A/N: In this chapter I've introduced a new character based on my own cat! Try and guess which one, winner gets free virtual pie! As long as you leave a review in the process…
Chapter 6, Icekit's Hero.
"Where have you been?" Redflower said, looking worried and angry.
"She followed her siblings this morning," Lionsky explained, "and ended up at the Thunderpath."
Redflower glared down at Icekit, who looked down at her paws in shame. "I'm sorry, mother." She said quietly.
Redflower glared for a bit longer, then her gaze softened. "Well, I suppose curiosity has to be expected in kits." She said, "And no real harm done." Icekit looked up.
"You mean I'm not in trouble?" She asked hopefully.
"Not right now," Redflower looked fondly down at her kit, "but you better leave before I change my mind." Icekit nodded solemnly and rushed off.
"She's a good kit." Lionsky said.
"Yeah," Redflower looked after Icekit, "thanks for getting her home."
The golden she-cat nodded, "Not a problem. She really is a good kit." Lionsky suddenly thought of something. "I have to talk to Shinestar." She said quickly.
"Okay," Redflower said, looking around, "I had better go see where Icekit has gone off to before she ends up getting herself into more trouble." With that the dark red queen walked off.
"Shinestar?"
"Yes?" The questioning meow came from Shinestar's den, a dark hollow inside a clump of dirt at the base of the Highrock.
"It's Lionsky, can I talk to you?"
"Yes, come in."
Lionsky carefully entered the dark den, and saw Shinestar sitting at the far end, eating a vole.
"Hello, Lionsky." She said, "Care to join me?"
"No thank you," Lionsky stayed standing at the entrance to the den. Meeting with Shinestar always made her nervous. "I just wanted to ask you something."
"Well then, ask away."
"Um, well," Shinestar glared at Lionsky, obviously waiting for her to get to the point, "you know the kit, Icekit?"
"Ahh yes," Shinestar nodded, "the one you saved from the Thunderpath." Lionsky looked at the leader questioningly. Shinestar just smiled. "You of all cats should know that word gets around this Camp faster then in any of the other Clans." Lionsky shifted her feet awkwardly, like she did when anyone mentioned the other Clans.
"Well I was thinking," Lionsky looked around nervously, "well, her siblings are apprentices, and she's still in the nursery, and I was wondering…"
"You were wondering why she wasn't made an apprentice." Lionsky nodded. "Tigermask and I weren't sure she was ready to be made given an apprenticeship yet."
"Wasn't ready?"
Shinestar put on a small smile, "She just seemed too excitable and young to be able to cope with training."
Lionsky suddenly felt the need to say something in defence of the small white and red kit.
"Icekit is a brilliant cat!" She said, "She sniffed out her siblings, and followed them all the way to the clearing with out any training whatsoever!" Shinestar looked at Lionsky with an interested air, but instead of freezing up like she would have normally, Lionsky continued.
"I watched her grow up," she said, "she could sneak up on her siblings easily, and even beat Blackpaw in a play fight once, despite Blackpaw being bigger then both my kits!" Lionsky paused for a moment, seeming to realize what she had just said. "I'm, I'm sorry Shinestar." She murmured, embarrassed at her outburst.
"Well," Shinestar spoke slowly, "it's quite obvious you feel strongly about this, so I shall have to think on the matter." Lionsky nodded, and left the den quickly. She wanted to get back into the sun, and away from the uncomfortable conversation she had just had.
Icekit was sitting outside the nursery, licking the horrible Thunderpath scent from her fur. She looked over to the Camp entrance, just in time to see her brother and sister pushing there way through the ferns that blocked it off from anyone who wasn't a FangClan cat. Icekit jumped up and ran to meet them.
"Hey!" Icekit joined her brother and sister as they made there way to the elders den, freshkill dangling from there jaws, "Guess where I went today?"
"Where?" Blackpaw mumbled around the two mice she was carrying in her mouth.
"Well, first I followed your scent to the training clearing," Icekit started, "then I was going to follow it back, but I got confused and ended up at the Thunderpath!" Blackpaw and Skypaw stared at her, looking dumfounded.
"You went to the Thunderpath?" Blackpaw looked impressed. Icekit just nodded.
"I patrolled the Thunderpath today with dad." Skypaw said, "It was pretty scary."
"That must have been the scent I followed!" Icekit said just as they entered the elders den.
"What's this?" Bluesayer asked. The silver-blue she-cat was the oldest of the elders.
"We were just talking about Icekit going to the Thunderpath today by accident." Skypaw said, dropping the bird and squirrel he caught.
"Oh yes, I heard." Bluesayer nodded. "It's a good thing Lionsky was patrolling there, or you might have been lost for a lot longer." Icekit nodded as Blackpaw gave up her two mice.
"Thanks." Scar-Nose muttered, coming up and grabbing one of the mice. He took it into a corner to eat.
"Oh don't mind him." Flowerpelt said, "He's all hiss and no bite." Scar-Nose grunted.
"Well, you had better be getting your own food now." Bluesayer said, "We'll be fine here." Blackpaw, Skypaw, and Icekit nodded, and left the den, heading for the freshkill pile.
"Lionsky saved you at the Thunderpath?" Blackpaw questioned.
Icekit nodded. "She was patrolling, and pulled me away from the edge just as a Monster was running by." She said earnestly.
"Wow," Skypaw muttered, "that must have been really scary." Icekit nodded again. She continued to retell the events of that morning, while her siblings and her shared a meal.
"Redflower!" Squirreltail rushed up to the she-cat, panting, her tail fluffed out like always.
"Yes?" Redflower turned away from her freshkill and looked at the small black and white female with mild interest. Squirreltail often had something interesting to say, even if it was just about a noise she had heard in a bush while on patrol.
"Shinestar wants to see you!" Gasped the little warrior. It was as if she had just ran around the entire Camp, trying to find Redflower, which she probably had. Squirreltail tended to overreact.
"Alright, I'll go see her." Redflower got up and walked towards the leaders den. Squirreltail watched her go, then sighed and flopped onto the grass. She was tired out.
Redflower approached the den, and called into the opening, "You wanted to talk to me, Shinestar?"
"Yes, come in, Redflower." The leader meowed. Redflower entered the den, and Shinestar started to speak.
"It has been brought to my attention that you still have a kit with you."
"Yes, Icekit." Redflower shuffled her paws, Icekit was more then ready to become an apprentice, yet 'kit' was still part of her name.
"Well, I have talked to Tigermask, and we have agreed that it was high time she was made into an apprentice. The ceremony will be held tonight, and I expect you and your kit to be there."
Redflower nodded quickly. "We will be, Shinestar. Thank you." With that, Redflower left the den, fast. She had to find Icekit, she would be so exited!