CHAPTER 14
Icepaw let out a low growl in the back of his throat. His fur bristled as the cats around him gasped in shock. He was back in the StormClan camp, Spottedpaw somewhere ahead.
"We will fight for them!" Minnowstar yowled above the noise.
How could he be half-Clan? Icepaw had lived in StormClan all his life. He had trusted Russet-tail. He looked over at that lying, fox-hearted she-cat and felt no emotions but hatred. He knew she had raised him, but why keep his parentage a secret?
Russet-tail looked up and met his gaze, but said nothing. No apology, or anything. Her eyes held it all, but Icepaw didn't care. He turned away from her, and numbly followed Spottedpaw into the center of the camp. He repeated his words again, but felt no meaning behind them. Then, once again, he followed the BrookClan cats away from his old camp. But instead of staying, StormClan cats chased him with anger in their voices.
Icepaw yowled, and started running, ignoring the painful thorns pricking his paws and making him trip. He hit the river, which was thawed this time, and swam towards the BrookClan bank. But instead of stopping, the angry cats kept coming. "Icepaw!" they hissed. "Icepaw!"
"Icepaw, wake up! You're kicking me!"
Icepaw burst back into the waking world, gasping for breath. He looked up at Spottedpaw, who glared at him.
"Go back to sleep!" she whispered.
"Sorry," Icepaw whispered, sitting up. "Is it almost sunrise?"
Spottedpaw shook her head. "Can't sleep?"
"Yeah," Icepaw murmured, laying back down. "I'll be fine."
"Okay." Spottedpaw mewed, doing the same.
Icepaw waited until his sister's breathing slowed before he picked his way carefully over her, and out into the icy night. Snow still fell gently down, but Icepw didn't care. He was restless. The camp guard, Reedheart, was dozing, and Icepaw saw his chance. He crept out of the camp, careful not to fall into a snowdrift, and searched the clearing. He saw a small, low-hanging tree at the riverbank, and climbed the trunk. He chose the tallest branch to sit on, and stared off into the snow-filled territory. In the distance, a gray Thunderpath cut through BreezeClan territory. A square, red metal thing rolled across it. Monster. Icepaw thought, thinking of the day Dewpelt had described the things with wide eyes. With a sigh, Icepaw turned to look at the other side of the river, his true home.
Icepaw almost jumped as he heard a rustling noise as a cat joined the spot beside him on his branch. Without turning, he scented Dawnpaw.
"Hey."
Icepaw only nodded.
"Thought you needed someone to annoy you," she joked lightly. Her voice softened. "Bad dream?"
Icepaw nodded again, and looked up at Silverpelt. The moon would soon be full. Dawnpaw pressed up against him, following his gaze.
"Do you think your parents are up there?" she asked, touching his tailtip with hers.
Icepaw shrugged. "Maybe." he sighed, and turned to meet her amber gaze. "What do you think it's like?"
"In StarClan?" Dawnpaw inquired.
"Yeah."
"I don't know. Endless hunting..."
"Always warm, no boundaries..." Icepaw finished wistfully.
"You miss StormClan, don't you?"
Icepaw didn't reply, but turned back to the sky.
Dawnpaw licked his cheek. "Well, I know it's not the same, but for now, I'll be your family."
Icepaw entwined his tail with hers. If only things were simpler.
Awww, so sweet... :') Dawnpaw liiiikes him! *wink wink*
