Hey everyone, sorry it's been so long since an update!
Opening a bleary eye, Icefeather was awakened to the sound of the youngest twoleg stomping around in her den, by the sound of it she was pulling out different pelts to try on. Wait - the youngest twoleg? That one never got up until late in the morning - surely Icefeather couldn't have slept that late? Blinking away the last drowsy remnants of sleep and stretching, she padded down the stairs and into the kitchen - her fears were confirmed when she discovered the adult twolegs were nowhere in the nearly silent house and the sun was in the sky - dawn had been hours ago. She had fallen asleep so late that she had overslept.
Scratching at the exit to the nest, desperate to be let out, Icefeather let out a displeased yowl. Today was an especially terrible day to be late. Great StarClan, I promised Flamespot that I would take over Mosspaw's training since he couldn't be at SkyClan today - if he hears about this he'll have my eyes out! He's never liked me, and only let me take over Mosspaw's training for the day because I live really close.
I don't know if I could handle living just across the street from Mosspaw like he does, though! Icefeather was jerked from her amusement by the reason for her panic. Yowling again and again, relief overcame Icefeather when the twoleg appeared in the kitchen, a displeased expression plain on her face. Muttering some disgusted-sounding meows, the twoleg opened the door and let her bound out. Mosspaw, Mosspaw, Mosspaw. That has to be my priority. Her twolegs always let her out later than most of us - I was supposed to meet her at her twoleg nest- maybe if I'm not too late I can find her.
Bounding down the street and cutting across the territory of other nests, Icefeather didn't stop until she was in front of Mosspaw's yellow den. The black apprentice was nowhere in sight, but on the next den over a brown tom was precariously perched on a white fence. Hershey. She had seen the kittypet before. He was a decent enough cat, though he tender to keep to himself and didn't talk much. His even amber stare actually unnerved her a bit, so she usually tried to avoid him. You mouseheart, what are you, scared of a cat who has never left the twolegplace or learned to fight? Talk to him!
Putting on a confident stride, Icefeather jumped on the fence he sat on as well, hardly about to talk to him from a low point such as the ground when he was up higher.
He seemed startled to see the warrior jump up so boldly. "May I help you?"
"Yes. I'm looking for Mosspaw - have you seen her this morning?"
"Mosspaw? I'm afraid I don't know who you mean." He sounded genuinely confused, and a curious expression had took the place of his startled one.
"Black fur, lives in the nest next to you, can't sit still." Icefeather rattled off the first description that popped into her head.
"Do you mean Babykins?"
Stifling a purr, Icefeather nodded. So that was the secret kittypet name Mosspaw refused to let anyone know of - when she had requested to join the clan she had asked to be called 'Moss.' None of the other daylight warriors had names they were particularly proud of, though none of them had come close to "Babykins." What type of name is that, anyway? She couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the apprentice, despite her amusement.
"Babykins left her den about an hour ago. Asked if I had seen a white she-cat - you, I suppose. She said she was on her way to camp."
"Mousedung!" Icefeather cursed. Flamespot is going to flay me. He took his job as mentor with extreme seriousness. Nodding curtly to Hershey, she jumped down from the fence. "Thanks for your help!" She called back to him, breaking out into a sprint.
The trees flew by, yet they still went all to slow. She was acutely aware of the time that was ticking away, and with each pawstep she was a moment later then she had been before. Finally the gorge came into view, and the familiar scents of her clanmates tingled her nose.
Taking a less direct route, she entered the gorge from the side, hoping to look for Mosspaw and evade Hawktalon's judgmental gaze. Her gaze swept over the expanse of SkyClan's camp, engrossed in spotting the black apprentice -
"So glad you found time in your busy schedule to be here today." The sharp voice of the deputy made Icefeather cringe. He had snuck up behind her, and foolishly not paying attention, the white warrior hadn't even smelled him. "Are you perhaps looking for a certain apprentice?"
Dipping her head in respect, Icefeather nodded. "Yes, Hawktalon."
"Luckily for you, Finchfoot, Egg, and Berryjump took all the apprentices out for a group lesson earlier. Saved poor Mosspaw from being unproductive." He paused, clearly waiting for Icefeather to gush out an apology and explanation for being late. When it didn't come, Hawktalon's eyes narrowed. "Why were you late?"
I'm not going to worship the ground your paws walk on, beetlebrain. She resisted the urge to claw the conceited tabby tom in the face. "My twolegs wouldn't let me out." It was part of the truth, at least.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, Hawktalon." She dipped her head once more. "It won't happen again."
"See that it doesn't." Only pausing for a moment, he added, "However, you can still be put to good use this morning. Willowstar is going to call a clan meeting - fetch the apprentices and mentors - they're at the training hollow." A self-satisfied gleam appeared in his eye. "It's not too much trouble for you, is it?"
The white warrior shook her head as Hawktalon dismissed her with a nod. "Go, then. And be quick about it."
"Let all the cats old enough to catch their old prey join here beneath the Skyrock for a Clan meeting!" Willowstar called from the Skyrock, her voice ringing out to the farthest corners of camp. The cats that were not waiting expectantly for the announcement gathered below, and the Queens came out of the nursery, the kits not far behind despite the protests of their mother.
Icefeather was panting for breath. She hadn't gotten water after her sprint to camp, and then she was forced to hurry in a direction not close to the stream in order to fetch the cats out training. Sitting down, trying to look dignified, she watched her leader with as much conviction as possible.
"Frostfoot has informed me there is something she would like to share with the clan, she feels it is important." She nodded to the fierce she-cat. "Frostfoot."
Jumping up on the Skyrock, the silver warrior radiated authority and fierceness - a cat not to be messed with. "Today, Splashfoot -" Splashfoot, who was beside Icefeather, stood up a little straighter. His fur was damp - had he fallen into the river?
"- Sandfeather, and I were on a patrol when we heard something. Now, as all of you know, Thornpelt and Lilyfeather are excellent medicine cats, and several seasons ago planted a main patch of catmint hidden by a patch of brambles – though now so much that the sunlight would not be able to reach it. Naturally, this patch should be difficult for foxes or badgers to reach, though not hard for the sunlight to find." Her silky smooth voice glided along. "Upon investigating, we discovered the said patch of catmint had been destroyed." Pausing to allow for outraged gasps, Frostfoot gazed out among her clan.
Willowstar, who had been quiet until then, spoke up. "Frostfoot, was this not something we could've discussed in private first?"
Frostfoot ignored her leader's question directly. "If you will allow me to finish you may see my reasons for telling this to the whole clan at once."
Wait - Frostfoot didn't tell Willowstar what she was announcing first? Shouldn't she have done that, even –especially- if it was urgent?
The leader nodded in consent. "Carry on."
The hubbub died down and the speaker continued. "We have reason to suspect it was a cat who destroyed it - the perpetrator had shrewdly rolled in dung to mask their scent. We followed the disgusting smell to its source - and it lead us a nest in the twolegplace."
The screeches roared up again. "SkyClan? Foiled by a kittypet? No way!"
"Why would somecat destroy our catmint?"
"Who dares make enemies of SkyClan?" The last yowl was the furious screech of Hawktalon.
"Calm down everyone! Calm down!" Willowstar yowled above the chaos that was her clan. "Silence!"
Finally everycat had fell silent down. Willowstar turned to Frostfoot once more. "Frostfoot, you should have discussed this with me first -" Frostfoot dipped her head. "Perhaps my actions were to heated, Willowstar. I apologize. I was simply angry -"
"No matter now, we will discuss your actions later, in private. Right now, I will send out a patrol to investigate it." Pausing, Willowstar decided who to bring. "Sandfeather, Splashfoot, you can both come with. Icefeather, I want you to navigate the twolegplace - and Bunglefoot, as well. We will leave shortly."
The clan meeting broke up, and Icefeather found herself surrounded by groups of cats gossiping, discussing theories, and voicing their outrage. As she made her way to the camp exit to investigate with the patrol, Mosspaw broke through out of the throng of warriors. "Icefeather, can I come with? Can I can I can I? Please?"
Icefeather hesitated before shaking her head no. "This is an important warrior mission. It's not for apprentices."
"But you owe it to me for not training with me this morning!" The apprentice whined insistently.
"My twolegs wouldn't let me out. It's not my fault! And besides, the clan isn't about a system of checks and balances. It's about -" She was cut off by Willowstar's cry. "Icefeather! Are you coming?"
"I have to go - we can talk later." The white she-cat bounded to the line, only to have the bold apprentice follow her more. "Willowstar, can I come on the patrol? Please?" Mosspaw directed her request straight to Willowstar, looking her leader straight in the eye.
Willowstar shot Icefeather a look that was equal parts amusement and irritation. So now it's my fault that some other cat's stubborn apprentice wants to follow us everywhere?
"This is a warrior's mission, Mosspaw. One day, when you are a warrior, you can join us on patrols like these. But for now, stay in camp. Perhaps Plumwillow could tell you the story about the time she and Leafstar were chased by dogs?" The gray she-cat gave her a patronizing gaze.
Planting her paws, Mosspaw shook her head firmly. "Plumwillow already told me that one. If you let me come, I promise that I'll stay by you and obey you the whole time and I won't be a bother at all!"
"Maybe the experience would be good for her." Icefeather piped up. She did owe the apprentice a little bit, she had promised to teach Mosspaw the easiest way to sneak up on a starling, something she had been looking forward to for days.
The leader considered. "You're responsible for her, then, and she has to stay by your side the whole time. Can both of you handle that?"
When both warrior and apprentice had agreed, Willowstar turned and lead the patrol.
The sun was past just past its highest when Sandfeather called attention to a dull gray nest. "The dung-scent lead here this morning - this is where it stops." She announced, waiting for the rest of the patrol to catch up. There was no sign of life in the nest or its territory.
Something about it seemed familiar. Looking around, she noticed a familiar, bright yellow nest across the street. Mosspaw's nest.
And this was where Flamespot lived.
So, what did everyone think? Please review, and if you have time, tell me your favorite cat, least favorite cat, and who you want to see more of. Constructive criticism is appreciated.