone else but Oakpaw just ignored the crucial fact that she was the leader. Icestar eventually had enough of it and decided to go with Plan B: run and hide. In hindsight, perhaps her own den wasn't the best place to hide.
Icestar shook her head and warily dropped into her nest. She was determined to enjoy the small window of peace.
A few heartbeats later, Icestar heard the sound of paws coming towards. Panicking, she dug her claws into the ground and stared at the entrance, hoping Oakpaw didn't find her already. To her relief, the cat was Echopaw. She released her claws and relaxed.
"Hello Echopaw. What do you need?"
The apprentice wore an excited expression. "I just found a really great herb and I wanted to show you."
Icestar tilted her head. "Why don't you show one of the medicine cats? I don't plan on going herb hunting anytime soon, Echopaw."
"It's more than that," she insisted. "The herb; it uh, it attracts, um, mice!"
"What? How could a herb possibly-"
"No time; you need to come see it now. Please."
Icestar sighed and pulled herself to her paws. "Alright, lead the way," she meowed tiredly. "But let's make it fast."
Echopaw nodded and padded out of the den with the leader following. They walked out of camp and into the forest. During the night, it was difficult to see ahead very far so Icestar was relying on the apprentice to not forget where the special herb was.
When they got decently far, Echopaw stopped and turned to Icestar and just stared at her in silence. She looked increasingly nervous. Echopaw glanced around several times as well.
"Well?" Icestar asked impatiently. "Where is it?"
The silver she-cat opened her mouth to reply but instead of answering, she leaped into a nearby bush, disappearing from Icestars' sight. Now the leader was very confused. "… What?"
"You didn't figure it out yet?" Icestars' heart began racing as she recognized the voice and spun round to confirm her suspicions. "Redshade," she gasped at the sight of the red tom. "What are you doing here?"
Rainshadow then appeared on the other side of her.
"This was all a set up," Icestar growled. "Echopaw; where-"
"Like us," Rainshadow interrupted. "She had enough of Forestclan. We all believe the forest was better off with four clans. She found us and asked to join."
"What?" Icestar demanded, turned to Rainshadow. Echopaw poked her head out of the bush but didn't have the courage to come out all the way. Icestar opened her mouth to say something to the apprentice but nothing came out.
"Looks like you lost this one, Redshade said calmly. The white she-cat turned back to him. "Are your other rebel friends here too?" The asked coldly.
"Nope," Redshade answered. There was no point in hiding it. "They're back at our… base. But don't try to escape. It's three against one and you can't outrun us in the forest."
Icestar couldn't stop herself from smiling. The rebels all looked quite surprised when she did. "You're wrong," she said quietly. "It's you who lost this one."
"What are you talking about?" Redshade dared ask.
"You left poor Mapleshine and Greyshadow all alone at the barn."
Redshade couldn't hide his shock. "How did-"He was cut off.
"I knew you were at the barn all along; hiding in the place I used to call home; how brave," Icestar commented. "But as you came here to attack me, I sent a while group of cats to attack you at the barn! Those two won't stand a chance."
Redshade was in utter shock. He glanced at Rainshadow and Echopaw who also shared his surprise.
"You better decide now, Redshade," the leader said, still smiling confidently. "What'd more important? You're friends or capturing me?"
Redshades' mind was racing. He knew he couldn't win this one. Getting Icestar would cost him Mapleshine and Greyshadow. But if he left now, he might be able to save them. But the opportunity to restore the four clans was right in front of him!
"So Redshade?" Icestar said mockingly. "Which is it?"
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A/N: So sorry this took so long. I wanted to get this up days ago but I just couldn't finish it in time. I almost stopped the chapter at when Redshade and Rainshadow were leaving the barn and I could have gotten this up yesterday but then I was all like "nahhh, let's make a cliff hanger." I know how much you'd love me for that. xD
I'm going to try to update faster now. At this rate, it'll take forever to finish this story.
Anyway, please review and thanks for reading.
Have a nice day~