Warriors Fanfiction: Super Edition-Owlflight's Path

Chapter Twenty

The cats of the glen stared in stunned silence at the white cat. Icepool. It was as if the sudden appearance of this cat stripped the cats of all the reflexes and battle practices they'd been learning the last few moons. Icepool snorted.

"What a sorry lot you are! What is it? Cat got your tongues?" She snapped, and that sarcastic comment shattered the ice that had stunned the warriors into silence. All at once the cats gathered themselves, taking protective stances in front of the Nursery. Owlflight stepped forward, flanked by Oakcharge and Rowan.

"Who are you?" She asked, her voice defensive and firm. Icepool rolled her icy blue eyes.

"I had thought I'd answered that!" She snapped. "My name is Icepool, I'm the medicine cat from EchoClan, not that you would understand anything I just said. Listen here, mouse-brain! I know herbs and medicine, and you have a tired queen kitting in that den. So either she gets weaker and dies, or you let me help her deliver those kits properly!"

Owlflight felt overwhelmed, but she noticed this cat had an accent more similar to hers than any cat in this new place. Blackberry intervened.

"We don't have time to interrogate this cat! If she can help save my brother's mate and kits, then let her!" The black she cat snapped, her purple eyes flaring bright with challenge. Owlflight stepped back.

"She's right. Let Icepool through!" She called out, and the cats guarding the Nursery stepped back as the medicine cat lumbered through, muttering under her breath. She disappeared into the Nursery led by Buzzardwing, so as not to alarm any cat inside.

Owlflight turned to Oakcharge. "Come speak with me in my den. Ravenleaf, when Buzzardwing comes out, I want both of you there too!" Ravenleaf nodded. Owlflight began to turn when she was blocked by Rowan.

"Let me come to," he said, and Owlflight frowned.

"You aren't a Clanborn cat, I need to discuss warrior stuff with my littermates," she said plainly, trying find a decent way to tell him to butt out. Rowan growled stubbornly.

"Clanborn or not, bunny," he seethed, "this affects the cats I live with and the place I call home. I want in." Owlflight glared. It had been nearly four moons since they met and he still refused to call her anything else!

Owlflight shook her head, pushing that thought away. There were more important things to think of. "Fine. Bear, Ginger! I need you with us as well!" She relented, and Rowan glared at her balefully.

"If you didn't want me there, you could've told me instead of feeding me fodder excuses," the tall tom muttered as Bear and Ginger padded to them. Owlflight snorted.

"I did tell you, mouse-brain! You're the stubborn one who insisted!" She snapped back, irritated. Bear glanced at his good friend with concern. "Is all well, Owlflight?" The black and tan tom asked. Owlflight smiled warmly at him, her irritation fading briefly.

"I'm fine, Bear. But we are having a meeting in the small den," she pointed to the old burrow under the tangle of roots beneath the Grand Oak. She led the cats over and settled in, her littermates already there.

"What does this mean, then?" Asked Oakcharge, straight to the point as ever. Owlflight frowned. "I'm not sure," she murmured. Buzzardwing flicked her tail irritably.

"Well that's nice. So, let's at least recap what we know. Her name is Icepool, she's a medicine cat from this mystery Clan known as EchoClan, and she has all the tact of a badger!" Ravenleaf chuckled at the low growl from Buzzardwing as the she cat finished ranting.

"Are you feathers ruffled birdie?" Rowan teased, earning a playful shove from Buzzardwing. Owlflight felt a sharp twist in her chest and she scooted close to Bear, brushing her fur against his.

"Nevertheless, she is helping us," Owlflight snapped out irately, earning shocked glares from her gathered council. "I wonder if... what if they, EchoClan, are the real reason RippleClan is uneasy?" Owlflight wondered through wide eyes. "What if it isn't the nearby rouges and loners like we'd thought?" Her voice trilled with excitement, and the possibilities of this second clan seemed endless.

"Let's not jump to conclusions," Oakcharge warned, "But if RippleClan was here first, then it certainly makes sense that they'd feel threatened by this 'EchoClan'." Oakcharge nodded thoughtfully. The others nodded. Rowan stood to speak.

"To speak the truth, I had barely ever encountered a Clan cat before you two," he gazed at Buzzardwing and Owlflight. "I know a lot of the loners around here and no one is very keen on risking their tails for food. I don't think the Clan was hissing our way, is what I'm saying." Owlflight flicked her ears, considering this.

"That makes sense as to why they'd be spooked," she murmured, "It would need to be something more organized than a bunch of loners in a forest across the river. Another Clan..." Owlflight's green gaze widened. "That makes sense!" Her fur stood with excitement. Maybe this is why we're here!

Owlflight didn't hesitate to rush out of the den, and she hustled to the Nursery where Icepool was just exiting. The white medicine cat looked up as Owlflight padded to her, and scowled, putting the young warrior off slightly.

"Look," the medicine cat mewed snidely, "I do t have time for your stupid questions rouge. I must get back to my Cla—" Owlflight hissed.

"I'm not a rouge," she snapped, straightening her back, "I am a warrior of WindClan and I demand you stay to answer my q—" Icepool stepped close to her, her eyes blazing.

"What did you say?" She snarled, her eyes burning brightly, "Did you say WindClan?" Owlflight blinked, startled by the sudden change in Icepool's voice. The she cat now seemed somewhat... frantic. Owlflight frowned.

"Yes, WindClan. That is where I was raised," she said, and narrowed her mossy gaze at the medicine cat, "Do I... know you?" Icepool stiffened.

"You," her icy blue gaze was slitted, "Follow me and bring any cat who considers themselves Clan." She muttered, stalking off towards the camp entrance. Owlflight barely had time to gather herself, let alone her siblings and Buzzardwing. But the four cats, who were all so far from home, quickly gathered and followed the enigmatic she cat out of the glade and deep into the forest...