Poor Icepaw huh? If you read, leave a review or I'll get Crabclaw to track you down and eat you. Cheers!

Chapter 17

"So he wouldn't let you become a warrior because you can't hunt properly?" Rainwhisker repeated, stunned. Icepaw nodded her head silently. Rainwhisker looked perplexed. "But that's ridiculous," he muttered.

Icepaw nodded again. Her light grey fur was beginning to get damp from the sprinkle of rain falling from the sky. She was surrounded by Tinypaw, Crabpaw and Rainwhisker, all three cats sympathetic to Icepaw's plight. Icepaw had told them of her failure to become a warrior but she didn't tell them why Coldsnow didn't trust her, she couldn't.

"Don't worry," Crabpaw said, "you'll become a warrior soon. All you have to do is catch a huge crow."

Icepaw laughed unwillingly, blinking rain out of her eyes.

The four cats were sitting in front of the apprentice's den in a tightly knit circle, their backs to the other cats ambling around the clearing. A light patter of paws made Icepaw turn her head around, searching for the sound. She was pleased to see Rainwhisker's old mentor, Birdsong headed towards them. Icepaw noticed that the black she-cat was fully recovered from the previous Twoleg attack on Riverclan camp.

"I just wanted to let you all know that the ceremonies are about to start soon," Birdsong said kindly, smiling at Crabpaw and Tinypaw. Her gaze paused at Icepaw's forlorn face and she startled the grey apprentice by giving her an affectionate lick on the forehead.

Icepaw felt a rush of warmth towards Birdsong. Why couldn't she have been my mentor? She wouldn't have betrayed me, Icepaw thought.

Birdsong gave Icepaw one last consoling look and then ambled off towards Tallrock.

"I'm sorry Crabpaw and I are getting our warrior names before you," Tinypaw said. "I wish we all could sit vigil together."

Icepaw shook her head. "Don't worry about it."

"You deserve it as much as us," Tinypaw insisted.

The victory over the Twolegs had given Silverstar a reason to make Tinypaw and Crabpaw warriors. Icepaw knew that the truth was Riverclan was running low on warriors since Greybelly's death. Miststorm had gotten pregnant with Pinetail's kits and was required to live in the nursery. Not surprisingly, Dawncloud had also become impregnated again. So Silverstar was rushing Tinypaw's and Crabpaw's warrior ceremonies, desperate to have more warriors at her disposal.

Icepaw remembered Willowkit's excitement at being made into an apprentice. Icepaw knew that meant Pondkit would be apprenticed too. There would be quite a number of naming ceremonies tonight.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join me at Tallrock," commanded Silverstar's familiar voice.

Icepaw sighed and followed her friends to the rounded boulder, apprehension gnawing at her belly.

xxx

"Pondkit, from now on, you shall be known as Pondpaw. Rosetail, you are ready to return to the ranks of the warriors. Seakit is old enough now to live in the nursery without you. She will be cared for by Dawncloud now. You are ready for an apprentice. You will be Pondpaw's mentor. Rosetail, you are kind and gentle. I know you will pass on your compassion, love and skills to Pondpaw so he'll become an honorable warrior of Riverclan," Silverstar said grandly.

The cats situated around Tallrock called out Pondpaw's name as he touched noses with Rosetail.

Icepaw smiled in spite of herself. She knew her mother would be an excellent mentor but she suspected Rosetail would miss Seakit's banter immensely.

Icepaw, thinking of Seakit, tried to catch a glimpse of the kit in the sea of cats, finally finding her sitting next to Dawncloud. Icepaw's face fell at the sight of Seakit's eyes. The black kit's usually bright eyes were filled with despair. Icepaw felt her heart fill with pity. She and Seakit both were stragglers, left behind for stupid reasons.

"Willowkit, from now on you shall be known as Willowpaw. Owlear you are ready for an apprentice. You will be Willowpaw's mentor. Owlear I trust you will pass down all your skills as a medicine cat to your new apprentice. Tonight you and Willowpaw will journey to the Moonpool and share tongues with Starclan," Silverstar continued.

Willowpaw, her eyes gleaming with pride and happiness, approached Owlear and lightly pressed her nose against his.

"Willowpaw! Willowpaw!"

Icepaw stole another glance at Seakit. The kitten was plodding back towards the nursery, her head hanging down. Icepaw made a move to follow her but a firm paw pressing on her back stopped her.

It was Rainwhisker.

"Let her have a moment. She won't want you to see her upset again," he advised wisely.

Icepaw considered his words with care. He was right, she decided, Seakit was turning out to be a proud cat, one that didn't always like to be seen as weak. Icepaw nodded, resignedly and turned her attention towards the ceremony again.

At this point, Tinypaw and Crabpaw had padded over to Tallrock, both of their coats fluffed up with self-importance. Icepaw felt mix of conflicting feelings swirl within her. She was glad her friends were going to become warriors but at the same time a vindictive stab made her wish they would stay apprentices forever.

"Fernfoot, Miststorm, are you satisfied that Crabpaw and Tinypaw are ready to become warriors?" Silverstar questioned.

The two she-cats nodded their heads. Icepaw noticed Miststorm's belly was wider than usual; she must have been carrying her kits for a while without Silverstar knowing.

"I, Silverstar, leader of Riverclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. They both have trained hard. Tinypaw, Crabpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Icepaw watched a flicker of hesitation pass across Crabpaw's face. The rain was beginning to come down harder now.

"I do!" Tinypaw squeaked.

"I do," repeated Crabpaw, more calmly.

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior names. Tinypaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Tinystripe. Crabpaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Crabclaw. Riverclan honors you both for your bravery and loyalty and we all welcome you both as full warriors of Riverclan," Silverstar finished. "You two will sit vigil tonight."

Crabclaw and Tinystripe nodded, their eyes glistening with happiness, their pelts wet with rain.

Icepaw felt a wrenching pain in her belly. That could have been me, she though. Rainwhisker seemed to know what she was thinking.

"Don't worry. When you become a warrior you'll show Coldsnow and everyone else how great you are," he murmured gently, nosing Icepaw.

Icepaw licked Rainwhisker's cheek gratefully and then turned, heading back to the apprentice's den.

"Icepaw, wait," came Silverstar's voice from behind the apprentice.

Icepaw faced forward, wondering what the leader wanted from her. She watched as Silverstar weaving her way through the bustle of cats surrounding Tinystripe and Crabclaw, congratulating them and the newly apprenticed Willowpaw and Pondpaw.

"I have a mission for you," Silverstar said quietly as she advanced towards Icepaw.

Icepaw's ear pricked up. "What kind of a mission?" she asked.

"I need you to travel to Shadowclan-no don't give me that look, Icepaw, it's perfectly safe-and tell them about the recent attack on Riverclan. They need to know. Then ask them to pass the message on to the other Clans as well," Silverstar said gravely.

Icepaw looked suspicious. "How can we be sure they won't attack me?"

"Were you listening at the last Gathering?" Silverstar said exasperatedly. "They won't attack a cat in need. They'll listen to you. Tearstar trusts me."

"Am I to go alone?" Icepaw inquired.

Silverstar shook her head, droplets of water flying from her coat. "You will take Rainwhisker. You two seem to make a good team, I know you'll keep each other safe."

Icepaw's heart leapt a little. At least she'd be traveling on to Shadowclan territory with a friend.

"I've just told Rainwhisker. He's waiting for you at the entrance of the camp," Silverstar said.

"You want me to go now?" Icepaw queried, amazed.

Silverstar sighed impatiently. "Yes, Icepaw. Time is of the essence right now. Go, and Starclan be with you."

Icepaw dipped her head politely and bounded off towards the entrance of the camp. Sure enough, Rainwhisker's distinct black and grey fur was just visible through the pouring rain.

As Icepaw trotted up to the tom, she felt eyes on the back of her head. She slowly spun her head around and saw Coldsnow staring at her, pain on his face. Icepaw narrowed her eyes at her mentor and then turned back to Rainwhisker.

"Come on," she said briskly.

The two cats scampered out of the camp, Coldsnow's eyes following Icepaw's retreating back all the way out.