Warriors: Beyond the River (SOB prequel) (COMPLETE)

Chapter 10

"Iceslide... Psst."

He awoke to a paw prodding his side. He blinked open his eyes and looked up to see Sunripple standing over him. It was still night. The warrior's yellow eyes shone in the darkness. Iceslide yawned and looked at him. "Wha-"

"Shhh!" Sunripple whispered and turned, gesturing with his tail for him to follow. "Come with me." He looked around the crowded den cautiously, afraid to wake anyone up.

What's going on? Iceslide blinked and slowly stood in his nest, looking around. Dipfoot and Shallowpool were curled up against each other, sound asleep. Creekleap lay on his back, snoring. Beyond him, Winterlight and Ravenfeather were laying asleep together. Ravenfeather's head was rested on her neck. He scanned the other warriors. No cat seemed to be awake.

Sunripple stood at the entrance of the den, looking over his shoulder at Iceslide urgently. Iceslide carefully weaved through the sleeping cats and exited the den.

"What's up?" Iceslide whispered, sensing there was a good reason they were being so careful not to wake anyone. Does it have something to do with Dreamwhisper?

"You'll see when we're out of camp," Sunripple breathed back, twitching his tail. "Follow me." He headed behind the apprentices den and slipped through a gap in the bed of reeds that lined the camp. Iceslide followed him. He knew this route very well. He'd often used it to sneak out of camp when he was an apprentice.

Iceslide was confused as they headed through the territory. "Where are we going?" He asked. Sunripple didn't respond, and they continued walking in silence. They were nearly at the border when Iceslide saw two cats up ahead, ones that he knew very well. His heart skipped a beat in shock. Is that-

"Iceslide!" Truffle charged and crashed into him, pinning him on his back into the leaves. "You're okay!" His yellow eyes lit with joy. "Where have you been? What happened?"

"Truffle?" Iceslide gasped in shock. 

Sulfur let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness!" He padded over to them. "It's good to see you, Iceslide."

Iceslide gently pushed the kittypet off of him and stumbled to his paws, blinking at his friends. "What are you doing on RiverClan territory? What's going on?" He looked at Sunripple.

His clanmate looked amused. "I met with Dreamwhisper earlier tonight. I was on my way back when I found these two," He gestured to Truffle and Sulfur. "Wandering on the outskirts of RiverClan territory yowling your name. I figured you knew them and told them I'd get you before they woke up the entire forest."

Sulfur glanced at Truffle. "I told him to shut up, but would he listen?"

"Hey, it worked, didn't it?" The cream kittypet shrugged.

"You're lucky I heard you and not someone else," Sunripple commented.

Iceslide nodded, staring at his friends. "It was a dangerous to do." He let out a purr and stepped forward to touch noses with Truffle, then Sulfur. "But it's great to see you! I've missed you so much."

"We've missed you too!" Truffle stared at him. "Where have you been? It's been over a moon!"

"We thought something had happened to you," Sulfur added. "We thought you might be dead."

His heart ached with guilt. "I'm sorry for worrying you. I'm okay, I just..." He hesitated. "I got caught with some other kittypets and got in trouble. I couldn't leave the territory."

The cats exchanged a worried look. "Can we still be friends?" Truffle asked quietly.

Iceslide's stomach twisted. "I'll find a way to keep meeting you," He promised. "I can't just abandon my friends."