Icy

Chapter 1 Pt. 1

Grumpstar padded into his den, exhausted of the day's work. He exhaled hard as he flopped into his nest. The moss was soft against his pelt, and he felt warmth spreading through his body.

"Grumpstar?" He heard a faint meow from outside of his den.

"Oh, what is it?" He snapped.

"May I come in?" The voice said.

"Fine!" He snarled. A creamy white she-cat with brown patches and yellow eyes padded into the den.

"We think some of the cats have whitecough," The cat reported.

"Treetail, why is this my concern?"

"The sickness could spread! The whole clan will be infected!"

"Do I look like a medicine cat?"

"I ju-. "

"Go tell Appleleaf, then!" Grumpstar snapped.

Treetail wanted to protest, but simple flicked her tail. "Fine."

Grumpstar sighed. Why does everyone come here with problems that others can solve? He wondered. Even Treetail, my own deputy!

Grumpstar walked out of his den, looking around the camp. He watched as the snowflakes fell from the sky and landed around the camp. Leafbare was beginning, the hardest season for the clans. He turned his head to two little kits, squeaking and leaping on each other in the clearing.

"Hey, Scarkit! You be a mouse, and I'll catch you!" Maplekit's chest fur puffed up.

"Ok!" Scarkit squeaked. He started running around the camp, looking back every second to see how close his sister was. Maplekit pounced on him, pinning him to the ground.

"Hah! Take that!" Maplekit boasted.

"Hey, I'd like to see you do any better!" Scarkit smirked.

"You're on!" Maplekit ran off.

Grumpstar stopped watching them.

"Kits," He muttered. "Such a pain!"

He kept spying on others in the camp. Appleleaf was teaching his apprentice, Starlingpaw, about herbs. Ravenwing was checking that his mate, Raincloud was ok.

This is getting boring! He thought. He padded over to the fresh kill pile, grabbing a plump mouse. He hurried into his den and chewed on the rodent. He could still hear Maplekit and Scarkit playing around together. He thought about Pebblestar, the leader of SwiftClan. If only she were a warrior in SnowClan! He sighed, remembering the love of his life wasn't in his clan, and he would have to move on. He finished his mouse and curled up in his nest. He tried to push away the thought of Pebblestar, and how they had helped defeat BirchClan together when they were only apprentices, and how they would meet at night till they were warriors at the border. Then, he was made deputy. Everything changed that night.

I wish I could feel that again more than anything! She was one of the only ones who I loved...What if she never did love me? Grumpstar shook away the thought. She would never do that!

The warm feeling of his nest suddenly disappeared. The black and grey image of Pebblestar still hung in his head. He could see them playing and laughing together, not a care in the world. Then Seedfang died, and he was made the new deputy. He could still hear Dewstar's voice in his ears: "Grumpdusk, you will be the new deputy!"

His memory faded as he saw Ravenwing enter the room.

"Grumpstar?" He looked worried. "Appleleaf says that Scarkit has whitecough!"

"So, why didn't he give him some catmint?" Grumpstar groaned.

"He says he didn't have any! What if my son dies?!?"

"Don't be mouse-brained!" He hissed. "Appleleaf can go pick some!"

"But the only plants that are left of the catmint is on WeedClan territory!" Ravenwing breathed heavier.

Grumpstar understood his worry. I know the feeling of losing a loved one, He told himself.

"Well, we can't go get it, it will make SnowClan look weak!"

"But Scarkit could die!" Ravenwing hissed.

"Great BraveClan, cats a mouse-brained these days," He muttered.

"I heard that!"

"Just, leave my den!"

The brown tabby's pelt stayed where it was.

"I said, leave!"

Ravenwing hurried out, knowing that Grumpstar would get really mad if he stayed. He took one last look at Grumpstar's silver pelt and stalked into the clearing. Being a leader is hard!

Grumpstar thought. He had closed his green eyes and was drifting into a light slumber. Before he did, he opened and eye and peeked out of the den. He saw SIlverPelt glimmering in the sky. There must have been millions of stars, and Grumpstar wondered if all of them were cats who had lived their lives and gone to BraveClan. He closed his eyes and finally fell into a sleep.

AN:

753 words