~ Warrior Cats - The Dawn of IceClan || Book 1 - A Conflict Arises ~

Chapter 3

Three shadows, one small and the others big, loomed beside the corner leading into an alleyway.

The small figure, a snow-white she-kit with pale gray paws and ice-blue eyes, was trembling in terror, her gaze flicking from one cat to the other. A small scratch showed beneath the fluffy fur around one of her ears, though it hardly leaked blood.

"I've managed to capture a kit." One of the big figures, a young tom dappled gold and brown, flicked his vibrant orange tail at the kit. Despite him being twice the kitten's size, he was still not fully-grown yet.

The other cat, a dark brown tom, stared down at the shaking kit, his head tipped to one side. "She looks fat," he huffed. "Are you sure you haven't captured a kittypet instead, Nightshade?"

"No, Branch," the other tom mewed, shaking his head. "I got her from the forest. I saw my big sister there. She was taking care of this kit. I managed to leave her with a deep wound, though," he added with a twinge of pride. He gazed at the dark brown tom, obviously awaiting praise.

"Your sister?" Branch's yellow eyes narrowed. "I hope you didn't melt in front of her."

"Of course I didn't," Nightshade replied, lowering his head respectfully. He then looked down at the kit. "She only looks fat because the forest has had more food than we've ever managed to find here in Twolegplace," he pointed out.

"I suppose that's true," Branch growled grudgingly. On a brighter note, he meowed, "the forest is ours now, though. We should have good hunting."

Nightshade dipped his head in agreement, then looked down at the kit. "Your name is Ice, right? Don't worry. We aren't going to hurt you," he meowed firmly. "We simply wish to take you in into our-"

Nightshade gasped as Branch shoved him roughly aside. "I can speak for the group," he snarled at the young tom, who scrambled to his paws and backed away submissively.

Branch turned back towards Ice. "I think I've seen you before..." he spoke slowly, his eyes starting to sparkle. He blinking it away and growled, "you are to join our group. We will teach you our ways, and you are to obey orders. Come on, follow us."

Slowly, the three cats progressed towards a fence in the alleyway and squeezed through a hole in the bottom.

***

Blue could hear nothing but her heart pounding, sending more blood to trickle out of her neck wound.

The she-cat twisted, pressing more cobwebs to the wound with a white paw. She winced.

Again, the scene flashed before her.

Nightshade had attacked her and wounded her deeply. He had then robbed Blue's own daughter.

'Foster daughter,' she reminded herself with a slight snort, then winced again as pain stabbed at her again.

How could her own brother do this? She remembered visiting her parents on the day "Nightshade" was born. His brother had died before he could even take a breath, but Nightshade had stayed strong, a beacon of hope for the family. Blue had helped the family, playing with her little brother when her parents were off.

But Blue knew that Nightshade's misguided ambition and curiosity had led him to this moment. 'If only I had been a better influence,' Blue thought, regret slicing at her like a sharp claw.

Blue struggled to stand up, gasping as a wave of blood almost dislodged the thick wad of cobwebs weaved over the wound. Slowly she lowered herself down onto the ground again, biting back a whimper of pain. She was a full-grown cat, not a kit. But Ice was. She had to rescue her.

Blue remembered that day, moons ago, when she had spotted Ice against the fence of a Twoleg nest. She was so small.. so vulnerable.. while her real mother had been captured by the rogues she had tried to run away from.

From what she had heard of the encounter, Ice's real mother had been mates with the fox-hearted leader of those rogues, and she must have realized her mistake in doing so.

With a pang of sorrow, Blue realized that the poor she-cat had saved her daughter, but it had cost her her own freedom- perhaps even her life.

And with that thought came a realization that chilled her heart. Her breathing fastened, and she cursed Nightshade for giving her such a deep wound.

If Ice's mother was still alive, she would have been the rogues' prisoner. And if Ice knew her real mother, she would want to stay with her for sure, and that would risk her losing the good qualities Blue had tried so hard to teach her- in exchange for her mother, Ice would lose everything that made her an honorable, good-pursuing cat.

Blue peeled away the wad of cobwebs, wincing as the flow of blood immediately poured out after. Biting back a hiss, she dragged herself closer to the redwood tree, feebly reaching up to claw down fresh strings of cobweb.

Another thought sent her shuddering with waves of horror as she applied the cobwebs.

If Blue had heard the encounter right...

Ice might be greeting her father in Twolegplace.