Writing this chapter feels awkward and is only the beginning of the reason it's rated M. but don't worry it's a mild...M...yeah...JUST ENJOY...AND R&R!!
Chapter three- Happy Day:
Icekit padded out of the nursery, sniffing the air cheerfully. The snow was beginning to melt, revealing soft green grass and the warm sent of rich earth. The green and brown earth seemed so new to Icekit. Ever since she was born she had lived in leaf-bare, where the ground was always icy and cold. She had often heard her father Sunstripe and other warriors complain about the leaf-bare being to long for their taste, along with some sort of threat. Icekit hung her head, her eyes deep in thought. Everyone seemed more relaxed now...Now that they thought this terrible 'ice storm' couldn't happen. Why was everyone scared of this ice storm anyway? surly if it had came, nothing would have changed? Snow and ice would be around SkyClan like it usually did in leaf-bare. Then why...why were they so scared?
Suddenly she felt a small tug on her side. She turned her head suddenly, her train of thought shattering into a million broken pieces. A small brown kit was rubbing up against her side, his eyes sad and more distressed then usual. Icekit hummed softly at the sight of the creamy-brown tom-kit. She licked the top of his head gently, making him flinch from her cold touch. He whimpered, pushing his small shaking body closer into her snow-white pelt, shivering like a starving kit all on it's own.
"Thornkit." She purred lightly, pulling herself away from his clingy rub. "It's okay! I'm only becoming an apprentice. it's not like I'm dieing or anything." She laughed, but Thornkit's expression was far from hurerous.
"But you wont be here!" He complained, his wide amber eyes glistening in the bright sunlight. He folded back his ears, as if he was watching his only living realitive die before his own two eyes. Icekit laughed gently, grazing her tail across the younger kit's shoulder. It was somehow amusing how Thornkit over reacted at times.
"You're going to be joining me and Dockkit in two moons, Thornkit. Besides, I'll visit you everyday during my new apprentice duties. Promise." She vowed, puffing out her chest like a true warrior.
"But it wont be the same!" Thornkit moaned, his tiny white tail-tip flicking with distress. Icekit couldn't help but giggle at his wide amber-colored eyes gazing up at her as if he would never see her again. The little kit had really looked up to Icekit in many ways. Thornkit had no other siblings and his mother Spottedfur never paid any attention to him. Icekit felt sorry for the young kit deep inside. She may have lost her mother but she met her, therefore didn't know her personality or even how she looked like. Imagine the pain of losing your mother while you can still feel and hear her beside you. Icekit hung her head slightly, grazing Thornkit's shoulder more rapidly now. Just as she open her mouth for a few encouraging words, a loud yowl for a gathering stole her voice from her throat.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here, before the Silver Rock for a Clan meeting." Icekit shot her head straight up, turning toward Maskstar and where he sat on the glistening Silver Rock. Icekit smiled slightly to herself, remembering her big moment for the day. She had started to step forward when she felt another small tug on her fure. Thornkit looked up with distressed eyes, his limbs shaking with worry. She smiled sweetly, liking his ear tips one last time. Thornkit returned her compassion with a weak smirk, unable to muster any more then that. Icekit grinned widely, touching her nose to Thornkit's before dashing off after her brother. Dockkit smiled at her and the siblings brushed their tails together. Icekit didn't know what she'd do if she didn't have a brother like him and suddenly felt a large thorn hit her heart. Thornkit didn't have someone like Dockkit. He only had her.
"Today we gather around to welcome two new kits into the Clan." Maskstar announced proudly. Icekit felt her brother bouncing on his pads, barley able to contain his excitement. She couldn't help but share his enthusiasm. Finally they would become apprentices! She felt her heart beating against her ribs, unable to predict what would happen to her as an apprentice. She looked up at her father, Sunstripe, his bright ginger pelt beaming in the newly found sunlight. His green eyes were glowing with pride for his two kits. Icekit puffed out her chest, proud to be the strong deputy's daughter. She had heard many stories about Sunstripe. About how he help make SkyClan stronger when they had the fewest warriors out of all four Clans. And how he single-handily fought off three SunClan intruders by himself. She closed her eyes, dreaming of one day becoming as well known and respected as him.
"Dockkit, Icekit, please step forward." Maskstar once again forced her back into reality. She leaped, dashing after her pale ginger brother, who laughed as she finally caught up with him. She smiled, seating herself before her white, brown and black leader with wide and anxious eyes. He continued, "From this moment forward, until hey have earned their warrior names, these kits will be known as Dockpaw and Icepaw. Sandshifter, you shall train Dockpaw with your agility and wisdom. Snakefire shall be mentor to Icepaw. Teach her well with your courage and bravery."
Icepaw felt her body swell up with pride as she scanned the crowd for her new mentor. Snakefire stepped out, his eyes shining like stars. Icepaw smiled weakly out of nervousness as the gray tabby warrior pressed his nose against hers. He murmured his approval but she wasn't listening. She was side-glancing toward Dockpaw and his new mentor, Sandshifter. Sandshifter smiled kindly, her long legs having to crouch in order to reach Dockpaw's nose. Dockpaw had always been the shortest in SkyClan. Icepaw giggled softly to herself, pulling her nose away from her mentor. She turned and stood tall, puffing out her chest in pride as all of SkyClan began chanting her name. She closed her eyes, imagining them chanting her warrior name even louder. Maybe her name would be so great, just to show how awesome she was compared to her father. Maybe a name like Iceheart, or Icestripe, or maybe even Icehero in honor of her great bravery from saving her Clan from curtain doom. She smiled lost in her own imagination of picuring herself fighting off intruders and saving SkyClan from monsters. Someday, she'd be the hero
Icepaw couldn't sleep. She could only stare outside of the apprentice's den in wonder. Streakpaw and Tawnypaw had greeted her and her brother warmly to their new den. Streakpaw even offered a nest next to him for her to sleep in. She kindly refused, choosing to sleep next to her brother. She was still used to cuddling up next to his pale ginger pelt and that wasn't going to change for a long time. Cayonpaw, the old apprentice in the den had ignored Icepaw completely. When she came up to her to say hello, she simply grazed her deep yellow eyes over her pelt and sniffed with disgust. Icepaw pouted. Why did Cayonpaw hate her? Was it because she was the deputy's daughter? She remembered Smokebelly talking with Crookedeyes about Cayonpaw's father. From what she had heard, Cayonpaw's father was a loner who joined SkyClan many moons ago. He apparently was kicked out of SkyClan after Sunstripe revealed his evil doings, yet she had failed to learn what he had done wrong.
Suddenly there was shifting outside her den. She slowly perked her ears, leaning forward into the dark night. Suddenly a shape popped out in front of her, two dark orange eyes glaring at her through the darkness. She tried to scream but it was cut back as a dark gray tail flicked it's self over her lips.
"Shh...Icepaw it's me...Snakefire." A voice called to her. She relaxed her shoulders, seeing her mentor's fimilar shape and dark tabby stripes that streaked his body. "We're going to do some late night training."
"What?" She whispered to her mentor. "Aren't we supposed to train in the mornings with the other apprentices?"
Snakefire brushed his tail down her shoulder and stood up tall in the twinkling moonlight. "Trust me." He meowed in a strong voice. Icepaw gulping, weighing her options. She could go out into the dark forest alone with Snakefire where she'll most likely trip over a twig and fall into a fox den or she could stay here and sleep where she'll already have to get up in the mornings to start her training anyway. What could be the harm with going out with him? Besides, she could trust Snakefire. he probably knew the whole forest inside and out. So she smiled and dipped her head, slowly crawling outside of the den so not to awaken her den mates.
Snakefire smirked, rubbing his tail across her shoulder kindly. Icepaw giggled lightly, skipping after Snakefire as he lead her into the darkness. The walk through the forest seemed scarier then she imagined. The trees she once saw from outside her den now seemed alien and terrible with out stretching limbs just waiting to snatch her. She coward close to her mentor, her ice blue eyes wide with fear. Snakefire rubbed his tail across her shoulder comfortingly, guiding her deeper and deeper into the forest. New scents filled her nostrils, making her whiskers twitch in excitement and wonder.
Suddenly Snakefire paused, a dark smile spread across his face. "We're here..." He muttered coldly.
Icepaw shivered. "Where?"
"A place no one will hear, scent or see us...That Tar Pits." He announced, narrowing his eyes in pleasure. "Now, no more playing pretend. Bend over."
"What?" ICepaw took a step back, staring at her mentor with wide eyes. "Why?"
"Just do what I say!" Snakefire hissed, slicing his paw across Icepaw's face. Icepaw staggered back, surprised at her mentor's sudden aggressiveness
"You said we were going to train! What does bending over have to do anything about training?!" She protested.
"Shut up and bend over!" He snapped, forcing Icepaw downward with brute force. She gasped din surprise, feeling her body drop like a unexpected weight.
"What are you doing?!" She yowled, feeling her mentor slowly mount his self on top of her much smaller body. She felt something sharp and hard pierce its self in her opening. She screamed in surprise, her young mind unsure of what was happening to her.
Snakefire only laughed, making the sharp thing hurt even more. He thrusted it around and jabbed her walls. The more he thrusted the more she screamed but he never stopped like Dockpaw would stop clawing her when she screamed in play fights. No, he did not stop.
"Be still. This is your training." He hissed, his normally comforting and inviting voice becoming harsh and angry.
"What do you mean my training? It- GAH!- it hurts!" Icepaw moaned, squirming uncomfortably under his heavy weight and force.
"Have you not figured it out already?" He hissed, pushing in harder and making her screech in pain. "One day, when you become a warrior...You're going to be my mate. I decided to put you out of the misery of find out the hard way on your ceremony!" He grunted, thrusting into one of her walls.
"Your..Your mate?!" Icepaw felt tears on the ends of her eyes. "Why? Why can't I have a choice why are you-" She cut herself off, screaming loudly into the harsh and cruel night.
"Think about it, Icy." He snickered. "Someday I'll be the mate of the very Sunstripe's kits. The Clan will look at me for not only being the best fighter, but earning the trust of our deputy! And once our flea-bag of a leader dies and Sunstripe becomes leader, guess who's going to be number one of his choices for deputies?!" He crackled darkly, scrapping his claws across her side to create even more pain.
Icepaw's tear finally broken out. She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs, not just because of the stress and pain, but because of her brokenness inside. Why? why would he do this when she trusted him to teach her? She broke down, sobbing as Snakefire continued his job. This day was supposed to be happy, a day of rebrith and joy. Instead, it was only the birthing of a nightmare. A very long nightmare that would last Icepaw for the rest of her life. A nightmare she would never wake up from...never
