Chapter 2

Icepaw was running through the forest. It was nighttime. She tore off through the trees, weaving in and out of blades of grass. She had reached the river. With a flying leap Icepaw flew across the river, her claws barely skimming the cool water. She landed on the other side of the bank with a thud. Her paws hit the cold hard ground. Suddenly, she caught a scent. She looked up. A regal cat stood before her. The cat had a tawny spotted pelt.

"Hello Icepaw," the cat said, watching Icepaw coolly.

"Who are you?" Icepaw demanded.

"I'm Leopardstar. I used to be Riverclan's leader."

Icepaw felt her heart speed up. She was talking to a member of Starclan. Icepaw suddenly gasped.

"I'm dreaming aren't I?" she asked.

"Indeed."

"Why are you appearing in my dreams?" Icepaw asked warily.

"There is danger coming to your clan Icepaw," Leopardstar said softly.

"What? What kind of danger?" Icepaw asked frantically. But it was too late. Leopardstar had faded away into the dappled leaves of the moonlit forest. "Wait! Leopardstar!" Icepaw began to run after the ancient leader.

"Icepaw! Icepaw!" Someone was calling her name. Icepaw spun around, looking wildly for the source of the noise. She abruptly felt herself waking up. The voice continued to call her name, never ceasing. Icepaw felt her dream world slipping away from her as the trees melted away and the river evaporated. Suddenly Icepaw jerked into consciousness. Rainpaw stood over her, concern clouding his face.

"Are you okay Icepaw? You were meowing and thrashing in your sleep," Rainpaw exclaimed, nosing Icepaw to her feet.

"It was just a dream, that's all," Icepaw mumbled. Rainpaw shook his dusty black fur and swiped his paw with his tongue.

"Okay then. Come on Icepaw, let's go hunting!" Rainpaw said enthusiastically. Icepaw grimaced as she got to her feet. Her whole body was aching from her battle training from the other day.

"No I don't think I can Rainpaw," she mewed, "I've got to speak to Coldsnow." Rainpaw's bright face fell and his stiff tailed drooped. Icepaw felt guilt grip her belly. Rainpaw was always trying to include her in everything the other apprentices did. He was three moons older than herself so he had more experience as an apprentice. But Icepaw needed to tell Coldsnow about this strange dream. Leopardstar had said Riverclan was in danger. But she hadn't specified. What was the use in warning me if she wasn't going to help? Icepaw thought angrily. She glanced back at Rainpaw's sad face.

"Look how about we go hunting at sun-high tomorrow?" Icepaw said, licking her friend's ear gently. Rainpaw's face brightened a little.

"Alright. Tomorrow. Don't forget Icepaw, I'm holding you to your word," Rainpaw warned. Icepaw purred with amusement.

"Okay mouse brain," she said playfully, cuffing him over the head with her paw. Icepaw then turned and scrambled out of the apprentice's den. She had only been sleeping in the apprentice den for a moon but already she was tiring of it. Icepaw wanted nothing more but to relish the moss inside of the warrior's den. She crawled out of the tunnel and stepped into the sun. Icepaw squinted as her eyes adjusted to the bright light that echoed around the camp clearing. Blinking her eyes, Icepaw trotted over to the boulder den that made up the warrior cats resting place. She peered inside. Coldsnow wasn't there.

"Who are you looking for? Coldsnow?" asked a voice. Icepaw turned to see a black cat with long, lithe legs staring at her.

"Hello Birdsong. Have you seen Coldsnow?" Icepaw said. Birdsong stretched out her legs luxuriously and collapsed on to the ground, warming her pelt in the rays from the sun.

"Yeah I think he went on a patrol. He said not to wake you," she said, beginning to wash her coat. Icepaw nodded respectfully and excused herself. Icepaw walked over to the fresh-kill pile, realizing her stomach was grumbling. She selected a mouse and sat outside of the apprentice den with it, surveying the activities of the clan. She watched as Greybelly curled up next to Birdsong and they began to share tongues, washing each other's coats. Icepaw watched as Crabpaw brought the Elders new bedding for their den. Icepaw couldn't help a small smile as she saw Petalcoat begin to go on another rant about how life used to be in the olden days. She turned her attention to the hollowed out tree that contained the nursery. Rockkit, Pondkit and Willowkit were tumbling around in the moss, tossing up leaves and bits of bark. Icepaw chewed thoughtfully on her mouse and thought of her dream again. What on earth could Leopardstar be warning her about? Riverclan was having good luck with everything: prey was plentiful, water was never a problem and the other clans left Riverclan alone for most of the time. Icepaw thought of her mentor. Maybe I should go and find him, she thought. Out of the corner of her eye she suddenly noticed a dark grey shape bustle by. Icepaw realized it was Owlear, the medicine cat. Hastily standing up, she suddenly understood that if any cat could help her with her dream, it would be the medicine cat. Icepaw hurried across the clearing, following Owlear into his den behind the warrior's nest. The older cat brushed through the lush reeds that covered his den as Icepaw called out his name and rushed into the shelter.

"Owlear, I need to talk to you about something," she said, trotting after the medicine cat. Owlear looked up from the plants he was mixing. Icepaw noticed all the different herbs lined up around the room. The den was a myriad of smells and sights. Icepaw didn't know how Owlear did it. How did he separate all of the smells? How did he know what was the right herb?

"Did you need something?" Owlear asked. Icepaw snapped to attention.

"Um, well yes. I need to talk to you. About a dream I had," Icepaw said quietly. Owlear pushed the herbal mixture away from him with his paw. He was looking very intently at Icepaw now.

"You had an important dream?" he asked.

"Yes. I-I think it was from Starclan," she whispered. Owlear's jaw dropped open. He hurried over to Icepaw and unceremoniously shoved her into a sitting position.

"Tell me everything," he demanded. So Icepaw carefully explained her dream and the forest and Leopardstar and her warning. When she was done, Owlear was sitting very still, contemplating something. He began mumbling under his breath words that Icepaw couldn't make out.

"Did I do something wrong?" she asked, frightened she was in trouble.

Owlear looked up at Icepaw.

"No you did the right thing. I will inform Silverstar immediately. Thank you for telling me Icepaw," Owlear said quickly. Icepaw still felt a little uncomfortable but shakily stood and began to walk to the entrance of the den.

"Oh and Icepaw?" Owlear asked, "please tell me if you have another dream like this."

Icepaw was confused but knew it wasn't her duty to question the authority or reasoning of a medicine cat.

"I will Owlear," she reassured him. Owlear nodded and distractedly said goodbye. As Icepaw stepped back into the clearing she felt better; like a tree trunk had been lifted off her chest. She noticed Rainpaw sitting by the apprentice's den. She hurried over, her steps lighter than they had been before. It was someone else's problem now, that Leopardstar and that dream. She could let the medicine cat and the clan leader do their jobs. Meanwhile she should be allowed to have a little fun. Icepaw bounded over to Rainpaw, closing the gap between them and pounced on his back, holding the squirming apprentice down with her light grey body. She meowed with an ecstatic delight.

"Hey Rainpaw! Still up for hunting?"