Sorry this chapter is a little short, I was reading Harry Potter. Review review review!

Chapter 20

By the morning, every cat in camp knew that Miststorm had given birth in the middle of the night and was now drifting in and out of consciousness in Owlear's den, gravely injured from her premature childbirth.

Owlear and Willowpaw had returned from Moonpool early in the morning and Icepaw, her eyes heavy with insomnia had been given the task of reporting the events of that night.

Miststorm had given birth to five kits and then collapsed. A distraught Rosetail had to scrounge up enough of her diminishing supply of milk for the kits.

When Icepaw had gone to check on her mother and the kits near dawn, Rosetail was asleep and one kit was lying still, not breathing.

"No," whispered Icepaw, gently shaking Rosetail awake.

The tiny grey tabby had died during the night, her body weakened by her own unseasonable birth.

But the remaining four kits seemed healthy enough; their squirming bodies pushing against each other as they sucked Rosetail dry of milk. There was no doubt that these kits were Pinetail's. They all bore markings similar to their father's. Hawkkit, Stormkit, Runningkit, and Mosskit slept soundly for the first four hours of their lives, not knowing their mother was fatally wounded across the camp.

Icepaw hadn't slept at all. She had relayed Starclan's second warning to Silverstar, including Leopardstar's ominous notification about the strong-willed warrior. The grey leader had looked concerned and pulled an upset Pinetail aside momentarily to talk with him in low, conspiratorial voices.

It was now around sun-high and the camp was pretty empty. Rosetail had taken a break from baby-sitting the kits to escort Pondpaw while he went hunting. Wingfeet, Rockpaw, Rainwhisker, and Coldsnow were on a patrol and the rest of the camp was out hunting or training. The only cats left in the camp besides the elders and the kits were Icepaw, Silverstar, Dawncloud, Owlear, Willowpaw and Miststorm.

Icepaw entered the musty nursery for the hundredth time, carrying some foul-smelling herbs from Willowpaw. Dawncloud was laying on the floor, her tail swept over the kits.

"Owlear says to eat these," Icepaw said, pushing the stinking plants towards Dawncloud, who was nursing the kits. "He said they'll make your supply of milk increase."

Dawncloud grimaced and distastefully chewed the leaves of the plant, making a face. One of the kits mewed pathetically, its tiny eyes blinking blearily. Dawncloud instantly looked down and licked the kit's head soothingly.

"There, there," she murmured.

Icepaw dipped her head to Dawncloud and tiptoed out of the den. She wasn't surprised to spot Seakit waiting for her near the hollow tree. The kitten's black fur was gleaming in the sun; the rain had finally stopped and the warmth that had been blocked by the clouds was returning to the world. The air was still brisk and cool however and Icepaw realized that greenleaf was ending at last.

Seakit was fidgeting around nervously, her ears twitching like a rabbit's.

"Hey Seakit, are you okay?" Icepaw said, glancing down at the kit.

Seakit attempted a brave smile. "I'm fine," she insisted. Her eyes wandered over to the medicine cat's den. "Did you see Miststorm yet?" she asked Icepaw.

Icepaw shook her head. "Would you like to come with me? We could visit her now," the apprentice offered.

Seakit nodded energetically. "Yes please. She was so kind to me in the nursery, even though she was only there for a little bit. She said I'd be an apprentice any day now."

Icepaw looked sadly at Seakit. She hoped Silverstar would make her friend into the apprentice she was meant to be soon.

"Come on, let's bring Miststorm something from the fresh-kill pile, maybe her appetite will come back," Icepaw suggested.

Seakit didn't even respond; she rushed off to the fresh-kill pile and went about selecting the most delectable fresh-kill she could find. Icepaw smiled at Seakit's enthusiasm.

She knew the kit would make a great apprentice, and an even better warrior.

xxx

"How is she," muttered Icepaw to Owlear, her eyes darting around the medicine cat's den. The floor was covered in a mess of different herbs and mosses, all strewn about haphazardly. Miststorm was lying with her back pressed against the wall of reeds, her eyes closed. Her breathing seemed ragged and irregular. Seakit was crouched over the queen, her mouth opened in pity. Willowpaw was standing over Seakit, looking at the two cats sympathetically.

"I think she'll make it," Owlear whispered back, "she was gravely injured. She's bleeding inside somewhere. She won't be able to fight or give birth again. She'll have to join the elders."

Icepaw gasped in sadness. To never fight as a warrior again would be a horrible blow to Miststorm.

"There's nothing else you can do for her?" Icepaw asked.

"All I can do is make her comfortable and pray that Starclan lets her live," Owlear said, pain flooding his eyes. "If only I was there..."

Icepaw immediately felt guilty. She hadn't meant for Owlear to blame himself.

"It's not your fault," Icepaw said, raising her voice slightly.

Willowpaw glanced over at her mentor, her tail twitching.

Owlear didn't answer, but slowly trotted to the back of his den where he started to mix a solution of herbs together.

"Willowpaw, come here. Can you tell me what burdock root does?" he asked, trying to keep the torment and shame from his voice.

Willowpaw hurried over to her mentor and looked prompt.

"Burdock root can cure infections and can be used to help painful rat bites," Willowpaw replied after a moment of thought.

Icepaw sighed, knowing she'd been dismissed by the medicine cat.

"Come on Seakit, let's leave Miststorm. She needs rest," the grey apprentice meowed.

Seakit reluctantly rose to her black paws and followed Icepaw out of the den and into the sunlight.

Almost at once, Silverstar rushed over to the two cats, her eyes wide with excitement. Icepaw stopped walked and waited for the leader, curiosity bubbling within her.

"I want to thank you two for everything you've done for Miststorm and this clan," started Silverstar. "Those kits are going to be perfectly fine. And as you know, Dawncloud is pregnant too and she has told me that she will be ready to give birth in a few weeks time."

"That's great," yelped Seakit, smiling broadly. "The nursery will be full of new kits!"

Silverstar looked down kindly at Seakit and then glanced at Icepaw.

"I have great news for the both of you," she began, her grey fur fluffing out in the cool breeze. "You both will-"

A loud howl cut off Silverstar's next words. The three cats spun around, their claws unsheathed. Standing at the entrance of the camp like he owned it, was Strongstar. A long line of cats were standing behind him, spread out around the boarders of the camp.

Icepaw gasped. They were surrounded!

Strongstar opened his silver-tinted muzzle and caterwauled again, his scream an open threat.

"We have come to take Riverclan territory," he declared. "Windclan wants the river. If you give it to us peacefully, we will not attack you."

Silverstar hissed, her fur standing on end, a burning anger visible in her eyes.

"How dare you?" she screeched. "This is OUR land and you shall not have it!"

"Very well then," Strongstar sighed, as if Silverstar had let him down, "you have chosen your own fate."

With a third piercing cry, Strongstar charged into the clearing, the stream of Windclan cats following him.

Icepaw's heart seemed to stop for a spilt second as she finally realized what Leopardstar was warning them against.

Beware the strong-willed cat, he is prominent in your future.

'Strong-willed' didn't just mean determination, it meant a name! Strongstar was the cat that would pose such a threat to Riverclan! Icepaw's head was reeling. Why hadn't she seen it? Icepaw cursed herself for being so blind as the flood of hostile cats raced forwards. Icepaw suddenly remembered that there was only two apprentices, a medicine cat, one wounded and one pregnant queen and Silverstar left in the camp. She knew that this attack wasn't random.

Windclan had planned it, and that meant they had been watching Riverclan!

Icepaw felt a growl grow stronger and stronger in her throat. Finally she screamed in defiance and ran ahead, hurt and anger blazing in her eyes.

Icepaw bared her teeth, stretched out her claws and snarled as she crashed into the first cat she could reach.

Then the chaos began.