Waterclans Prophecy - Book 1: The Dream

Chapter 19 Icewing

Icewing shivered and listened to the wind thunder around the outside of his den. Snow blew through the den entrance while Fernheart struggled to close the small gap with whatever extra moss and brambles she could find. Blazefang and Frogleap worked together on pushing the snow that piled up inside back out. In the middle of the den, huddled together for warmth while Brambleberry boasted his story of how they killed the fawn.

"Ivel, Blazefang and I climbed trees while while Fernheart and Blazecloud stayed on the ground to trip it if it tried to run. When the doe and the fawn were below us, we dropped down on top of the fawn. The doe ran away and the fawn tried to follow but Fernheart and Blazecloud clawed its legs, making it fall. Ivel leaped off and sliced its underbelly while I clawed at the throat. Blazecloud tried to be a hero and ran over but, the fawn was flailing and a hoof bashed him in the side. The fawn weakly stood and started after its mother again but I kept my claws in its neck, the blood kept flowing. I heard a yowl of pain below me but kept my grip until it came crashing down once more. Ivel then hurried up and gave it one last slice."

"What was the yowl of pain from?" Rainwind's icy blue eyes were wide.

"Blazecloud got trampled, serves him right for trying to steal all the glory." Brambleberry growled.

"Your so brave." Leopardclaw looked in awe at his former mentor. "I wish I was as amazing as you."

"You may be a warrior now, but you still have a lot to learn." Brambleberry's amber gaze was thoughtful.

Ivel was staring at the camp entrance. "You think the rest of the clan is safe?" He murmured voice distant.

"Your brother is in the medicine cat den, he should be safer then us." Blazefang mewed reassuringly.

"I'm not worried about him." Ivel didn't take his eyes off the snow covered entrance. "It's the kits."

Icewing narrowed his eyes. Since when has Ivel cared about the kits? He's hardly ever given them a second glance! "We should save the fresh kill too." Leopardclaw inturrupted Icewing's thoughts.

"One problem." Fernheart put in. Everyone glanced up at her questioningly. "The snow blocked the entrance, we're stuck in here until it melts." Yowls of panic and fear echoed throughout the den.

"Everyone quiet!" Blazefang yowled over everyone else. The yowls slowly died down and Blazefang continued. "The snow may block the entrance but we still have claws, don't we?" The cats around him nodded confusedly. "Then we can dig out of here."

"We should split into groups." Frogleap suggested. "So we can dig our way to all the dens."

Blazefang nodded. "Good idea he mewed."

"I'm digging out the nursery!" Ivel yowled.

"I got the medicine den." Brambleberry called. "Hawkwing needs me."

"We'll send patrols to dig out each den." Blazefang declared. "I'll lead the patrol to dig out the elders, Ivel can lead the one to the queens, Brambleberry to Birdsong, Leopardclaw to the fresh kill."

"I'll help dig out the apprentices." Frogleap offered.

"I'd like to make sure Brightstar's okay." Icewing put in.

"Sounds good." Blazefang mewed. "Everyone else get join a patrol and help them dig."

Pebblefang started padding over to Brambleberry but the dark tabby curled his lip at him and the young tom hurried over to his father instead. Riverheart joined Icewing and they hurried over to the den entrance.

Icewing clawed at the fluffy snow and it crumbled down next to him. "Follow me." He spoke quickly. Icewing first tried to dig up so he could walk on top of the snow to get to Brightstar's den, but he kept sinking in the deep snow before he could even make it to the surface and Riverheart and Pebblefang had to help him back up. "Let's just dig." Icewing growled. "It will be warmer down here anyways." Icewing's pelt was soaked and he'd only made it a few tail lengths away from where he started.

Riverheart took the lead and neatly padded through the deep snow, slowly digging out the tunnel in the direction of the oak. If only I had longer legs like her. Icewing thought as he compared his size to his daughter's. Riverheart suddenly paused and Icewing nearly crashed into her. Behind him, Icewing felt whiskers brush his grey tail tip.

"Are we there already?" Pebblefang questioned.

"I don't think so." Icewing mewed confusedly. Even though they had been digging for a while, Icewing knew that camp was big enough for them to not be at Brightstar's deb yet. "What's wrong?" Icewing tried to look over his daughter's shoulder but had no luck trying.

"Brightstar." Riverheart breathed. Icewing pushed past the grey tabby and spotted a grey paw sticking out of the snow immediately.

"We need to move quickly." Icewing struggled to keep his voice calm. "Let's dig her out."

"She'll be okay, won't she?" Riverheart looked up at him with scared amber eyes.

"I hope so." Icewing touched his nose to his mates flesh and flinched in surprise. "She's like a piece of ice!" He hissed. Pebblefang didn't say anything, but his expression was grim as his claw scraped the snow away from his mother. Riverheart's amber eyes were huge with fear as she joined him. When they had uncovered most of Brightstar, Icewing grabbed her by the scruff. Riverheart and Pebblefang moved their shoulders under her and helped carry her.

"She's freezing!" Riverheart yowled in fright.

"Icewing?" Pebblefang's concerned voice sounded behind the small white and grey warrior.

"Yeah?" Icewing mewed cautiously.

"She's not breathing." Pebblefang whimpered.

"Great Starclan no." Icewing hissed.

The three cats where able to stumble back into the warrior den where Leopardclaw sat next to the fresh kill. "You can set her here." He mewed when he saw them stumble in.

The three cats moved Brightstar's body towards the young warrior and set her down as gently as possible. "We need to warm her up." Icewing instructed his kits to press against their mother to warm her. "Where's the rest of your patrol?" Icewing turned to Leopardclaw.

"They went to help dig out everyone else." He responded. "I stayed to guard the fresh kill."

"From who?" Icewing growled. "We'll stay here, you go get Birdsong, her den should have been dug out by now." Leopardclaw swiped his tongue around his jaws and hurried out of the den. Brightstar let out a groan. Icewing turned to her immediately. "Are you okay?" He demanded.

"I lost a life." She mewed groggily. Brightstar weakly sat up and started grooming herself. "Is the clan okay?"

"We don't know." Icewing admitted.

"Well don't wait here for me, go help them." Brightstar growled.

Icewing hesitated and glaced at Riverheart and Pebblefang. "I'll watch her." Riverheart offered.

"Okay." Icewing mewed grudgingly. "Let's go help the queens and kits." Icewing turned to Pebblefang.

The two toms hurried out of the den and followed Ivel's scent down a different tunnel. At the end up the tunnel Icewing saw Ivel and Lillyfoot scraping at a wall of snow, Ivel's emerald eyes panicked.

"Ivel, relax." Lillyfoot was mewing. "The kits should be fine, the queens will protect them."

"Is everything okay?" Icewing mewed as they padded up.

"No!" Ivel yowled. "My mate is trapped!"

Icewing, Lillyfoot, and Pebblefang stared in shock at the dark red warrior. "You have a mate?" Icewing breathed.

"Don't ask questions, help me save her!" Ivel yowled. "Hold on Gingerfoot, I'm coming!"