"SHE WON'T WAKE UP! SHE WON'T WAKE UP!"
Briarpool's terrified mew rang around the sleeping camp.
Poolpelt shot out of her nest.
Icepaw!

She knew instinctively the moment she reached the snowy clearing and Briarpool's wild eyes that the pale white apprentice was dead.

"I've licked and shaken her and she won't open her eyes!" The queen cried out in anguish.

The Clan cats were hurrying from their dens, blinking in the predawn light, as Poolpelt pushed her way into the apprentices's den and crouched beside Icepaw's nest.
She pressed her muzzle into her former denmate's fur.
The strange stillness of her body and the coldness of her pelt pierced Poolpelt's heart.

Flashes of memories flashed through her.

"Whiteclaw! It's me, Poolpaw!"

"Why won't they get up?"

"It was all a mistake. You don't have to be dead."

"Why did you have to make them asleep! They're dead!"

"They have left me. I don't want them to be in StarClan. I want them to be here, where I can see them and talk to them."

She sighed. Oh, she should of known how worthless all that sadness and anger was.

"Icepaw," she whispered, knowing the apprentice couldn't hear her. "Icepaw." Grief blurred her gaze, she rested her chin on Icepaw's flank.

The stone scraped, and Flowertail came into the den.
Poolpelt lifted her head and stared at the apprentice medicine cat. "She's dead."
"She'll be with StarClan now," Flowertail murmured. She pressed her muzzle to Poolpelt's head as though guessing her thoughts. "Whiteclaw and Raindapple will look after her."
But we'll never hunt together.

Flowertail nudged her gently. "Wait outside, please," she mewed.
Poolpelt padded from the stone den and saw the eyes of her Clan flashing in the half-light.

Briarpool stared at her and spoke in a dull voice. "She's dead, isn't she?"
Blackfrost joined them, his tail trailing. "Can I see her?" he asked.
Briarpool touched the top of his head lightly with her tail. "Of course, little one. Wish your sister well on her journey to our ancestors."
Blackfrost dipped his head and padded into the den.

A tiny mew sounded outside the nursery.
Poolpelt peered past the pelts of her Clanmates and saw a tiny white and black tom sitting at the edge of the snowy clearing.

Icefrost padded forward to greet him. "Hey, there! Are you Shadowkit?"
The kit stared straight past him at the somber gathering of cats. "What's going on?" he squeaked.
"Icepaw's dead," Icefrost told him gravely.
Shadowkit looked sad for a moment, then tipped his head to one side. "Was she a warrior?"

"Shadowkit!" Swiftfur hopped out of the nursery. "What are you doing out here?"
"I wanted to know why everyone was awake," Shadowkit replied.
Swiftfur licked his head. "I can see you're going to be a curious one." She glanced at Icefrost. "He was the weakest of the litter."
"But I'm strong now!" Shadowkit protested, opening his tiny pink mouth wide indignation.
"Of course, little one." Swiftfur scooped him up by the scruff and carried him, paws churning, back into the nursery.

Owlpaw padded from the stone tunnel. "What's going on?"
Briarpool looked at Owlpaw. "Icepaw's dead."
Owlpaw sighed. "When StarClan calls, even the best medicine cat cannot heal."
Flowertail appeared from the nursery. "Owlpaw's right," she mewed. "We did all we could."

Bladewing pressed against Briarpool. "I'll help you prepare Icepaw for the vigil,"  she murmured.
Briarpool blinked. "Yes." She stood up. "I'll get rosemary."

Poolpelt turned away.
She could not bear to see another cat prepared for the journey to StarClan.

She felt Icefrost's muzzle brush her shoulder.
"Come with me," she ordered. "I'm taking you to the dawn patrol." She nodded to Thornpaw. "You can come, too."
Amberpaw stepped forward. "Can I?"
"Of course." Icefrost brushed her tail along the flank of the apprentice.
"Rainpelt?" She signaled to Amberpaw's mentor. "Call Swiftfur and join us."

Poolpelt's paws were heavy as she padded through the tunnel behind the Clan deputy and the rest of the patrol, but she was relieved to leave her mourning Clanmates behind.

Once they'd reach the top of the ravine and headed into the snowy forest, Icefrost fell in beside her.
"I know Icepaw's death is sad," she meowed quietly. "But the Clan must carry on. The borders must be guarded and the fresh-kill pile must remain stocked."
Poolpelt felt heavy inside, as if her belly were filled with stones.
But Icefrost was right.
She had to protect her Clan, however much pain she was in.
The other cats were suffering, too.

The patrol moved slowly through the snowy trees.
No one spoke as they neared the border with Icerocks.
The sun had lifted over the horizon, and it's pale light filtered through the snowy trees.

Birds were stirring, their calls filling the snowy forest with song.
Poolpelt wished they'd shut up.
Don't be frost-brained! she told herself. How are they suppose to know or care that Icepaw is dead?

"Wait!" Icefrost's hiss surprised her, and she froze with one front paw still in the air.
The IceClan deputy was sniffing the breeze, the fur lifting along her spine. "DawnClan!"
Poolpelt scanned the snowy trees along the edge of the snowy forest and saw Icerocks glowing in the dawn light.
DawnClan scent was drifting over the border, stronger than before.

"Look!" Swiftfur had dropped into a crouch. "They've crossed the border!"
Poolpelt bristled when she spotted the tip of a sleek, oily tail, then another.
The tang of warm scents bathed her tongue.
Snow-filled branches swished as a DawnClan patrol moved stealthily through the frozen undergrowth.

"I knew it!" Icefrost growled.
Keeping low so that her light-grey tabby pelt was hidden by the frozen ferns, she signaled to Thornpaw. "Go back to the camp and tell Silverstar we're being invaded! Those DawnClan warriors have deliberately crossed the border. We can't let them get away with it. Silverstar needs to send a fighting patrol here at once."
Thornpaw nodded and whipped around.
He squeezed past Poolpelt and Rainpelt and pelted back along the trail that led to the ravine.

"Get back!" Icefrost ordered the rest of the patrol, keeping her mew low.
She scooted onto thick frozen ferns and the patrol followed, crouching among the fronds.
Anger raged in Poolpelt's belly. Why should they have to hide in their own territory?
"We'll attack as soon as the backup patrol gets here," Icefrost breathed.

The DawnClan patrol was moving more clumsily and shivering now that they'd reach the snow.
She heard one cat curse and imagined the snow scrunching up the frost-brain DawnClan paw-pads.
They weren't use to the shivering snow, or the cold climate.
Let it freeze them! She thought fiercely, unsheathing her claws.
She scowled at the DawnClan stench. "They're leaving markers!" she growled to Icefrost. "On our territory!"

"They don't know which way to head," Swiftfur observed.
The DawnClan patrol was struggling through the snow, heading away from the ravine.

"What's their plan?" Amberpaw asked.
Icefrost paused, considering the situation. "There aren't enough of them to attack the camp—and if that's their aim, they're going the wrong way, thanks StarClan. My guess is that they're looking for a patrol to attack."

"But why?" Poolpelt struggled to understand what DawnClan could possibly gain by sending a few warriors, and so unprepared, into rival territory.
"They want to prove that this part of the forest is theirs."

"Never!" Poolpelt fought the urge to race out of the snowy bushes and hurl herself at the DawnClan patrol.
But what could she alone do against a whole patrol?
But she was supposed to be fire, blazing through the forest!
Perhaps she should attack like Blackfrost had attacked that dog.

Icefrost must have sensed her black paws shifting restlessly. "We'll attack as soon as the other patrol gets here," she promised.

Frozen ferns rustled behind them, and Braveheart pushed his way through. "We've seen the DawnClan patrol," he reported, "but they didn't see us. They're too busy fighting the snow."
Icefrost chuckled. "I get the feeling they're not too comfortable on IceClan territory."
"We should force them to fight where the snow is the deepest," Braveheart suggested.
"Won't that make it harder to attack?" Swiftfur questioned.
"Hard for us, but even harder for them," Icefrost answered. "They're not used to snow, and we are."

Icefrost glanced at Braveheart. "Who did you bring?"
"Hawkflame, Blackfrost, Springleaf, Feathershine, Crowclaw, and Ravenbird," Braveheart reported. "There's another patrol waiting at the top of the ravine, in case DawnClan breaks through our line. We didn't know how many warriors DawnClan had brought."
Icefrost narrowed her eyes. "We have enough to drive them off."

Blackfrost shouldered his way to the front. "We should do more than drive them off," he growled. "We should give them a battle they won't forget in a hurry."
"Once we know we can drive them away, they'll think twice about invading again," Icefrost pointed out.

Icefrost swung her head around to Hawkflame. "We'll split into three patrols. You head one and meet them on the rise up there." She signaled to the slope where the DawnClan cats seemed to be heading. "Take Ravenbird and Swiftfur. You attack first. We'll come in from the sides as you drive them back."

Icefrost swung her head to Crowclaw. "Crowclaw?"
The black warrior lifted his chin. "Yes?"
"Stay here with Springleaf, Braveheart, and Blackfrost. Attack when you hear Hawkflame's signal."

She went on. "I'll take Poolpelt, Feathershine, Amberpaw, and Rainpelt to attack their other flank. We'll leave the path to the border clear so they can retreat."

"We should shred them where they fall, not let them escape," Blackfrost hissed.
Icefrost glared at him. "Warriors do not need to shred blood to win battles."

She slid through the frozen ferns, and Poolpelt followed Feathershine at her heels.
Icefrost led them toward the ravine and doubled back, using another route, until they could see the DawnClan warriors fighting their way out of the snow.

Poolpelt heard one of the warriors hissing. "What do we want such stupid territory for?"
"More prey for DawnClan, less for IceClan." That was Pineclaw, DawnClan's newest deputy, ever since Emberstar passed and joined StarClan. "Now stop fussing and keep moving."
Why in StarClan did Sparrowstar choose that arrogant furball to be deputy!? Poolpelt thought fiercely.

Poolpelt peered over the low, frozen bushes.
The wind was with them, blowing DawnClan's scent over Hawkflame's patrol as it waited to ambush.
As DawnClan headed up the slope, Poolpelt saw the frozen ferns quiver where Crowclaw's patrol crouched, ready for Hawkflame's signal.

The DawnClan patrol looked strong and fit.
Poolpelt bared her teeth. We'll just have to fight harder, then.

Creeping up the rise, ears flat, tails down, they halted at a flick of Pineclaw's tail. His hackles were up.
"I smell IceClan," he snarled coldly.

Foxflight, a reddish tabby she-cat with glossy fur, tasted the air. "Fresh scent."

The warrior looked over their shoulder. "Perhaps—!"
Foxflight didn't get a chance to finish her sentence.

Hawkflame launched himself at Pineclaw, yowling the signal.
Swiftfur and Ravenbird hurtled after.
Foxflight reared up, Pineclaw ducked, and the other warriors spun around, their eyes wide, as Crowclaw's patrol exploded from the frozen ferns to one side.

"Attack!' Icefrost screeched, pelting forward.

Poolpelt surged after her and flung herself onto the back of a DawnClan warrior.
She recognized the fiery tabby fur of Sparkshine as she dug her claws into her pelt.

Sparkshine shook her off and turned, rearing up.
There wasn't enough time to scramble to her black paws.
Poolpelt rolled out of the way a heartbeat before she crashed down where she'd fallen.

Poolpelt raked her claws down her flank as Sparkshine turned on her, her ears flattened.
She tried to duck but Sparkshine's blow came too fast.
A heavy forepaw swiped her muzzle, and pain shot through her.

As she stumbled and pressed a black paw to her bleeding nose, a pale white pelt flashed beside her.
Feathershine reared up and began battling Sparkshine hard, one paw after another.

Yes! Memories of Featherpaw stopping herself from killing Sunpaw flooded back to Poolpelt.
This is to make up how sorry I am, sister.

Poolpelt pushed herself up on her hind legs beside her sister and joined in.
Sparkshine staggered backwards, her flailing paws defending now, not attacking.
They drove her back into a frozen bramble bush.
She tripped as branches swarmed her hind legs, yowling when the cold thorns pierced her pelt.

Together Poolpelt and Feathershine dropped onto all four paws and, as one, began nipping at her.
Confused and panicking, Sparkshine struggled free of the brambles.
She leaped and turned, but Feathershine and Poolpelt pressed on with their attack, Feathershine biting her flank from one side, and, when Sparkshine twisted to attack them, Poolpelt cuffing her from the other.
Screeching in rage, the fiery-pelted tabby she-cat jumped over their backs and hared away through the snowy trees.

"One down," Feathershine puffed.
"More to go," Poolpelt spun around, tasting the air.

She couldn't detect the scent of Goldenfur.
She quietly let out a sigh of relief.
She couldn't bare to having to fight Goldenfur.

She ducked out of the way as Crowclaw chased another DawnClan warrior, yelping, into the snowy trees.
Braveheart rolled past Poolpelt's black paws clutching Foxflight, clawing her spine with his hind claws until the DawnClan warrior yowled for mercy.

Hawkflame aimed a hefty swipe at Shimmeringpool and sent her bowling into her Clanmate.

Art drawn by ArenaTyke

The two cats lost their balance and Hawkflame jumped on them, clawing one of her forepaws while he sent the other one flying with a mighty kick from his hind legs.

"Fight, you mouse-hearts!" Pineclaw howled at his Clanmates, as Poolpelt sprang at him and landed on his back.
"Did you think it would be easy?" she hissed as she sank her teeth into the DawnClan deputy's shoulder.
Claws hooked Poolpelt in return, and Pineclaw managed to tear her off.
She yowled as her forepaw was wretched, its claw still tangled in Pineclaw's fur.
Sick with agony, she freed herself and spun around.

Foxflight faced her.
Gasping with pain, Poolpelt reared up to fight the she-cat, but Feathershine was already dragging her backward, sining her teeth into her scruff.
As Foxflight toppled over, Poolpelt rushed at her belly, crashing into her so hard she heard the breath rush from her.
Gasping, Foxflight wriggled free and fled toward the DawnClan border.

A frightened shriek ripped the air.
"Amberpaw!" Poolpelt shot through the frozen brambles, slithering between the snow-filled branches with practiced ease.
Bursting out in the other side, she saw Amberpaw cornered between the roots of an oak by a warrior and an apprentice, Poppystream and Jumiperpaw.

Art drawn by ArenaTyke

Art drawn by ArenaTyke

"Pick on someone your own size!" Poolpelt yowled and flung herself onto Poppystream.

"DawnClan has never fought fair!" Feathershine's screech sounded behind her, and as Poolpelt tumbled Poppystream over, she saw her sister sink her claws into Juniperpaw's pelt and drag her away from the startled IceClan apprentice.

Her mouth choked with DawnClan fur, Poolpelt managed to yell at Amberpaw. "Go for her belly!"
Amberpaw lunged forward, thrashing at the she-cat with unsheathed claws until Poppystream twisted so hard in Poolpelt's grip, she had to let go.

Poppystream growled and swiped at Amberpaw, but the apprentice was too fast.
Amberpaw ducked out of the way, and the she-cat shredded bark instead.

"Can't move fast enough out of the sun, sun-face?" Poolpelt taunted her.
Poppystream hissed and lunged for her, but Amberpaw darted under her belly and threw her off balance.

Feathershine had already sent the other apprentice pelting into the frozen undergrowth.
Poppystream staggered to her paws to face three hissing she-cats, and Poolpelt felt a surge of satisfaction as panic filled her gaze.
She backed down towards the roots as they advanced.

"Do you think you can take on all three of us?" Feathershine challenged.
"She could try," Amberpaw growled.
"She looks pretty frost-brained." Poolpelt felt power surge through her black paws, but she pressed down the urge to attack.
This warrior was outnumbered, they could easily beat her.
Which means we should let her escape.

She flashed a warning glance at her Clanmates, hoping they understood.
Feathershine nodded and stepped aside, leaving a gap in their ranks.
Without hesitating, Poppystream pelted through it and fled toward the border.

As Poolpelt slid back through the frozen brambles, she saw Icefrost kick out with her hind legs and send a DawnClan warrior reeling.
Poolpelt dived out of the way just in time as the DawnClan warrior tumbled past her.

"Retreat!" Pineclaw yelped, and the remaining DawnClan warriors turned and fled. Their deputy paused, his eyes gleaming. "The rocks are still ours!"
"But never the forest," Icefrost snarled in return.

Exhilarated, Poolpelt chased the retreating warriors to the border.

"We'll have the rocks back, too, one day!" Blackfrost yowled as DawnClan splashed across the river, made shallow by greenleaf.

Icefrost lifted her muzzle. "Well fought." She gazed around at her Clanmates. "Any serious injuries?"
Poolpelt remembered her wretched claw, which was throbbing and swollen underneath. It hurt, but it could wait till she got back to camp.
"Just a few scratches," Braveheart reported.
"Shimmeringpool bit me," Springleaf complained. "I'm going to smell like grass for days."

Poolpelt stiffened when she noticed Feathershine's pale white pelt stained with blood. "Are you okay?" she gasped.
Feathershine looked at the streaks. "It's not my blood."
Relieved, Poolpelt flicked her tail across Feathershine's ears.

"They won't be back in a hurry," Blackfrost crowed.
Hawkflame was still watching the river, his eyes dark. "They shouldn't have tried it in the first place," he snarled. "They already have Icerocks."

"Come on," Icefrost meowed briskly. "Let's report back to camp."
Poolpelt followed her sister into the snowy trees.

Ears pricked, she overheard Hawkflame muttering to Icefrost.
"They'll be back," he growled. "We lost their respect when we gave up Icerocks without a fight."
"That was Silverstar's decision," Icefrost meowed evenly.
"Maybe," Hawkflame hissed, "but she should be around to back it up."
"Yes, where is Silverstar?" Icefrost meowed, as if she'd only just noticed her Clan leader hadn't taken part in the battle. "Why didn't she lead your patrol?"
Hawkflame shrugged. "You'd better ask Silverstar that, because she's been in her den all day."

Poolpelt felt the familiar unsettling tingle in her paws.
Something was wrong with Silverstar.
Something was very wrong indeed.