As he plunged into the stream Icebelly manged to keep one clawhold on the branch. He felt as if he were fighting a spiky wooden enemy, twigs that lashed at him and raked through his fur while his breath bubbled into the dark water. His head broke the surface briefly, but before he could gasp in air the branch twisted and rolled him under again.

Terror made him strangely calm, as if time had slowed down. Part of Icebelly's mind told him to let go of the branch and fight his way to the surface, but he knew that if he did that he would risk his life; the current was far too strong for him to swim. The force of the water meant there was nothing he could do but dig claws in and endure. Starclan help me! he thought frantically.

His senses were just beginning to ebb into the a tempting darkness when the branch rolled over again and brought him back to the surface. Choking and spitting he clung to it, with water churning along on either side of him. He could not see the bank. He tried to haul himself further out of the water, but his sodden fur was too heavy and his limbs were growing stiff with cold. He did not know how long he could hold on.

Just as he felt that he was about to let go, something brought the branch to a jarring stop. It shuddered along its whole length, almost throwing Icebelly off. As he clung on desperately, he heard a cat screech his name. Twisting his head, he saw that the other end of the branch was jammed against a rock that jutted out into the stream.

Fogtail was crouched on the rock, leaning down toward him. "Move, kittypet!" he growled.

With the last drop of his energy, Icebelly scrambled along the length of the branch. Twigs whipped across his face. He felt the branch lurch again and flung himself at the rock, his front paws scraping at it while hind legs thrust through the water. His paws had barley touched stone when the branch was swept away from underneath him.

For a heartbeat Icebelly thought he would follow it. The rock was smooth; there was no purchase for his paws. Then Fogtail reached down and Icebelly felt his teeth meet in the scruff of his neck. With the other cat's help he manged to claw his way upward until he was crouching on the top of the rock. Shivering, he coughed up several mouthfuls of stream water before he looked up. "Thanks, Fogtail" he gasped

Fogtail seemed in a trance for a moment then looked away "It was nothing"

Tiger-roar padded up behind from the rock. "Are you hurt?" he demanded "Can you walk?"

"I..I'll live" he groaned. He felt a paw hit his side. He saw the tortie molly from before but there was a tortie tom as her side. They must be related.

"Danger" the molly said

"Rapids help" the tortie tom added

Icebelly felt confused but the memory of saving Pikekit and Perchkit ran through his mind. "Apprentices" Goosefeather's voice yowled.

"Icebelly?" he felt Fogtail nudge him

"Others are in danger" he replied standing up with a jolt

"What?" Fogtail said in confusion

"How would you know kittypet?" Chestnutclaw sneered

"I just know listen"

The sound of distressed yowls became audible then went down a little but then became higher. "Help!" That was Ebonypaw

"Someone please!" Smokepaw yowled

"Move" Icebelly hissed

Chestnutclaw growled "I'm not-"

"My kits are in danger" Tiger-roar stormed past heading to the sound of the voices. Icebelly followed the mighty tabby as did Fogtail, he didn't care to see if Chestnutclaw was following. He wouldn't be surprised if Chestnutclaw had tried to have him killed. He did express his concerns to Bluestar about his and Raveneye's suspions of Tiger-roar and Nightshade but Bluestar had lashed out at him and told him her kits would never do such a thing, she also threaten with exile from Lionheart's death.

He nearly crashed into Tiger-roar when the deputy had stopped dead. He looked over the side, he saw flashes of fur. He didn't think, he acted. He jumped in with reckless abandon, he saw Ebonypaw thrashing in the water. He fought against the rapids as best as he could. He saw the apprentice's head go under and dived down. He remembered his training from Riverclan and kept his eyes open.

He bit into the black apprentice's scruff. He didn't cough as he came to surface, that would mean letting go. He did his best to swim back but the tide was trying to swallow him. He felt something hit his head and realized it was a stick being held by Fogtail.

"Ebonypaw bite into me and don't let go" Ebonypaw didn't argue. Icebelly didn't flinch as he felt the sharp sting of teeth fastening into his flesh. He wrapped one arm around the black apprentice and fastened his jaw onto the stick and gripped it with his free paw.

Fogtail snapped his head to the side, moving the stick faster until it neared dry land. Icebelly pulled himself a few inches onto the ground before falling. Ebonypaw fell into her side, coughing up water then panting. Icebelly quickly got up, he nudged the apprentice "Who else?"

"O..wl...Li..ght..P..Patch..W..Wren..Ch..ive" Ebonypaw stammered. Tiger-roar pulled Ebonypaw close to him, licking her ferociously. The dark tabby's fur was dripping wet which told Icebelly that he had been in the waves as well but didn't have any luck.

Icebelly knew in his gut that cats would die, he wondered if Ebonypaw realized he couldn't save them all. Even if most of the clan was here, they had to think smart and know that the rapids were dangerous.

Icebelly dashed back in, fighting with his might looking for the other apprentices. "Icebelly over there!" Fogtail yowled

He turned his head and saw Lightpaw clinging to a rock. He pushed against the waves, he felt a wave swallow him for a moment, he quickly went back to the surface. He nearly smashed into the the rock Lightpaw was clinging on.

"Come!" He yowled to the apprentice

Lightpaw was frozen, the waves lapping at her white fur. Her eyes closed and her breathing was ragged. Icebelly had no time for Lightpaw's trance. He grabbed the apprentice's scruff and made his way back to the ledge. He was almost there when he felt his leg caught in something, it was sharp as thorn. He wanted to yowl but he wasn't going to let Lightpaw die, seeing Redtail looking off only fueled that.

He ignored the sharp pain as it dug deeper into his flesh. He tossed Lightpaw to the side. He fell with a thump his energy draining, he smelled blood.

"Where are the others! I told Chestnutclaw to get help!" Fogtail mewed as he licked Icebelly's injured leg. He saw Tiger-roar toss Chivepaw to the side.

Icebelly panted, he wanted to let sleep take him but the tortie molly's stare made him shut it away. The molly said nothing but pointed her head to the right.

Icebelly turned his head to see Wrenpaw, Patchpaw, and Stagpaw climbing a tree but he froze in horror when he saw Chestnutclaw on the branch, he grabbed Patchpaw by her scruff and toss her but the apprentice didn't hit the waves but the rocks close by, the crack of bone rang through almost over taking the sound of rushing water.

"NO!" Icebelly screeched

"Fox-heart!" Sandstorm's yowl cracked through as a patrol came over, Ebonypaw leading.

The last thing Icebelly heard before blacking out was Wrenpaw and Stagpaw's yowl of help.

/

Raveneye sat close to Icebelly but was close enough to hear Sandstorm hiss as Thymepaw's placed more cobwebs on her wounds. "You did well sis"

"Should've killed him" Sandstorm muttered. Raveneye glanced at Lightpaw, she was awake but her face said all her emotions, grief.

"You almost fell into the water" Raveneye said, he laid a tail in her shoulder. He could practically feel his friend's anger and grief. He felt worry for Icebelly but hot anger for Chestnutclaw, he got along better with his mother and Duststorm more then that fox-heart. If it hadn't been for Ebonypaw's quick action Wrenpaw wouldn't have survived. Stagpaw had fallen in and drowned. He was so proud of his apprentice and he made her aware of that despite what happened.

"Would've been worth it" Sandstorm growled "I lost Redtail and now I lost Patchpaw"

Thymepaw met Sandstorm's eyes "Redtail wouldn't have wanted you to have died too"

Sandstorm tried standing "I was supposed to protect her"

"You did all you could, you didn't predict this Sandstorm" Raveneye mewed, easing her back down.

Sandstorm didn't reply but she didn't need too. Thymepaw finished her treatment and let Sandstorm stand.

Good timing because Bluestar called a meeting. Sandstorm and Raveneye padded out of the den with Thymepaw and Lightpaw following. Sandstorm sat close to the center with Duststorm, Raveneye, and Cherrycloud.

The clan was gathered in a scattered circle, Chestnutclaw in the center. His head was still bleeding from Sandstorm's harsh blow to his head that knocked him out.

"Thunderclan, we a traitor in our clan" Bluestar said, her voice void of emotion as she rested her harsh blue gaze on Chestnutclaw " a heartless killer"

"They were taking away resources, the strong survive while the weak die" Chestnutclaw replied "I don't know how cats like Nettlesong, Cypressflower or Raveneye made it this far though"

Raveneye dug his claws into the ground. He remembered the times Chestnutclaw would bash him into the ground during training with their mentors and with Robinwing.

"You tried to kill your siblings!" Robinwing spat, shoving past Raveneye "You killed Stagpaw!". He didn't expect Robinwing to acknowledge him as her son, she rarely did so. He and Icebelly bonded on their mommy issues. Cherrycloud was mostly in the middle and did her own thing. Robinwing would rather praise Duststorm, Fogtail, or Chestnutclaw, heh, not anymore.

"They were weak blooded and deserved to die, they didn't deserve your attention." Chestnutclaw snarled "Nor the ones in your belly either" He tried to lunge at Robinwing but Fogtail and Duststorm stopped him. Robinwng stumbled back and Speckletail pulled her to her side.

Raveneye did his best to get along with his younger siblings but it was kinda hard when Robinwing paid more attention to them rather then in his litter. He bonded the most with Wrenpaw.

Raveneye felt Icebelly rub against him as the white tom sat down. "Glad I didn't miss much" he drawled

"Chestnutclaw for your crimes, I sentence you into exile, if any warriors see you by sunrise tomorrow they will have my permission to kill you"

Raveneye saw Sandstorm bare her teeth, he had a feeling Sandstorm would disappear for a while. They had barley manged to grab Patchpaw's corpse. The apprentice's head had been split open.

"That's your punishment?" Chestnutclaw laughed, Raveneye had the urge to slash the look of his face.

"You have no one Chestnutclaw, no siblings, no mother or father, and no clanmates after what you did. You are on your own and I didn't have your wounds treated for a reason"

Chestnutclaw seemed to remember he was injured. "Now, get out!"

Raveneye saw his brother, no the traitor make a quick brake for the camp entrance but he turned his head in time to see Bluestar smirk and mew "On second thought, let's move the killing to now, the chase is on"

Sandstorm didn't need to be told twice.

/

Icebelly chuckled weakly as Graystripe was playing with Meadowpaw, Cottonpaw, and Milkpaw. Cloudpaw was being softly groomed by Snowfeather. Milkpaw had rejected her old name and asked Bluestar for a different one, to her it was the same thing. He figured this was from Robinwing's influence. Snowfeather just wanted her kit to be happy.

His nieces and nephew had meet Olive and Harvey many times since they became apprentices but he had to hear from Tommy and Chocolate that Olive and Harvey had moved without any warning. Snowfeather had been devastated at the news, Graystripe had been the one to help bring a smile to her face for the days after.

He did have a time spitting at Seedspots when he saw her insulting Nettlesong just for asking how her day by saying he was useless. Voletail wasn't any better bringing Cypressflower to the point of tears. He chased both of them off.

The clan didn't need this right now. Smokepaw, Owlpaw,Swiftpaw, and Petalpaw had also been taken by the flood, They found Owlpaw's corpse under a log and found Swiftpaw injured and soaked but alive but they were still looking for Smokepaw and Petalpaw's bodies.

Sandstorm had went after Chestnutclaw without as second thought as soon as Bluestar allowed it. She had come back bloody but she did admit she came close but didn't kill him.

Bluestar had given Ebonypaw a warrior name for it was long overdue and her courage and quick action even when she had been exhausted displayed she was ready. Bluestar named her Ebonyfoot. She named the others warriors, Chivepaw became Chivestalk, Wrenpaw became Wrenfeather, and Lightpaw became Lightcloud.

Frostbite had her second litter of two: Whitekit and Hazykit and Spottedleaf had her litter of one: Marigoldkit.

He heard Bluestar's mighty yowl and padded over. "With the flooding still present, only warriors may go to this gathering: Darkstripe,Whitestorm,Mousefur, Cinderfrost, Magpiethroat, Sandstorm, Ebonyfoot, Chivestalk,Wrenfeather, Lightcloud, Graystripe" Bluestar dropped her gaze to rest on Icebelly.

"Spottedleaf Yellowfang is Icebelly fit?"

"Aside from his normal issues, he's fine" Spottedleaf replied to her mother

Bluestar nodded "Then you may go"

Icebelly was glad, he wanted to see how the flooding was affecting the rest of the clans.

"I don't see why a mentally ill cat should go represent Thunderclan" Seedspots whispered to Darkstripe

"Bluestar pities the Kittypets and the broken cats" Voletail sneered "It's sad that we have to share prey with them"

Icebelly tried to ignore the jabs as he followed after Magpiethroat, Sandstorm, and Graystripe.

The sun had gone down, and twilight blurred the shapes of the forest. Bluestar took them straight through the trees to the place where the stream emerged from a hard stone tunnel underneath the Thunder-path, and Icebelly wondered what his leader was planning to do. When they reached the tunnel, he saw that floodwater spread out on either side, reflecting the pale light of the rising moon. Water covered the Thunderpath as well, and as the cats watched they saw a monster pass by, moving slowly, throwing up a filthy wave from its round black paws.

Once the monster had disappeared into the distance, Bluestar led her cats to the water's edge on the hard surface of the Thunderpath. She sniffed the water, wrinkling her nose at the stench, and cautiously put one paw into the flood. "It's shallow enough here" she mewed "We can walk up the Thunderpath until we're on the other side of the stream, and get to Fourtrees along the border with Shadowclan"

Walk up the Thunderpath! Icebelly felt his coat begin to prickle with fear at the thought of deliberately following the tracks of the monsters. Unlike in the city, the cars here were more reckless and he didn't forget Cinderfrost's accident.

"What is another monster comes?" Graystripe asked, voicing Icebelly's fear.

"We will keep to the side" Bluestar replied calmly "You saw how slowly that monster was moving. Maybe they don't like getting their paws wet"

Icebelly saw that Graystripe still looked doubtful. He shared his friend's worries, but there was no point in protesting any more. Tiger-roar would just berate them for being cowards but with what happened to Smokepaw, Petalpaw, and Owlpaw maybe they should try their luck.

"Bluestar, wait" Whitestorm called as his aunt waded into the water. "Remember how low our territory is on the other side of this stream? I can't help thinking it will be flooded there, too. I don't think we'll get to Fourtrees without going onto Shadowclan territory, which is higher"

The last thing Thunderclan needed was to get in a fight with Shadowclan, more than what happened a little while ago. Chestnutclaw had lead a patrol near the Shadowclan border and a fight broke out but no one had been hurt badly or killed.

Bluestar paused with water lapping over her paws, and looked back at Whitestorm. "Maybe" she acknowledged, "but we'll have to risk it, if it's the only way"

She set off again without giving her cats any time to protest. There was nothing to do but follow. Icebelly splashed along the edge of the Thunderpath just behind Whitestorm, Tiger-roar brought up the rear to keep a lookout for monsters coming up from behind.

At first everything was quiet, except for a single monster traveling in the other direction on the opposite side of the Thunderpath. Then Icebelly heard the familiar growling and the splash of an approaching car.

"Look out!" Tiger-roar yowled from the end of the line.

Icebelly froze, pressing himself against the low wall that edged the Thunderpath as it crossed the stream. Darkstripe scrambled on top of it and crouched there, baring his teeth at the monster as it passed. Magpiethroat had pulled Cinderfrost to the side when the pointed gray cat had froze up. For a moment its strange, glittering colors were reflected in the stinking water, and a wave washed out from it, soaking Icebelly as far as his belly fur.

Then it was gone, and Icebelly could breathe again.

"Thanks Magpiethroat" Cinderfrost mewed

"No prob"

As they reached the other side of the stream Icebelly could see that Whitestorm was right. The low-lying land on the to do but continue along edge of the Thunderpath until the land rose and dry enough to walk on.

Stepping thankfully off the paw-achingly hard Thunderpath, Icebelly raised his head and opened his jaws. A strong, rank yet familiar stench filled his scent glands-the scent of Shadowclan! They followed the Thunderpath out of Thunderclan territory, and now a swath of Shadowclan land lay between them and Gathering at Fourtrees.

"We shouldn't be here" Wrenfeather muttered uneasily. If Bluestar heard the comment, she ignored it, quickening the pace until they racing across the sodden turf. There were few trees hers, and the close-cropped grass offered no cover for trespassing cats. Icebelly's heart was beating fast, and not only from the speed of their journey. If Shadowclan cats caught them, they would be in trouble, but Fourtrees was not far away, and their luck might hold.

Then he caught sight of a dark shadow streaking over the ground ahead of them, on a course to intercept Bluestar at the head of her patrol. More shadow's followed, and a furious yowling split the quiet of the night.

For a heartbeat Bluestar quickened her pace, as if she thought she could outrun the challengers. Then she slowed to a stop. Her warriors did the same. Icebelly stood panting: the shadows drew closer, and he saw that they were Shadowclan cats, headed by their leader, Silverstar.

"Bluestar!" she spat as she halted in front of the Thunderclan leader. "Why have you brought your cats into Shadowclan land?" Silverstar was tall enough to reach Bluestar's neck so it was somewhat easy for her to try to size Bluestar up. Silverstar had inherited Yellowfang's uncommon height as had Brokenstar which had made him more frighting when he was alive.

"In these floods, it was the only way to reach Fourtrees" Bluestar replied, her voice low and steady. "We mean no harm, Silverstar. You know there's a truce for the Gathering"

Silverstar hissed, her ears flattened against her head and her fur birstling. "The truce holds at Fourtrees" she snarled "There is no truce here"

Instinctively, Icebelly dropped into a defensive crouch. The Shadowclan cats slipped silently into a semicircle around the smaller band from Thunderclan. Like Silverstar, their coats were bristling and their tails lashed in anger. Their hostile eyes reflected the cold light of the moon. Icebelly knew that if it came to a fight, Thunderclan was hopelessly outnumbered.

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