"We need to take back Icerocks!"
Icestar's announcement from Highrock was greeted with cheers from her Clanmates below the Highrock.

"About time, too!" Briarfang called.
"They've ruled those rocks for too long," Hawkflame agreed.

Shadowfoot raked the snow his powerful, sharp claws, his eyes fired with excitement.
He's more interested in the battle than in winning Icerocks, Poolpelt guessed.

A light drizzle had fallen steadily since she'd returned with her moorhen, she looked up and listened to Icestar.

"Leafbare is coming, and we have more warriors to feed. With kits on the way, too, we'll need as much territory as possible to hunt."

Snowheart was watching from outside the nursery. Her mate, Ravenbird, lifted his muzzle. "When will we fight?"
Icestar shook her head. "I want to take Icerocks without a battle," she meowed.

Blackfrost stared at the Clan leader as if she'd grown an extra head. "What?"
"We can beat them easily," Shadowfoot growled.
Bluefeather put her head to one side. "How do we take Icerocks without a battle?"
Darkcloud lashed his tail. "DawnClan won't just give it up because we ask."

"They might," Icestar suggested.
Blackfrost bristled. "You're going to ask for Icerocks back?"

Shadowfoot curled his lip. "Or are you going to beg?"
Icestar glared at the white warrior. "IceClan never begs!" She unsheathed her claws.
Shadowfoot lowered his gaze.

"Why risk a battle we don't need to fight?" Icestar yowled. "IceClan is strong. We have some of the most skilled warriors in the forest."
She gazed around the Clan, her gaze lingering on Shadowfoot and then Featherfall. "The other Clans know that. Do you  think DawnClan will really want to fight over territory they don't need? They use the rocks for basking in the sun, not for hunting prey. We will show them our warriors and persuade them that giving up Icerocks would be a wise decision for both Clans."

Hawkflame's eyes lit with interest. "You mean take a patrol to their camp?" he guessed.
Icestar nodded. "We'll tell them that we own Icerocks, and that we'll shred any DawnClan cat who dares set paw on it again."

Springleaf blinked. "March into their camp and tell them that? It'll be suicide."
Shadowfoot growled, "Not if we send a strong enough patrol."

Shadowfoot's amber eyes narrowed. "We go in peace but threaten war if they don't cooperate." He clearly approved of this plan.
Poolpelt pictured fearfully of the broad-shouldered warrior standing in DawnClan's camp; suddenly the nursery and the elders's den would seem vulnerable.
DawnClan would be likely to agree to anything.

"Then we're agreed?" Icestar glanced around the Clan.
Briarfang nodded. "It sounds like a good plan."

"When words gets out that DawnClan gave up Icerocks without a fight, the other Clans will fear us all the more," Blackfrost added.
Poolpelt's tail flicked. She wasn't so sure.

Icestar had come up with a way of avoiding battle. That showed good leadership.
But to threaten DawnClan in their camp? Elders and kits lived there.
Hadn't they learned the attack on DawnClan that camps were no place for a battle?

She shook the thought away.
Icestar would never let innocent cats be threatened.

She glanced at Blackfrost.
He might.

"Then it's settled," Icestar decided. "I'll lead the patrol. Owlpaw, Rainpelt, Thornwing, Featherfall, Braveheart, Briarfang, Hawkflame and Poolpelt. You will come with me."

Blackfrost blinked. "Not me?"
"You stay and guard the camp with Shadowfoot," Icestar told him. "With so many warriors out of camp, we'll need to leave behind a strong patrol."
Poolpelt felt a glimmer of satisfaction.
Without Blackfrost's menacing presence, IceClan's position would be more likely to appear simple and fair.

The sun was out as the patrol wet out.
She pushed through the frozen undergrowth after her Clanmates.

When they emerged from the snowy forest and skirted Icerocks, following the riverbank to the stepping-stones, a cold wind swirled around them.
Poolpelt shivered as it tugged her fur, and the thought of crossing the river in DawnClan made her even colder.
Icestar led the way across the stepping-stones.
Poolpelt stiffened when she saw one of the small flat stones wobble beneath her paws.

Owlpaw and Thornwing followed, hopping nimbly over the stones.
Poolpelt stood back to let the others push past her.
Then she was alone on the snowy shore with Braveheart.
"You can go first," he offered.

Poolpelt stared at the line of stones and the dark water swirling around them.
She padded forward on shaking black paws.
Flowertail's prophecy rang in her ears as she paused at the water's edge: Even the most powerful blazes can be destroyed by sun and teeth.
The sun is here, could it destroy me?

"Go on," Braveheart urged.
"Wait!" Poolpelt's black paws felt like lumps of snow.
"We have to stay with the patrol," Braveheart warned.

Poolpelt pushed herself forward, springing onto the first stone.
Water splashed and gurgled around her.
The blood roared in her ears.

She leaped to the next stone, swaying for a heart-stopping moment before she found her balance and gathered her haunches to jump again.
Stupid prophecy!
And again.

The final stone wobbled as she landed, and water washed over her black paws
Don't let me drown or evaporate!

She flung herself to the shore, panting.
Braveheart landed beside her a moment later. "That was easy," he chirped. "I don't know why DawnClan cats bother swimming."
Poolpelt marched away into the trees.

The patrol had halted.
As Poolpelt caught up, she saw that DawnClan warriors were blocking their path, hackles up.
They were broad-shouldered and powerful.

Poolpelt recognized Pineclaw at the patrol.
He and Blackfrost should have a tea party.

Pineclaw unsheathed his claws. "What are you doing on DawnClan territory?"

"We want to talk with Sparrowstar," Icestar told him.
Sparkshine leaned forward, her eyes blazing. "About what?"
Icestar narrowed her eyes. "You ask me to share words meant for your leader?"
Sparkshine snarled.

Pineclaw waved the warrior back with his tail. "You expect me to lead you straight into our camp?" he countered. "We haven't forgotten what you did to us."

"Do we look like a battle patrol?" Icestar challenged.
Poolpelt leaned close to Featherfall, whose pelt was pricking. "Keep your fur flat," she whispered, "or you'll spook them."

Pineclaw ran his gaze over the patrol and shook his head. "It would take more than this to overrun our camp," he conceded.
"We wish only to share words," Icestar pressed.
Pineclaw nodded, eyes like flints. "Follow." He turned and headed away through the trees.

Poolpelt didn't like the lush, warm, wavy, grass scuffling beneath her black paws, or how there was not a sign of any snow as they left the border of DawnClan and headed deeper into DawnClan territory.
The route took them through a maze of trees.

Pineclaw halted and dove down into a gorse tunnel and the other patrol followed.
Poolpelt bit back a gasp of realization. It's just like the stone tunnel!

The IceClan patrol looked confused for a few seconds then padded forward into the gorse tunnel and came out.
Poolpelt's eyes widened in shock.

It was beautiful...
The clearing was edged with thick grass, dotted with tree stumps, and had a thick curtain of ferns and gorse shielding it.
It was also surrounded by brambles, oddly.

She glanced on the right, and saw a tall boulder which had scuffed earth around its base.
That must be the Highrock, Poolpelt thought.
A vast, sandy clearing stretched to the Highrock, which is near a clump of nettles.

She looked on the edge of the clearing and saw kits under a thick bramble bush, she glanced on the other side of the nursery and saw apprentices play-fighting and saw the apprentices's den was in a clump of ferns.
And she finally saw the warriors's den, which was under a bush with a nearby nettle patch.

She looked over at a tree where the fresh-kill pile was and saw Sunspots eating.
When Sunspots noticed Poolpelt, she waved to her happily.
Anger pulsed in her as she remembered what Sunspots had done, multiple times and will never stop.
She gave a glare at Sunspots and padded along with her Clanmates.

"Why do they live in such uncomfortable-looking dens?" Thornwing murmured.
Poolpelt silently agreed. Why are there no stone dens?

"They're comfortable for DawnClan cats," Pineclaw snapped, overhearing him. "Wait here."
He left the IceClan cats and went inside a den inside the Highrock, with lichen hanging over the entrance.

"Emberpelt! Look!" A ginger tabby kit yelped over its shoulder, and a flame-colored tabby she-cat slid out of the den behind her.
The queen looked at the visitors in dismay until Sparkshine reassured her.
"They say they're here to talk to Sparrowstar." Sparkshine then padded forward and murmured toward Foxflight.
Emberpelt nodded and wrapped her tail around her kit, staying outside to watch.

Two of DawnClan's senior warriors, Foxflight and Sparkshine, prowled around the clearing, their eyes wary and their hackles up.

Pineclaw reappeared with Sparrowstar following.
The DawnClan leader was round-eyed, his gaze curious.
He did not speak but simply stared at Icestar, waiting for the IceClan leader to speak.

Icestar dipped her head. "Icerocks belong to IceClan," she declared. "We are taking them back."

Sparrowstar unsheathed his claws. "You'll have to fight for them," he growled.
"We will if we have to," Icestar meowed. "But we thought we'd give you a fair warning."

Foxflignt padded forward, pelt bristling. "Are you threatening us in our own camp?" She glanced at her Clanmates.
Poolpelt's belly tightened.
They were surrounded by DawnClan warriors.
What if they decided to fight for Icerocks right then and there?

"We're not threatening you," Icestar answered calmly. "We're giving you a choice. If you keep off Icerocks, we'll leave you alone. But any cat who sets paw there will be shredded."

Sparrowstar stepped forward. "Do you really think we will give up the rocks so easily?"
"If you prefer a battle, then we'll fight," Icestar meowed.

"But are the rocks worth it?" She tipped her head to one side. "You have all of DawnClan territory to hunt, your pelts are too clearly marked to stalk prey there. It is no use for hunting. So is it worth fighting for?"
The IceClan leader made her proposition seem so reasonable, Poolpelt waited for Sparrowstar to agree.

But the DawnClan leader just stared, opening her mouth to scent the air. "I smell fear," he snarled.
"Then it comes from your own warriors," Icestar countered.

"You actually expect us to give up Icerocks?" Sparrowstar hissed.
Icestar shook her head. "I expect you to fight for them," she meowed. "Even though you will waste warriors and blood. You will lose, and it will be thanks to you decision."

Sparrowstar took a step toward the IceClan leader. "DawnClan warriors fight with claws, not words."

"Very well." Icestar nodded. "Icerocks are ours. We will set the new markers tomorrow. After that, any DawnClan cat found there will face a fight that he will not win."
She gazed around the camp and raised her voice. "Let all DawnClan know that the warning has been given. Any blood spilled now will be on Sparrowstar's paws." She turned and headed for the entrance.

"Is that it?" Braveheart whispered.
"I think that was plenty!"
Poolpelt was impressed by her leader's strategy.
She'd openly dared DawnClan to fight, yet made it look like their choice.
Now all they could do was wait see how DawnClan reacted when they set the new markers.
Would IceClan find an ambush waiting, or would DawnClan decide it wasn't a battle worth fighting?

DawnClan growls followed them as they climbed up the gorse tunnel.

Then paws pounded from the gorse tunnel.
Had DawnClan decided to fight after all?
The IceClan patrol spun around, ready to defend themselves.

Sparkshine faced them, with Foxflight and Stormclaw behind her. "We'll escort you to the border," she growled.
"Thank you." Icestar dipped her head.
"We're only making sure you go back to your own territory," Stormclaw spat.

Poolpelt's pelt suddenly pricked.
Someone was watching her.
She turned to see Goldenfur padding from a bush with a squirrel caught in his jaws.

He dropped it and stared at the cats. "What's going on?"
"IceClan has been making threats," Stormclaw growled.
Goldenfur's gaze met Poolpelt's, alarmed. "Is there going to be a battle?"
Icestar flicked her tail. "We were trying to avoid one."

Stormclaw stepped forward. "Go home," he advised darkly.
"Very well." Icestar nodded and headed away through the bushes.

Goldenfur tagged onto their escort and Poolpelt was acutely aware of him—his scent, the sound of his paw steps—as he followed them along the twisting path to the stepping-stones.

When Stormclaw quickened his pace to take the lead, Goldenfur fell in beside Poolpelt.
"I must talk to you," he hissed in her ear. "Make an excuse." He dropped back with a flick of his golden tail.
Poolpelt twitched her ears.
The urgency in Goldenfur's voice nagged her.
She had to know what he wanted.

"Ow!" She started to limp.
Braveheart whipped his head around. "Are you okay?"
"Thorn in my paw," Poolpelt complained. "I need to get it out."
"I'll help," Braveheart offered.

Goldenfur growled. "You keep with the others. I'll help her." There was jealousy in his mew.
He glared at Braveheart, who hesitated for a heartbeat before backing away.
"Don't be long," he called to Poolpelt. "Or I'll come back for you."
"I'll only be a moment," Poolpelt promised.

As soon as her Clanmates had disappeared around the corner with their DawnClan escort, Goldenfur faced her. "Thanks," he breathed. "We need to talk."
"Do we?" Poolpelt was mystified.
She shook her head, as though shaking would clear it.
There was something about Goldenfur's presence that made her feel dazed and fuzzy-headed.

"I haven't seen you in moons!" Goldenfur exclaimed.
Poolpelt tipped her head to one side. "Why should you? We live in different Clans."

Goldenfur shifted his paws, looking uncharacteristically awkward. "I can't stop thinking about you," he blurted out. "Ever since last leaf-bare when we talked near the river."
Poolpelt backed away. "But that was ages ago! And you don't even know me!"

"I want to know you," he insisted. "Everything about you—your favorite fresh-kill, your earliest memory, what you dream of..."

Poolpelt's heart twisted.
"You can't!" She gasped. "The warrior code!"
Is Goldenfur becoming just like Sunspots?

Goldenfur impatiently shook his head. "This isn't about the code. This is about us. Meet me tomorrow at moonhigh at Fourtrees."
Poolpelt felt her heart leap in her throat. Goldenfur was NOTHING like Sunspots at all!
Sunspots breaks the warrior code for sport, but Goldenfur is planning to do it for love.

"I can't!" Poolpelt protested.
"Just meet me," Goldenfur begged. "Give me a chance!" His sun-like eyes were round and pleading.

"Poolpelt?" Braveheart appeared around the corner with Sparkshine.
"Are you leaving our territory or not?" growled the fiery tabby she-cat.
"Yes," Poolpelt croaked. She hurried to join Braveheart.

He bent down and touched her ear with his muzzle. "Are you okay?"
Poolpelt stiffened. She realized that she would soon make her choice of who her heart belonged to.
"Your paw?" Braveheart prompted. "The thorn?"
"Oh! Oh, yes," Poolpelt mewed. "I got it out. It's fine."

As she crossed the stepping-stones, she felt sure Goldenfur was watching her.