Chapter 2 | Ice

The bitter cold nipped at Flamepelt while he returned to camp with a mouse and fish in his mouth. Less fish were swimming in the river and the river was probably going to freeze over soon. Despite all of this, he dropped his prey with content as he went to sit next to his sister as Pebblestar called a meeting.

"Cats of RiverClan, gather before me!" He howled. He was certainly a good pick for leader- controlling, yet not harsh. Cats gathered around, young and old. Creekpaw peeked out of the medicine cat den with Cloudbreeze by his side. Ever since his mother was killed in battle...he changed. Flamepelt wasn't very close to him as an apprentice, but he had no idea what he would do without his family.

"As leaf-bare hits us, it will take away our river, therefore more patrols will be spent on hunting in the forest part of our territory. Apprentices will be taught how to hunt ground animals and any warriors who have extra time will be spent hunting for the clan." He looked around the clan, seeing the 'great' warriors, his deputy, Silverfang, and some of the elder warriors who nodded in agreement.

Ripplestrike puffed out her chest, sitting next to her mother. Flamepelt rolled his eyes at her. Even after becoming a warrior, she still held the ideals that she was great because of her mother. It was annoying to hear it, day in and day out.

"Are you still the same cat you were seven moons ago? Bragging about your mother being the best the clan can offer?" He mewed toward her. Russetwhisker stood near him, whispering about how this really was unnecessary, but he ignored his sister.

"And you're still holding the same rivalry that we held as apprentices. Some things just never change." Ripplestrike mewed calmly. Foxdung. Flamepelt needed something to pin on her as a mistake, something he could exploit and bring embarrassment.

"Well, at least I was never exiled." He mewed, smiling about a way to remind her of her mistakes. Ripplestrike scoffed, stepping back and shaking her head. A few young warriors and the apprentices gathered around them.

"That led to the clans being saved." Ripplestrike countered. Flamepelt felt heat in his ears, how could he forget so easily? Even though she hadn't made it a point when talking to him or arguing with him, it was certainly remembered by both parties.

"Foxdung." He hissed out loud. Whispers rose from the cats around them, including his sister. Ripplestrike purred in contentment from Flamepelt's shock. He had to come up with something, his reputation was on the line here.

"Yeah, and who was the cat trying to stop me? The oh-so-great Flamepaw, protector of RiverClan?" Ripplestrike purred to him. He felt his ears warm up with embarrassment.

"Okay, maybe I had been overprotective of the clan, but granted we were on the verge of war." He admitted to her. Flamepelt hissed quietly as he followed his sister

"True;" Ripplestrike purred, "but think, if you had stopped me, we might not be here." She continued. Flamepelt hissed, leaving her alone. He pushed his way out of camp, thanking the cold for lessening his embarrassment and anger. Russetwhisker trotted alongside him. He knew what was coming- the speech.

"Maybe you just need to drop this- this rivalry with her. Focus on something else, Flamepelt." Russetwhisker mewed to him. He looked at her. He wanted to claim that they didn't have a rivalry, but that would be impossible against her.

"Okay, like what?" Flamepelt asked her. Russetwhisker stopped walking, sitting down. She thought for a minute, sighing deeply. Flamepelt knew that he had to stop making a mockery of himself, but it wasn't like he was unhappy with his life.

"I-I don't know! A possible mate, making friends, by StarClan, asking for an apprentice even!" His sister claimed to him. He didn't need a mate, certainly not now. He wasn't interested in anyone anyway, and he already had friends.

"Well, I'll make an effort to stop bickering with her, okay?" He mewed. Russetwhisker sighed in relief. He started making his way back to camp, his anger and embarrassment fading. He knew this would be the talk of the clan for a few days, like always.

"Thank you." Russetwhisker mewed to him. Flamepelt nodded, not meeting her eyes. He didn't need anything else of 'I told you sos' or 'Wasn't I right?'. He probably needed to go on patrol soon.

"Cats of RiverClan, gather before me!" Pebblestar howled.