Edited ✔️

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Icepaw groaned as he got up, his body ached and stung. He could smell medicine around him. He realized in just a moment that he was in Vinetail's den. He looked up, not daring to move the rest of his body but only his head. He felt a paw push him back down.

"Don't move," Vinetail ordered. "Your wounds are bad, and I am trying my best to help you."

Icepaw didn't reply. He felt too sore to talk. Just then, Sweetpaw walked through the entrance of the den with bundles of wet moss in her mouth.

"Here Vinetail, I got what you asked for."

Vinetail nodded. "Thank you, Sweetpaw," he said. "Give me some, also give Icepaw something to drink, too."

Sweetpaw nodded and padded over to Icepaw, holding nothing but a piece of dripping wet moss. Icepaw's throat ached for the cold water, even though it was cold outside already. "Here Icepaw," she offered. "Open up."

Without hesitation, Icepaw opened his mouth, and she poured some water in. Icepaw thankfully drank it up. At least something now felt better. On the other side of Icepaw, a cat groaned. It was Ashtail! He must be here too, then. Icepaw remembered how seriously injured his mentor was.

Vinetail sighed. "It's hard keeping up with five sick cats at once," he murmured. "Sweetpaw, give Ashtail some poppy, and give Spottedkit and Ripplefur some more catmint." He looked down to Icepaw. "I'll be right back—I have to check on Rainwhisker."

Sweetpaw went to the back of the medicine den and grabbed three poppy seeds. She padded back over to Ashtail and fed him some. "I'll be back as well," she said after getting some catmint.

As soon as she left, Ashtail spoke up. "I've heard about your fight with Fallentail," he said weakly. "Listen, Brightstar is mad, but I am proud of you."

Icepaw couldn't see Ashtail. He was turned the other way. "Brightstar is mad at me?"

Ashtail nodded. "Yeah, she's angry at you," he said. "She thought you were dead for a moment and was super worried—oh, and you should've seen Sparrowheart. But when Vinetail reported that you were alive and doing at the very least better than me, she said she was gonna kill you."

"Oh," Icepaw said. "I guess I can understand."

After all, he ran out of camp against the rules, he tresspassed into DarkClan, and he killed a cat, all of which broke various rules on the warrior code. Something he so rightfully used to follow—something he wanted to convince Flamepaw to follow. But he felt that his actions were the right thing to do. It truly felt like it. . .

Icepaw sighed. He wished that Featherbreeze wasn't dead, then none of these things would of happened. Slowly, he got up, his legs shaking. He felt that his wounds were already treated and dressed, and his ear felt warmly rapped with cobwebs.

His stomach growled.

Ashtail looked up and smiled. "Here, you must be hungry," he said. "I have leftovers from a vole I never finished."

Icepaw ducked his head in embarrasment. "But you need it more than me."

Ashtail shook his head. "My belly is full. You can have the rest, Icepaw."

He nodded. "Thank you." Padding over, he took a small bite. It was warm. Icepaw began to eat the rest of his vole, thanking StarClan with each bite he took.

It tastes so good, he thought.

Just when he finished, Vinetail walked through the den. "Icepaw," he said. "Come with me." He also looked down to Ashtail for a quick second. They nodded to each other.

Icepaw wanted to ask why, but he figured he shouldn't question things especially after the things he did. He followed Vinetail across the clearing, to Brightstar's den. He mentally groaned, wanting to leave. He knew what was going to happen already—Brightstar must be very angry with him then.

He padded into the Moonrock den, sighing as he sat down by the entrance. Vinetail sat near him, Brightstar on her nest with Sparrowheart close by her. He gulped and looked up to his leader.

Brightstar nodded. "I called you here once more to talk," she said. "And I don't expect you to run off like that again." Her eyes narrowed.

Icepaw ducked his head in embarrassment. "S-sorry."

"And," Brightstar continued, "what you did was reckless. All of MoonClan knows very well that you've crossed DarkClan borders—and not to mention that fight!" Icepaw ducked his head down, not knowing what to say. "And there's more."

"Yes, Brightstar," he murmured.

"You've began something," she meowed, her eyes locking into Icepaw's.

"Began something?" asked Icepaw. "What do you possibly mean by that?"

Brightstar continued to speak. "By killing Fallentail, you've started war," she said. Icepaw opened his mouth to protest, but Brightstar cut him off. "It's not a good thing, but it's also not a bad thing. Shadowheart and Dewpaw left Fallentail's body on the border of DarkClan and MoonClan. I think they found it already and they probably know that we aren't taking Featherbreeze's death lightly."

I can't believe it, thought Icepaw. I don't know if I did the right thing anymore.

"And," Sparrowheart continued, "we can't take your actions lightly either, as much as I hate to say it."

Vinetail nodded. "We discussed your punishment. Every day when you get back from a patrol, you're going to clean out the elder's bedding, or change them if needed. Regular apprentice duties. And the others aren't going to help you."

"How long am I going to have to do it?" Icepaw asked.

"I don't know," said Brightstar. "Perhaps until the next Gathering."

Icepaw mentally groaned. That would be in a while from now! But he probably deserved it, since he broke the warrior code. Sighing, he nodded respectfully, turning to leave. No cat stopped him.

Even though Icepaw was unconcious for a while, he felt sleepy. Slowly, the MoonClan tom padded over to the apprentice den, and lied down in his comfortable nest. For some reason, he still felt Vinetail's gaze on his back, and the silent gossip of his Clanmates going all around about his battle wounds. Ignoring them, Icepaw fell asleep.

His eyes opened again, but he was somewhere else. Another dream, Icepaw immediately realized. He looked around at his surroundings, recognizing the place as soon as his eyes got used to the darkness of the Twilight Forest. He wasn't scared this time—he felt powerful because he could fight now.

Two moons ago I was a whimpy kit, but now I'm a strong apprentice. Any cat that comes, I will defend myself. Icepaw raised his chin in pride as he continued forward, his claws unsheathed.

A slight breeze blew, carrying a few faint cat scents. Icepaw decided that it would not go uninvestigated. He began to follow the breeze, his eyes squinting at the winds, but he was eager to see what he'd run in to. Icepaw's dreams were too full of surprises, and this could help him forget about the incident with Fallentail and Featherbreeze.

Just then, a scent began to rise up in his nose, and before he could see the cat, he could hear his paw steps on the ground. The Twilight Warrior who first attacked Icepaw when he was a kit emerged behind a tree stump, his tail flicking with surprise.

"Oh, it's you again," he said. "I thought I sensed anger over this side of the territory. What happened? Full of revenge, waiting to take?"

Icepaw growled. "I've already got my revenge," he said. "Fallentail killed my mother, and I killed Fallentail in return. Apparently I've started some kind of war with DarkClan and MoonClan." He looked down to his paws.

The Twilight warrior brought his tail to Icepaw's head. "You knew it was going to happen anyways," he said. "War." He walked all around the apprentice. "And killing Fallentail was not a mistake. She was a weak excuse for a warrior anyways."

"Yeah," Icepaw agreed with a slight growl. "It was never a mistake. It was her fault! She should of never killed Featherbreeze."

The Twilight warrior smirked. "My name is Shard," he said.

"Icepaw," replied the apprentice.

"I know," said Shard. "Hey, don't you want to see Featherbreeze?"

Icepaw nodded. "With all my heart, I do," he said, thinking about her right now, and how much she has helped him in her days. He also thought about the last act she did---an act of bravery and love to save Icepaw from the attack of DarkClan. "I . . . have so much to say to her."

Shard nodded. "She's over StarClan borders," he meowed. "Let me take you there, if you'd like."

"N-no," murmured Icepaw. "This is not the time to be mourning over her anymore. I have to get over her death and accept the fact that she is gone." He looked up to Shard. "I want to be strong."

"Hmm," murmured Shard. "Strong, eh?"

"Yes."

"Tell me what strong means to you." Shard's eyes flickered in interest as he stared down to Icepaw. "Better yet—show me, too."

Icepaw thought for a moment. "Strength. . . . is being the cat that can pin everyone else down," he said unsheathing his claws. "The cat who knows how to fight every battle move, who knows every battle tactic."

His tail lashed, feeling proud.

Shard stared at him for a moment. "Look," he said. "I know I am a cat who has no place in StarClan. But the Twilight Warriors aren't like that. Strength is knowing mentally what to do, what the right thing is, and yes, battle." Icepaw stared at Shard, speachless. "Show me what strength is to you."

Icepaw growled and leaped at Shard, his claws unsheathed. Shard easily dogded.

"You can't show strength like that! You gotta be close enough to me to make sure I do not leap. Then, when you pin me down, show me what strength is, Icepaw!" Shard growled.

"Alright!" said Icepaw with frustration. He stared at Shard. What is this cat trying to do? First he tries to kill me, then he offers me to see Featherbreeze and now he is trying to teach me how to fight? What does he want with me?

Shard leaped right on Icepaw and pinned him down easily with his large size. "That is how you do it."

"I wasn't ready!" growled Icepaw.

"In battle cats will not let you up to try again just because you weren't ready," he responded simply, letting Icepaw get up. "You're weak Icepaw. Physically, mentally weak. I saw how crazy you were when Featherbreeze died. Weak."

Icepaw stared at Shard, yet again, speachless. Sure, he could understand that he wasn't a strong warrior yet, but mentally? There was nothing mentally wrong with him!

He felt his side being nudged, though there was nobody there. Finally, after a last look at Shard, he woke up, eyes opening wide. He gasped, scared for a second, then saw Silverkit standing over him with worry.

"Wake up," she said. "Please wake up."

Icepaw groaned in pain. "Silverkit, you're touching my wounds," he murmured, getting up slightly. Her eyes looked sad. "What happened?"

Silverkit buried her face in Icepaw's fur. "Oh, Icepaw, it won't stop! Death won't stop!" she cried, clinging on hard to Icepaw with her needle-like claws.

"What are you talking about?" Icepaw asked, suddenly scared.

"I-it's Ripplefur," she mewed, "a-and Spottedkit. StarClan took them. Ripplefur is gone!"

Icepaw bursted out of his nest and ran into the MoonClan clearing. His eyes were wide to the sight of her grieving mate, Skypelt. His heart broke automatically. Why were StarClan taking so many cats? Is there a war going on there too, and they need strong warriors like Ripplefur and Featherbreeze?

Dawnpaw, Volepaw and Sweetpaw, Ripplefur's little siblings, grieved right by Skypelt. He broke down to the ground, nuzzling Silverkit close to him.

StarClan, please, relieve this grief from MoonClan, he thought. Stop it all! Please!