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Exploit

Icetalon looked on contemptuously as his leader struggled to climb the Great Rock. Blazestar looked so frail compared to the other leaders who stood proud and tall. With the help of his deputy, he managed to scale the rock. This... is embarrassing He thought. All the other clans must think that we are weak. Sure enough, all the other clans were giving Iceclan weird looks that suggest that they were pitying them. Trying to ignore the looks of his fellow warriors, he bared his teeth and kneaded the sandy floor impatiently. Is this gathering ever going to start?

As if that was the cue, Hawkstar cleared his throat and took a step forward, signaling to everyone that the gathering had begun.

"Riverclan have been doing well. Two of are apprentices have earned their warrior name: Foxtail and Crookedwhisker."

Riverclan leaped to their paws, calling out their name, congratulating them for becoming warriors.

Hawkstar waited for the yowling to subside before continuing, "We also spotted a badger near the clan boundary, we manged to chase it out of our territory but I fear that it is now in Iceclan territory."

"Thank you very much!" Icetalon heard Blossompelt say.

Ignoring that last comment he stepped back, saying "That is all."

"They seem to be doing well," Icetalon muttered to himself, "I wonder if they chased that badger into our territory on purpose."

"I doubt that." He heard Fleetfoot, who was beside him, say. "Riverclan won't do that."

How do you know that? He thought.

By then, Tornstar of Shadowclan was already half way through his report. "... and because of this, we have been doing more patrols than usual, just to be sure. That is all."

Before waiting for Tornstar to step back, Echostar stepped forward accusingly. Her eyes seemed to seek out all the Iceclan warriors. "Iceclan have been stealing prey from our territory!" she yowled.

Iceclan warriors leaped up in protest, yowling. Echostar did not attempt to stop them, she merely waited for them to stop. Suddenly the moon went dark. Clouds have drifted across the moon, covering the moon. Terrified, his clanmates flattened their ears and crouched down, staring at the moon fearfully.

We are a bunch of kittypets! He thought in disgust. Looking around, he realized that he was the only one still sitting down normally. Even the leaders were on their belly.

Suddenly, it started raining. Lightning arced across the sky, providing brief flashes of light. Seeing that the leaders were not in charge, Icetalon leaped to his paws, shouting, "This gathering is over, let us return to our dens to wait out this storm."

This seemed to wake up the leaders as they got up and started to gather their clans. The next few moments were a blur. All he remembered was the frantic dash back to camp. Although he also recalled that Petalflower, the medicine cat, was looking a bit grim. Well who wouldn't be, he thought we were just chased out of the gathering by Starclan.

After reaching camp, he gave himself a quick shake to shake of some water before he headed for his den. Ignoring the questions from his clanmates, he settled into his nest and drifted off to sleep.

Everything was dark. Trees were pitch black and they cast unnatural shadows. Talonclaw shivered as a chill ran down his spine. This is not Iceclan territory! Panic started to set in. What if I can never go back to Iceclan? What is this place? A rustle in the bushes startled him. He whirled around, trying to detect what made the sound.

"Is there anyone there?" He called timidly.

From the gloom, a giant cat emerged. He was huge! He couldn't really make out his features but Icetalon knew that he was a formidable opponent. He might be strong he thought but he is nothing that I can't beat.

Preparing himself, Icetalon crouched down, baring his teeth and unsheathing his claws.

"Stop, I'm a friend."

Icetalon stopped his attack just in time. He was just about to pounce.

"Who are you?" He asked cautiously

"I'm Tigerstar, and I'm here to help you."

"Whe..where am I."

"You are in the dark forest."

"Why am I here?"

"Stop with your childish questions!" Tigerstar snapped. "We have more important things to discuss."

"Important?"

A sly smirk crawled on to his face. "Yes, more important things. Like making you the leader of Iceclan."

Leader of Iceclan? Who wouldn't want to be leader. It sounded good but Icetalon could not shake the feeling of being tricked.

"What if I don't want to be leader?" Icetalon asked.

The pleasant smile on Tigerstar's face was instantly replaced by a look of anger. With a growl, the massive tabby leaped on Icetalon, pinning him to the ground with a paw on his throat.

"It was not a question."

"O..okay," he stuttered, "Tell me what to do."

"Listen carefully so I don't have to repeat myself."

"Icetalon! Are you okay."

Icetalon woke up, feeling exhausted. He sat up, feeling very weak.

"Icetalon! Are you okay!"

He turned around to see Cloverleaf looking at him with pity.

"What's wrong?" He snapped

"Well.. you are bleeding."

Only then did he feel a sharp pain in his shoulder. Everything came rushing back to him. It felt like he spent an entire moon in the dark forest. This is perfect! He realised.

"Umm.. Cloverleaf?"

"What is it?"

"Can you meet me by the half rock at sundown? I need your advice as a friend, not as a deputy."

"Uh sure. I guess I'll see you later. Don't forget to get your wound checked by Poppyheart," She said as she walked out of the den.

This is going perfectly. It's only a matter of time before I become leader.

By the time he reached the half rock, Cloverleaf was already there. He dipped his head in greeting and side, "Hi, come with me."

"What is it you want to ask me?" she asked as they walked

"It's about Blazestar."

"What about him?" she asked curiously.

"I wonder how long he still has."

"Yeah," she said with a sigh, "Sometimes he seems so weak."

"I know, I think it is about time he retired."

Her eyes widened. "You mean that I should take over?"

"No. I am going to take over."

Cloverleaf stopped abruptly in her tracks. "What do you mean?"

"Do you remember Bramblepelt?"

"No."she whispered

"You don't?" he asked coldly. "Don't you remember the the times you spent together, walking together by the lakeside at night?"

"That was a long time ago. I don't love that Riverclan cat anymore!" Cloverleaf said tearfully, "What's done is done!"

"I don't think that's how your clanmates will see it." Icetalon smirked, enjoying every moment of this.

"They won't find out." She said desperately, "No one will."

"No, they won't find out, if you step down."

"I can't do that!" she said, horrified.

"You can and you will. Not only that, you will also recommend me as the deputy."

"I won't do that. I would rather die than help you!" Cloverleaf crouched down, unsheathing her claws.

Quick as an adder, Icetalon pounced on her, not giving her any chance for retaliation. Pummeling her with his forepaws, he left her dazed on the ground.

"I give up!" she managed to utter as she slumped, all the fight was gone from her.

Backing away from her, he sat down, grooming his chest fur that got ruffled from the fight. "What will you do, Cloverleaf?"

"I will.." she said, trying to get up, "Step down as a deputy."

"And...?"

"And I will make sure that you become the deputy."

"Thank you. You are a good friend, Cloverleaf."

She padded a few steps before turning around. "I don't even know who you are anymore."

As Cloverleaf headed back to camp, he sat down. Honestly I don't know who I am anymore either.

Shaking the thoughts from his head, he wandered through the forest. One down, one more to go.

Now where was that fox trap I saw just now?

"Why do you want to see me?" Blazestar asked.

"I need to ask you something." Icetalon said

"What is it?"

"Who have you decided to be your deputy?"

The look of surprise was evident on his face. "How did you know that Cloverleaf is retiring?"

"She told me herself."

"Really?" he mused, "I didn't know she told anyone."

You don't know a lot of things.

"So, who is going to be the next deputy?" Icetalon asked, pretending to be curious

"You are."

"Me?" He said, feigning surprise

"Yes, I think you will do good for your clan."

Icetalon bowed his head. "Thank you. I will do my best to serve the clan."

"I know you will."

"You know, I think I will do my first good deed for the clan."

"What is it?"

"Getting rid of you." Icetalon bumped into Blazestar, causing him to fall on to the concealed trap. Ignoring the last few desperate cries for help from Blazestar, Icetalon slowly padded back to camp.

Thank you Tigerstar