Ice

The rain fell heavier the longer they traveled. Ice's neck was sore from the golden she-cat's teeth and she had given up on trying getting out of her jaws. She focused on the ground instead of thinking how far away they were taking her from home.

By the time the little group halted they were all drenched. Ice shivered and looked up from the ground.

They were facing an enormous trunk and were as tall as Ice could crane her neck to see. Why are we here?

The red tom holding the other kit in jaws sprung towards the trunk and hung on by his claws. He quickly climbed up with no trouble at all. How on earth can any cat climb a tree like that? Wouldn't their claws be ripped out or get stuck in the trunk?

Despite her fears, the red tom made it to the top she could not see. Suddenly, the golden she-cat lunged forward. Ice let out a silent squeal of fear.

Don't drop me! I swear on my mother's claws I will hurt you if you-

They were at the top.

"Aspenkit!" Thunder clapped loudly, making Ice shut her eyes in fear.

There were so many different scents and sounds of cats that were overwhelming to her.

"Sunpelt, get her to Brownfeather!" Ice opened her eyes and saw a large light ginger tom. His green eyes were wide with fear, but his voice was steady. A bigger calico she-cat, which Ice assumed that was the kit's mother, was at his side. Her amber eyes were also wide with fear, but her fur was fluffed up. Another she-cat that had red-brown fur stood in front of her, holding her back.

"You can visit her after Brownfeather has fixed her up. I know you're scared, but you have to let her do her job." She told the calico.

The tom named Sunpelt had taken Aspenkit into a den and left the others outside.

"Ravensong, who is that?" A black and white she-cat asked.

Ice felt fear grab hold of her heart. Ravensong set her down on the ground.

There were several cats in the clearing, and it seemed all eyes were on her. What do I do now Robin? I'm scared.

"We found her up on the bank where we found Aspenkit. She hasn't made a sound, even when Sunpelt asked if she hurt Aspenkit."

"Look at her. Who does she look like to you?" A small dappled gray she-cat gasped to the cream tom that was with Sunpelt and Ravensong. Ice flattened her ears as the other cats also gasped and began to back away. They murmured between themselves.

The red-brown she-cat turned around and looked straight at her. Her eyes widened, as if she knew her.

"Why did you bring this kit here, Sunpelt?" A black tom with white patches appeared in the crowd. Sunpelt had returned from the medicine cat den.

"Like Ravensong said before, we found her near Aspenkit. I don't think she was involved in Aspenkit's injury."

The black tom nodded silently and padded up to her. He sniffed her closely.

"You smell like Twolegplace, little one. Where is your family?" He asked quietly. Ice's eyes misted.

Far away from here, she replied silently.

"Littlestar, I think she's mute." An old silver she-cat pushed forward through the crowd. Her gray eyes had a knowing look.

"My mother's brother was mute, I know a mute when I see one."

Littlestar blinked and stared at Ice.

"Is this true?" He asked her, a curious edge to his voice.

Ice nodded vigorously. Thank the stars she knew.

"I believe your words, Sunpelt, and Silversnow's wisdom. Now what do we call you?" He asked.

The cats murmured around him.

"Wait! If we're giving her a name, does that mean she's joining the Clan?" The same dappled gray she-cat asked with disbelief. Other cats meowed in agreement with her.

"Icekit."

A loud voice spoke over the crowd. Ice looked over to where the red-brown she-cat stood. Littlestar stared at her also.

"What?" He mewed and curled his tail.

"She should be called Icekit. Her fur is as white as ice." The she-cat replied slowly, her dark brown eyes focused on Ice. It made her feel slightly uncomfortable.

"Icekit it is, then. My word is law, and it has been decided: she shall stay with ForestClan. Welcome, Icekit!"

Lightkit

Oh great StarClan. Please let her be alright.

He watched his grandfather bring his sister into the medicine cat den. Fawntail stood beside Kindlestrike with her fur fluffed up in fear.

Sunpelt quickly slid into the medicine cat's den while carefully carrying Aspenkit.

Larkblossom barred his mother's way to the medicine cat's den.

"You can visit her after Brownfeather has fixed her up. I know you're scared, but you have to let her do her job." She told Fawntail kindly. Lightkit could smell the fear roll off of his mother and knew that Larkblossom's words did very little to comfort her.

"Ravensong, who is that?" Swiftwind asked, appearing out of the crowd of cats. Lightkit looked at Ravensong and saw her set the white she-kit onto the ground. The entire Clan seemed to be looking straight at the strange kit.

"We found her up on the bank where we found Aspenkit. She hasn't made a sound, even when Sunpelt asked if she hurt Aspenkit." Ravensong replied and flicked her tail. The kit cringed and dropped low to the ground.

"Look at her. Who does she look like to you?" Sapphirecloud gasped to Loudswipe. The kit flattened her ears as the others also gasped and began to back away. They murmured between themselves.

Larkblossom turned around and looked straight at the kit. Her eyes widened, as if she knew her. Why that reaction? Does she know her? Lightkit tilted his head.

"Why did you bring this kit here, Sunpelt?" Littlestar appeared in the crowd. Sunpelt had returned from the medicine cat den.

"Like I said before, I found her near Aspenkit. I don't think she was involved in Aspenkit's injury."

The black tom nodded silently and padded up to her. He sniffed her closely.

"You smell like Twolegplace, little one. Where is your family?" He asked quietly the kit quietly. What's the Twolegplace?

"Littlestar, I think she's mute." Silversnow pushed forward through the crowd. Her gray eyes had a knowing look.

"My mother's brother was mute, I know a mute when I see one."

Littlestar blinked and stared at the kit.

"Is this true?" He asked her, a curious edge to his voice.

The kit nodded vigorously.

"I believe your words, Sunpelt, and Silversnow's wisdom. Now what do we call you?" He asked the kit.

The Clan murmured around him.

"Wait! If we're giving her a name, does that mean she's joining the Clan?" The same dappled gray she-cat asked with disbelief in her voice. Other cats murmured in agreement with her.

"Icekit." A loud voice spoke over the crowd. Lightkit pricked his ears curiously.

It belonged to Larkblossom, and the Clan looked at the warrior. Littlestar stared at her also.

"What?" He mewed and curled his tail.

"She should be called Icekit. Her fur is as white as ice." The she-cat replied slowly, her dark brown eyes focused on the kit. There's something more to this.

"Icekit it is, then. My word is law, and it has been decided: she shall stay with ForestClan. Welcome, Icekit!"

The Clan was silent. Lightkit saw fear in the newly name Icekit's eyes.

"Icekit! Icekit! Icekit!" Larkblossom began to call, and Lightkit joined her. Soon, Kindlestrike and Fawntail quietly joined the call and the rest of the Clan followed suit. Icekit stared around with wide eyes.

"We should now focus on soon future: Aspenkit will be well taken care of by Brownfeather. However, there seems that the moon will not shine tonight." Littlestar meowed. Rain drummed on them. You could say that again.

"We will not be attending the Gathering tonight, so everyone, get to your nests and rest. Meeting is over and you are dismissed." He meowed and approached Fawntail once the Clan dispersed.

She looked up expectantly at the leader. Lightkit padded up behind his parents to listen in.

"I hope it is not too much to ask for you to look after Icekit so soon after Aspenkit's accident..." He meowed and beckoned Icekit over with his tail. She slowly made her way over to them.

Fawntail shook her head. "No, it's alright...I know Brownfeather will do her best. I will take good care of Icekit, if she'll have me." Lightkit's mother replied softly.

Lightkit saw Icekit glance at Fawntail hesitantly. She nodded with acceptance.

"I think Icekit has made her decision. I wish you the best of luck, Icekit." Littlestar said and trotted up to his den. Lightkit looked up at his parents.

Fawntail's eyes glowed and she looked down at Icekit with a small smile. We haven't lost Aspenkit! Don't look at her like she's a replacement! Lightkit thought angrily. His father seemed to share his thoughts.

"Fawntail, look at her. She looks like-" His father hissed, but Fawntail whipped her face to look straight into his eyes.

"Don't you dare say his name! She's a kit! She doesn't even know him!" Fawntail snapped. She ignored him and nudged Icekit towards the nursery with her nose.

"Come with me, you'll need your rest Icekit. You too, Lightkit. Olivekit is waiting for us with Nightwhisper. We'll check on Aspenkit in the morning."

Lightkit followed them to the nursery, but a strange feeling burned in his paws. A few heartbeats ago, you were terrified for Aspenkit! What happened?

He glared at Icekit. The white she-kit was looking up at his mother with wide eyes. I don't care if Fawntail is taking care of you.

You will never be my littermate.