Icebelly always thought of Riverclan as as plump and sleek, well fed from the river. That was until Silverstream told him that the oil issue had gotten worse, and Twolegs were scaring away the fish.
In spite of his pang of pity, Icebelly knew he and Graystripe would have to work hard to convince Stormstar that they had really saved the kits.
The Clan leader was at least prepared to give them a chance to explain. "Tell us what happened," Stormstar ordered.
Icebelly began at the point when he had heard the kits wailing and seen them stranded on the mat of debris in the river.
"Since when have Thunderclan cats risked their lives for us?" Blackclaw broke in contemptuously as Icebelly how he pushed the kits through the torrent to the riverbank.
Icebelly wanted to to bite back but couldn't "That's rich coming from the cat that murdered a queen and started countless fights for no good reason other then stupid clan 'glory'"
Blackclaw hissed and looked ready to pounce but Stormstar stopped him "Quiet, Blackclaw! Let him speak. If he's lying, we'll find out soon enough and he does speak truth on that and don't think I forgot what you've done"
While Blackclaw grumbled, Mistyfoot spoke "He's not lying" They were still nuzzling their kits. "Why should Thunderclan steal kits when everyone is struggling to feed everyone, leaf-bare isn't completely over and prey is still scare they don't need more mouths to feed"
Considering Frostbite, Willowpelt, and he was pretty sure Spottedleaf was expecting, Thunderclan could make do with rationing prey. The queens got priority of course although Bluestar wasn't eating enough according to Yellowfang but enough to feed Maplekit.
"Icebelly's story makes sense" Silverstream observed calmly "We had to abandon the camp and shelter in these bushes when the water started to rise again" he explained to Icebelly, his voice never falling "When we came to move Mistyfoot's kits, we could only find Primrosekit. Pikekit and Perchkit were missing. The whole nursery had been washed away. They must've been swept along the river to where you found them"
Stormstar nodded slowly, and Icebelly realized that the hostility of the Riverclan cats was fading-all except for Blackclaw, who turned his back on the Thunderclan warriors with a snort of disgust.
"In that case, we're grateful to you" Stormstar mewed though he sounded grudging, as if he could hardly bear to be in debt to a pair of Thunders.
"Yes" Mistyfoot mewed. They looked up again, their eyes glowing softly with gratitude. "Without you, my kits would have died"
Icebelly dipped his head in acknowledgment. Impulsively, he asked "Is there anything we can do for you? If you can't go back to your camp, and if prey's scare because of the flood-"
"We need no help from Thunderclan" Stormstar growled "Riverclan can look after itself"
"Don't be such a fool" It was Graypool who spoke, with a glare at her leader. Icebelly saw Graystripe crouch down at the sound of her voice. Graypool was Splashclaw's mother, the guilt would never fade.
"You're too proud for your own good," the elder rasped "How can we feed ourselves, even with the thaw? there is no good fish to eat. The river's practically poisoned; Echomist, Cedarpelt, and Lakeshine are evidence of that"
"It's true Storm" Voleclaw mewed, Shellkit sitting in between his legs.
"It's all the Twolegs fault" Condorwing hissed, his tail lashing
"They dumped their trash into the river and we suffer" Tidepaw added
Icebelly rolled his eyes at this problem. He knew all about pride but they we're going to die without help. He looked around the Riverclan cats. Most of them couldn't meet his eyes, as if they were ashamed that a cat of another clan should know about their troubles.
"Thunderclan probably already knows when you allowed the white Thunder-rat into our camp" Sunscar growled "I'm sure Bluestar would love that"
"Bluestar doesn't know shit" Icebelly retorted "or do you want her to know, cause with your attitude it's getting really temping"
Sunscar's narrowed but her mouth was covered by Grasswhisker, wrapping her tail around her mother's muzzle. It seemed the Riverclan cats toke his words seriously.
"Let us help you" Icebelly urged "We'll catch prey for you in our territory and bring it to you, until the floods have gone and the river is clean" Even as he made this offer, he knew that he was breaking the warrior code that demanded loyalty to his own clan alone. Bluestar would snap his neck if she found out he was willing to share Thunderclan prey with Riverclan, he's pretty sure she's still debating what to do with him since he killed Lionheart. There was another little bonus to this though, if he helped them the cats of Riverclan could trust him more.
He always thought about becoming leader, Tiger-roar might be leader and he's been working himself very well into Tiger-roar's good graces, like Nightshade and Miststrike levels. Making Darkstripe jealous was a highlight. He hoped he got a position of power because if Riverclan could trust him then it could work out in the long run. If he couldn't gain leadership, the role of medicine cat or Silverblood could work.
"Would you really help us?" Stormstar asked slowly, his blue and amber eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"Yes" Icebelly mewed
"And I'll help too" Graystripe promised
"Then the clan thanks you" Stormstar grunted "None of my cats will challenge you in our territory until the floods go down and we can return to our camp. But after that, we will fend for overselves again" He turned and led the way back to the bushes, His subdued cats followed him, casting glances back at Icebelly and Graystripe as they went. He could feel their doubt in his offer to help.
Last to go was Mistyfoot, nudging her kits to their paws and guiding them up the slope where Leopardfur and Skyeyes were. "Thank you both" they murmured "I won't forget this"
Icebelly and Graystripe were left alone as the Riverclan cats disappeared into the bushes. As they picked their way down the slop again toward the river, Graystripe shook her head in disbelief "Hunting for another clan? We must be mad"
"What else could we do?" Icebelly retorted as Graystripe licked his muzzle wound "Let them starve?"
"Of course not! But we'll have to be careful. We'll be crowfood if Bluestar finds out"
"If she finds out"
/
It was a cold morning, gray morning. Icebelly dragged themself out reluctantly out of the warm embrace of Duststorm,Raveneye, and Graystripe cuddled on top of them and kicked Graystripe out of the nest.
"Why?" Graystripe whined
Icebelly lowered their head and butted the broad gray shoulder. "Come on, Graystripe" they whispered into their lover's ear "We've got to hunt for Riverclan Pigeon, don't tell me you forgot"
At that, Graystripe gripped his tom flower crown as he leveled himself upright and parted his jaws in an enormous yawn. Icebelly felt just as tired as their lover; supplying Riverclan with fresh-kill as well as keeping up with their duties in Thunderclan was taking up all their time and energy. They had crossed the river with prey several times, and so far their luck had held. No Thunderclan cat had found out what they were doing.
Stretching, Icebelly glanced cautiously around the den. Most of the warriors were curled among the loss, too sound asleep to ask awkward questions. Tiger-roar was just a mound of dark tabby fur in his nest, with white bush in the form of Whitestorm.
Icebelly slipped out between the branches of the den. At first he thought all the other cats were asleep; then he saw Brindleface appear at the entrance to the nursery and lifted their head to sniff the air. As if they didn't like the raw, damp wind that greeted them, they retreated almost at once.
Icebelly looked back at Graystripe, who was shaking scraps of moss off his coat. "Okay" they mewed "We can go now"
The two cats bounded across the clearing toward the gorse tunnel. Just as they reached it, two familiar voices behind them called out, "Uncle Icebelly! Uncle! Dad! Dad!"
Icebelly froze and turned around, Cloudpaw, Meadowpaw, and Sunnykit scampering over, yowling at him.
"Why!" Graystripe whined once more
"Starclan knows" Icebelly sighed
"Where are you going?" Sunnykit panted excitedly as he skidded to a stop in front of the warriors "Can we come with you?"
"No" Graystripe mewed "Kits don't leave camp, only with warriors, and apprentices your age should stick close to your mentors"
"I'll be an apprentice soon" Sunnykit whined
"Soon isn't now" Icebelly reminded his daughter, struggling to keep calm. If they hung around much longer, the whole clan would be awake and wanting know where they were going.
"You're never around as much" Sunnykit whined "Flurrykit and Fuzzykit miss you"
Cloudpaw sighed Please
"Yeah, please" Meadowpaw added
"Just because you're Bluestar's apprentice doesn't give you any rights Cloudpaw" Icebelly said sternly, Cloudpaw knew how to read lips thanks to Frostbite plus he knew Meadowpaw would translate for her brother. "The rouges are still out there and who else knows what so none of you will be going anywhere without warriors with you, now go back to your nests" Icebelly looked straight ahead so they couldn't see the young cats faces "Let's go Graystripe"
Moments later they were racing up the ravine with Graystripe at their side.
"Let's hope they won't tell anyone" Graystripe puffed
"We can worry about that later" Icebelly panted
The two warriors headed for the stepping-stones. The fallen tree was still there to help them cross the river, and hunting close by meant they had less distance to carry the fresh-kill, and were less likely to be spotted.
By the time they reached the edge of the forest, the daylight had grown stronger, but the sunrise was hidden behind a mass of gray cloud. There was spatter of rain in the wind.
Icebelly and Graystripe caught the scent of squirrel. Graystripe spotted it and didn't think and chased after it. Icebelly facepawed then went after the gray tom. He saw Icebelly saw Graystripe chase the squirrel into a log, Icebelly went over to the other side. The squirrel hadn't been ready for that and Icebelly killed it quickly.
"That's one" Icebelly said through the prey.
"Uh..Icy"
"Yeah?"
"I'm stuck"
Icebelly rolled his eyes "Of course"
It took a few moments to pull Graystripe out by the tail then just digging into his hind legs and pulling him out. The two warriors continued their hunt until they had killed a rabbit and a couple of mice. By then, although he gladly couldn't see the sun, Icebelly knew it must be near sun-high. "We'd better take this to Riverclan" he mewed "They're bound to miss us back at the camp soon"
His was relived as they pasted the fallen tree, the water was no higher, and the crossing seemed easier now that he had done it several times. All the same, Icebelly felt uneasy as he scrambled through the branches, knowing that he was in full view of Thunderclan cat who happened to be patrolling the forest's edge.
He and Graystripe swam the last couple of fox-lengths and pulled themselves out of the river on the Riverclan side. When they had shaken the water out of their fur they slunk quickly toward the bushes where Riverclan had made their temporary camp.
A cat must have been on watch, because as they approached, Leopardfur emerged from the bushes. "Welcome," she mewed, sounding a lot friendlier than she had when she first came upon them with Pikekit and Perchkit.
Icebelly followed her into the shelter of the hawthorn branches. The Riverclan cats had worked hard since the floods forced them out their camp, bringing moss for bedding and scraping out a place beside the roots of a large bush where fresh-kill could be stored. Today this was little more than pitiful collection of a few mice and couple of blackbirds, which made the Thunderclan warrior's contribution all the more necessary. Icebelly dropped his prey onto the pile, and Graystripe did the same.
"Is that more fresh-kill?" Stonestorm appeared with Silverstream and Minnowpool just behind him. "Great!"
"We have to feed Graypool and the queens first" Leopardfur reminded the gray warrior
"I'll take something for Graypool" Minnowpool mewed "Silverstream Graystripe grab that rabbit will ya"
Graystripe grabbed the rabbit hesitantly.
"Graypool wants to talk with you Graystripe, don't worry will stay around" Silverstream added
Graystripe stepped lightly and followed Minnowpool and Silverstream out of the bushes. When Silverstream couldn't leave camp to meet him Minnnowpool or Willowheart came with Silvertide to keep them updated. He was grateful for those too, they cared alot for their brother to lie and break the code in the process. That time with Minnowpool crossed his mind but locked it away when Stonestorm turned his gaze on him.
"They've got the right idea" Stonestorm mewed "Icebelly, do you want to the nursing queens? Then they can thank you themselves"
Icebelly agreed. Following Stonestorm, he got curious about something.
"Is is weird being half-clan?"
"It's less about it being weird and more about loyalty with cats, the fact I look more Thunderclan than Riverclan doesn't help"
"Mistyfoot looks more like Bluestar than you do"
"They have Stormstar's figure, I act more like a Thunder from what others say about me being a hardass"
"Sometimes you need a hardass for things to get done"
"That's what I say but trying saying that from calm and too relaxed cats of Riverclan"
"Leoaprdfur and Blackclaw seem more like hardass than you"
Stonestorm chuckled at that.
They neared the makeshift nursery, Icebelly wondered one more thing though "How's it going with Blackclaw?"
"Tossed him like a fish into the river, literally" He pointed to a nick in his already cut ears.
Icebelly padded in and was pleased to see Mistyfoot again, stretched out to their side while their kits suckled contentedly. Swanlight greeted him with a lick on the head as did Dawnstream and Mallowtail, they let their kits come over to him as well. Sunscar ignored him though her kits didn't and Bearclaw gave him a respectful nod then went back to grooming his daughter, Swallowkit.
Stonestorm led him to a spot further along the ridge where Graypool was crouched on a bed of heather and bracken, tucking into the fresh-kill. He spotted Graystripe looking much calmer than he had been in a while.
They had left quickly, wanting to get back to camp as soon as possible. Icebelly still weighed down with anxiety as they crossed the tree truck and went back into Thunderclan territory, though he tried hard to push the problem out of his mind. He had two ideas to use as an excuse, he did the first already.
"Now I want to sleep" Graystripe yawned, grooming his fur and avoiding sitting on his rump. Only a mousebrain would think Graystripe was the dominant one between the two them.
"I hate and love your stamina" he muttered, "We should hunt, at least-"
An excited mew from the edge of the forest interrupted him. "Icebelly! Icebelly!"
Icebelly stared in disbelief as he saw Meadowpaw, Cloudpaw, Sunnykit, and now Flurrykit crashed out of the bracken at the edge of the trees.
"Oh, mouse dung!" Graystripe muttered
Icebelly padded across the grass, his heart sinking. "What are you four doing here?" he demanded "I told you to stay back at camp"
"I tracked you" Cloudpaw announced proudly "All the way from camp"
As he looked at his nephew's shining blue eyes, Icebelly felt sick with apprehension, Their chances of slipping back into camp with a story of early hunting had just vanished. They must have seen them crossing the river.
"Cloudpaw followed your scent trail right up to the stepping-stones" Meadowpaw mewed "Uncle, what were you and Graystripe doing in Riverclan territory?
"Why do you smell weird?" Sunnykit asked
Before Icebelly could think of a reply, another voice broke in-a low, menacing growl. "Yes, that's what I would like to know, too"
Icebelly tried to stay calm as he looked up to see Tiger-roar shouldering his way through the crisp brown bracken.
"You fucked up this time Icebelly"
Shit
/
When they reached the camp, Icebelly saw Bluestar standing at the foot of the Highrock, Spottedleaf laying behind her, her plump white belly exposed. A patrol made up of Whitestorm, Fogtail, Chestnutclaw, and Mousefur was reporting to Bluestar.
"The stream is flooded as far as the Thunderpath" Icebelly heard Whitestorm say. "If the water doesn't go down, we won't be able to make it to the next gathering"
"There's still time before-" Bluestar broke off when she saw Tiger-roar approach her. "Yes, what is is?"
"I've brought these cats to you" the deputy growled "Four disobedient cats, and two traitors"
"Traitors!" Fogtail echoed, Chestnutclaw smirked. Chestnutclaw's eyes met Icebelly's with an unpleasant gleam "Just what I'd expect from a kittypet" the reddish-brown tom sneered.
"Enough" Bluestar ordered, more like snarled. She nodded to the cats in the patrol "You may go" she glanced at Spottedleaf "all of you" She turned back to Tiger-roar as the cats moved away. "Tell me what happened"
/
"Well if it isn't our newest apprentices, Icepaw and Graypaw"
Icebelly looked up from his vole to see Fogtail swaggering toward him, his long tail waving in the air. "Ready for a training session?"
Bluestar hadn't been as mad as he thought. She punished Meadowpaw, Cloudpaw, Sunnykit, and Flurrykit with elder duties while she made Icebelly and Graystripe do apprentice duties. Cherrycloud as chill as she could be went crazy when she found out that her kits could have been victims of flooding. She made sure Flurrykit and Sunnykit did their duties. Meadowpaw helped the queens as while as the elders according to her mentor, Willowpelt. Cloudpaw seemed to enjoy talking with the elders and taking care of them, especially White-eye.
Icebelly and Graystripe took their time to finish their meals, then they had to follow Fogtail out of camp.
"Now Icepaw-"
"I'mma stop you right there before I slice your other ear" Icebelly snapped before Fogtail could even start.
The day was cold and gray, just how he liked it especially when rain had began to fall but prey was hard to find. It was hard to pinpoint any movement for him and Fogtail wasn't making it easier, when he sneered in his ringing ears. Even if he lost his sight he could still make a good shot for Fogtail's ear or muzzle.
He ended up smacking Fogtail when he made him lose a dove.
He regretted nothing.
/
Icebelly had a bad feeling in his belly. He was already ticked cause his nest in the apprentices den made him uncomfortable. Goosefeather just told him to grin and bear it. The apprentices had stared at him with wide eye, as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing. Swiftpaw sneered at him, probably encouraged by Fogtail. The newly apprenticed Sagepaw had to hold in her laughter.
The good was that Bluestar had thought he and Graystripe learned their lesson. He was glad.
He wasn't glad when he found out he was stuck on a flood patrol with Tiger-roar, Chestnutclaw, and Fogtail. A recipe for disaster, or he thought but they seemed peaceful, it weirded him out.
The sun rose higher, and the sky turned to a deep blue as the four cats journeyed through the forest toward Fourtrees.
As he padded after Tiger-roar, Icebelly was distracted by tempting movements in the undergrowth as prey scurried to and fro. After a while the deputy let them stop and hunt for themselves. He wasn't going to let Tiger-roar's good mood go to waste. he quickly caught a vole with a swift pounce.
Then they went on, Icebelly's stomach was warm and full from the vole he had eaten. Then they reached the top of a slope and looked down toward the stream that crossed Thunderclan terriotory, separating them from Fourtrees. Tiger-roar let out a long, soft hiss,Chestnutclaw lashed his tail, and Fogtail yowled in dismay.
Icebelly shared their exasperation. Usually the stream was shallow enough for cats to cross easily, keeping their paws dry by leaping from rock to rock. Now the water had spread into a glistening sheet in either side, while the current churned swiftly along the original course of the stream.
"Fancy crossing that?" Fogtail spat "I don't"
Without a word, Tiger-roar began padding upstream, following the edge of the floodwater toward the Thunderpath. The land sloped gently upward, and before long, Icebelly could see when he narrowed his eyes the shining surface was broken by tussocks of grass and clumps of bracken poking above the water.
"This isn't as deep as when Whitestorm last reported" Tiger-roar mewed "We try to cross here"
Icebelly had doubts but knew if he said a word, he would be mocked for his kittypet roots. He quietly followed Tiger-roar, who was already wading into the flood. He couldn't help noticing that Fogtail's ears twitched nervously as he splashed in beside him. Chestnutclaw just brought waves as he tried to get to land, Icebelly wasn't helping him.
In front of him, the current was brown where it stirred up mud from the streambed. It was much too wide for a cat to leap, and the stepping-stones were completely submerged.
"Those damn Rivers were right" Tiger-roar growled
Whiteclaw and Morningriver had come to Thunderclan to warn them about the water levels but the Thunderclan wanted to see it for themselves.
"Come here! Look at this!"
Icebelly splashed toward him. The deputy, with Fogtail and Chestnutclaw beside him, was standing at the edge of the stream. A branch was lodged in front of them, swept into place by the current so that it stretched from one bank to the other.
"Just what we need" Tiger-roar grunted in satisfaction
Icebelly felt a shove "Icebelly, check that it's safe, will you?" Chestnutclaw mewed
Icebelly saw Goosefeather floating above the muddy water, the gray speckled tom said nothing. It was foreboding and Icebelly knew it.
"Scared, kittypet?" Chestnutclaw taunted him.
"Of drowning, yes" he snapped at the brutish warrior "I don't see you eager to do it, so shut your trap" He turned back to the murky water. Gritting his teeth, he stepped onto the end of the branch. He would not let them, least of them Chestnutclaw taunt him and have the pleasure of reporting him.
Immediately it sagged under his paws, and he dug his claws in hard, fighting for balance. He could see brown water racing a mouse-length below, and for a few heartbeats he thought he would plunge straight into it.
Then he steadied himself. He began to move forward cautiously, pacing his paws in a straight line one after the other. The slender branch bounced under weight with every step. Twigs caught in his fur, threatening his balance, We'll never get to the gathering like this, Icebelly thought.
Gradually he drew closer to the middle of the stream, where the current was strongest. The branch tapered until it was barley as thick as his tail, making it harder to find a pawhold. Pausing, Icebelly measured the distance left; was he close enough to leap safely yet?
Then the branch lurched under him. Instinctively he gripped tighter with his claw. He heard Tiger-roar yowl, "Icebelly! Get back!"
Icebelly tried to double back, he sway precariously. Then the branch lurched again and suddenly it was free, racing along with the surging water. Icebelly slipped side ways, and thought he heard Tiger-roar yowl once more as the waves closed over his head.