Chapter 16
Worry and unease crawled through Icepaw as she stood beside Bramblepaw and Seawhisker. Fallenstar had led them back to the makeshift camp Seawhisker had told them about earlier. Icepaw could see that most of the cats had survived from the flood.
To her alarm and dismay, Lakepool wasn't among the queens that were gathered outside the nursery. Midnightclaw had her tail wrapped protectively around five kits instead of three. Yellowtail sat nearby, head low and eyes cast fearfully on his kits.
Lakepool must have drowned, Icepaw guessed. Sorrow clenched at her heart as she remembered the friendly she-cat. Lakepool was the only queen who hadn't snapped at her when she was cleaning out their bedding.
"What are they doing here?" Icepaw didn't miss the hostility in Flarepelt's voice when she approached Rosefall and Birdsong.
"They were about to leave while they can," Fallenstar hissed. "The Clans have done nothing for us, why should they start now?"
"The law has been changed," Rosefall suddenly meowed. "Everyone knows that it is wrong to sacrifice innocent kits..." She was cut off by a furious snarl from Flarepelt.
"Even if the law has been changed there is no forgiving you!" she screeched. "I was the only survivor that newleaf!" Her hackles were raised as she glared at Rosefall and Birdsong.
Birdsong's eyes glowed with sympathy when she looked at Flarepelt. Icepaw hung back in the crowd as more and more cats began to voice their opinions.
These strangers weren't welcomed here. Icepaw could see from the haunted look in Brightpaw's eyes that she had conflicted feelings. Birdsong was her mother. Birdsong had given her up when she became Chosen by the leader of her old Clan. How could anyone forgive such actions?
Rosefall suddenly stood up and dipped her head respectfully when the arguments became louder. Icepaw looked away when her mother looked towards her direction. She wasn't sure what to think of all this. Seeing her mother again reminded her of what had happened that night. She could never forget what the Clan had done to her.
"We will leave, if that is your wish," Rosefall meowed. "I am sorry we caused you so much pain." Her eyes were clouded over with grief as she looked back at Fallenstar.
The creamy brown leader didn't seem to care about her sympathy. His fur was bristling as he took another step forward. Their noses were practically touching when he began to speak.
"If I ever catch you hunting in this forest again, I will flay you," he snarled.
Icepaw flinched when she heard the venom in his voice. But her mother refused to waver from the hostile looks he gave her. Rosefall simply dipped her head once again before turning to leave. Birdsong cast one last glance at Brightpaw before following.
She didn't even notice that Bramblepaw had joined her when the two warriors left. Fallenstar was still glaring after them as they disappeared into the undergrowth. By the time their pelts were swallowed by thick vegetation he turned towards Flarepelt.
"I want you to follow them," he hissed.
"But I thought-" Fallenstar cut her off with another snarl.
"Those mangepelts deserve to die for what they did!" he snapped. "And if you don't agree than you can join them!"
A shudder of fear swept down Icepaw's spine as she watched. She had never seen Fallenstar so angry before. Even if she had not been part of the Clan for that long, she knew that this was wrong. Rosefall and Birdsong had willingly left.
He's going to send scouts to murder them, she thought.
"Very well," Flarepelt sighed. She looked back at the gathered apprentices and flicked her tail. "This will be part of your training. Track their scents and follow the trail," she meowed.
"Can we go too?" Ravenkit bounded out of the nursery, nearly pushing Fallenstar aside in the process. Icepaw was surprised that he didn't try attacking the large kit.
"Yeah, we're really good at tracking!" Mistkit announced after puffing out her chest.
"You're too young to go," Flarepelt muttered with a roll of her eyes.
The two kits looked at Flarepelt longingly until they were swept away by Yellowtail. The pale gray tom looked at Flarepelt apologetically before leading them to the makeshift nursery. Midnightclaw was peering outside with her own kits huddled inside.
With a flick of her tail, Flarepelt bounded towards the camp entrance and waited for the apprentices to gather. Icepaw exchanged a worried look with Brightpaw before following.
Something about this mission felt wrong. She knew that following fully trained warriors was a mistake. But Fallenstar was blinded by his rage after seeing cats from the other Clans. Not that Icepaw didn't blame him for being angry. He had every right to hate them for what they did.
But this still feels wrong, she told herself. And her denmates seemed to agree. Bramblepaw kept close to Stormpaw's side, while Windpaw and Fawnpaw trotted on ahead.
Rosefall and Birdsong were taking a winding trail. Icepaw kept close to Brightpaw when they reached the ravine where the old camp was located. She could hear water running nearby and suspected that it was still full from the rain that had fallen two days ago.
Flarepelt dropped to a crouch as she watched the two warriors. Icepaw stood beside her when she noticed that Rosefall was leading the way upriver. Her ears flattened when she realized that they had just followed the river. If she had done the same thing she might have found her mother again.
She would not have wanted you at the time, a voice whispered.
But she wants me back now, Icepaw reminded herself.
If she wanted you so badly she would have fought for you. Instead she fled like a coward with her friend.
Icepaw barely noticed her claws unsheathing as the thoughts churned in her mind. Pure anger coursed through her as she thought of what Rosefall could have done. Her mother could have fought for her in the beginning. Instead Rosefall had watched as her kit was plucked from the nursery like prey. And the Clan would never accept her if she did return.
"Looks like we've found our way back to the Clans," Flarepelt growled. "Go and fetch Fallenstar. It's time we got our revenge." Her eyes were gleaming with anger as she looked back at the forest.
Windpaw and Fawnpaw did as they were told, but Icepaw could see that they were uneasy with this plan. A fight between all four Clans was suicide at best. But Icepaw knew that they would win in the end. They had to in order to survive.
AN: Sorry for the chapter's shortness, but you sort of got to see everyone's reaction. Icepaw was fun to write about, with her conflicting feelings towards Rosefall. And thanks for your reviews, they really do make my day :) Next chapter should be out in a couple of days give or take...