Chapter 11

The moon was suspended high in the deep blue-black of the sky. Stars were sprinkled all over the heavens as if some careless kit had splashed around in them. The heat of the day had died down and a crisp breeze was whipping through the camp. Icepaw crept carefully out of the apprentice's den, wary of Rockpaw's sleeping form laying near the entrance. Icepaw, keeping her belly low to the ground, scuttled across the sandy floor of the clearing, inching towards the nursery. Icepaw looked around the clearing once. She could barely make out the still form of Greybelly, who was supposed to be guarding the camp entrance. Icepaw realized he must be sleeping. She purred with amusement; Greybelly could never keep his eyes open. Icepaw continued across the camp. She peeked her head inside the hollow tree, peering around in the moonlight filled den. Dawncloud, probably missing her oldest son, had her two kits in between her paws, sleeping soundly. Rosetail had her nose tucked under her tail and was curled up in a corner. But Seakit was stretched out on the floor. Her body was limp and her breathing was slow but her luminous blue eyes were wide open. Seakit leapt to her paws when she saw Icepaw and opened her mouth as if to speak.

Icepaw shook her head quickly and motioned with her tail that Seakit should follow her. The kit closed her tiny pink mouth and cautiously stepped over the sleeping cats in the den and stepped out into the clearing. Icepaw draped her tail over the kit's shoulder and began to walk, Seakit trailing behind her like a little firefly. Icepaw led the kit over to a wall of bracken bordering the camp. Icepaw silently lay on the ground, wrapping her tail around her legs. Seakit nestled against her side, gazing up at the apprentice.

"Okay," Icepaw whispered, glancing around, "We should be fine here; we're at the far end of the clearing. Greybelly is supposed to be guarding the entrance but he's asleep."

Seakit nodded solemnly, her great eyes staring unblinkingly at Icepaw.

"This is what I wanted to show you," Icepaw started. "Look up."

Seakit's head snapped upwards towards the sky. Icepaw watched the kit's eyes as they became even more enlarged. The night sky was seemingly endless from the cats' current position on the ground. Above them, a large expanse of stars were splattered together, forming a thick band of foggy light.

"What is that?" Seakit asked incredulously.

"That is Silverpelt," Icepaw said seriously. "That is where Starclan hunts. Rosetail told you about Starclan I suppose?"

"Yes," Seakit said, still staring at the sky. "Wow, that's where they live?"

Icepaw nodded. "They watch over us everyday. They brought us to this home, to this lake."

Seakit seemed to be speechless. Icepaw knew this would be the first time the kit had seen the nighttime sky and the stars in it.

"And you know what else Starclan does?" Icepaw whispered.

"What?" Seakit asked.

"They advise medicine cats and clan leaders. And they give signs to help us out." Icepaw paused and stared at the kit. "Starclan would not have sent you to us if they didn't want to make you a warrior."

Seakit gasped and turned her attention to Icepaw.

"Starclan would not have let Silverstar give you a name if they didn't want you to be a part of Riverclan. This is your destiny," Icepaw said, forcing the words upon Seakit, trying, pleading for her to understand.

Seakit's mouth was still hanging open.

"You will become an apprentice. And you will become a warrior. I promise," Icepaw said, more gently.

Seakit stared at Icepaw momentarily. Then her astonished face broke out into a wide grin. Icepaw felt herself smile inwardly as she gave a great sigh of relief.

"Now let's get you back to the nursery before it's dawn," Icepaw said lightly, standing up and stretching. Icepaw and Seakit traveled back across the camp clearing and Icepaw watched warmly as Seakit, content and pleased, lay down in the nursery next to Rosetail and shut her eyes, purring. Icepaw padded back to the apprentice's den, throughly tired. She blinked sleepily and was about to slid into the old set when she heard a noise. It was a crack of a twig. It was enough to make Icepaw unsheathe her claws and turn, squinting towards the entrance of the camp. Keeping low to the floor, Icepaw crawled to the bramble bushes that lined the opening of the clearing. As she approached the still form of Greybelly, Icepaw felt a lump arise in her throat.

Greybelly wasn't sleeping.

He was dead.

Icepaw opened her mouth and screeched, her heart banging painfully against her chest. She heard Riverclan cats waking up, her piercing yowl bringing them to their feet. But it was too late: a tall, wobbling Twoleg stumbled into the camp. It was holding a sharp, pointed object that looked not unlike a huge claw. Through her terror and panic, Icepaw still seemed to notice how bleary the Twoleg's eyes were and how it couldn't seem to stand or walk straight. Icepaw recognized the way the Twoleg was acting; sometimes cats who accidentally ate too much chamomile got funny in the head and tripped over their own feet, their pupils dilated and huge. Icepaw glanced down at Greybelly's dead body. His fur was matted in blood and a gash running from his neck to his belly was still bleeding freely. Icepaw felt her stomach lurch.

"Twoleg! Twoleg in camp! Help!" Icepaw screamed, seizing Greybelly's scruff and yanking his body towards the center of the camp. But the Twoleg had other ideas. Stooping downwards, it made a bellowing noise in its language, waving the weapon it was holding around in the air. Icepaw dropped Greybelly's body and hissed, raising her paw. The Twoleg suddenly swung the claw in its hand down at Icepaw. Remembering her training, the grey cat dodged to the side and latched herself on to the creature's leg, biting and tearing at the odd fur. The Twoleg made a horrific noise and kicked at her. Icepaw was flung across the clearing and hit Tallrock. She saw stars and blinked rapidly to get rid of them. Clambering to her feet, Icepaw turned back to the Twoleg, ready to defend her clan. But a loud wail from behind Icepaw made her turn her head. Seakit was standing in front of Coldsnow, pointing with her tail at Icepaw and the Twoleg. Behind Icepaw's mentor was Silverstar and Pinetail. Cats were streaming out of their dens, running towards the Twoleg.

"Go! Attack it!" Silverstar yelled, glancing at the elder's den and the nursery in fear. Coldsnow knocked Seakit to the side, nudging her towards the nursery and leapt for the Twoleg. Pinetail, Silverstar, Birdsong and Rainpaw soon joined him. Icepaw spared a moment and dashed over to Seakit, who looked horrified.

"I heard you and I didn't know what to do. I woke up Coldsnow," Seakit said, looking scared.

"You did the right thing," Icepaw said hurriedly, "If anyone asks you, you woke up from my cry, okay?"

Seakit nodded and tore off to the nursery. Icepaw turned and launched herself once again at the Twoleg.

Coldsnow was slashing at its legs, tearing away at the fur and skin. Silverstar and her deputy were weaving around the Twoleg, distracting and confusing it; it wasn't sure which cat it should strike first. Unfortunately, it chose Birdsong, bringing down its claw and striking her on the shoulder. Birdsong had tried to leap out of the way but the sharp tip of the claw nicked her with enough force to knock her off her feet. Icepaw stared, horrified as she began to bleed. Icepaw watched as Owlear, eyes wide with terror, grabbed Birdsong's scruff and dragged her towards the medicine den. Icepaw wondered if she should go help but was stopped by the sight of Crabpaw and Tinypaw rushing over to Owlear. Icepaw turned her attention back to the Twoleg. Its legs were bleeding now, riddled with scratches from Coldsnow. It was still stabbing its claw around in the air, coming perilously close to Rainpaw.

Icepaw suddenly understood that she needed to get that weapon out of the Twoleg's hand. Icepaw ran over to Rainpaw, ducking the Twoleg's foot.

"Rainpaw, give me a boost!" she cried.

"What?"

"A boost. We've got to get that claw!"

Rainpaw's eyes lit up with comprehension. He crouched low to the ground and Icepaw bounded on to his back, planting her feet as firmly as she could on his broad shoulders.

"Go!" she yelled.

Rainpaw catapulted upwards, heaving Icepaw into the open air. Icepaw twisted her body so she was facing the Twoleg. She heard a gasp from below and knew it was Coldsnow, fearing her safety. Icepaw flew through the air, knowing she had one shot, and one chance to knock the weapon out of the Twoleg's hand. Icepaw reached her back legs out as far as they could go. The Twoleg didn't see her until she was right on top of it. It made to swipe the claw at her but she was too fast; her right leg caught the side of the claw and knocked it on to the floor.

Icepaw fell in a heap on her side, by the bramble bushes. Rainpaw rushed over, worry clouding his eyes.

"Are you okay?" he asked quickly.

Icepaw stood up shakily. Her right paw was cut, but she could tell the wound wasn't deep. Her shoulder ached but other then that, she seemed fine.

"Yeah, I think so," she replied, leaning against Rainpaw for support.

Without its weapon, the Twoleg was virtually defenseless. Pinetail leapt for the creature's chest and struck it in the stomach with his unsheathed claws, ripping into its flesh. The Twoleg gave one last howl and then turned and ran from the camp, crashing through the undergrowth.

"Coldsnow, Miststorm, follow it and make sure it doesn't come back. Take Tinypaw too," Silverstar commanded immediately. Coldsnow glanced at his apprentice and tore out of the camp, followed by Miststorm and Tinypaw, both panting heavily.

The camp was quiet. The cats left in the camp were all breathing deeply, looking around nervously as if they expected another Twoleg. Icepaw felt cold despite the mild air. She shivered, a chill running down her spine.

Starclan was right. Riverclan was in danger.