Poolstar's Destiny

Chapter 20

Poolpelt followed Briarfang, Blackpaw, and Braveheart through the snowy trees  as they headed back to camp after an early border patrol.

Soft greenleaf sunshine dappled her pelt, and a bee buzzed closer to her ear as it looped its way through a clump of frozen ferns.
Greenleaf was the time for where more herbs grew, and more prey flourished.

"It would be a perfect day to be lying on Icerocks," Blackpaw mewed wistfully.
Briarfang snorted. "I can't believe Silverstar hasn't done anything to take them back from those DawnClan sun-faces."
"She should have launched an attack the moment they moved the border markers." Blackpaw batted the air in a mock lunge. "Instead we have to watch those sun-faces loll about on our territory."

"We don't need the prey from Icerocks," Braveheart pointed out. "There's enough in the rest of the forest."

"That's not the point!" Briarfang snapped. "She's made us look weak. SmokeClan will be helping itself to Snakerocks next."
Poolpelt flicked her tail. "SmokeClan can have Snakerocks. It attracts more adders and foxes than it does prey."
A low growl rumbled in Briarfang's throat.

"Shedding blood over Icerocks is pointless," Braveheart argued. "From what the elders say, it's happened enough times in the Clan's history already. It's easier just to let them have it. We have enough prey."
"In greenleaf!" Blackpaw snapped. "But what about during leaf-bare, when we need every whisker of territory?"

Poolpelt narrowed her eyes. "If it becomes worth fighting over, then I'm sure Silverstar will fight." She wished she could shake away the doubt, from where Silverstar has looked more tireder and tireder and not to mentioned her blood-shot eyes, but she wouldn't stand for her Clanmates insulting the IceClan's leader.
Blackpaw curled his lip. "Has our leader been confiding in you?"
Poolpelt shrugged, as they reached the top of the ravine. She didn't want to start a fight with this apprentice, especially Feathershine's lover. Also, she actually admired Blackpaw's courage. "She doesn't need to, it just makes sense."
She shouldered past Blackpaw and bounded down the rocks.

Duskwing was basking outside the nursery. Her belly was so swollen with kits, she looked as round as a badger.
"Warm enough?" Poolpelt asked as she passed.
Duskwing lifted her head. "It can't be too warm for me," she purred.

Poolpelt headed for the fresh-kill pile.
"There's plenty of prey to choose from." Thornpaw was lying beside the tree stump with Amberpaw. "I caught a thrush and a vole myself."
Amberpaw flicked her tail across his ears. "Stop showing off!"
Thornwing lapped his paw. "I was just being honest."
Poolpelt's whiskers twitched. "Following the warrior code, I suppose," she teased.

She stepped out of the way as Icefrost came hurrying towards the apprentices's den.
"Hey, Thornpaw! Have you seen Silverstar?"
Thornpaw looked up. "I thought she went out with a hunting patrol."
Icefrost narrowed her eyes. "I thought so, too, but the hunting patrol's just came back and Silverstar's not with them."

Poolpelt tipped her head to one side. Had the rest of the border patrol noticed her sniffing for Silverstar's scent as they passed the Twolegplace border?
She couldn't forget seeing her hunting in Twolegplace, and since their trip to the Moonstone a moon ago, and her blood-shot eyes, the feeling that something was wrong with the IceClan leader had never entirely gone away.
Was she in Twolegplace right now, hunting mice?

Thornpaw gave up on his paw and padded over to the icy-colored tabby warrior. "Would you like me to look for her?" she offered.
Icefrost shook her head. "I want you to come with me on a patrol to check the border along the river," she explained. "DawnClan may have taken Sunningrocks from us, but they're not allowed to set one paw on this side of them. The dawn patrol picked up some scents as far as in the trees, so I think we should patrol there more often in case those sun-faces have any ideas about invading us. Poolpelt, you can come, too."