Chapter 56

Leafstar's POV

It was moon-high in the SkyClan camp. Everyone had gone to sleep except for Leafstar. She had stayed up late, tossing and turning in her moss bed, wondering what was happening to SkyClan. She sat up and began to groom her mottled pelt, then took a step outside her den to watch over her sleeping Clan.

Frecklewish has told me a strange prophecy about Icekit. Not only that, but the apprentices are acting strange. Peanutpaw is becoming more brutal in each training session, and Lavenderpaw broke her leg. And hunting is getting harder since the Twolegs are letting their kittypets in the forest. Why can't thi-

"Leafstar," Frecklewish mewed gently as she approached, disturbing Leafstar's thoughts. "You're up late. It's going to take a toll on your body if you won't sleep. Something's on your mind. You can tell me. I'm your medicine cat."

"It's just… there's been so much going on in SkyClan right now. I find myself not able to sleep at all most nights because I'm just… worried. It's becoming hard to be a leader sometimes…, especially when you're on your last life," Leafstar replied. A cool breeze blew through her pelt just as they heard the midnight patrol come in.

"Talk to me in the morning when you're ready, Leafstar. Get some rest now. May StarClan light your path," Frecklewish mewed as she padded back into her den as Leafstar walked back over to her moss nest.

Leafstar stretched her limbs as the sun slowly rise over the horizon.

"Leafstar? Are you awake? Frecklewish told me to give this to you," Dustypaw mewed as she saw a juicy mouse in front of her.

"Yes, thank you Dustypaw," Leafstar replied. "You may leave," Dustypaw nodded in acknowledgement and respect and left Leafstar's den

Just then, Leafstar heard some cries of laughter from outside her den. She scooped up the mouse and dragged it over near the mouth of the cave, so that she would be able to see what was going on, but the Clan wouldn't be able to tell she was there.

"Hey Dusty! I need some catmint! You're so dusty, I'm getting greencough!" Peanutpaw cried.

"Yeah! I think we should tell Leafstar that you're starting the epidemic again!" Lavenderpaw mewed back, limping around camp.

"Well, if you want to get rid of that cast, Lavenderpaw, I suggest you act nicer toward your fellow brother and medicine cat. Go and complain to Frecklewish instead," Dustypaw shot back, turning away.

"Peanutpaw! Lavenderpaw! Dustypaw! I want to talk to you for a moment," Leafstar replied with a stern look on her face. Peanutpaw and Lavenderpaw looked scared while Dustypaw just smirked. In a few seconds, they were hustled inside the den.

"Peanutpaw, Lavenderpaw, is that the way you speak to everyone?" Leafstar asked.

"No, we were just teasing!" Peanutpaw replied, his voice rising in panic.

"It was a joke!" Lavenderpaw insisted.

"Well, even though Dustypaw ignored you, any cat could tell by his actions that his feelings were hurt! Don't you know that some jokes are cruel to other cats?" Leafstar asked.

"Yeah. We were just joking around and Dustypaw took it seriously," Lavenderpaw mewed as Dustypaw muttered something under his breath.

"What was that, Dustypaw?" Leafstar asked. "You can tell me if these two have bothered you in the past."

"They have been calling me names a lot recently, and it just hurts my feelings a bit," Dustypaw mewed softly.

"Lavenderpaw, Peanutpaw, if this happens again, you're in major trouble. Now go to your mentors. I'll inform them of your ill behavior. Dustypaw, stay here," Leafstar mewed as she watched the two apprentices leave. Then she turned to Dustypaw and asked, "Dustypaw, how long have they been treating you like that? It seems like that had happened more than once!"

"Just a couple of moons," Dustypaw replied.

"Well, if it happens again, don't put up with it. The way those two are behaving is not acceptable for a warrior. Let Frecklewish, your mentor, or me know if it happens again," Leafstar told him.

"I'm just nervous if I go out there they'll blame me for-" Dustypaw mewed.

"The whole camp is awake. No one will let them blame you and do nothing. Now, I need to speak to Frecklewish for a moment. I heard you had to collect some herbs with Foxtail?" Leafstar asked.

"Oh yeah, I completely forgot!" Dustypaw mewed as he raced out of the den to locate Foxtail. Leafstar chuckled to herself as she watched him eagerly prodding Foxtail awake. She padded out the den to see Frecklewish waiting for her.

"I thought we could go for a small walk in the forest and just talk," Frecklewish said as they walked out of camp and climbed up a tree, smiling. "Your kits have grown up so much. It seems like yesterday that they were still mewling kits."

"I'm very proud of them as warriors. Speaking of which, I need to talk to you about our apprentices. I caught them saying mean things to Dustypaw, and I had a talk with them," Leafstar mewed.

"See? You're already making good decisions for SkyClan!" Frecklewish said with sincere belief in her eyes. "But I've been talking to Icekit. His dreams are normal now, but I've noticed that he's a bit… stronger than a usual kit for his size."

"What do you mean?"

"His body is developing a bit quicker than other kits. On the same day he turned three moons old, he leaped to the fresh-kill pile and liked prey. He didn't have to wean his milk."

"I noticed that too. I think he's just a strong kit. His mother is really proud of him. Are you still getting those dreams of ice?"

"Yes, I think they mean something. I just haven't figured it out. There are other forces of nature involved now. Sand flying everywhere, the moon shining brightly, badgers roaming around, it makes no sense. My dreams are confused."

"By the way, do you have enough herbs? We c-" Leafstar meowed before she and Frecklewish heard a shrieks outside the camp. Leafstar immediately turned around and ran for camp, Frecklewish following from behind. She ran hard into a forest, and she soon smelled the reek of fox in the air. A heartbeat later, she could pick up the scent of kits, Firecloud's kits. Leafstar slowed down a bit when she heard Icekit's voice.

"Stay away from my sisters!" Icekit yowled. Leafstar crashed through a bush, and her eyes widened with shock. Cedarkit and Littlekit were cowering behind Icekit, who was standing strong with the sun shining his coat to silver. He was covered with blood, but the fox in front of him looked to be in worse condition. Icekit growled and started to run towards the fox.

"Icekit!" Leafstar screeched as she pounced for the fox.

The fox ran up to catch him, but suddenly, he flashed away and suddenly appeared on top of a tree branch. Soon after that, Icekit began to appear and disappear everywhere. He would appear in one place and flash to another; he would attack everywhere in this frenzy. Leafstar almost couldn't keep up with his movements as he flashed from place to place. He suddenly appeared in front of the fox, which looked more angry than ever. Icekit flashed on top on the fox's snout, and the fox dropped to the ground, limp with the loss of life.