"Poolpaw! Poolpaw!"

As the Clan began the chant her name, Poolpaw felt pride in herself. She would do everything in her power to defend IceClan.

Whiteclaw trodded forward and nuzzled Poolpaw. "You're going to make a excellent warrior."
Poolpaw purred. "I promise to make you proud!"
Raindapple purred, licking her cheek. "We're so proud of you."
Poolpaw groaned. "Mooomm, stop it."
Featherpaw giggled. "This is so exciting! We're apprentices now!"

Poolpaw spotted Blackkit, Thornkit, Icekit and Amberkit came dashing across the clearing, mewing excitedly.
"You're apprentices!" Amberkit squealed.
Thornkit skipped around them. "We'll miss you in the nursery."
Blackit's eyes were filled with annoyance and glared at Poolpaw. "It's so unfair! She gets to become an apprentice AND have the IceClan deputy as her mentor?"
Poolpaw's fur bristled. Shut UP, Blackkit.

Before she could say anything, Featherpaw purred as she gazed down at the kits. "We're gonna be the best apprentices!" And she took her to the congratulating warriors.
"Congratulations!" Briarpool trodded toward them with her tail up.
Poolpaw purred and dipped her head. "Thanks!"

Flowertail joined them, with Owlpaw beside her. "Congratulations, Poolpaw and Featherpaw! You'll be amazing warriors of IceClan in no time!"
"Thank you." Poolpaw nodded and dipped her head.

Briarfang wiped a paw causally over one ear. "It's interesting that Silverstar chose Icefrost as your mentor."
Poolpaw dipped her head to one side. "What do you mean?"
The brown tom looked down at Poolpaw. "Don't you think it's too much of a coincidence that Silverstar chose Icefrost as your mentor, the same cat who took you out this morning?"

Poolpaw tried to speak and say: No! Silverstar chose Icefrost because of Icefrost's qualified skills! But she couldn't shake away the doubt. What if Briarfang was right? Had Silverstar really just made her Icefrost's apprentice only because they had gone out?

Icefrost's playful mew awoke her from her thoughts. "Ready to go out again?"
Poolpaw nodded. "Duh!"

Poolpaw felt a thrill as Icefrost led her through the camp entrance. Excitement surged through her. She was an apprentice now! Her heart was racing as she followed her up the ravine, the path feeling easier now that she knew what to expect.

Rocks clattered behind them and Poolpaw turned to see Featherpaw and Bluefeather bounding up the ravine as well.
"Are you going into the forest, too?" Poolpaw grinned. She gets to share her training with her sister!
"Yes!" Featherpaw purred.

As they all reached the top of the cold cliff rock, Poolpaw felt pride in herself. This was her territory.. and she was going to defend it.
Icefrost spoke. "Today, me and Bluefeather will be showing you the territory and the borders."
Featherpaw meowed in astonishment. "Cool!"

As they jumped down, Poolpaw could see that the snowy trees were thick in this part of the forest, birch and oak overshadowed by the freezing snow on top of all the trees.

As they kept exploring, Poolpaw spotted multiple flat rocks near a river and she raced towards it, cold snow crunching under her paws.
Featherpaw gasped at the sight. "Whoa!"
Poolpaw looked up at Icefrost. "What is this place?"

Icefrost nodded. "This is the boundary between IceClan and DawnClan territory. DawnClan rules the hunting ground beside the great river. They are called DawnClan for they are known to have glimmering sunlight on them even with trees above them. IceClan and DawnClan have been battling for Icerocks for generations."

Featherpaw gasped. "They don't have snow?!"
Bluefeather shook their head. "Apparently not."
Poolpaw affectionally nudged Featherpaw. "Sucks to be them, then! Guess they won't know the feeling of cold snow under their paws."

Icefrost purred at Poolpaw's comment, "Come along, you two."
"Where do you think we're going?" Featherpaw asked.
Poolpaw shrugged. "I don't know, don't ask me!"
Bluefeather flicked her tail, eyeing the two apprentices. "Shush, don't forget we are close to enemy territory."

They became quiet as Icefrost and Bluefeather led them out of the thick snowy woods. Poolpaw cringed.. It was so WEIRD to not feel any coldness under paws. Instead, she felt.. warmth..

They then led them to a huge clearing, that it could fit literally hundreds of warrior cats. In the middle, there was a steep-sided clearing, and in the center was a large rock and had jagged edges.
Icefrost mewed to Poolpaw, "This is Fourtrees, where the territories of all four Clans meet. EchoClan governs the high ground ahead of us, where the sun sets."
"And SmokeClan holds power over there, in the darkest part of the forest." added Bluefeather, flicking his tail on the right side of Fourtrees.
Icefrost glanced briefly at Bluefeather before continuing. "The four Clans come together peacefully, in a Gathering each moon. Here is where they meet. The truce lasts for as long as the moon is at its fullest."

"Then there must be a meeting very soon?" Featherpaw asked.
Bluefeather purred. "Indeed there is! In a few days, in fact."
"Come on," mewed Icefrost, standing up. "Let's keep moving."

Now they were heading away from the Fourtrees. They crossed the stream at a place where it was narrow enough to leap over in one jump.
As Poolpaw kept on walking, she heard a new noise. She stiffened, but the other cats kept up their pace, heading straight for the ominous rumbling.

Poolpaw sniffed the air. A new cat-scent touched her mouth glands, strong and sour. "What Clan is that?"
"SmokeClan," answered Bluefeather grimly. "We are traveling along their border. Fresher scent mean that a SmokeClan patrol is in the area."
Poolpaw looked left and right. "Then what's that rumbling noise?"
"You'll see in a moment," replied Bluefeather.

Poolpaw peered through the trees ahead. They seemed to be getting thinner, letting in a broad band of sunlight. Then she stopped and took a deep breath. The green forest scents were overlaid with other strange, dark smells. This time it was not a cat-scent, but a disgusting ew-I-wanna-barf- smell.
And the rumbling was getting louder, a ceaseless roar that made the ground tremble and ached in Poolpaw's ears.
"This is the Thunderpath," meowed Icefrost.

Poolpaw could see a gray path like a river, cutting its way through the forest. The hard gray stone stretched ahead of her so far that the trees on the other side seemed blurred and tiny. Poolpaw shuddered at the bitter smell that rose from the path.

Next moment, she leaped back, her fur bristling, as a gigantic monster roared past.
She noticed that Featherpaw got so scared that she was shaking behind the legs of Bluefeather.

"Scared me too when I was an apprentice," Bluefeather remarked.
"It's time we return to camp," meowed Icefrost.
Poolpaw couldn't help but sigh in relief. All this walking was getting her so tired!

When they had returned to camp, Icefrost curled her tail beside her. "You deserve a meal. Get something from the fresh-kill pile and go share with your denmates." She nodded to the apprentice den and to where Duskpaw and Bravepaw were eating beside the pile of rocks.
Dipping her head to her, she padded to the fresh-kill pile and picked up a squirrel. As she settled beside Duskpaw, she started taking bites from her squirrel.

Bravepaw was eating a mouse. He paused for a moment. "So what did you do today?"
Poolpaw stared at him. "Me? Oh, Icefrost and Bluefeather took me and Featherpaw to show us around the territory. We saw Fourtrees!"
"Fourtrees seem so big," Bravepaw mewed.
Duskpaw rubbed her muzzle with a paw. "I wonder if StarClan had placed the Great Rock with their own paws themselves."
"I wonder if we will ever go to a Gathering." Bravepaw commented. "Here." He tossed a morsel of mouse to Poolpaw. "F-for you." He said shyly.
Poolpaw didn't know where this shyness came from. "T-thanks Bravepaw."
Bravepaw purred. "Denmates share, right?"

Cheerfully Poolpaw took a bite of the mouse. The forest flavor sang on her tongue. She was so distracted from the juiciness, she didn't hear pawsteps behind her.
"I'll be taking you hunting tomorrow with Featherpaw and Bluefeather."
She looked up and saw Icefrost standing over her. "Really?" She gasped.
Icefrost nodded. "We'll leave at Sunhigh. I hope for you to learn all you can,"
Poolpaw stared after Icefrost as she padded away to join Briarfang and Rainpelt.

Being a IceClan apprentice is the best feeling in the world!