Chapter 22

Three sunrises went by as Icepaw lay in the cool moss bed in the medicine cat's den. She healed slowly and painfully, mushed leaves covering her back for most of the time, stinging her cut flesh. She wasn't the only cat in Owlear's den. Dewfur had taken Miststorm's spot in the corner of the den, not because of his injuries from the battle, but because he had become inflicted with the chill that usually came during the transition from greenleaf to leaf-fall.

Other than Miststorm, no Riverclan cat had died in the horrible attack. Miraculously, Seakit had been able to find Coldsnow and his patrol returning to camp and had told them of the plight that faced their clan-mates. The patrol had returned to camp, bringing reinforcements, and had successfully chased the remaining Windclan warriors out of Riverclan.

Seakit, unscathed and worried for Icepaw, had visited her numerous times, staying especially long the night after Miststorm's burial. The beautiful Riverclan queen had been laid to rest next to Greybelly's body. The Clan was in shock. To lose another cat so close to Greybelly was terrible. Miststorm had been a well-liked cat. Now she would never get to see her kits grow up. Icepaw's body, while weak and wounded, still was aching to get revenge on Strongstar. A hatred unlike one Icepaw had ever felt before welled inside her every time the Windclan leader's name was mentioned.

Immediately following the attack upon Riverclan, Silverstar had sent Tinystripe and Birdsong to Shadowclan and Thunderclan, warning them about Windclan's treachery. Icepaw knew that some cats weren't happy with Silverstar's choice.

"What if Shadowclan and Thunderclan are in cahoots with Strongstar?" Crabclaw had asked Icepaw one day when he arrived to visit her.

Fernfoot and Wingfeet also expressed their dismay at Silverstar's decision to warn the other cats.

"They weren't attacked. They're probably not even in any danger. We can't spare warriors to go running around alerting other clans about danger. We have to survive first," Fernfoot had muttered outside the medicine cat's den.

Icepaw didn't know what was proper to the warrior code in this kind of a situation, but personally, she thought that Silverstar was doing the right thing.

On the fourth day of Icepaw's healing process, Silverstar arrived at Owlear's den, unannounced, and demanded to speak with Icepaw privately. As Owlear left the den, irritated, Silverstar sat down next to Icepaw and stared at her consolingly. Icepaw attempted a grin at her leader and winced slightly as she rose to her paws.

"How are you feeling? Owlear said that you are getting better. The scratches are almost completely healed," Silverstar said pleasantly.

"I'm coming along fine," Icepaw said, now trying to sit up straight without hurting her back too much.

"Icepaw, do you remember that I wanted to tell you something before Windclan attacked us the other day?"

Icepaw had remembered, she'd been thinking about what the leader wanted to tell her that made her so excited and impatient.

"Yes."

"Well what I wanted to tell you is that I am ready to make you a warrior. For real this time," Silverstar said, smiling gently. "I do not care if you can't catch a rabbit; you proved you are worthy of becoming a warrior. That is the third time you have fought in a difficult and dangerous battle on Riverclan territory. It is time."

Icepaw didn't dare hope, she tried to keep her heart-beat steady.

"What about Coldsnow? He doesn't want me to become a warrior," Icepaw said.

Silverstar shook her head. "I got Coldsnow's permission. And even if I hadn't, I still would have made you a warrior. Coldsnow, being your mentor, has a say in when you can become a warrior, but in the end, it is my choice. Your warrior ceremony will be tonight, since you seem up to it. A vigil in the cold fresh air might be the kick in the rear you need to get better."

Icepaw's head was spinning. Was it possible after all this time, she would finally be made a warrior?

"Really? Are you sure?" Icepaw whispered, not looking at Silverstar.

"Surer that anything else," Silverstar said, getting to her feet. "Oh yes, I almost forgot, Seakit will be made an apprentice tonight too. Yes, Seakit. I'm glad you're happy. I'll see you tonight," Silverstar said, laughing at Icepaw's thrilled meow.

"Thank you Silverstar," Icepaw said distractedly.

Seakit and she were finally on their way to becoming an important part of Riverclan. Icepaw couldn't be happier.

xxx

Icepaw's heart was thumping in her chest. She was standing next to Seakit, her body trembling with excitement. Coldsnow was standing on the other side of Tallrock, looking a little shameful and yet still proud. Pinetail stood next to Coldsnow, his head held high and Silverstar was speaking from the top of Tallrock.

"And so, Seakit is ready to become an apprentice. With her amount of talent, courage and loyalty, I know she will be an excellent apprentice. Seakit, from this moment on, you shall be known as Seapaw."

Seapaw looked positively ecstatic now, her eyes shining through the approaching darkness of the night.

Silverstar turned her head to Pinetail, her mouth sternly turned down, but her eyes sparkling with happiness.

"Pinetail, you are ready for another apprentice. You mentored Greybelly and Fernfoot and it is time you take on another cat. You will be Seapaw's mentor," Silverstar commanded. A sudden burst of starlight shone through from the clouds and trickled down to where Seapaw and Icepaw were standing. Silverstar glanced up at the sky.

"Starclan approves," she murmured. Then, looking back down at her clan, Silverstar opened her mouth again.

"Pinetail you have seen the face of Death. Your mate and friend was taken from you. But you prevailed. You are strong and brave. I expect you to pass all your skills on to Seapaw, so that she will become a great warrior of Riverclan."

Seapaw leaned forward to touch noses with Pinetail, who was now looking at his new apprentice with a sad fondness. Seapaw's scent of joy and exhilaration was wafting over Icepaw, making her brim with satisfaction that at last, her friend was becoming an apprentice.

"Seapaw!" Icepaw called out, starting the loud cheering of the new apprentice's name.

Silverstar waited a moment, and then silenced the clan with a flick of her tail.

"Icepaw is ready to become a warrior," she started, her voice calm and light. "She has waited long and fought hard and has proven herself as a loyal and productive member of Riverclan."

Silverstar now turned to Coldsnow.

"Coldsnow, are you satisfied that this apprentice is ready to become a warrior?"

Icepaw turned her blue eyes upon her mentor, waiting. Coldsnow seemed to hesitate, thinking. Icepaw felt a panic rising within her. What if Coldsnow denied her abilities to be a warrior in front of the whole camp?

Coldsnow, not looking at either Silverstar or Icepaw, twitched his ears.

"Yes," he said quietly.

Silverstar glared at Coldsnow for a second and then started speaking again.

"Then I, Silverstar, leader of Riverclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. She has trained long and hard to understand your ways. Icepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Icepaw didn't wait. "I do," she mewed strongly.

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Icepaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Icepool. We honor you for your respect, your bravery and your wit and we welcome you as a full warrior of Riverclan. Congratulations."

xxx

Later, as Icepool sat just outside the camp entrance, starlight pouring over her shiny silvery pelt, all pain from her back forgotten, she realized this was the best day in her life. Her clan-mate's cries echoed in her ears, making her mouth curve up into an irrepressible smile.

Icepool! Icepool! Icepool.

She looked into the orb-like moon and sighed.

"I am Icepool."

Didja like it? I believe I'm almost finished with book 1 in "The Following." But before I post more chapters I want more reviews. Ideally I'd like at least as many reviews as chapters. (Around 22) So if you read, please review.

p.s. yay for Icepool right? About time too.