ALRIGHT I'm finally getting somewhere don't worry. This story will start to move along I promise. I get in a rut every once and a while and the plot sticks, but I'll get it going eventually. Here's… wow is it really chapter 38 already? Long fic…
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It had snowed overnight, and when Icefang awoke to a world of blinding white she felt an instant electric shock of adrenaline through her veins. She had not planned for snow, and pawprints.
"It's a training day," Whitefoot called to her as Icefang emerged from the warriors' den. The older she-cat was crouching by the fresh kill pile, once again empty, her sharp eyes following Icefang's movement across the camp.
"Why?" mewed the white warrior, bending to sniff miserably at the mud where there should be a bounty of fresh food. She felt like she'd swallowed a thunderstorm what with all the rumbling and churning coming from her stomach.
Whitefoot's lip curled slightly. "Because we can't all sit around like fat dogs all day while our apprentices gather dust," snarled the black and white she-cat.
Icefang kept her flaring temper in check as she nodded politely to the senior warrior. It wasn't as if Whitefoot was doing anything productive, except for ordering everyone else around. This thought made Icefang's pelt prickle. She had banked on Whitefoot not aiming for the deputy position, but if the she-cat decided to throw in her lot all of a sudden, Icefang might have to step up her game.
It had been a half moon since the last Gathering, at which time she had resolved to secure her place in the Clan hierarchy by putting herself in Cinderstar's path as much as possible. So far her efforts seemed to having a good effect on the leader. Just the other day he had emerged from the lonely gloom of his den to consult with her about Eaglepaw and Yellowpaw's warrior ceremonies. A good sign, since Icefang hadn't expected him to remember at all. Though they had agreed that the two apprentices weren't yet ready to receive their warrior names, it was heartening to believe that ThunderClan might be moving forward.
Ruffled by Whitefoot's harsh comment, Icefang moved towards the camp entrance, the fur on her neck slowing falling back into place. It wouldn't do her any good now to pick a fight with Whitefoot. If all went according to plan, the black and white warrior would be a valuable commodity in the Clan.
Icefang glanced at the dismal sky, her whiskers quivering as she tasted more rain in the air. Redpaw would be awake soon – the sun, though obscured by a layer of gray cloud, shone white as it rose above the horizon. The white she-cat settled into a sheltered niche against the camp wall to wait. Her belly fur was soaked by the snow around her legs, which was quickly seeping through the rest of her pelt. It wasn't light, fluffy snow either, but the wet, sticky type that clung to your pads and dripped off you for days afterwards.
"Icefang!" came a shrill cry a few moments later. Icefang lifted her eyes from the ground, watching with pride as Redpaw crawled out of the apprentice's den and bounded to her mentor's side. "Snow!" she squeaked, flicking some of the ice into the air with her front paw.
"Gross," Icefang grunted, standing and shaking her pelt, sending droplets flying in all directions. She'd seen the dogs in Twolegplace shake like this when they were wet, and it worked surprisingly well to get off the worst of the water.
Redpaw eyed her with a curious expression, and then surveyed the camp while yawning widely.
"What're we doing today?" Redpaw asked excitedly.
Icefang smiled and replied, "Fun stuff." It was true.
"Can we learn to fight?" questioned the red-furred she-cat, scooping up more snow in her paws and inspecting it with interest.
"No, I imagine we should hunt first," Icefang mewed, indicating the empty fresh kill pile with a sweep of her tail. "It'll be good to teach you how to hunt in the snow. Come on, we'll start by the training hollow."
The two cats traipsed through the snow in single file, Redpaw stepping in her mentor's pawprints while still falling in up to her neck. Snow had piled up on the branches of the pine and oak trees, and it threatened to shower on the warriors as they forged a path towards the training hollow.
When they arrived, Icefang was unsurprised to find Brightpool and Eaglepaw already present. The snow had been scuffed away where they were skirmishing, leaving a wide swath of mud across the hollow. Redpaw bounded forward eagerly to watch as Brightpool managed to flip Eaglepaw onto her back, placing a paw on the apprentice's neck. Eaglepaw let out an indignant snarl and scrambled away, her hackles raised.
"Good morning, Icefang," Brightpool acknowledged, turning just slightly to face the younger warrior as she emerged from the trees. "As you can see, Eaglepaw and I have been up since dawn, practicing. Did Whitefoot relay my message to you?" the ginger she-cat meowed, twitching her whiskers as though speaking to a particularly uppity kit.
Icefang felt her face grow hot. This was not a day for Brightpool to suddenly take charge. "You're message?" she managed to cough.
"Of course," Brightpool mewed, her voice losing every last drop of warmth as she narrowed her eyes at Icefang. "You don't think I'd let you sit around all day, do you? After all, I am deputy, and Cinderstar specifically requested that today be devoted to the training of our apprentices. Or have you forgotten your duty to young Redpaw?" Her cold amber gaze shifted to Redpaw, who had scooted closer to Eaglepaw. Both apprentices sat bolt upright, their jaws snapping shut as Brightpool focused on them.
"Icefang is going to teach me how to hunt in the snow," Redpaw replied quickly. Her tone was proud, but Icefang could see from her expression that she longed to be fighting with Eaglepaw instead. This gave Icefang an idea, and as it took shape in her mind a sly purr escaped form her throat.
"I propose a contest," Icefang meowed, waiting for Brightpool to turn back to her. The ginger she-cat looked annoyed; by suggesting something, Icefang had instantly wounded her massive ego.
"A contest," sneered the deputy, her lip curling. "What kind of contest?" she spat the word like it was something foul, her tail lashing. Obviously she was displeased that Icefang seemed to be taking charge.
"A hunting contest," Icefang explained, padding over to the two apprentices. She nodded in greeting to Eaglepaw, and then met Redpaw's level gaze with a grin. "Between Redpaw and Eaglepaw."
"That's hardly fair," Brightpool protested. "Redpaw is six moons younger than Eaglepaw, and equally as untrained. Ridiculous."
Redpaw's neck fur rose as Brightpool snorted at the idea.
"True," Icefang nodded, her eyes still locked on her apprentice. "But I've been spending a lot of time with Redpaw, and I think a little competition will be good for her."
There was doubt that Eaglepaw was a better-trained hunter, not to mention one of the best trackers in the Clan, her keen nose able to make out any scent from ten tail-lengths away. But what Brightpool didn't know was that Redpaw had the innate skills of a cat born to be a warrior. Since she had first been apprenticed, Icefang had noticed that Redpaw picked up on things twice as quickly as the other apprentices, especially her brother and sister.
Also, Icefang had been working with her frequently, training far more than the other apprentices. Frankly, this was the first time that Icefang had seen Eaglepaw and Brightpool training together since the beginning of leafbare, and the golden-furred apprentice had to be a little out of practice. Redpaw might not win the contest, but Icefang hadn't been lying when she'd said a little competition would do her good. No matter the circumstances, if there was someone to beat, Redpaw would throw her heart and soul into the activity.
Brightpool eyed the smaller apprentice with some incredulity, but shrugged and agreed to the contest. Icefang guessed that she was betting on an easy win, and looking forward to being able to brag about it long afterwards. A familiar chill swept down Icefang's spine as she watched the ginger she-cat pull Eaglepaw to the side to murmur a few words of encouragement before the contest began.
Redpaw looked up her mentor questioningly. "What's the big idea?" she grumbled. "I don't know how to hunt in the snow, and even if I did win, it'll only make Happypuddle mad. Besides, I'd feel bad beating Eaglepaw."
Icefang snorted. "Feel bad? Please, it's a contest. You're supposed to want to win."
Redpaw shrugged, but cast a nervous glance over at Eaglepaw anyway.
"Alright, we're ready to begin," Brightpool meowed after a few more terse words with Eaglepaw. "Rules?"
"We'll start here, and both apprentices try to catch as much prey as they can before sunhigh." Icefang glanced up at the cloudy sky. She could just barely make out the sun, halfway through its morning climb. "Make that sundown," she amended. "We'll follow you to make sure there's no foul play or cheating. Everyone meets back here at the training hollow at sundown."
Clearly irritated at being told what to do, Brightpool nodded stiffly. "What's the prize if we win?" Brightpool mewed, stressing the we.
Narrowing her eyes, Icefang replied softly, "There is no prize." Her voice was icy and smooth, causing Brightpool's nose to twitch in fear as she pulled away slightly.
"Start!" Icefang suddenly yowled, throwing her head back and releasing a caterwaul. Redpaw turned and shot into the undergrowth, heading in the direction of the Owl Tree, where there were usually some squirrels or mice beneath its roots. Eaglepaw went more slowly in the direction of Twolegplace, lifting her nose to the air. Brightpool followed her after a moment, casting a black look at Icefang over her shoulder before she disappeared.
There wasn't much time to waste. Icefang paced back and forth in the training hollow for a few long moments, sheathing and unsheathing her claws. She had no qualms, but the risks were greater than she had anticipated. With both Redpaw and Eaglepaw loose in the forest, there was a chance of more than one witness. With the thick layer of snow on the ground, someone might be able to follow her tracks. Just then, Icefang felt a cold prickle on her pelt, and glanced up at the sky. Another prickle of cold on her cheek, and then she realized that it had begun to snow.
Icefang's heart beat quickly. Either luck was on her side, or StarClan was willing her to succeed. Gathering her strength, the white she-cat turned and bounded into the trees, her pelt already growing invisible in the fog.