Chapter 41? Wowzers.
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"I just don't understand," Eaglepaw whimpered her tail twitching with anxiety. "One minute I could see her behind me, and then next she was gone. I don't know where she went – in the snow I could hardly see anything!"
"Why didn't you come straight back to camp when you noticed she was missing?" Whitefoot demanded sharply. The black and white she-cat had worn a trail through the snow with her pacing, and now her white paws were stained brown. She narrowed her eyes at Eaglepaw. "She sent you to hunt?"
"It was a contest, Whitefoot," Icefang meowed, sitting calmly by Stonepelt's side. As soon as the news had gotten out that Brightpool was missing, Icefang had called a mock Clan meeting. With no deputy and a useless leader, it was impossible to do anything with ceremony. Right now, what was left of ThunderClan was huddled by the Highrock to shelter from the wind, but no one dared set foot on top of it.
With an angry hiss, Whitefoot whipped around and continued to pace, her ears laid back against her head. Though the she-cat usually kept to herself, she was currently furious and kept asking the same questions over and over again of every cat who spoke up.
"A contest for what?" Whitefoot snapped.
"Hunting!" cried Icefang, Redpaw, and Stonepelt in unison. Icefang was pretty sure they'd made it clear what Brightpool had been doing at the time of her unfortunate disappearance.
"Did she freeze to death?" Yellowpaw mewed, her voice quivering with fear. Her eyes were wide and bright as she gazed from warrior to warrior.
"Doubtful," murmured Robinwing, shaking her head. "It's not that cold, and Brightpool's a full-grown warrior. She would have been able to get back to camp before freezing."
With a sigh, Icefang settled closer to the earth and fluffed out her pelt, keeping her gaze locked on Eaglepaw. So far the apprentice hadn't shown any signs of sorrow, and Icefang was beginning to wonder if she'd really hated Brightpool as much as she'd made out.
"Where was the last place you saw Brightpool?" Whitefoot asked. She'd asked it before, and Icefang was getting fed up.
"Look," snapped the white warrior, fixing her gaze on Whitefoot and frowning. "We know Eaglepaw's story. Brightpool followed Eaglepaw from the training hollow to the Great Sycamore, and then Eaglepaw noticed that she was gone. That's it! Stop interrogating anyone – unless you're trying to cover something up." She'd really meant the last part as a joke, but Whitefoot instantly grew livid. Her hackles rose and she stalked closer to Icefang, her tail whipping about angrily.
"How dare you accuse me of murder?" she hissed coldly, her eyes like chips of steel. Icefang leaned away and raised her brow.
"I didn't mean it," she protested, paws prickling. "Relax. We all know that no cat here would have done anything to Brightpool. We've lost too many warriors this season. We're just trying to find out what really happened."
Whitefoot seemed to relax just a little bit, but she kept a malevolent eye on Icefang as she went back to her pacing.
"What Icefang says is right," Stonepelt spoke up in his deep bass meow. "We've had a very hard leafbare, and any suspicions you might have about your fellow warriors you can keep to yourself. We don't need to start fighting among ourselves on top of everything else. Besides, any number of things could have happened to Brightpool. She may return any moment now. Let's wait until tomorrow before speculate any further."
"But what if she's stuck somewhere?" Robinwing asked quietly. "She may not have frozen to death yet, but what if she got her paw stuck under a rock or something? She could be freezing as we speak." Robinwing shivered and tucked her tail tightly around her paws as though she was imagining being stuck out in the snow herself.
"Robinwing has a good point," Icefang meowed. "Robinwing, would you and Whitefoot do a quick patrol of the territory around the Great Sycamore to make sure Brightpool isn't stuck somewhere?" She flashed the ginger tabby an encouraging smile.
Robinwing nodded, business-like, and got to her feet, shaking drops of water from her pelt.
"Let's go," she meowed, waving her tail for her patrol to follow. Whitefoot reluctantly fell in by her side, followed by Yellowpaw's pale orange form and young tortoiseshell Dapplepaw. As soon as the four of them were gone, Icefang turned to Stonepelt.
"I know not everyone is here," she meowed, "But Cinderstar asked me to make Eaglepaw a warrior today. Do you think it'd be okay if I did a quick ceremony now? Cinderstar is asleep – I don't want to wake him."
Stonepelt stared at her, hesitating. "But Brightpool might come back…"
Icefang wore a condescending smile. "Cinderstar asked me specifically," she lied. She knew he wouldn't question her – he trusted her implicitly, like a kit and its mother.
"I guess so. Wouldn't Yellowpaw want to be present for her sister's warrior ceremony?" he mewed, frowning.
Cheerfully, Icefang trotted over to Eaglepaw, who was arguing about something with Sparrowtail and Tansyleaf. As she approached, she caught the words "ice" and "horrible", and froze. Had Eaglepaw seen? Was she making up a story for Whitefoot? What if she was telling them about Icefang's grisly role in the mystery? But as she came within a few whisker-lengths of the small group, she heard Sparrowtail meow, "I know, it started snowing so hard I could barely see. It was pretty horrible weather."
Icefang instantly relaxed, laughing at herself. She had to stop being so paranoid and start having more faith in herself. "Eaglepaw!" she yowled, bouncing into the circle. The golden tabby looked up in surprise. Her eyes showed so signs of worry about her mentor, which Icefang took as a good sign.
"What?" the apprentice meowed, turning her full attention to Icefang.
"How would you like to become a warrior today?"
Eaglepaw's expression exploded into a joyful grin, erasing all of Icefang's fears that Eaglepaw would be sad about Brightpool's passing.
"Are you serious? Really Icefang?" she squeaked, acting like a kit with catnip. "No assessment or anything?"
"Cinderstar asked me special," lied the white warrior again, smiling placidly. "How about it?"
The golden tabby apprentice hesitated for just a split second. "Yellowpaw left," she murmured, but then she shook it off and nodded. "Definitely." She didn't seem to give Brightpool a second thought as she and Icefang made their way towards the Highrock.
Feeling daring and rebellious, Icefang took a flying leap onto the flat top of the giant stone, feeling as all eyes were drawn to her, her bright pelt blazing against the gray and dismal sky behind.
"Warriors of ThunderClan," Icefang meowed loudly. "Today we have the honor of naming a new warrior."
Silence filled the clearing as the Clan turned towards the Highrock in confusion. Tansyleaf looked shocked, and Icefang wondered if she though she'd missed something – like a day or two. With a chuckle, the white she-cat stepped forward.
"I know that Brightpool's absence is worrying, and that without Cinderstar this ceremony lacks an essential piece, but our ill leader asked me specially to grant Eaglepaw her warrior name today. He and I both feel that she is ready to take on the responsibilities of a warrior, and I know that if Brightpool were here, she would heartily agree. Therefore, I will carry out Cinderstar's wishes and make Eaglepaw a warrior myself. Please come forward, Eaglepaw."
The golden tabby she-cat bounced forward excitedly, her eyes round with anticipation. She settled in the slush at the foot of the Highrock and gazed up at Icefang.
"Though I can only speak for my leader," Icefang began, "I know that he approves of this ceremony and wishes for StarClan to cast their eyes upon this apprentice. She has proven herself a worthy member of ThunderClan, and is ready to receive her warrior name. Eaglepaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do, Icefang," Eaglepaw meowed.
Icefang paused to savor the moment. She could feel the power of the Highrock beneath, it's smooth surface worn down by so many sets of paws – leaders, deputies, medicine cats of ancient times, who had stood here and said these vary words countless times. Icefang never wanted to jump down. She wanted to lie here and gaze at the stars, feeling invincible, timeless. She knew that Brightpool's body would not be found. It was nowhere near the Great Sycamore. Her secret was safe, and soon, she would take her rightful place on the Highrock, and no one would stare at her and think 'That kittypet does not belong.'
Smothering a snarl, Icefang looked down at Eaglepaw and finished the ceremony. "By the power of my warrior ancestors, I grant you your full name – Eagleclaw. May you serve your Clan well." Then she jumped down, and Eagleclaw gave her shoulder a respectful lick amidst loud cheers of her new name.
Icefang joined in, feeling genuine satisfaction warm her paws. Eagleclaw. A fitting name. Icefang, Eagleclaw. She said the words to herself, feeling almost happy. Glorious Icestar of ThunderClan, and her wily deputy Eagleclaw. Like something out of legend. She smiled and joined in, cheering along with the rest of the Clan.