Icekit didn't feel like dealing with Blossomtail's bossy kits as she left the nursery. Not even in the mood for Grasskit and Weaselkit. She was back to cat-watching. Next to Runningwhisker was Birdleap, a gentle brown she-cat with green eyes. They were soon joined by Sandnose, Lichenpelt, and Swanpaw. Sandnose was the light ginger tabby tom with amber eyes while Swanpaw's mentor had black fur and green eyes. Lichenpelt was a cat who was hard to impress and only her apprentice and Sandnose passed her approval. The five cats said nothing to each other as they headed out of camp, although Swanpaw had glanced back to give Icekit a smirk. Icekit wasn't as jealous as she used to be as she had when she was younger. She was much closer to becoming an apprentice herself. She spent time pondering who would become her mentor. Cloudwing would be her choice.
The blue-eyed white tom was more laid-back and wouldn't be too mean. At least that's what she thinks he'd be. If he didn't spend so much time around the fresh-kill pile. The playful tom ate more than anyone. Even the lazy Paleflower. She would bet every bit of prey in the forest that those two tried to out-eat each other once.
Cloudwing was eating as she reminisced, nodding along with Needledust and Amberfur. The one speaking to them was Clawnose.
The scarred ginger tom was growling about how RiverClan didn't know how to stay on their side of the border.
"Dovestar is too soft on the other Clans. If Tunnelstar was still with us, he'd make sure we'd teach those fish-eaters a lesson," His blue stare was like ice.
"We don't have a problem with RiverClan," Amberfur responded. "What about ShadowClan?"
"We don't need to worry," Cloudwing swallowed. "I heard that Pikeheart."
"He did," Needledust confirmed. "Tangleflower is the deputy now."
"Tangleflower is weak," Clawnose shrugged. "Hollystar never did pick strong deputies. But it's easy for us if they aren't strong."
"Runningwhisker is the best deputy," Cloudwing purred. "He's still too way to young to retire and I wonder what he'll be like when Dovestar passes on."
"I wonder who will be his new deputy," Needledust murmured.
"Isn't it obvious?" Clawnose puffed out his chest. "I've been ready to lead for moons. All I need is an apprentice and I've already requested to be Ratkit's mentor. She's the toughest of all the kits."
"Who will get Icekit?" Amberfur wondered.
"Who cares?" Clawnose's voice was harsh. "It's not like she'll be a good warrior."
"She's still a WindClan cat," Amberfur blinked. "Shouldn't we at least give all our apprentices and kits a chance?"
"At least you two have an apprentice," Cloudwing huffed.
"We have a good amount of kits," Needledust gave him a reassuring glance.
"With greenleaf always here, we can get even more kits," Amberfur purred.
"Birdleap has been spending more time with Runningwhisker," Cloudwing mused.
"Doesn't mean they'll be mates," Clawnose yawned. "As long as those kits would be actually useful to the Clan and our deputy doesn't ditch us like Smoketail."
"I never did like Smoketail," Amberfur shook her head. "He was all bark and no bite. I tried many times to warn Silverfang about that mouse-heart. But she didn't listen to me at all."
"Smoketail was a great defender," Clawnose growled. "A waste of talent."
"Poor Silverfang."
Cloudwing's sympathy for Icekit's mother ruffled her fur. It was her fault for choosing a cat who'd abandoned his Clanmates. Which Silverfang took out on her own daughter.
But would she really have changed if he had stayed? Would she still have wanted kits? She could only assume, but it didn't make her actions okay.
No longer invested in their discussion, she moved closer to the warriors den where a amber-eyed black tom was flirting with a ginger she-cat who rolled her own amber eyes at him.
"How many times must I tell you no, Wasptail?" She hissed at him.
"Oh, come on, Ivyheart," he pressed against her. "Just come on a walk with me. Don't you want to enjoy the New-leaf air while it still last?"
"Not with you," Ivyheart grumbled. "It's not like I've never seen the plains in New-leaf before."
"I found this tunnel that I think you'd just adore," Wasptail sighed. "It'll be our own little place. We can even bring Poppypaw and Hawkpaw to see you."
"So you want me to scratch out your eyes," she snarled. "Like I said, I'm not interested."
"Let's at least take our apprentices out," he simpered. "Surely they would appreciate the nice weather before it gets too hot."
"Fine," she growled before catching Icekit's stare. "What are you looking at?"
"Nothing," Icekit moved out of their range, but was able to catch Wasptail's voice.
"Shouldn't she be in the nursery?"
"Who cares?" Ivyheart raised her voice so that it could be heard. "We'll be rid of her soon. You should have seen Marshleaf's face yesterday."
Icekit scowled at the other cats as she stomped back to the nursery where Silverfang and Blossomtail observed her kits wrestling.
Ratkit clearly relied on strength as the gray tabby was bigger than her siblings. But Bluekit and Sunkit were much quicker and worked together. She felt a tinge of envy seeing how proud Blossomtail was of the three littermates. It was one of the few moments where her green eyes were full of pride instead of contempt. But it stung more to see the same look in Silverfang's. She avoided them and settled down in her nest to watch Paleflower and her sons sleep.
They were peaceful and didn't have a Clan that hated them. Weaselkit and Grasskit would get the love and respect all the other kits had. They didn't have a horrible mother or a rouge father. Even if they eventually had a cat who disliked them, they'd still weren't 'cursed' and feared by their medicine cat. Icekit was almost awed by how fiercely protective she was of them. She wouldn't let another cat harm these kits. She will guard them from Swanpaw and Poppypaw. No matter what. She was ready for the challenge.