Warriors: The Prophecy of Frost - Icy Storm (Editing In Progress)

Chapter 10

A sweet and familiar scent hit Frostleaf's nose. She lifted her head and saw a little brown tabby she-cat padding to her. "Flowerfeather!" she cried, running to her mother's side.

"Why didn't you visit me in my dreams?" Frostleaf asked. "It wasn't time then," Flowerfeather replied softly. "I am here to show you something. We agree that you should see this."

Frostleaf watched the vision. It showed Appleshade, then Applepaw, play fighting with Dustpaw (Dustfur) and Icepaw (Icetail). They helped each other with the bedding.

The scene changed. A she-cat led the patrol that looked almost like Appleshade; she must be her mother. A younger version of Grayclaw was at the back, looking out for danger.

Applepaw was walking beside her mother, observing the surroundings in fascination. Despite Grayclaw's watchful eye, they got ambushed by a huge badger.

It growled menacingly and attacked Applepaw's mother. She hissed at Grayclaw to fetch reinforcements while they fought off the badger.

The badger swatted Applepaw away like a bug and switched its attention to her mother. It unbalanced her and raised its claws for the death blow.

Applepaw rushed towards them but it was too late. The badger made a large wound on her mother's belly, one that is very fatal.

Reinforcements came, with Dustpaw and Icepaw in it. When they saw the lifeless body of their mother, they cried out in grief.

The scene changed again. This time, they had became warriors. Dustfur was talking to Appleshade. "You let our mother die. You are not fit to be our littermate. You should have never been borned!"

His eyes were filled with fury and grief. Icetail glared at her and stalked off.

~~~~

The vision ended. "Why did you show me this?" Frostleaf asked. Flowerfeather smiled sadly. "It is time to settle old grudges and forgive and forget."

She nodded and asked, "Is Specklebreeze your littermate?" Flowerfeather sighed. "Yes, but we have broken up our ties because of an incident."

Frostleaf moved closer curiously. "What incident?" Flowerfeather' eyes were full of hurt and pain, and she didn't answer Frostleaf's question immediately.

"There are many littermate ties broken up because of various reasons. It's time for you to know mine," Flowerfeather whispered in her ear.

"A long time ago, when we have just became apprentices, we were training at Sunningrocks together. Back then, no one knew that I had a crush on Oakblaze, who was the oldest apprentice. It was leaf-fall, quite close to leaf-bare. Specklebreeze's mentor was teaching her how to hunt. Then, a strong gust of wind came and sonehow threw her off balance and she fell into the river."

"Luckily, a Riverclan cat, who happened to be Greenstar, rescued her. We thanked the apprentice and led Specklebreeze to the medicine cat den."

"Then, a few days later after the incident, I noticed that Specklebreeze was constantly distracted. Being her littermate, I knew that she is going something. I asked her about it. She told me that a Riverclan cat called Greenpaw was teaching her how to swim. I was very surprised."

"One day, she went to train with her best friend but didn't come back for so long. I was very worried. We were very close to become warriors and I didn't want any problems. But when she didn't come back the next day, I told my mother who told Birchstar. He sent out a rescue patrol to Riverclan."

"They found out that Specklebreeze was just sick and was brought into Riverclan's medicine cat den for a day. Birchstar was so furious that he delayed her warrior ceremony. Specklebreeze blamed it on me ever since," Flowerfeather finished.

Frostleaf nodded, understanding. Her mother smiled sadly, "It's time for you to go. I'm sorry that I can't spend more time with you. But remember that you must help the clan in times of trouble."

~~~~

Frostleaf woke up with a jolt. The other cats were stretching and waking up. She looked at the glass, surprised to see the absence of water.

"Time to head back to camp!" Nightstar yowled, waking up the rest of the cats. The warriors gathered the elders and they walked back out of the cave.

Frostleaf had to blink several times to get used to the bright light. The grass is still wet, but the water level certainly decreased.

Goldenfeather walked beside her, looking more tired than the others. Nearby, Grassheart watched her anxiously. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"I'm expecting kits," she replied worriedly. "Really? That's great!" Frostleaf mewed. Goldenfeather looked uncertain.

Soon, they reached the camp. Brownstripe went to the nursery first, to their relief, most of the dens were not ruined.

Nightstar jumped up the Highledge and shouted, "Let all cats who are old enough to catch their own prey gather at the Highledge for a clan meeting!"

Half of the clan had already gathered. "Tonight is the Gathering, but I will bring a smaller patrol this time. Cats that will be staying at camp, try to find some moss for the bedding, even though you are not apprentices," Nightstar announced, looking at Patchheart's expression.

"The cats that are going to the gathering are myself, Brownstripe, Icetail, Webfoot, Grayclaw, Patchheart, Frostleaf and Stormleaf," he continued. "The meeting is over.

"Thank Starclan that I am not staying back at camp!" Patchheart exclaimed dramatically. "Say that one more time and I will send you back to camp," Brownstripe growled sternly.

Patchheart shut his mouth as the normal hunting and border patrols went out for the day.