Poolpelt hooked the dead mouse absently on her claw and let it fall onto the snow again with a damp plop.

She had no appetite.
Even the smell of fresh-kill made her queasy.

Lying alone at the edge of the snowy clearing, she studied her Clanmates through half-closed eyes.
They were sharing tongues before tonight's Gathering, murmuring cheerfully to one another as if Feathershine had never existed, though it was only a half moon since her death.
Even Featherkit had started to stray more and more from from Ashfall's side and was playing Pounce with Shadowkit outside the nursery.

Poolpelt rolled the mouse underneath her black paw, caking it with snow.

Rainpelt got to her paws and padded from the knot of warriors sharing prey beside the frozen nettle patch. She glanced at the mouse. "That's wasted fresh-kill now," she observed. Her tail was twitching. "Icestar wants you to go to the Gathering."
Poolpelt sighed. Well, I don't want to go. And who made you my mentor? I'm a warrior now, remember?
"It's time you started making an effort." Rainpelt looked sternly at her. "I've spared you from as many border patrols and hunting parties as I can, but all you do is mope around the camp. Perhaps if you started to act more like a Clan cat, you might feel better."

Rainpelt glanced towards Featherkit, who was struggling to pin Shadowkit to the ground. "And you could show a little more interest in Featherkit."
Poolpelt stared blankly at her kin.
Ashfall was taking good care of her. She didn't need her.
And the Clan seemed to be thriving without her help. After a rich greenleaf, they looked as well fed as DawnClan.

A low growl sounded in Rainpelt's throat. "You used to spend every spare moment with Featherkit. Now you never set paw in the nursery. She must feel like she's lost two mothers instead of one."
Poolpelt scowled at her. Why was she trying to make her feel worse?

She went on. "Blackfrost hasn't let grief stop him caring for his Clan. And he's spending more time with Featherkit, not less."
"Good for him," Poolpelt muttered.

"What makes you so special that you can get away without doing anything for your Clan?" Rainpelt demanded.
I lost my sister! Poolpelt bit back the reply though she wanted to wail it to the darkening sky.
Instead she hauled herself to her black paws. "Nothing makes me special," she growled. "I'll go to the Gathering if it makes you happy."

Rainpelt turned away and signaled with her tail.
Thornwing and Amberleaf were already at the camp entrance.
They circled impatiently while the older warriors gathered.

Shadowkit bounced over, his black-tipped tail sticking straight up.
He was starting to lose his fluffy kit fur, and broad, powerful shoulders and long legs were emerging from his body.
"Can I come?" he called. "I'll be an apprentice in a moon."
"Kits don't go to Gatherings," Rainpelt reminded him.

Shadowkit rushed over to Thornwing and batted at his shoulder with his black, front paws. "You will tell me everything when you get back, right?"
"You'll be asleep when I get back," Thornwing purred.
"No, I won't. I'm going to stay awake."

Duskwing, who was joining the patrol to Fourtrees for the first time since she'd kitted, shook her head. "You'd better be sound asleep when we get back. Ashfall will want some peace after having you rascals charging around all day."
"We've been outside for ages," Shadowkit objected.
"And who's been keeping an eye on you to make sure you don't get into mischief? Ashfall said she had to get you out of the warriors's den three times."
Shadowkit shrugged. "We wanted to see what it was like. Anyway, I'm not tired, so why is Ashfall?"

Duskwing gave up and turned to Briarfang. "Do you think he'd be less argumentative if his father hanged around more?" she sighed.
Briarfang's whiskers twitched. "I don't think any cat could influence that young tom. He's going to make a great warrior."
Duskwing's eyes glowed. "I know."

Bladewing brushed against Poolpelt as he joined his Clanmates, Springleaf dipped her head to head, and Amberleaf stood beside her as though she were an apprentice who needed guiding.
Poolpelt pulled away.
There was nothing any of her Clanmates could do to ease her pain.
She wished they wouldn't bother.

The snowy forest was crisp.
For the first time since greenleaf, Poolpelt remembered what it was like to shiver with cold as a chill wind rustled the snow-filled branches.

Owlpaw caught up to her and stared ahead. "She'll be watching you," she murmured.
Poolpelt knew she was talking about Feathershine.

She glanced up through the snow-filled branches at Silverpelt. What use was her sister up there? Her Clan needed her down here. "Have you and Flowertail seen her in your dreams?"
Owlpaw shook her head. "Not yet. But I know Feathershine would never stop looking out for you and Featherkit."
Poolpelt couldn't see what good that would do any of them.

Owlpaw let her pelt touch hers. "Featherkit will need your help to learn how to make the right choices, and how to care for her Clan like a true warrior."
"She has Ashfall and Duskwing," Poolpelt reminded her, "and Swiftfur."

The black-and-white warrior had only just kitted. Lakekit, Dovekit, and Berrykit hadn't even opened their eyes yet.

Lakekit was a black she-kit with amber eyes..

OC belongs to NoahNeedsALife
While their sister, Dovekit, was a pale gray she-kit with a lighter muzzle, paws, tip-of tail, and underbelly and had emerald green eyes.

While their sister, Berrykit, was a cream-colored she-kit with red-ambered eyes and with a white underbelly.

"They'll care for her," Owlpaw agreed. "But you are the only cat in IceClan who can begin to take Feathershine's place. You are her kin."
"So is Blackfrost."
"Blackfrost will teach her how to be a fierce warrior," Owlpaw murmured. "But who will teach her that softness and strength can exist together? And that loyalty to the Clan comes from the heart, not through teeth and claws?"
The medicine-cat apprentice went on ahead, his paws silent on the forest floor, leaving Poolpelt to walk alone with her thoughts.
Blackfrost isn't like that though!... is he?

Trailing after her Clanmates as they padded through the silver forest, Poolpelt glanced again at the stars.
She tried to imagine Feathershine looking down from beside Whiteclaw and Raindapple.
But the stars looked like tiny fragments of ice sparkling in distant blackness.
Pretty to look at, but useless.
Utterly, utterly, useless.

The moon shone over Fourtrees like a cold white eye.
SmokeClan and DawnClan already mingled in the clearing.
EchoClan hared down from the moorland as IceClan arrived.
Excited voices shared news, and purrs warmed the chilly night air.
Poolpelt watched her Clanmates melt into the crowd, feeling far, far away.

"Got your paws wet recently?"
A deep, familiar mew made her turn.
Goldenfur!
Even his appearance couldn't make her feel better,

"Don't you have any friends in your own Clan?" she sighed.
Goldenfur looked at her with sympathetic eyes. "I heard about Feathershine," he meowed. "I'm sorry."
"Why do you care?"
He stared at her for several moments, then murmured. "I care about you."

She sighed, and marched away.
At least this time the heart beating couldn't be heard from her anymore.

Poolpelt had nearly crashed into Springleaf.
The young black-and-orange tortoiseshell warrior caught Poolpelt's eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Goldenfur's been sticking his nose in where it doesn't belong," Poolpelt lied with a growl.
"Ignore him," Springleaf advised.

"Look!" Springleaf stared up at the Great Rock as the leaders bounded at the top.
"They're starting!" She hurried away, pushing through her Clan to get to the front.
Poolpelt was happy to loiter at the back.

Amberleaf sat beside her. "EchoClan's looking plump."
Poolpelt hadn't noticed, but now she realized that the moorland cats did seem healthy and well fed for once. "I hope they don't get too fat to catch rabbits," she muttered.
Amberleaf nudged her. "Don't be too grumpy."

Icestar was addressing the Clans. "IceClan has six new kits."
Murmurs of appreciation spread through the Clan.
"And a new warrior." The IceClan leader gazed down at her Clanmates. "Thornwing."
The young cat pricked his ears and straightened their whiskers as the Clan called his name.

As the cheers died away, Icestar went on with her report.
"We chased a fox back into Twolegplace and halted the kittypet intrusions."
Thanks a lot, Sunpaw. She thought angrily of the trouble the she-cat was causing for her Clan.

"SmokeClan has a new medicine cat." It was Darkstar's turn.
He nodded toward a fluffy ginger tom with a strong build and one piercing yellow eye. "Almanditeye will work alongside Icewhisker from now on."
Sparrowstar nodded respectfully. "Welcome, Almanditeye."
"May StarClan light your path," Icestar meowed.
Miststar padded forward. "I pray that your ancestors guide you wisely in your duties."

Poolpelt's gaze drifted to the foot of the Great Rock.
To her surprise, Coldgaze, the SmokeClan deputy, was narrowing his eyes at Almanditeye.
The ginger tom shot him a look sharper than flint.
Had the two Clanmates just quarreled? Poolpelt twitched her ears.

Miststar began her report. "EchoClan has thrived this greenleaf. We have never seen so many rabbits on the moor, and we've made the most of StarClan's bountiful gift."

Sparrowstar stepped forward. "DawnClan, too, has enjoyed rich prey. We also have a new warrior, Sunspots!"
Sunspots puffed out her chest in pride as the Clan cats started chanting her name.

Sparrowstar glanced down at his Clan and Poolpelt realized the DawnClan leader was looking straight at Goldenfur. "Only one cloud shadows our horizon."
He nodded to the DawnClan warrior. "Goldenfur has more information."
Goldenfur nodded and bounded onto the Great Rock.

Shock murmured through the Clans.
"I am sorry," Goldenfur began, his voice carrying clearly across the hollow. "I do not belong here, but with so many cats I was afraid you wouldn't be able to hear me from down there."
He nodded to the shadowy base of the rock. "I hope you will forgive my boldness. I do not mean to offend."
The murmuring ceased.
Ears pricked up and muzzles were raised to hear what the young DawnClan warrior would say next.

"Smooth," Poolpelt meowed, feeling as if she couldn't have fallen any deeper in love with him.
"I know," Amberleaf breathed, "and so handsome."

Poolpelt looked at her best friend. "What about cats in our Clan? What about.. uh.. Ravenbird?"
Amberleaf raised an eyebrow. "Ravenbird? Tell me what it is you like about Ravenbird. Tell me."
When she spoke, he was grooming his paw and looked over at them when they said his name.

Poolpelt sighed in frustration. "I misspoke! I meant- to say.. Owlpaw."
As Springleaf padded towards them, Amberleaf purred. "Springleaf, get this. Poolpelt likes Owlpaw."
Springleaf grinned. "Oooo! I'm going to tell her!"
Poolpelt wrapped her black paw over Springleaf's mouth. "I was joking!"

"Hush!" Amberleaf meowed. "He's speaking."

"Twolegs have set up a camp on our land. Their nests are small, and they keep changing as new Twolegs come and old Twolegs go. During greenleaf, I led the patrols that monitored the intrusion." His mew was calm and clear.
His gaze brushed the Clans, holding the attention of every cat. "We wanted to discover the Twoleg's intentions, whether this was the beginning of a bigger invasion or the start of a new Twolegplace. As far as we can tell, the new camp exists to house Twolegs without proper nests. They bring their own dens, made of soft flapping pelts, and take them away when they leave. Though they stray from their camp, they seem peaceful and prefer to head out of DawnClan's territory. So far no Twoleg has come near DawnClan's camp. But we have plans in place to distract them if they should."

Mews of approval sounded from the Clans.
"Wise idea," Briarfang murmured.
Echoleap of EchoClan nodded to one of her Clanmates. "Sounds like they're handling the situation well."

Sparrowstar finished the report as Goldenfur slid unobtrusively from the rock. "The Twolegs are coming less often now that leaf-fall is here. Let us hope that the freezing leaf-bare weather will drive them away together."

"Wow." Amberleaf leaned against Poolpelt. "Why don't we have a warrior like that in IceClan?" she sighed.
Poolpelt pretended like she didn't know what Amberleaf meant. "Like Sparrowstar?"
"No, frost-brain!" Amberleaf nudged her. "Like Goldenfur."
"In case you hadn't noticed, he's DawnClan. There may be a truce, but we're still supposed to be loyal to our own Clanmates."
Poolpelt felt uncomfortable hearing Amberleaf mooning over Goldenfur.
Am I jealous?

The leaders were jumping down from the Great Rock.
It seemed that the rich greenleaf had brought harmony to the Clans, and there was nothing more to discuss.
Perhaps they'd be home before Shadowkit was asleep after all.

Poolpelt padded up the slope, pulling ahead of her Clanmates.
The memory of his gaze in the moonlight lingered in her mind.

Snow crunched as paw steps sounded as Icestar caught up. "Are you in a hurry to get home?" she asked, puffing slightly.
"I just want to get to my nest."
"Are you tired?"
"A little."
"Good." The IceClan's leader mew was gentle. "I've noticed you haven't been sleeping well."
Is it any wonder? Poolpelt's pelt prickled once again.

"I'm glad you came tonight."
"Did I have any choice?"
"We always have a choice," Icestar mewed firmly.
Poolpelt didn't reply. She wondered what the IceClan leader really wanted to say.

"For example," she went on.
Here we go.
"You can choose whether to help your Clan or be a burden to it."
"I'm not a burden."

Icestar didn't seem interested in Poolpelt's objections. "You can choose whether to remember Feathershine by resting your chin on your paws all day or by being the warrior she would expect you to be."
It felt like they'd had this conversation before. Over Whiteclaw and Raindapple.

"You've had much grief for two cats," Icestar admitted. "But life goes on. Featherkit will become an apprentice and then a warrior, and you can choose to help her with that or let her work it out for herself."

The IceClan leader glanced at her as they crossed a snowy glade flooded with gray moonlight. "I have high hopes for you, Poolpelt. You were my apprentice once, and I will always feel like your mentor. I want you to strive to become the best warrior you can be, because I believe one day IceClan will have need of your gifts."

Poolpelt slowed to a stop and allowed Icestar to continue on without her.
Does she know about the prophecy?
Surely not, or she would have said something.
Besides, blazing through the forest at the head of her Clan didn't seem so exciting now that Feathershine, Whiteclaw and Raindapple couldn't share her success.

As her Clanmates thronged around her at the top of the ravine, Poolpelt gazed across the snowy valley with Flowertail's words echoing in her head.

Like the bluest flames, you will be blazing through the ice. But beware: Even the most powerful blazes can be destroyed by sun and teeth.