Pretty bunny.


Chapter 5: Fernstar

Iceclaw began to become restless. She was growling and pacing across the camp. Tigertooth sat nearby, watching his mate.

"Siuil a Run, Iceclaw. Don't pace," he instructed.

Iceclaw slowed down. Her ears twitched toward him. She stopped her growling and just began to walk. "Fernstar…What life is she on?" she asked Silverwind.

"Last, finally. She lost one at the battle of Twisted Glade," Silverwind replied.

"Rippedstar?"

"Last."

"And Sandstar?"

"Yes, last."

"They want to protect me from them…" Iceclaw mumbled.

"Ready?" asked Tigertooth.

"Yes, let's go. We'll be back soon!"

"In one piece, I hope!" Silverwind laughed.


The two warriors skimmed the ground, searching for the ThunderClan camp. Their ears pricked, they listened to any sound in the forest. All was quiet. No sound was made, not even a bird.

"There is nothing, Iceclaw," Tigertooth growled.

"Yes, there is. Just listen," hissed Iceclaw.

The camp came into sight, and the warriors pressed farther into the ground. Fernstar was walking around in the middle, looking frail. Iceclaw snorted. This was going to be easy.

"Siuil, Siuil, Siuil a Run. GO!" Tigertooth spat.

They burst into the camp, spitting. Iceclaw went for Fernstar. Tigertooth held the other warriors back.

"You! I knew you monsters would come to kill us! So where are the others?" Fernstar growled, arching her back.

"There are no others. I came to kill you!" Iceclaw snarled, leaping onto the old leader. Her claws raked the leader's flank. Their snarls drowned out Tigertooth and the other warriors' cries.

"Die, you runt!"

"How dare you take Twisted Glade away! And kill my father, that's worse!"

"I didn't kill him! Tigerbelly did!"

"Still, you're the monsters!"

Iceclaw grabbed her neck and twisted it until she heard a sickening 'snap'. She howled for Tigertooth, then announced proudly, "FERNSTAR IS DEAD!"

Screeches and yowls of anger sounded from the ThunderClan cats. Iceclaw and Tigertooth both shot toward the entrance of the camp. The warriors raced away from the angered cats, not worrying about their own wounds.


Silverwind was waiting for them at the camp. Her sliver fur shone in the moonlight. Iceclaw and Tigertooth staggered into camp, gasping for breath. Their coats were stained with bright red blood that looked like flames.

"Great StarClan!" she breathed. "Are you two okay?"

"Fine," they coughed.

"Come, I will get some silverleaf."

Their breaths were ragged, as if each one took a great amount of strength out of them. Iceclaw tripped, but Tigertooth stood her back up.

"Come on, Ice. It'll be okay."

Silverwind glanced behind her. Iceclaw looked exactly like her mother. A question shot through he mind: Does she know? The medicine cat shook her head. She could not know, not without Fallenstar or Lostclaw to comfort her. Later, Silverwind thought, I will have to tell her.

"Silverwind!" Tigertooth screeched, interrupting her thoughts.

Silverwind whipped around. "What is it, Tigertooth?" Iceclaw shivered, Tigertooth pressed into her more. "She's being visited," the warrior whispered. Silverwind nodded. Iceclaw normally had this, but with her injuries Silverwind didn't know what would happen next.

"Is everyone all right?" Oakfur called, bounding over to them.

"Yes, it's just Iceclaw. She is being spoken to right now," Silverwind explained. "No one except them is hurt, Oakfur. Now take a warrior with you and go hunt. And get some more peacebloom and firebloom."

Oakfur opened his mouth to protest, but closed it instead. The old warrior turned and padded back to the warriors' den. Silverwind turned back to Iceclaw.

"It should have been over by now," she muttered.

Tigertooth heard her, and he looked worried. "Is she okay? Will everything be all right? Will she live? What's going on?" The list of questions went on and on. "Silverwind, will she die if you don't get some herbs to her?"

Silverwind shook her head. "Tigerstar will protect her no matter what."


Meanwhile, in StarClan…

Tigerstar, am I dead?

No.

Am I in trouble?

No. But tomorrow, without Tigertooth, you will be.

What do you mean? Is he going to die?

No. But he will be sick when you fight Rippedstar.

Oh. So I'll have to fight alone?

sigh…Singefur will be with you.

Singefur hates me!

He cares for you. Remember when Fallenstar died?

Yes. What about it?

He brought you food. He cared for your wounds.

I thought that Silverwind or Tigertooth did that…

No, he did. He will fight with you. You will win.

What about Tigertooth? Will he be okay?

For a while…But that doesn't matter. Iceclaw, I need to show you something.

I'm ready.

Look at the world from here. This was many years ago.

I see Firestar! And you! Wait, you're fighting. What's going on?

A flash of ginger made her eyes burn. What was that? Firestar grabbed the scruff of Tigerstar. Her great grandfather yowled in pain and agony.

Firestar is evil.

Another flash. Blood covered the forest. She saw a hill of bones. Bones of cats and bones of prey. All stacked together. A blue-gray shape padded over to her.

Hello.

Hi. Are you—

Yes. I am Bluestar.

Tigerstar said that—

Tigerstar! That traitor is the evil one! Firestar saved the Clans.

What do you mean?

The omen was never taught to you was it? Well, our ancestors sent an omen down saying, "Fire alone can save our Clan."

Just like mine?

Different. Much different. Iceclaw, you will earn your name after you defeat Sandstar. After that, Singefur will become the Clan deputy.

What about Tigertooth?

He will be dead.


Iceclaw gasped. Her claws unsheathed instinctively.

"Iceclaw, are you okay?" asked Tigertooth.

"I-I guess so. Are you?" Iceclaw sighed, sheathing her claws.

"Of course! Why do you ask?" he meowed.

"No reason," she squeaked.

They sat in silence until Tigertooth fell asleep. Iceclaw kept her eyes on the stars, praying that Tigertooth wouldn't die. Her eyes began to close. She sighed as she lay her head on her paws and fell asleep too.


Bunny! I talked with Iceclaw today. She wasn't happy about the way this story is going!

Me: So do you really have feelings for Tigertooth?

Iceclaw: Yes! I don't want him to die!

Me: What about Singefur?

Iceclaw: …No…

Me: You like him!

Iceclaw: Go away freak.

Anyway, I'll make you a bunny if you review! Next Chapter preview:

Chapter 6: Rippedstar

Iceclaw and Rippedstar fight!