CotS #1: The Dark Path (currently being rewritten)

Chapter Eleven

I was training Swanpaw with Iceflame, Iceleaf and Plumwhisker when Iceleaf suddenly and unexpectedly started kitting. The overexertion from facing off Iceflame for two hours had gotten to her body, and she was weak from training to begin with. I asked Iceflame to call Emuwing, desperately, hoping she would at least show some sympathy for the poor queen.

The deputy didn't move a muscle.

So, instead, Swanpaw and I ran back to camp to get Emuwing and Cocoaleaf. And, apparently, Emuwing was showing Cocoaleaf where to collect herbs, and none of us knew where those herbs were.

So I went back to the training hollow. I found Emuwing already there – maybe she'd heard Iceleaf's cries.

"She's so, so weak," Emuwing whispered. "I don't think she's going to make it." Suddenly, she rounded on Iceflame. "I told you this was a bad idea! This is not you! Be yourself, Iceflame. Stonestar may have changed but I know you are still the same cat!"

What? All this? Was Iceflame just following Stonestar's lead all this while? Like a tamed dog? What was going on?!

"I am who I'm meant to be," Iceflame meowed evenly. "If Stonestar wants me to be like this, so be it. I trust him completely." Her green eyes showed she obviously believed something else – but I could see the trust for her mate there, built through years of companionship. I could understand that trust. But surely Iceflame of all cats could see he'd changed.

"Iceflame," I said gently.

Iceflame looked away. "I care for them. Those cats. Iceleaf. I did. But ... if Stonestar wants me to be tough..." She shook her head. "I don't know what's going on with him! He's your grandfather, he must've treated you lovingly, can you try talking to him?"

"He was never around for me," I snorted. I heard more of Iceleaf's wails. "Where's Mudwish?" I asked softly.

"Training," Iceflame meowed shortly, "with Woodfur and Oakpaw. You can ask Amberfire where they're training."

"Why?" I asked curiously.

"You know, they're mates. Amberfire is expecting their first litter."

Already! I felt so sorry for Emuwing. Having a crush on Woodfur. Wasting her time.

"Yeah. First. What, so funny? You're not the only one who sees how Emuwing looks at Woodfur. But, she's a medicine cat, and not supposed to be romancy, so maybe this is good for her. Woodfur isn't Amberfire's first mate anyways. She had Birdcry first, although they never had kits together. He died, like, two moons after they mated. It was really sad. And no one thought Dawnstream was Amberfire's mother either, so she couldn't talk to her."

It was true. I had seen Amberfire and Dawnstream share tongues on several occasions, but I'd assumed they were close. Dawnstream always looked young, so I'd never – absolutely never – thought she could possibly be Amberfire's mother.

"Also, something else," Iceflame said reluctantly. "Wheatpelt asked me to talk to you."

"What?" I asked sharply. "Her?"

"You had a falling out?" she asked sympathetically. "Wheatpelt said she was harsh, and she's sorry."

I shook my head. "Sorry, is she? Never mind. Tell her she's forgiven, but we're just Clanmates from now on."

I looked through Iceflame into the nursery. I'd just caught sight of Wheatpelt curled around her three kits and I strained to hear them.

"Mama! Mama, why don't you play anymore?"