CHAPTER 6

Pawsteps thudded against the ground all around me. The night air was crisp but only a little colder than usual. The moon was full above us, lighting the way easily.

Russetstar and Firelily led Mothflower, Jaypaw, Littlecloud, Whitefang, Wildpaw, Shadeclaw, Sweetheart, Soulpaw, Flowerwhisker, and myself towards Fourtrees, not pausing for even a heartbeat.

Jaypaw was to my left and Soulpaw was to my right. I was guiding Jaypaw, despite his wishes. He still wasn't familiar with the territory. Littlecloud was in front of us with Sweetheart. No one was saying a word, not even as we approached Fourtrees.

We stopped at the top of the hill that led down into Fourtrees, Russetstar gazing down at ThunderClan and RiverClan with glowing eyes. Then he nodded and we flooded into the clearing.

Now only Soulpaw was at my side and Jaypaw was following Mothflower towards the other medicine cats that gathered to the right beside the Greatrock.

Speaking of, the Greatrock was just as great as I'd imagined. It was more like a boulder than a rock by the way it lumbered over me. The four trees in the clearing reached tall in the sky, clearly representing the four Clans.

I did notice ThunderClan and RiverClan glaring at us and keeping their distance as well. Tonight was the fight. Dread scraped my stomach. Russetstar had ordered Cinderleaf to gather warriors to back us up after the Gathering.

Finally ShadowClan raced in, Larkstar and Brackenfoot in the lead. She made a huge leap onto the Greatrock and looked over at the other leaders.

"This Gathering will begin now!" Russetstar yowled and everyone fell silent instantly.

Crookedstar stepped forward eagerly. "Despite the border skirmish WindClan started, RiverClan is strong and healthy. Shimmerpelt's kits will be born soon and that's all I have to report." He stepped back.

Larkstar stepped forward. She was young and I could see her muscles rippling under her pelt. She seemed like a confident leader. "As most of you know, Pikestar and Crowtail have joined StarClan. StarClan showed Stonetail a sign about me and I have become leader of ShadowClan with Brackenfoot as my deputy. I know this probably comes as a surprise to most of you but it is StarClan's wishes and I plan to lead ShadowClan with a level and just head," she told us, her dark green eyes shining. "Thank you." Then she stepped back.

Russetstar stepped forward, glancing back at Larkstar. "Welcome Larkstar. WindClan has two new warriors, Morningtail and Grayclaw. We have four new apprentices, Soulpaw, Jaypaw, Wildpaw, and Icepaw. Jaypaw has taken the role of a medicine cat. Cherryheart has had Shadeclaw's kits and Dawnpool has moved to the nursery expecting Whitefang's kits. Finally, Shadeclaw has decided to retire from his warrior duties, so as of tomorrow he will be an elder."

There were some yowls and cheers from the other Clans and I felt my pelt heat up as I heard my name called.

Thrushstar stepped forward. "As you all know Cinderpaw has taken the role of a medicine cat and Swiftbreeze has had two healthy kits who will be apprenticed shortly. ThunderClan is strong and we guard our own." He glanced over at Russetstar. "ThunderClan let's go!" he yowled and launched himself off the Greatrock and gathered his Clan while Larkstar gathered ShadowClan.

Soulpaw brushed his pelt against mine gently. "Don't worry about the fight. We can do this! Remember DarkClan?" He was gazing at her warmly, his familiar green and gold eyes meeting mine.

"You're right!" I purred in agreement. We had absolutely destroyed the rogues at DarkClan's camp just a few moons earlier.

"Russetstar!" Crookedstar mewed and brown tabby tom turned his head to gaze at the RiverClan leader. "Are you sure you want to do this? If you just admit you were in the wrong and we won't have to fight."

Russetstar snorted loudly, glancing back at his Clan. "Are you backing down from a fight, Crookedstar?" he asked in disbelief. "Pathetic."

Crookedstar let out an angry yowl and tackled Russetstar, then the other RiverClan cats who came to the Gathering began to attack.

I watched Cinderleaf flood the clearing with Mousefang, Morningtail, Scratchtail, Redstorm, Whitefoot, and Grayclaw racing in after her. The RiverClan cats were highly outnumbered.

A gray tabby she-cat I recognized as Featherstorm rammed into me, causing me to stumble away from Soulpaw.

Once I'd regained my balance, I faced Featherstorm who was ready with her claws. They sliced through my nose and the blood and the pain caused my entire body to freeze up.

Mousefang suddenly darted past me and tackled Featherstorm down to the ground. "You cannot freeze up, Icepaw!" he snapped at me and sunk his teeth into Featherstorm's shoulder. She let out a screeching yowl that pierced my ears.

"Are you okay?" Littlecloud was by my side, looking concerned.

I nodded a little and looked over at Mousefang who was chasing Featherstorm off into the bushes. "Y-Yeah, I think so…"

"Look out!" he hissed and pulled me back as Morningtail and Willowstream rolled past us in a fit of teeth and claws. Morningtail was clearly winning that fight.

I let out a 'woosh' of relief but Littlecloud raced away to help Scratchtail with Timberfur. And I was alone.

"RiverClan, retreat!" Crookedstar yowled and instantly the RiverClan cats fled from Fourtrees and raced towards their territory.

Mothflower emerged from the bushes, rushing to Whitefoot who had a nasty scratch, Jaypaw at her side with a mouthful of herbs.

I flattened my ears on my head, looking around at my wounded Clanmates. I had barely done anything to help.

"Hey!" Suddenly, the familiar black tom appeared by my side. He had a bite mark on his shoulder and a few tufts of fur missing. "Are you okay? I saw you with Featherstorm."

"Yes, I'm fine," I responded, looking at him evenly. "Mousefang helped me. You should really get that bite looked at." I nodded at his shoulder.

Soulpaw shrugged coolly. "No, it's okay. Nice nose," he chuckled and licked my nose. I had almost forgotten about my nose. "There. But you should still have Mothflower take a look."

"WindClan, let's get home!" Russetstar yowled and I turned away from Soulpaw, following the patrol of WindClan cats back to camp, feeling embarrassment deep in my paws.


"You can't freeze up like that, Icepaw. If RiverClan was looking to kill, you would've been dead! You're lucky Mousefang showed up when he did," Littlecloud shamed, shaking his head in disappointment. "What was it that made you freeze up?"

I shook my head, letting the gentle and warm wind warm my pelt. The sun was shining down on my pelt. "I'm not sure… I guess the rage and hostility in her gaze just... " I stopped, shaking my head. I had never saw a cat give me that look in my entire life.

"That's what happens in battle, Icepaw. You have to face your fears, that's how you become the best warrior," Littlecloud mewed firmly, his kind voice gone now.

"I'm sorry!" I cried at him, lashing my tail. "I'm usually better than that when we practice!"

Littlecloud darted his paw forward and I stepped away, glaring at him. "You're right, you are. But you only are because you know I won't actually hurt you. But they will." He lunged at me suddenly and I barely side-stepped out of the way. "And you need to be ready and fight back." His front paw lashed out and my backpaw was taken out from under me.

The ground greeted my face as I crumbled to the ground with a gasp of surprise.

Then Littlecloud was pinning me down. "You need to be prepared for anything, Icepaw. The other Clans do not fight the same as us, therefore, their moves will be unusual and you will have never saw them," he explained and then climbed off me. "You have to know how to react to them."

I nodded in agreement with my mentor. "You're right, Littlecloud. I wasn't ready then, but I want to be ready!"

"I can teach you," Littlecloud mewed proudly, smiling at me. "We should get back to camp and get something to eat. I woke you up early this morning."

We padded together side-by-side around the side of camp and into the entrance of the WindClan camp.

Mothflower and Jaypaw were talking to Morningtail outside their den, Russetstar was lying beside Firelily beide the Tallrock, Soulpaw and Wildpaw were eating outside the apprentice's den, Cherryheart, Dawnpool, and Gorsekit were playing outside the nursery with Shadeclaw watching nearby, and Shrewclaw was leading Redstorm, Flowerwhisker, and Mudpelt out of camp quickly.

"Go get something to eat, Icepaw. I'm going to speak with Russetstar," Littlecloud ordered and padded away to speak with Russetstar.

I grabbed a mouse off the pile and walked over to my denmates, settling down in between the both of them. "Hey!"

Soulpaw smiled at me. "Hi, Icepaw. How was your training session with Littlecloud?"

"Pretty good," I responded and took a bite out of my mouse. "How's Sweetheart treating you?"

"She's really very… nice," Soulpaw responded, but I could tell he didn't like it. "I wish I had gotten Morningtail or Dawnpool or even Redstorm as my mentor instead! They'd be way better." He took an angry bite out of his rabbit and chewed quietly.

"Well, Whitefang's a really great mentor. He knows a lot of RiverClan and WindClan moves so I'm learning both! He gets distracted with Dawnpool though. I'm excited for their kits to be born!" Wildpaw chirped in excitedly. He was never not in a good mood.

"Hey," Jaypaw mewed glumly, sitting down next to me. "Morningtail is insisting on continuing her warrior duties even though her wound is pretty nasty. So that's what I've been doing all day." He sighed loudly. Jaypaw was never not in a depressed or angry mood.

"Icepaw!" Littlecloud padded up beside me, nodded at the other 'paws in greeting. "We're on a hunting patrol with Blackfoot and Grayclaw, come on." He gestured with his tail to the other warriors who were waiting for them at the entrance of camp, quietly making conversation.

I waved my tail to my denmates and followed Littlecloud across the clearing to the white tom with black paws and large gray tabby tom. Both nodded at me in greeting.

"We're heading towards the ShadowClan border," Littlecloud told us firmly and I swear I saw Grayclaw flinch.

We headed out and I fell instep beside Blackfoot, padding side-by-side silently.

"Firelily said to be careful, we haven't heard from ShadowClan since the Gathering and she's worried," Littlecloud warned us as we continued in silence in the warm air.

I watched Blackfoot beside me. I had never really spoken to him before and I wasn't sure what to say exactly. But everyone liked me, so I thought I sure improvise.

"Soulpaw says your mother, Sweetheart, is very good mentor," I told him, breaking the seemingly awkward silence.

"That's great," he responded, not even looking at me. "Are we hunting here, Littlecloud? We're getting a little close to the border."

Littlecloud nodded. "Yes, yes you're right, Blackfoot. Don't wander too far and meet back here soon," he ordered and then padded away from the patrol.

I quickly padded away too, happy to be getting away from Blackfoot. He didn't seem like he liked conversation very much. He was such an odd cat.

I parted my jaws and scented the air, just like Littlecloud taught me, and caught scent of a rabbit nearby. Then I spotted it.

It was large and jumping around in front of me. I dropped into a crouch instinctively, slowly creeping forward to catch it.

The rabbit paused and looked at me, then darted away and I darted after it quickly, catching up easily and tackling it to the ground and delivering the killing bite.

It died quietly and I picked it up in my jaws, silently thanking StarClan as I padded back to our meeting spot.

Grayclaw was already waiting with a rabbit by his large paws. "Hello, Icepaw."

"Hi, Grayclaw!" I greeted back kindly. It was refreshing to have a kind cat. Blackfoot was kind of a downer. "Nice catch!"

He nodded at me. "You as well." He paused for a moment to glance around. "So, Blackfoot huh?"

I snickered. "Yeah, awkward… I feel like I never see him talk and he doesn't have a mate, right? Doesn't he at least care about his mother?" I asked, feeling a little irritated as Grayclaw's face stretched into horror.

"Not that it is any of your business, Icepaw, but yes, I do care about my mother, and no, I do not have a mate. At least I did not mate with a rogue and produce ShadowClan's next leader," Blackfoot growled from behind me and my fear instantly shot up into my throat. I turned around to face his very cold and angry demeanor. "I do not like you," he mewed down at me. "You are nothing but a mere apprentice and you do not know when to stop your gossip. You are half-Clan too, in case you had forgotten. You are not perfect, Icepaw." He snatched up the bird he had caught and stalked away angrily.

Littlecloud raced up to us setting down his rabbit. "Where is Blackfoot going?" He looked at Grayclaw who shook his head. Then Littlecloud looked at me. "What happened?"

"He may or may not have heard me say some things about him," I replied, shuffling my paws and avoiding my mentor's gaze. It's not like I wanted him to hear me say anything!

My mentor's glare was like claws raking through my pelt. "Tomorrow you'll be cleaning out the nursery. And if I hear one complaint I'll put you on a border patrol with Blackfoot tomorrow," he warned and snatched up his rabbit. "Let's go." Then he led Grayclaw and I back towards camp.


"You did what?" Wildpaw gasped in amazement, his jaw almost touching the ground. "Blackfoot is the most grumpiest and meanest warrior in WindClan!" He started gasping for breath as he laughed at me.

Soulpaw was gazing at with amusement. "Good, shows Blackfoot is actually alive," he chuckled and shook his head. "What did he say to you?"

"Nothing kind," I responded, feeling embarrassed again. "Just that I'm also half-Clan and I'm not perfect." I turned my head to meet Wildpaw's gaze. All the amusement and laughing was gone now. "I didn't say anything nearly as cruel as that."

Jaypaw padded up to us, his eyes narrowed. He looked anything but amused. "Icepaw, would you like to tell me why Sweetheart is in my den talking to Mothflower about you?"

My mouth gaped open. "What?!" I jumped to my paws, shooting glares at Jaypaw's den even though Sweetheart couldn't see me. "He told on me to his mother!"

Wildpaw bursted into laughter again and Jaypaw used his super creepy blind eyes to shoot him very scary glares.

"What did you do to Blackfoot?"

"Nothing! He heard me say something about he odd he is and he totally flipped on me! What he said to me was way meaner than what I said about him!" I told him urgently, my ears flattening on my head. "What is Sweetheart saying?"

Soulpaw let out a loud sigh. "Great, hopefully your behavior doesn't reflect badly on me, Icepaw. Or I'll be cleaning the nursery with you tomorrow!" He lashed his tail and stalked off into the apprentice's den.

Jaypaw flicked his tail at Soulpaw and then returned his focus back to me. "Well, she definitely doesn't like you. I think she's just venting, if Littlecloud punished you there isn't much Mothflower can do. I'll let you know if I hear anything just… keep your thoughts to yourself," Jaypaw growled and turned around, padding back to the medicine den.

I looked over at Wildpaw who was grinning at me. "I think this is great, Icepaw. Tell everyone how you really feel!" he giggled, watching Jaypaw trek back to the medicine den.

I lashed my tail and padded into the apprentice's den, seeing Soulpaw was already sleeping. I curled up in my nest and closed my eyes, willing the peacefulness of sleep to come.

"Icepaw…" a very soft and soothing voice made my eyes flicker open, but the apprentice's den didn't greet me.

In fact, I wasn't even in the apprentice's den. I was in a forest, the full moon high in the sky, shining down on us. A light wind blew through my fur and in front of me stood a she-cat with pinkish-gray fur. She was small but had long legs. Her blue eyes gazed at me calmly. But what startled me the most was the stars shining brightly in her fur.

"W-what is this place? Where am I? Who are you?" Could this possibly be a ThunderClan cat trying to steal me again?

"Calm down, Icepaw. I'm not going to harm you. This is StarClan and my name is Heatherstar," the she-cat told me in a soothing tone.

My fear instantly lurched up. I felt like I was going to be sick. "Am-Am I dead?" I whispered to Heatherstar and then watched some other cats with stars in their fur run past us with prey in their jaws.

"No, no, you're not dead," Heatherstar purred in amusement. "I just needed to tell you something very important, Icepaw."

I pricked my ears. StarClan was coming to me? A non-medicine cat? I wasn't even a warrior. "What is it, Heatherstar?"

The she-cat paced around me quickly. "You shape your own destiny. You decide what to do. The Four's journey has come to an end so now it's up to the Three to destroy The Lurking Darkness," she whispered in my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.

"What does that mean?"

Heatherstar pricked her ears and looked back at me, her calm expression completely gone now. "You decide your destiny, Icepaw. You decide the fate of the Clans!" Then she darted off into the bushes quickly, disappearing from my gaze.

The fate of the Clans?


I sat up in my nest, my heart pounding loudly in my chest. Soulpaw and Wildpaw were not in their nests. The air was rather cold but the sun had barely risen in the sky as I exited the apprentice's den.

"Icepaw!" Soulpaw called, padding across the clearing from where Sweetheart was outside the warrior's den with Littlecloud. My heart dropped. "I get to help you with the nursery today," he told me bitterly.

I nodded at him, shoving the prophecy to the back of my head. If I had the chance I would ask Jaypaw about it but for right now, I needed to focus on Soulpaw.

"I'm sorry, Soulpaw, I really am. But hey, didn't Jaypaw tell you to talk to Gorsekit? She looks up to you, you know!" I reminded him cheerfully, recalling Jaypaw's words. That would definitely cheer Soulpaw up.

Just like I thought, it did, and he was leading me over to the nursery where Dawnpool, Cherryheart, and Gorsekit were.

"Hello?" Soulpaw padded inside and I followed. "We'll be cleaning out the nursery today!"

Gorsekit instantly raced over to Soulpaw excitedly, her eyes shining in warmth. "Hi Soulpaw!" she purred warmly.

To my surprise, Soulpaw smiled down at her. "Hi Gorsekit! How about you take your mom and Dawnpool out of the den for a little while, okay?"

She squealed with excitement and darted out of the den, the two queens hurrying after.

"Dawnpool is getting big," I commented, clawing out the moss in one of the nests. "She should be due soon."

Soulpaw's eyes flashed at me. "Haven't you said enough? You already have us cleaning out the nursery for saying a word to my mentor's kit. That is Russetstar's sister, Icepaw. What do you think would happen if he heard you?"

I flinched at Soulpaw's words but before I could respond I heard pawsteps behind us.

"On cleaning duty, hm?" The old brown tabby tom was gazing at us in amusement. His kind dark green eyes lingering on me. "I heard about what happened yesterday."

My heart sunk in my chest but I respectfully dipped my head to Russetstar. Would he push back my ceremony? Would he punish Soulpaw? "Please, Russetstar, Soulpaw wasn't even there. Don't punish him!" I pleaded, stepping forward towards our leader.

Russetstar chuckled softly. "Oh no, Icepaw, I'm not mad. And I know Soulpaw didn't do anything. Blackfoot is a little weird, I know. But after never meeting his father and joining WindClan where he wasn't accepted for the longest time, I wouldn't talk to anyone either. It'll pass."

I felt the hope flare in my paws. Russetstar wasn't mad. "How mad was Littlecloud?"

"Oh, he's Littlecloud. Just stay on task and no more gossip, you hear?" Russetstar purred and nodded over at Soulpaw. "Sweetheart tells me she's been having some problems with you, Soulpaw." Russetstar paused. "She's requested that you get a new mentor. Are you okay with that?"

Soulpaw's eyes instantly sparkled in excitement and he jumped to his paws. "Yes, please, Russetstar!"

The leader chuckled in amusement. "Very well. I'm going to speak with Mousefang about becoming your mentor. As long as he agrees then it's settled. Good luck." Then he slipped out of the nursery.

I looked over at Soulpaw who seemed overjoyed. "Mousefang is a good warrior," I commented warmly. Was it my doing that caused Sweetheart to not want to mentor Soulpaw?

"Anyone is better than Sweetheart. I mean, her name is literally Sweetheart," he spat, like a bad piece of prey. "Mousefang is tough! I can't wait to start training!" Then he continued to scrape moss out of a nest and I did too.

"Does this mean you're not mad at me?"

Soulpaw looked over at me with shining green and gold eyes. His smile warmed my entire body. "No, Icepaw, I'm not mad at you."