𝘞𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘴: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 (BOOK 1) (ROS)

𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 13

When the storms calmed down, Glacier'watcher meets his father to the highest of the mountain, where Ice'star's outlook is located.

This is where he can see and hear each of everything. And where he had been for the past days, observing and watching as he planned for how he could make this work, how he can achieve what he had always wanted as a leader. He thinks he is doing what he can to give his allies the life they wanted, but most had seen no determination coming from someone like him. 

The clouds were dark, darker enough to not see the birds flying above. The cats ignored it for so long, but now they can't. The food is scarce, the tides of the seas were rising, without StarClan's help of the weather, it's only a matter of time until the eternal darkness consumes everyone.  

The mountains were cold, cold enough to make Glacier'watcher shudder. His eyes stare at his father now approaching the cliff below the mountains. Ice'star nostrils flared as he smelt the natural scent of the mountains. He does notice something, a brown hawk, flying around the surrounded mountains and calling for him, he ignores it. 

"I hope you've got those words in your head." The leader's head snapped at his son; he was still disappointed of him. "You know you've disappointed me that night. We were close, so close." His voice tensed from how angry he feels. "Do you know how much your failures hurt me?" The look of his hardened eyes pleaded for an answer, a proper answer, not an excuse. His body felt like an erupted volcano, and his movements were erratic. Seeing his son fail was the last thing he hoped.

Glacier'watcher just stared. He felt dreaded saying the wrong things around his father. Still, he tries to prove himself. "I can be better, better than anyone!" He promised. "What happened to me being a good leader if you can't let me just... lead?"

"If I had a second son, he'd be a better leader and know how to take care of things responsibly!" Ice'star hissed. "I can't trust you, not after what had happened." He now looks in the outskirts of the mountains. He could see MurkClan's camp just below the trees of the marshlands. Glacier'watcher's face shown a look of grimace. "So, all of that lecturing was for nothing? Am I not fit to be a leader for you, apparently?"

Ice'star moved closer to Glacier'watcher, his fuming eyes glared at what he would call a 'son' after that catastrophe in the valley. "I'm only saying this for your own good. You are not ready." He shoved his son. "You need more discipline."

Glacier'watcher wasn't budging. His eyes flared with unspeakable anger. "You've pressured me to become your perfect mouse-brained son only to be told that I'm not ready!"

"Don't get upset." Ice'star growled. "A leader values their own lives so they could live enough for their clan. You only have one life. What if that one life is taken away from me because of your foolishness? I wouldn't be able to see my son walk on the shade rocks!"

"You told me that I'll be a leader, just like you! This is what you want me to be in life, a leader, and I'm trying to do that for you!" He slammed his paws down. Ice'star took great offense of that. He was this close to hit him, even if he didn't want to. "You are not good enough!" His voice stung like knives going through his heart. "Your mother's recklessness is in your blood! If you're not perfect, our clan won't be! Why can't you just listen to the one who raised you!?" His claws were unsheathing slowly, and his eyes grew into a deep shade of blue. He wasn't even trying to hold his words back, especially to his own son. He thought that his words could get to Glacier'watcher's mind.

His son felt small, like a rat. His loud voice gave him memories that he didn't want to remember. Being ignored when Ice'star had Red'fang as his last apprentice, only to be coddled by his mother with false beliefs. Even when he tries his hardest to get his love and validation from him, Ice'star still sees him as an apprentice in need of mentoring, not a son. "StarClan will never accept failures to reign my legacy." His voice lowered, his tone laced with cruelty and no shame of his harsh words. "You are a failure. Not a son of mine."

Glacier'watcher fell silent.

He knew now that his father was only using him, he couldn't control his emotions or what he could think of next. He thought all of his hope was lost, there was no point of being a son to a father who never cared. So, he ran off. His furious expression attracted the attention of others.  Ice'star's eye color changed back to the color of dull gray, not even his original brown. He realized what he had said and ran after him, yelling with regret. "Come back here!" He roared.

He ran down from his outlook, chasing him through the cave. The warriors overheard Ice'star's yawning, Glacier'watcher kept on running, ignoring his father's words of forgiveness. "Son! Please!" Ice'star cried. The leader's son collided with every cat in his way, Ice'star yelled at one of his own warriors. "DON'T LET HIM LEAVE!" He demanded; the others went after Glacier'watcher.

But it was too late. The rain began to drench Glacier's watcher's fur when he finally exited out of the cave. The CavernClan leader had realized that he was going to lose his son. His only chance at being a father wasted his potential to better himself. This was the worst punishment StarClan could've given him.

He yowled at the skies in frustration.

"COME BACK HERE!" He yelled.

The senior leader couldn't keep up with his son. He was gone, and there's nothing that Ice'star could do. He couldn't have anyone to control, to berate, to play with their mind like an easy catch of prey. He stood there, expressionless. He was just hiding his emotional state in fear of being called as weak. The warriors stared at him; the leader could feel all eyes on him in a horrible way. 

He turned his body around, his eyes bluer than the dusk skies. The vessels inside his sclera were visible, his jaw is clenched. No one had ever seen him this angry before, with the loss of his son, he felt like he failed. 

"What are you all looking at!?" He snapped, moving his body and pacing in front of them. His imposing figure creating a predatory-like stance, his claws unsheathed. "I better not see any of you lose your honor by running off like foxes!" His raucous voice matched with the crashing thunder above the peaks. "I want you to be powerful! You'll want StarClan to see your potential!"

His warriors felt intimidated by his violent approach, some were puzzled, and some were agitated and frightened. The thunder continued to flash behind the leader, he was blind of StarClan's approval, he was thinking what he said to his son were right.

"You all don't seem intrigued!" He sneered. "Ember'star is no more, for I am the leader of IceClan!" He climbed on the high rocks, his large shadow towering everyone below him. "We will begin our plan of ambush to these lambs amongst our land, we will fight against evil, against our darkest desires!" He gushed his spiteful beliefs. He will continue on what his ancestors have done long ago. 

"Together we will build our forces, in return we shall find the light of what the prophecy have requested! The ice will never shatter!" 

The cheering yowls of his loyal warriors erupted; they were encouraged to end the dreaded era of darkness for once and for all. In return, the Silverpelt will find its place to shine, and StarClan will rise once again. 

After running endlessly, Glacier'watcher stopped in front of a cliff. He sits in his haunches, his body shaking from the rain soaking his silver coat. He breathed heavily, holding down the emotions he felt. It was a blend of anger, distrust, and most importantly, jealousy. But not towards his father, but the previous apprentices he treated as his own, and left his biological son for. 

Summit'rush failed, and his straightforwardness in battle had killed him. 

But Red'fang was lucky. He had someone to look out for him, to take him away from whatever Ice'star had taught him. To be violent and to be ruthless. Ice'star would always say 'like father, like son', but never to Glacier'watcher. There was never a moment where he felt appreciative to his own. 

And now, he has a chance to prove him wrong. He has a chance to prove everyone wrong about him. 

He stood from his cliff and disappeared into the dark forests behind him. The grass cracked under his paws as he trotted off.