Guardians: The Beginning

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

"Come on Icestorm not that much longer." Moonflower reassured as Icestorm howled in pain. "Here it comes. It's a brute!" she whispered. "Come on Icestorm one more pup and then it's over."

If only Pricklefur was here what would he think, Icestorm thought Poppydawn help me!! Both her mother and father had died during a bought of redcough that no-leaf. Icestorm had grieved long and hard. In the end Flamemoon had reminded her that her pups still depended on her.

"Last one, it's a she-wolf!" Moonflower exclaimed "Foxtail, you can come on in. You have a brute and a she-wolf."

"What do you want to name them Icestorm?" Foxtail asked his mate. Foxtail and Lilysplash were the only ones who knew that Foxtail wasn't the father of the newest pups. Regardless Foxtail accepted the rumors and had acted like any father-to-be would. "I would have been proud to be their father." Foxtail whispered so only Icestorm could hear. Icestorm nuzzled him gratefully.

"The white one looks like a cloud and the black she-wolf is just like a shadow. So Shadowpup and Cloudpup." Unwillingly Icestorm remembered what she had said to Pricklefur on one of their meetings. 'You blend in well with the shadows, you should be Shadowfur.' Icestorm joked as she nuzzled Pricklefur. Also, what he had once said to her. 'You see that cloud?

It looks just like you. Leaping as if it could fly away from everything on earth." Icestorm had laughed saying "I could never fly away from you!" Icestorm looked down at her pups to hide the guilt in her face from Foxtail. Suddenly, exhaustion came in a rush. Just before she closed her eyes she saw a wolf as white as the cloud she had seen that one time with Pricklefur. A breeze came with the wolf and a deep yet airy voice said the air shields him. Then for the second time since her last encounter with Lightningheart she really slept.

(A moon later)

When Icestorm woke up around sunhigh her pups were already awake.

"Mama?" they squeaked. Icestorm smiled and asked Cloudpup, "I'm here sweeties nothing to worry about. Why are you on your back?"

"Oh about that Shadowpup said she'd make me a warrior right now if I could get that bramble. I thought if my front paws couldn't get it my hind paws could!" announced Cloudpup seemingly proud of his idea.

"Lilysplash and I would play that trick on Rosefur and Oakstep all the time. The only wolves in the nursery that could reach it were our moms. Don't worry you are already a little warrior to me."

"Mama, may Cloudpup and I please go outside?" Shadowpup asked.

"Sure, just don't go into the medicine or warrior den." Icestorm advised "Come and get me when you're hungry." She called after them but they were already gone. "Will they be okay?" she asked Fernwing who had moved back into the nursery expecting Brackenclaw's pups. "Ask Honeyfur, I need to rest. Moonflower and Amberpaw say the pups will come soon."

"Honeyfur?" Icestorm said anxiously, "Will they be okay?" The old queen, who had been her mother's mom, came over and nuzzled Icestorm.

"You worry two much Icestorm, I get they are your first pups, but you're forgetting there are a lot of warriors like Foxtail who want to protect those pups," the old she wolf replied.

"Thank you Honeyfur, I am going to get some food from the fresh kill pile, you want some?" Icestorm inquired.

"Sure," Honeyfur replied and started to clean up her nest as Icestorm walked out. She walked over to the fresh-kill pile and got a piece of elk for Honeyfur and Fernwing. She pushed it to Honeyfur and told her to tell the sleeping Lilysplash that she would watch the pups. It was almost newleaf and the promise of spring and new prey was in the air. Suddenly, she smelled a new scent Skypack!! Icestorm thought and ran over to the pups. The scent had been faint but still too close for her liking. "All of you pups need to come in the nursery now," Icestorm said gently.