Chapter 5

Icepaw didn't see much of Fernfoot for the next few days. Every time the two she-cats spied each other, Fernfoot would growl and cast her eyes in a different direction. Icepaw's clash with Fernfoot was greeted by mixed reactions. Both Tinypaw and Rainpaw congratulated the she-cat for standing up for herself but Fernfoot's apprentice, Crabpaw, had taken to ignoring Icepaw. The day after the fight Coldsnow had spent the better part of the morning scolding Icepaw and lecturing her on clan rules. Icepaw wasn't sorry she had fought Fernfoot but she was remorseful about making her mentor distressed. After promising Coldsnow she would never attack a member of Riverclan again, he finally relented.

"Fine. Let's get back to training then," he said gruffly, rubbing his nose against Icepaw's head affectionately.

Icepaw was pleased to see that she was improving as an apprentice. Two moons ago, when she was still a kit, she had been frightened that she would never be able to master even the simplest defensive moves. She had been wrong to doubt herself. Icepaw's very real feud with Fernfoot had proven that her skills as an apprentice were exemplary. Coldsnow and Icepaw hunted for the clan for the rest of the day and when they returned to camp, they carried a large amount of prey between them.

"You did a good job hunting today, Icepaw," Coldsnow commented as he lay down a fat mouse on the fresh-meat pile. Icepaw purred.

"Thank you," she meowed. Coldsnow stretched his legs and gave a sigh of contentment.

"Now for your punishment," he said, glancing at Icepaw.

"Aw, Coldsnow, I promised I wouldn't do it again, do you have to punish me?" Icepaw complained.

"Yes. You attacked a member of your own clan. You must learn some discipline."

Icepaw mewled a protest but Coldsnow silenced her with a flick of his tail.

"You will clean out the elder's bedding for three sunsets," Coldsnow said. Icepaw groaned. Taking care of the elder's disgusting bedding was a chore for beginning apprentices, and a job that would have you smelling for days on end. Coldsnow smiled kindly at his apprentice. "You will also hunt for and take care of your mother and Seakit," he said, "you saved Seakit so you will contribute to her care."

Icepaw sighed. As far as punishments went, she got off easy. Sure, cleaning the elder's bedding was a disappointment but Icepaw didn't mind watching over her mother and the new kit. Maybe she would even be allowed to mentor Seakit some day. With that thought brightening her spirits, Icepaw mewed a goodbye to her mentor and trotted off towards the elder's den. The sooner I get this done, the better, Icepaw thought, wrinkling her nose at the smell of dirty moss the elder's slept on. Icepaw padded under the prickly bushes that sheltered the ancient cats from the elements. Petalcoat, a dusty-looking brown she-cat, was sleeping peacefully on her side. Next to her, Dewfur and Oldwhisker were sharing tongues. Icepaw nodded to the two tomcats respectfully and began to collect the flattened and dirty moss the elder's slept on. Oldwhisker suddenly stopped washing his friend's ear to stare at Icepaw, as if he had just noticed her.

"Ah, if it isn't little Icepaw. We all heard about your daring rescue of Seakit," Oldwhisker said in a throaty and rough voice. "Good job."

Icepaw felt her fur flatten with humility. She could hardly believe that the oldest and most wise elder in Riverclan was praising her.

"T-thank you Oldwhisker," she said, bowing her head. Dewfur twitched his whiskers with amusement. Dewfur was the youngest elder. In fact, he had once been the apprentice of Oldwhisker. However, a terrible accident in a mock fight had left Dewfur with a painful ailment in his foot which could not be cured by Owlear. Icepaw could not imagine the horrible knowledge Dewfur must have had when he realized he could never fight as a warrior again. Icepaw felt a pang of pity go through her for Dewfur. She bent down once again and dragged the bulk of the moss out into the sandy clearing.

Icepaw relaxed her shoulders and took a deep breath, inhaling the cool air around her with relish. The sun was getting ready to set into the horizon. Icepaw dug her claws into the soft ground and sighed, lifting her nose to the pale blue sky. She couldn't believe that Riverclan was in trouble. The steady chirping of birds and the faint but reassuring bubble of the river seemed to convince Icepaw that any danger was far off.

"Icepaw? What are you doing?" said a voice from behind her. Icepaw whipped around, a guilty look plastered on her face. Miststorm, Tinypaw's mentor, was staring at her with a bemused expression on her face.

"Uh, nothing. I'm cleaning out the elder's bedding," Icepaw stammered, nudging the moss at her feet. Miststorm's blue eyes sparkled with indulgence.

"I see," she said gently, "It's almost dark so you better take care of that soon."

Icepaw nodded hastily and flicked her tail gratefully at Miststorm. Icepaw gathered up the moss in her mouth, grimacing at the prospect of what she was holding with her teeth, and scampered out of camp.

When she had returned to the camp, Icepaw had a plump sparrow clenched in her teeth. She tiredly dragged her paws over to the hollowed out tree trunk which served as a den for the kits and their mothers. The brisk night wind was curling around Icepaw's body, making her shiver. Dawncloud's kits were curled up in a corner of the tree trunk, fast asleep. Dawncloud herself was sitting outside, stretched out on the roots, washing her grey and white speckled coat. Icepaw smiled at Dawncloud through her mouthful of sparrow and entered the tree. Her mother, Rosetail was in the middle of giving Seakit a bath.

"Hello Rosetail," Icepaw said, dropping the sparrow next to the tabby queen.

"How are you holding up Icepaw?" Rosetail questioned, glancing up from her surrogate kit to gaze lovingly at Icepaw.

"Okay I guess. I'm dead tired though," Icepaw said, "here's your dinner. It ought to be big enough for the both of you."

Rosetail nodded her thanks to Icepaw.

"Come visit longer tomorrow," Rosetail said softly, "right now, I have to get Seakit to sleep."

Icepaw dipped her head in agreement and made to walk out of the den.

"You saved me?" a tiny voice asked quietly from the shelter of Rosetail's body. Icepaw turned around and crouched to the floor so she could stare at Seakit's green eyes.

"Yes. My name is Icepaw," she said softly, watching Seakit's eyes flit around her face.

"Icepaw..." Seakit said, as if she was tasting the name. "Thank you."

Icepaw smiled a little and gave the kit a lick on the top of her black furred head.

"Anytime, Seakit," she said. Icepaw licked her mother goodbye and gave Seakit one last glance before leaving the den.