Icekit found it much easier to stay in the nursery while Blossomtail's kits were playing outside in the warm sunshine. She didn't want to deal with Ratkit talking about how great Swanpaw was when the gray tabby wasn't talking about herself. Her ginger-pelted sister, Sunkit, was as lazy as Paleflower. And the white-furred Bluekit was wary of her as well, keeping at a distance from her. Icekit wasn't bother by this as she liked the trio as much as she liked their mother. Blossomtail herself was more unbearable lately and more likely to snap.
Silverfang had finally been allowed back to being a warrior and wasn't missed. Even by the other queens. Paleflower and Blossomtail were sharing tongues outside of the den, their voices gliding though the walls where Icekit could hear them.
Grasskit and Weaselkit had been taken to the elders. They had tried to bring her along to which she said no. She didn't want to hear Shelldawn's complaining about how she was a burden on the Clan.
"Did you see how big the rabbit Swanpaw brought back was?" Blossomtail asked. "One day those three will be just as good as her."
"You always were a good hunter." Paleflower purred. "A much better hunter than me."
"Not like that's hard," Blossomtail countered. "But you were always a lover, not a fighter."
"Of course. I was always meant to be a queen. Why not let the toms do all the hard work?"
"Toms aren't as strong nowadays. Back when I was a kit, we still used the tunnels. I don't know why they became forbidden. Just because a couple of dumb apprentices got lost?"
"Were they ever found?"
"Who cares?" Blossomtail's tone was ice cold. "The last thing any Clan needs are worthless cats."
"I suppose so."
Icekit tried to keep herself composed while she stepped out of the den, passing the two queens. Paleflower was calm while she could feel the heat of Blossomtail's glare. No doubt she wished that Icekit would get lost in a tunnel. She shuddered at the thought of being underground and all alone. To never feel the warm of the sun and the breath in her lungs. She glanced back at her while making her way to the fresh-kill pile. She plucked out a small shrew and sat down. She could see the other kits as Ratkit was chased by her siblings.
The familiar envy slid into her as she once again wished for a sibling. The three had each other while Grasskit and Weaselkit were inseparable. The jealousy shifted into loneliness and washed away her appetite.
She noticed Sparrowpaw emerge from her den and wave her tail at her.
"Do you want the rest of this?"
"Thank you," Sparrowpaw purred. "Once I finish this, you should come with me."
"Where?" Icekit wondered. Hopefully not into the medicine cat den where Marshleaf was.
"Outside of camp," Sparrowpaw chewed. "You can help me bring back herbs."
"I'm not an apprentice," Icekit swerved to make sure no cat was listening in.
"You'll be fine," the medicine cat apprentice reassured. "If any cat has a problem with it, then I'll tell them it was my idea. Besides, I've seen how bored you've been in camp. You watch the apprentices go in and out of the tunnel like you want to go with them. And what if I get too many herbs and foxes get them?"
"Alright," Icekit agreed. She couldn't help but be curious about the moor. It did beat listening to queens gossip and elders' tales. It wasn't like the Clan would miss her or anything. She stuck to Sparrowpaw like a twig as they made their way through the gorse covering the camp. The first thing to hit her once they were finally out of camp was the wind. The last stretched out before her. Unexplored and waiting to be discovered. What secrets was the open green land hiding? Maybe she'd find a way to the tunnels. Her fear of the earthly darkness was quickly overpowered by her curiosity.
Sparrowpaw caught her look of awe and her own blue eyes sparkled, "Now that's what I needed to see."
"It's amazing," Icekit breathed. "And all that land is ours."
"WindClan has the best territory," Sparrowpaw nudged her. "We aren't closed off by trees and we have the closest connection to StarClan. Come on, let's go explore and find more herbs."
Icekit stayed close to Sparrowpaw as they explored their new terrain and she was impressed by everything she saw. So when they finally made their way back to camp with herbs in their mouths, Icekit still felt happy. Until she was spotted by Swanpaw.
"Is that Cursedkit helping out Sparrowpaw?"
"Looks like it," Poppypaw purred. "Guess the Clan figured that since she was useless, she'd make a good medicine cat."
"But Marshleaf doesn't need another apprentice," Swanpaw gave her a haughty look. "Maybe she's planning on poisoning that little rat."
"She's small like a rat too!"
Icekit felt tears coming to her eyes and ran into the medicine cat den to escape their cruel words. Sparrowpaw had just entered the den behind her when Marshleaf turned around from sorting berries to look at the two.
"What is that cursed beast doing in my den?" The black she-cat screeched, green eyes blazing with fear for a moment. But then they turned to anger. "Drop those herbs and get out of here, you monster! Never come in here again."
"Icekit wait!" Sparrowpaw's voice rang behind her as she dropped the herbs and raced out of the den. She sped past the taunting apprentices and to the nursery to be alone.
Once inside, she let out a shrill wail as she felt her heart slowly crack. What had she done wrong today? All she did was help Sparrowpaw out. Like a good apprentice would have done. She was alone and no cat appreciated her. She hated them all. She was-
Icekit.
She glanced up to see whose voice it was, but there was no cat there. It wasn't from a cat she recognized. She placed her chin on her paws as she tried to relax.
Icekit.
She perked her head back up to the entrance of the nursery. For a heartbeat there was no cat there. Then she saw yellow eyes and a faded black coat. A she-cat. But WindClan didn't have a black she-cat with such yellow eyes.
"Hello?" Icekit called.
When she did, the strange cat flickered in and out of sight. But her eyes stayed the same. Such eerie yellow eyes that seemed to be looking through her. She backed up a bit as the stranger cooed one last time in a peaceful almost motherly tone, eyes as soft as feathers.
Icekit.
With a single blink the she-cat was gone, leaving a confused Icekit alone in the den. Her embarrassment was gone, leaving fear and confusion in its wake. Who was this cat and how in StarClan did they know her name?