AN: Wow, another group of positive feedbacks! Thanks everyone, they're greatly appreciated. And don't worry about this sounding too much like Unwanted Kits. The plotline will change drastically if all goes according to plan.
Chapter 2
For the next few days Icepaw and the other apprentices were shown around LeafClan's vast territory. It was bigger than Icepaw could have imagined.
To the east was a Twolegplace that reminded her of the empty nests that Rosefall once showed her. To the west were streams and ponds that Icepaw daftly avoided. She kept having the same nightmare of falling into the river and drowning. Every time she woke up her nest would be torn apart, and she would have to find a new one. Behind LeafClan's forest lay the other Clans' territories, but they were unaware of their large neighbor's presence.
Icepaw had a feeling that if they did meet, it would end in bloodshed. The Clans wouldn't let the Chosen live if they knew the truth. Fallenstar had nine lives, while the rest of his Clan had just one. Or two if they counted surviving the rapids.
Now Icepaw was with Seawhisker, and the speckled silver tabby seemed more reluctant than ever to take her out. The other apprentices had left the camp with their mentors. Icepaw waited for Seawhisker to arrive, but patient as she was, Icepaw started to get annoyed.
"So is there any reason why she hates me?" Icepaw managed to ask Flarepelt as the deputy approached her. Amusement gleamed within Flarepelt's eyes as she looked down at the smaller apprentice.
"You don't see the resemblance do you?" she asked in a purr. When Icekit only tilted her head to one side, Flarepelt shook her head. "Seawhisker is Rosefall's sister," she explained. Icepaw stared at Flarepelt in disbelief, and the deputy went on, "Seawhisker was the only Chosen to survive that season. It was hard for her, watching all of those getting claimed by the water. She never really recovered from it, but you can never tell."
Shock and horror coursed through Icepaw when Flarepelt led her apprentice out of camp.
No wonder she's so resentful! Icepaw realized when Seawhisker approached her. And she probably recognized my scent too, unless the river washed it away. Icepaw gave her fur a careful sniff, and sighed in relief when she recognized the faint scent of DayClan.
"We have battle training," Seawhisker meowed when she approached her apprentice. Icepaw looked up at her in surprise before nodding. "And don't think I am going to take it easy on you because you're young," she added coldly.
Icepaw simply rolled her eyes in response as Seawhisker led the way out of camp. They didn't stop racing through the undergrowth until they reached what appeared a hollow dip in the ground. By the time Seawhisker had stopped Icepaw was already gasping for breath. Her legs weren't as long as Seawhisker's, and the older cat seemed all too aware of it. Seawhisker simply smirked when Icepaw managed to peer past the ferns that grew around the hollowed ground.
Her eyes narrowed when she saw six cats in the hollow, each practicing their own fighting moves. She recognized Reedshine and Bramblepaw. Foxpaw and Yellowtail were there, along with Ashcloud and Lightpaw.
"Reedshine, would you and Bramblepaw mind working with Icepaw?" Seawhisker asked when the tortoiseshell looked at her in surprise. "I'd like to teach her partner fighting." Her tail flicked when she looked back at Icepaw, who simply stared at Bramblepaw.
I have to work with him? she thought. Bramblepaw seemed just as annoyed to be working alongside her.
"By teaching our younger Chosen to work together, it shows that you are truly Clanmates," Reedshine explained as she sat beside Seawhisker. They were led away from the other two apprentices. Icepaw only caught a glimpse of Lightpaw as she tackled Ashcloud to the ground. "You both may still feel uneasy from growing up in different Clans, but here in LeafClan there are no boundaries." She glanced at Seawhisker, who simply nodded in agreement.
Icepaw's ears flattened at the thought of working alongside Bramblepaw, but she new better than to argue. He looked just as unhappy with their idea. But in time she knew that they would get along, like she had gotten along with Brightpaw and Applepaw.
She studied the dark ginger tom carefully, eyes narrowed into tiny slits. Bramblepaw kept shuffling his paws against the ground as she watched. It seemed as though he was struggling to sit still, which would work towards her advantage. She was about to leap forward when she felt a paw slam her into the ground.
A yowl of shock and panic escaped from Icepaw's lungs. She looked up to see Reedshine standing above her. By the time she looked back at Bramblepaw, he was already pinned down by Seawhisker. Both cats held looks of amusement when they released the newer apprentices.
"First mistake of battle: You were watching your Clanmate, not your enemy," Seawhisker meowed. "You could have been flayed if this was a real battle."
Without warning Icepaw had managed to swat a paw across Reedshine's nose. Bramblepaw saw what she was doing and jumped onto her back, ignoring the look of surprise Seawhisker had given him. Once Bramblepaw was on his mentor's back, there was no letting go. Icepaw managed to roll out of the way just in time as Reedshine was about to crush her.
Icepaw avoided a blow towards her head when Seawhisker attacked. Her tail lashed from side to side as she jumped to avoid getting hit. Seawhisker was about to cuff her around the ears when Bramblepaw managed to jump in just in time. Icepaw stared in disbelief when his ears got cuffed instead.
"Well done!" Reedshine purred when Seawhisker sat back. "Working together like that proves that you are truly Clanmates."
I could never be Clanmates with him! Icepaw reminded herself. All he ever does is play or act like some mousebrained kit. He never grows up!
"We should get back soon," Seawhisker suddenly murmured when she looked up at the sky. "It's getting late."
"Can we go hunting first?" Bramblepaw asked pleadingly.
"I don't see why they can't have hunting lessons," Reedshine mewed when she glanced at Seawhisker. Seawhisker seemed a bit more reluctant to take them hunting, but she simply nodded in response.
Excitement coursed through Icepaw when she bounded after her Clanmates. Finally she could do something useful for a change! Her ears pricked forward as she picked up the scent of something that reminded her of the fresh-kill pile at camp.
"Now before we do any real hunting, what is the first thing you must tell me about hunting mice?" Reedshine asked when she looked down at the two apprentices.
"Mice can feel the vibrations of your pawsteps," Bramblepaw quickly explained. "And rabbits are excellent at hearing, so you have to tread quietly."
"Very good," Reedshine purred in amusement at her apprentice's enthusiasm. "And there's something else as well," she added.
"You need to... check the wind's direction?" Icepaw made it sound like a question, but she remembered Applepaw and Foxpaw arguing about it days ago.
"Don't say it like it is a question!" Seawhisker snapped angrily. "If you know the answer than simply say it!"
Icepaw's fur bristled with embarrassment when she saw the resentment in Seawhisker's eyes. Every mistake she made seemed to only make Seawhisker angrier. With a sigh of frustration she looked away as Reedshine explained how test the wind's direction.
"Now try it on your own," Reedshine meowed when they were finished going over the techniques.
Icepaw watched as Bramblepaw disappeared into the thick undergrowth. With a flick of her tail she jumped into the ferns nearby and tasted the air. Her mouth began to water once more when she picked up the scent of what she guessed was mouse.
She checked the wind's direction like Reedshine had told her to. Once that was finished Icepaw searched for the prey she had scented. She kept low to the ground once she pinpointed the mouse's location. It was hiding under a holly bush, oblivious to anything around it.
Each pawstep was placed carefully on the ground as Icepaw slowly stalked her prey. She wasn't going to mess up on her first hunting trip, not when she wanted to please her mentor. Icepaw took one last careful step before leaping forward. The mouse was within reach when she felt something sharp graze against her skin.
A yelp of pain escaped from Icepaw's lungs when she landed on the ground. The mouse had already seen her coming, and ran towards the nearest burrow. Icepaw glared after the mouse as she struggled to stand. The sharp object had grazed her skin again, and her paws flailed helplessly against the bush.
"Hold still you mousebrain!" Seawhisker's growl sent thrills of alarm through Icepaw. "You're getting attacked by a holly bush," Seawhisker added when Icepaw managed to relax. Her voice was filled with amusement as Icepaw crept from under the bush. Embarrassment flashed through Icepaw once more when Seawhisker sighed in frustration. "Don't you know better than to hunt near these bushes? They have thorns you know," Seawhisker muttered.
"I've never really had the chance to leave camp before," Icepaw hissed resentfully.
Seawhisker's eyes suddenly lit with understanding. She sighed and sat down.
"I see... I'm sorry," she murmured. "I know I haven't exactly been the best mentor for you, have I?" When Icepaw remained silent, Seawhisker looked away. "You just... remind me so much of my sister, Rosekit. Every time I look at you I'm reminded of her, the way you act and the way you move."
"Mother abandoned me the day I was Chosen," Icepaw snarled. The sudden venom in her voice made her blink in surprise, but every word was true.
"Who... who was your mother?" Seawhisker suddenly asked.
"Rosefall." Icepaw nearly spat the name out. Sorrow for losing her mother had turned into bitter rage. Seawhisker's eyes widened in disbelief, and Icepaw was suddenly reminded of the story Flarepelt had told her. "She never mentioned that she had a sister," Icepaw added in a low whisper.
"I'm not surprised," Seawhisker muttered crossly. "It is against the warrior code to mention the kits that are Chosen."
Icepaw looked up at Seawhisker in surprise. That would explain why the ceremony was rarely mentioned. She remembered a few of the kits asking why she was acting so differently before that Gathering. She tried to remember their names, and faintly remembered a Petalkit at one point.
"We should get back and have those wounds checked," Seawhisker murmured when she looked down at Icepaw's wounds.
It took a few heartbeats for Icepaw to remember she had even received them. Once she was reminded of them though the pain returned. Her teeth ground together as she limped to where they were meeting with Reedshine and Bramblepaw.
The two were already there, and Bramblepaw was holding a freshly killed shrew. His eyes gleamed with pride until he saw Icepaw and Seawhisker return.
"What happened to you?" Reedshine asked when she noticed the wounds.
"A holly bush attacked her," Seawhisker replied.
Reedshine looked like she was ready to burst with laughter when she thought better of it. Icepaw shot her a cold glare as they left for camp.
It took them longer because of Icepaw's limp, but for once Seawhisker showed no signs of frustration. Instead she stayed by Icepaw's side, giving the young apprentice a gentle nudge when they were close to camp. Icepaw glanced at her thankfully before limping through the tunnel of trees.
Seawhisker led her to the medicine cat's den, and Icepaw felt a wave of relief wash over her when Greenclaw emerged from the entrance. His green eyes were where his name came from. He was a Chosen cat from a few moons ago. Icepaw remembered Mothflower, one of the elders, mentioning that he had always wanted to become a medicine cat from the day he first joined LeafClan.
"You're wounds aren't deep," Greenclaw meowed when he gave them a careful sniff. "But I'll put marigold and cobwebs on them to stop the bleeding and prevent infection," he added before disappearing back into the den.
Heartbeats seemed to pass as he fumbled around his den. Icepaw tried to catch a glimpse of the herbs that were stored inside. Greenclaw returned with what appeared to be golden petals, and cobwebs wrapped around a branch. She closed her eyes when the poultice was ready. Greenclaw wasted no time in spreading it around her wounds, and it caused them to sting in response.
"Just give your shoulder a rest for a couple of days," he told her once he was finished. "Your wounds will be fine after that."
"Thank you," Icepaw mewed with a dip of her head.
She was thankful they hadn't become infected. When she glanced over her shoulder she saw that Seawhisker was already gone.
"We heard you got hurt!" Brightpaw mewed when Icepaw returned to the apprentice's den. "Bramblepaw told us what happened," she added when Icepaw looked at her in confusion.
"Oh, I um..." Icepaw stopped when she realized she would just cause more embarrassment.
Getting caught under a holly bush, what sort of mousebrain does something like that? she wondered. A sudden surge of determination coursed through Icepaw as she thought of how things could have gone better. I'm going to get better, she promised herself. Nothing will stand in my way, and I'll show them all that I'm not an embarrassment to the Clan!
And that was a promise Icepaw was determined to keep.