For those of you wondering why Ice believed Ash so quickly, it's because the shock from her mother's death wasn't treated, so now she's a little...off...

Claws paced nervously by his den. Was Ice okay? What was Ash going to do? His pads began to ache and he sat down, sighing, his head hung low.

He looked up, to see Ice padding up to him, all by herself! She still wobbled a bit, so he quickly ran to her side.

"You okay?" he asked, giving her a quick look over.

"Fine," she meowed, yawning, "Tired though"

Claws settled her down in the corner. "Can I get you anything?" he asked

"Nope" Ice meowed, already half asleep.

Claws sighed, settling down next to his sister. She seemed better at least, and that was what mattered.

~oOoOoOoOoOoOo~

Ice got up, yawning. She shook her fur, feeling the cool breeze. Shaking her brother awake, she meowed, "Get up sleepyhead!"

Claws looked up, blinking. His eyes focused and he stood up.

"I'm going to see Ash," Ice meowed padding out of the den, "I'll be back later!"

Claws stiffened. "You've seen him everyday for the past week and a half!" he meowed.

"And?" Ice challenged, turning around.

"Never mind" Claws mumbled.

Ice flashed him a smile, and trotted to Ash's den. Ash was sharpening his claws, but looked up as Ice came in.

"Welcome Ice." He meowed.

Ice dipped her head, purring. "Hello father," she greeted.

Ash padded slowly up to her. Ice held her head up high as he circled her.

"Ready for your next lesson?" he asked.

~oOoOoOoOoOoOo~

Claws shared a mouse with Ice, who was purring. He watched her carefully. Her fur was glossy, and her eyes showed life.

"Ice?" Claws ventured, "What did Ash say? The first time I took you to him?"

"He told me the truth." Ice growled, her eyes darkening.

Claws leaned in, pricking his ears, signaling for her to continue.

"Ash is completely right. He was correct to do what he did. Belle"--She spat the name out like a rotten mouse-- "was a traitor. She deserved to die."

Claws stared at her, his eyes wide. "W-what?" he stuttered, "Are you insane? She was out mother! Ash had no right to ki--"

"Believe what you want," Ice hissed, cutting him off, "even if it's a lie."

Ice got up, and padded out into the alley. Claws stared after her, his jaw hanging open. What was wrong with his sister?

He shook his head, tears beginning to stream down his face. He sobbed to himself silently, burying his face in his paws. Standing up, he began to pad down the alley, unsure of where he was going.

Half blinded by tears, it wasn't long until he tripped over a lump of fur.

"Hey! Oh, it's just you Claws." the cat meowed.

Claws looked up, and recognize the shiny black pelt of Violet. He quickly wiped away his tears and tried to compose his face.

"Hi Violet" he meowed, his voice a little hoarse.

"Sorry about when we met. My mother thought you were going to attack me. I don't know why; I'm not a kit anymore!" she apologized, before noticing the pain that twisted Claws' face, "Oh my gosh! Whats wrong?"

Claws turned away, and took a deep breath. "It's nothing" he lied, still not looking at Violet's face.

"Doesn't seem like it," Violet meowed.

Violet crouched down so her eyes were level with Claws.

"Honestly Violet, I'm fine" he meowed.

"Call me Vi. It's easier." she meowed, " I'd understand if you didn't want to tell me, but I don't like you lying about it."

Claws looked up at her, his eyes apologetic. "I'm sorry Vi, your right. It's just..."

"Shh."Violet soothed "I can tell it's hard for you to think about it, let alone talk about it. Just wait till your ready."

Claws smiled gratefully, and a tiny purr escaped his throat.

"Thanks."

~oOoOoOoOoOoOo~

Ice looked around the alley, for her brother. It wasn't his fault he was too upset to realize that Ash was right.

"Claws?" she called, padding up to their den.

He stepped out, followed by a sleek black she-cat.

"I thought you weren't talking to me" he meowed, his nose stuck in the air.

Ice rolled her eyes "I needed time to calm down" she explained.

"You needed three days?" the black she cat questioned, her voice rude.

"Violet, don't" Claws cautioned to the she-cat.

"Yeah Violet!" Ice sneered.

Violets fur proofed out, and she let out a small hiss.

"Ice, stop." Claws meowed "Leave her alone."

"Fine." Ice meowed, rolling her eyes.

Violet trotted farther back into the alley, shooting Ice one last glare. Ice smirked back a her, but stopped when Claws let out a hiss.

"She seems nice" Ice meowed sarcastically.

She tried to pad into the den, but Claws blocked her path. "Why don't we take a walk?" he asked. It wasn't a request.

Ice nodded reluctantly, and followed Claws in the opposite direction the Violet went.

"Ice, Vi is going to be around a lot, and you need to be nice," Claws meowed.

"Well maybe Vi, should be nicer to me." Ice retorted.

Claws gave her a hard look.

"Why are you even hanging out with her anyway?" Ice asked, "Wait...do you ...like her?"

"I like a lot of cats"Claws meowed, avoiding the question.

"You know what I meant." Ice meowed back.

Claws didn't answer, and Ice let out a small hiss. She jumped in front of him.

"Claws, answer me!" she demanded.

"Ok fine! I like her, okay?" he meowed, looking away.

Ice scoffed. "She'll only end up hurting you." she meowed.

"Did Ash tell you that too?" Claws hissed, before dashing back to the den.

Ice stared after him, shaking her head. "He'll see soon enough" she meowed to herself.