"Aurorastar!" A voice was calling to her. "Aurorastar, help me!"
Aurorastar whipped her head around from side to side. She had recognized the terrified cry. "Eclipsewing! Eclipsewing, where are you?"
"Aurorastar!" Now it was Nightsun. Aurorastar raced through the forest, trying to locate him.
"Aurorastar!"
She suddenly saw his black shape ahead of her. She raced forward until she was at his side. "Nightsun!"
Nightsun turned to her, brown eyes gleaming. "Aurorastar!" He nuzzled her.
Brown eyes? Aurorastar thought. Nightsun has golden eyes!
Nightsun's shape suddenly began to change, until his black fur became the black and white pelt of a badger. It snarled at her, raising its paw to deliver a death blow.
"No!" Aurorastar shrieked, and the badger suddenly disappeared.
"Aurorastar!"
"Help us!"
"Aurorastar! Help me!"
The voices of all of her Clan members rang in her ears. She ran ahead, trying to find them.
"Where are you?" she screeched frantically.
"Aurorastar! Are you alright?"
The leader's eyes snapped open. She was lying in her nest, which was nearly torn apart now.
Thank StarClan, it was just a dream!
"Aurorastar?" The voice sounded again at the entrance to her den. "Are you okay?"
It was Birchpaw. Her green eyes were wide with concern.
"I'm fine, Birchpaw." Aurorastar stood up, licking the scraps of moss off her pelt.
Birchpaw nodded. "I just came to let you know that Ice is awake, and she is ready to speak with you."
"Wonderful," Aurorastar meowed. "I'll be right there." Birchpaw flicked an ear and left, leaving Aurorastar alone.
She stretched out her legs, sighing to relieve herself of the tightness in her muscles. She then ambled out of her den, squinting against the sun's brightness.
A cold wind blew through the camp. She bristled her fur, feeling a chill run down her spine. "It's chilly today," she said to no one in particular.
Nightsun padded up to join her. "Good morning," he mewed warmly, licking her forehead.
"As to you." She gave him a mischievous look before touching noses with her mate. "I was just about to go to Starwhisper's den. Care to join me?"
Nightsun's gaze became serious, and Aurorastar knew it was from his worry over Searose. "Yes." And the two padded down, pelts brushing, into the medicine cat's den.
A loud cough sounded from inside, followed by another ragged cough. Greencough was spreading through the camp. Viperfire and Waterfall had joined Searose in Starwhisper's den, and Jewelkit seemed to be gaining a cough.
"Aurorastar!" Starwhisper joined her leader and Nightsun at the entrance. "You two stay right there. I don't want the greencough to spread anymore. I can bring Ice out to join us."
It had been almost a half moon since Ice had been brought to SunClan's camp. Her wounds were nearly healed, though she barely talked. Starwhisper had decided to wait until Ice had wanted to talk with Aurorastar rather than force her.
Starwhisper padded out of her den, closely followed by Ice's sleek white pelt.
Ice is growing bigger, Aurorastar realized. If she decides to stay with us, she will become an apprentice very soon.
"Greetings, Ice," Aurorastar mewed, dipping her head.
Ice nodded to the SunClan leader, but remained silent. Aurorastar could feel Nightsun's tail flicking from side to side next to her.
"Ice, can you tell us what happened on the day we brought you here."
"Yes," Ice said in a soft but firm voice. "I was trying to hunt a mouse for myself because I was hungry. I was suddenly jumped from behind, and Blood pinned me to the ground. He told me I was weak and that he didn't want me anymore." She shivered. "He said I deserved to die. He swiped at me and I blacked out. I woke up here."
Aurorastar tried to restrain a growl. "And is Blood really your father?"
"Yes," Ice replied. "When I was born to my mother, Violet, I had one brother and one sister. Within a moon, they both died from sickness. Blood blamed Violet for making his kits so weak, so he killed her. He told me that if I was strong, he wouldn't try kill me." She narrowed her piercing ice blue eyes. "Guess I wasn't strong enough."
Aurorastar rested her tail on Ice's flank. "Ice, I don't think that you are weak. SunClan values what is on the inside, not what we see on the outside. If you would like, you are welcome to join SunClan as a kit. You can begin training as an apprentice in about a half moon."
Ice's eyes lit up. "I have always hated my life as a rogue. Cats kill without consent or reason, and I don't want to follow their paw steps. I would much rather live in SunClan."
"Wonderful! If you are ready, I can begin your kit naming ceremony now."
"Yes, please."
Starwhisper turned her firm gaze to Ice. "I want to see you everyday until your wound is completely healed. Do you understand?"
Ice nodded.
Nightsun cast a warm glance at Aurorastar, which she exchanged. She then jumped onto Brightledge, where Nightsun was already seated below.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath Brightledge for a Clan meeting!"
Cats began to gather, spilling out of the warrior's den, apprentice's den, and nursery. Their gazes were quizzical, and Aurorastar knew they were wondering what the meeting was about.
"I have been speaking with Ice," Aurorastar started. She ignored the low growls that began to sound in some of the cats' throats. "I gave her the opportunity to join SunClan, and she excepted it." Yowls of outrage sounded below.
"She is a rogue!"
"She will never be one of us!"
"Enough!" Aurorastar called. "Have you all forgotten our recent members? Cherryflight, Falconstrike, Flowerheart, and Stormsky were rogues, and now they are warriors SunClan can be proud of."
"But they were not with the rogues of DarkClan!" A voice called.
Aurorastar gave the crowd of cats below a hard stare. "We should never judge a cat based on their heritage. Ice will join the Clan as a kit and become an apprentice in a half moon, and that's final." She beckoned Ice forward, who was seated nearby. She looked calm, but her eyes glowed with anger.
"Ice, until you receive your apprentice name, you shall be known as Icekit. I'm sure our queens will be happy to care for you."
Just then, Lilackit shot out of the nursery. Her black kit-soft fur was bristled, and her violet eyes were wide.
"Honeysplash and Wolfsong are both kitting!"
Hey everyone! Just thought I would post one more chapter today, although I know it was rather short. I hope you enjoyed it, and Honeysplash and Wolfsong's kitting will happen in the next chapter. I will post that one tomorrow :)
KitKatSushi: Thank you for Following! ^.^