Chapter 1- It Starts

"Achoo!" A small body next to me sneezed and turned.

"Keep still," a voice on the other side growled. "I bet the mice could feel your fidgeting Rainkit."

"Aww, be nice Snowkit! Wasn't his fault he sneezed. It is a bit stuffy in here," I argued.

I got up and sat in the entrance to the nursery. I saw Bramblestar, my grandfather and clan leader. He was giving orders to Cloudwing, my mother and loyal deputy. I felt Daisy get up and sit next to me.

"Tomorrow's the big day, isn't it Icekit? Are you excited?" Daisy asked, licking the top of my head.

"You bet! I've never been more excited in my life!" I sighed.

"What's the matter? You're not happy?"

I sighed again. I looked across the clearing to the medicine den. Snowkit wanted to be a medicine cat. She's helped Leafpool and Jayfeather with herbs and poultices from the time she started walking. Not to mention Leafpool is older than an elder. If she passed anytime soon Snowkit is sure to get the job! I told this to Daisy and she purred sympathetically.

"At least you'll have your brother to train with. And whenever you get an injury it'll be your sister that heals you," she said in a soothing voice. "Now why don't you see if Bramblestar will let you help with anything."

I looked at her and purred. "Thanks Daisy."

I got up and ran to where Bramblestar was speaking with Cloudwing and Lightmask. He was giving orders for the patrols. "Lightmask, I want you to take a patrol and remark all the borders. Cloudwing you can sort out the hunting patrols for the day. Hello there, Icekit."

Cloudwing looked at me with pride in her eyes as I bounded up. She ran her tail along my side and purred happily.

"Hi Bramblestar! Hi Cloudwing and Lightmask! Is there anything I can do?" I asked hopefully.

Cloudwing turned to Bramblestar. He looked thoughtful. I sat and waited, watching with pure interest as I saw his eyes begin swimming with some weird emotion. "Well," he answered at last, "come with me and we'll see what you can do. You two, hop to those patrols."

"Yes Bramblestar," they said and hurried away.

My feet seemed to have a tireless energy in them, as I followed my leader around the hollow to the medicine den. My heart sank when I saw my sister sorting herbs with Jayfeather. He looked up as we entered.

"Greetings Bramblestar. Is there a problem?" Jayfeather asked, tilting his head.

"No, no. just wondering if any of you has eaten yet?" He ventured.

"Leafpool has before she went out. I can wait until a patrol gets back."

"Nonsense. Will you fetch something from the fresh-kill pile Icekit?" Bramblestar asked.

"Sure!" Happy to get out into the sunlight I ran, full speed, to the fresh-kill pile, almost colliding with Lightmask on my way.

The pile had two mice, a sparrow, and a fat, juicy vole. I grabbed the vole and brought it back to the medicine den. I placed it near the small pool and left to find something Bramblestar and I could eat.

"Is it really safe for Leafpool to be leaving camp?" I asked out loud, as I crunched through a bone. We sat under HighLedge, eating the two mice left in the camp.

I heard a deep chuckle and looked up into his amber eyes. "Of course, she hasn't gone far enough to be in any kind of danger." He swallowed and hastily changed the subject. "Maybe when you become an apprentice I could take you on a few patrols, maybe some training sessions, a tour of the territory. . ." I saw the gleam of mischief in his eyes before he looked away.

"Oh really Bramblestar! I'd love that!" I bounced up and down.

I heard faint footsteps and turned to the see the hunting patrol just arriving into camp.

"Prey's running today," I commented.

Bramblestar muttered agreement and walked away. I hurried to his side, and we stopped in front of the warriors den. He looked at it with such a sad look, my heart almost stopped. He must have sensed my confusion.

"ThunderClan has lost more than enough warriors these past few seasons," he explained. "Even Firestar, my own mentor. . ." His voice cracked, and he padded away stiffly.

I flicked my ears. I held back a moment, my head spinning. How many warriors has our clan lost? I have to ask somebody before my brain explodes! Stealing one last glance at the den I hurried to my leaders' side. He said he couldn't wait for the day when I would be sleeping in the warriors den. What a day that would be! We were nearing Halfrock when I heard the dawn patrol coming through the tunnel.

"Any news?" Bramblestar called, walking towards them, me tailing him.

"The WindClan border is fine, but. . ." Lightmask stopped mid-sentence.

"But?" I urged. They looked at me, so I shrugged.

"There's something about ShadowClan's territory that's a bit creepy. Sure they marked the border, but I felt like I was being watched. Not to mention their part of the forest was so silent! Not even a bird chirped!" Lightmask exclaimed.

"Sounds like ShadowClan are up to their old tricks again. Tell the patrols to keep a look out for any trespassers on our land," Bramblestar ordered.

"Yes Bramblestar." Lightmask hurried away.

I woke with a start, and shivered. I yawned and stretched into Snowkit, which earned a growl. After a while of moving around trying to get comfortable, I gave up and sighed. I sat up and groomed my ruffled fur. I trotted out of the nursery into the clearing, where I saw Bramblestar keeping a silent vigil. Looking up at Silverpelt, he jumped when I plopped myself next to him.

"You should be sleeping," he whispered, running his tail along my back. "Tomorrow's your big day."

"I guess it's the excitement that's keeping me awake. Oh, yeah! Who's gonna be my mentor?" I exclaimed, hopping around him.

He laughed. "You'll find out in the morning."

I stopped bouncing. My fur was sticking up. I looked at the thorn tunnel, then let my gaze drift along the top of the hollow.

'What's this strange feeling?' I shook myself. "We're being watched."

The air had an ominous feeling to it. I heard a rustle, and my eyes went wide. I opened my mouth and let out a loud screech. At the exact moment ShadowClan warriors burst through the thorn tunnel.

Bramblestar grabbed me by the scruff, which I might add is very painful, and shoved me into the nursery. "Daisy watch them!" He yowled.

I saw him turn and charge into the fray of screeching cats. Suddenly Daisy was pulled out of the nursery and batted aside. Snowkit huddled in the back, while Rainkit spat furiously. A large black paw reached in and dragged me out.

"Drive them back! Let no ShadowClan cat remain!" Cloudwing yowled.

I screeched in anger and bit the paw that grabbed me. He howled in pain, dropped me, and lunged at me again. I jumped out of reach, then onto his back and dug my claws in. He tried to shake me off, but I held on with all the strength of LionClan. He moved into a rolling position.

"Icekit!"

"Quick jump off!"

He rolled, but thankfully I was already on soft grass. My paws seemed to have a mind of their own as my claws grazed his fur, drawing blood above his eye and nose.

"Retreat ShadowClan! We will return Bramblestar! Count on it!" the tom howled. He took one last look at me, such a look of hatred, before leading the intruders away.

"Wow! That was brave Icekit!"

"Good going Icekit!"

My clan mates huddled around me, praising me on driving out a ShadowClan warrior. A grown warrior! All I could do was purr. But what stirred me up so much was the way Cloudwing looked at me. My moment of glory was interrupted by an earsplitting screech.

"Leafpool! No!"

I recognized Sorreltail, and pushed my way through he cats to see Leafpool's lifeless body near the entrance to the elders den. My jaw dropped. I turned and ran to Cloudwing. She reached down and started licking my right ear. She whispered to me that it was torn into a deep V shape. I never felt that. When did that happen? I buried my muzzle into her fur and she purred. I saw Jayfeather and Bramblestar drag Leafpool's lifeless body into the clearing, where everybody paid their respects and said goodbye. Jayfeather and Sorreltail lay next to her and began grooming her fur.

"Come on, you should get something on your ear. Then it's off to bed," Cloudwing muttered, and disappeared into the medicine den.

She came back out with a pawful of cobwebs, wrapped my ear and put me in the nursery. I sighed wearily, curled up into a ball and let sleep come to me.

"ShadowClan have gone too far. We won't attack them, but I'll see what Blackstar has to say at the next gathering." I heard Bramblestar on HighLedge. There was a hint of bitterness in his voice.

"Then who was that warrior that Icekit scared off?"

"That was brave of her too, though her ear was torn." That was Cloudwing. "It was too dark to see properly. Icekit might be able to describe him to us later."

I heard Rainkit sneeze and yawn. Snowkit was grooming herself and looked up when I started grooming too. I yawned and walked out into the clearing. I had to narrow my eyes against the harsh sunlight. I was greeted by murmurs of worry and anxiety. I could tell by the look in their eyes they saw my torn ear. Bramblestar beckoned me over, and then Rainkit and Snowkit as they walked up behind me.

Bramblestar looked at me. "Can you provide a description of the cat that attacked you?"

I thought hard. "Um, well, of course he was very big, and white. Oh, and he had black paws." A shiver ran down my spine as a picture of him popped into my head.

The gasps of shock and anger brought me back to reality.

"Why's everybody so shocked? Who attacked us?" My brother asked nervously.

"Blackstar!" Spiderleg snarled. "He led ShadowClan to attack, then went after the kits! He's mad!"

Maplebreeze stepped forward. "Don't forget this is ShadowClan we're talking about. They've always been the dark heart of the forest. You expect anything less from them?"

I shuddered again. I've heard stories about them. They eat rats and frogs and lizards, and even their own young! But I fought off Blackstar! The leader! Even I was surprised.

Bramblestar waved his tail for silence. "Since everybody is already here, we might as well begin. Snowkit, step forward. Is it your wish to become a medicine cat?"

"It is," she replied calmly.

"Then from this day forward, you shall be known as Snowpaw. Jayfeather, you are the medicine cat. Will you take Snowpaw as your apprentice?"

Jayfeather nodded and touched nose with Snowpaw. She led him to the side of the clearing. Then Rainkit stepped forward.

"Berrynose, you are ready for your first apprentice. You shall be mentor to Rainpaw."

Berrynose was almost as excited as Rainpaw. His eyes were shining with pride as I watched them sit near Jayfeather. After that I completely zoned out.

"-So to speed up the training process, I will take Icepaw as my own apprentice."

'Thank you, StarClan!' I thought to myself.

"Icepaw! Snowpaw! Rainpaw!"

As the clan chanted our names I noticed Bramblestar walking towards me with a gleam of mischief in his eyes.

I looked up at him and whispered, "Thanks, Bramblestar."

He purred and flicked my ear with his tail. "Come. We have work to do."

I bounced around trying to contain my excitement. As his tail disappeared through the thorn tunnel, a dark feeling fell over me. Something laughed deeply into my ear, but nobody was there. Then I saw it. Those eyes, gleaming at me from the darkness. Those amber eyes, just like Bramblestar's, mocking me, laughing at me. My blood turned to ice as I heard the laugh again, a noise that would make even the bravest warrior cower in fear. My muscles tightened. A storm's coming, and I feel it's gonna be a big one.