Chapter 9

"That can't be true. All I want to be is a great warrior, not a savior! I'm not like Firestar, or any of the cats from the Great Journey! I'm just... Icepaw!" she declared, worry lining her face.

Owlear gently pushed down the apprentice so she was laying down.

"You are important to this clan. You must believe in yourself," he said.

"Icepaw, you must not let this change the way you see yourself," Rosetail warned. "You must not let this prophecy dictate your life."

Owlear nodded his agreement.

"Yes, your mother is right. Starclan will protect you. This prophecy does not change who you are."

Icepaw could not believe what she was hearing. Why did Starclan chose her? Maybe it was a mistake.

"I'm not the only blue-eyed cat," protested Icepaw.

Owlear smiled at her and sat next to her, his tail curled around his feet.

"Yes but you are the only blue-eyed cat who had a prophecy predicted about her when she was born," he explained.

Icepaw sighed. She was running out of excuses.

"I'm no hero," she muttered.

"Not yet," Owlear said kindly. "You must try and put this out of your mind. If you continue to think about it, it will take over your thoughts. I should not have told you, but I think this information could protect you. Many cats who have come before you have gotten dreams and signs from Starclan but some of them thought they were going mad."

Icepaw nodded. At least she knew what was happening to her, if not why.

"You need to rest," Rosetail said, giving Icepaw a few quick licks on the top of her head. "Just sleep. This will all make more sense when you feel better."

Icepaw reluctantly nodded her head and proceeded to stretch her legs out, readying herself for sleep. Icepaw yawned and blinked her thanks when Owlear pushed some poppy seeds towards her. Icepaw lapped up the small, brown seeds and nestled up against her mother, letting her anxiety wash away like debris in the river.

xxx

When Icepaw awoke in Owlear's den the next day, every inch of her body ached and was sore. Even the tip of her bushy grey tail was hurting. Icepaw lay on the soft moss of the den and gazed up at the streams of sunlight that were slithering in through the reedy ceiling. She gave a sigh of contentment as she felt the warm light settle on her silvery fur. With a huge amount of effort, Icepaw heaved herself to her feet and began washing her coat, licking the grime and dirt from her body with long even strokes of her pink tongue.

Icepaw looked up in surprise as Coldsnow entered the medicine cat's den, his patchy pelt shining. Her mentor's hazel eyes spotted Icepaw and he hurried over, giving her head a brisk lick.

"Don't you ever do that again you stupid furball. You scared me," Coldsnow said, nuzzling Icepaw's pelt.

Icepaw purred in happiness.

"So when can I start training again?" she asked, looking up at her mentor with bright eyes.

"When you're not so exhausted," the tom cat replied, gazing fondly at Icepaw.

"Oh Coldsnow, you know I'm fine," Icepaw said, struggling to her feet. "May I go check on Seakit?" she asked.

"Of course," Coldsnow said. Icepaw endearingly nudged Coldsnow's flank and then trotted out of the den. The warmness of the air surprised. It seemed that Greenleaf had finally come at last. Icepaw enjoyed the hot breeze ruffling her thick fur. She knew that her pale fur would begin to thin out for the hot moons to come.

Icepaw stretched her back legs luxuriously, admiring the contrast of her lustrous fur and the sharp color of the patches of grass dotting the earth. Icepaw headed over to the now-familiar nursery. Dawncloud smiled at the apprentice as she entered the cool tree. Seakit was waiting for her.

"That's twice!" the kit yelped as Icepaw fondly licked her head. When Icepaw examined Seakit with perplexity, the kit shrugged and said,

"Rosetail said you saved my life twice."

Icepaw felt her heart swell with love for the little cat.

"Well I wouldn't go that far; it was Owlear who you must thank," she proclaimed. "I just wanted to see how you were holding up."

"I'm better now," Seakit said cheerfully.

"Good. I've got to go train now, so I'll see you later," Icepaw said, backing out of the den.

"Goodbye Icepaw!" Seakit called.

Icepaw left the nursery feeling calmer and slightly more upbeat. Icepaw had her head tilted upwards, towards the sky, so she couldn't see where she was going. She gave a squeak of surprise as she bumped into another cat.

"Sorry Birdsong," she said, picking herself up off the dusty ground.

The black cat opposite her gave the apprentice a wan smile.

"You really love that kit, don't you," she said softly.

Icepaw jumped. She hadn't realized the clan had noticed how close she and Seakit were.

"Uh, well, yeah," she stammered.

Birdsong nuzzled Icepaw's head kindly.

"You know, I'm sure when you're a warrior, you'll be allowed to mentor Seakit," she said.

Icepaw shook her head sadly.

"I don't think so. Seakit may only be two moons old, but by the time I'm a warrior, I'll be too inexperienced to take on an apprentice," Icepaw said mournfully.

Birdsong watched the other cat's eyes carefully.

"I'm not so sure about that," she said.

Icepaw looked up at the older cat quizzically. Birdsong gave an amused purr. "Wait and see what happens," she said, shrugging. Then the warrior trotted off. Icepaw shook her head again, thankful for Birdsong's positivity, but knowing that she had a very slim chance of mentoring the kit she cared so very much for.