Edited ✔️

When Icestar returned to camp with the rest of the patrol following, his paws felt like they were falling off. All day, Icestar, Shadowheart and Dawnstripe worked to cover up the putrid stench of the new DarkClan scent marker, and Ashtail and his group of cats had to remark a whole new MoonClan border. Icestar had never much enjoyed marking borders—it was always a lot of work, but today drew the line.

The patrol dispersed into the clearing where everyone shared tongues. Redsky, who had managed to catch a vole while patrolling the perimeter, dropped her fresh-kill on the prey pile, and went to go join her daughters as they spoke together by the warriors den.

Icestar went off to his own den, assuming that Silverleaf went to sleep in the nursery. His den was fresh with her scent, and he felt comforted as he lied down in his nest. For a moment, Icestar shut his eyes, focusing on peace and relaxation. The next moment, Ashtail padded into the leader's den, his expression worried.

"Hi, Icestar," said his deputy.

"Is there something wrong, Ashtail?" asked Icestar. "Everything is okay I presume?"

"Everything is doing just fine. It's just I was wondering about something," he went on, sitting right in front of Icestar's nest. "What was Dewstar whispering to you before he left? Where were you the night before, and why were you gone so long?"

Icestar stared up with surprise. "Ashtail . . ."

"I convinced myself that you haven't discussed it with me yet because you didn't want our Clanmates to worry, but you didn't even cast a small glance at me indicating that you wanted to talk." Ashtail looked a little hurt. "If something bad is going on, I should know it, right? I'm your deputy, after all."

Icestar gave a small nod. "You're right," he murmured. He felt a little bad for not giving much consideration into speaking to Ashtail.

"Will you tell me anything that happened?" Ashtail asked.

Icestar nodded again. "I will now that you bring it up." He gave a deep sigh, and found himself spilling everything to Ashtail about what Dewstar told him. He explained in detail about Dewstar's threat and the decision between battle or giving up. "Dewstar really wants to lead all of the Clans," Icestar finished at last. "It has been his goal ever since he began . . . murdering cats."

Icestar didn't fancy saying 'murder' too much, the memory of it made him feel uncomfortable as he remembered all of Dewstar's last victims, including Vinetail and Sparrowheart. He also remembered the long-ago murder of his mother, Featherbreeze during his first battle as an apprentice.

"That's terrible," gasped Ashtail with wide eyes. "I didn't know how many things were going on! What do you think we should do about the decision, Icestar?"

Icestar looked to his paws. "Oh, I don't know," he murmured. "I could be risking our friends if I decide to battle . . . and who knows what will happen if I let all of you join Dewstar's ranks?"

Ashtail's sighed with concern. "You are right. This decision is a tough one." He paused. "I don't know why, but it seems Dewstar is desperate for power. Why do you think he wants to rule so many cats at once? It's a crazy thing to do if you really put your mind into thinking."

"He wants to follow his fate," Icestar responded.

"Fate?" growled Ashtail. "Fate's got nothing to do with the direction of a cat's life! It's us who chooses the path we take, not anyone else. StarClan just guides us, they don't tell us what to do."

"I don't think StarClan would of wanted Dewstar to reach this level of ambition," Icestar said. "He's deceiving himself."

"We have to talk him out of it, and maybe knock some sense into his head!" Ashtail looked deep into his leader's eyes.

"I tried talking to him many times, but he never listens."

Ashtail looked at the den wall. "There has to be something we can do!"

Icestar shook his head. "All we can do is decide," he murmured sadly. "This decision is for me to make, as leader of MoonClan. I am the one who has to decide the fate of our friends . . ."

"Maybe you can bring this up to the Clan," suggested Ashtail. "We must decide on it together before you give your answer to Dewstar."

"I'm not so sure."

"It's worth a try!" the deputy insisted. "Maybe we can even get CloudClan to cover us if something goes wrong?"

"Ashtail, that's thinking way ahead of time!" Icestar scolded. "And I don't think the cats of CloudClan would want to get involved in a fight between MoonClan and DarkClan."

"We won't know unless we will try," Ashtail went on. "DarkClan is huge—who knows what will happen if we battle them?"

Icestar's eyes widened. "You want to fight?" he asked. "Is that the decision you would make?" Icestar wasn't angry, he was curious. How could Ashtail decide that quickly?

"Of course I would choose to fight. I lived here my whole life, and we train apprentices into warriors for a reason." Ashtail's eyes began to grow determined. "We train so that we can fight for what we have. I don't want to give it up."

"I'll take it in to consideration," said the leader. He was impressed by Ashtail's quick thinking, and that got him wondering if he should have been the leader instead of Icestar. Nonsense, he thought. Brightstar chose me as her deputy. There was something she saw in me, the same way I see something in Ashtail. I suppose we all have our own way of leading.

"Icestar!" Amberpaw called, running into his den. "Icestar, Sweetheart is calling you!"

"Why?" asked Icestar. "Did something happen?"

"She just said she needed you," Amberpaw said. "I think you should go see what happened. It sounded urgent."

Icestar stood up from his nest and shook the moss from his pelt. "Got it," he meowed. He turned to Ashtail and said, "Thank you for talking, but I can take it from here."

Ashtail looked happy to have talked with Icestar, and their conversation seemed to make the deputy think. "Come on, Amberpaw," Ashtail said, walking out of the den. "Let's let Icestar handle this."

Amberpaw nodded, and the two of them went off into the clearing to talk to everyone. Ashtail met Swiftbreeze by the camp entrance, while Amberpaw ran off to Flameheart and Blackpaw.

Icestar turned to the direction of Sweetheart's den, wondering what could she possibly want. As he got closer, he could see his mate in the den, along with the elder Stripeeyes. He rushed over, suddenly worried.

"Silverleaf," Icestar gasped as he entered the den. "Is everything alright? Is it the kits?"

"I ate something bad . . ." she murmured, her voice sounding as if she were in pain.

Sweetheart sighed. "Silverleaf told me she took a mouse from the fresh-kill pile and ate it. Afterword, she felt sick and I gave her yarrow to vomit it out, but she doesn't seem to look better." Then, she turned to Stripeeyes. "And he has a cough that won't go away, and I don't have the herbs for him." Worry sparked in her eyes. "What am I going to do, Icestar? I want get herbs I need but I can't just leave them!"

"No, you can't," Icestar said. "I'll do it."

"But . . ." Sweetheart began to protest, but she held her tongue back. She took a swift glance at Stripeeyes. "Come with me. We need to talk." The medicine cat padded out of her den, and Icestar followed, confused.

What could she possibly want to talk about without her patients listening? Sweetheart stopped right outside Icestar's den and sat down. Her eyes were filled with worry and fear. Icestar sat right in front of the cream-colored she-cat, casting a glance at the medicine den. Silverleaf was soothingly licking Stripeeye's ear, who was having a cough of fits, and she murmured something in his ear that seemed to comfort and relax him. There was a new softness about Silverleaf that Icestar couldn't explain, but it was probably because of the kits that were coming.

He turned his attention back to Sweetheart. "What is it that you wanted to speak, away from them two?"

"I just didn't want Stripeeyes to hear this because he might take it wrong," Sweetheart murmured. "He's old and weak, and it's really cold out. He has whitecough, and it seems to be turning into greencough really fast."

Icestar's eyes widened. "Greencough?" he exclaimed. "Aren't you helping him? Why can't he know that he's sick?"

"I tried telling this to Stripeeyes, but he refused." Sweetheart gave a deep, worried sigh. "He's trying to act all tough but he won't stop coughing. And I'm doing everything I can but I do not have the right herbs to cure him! I used it all up on Blackpaw yesterday from a bad cough he had." The beautiful medicine cat's eyes clouded. "I'm a such a sorry excuse for a healer . . ."

Icestar rest his tail on Sweetheart's shoulder. "Don't say that, you're a great medicine cat! I'll get whatever herbs you need, as long as it cures Stripeeyes."

"Thank you, Icestar . . ." She sighed. "I suggest sending some cats out to the herb patch by the Twolegplace," Sweetheart meowed. "I haven't cleared the herbs out there and I'm sure there's catmint to be found. I can't leave Stripeeyes or Silverleaf, though. What if something bad happens? There's no one else in MoonClan who knows herbs like I do."

Suddenly, Icestar knew what to do. "You know, I remember a few things from Vinetail."

I even watched the medicine den for a night while Vinetail and Sweetheart—who was Sweetpaw back then—went to the Night Flower! he recalled. That memory was from so long ago, nearly at his early stages of apprenticeship when Silverleaf was but a little kit. He was surprised that he actually remembered.

"You do?" Sweetheart said with shock. "What do you know, Icestar?"

The leader fought hard in his memories to remember. Then he said, "Borage for bellyaches and fevers, right? Vinetail also told me its for queens, though I don't remember what for. Its petals are blue and small and star-shaped. Cobwebs are for closing wounds. Err . . . poppy seeds, for calming and it also reduces pain. I've used those tons of times."

"Very well, Icestar. That's a lot for someone who is inexperienced," Sweetheart praised. "Just in case, know a few more things while I'm out." Icestar nodded. "Dock is used to soothe scratches, okay? It's sort of a large leaf, and it has a tangy smell. The way you apply it is by first chewing it up, got it?"

Icestar buried that in his mind. "Okay, got it." I hope I remember, he thought. It'll be bad if I let Sweetheart down.

"I've also got a few feverfew plants. They also have a tangy smell and they're small and they look like daisies. If Stripeeyes starts to get a fever, or any cat in that case, give it to them, okay?" Sweetheart's eyes were shining. She must've loved talking about herbs.

"I got it," Icestar said. "Don't give me a whole lesson though. I wouldn't remember it all."

"Okay, okay. Just one more thing," Sweetheart urged. "Just in case."

"Alright, that's fine," Icestar meowed with a sigh.

"This is for Silverleaf," Sweetheart informed him. "To soothe her bellyache, she'll need juniper berries. They're kind of blue little berries—I'm sure you'll know what they are the moment you see them. Okay . . . that's all. Tell me what I've told you."

"Err . . . Dock to soothe scratches, feverfew for fevers, and juniper berries for bellyaches." He paused. "Along with what I know, poppy seeds for soothing—"

"—it also keeps a cat's strength up," Sweetheart cut off.

"Yes, that too. And borage for bellyaches and fevers. Last, cobwebs for binding scratches. That's all I know now." He looked at Sweetheart hopefully. He didn't know how it was possible for one cat to know so much information regarding herbs. It must of been difficult, but he saw that Sweetheart must have a passion about it.

She gave a nod. "You are good to go."

"That's great," Icestar said. And I'll be spending the rest of the day with my mate, he thought. This might not be so bad after all. "Perhaps you should take two cats with you to protect you from the kittypets and help you carry back the herbs?"

Perhaps I can go over Dewstar's offer with all of this extra time, too.

"I was planning on it." Sweetheart turned to the warriors' den. "Rosepetal, Dropeyes," she called. The two had just finished sharing a mouse in front of the den and looked up. In an instant, both of the she-cats padded over to her. "Would you two go out with me to collect herbs? It's kind of urgent."

"I don't mind," Dropeyes said, and Rosepetal nodded of agreement.

Sweetheart glanced at the two gratefully before turning to the leader. "I trust you, Icestar. If anything, send someone to get me if it comes to something you cannot handle." She took a quick glance at the medicine den. "Don't forget to give Silverleaf two poppy seeds, and a juniper berry to calm her bellyache, okay?"

"I will. Now off you go, the sooner you leave, the better it'll be for Stripeeyes," Icestar said, nosing her out of camp.

"See you soon, Icestar," Rosepetal said and at the same time, Dropeyes murmured a goodbye. Sweetheart led them out of camp, and Icestar breathed in a sigh. He hoped to StarClan that he could be a good cover-in for Sweetheart. He was MoonClan's leader, not medicine cat. But every once in a while he did deserve a rest from patrols and hunting . . .

He watched them leave the camp, and glanced at the medicine den. Stripeeyes seemed to have calmed from the coughing fit and was resting comfortably on his nest. Silverleaf was also in her own makeshift nest, but he was almost sure that she was awake.

Icestar padded over to the medicine den, stepping lightly and quietly. As he entered, he passed both Silverleaf and Stripeeyes to go to the back of the den, searching for what Sweetheart had ordered. Juniper berry . . . small and blue, he thought. Finally, he found them. There was only a few, and a couple of clearly rotten ones. He took a fresh one carefully in between his teeth and padded over to Silverleaf.

"Here, take this," Icestar quietly and softly said to her. "It'll soothe your bellyache."

The queen obediently chewed and ate it, and by her expression afterwords, she obviously did not like it. "I-it's not that bad," Silverleaf managed, a look of disgust on her face. "At least I'll get better."

"You will," Icestar agreed.

Silverleaf rest her head on her paws. "Anyways, did you switch your leader role to be a medicine cat?" she asked jokingly.

"Of course not. Sweetheart asked me to fill in for her until she gets back," Icestar informed.

"What do you know about herbs?" she asked once more.

He purred. "Everything I need to know, that's it." Silverleaf made room on her nest for Icestar to lie down on, and he took the spot right beside her, drinking in her sweet scent and pressing close to her warm fur.

Icestar noticed that Silverleaf had changed a lot ever since she began to expect kits. Her fur was becoming more neatly groomed, perhaps from all her spare time she had to do so. She was getting skinner as well from the lack of prey, but her belly was getting plumper with their kits. Even her personality changed—she was becoming more softer and gentler and quieter. She always used to be talkative and was most of the time eager for a hunt, but she seemed tired now.

She lied her head down on his paws. "I can barely ever get a rest anymore," she murmured. "Our kits never seem to let me sleep." She shut her eyes, and Icestar was glad she did. She seemed to be getting better from her bellyache, and she looked like she needed sleep, too.

"They seem lively," Icestar responded, his voice low. The thought of it made him feel excited and scared at the same time. "How many kits do you think there will be?"

"I wouldn't know," she said.

"What would you name them?" he asked again. He doubted that he could come up with anything good himself. Things such as leader business and problems with DarkClan and Dewstar and the prophecy were always keeping his mind away from the topic of kits.

"I think I would name one . . . Lightkit." Silverleaf gave a deep sigh with her eyes still shut. "I am tired of this darkness. Aren't you? Maybe we just need a little light shed upon our Clan."

Icestar nodded as his eyes dimmed. "It is a good name." We need light shed upon our Clan in these dark times, he thought. I'm tired of everything having to do with DarkClan and this wretched prophecy.

"Silverleaf," Icestar said, turning to face her. It felt wrong hiding things from his mate, and he wanted to tell her what was in his mind. "The other night, Dewstar told me something."

"Did you meet with him?" she asked, her fur bristling.

Icestar shook his head. "I didn't, he came to me and told me something. He threatened that if I gave up my Clan to him, he won't attack MoonClan. He told me that he wanted me to run far away and never come back." He took a deep breath. "If I don't do that, Dewstar will attack us. I have two moons to decide what to do."

Silverleaf snarled. "We have to defend ourselves!" she hissed, turning to face him. "I will never let my kits get into his paws."

Icestar was surprised at how defensive she got. Was this the loving protection of a queen? Silverleaf wouldn't know that feeling—her mother died when she was young, after all. But a new sense of protectiveness burned in her eyes.

"If it comes to that, I know I will protect our kits with all my life. I'd rather have MoonClan fight this war," Silverleaf went on. "Don't you feel the same?"

He realized that she was right. "I do feel that way, Silverleaf," Icestar told her. "But what if we lose the battle and our friends die? What if something bad happens to our kits?"

"Nothing will happen." She raised her chin. "I don't want this battle to be our kit's earliest memories, but I more so don't want them having a bad life under the rule of DarkClan. We've been in this forest all our lives, so I know that I will not easily give it up."

"I will have to talk to our Clanmates soon," he murmured. "I don't know when but this decision can't only be up to me."

"I am sticking strong to my decision," Silverleaf said, "and I'm sure everyone else will feel the same."

Maybe that's what I should do . . . Maybe we should defend our Clan, Icestar thought.

Suddenly, Stripeeyes broke into a coughing fit, interrupting Icestar and Silverleaf's conversation. The elder's eyes opened wide, and fear shone in them. "S-Sweetheart," choked the old tom. "Help! I can't breathe."

Immediately, Icestar burst from his spot. His heart was at a sudden panic, but he didn't hesitate to race over to him. He quickly scanned over Stripeeye's face, before whirling around. "Stay with Stripeeyes," Icestar ordered Silverleaf.

She nodded, and emerged right by his side. "Shh, everything's going to be fine," Silverleaf whispered to him. "It's okay to relax."

Stripeeye's coughing eased a little bit, and Icestar returned with two poppy seeds in his paw. "Take this," Icestar urged. "Sweetheart says it will calm you down."

The elder nodded, and swallowed both seeds. His breathing seemed to ease as Silverleaf began to massage his chest with her forepaws. "I'll be right back," Icestar mewed to Silverleaf. "He needs water."

"Why not just take the snow and put it into his mouth?" Silverleaf suggested. "It's water when it melts. Maybe it'll also cool down his throat. He feels a little hot . . ."

"I'm fine now!" snapped Stripeeyes, with a cough following afterwords.

"You wouldn't want to get in a coughing fit like that again," Silverleaf snarled. "Stop thinking about pride and let us help you for once! Isn't your health what is more important?"

"That may be so, but you shouldn't waste herbs on me." Stripeeyes stood up weakly. "It looks like Blackpaw is developing whitecough. The youngsters should be treated before the elders."

Icestar shook his head. "I am not trying to put you in a weak position, Stripeeyes, but it's far better to let apprentices heal without depending solely on herbs. They are strong and can adapt to sickness and injuries better. Elders don't have those abilities anymore, so therefore you must be treated first." He paused. "Besides, you're the one who's actually sick, not Blackpaw."

At least not yet.

Stripeeyes silenced, but he was glaring at his leader. Icestar trudged out of the medicine den and out to the open, scooping up a pawful of snow. After doing so, he went back into the medicine den. "Here, Stripeeyes. Drink up."

Stripeeyes bent down and lapped up the snow, his fur bristling at how cold it was. Or perhaps his fur was bristling because Icestar was helping him . . . Annoyance and frustration filled into Icestar. The elder had no right to be angry just because he needed help! He didn't know how Sweetheart could deal with this kind of thing nearly every day.

* * *

Sweetheart returned to camp with enough catmint by the time the sun was on the tree-tips. Stripeeyes managed just fine until the medicine cat arrived, and Icestar was glad that he got off her duties. Even though he just knew a few useful herbs, he was never properly trained and was relieved to find that no cat other than Stripeeyes had needed help. Silverleaf herself even said she was feeling better by the end of the day.

Currently, Icestar was on his den, gazing up at the sun as it sunk down in the horizon. He kept his eyes on the red and orange that blazed upon white snow in the forest. In the DarkClan camp, sunsets like this couldn't even be seen with the trees and branches that covered the sky. He felt bad for those cats; perhaps they weren't really evil, maybe just misguided. He remembered their first leader, Darkstar, and the last life of light she provided him in his nine-lives ceremony. She looked like she had done things she regretted, and it must of been her fault that DarkClan cats were misguided.

Maybe with proper guidance they wouldn't have turned out so badly, thought Icestar.

He sat on his den until the moon had risen into the sky—a small white crescent that illuminated the forest. There was still some time before Silverpelt would appear in the sky, so the camp was mostly dark. The majority of his Clanmates were awake, probably refusing to go to sleep since Icestar didn't go to sleep, and in the darkness he could easily hear all of their soft voices.

The MoonClan leader went on thinking of everything—from his unborn kits, to DarkClan, to the prophecy, and finally, Dewstar's threat. Ashtail and Silverleaf both chose fighting the battle over surrendering to save their own lives, but he was still indecisive himself. DarkClan was a big and strong Clan, and it had many more cats than Icestar's own Clan. Their numbers easily overwhelmed him, and he was afraid of risking the lives of his dear friends.

"Icestar," Flameheart called from the bottom of his den. Icestar looked down to see the rusty orange tom right besides Sharpfang. Perhaps I should ask them what they want to do? Icestar thought. Maybe he needed a few more answers from my Clanmates. Then, I might know what to do.

"I'm coming down," Icestar replied, carefully descending off of the tall rock. When he got to a stone that was close enough to the ground, he leaped and landed on the cold snow of the earth, landing steadily on his paws. "Is there anything wrong?"

Flameheart shook his head and meowed, "Nothing wrong with us." Just as he said that, Shadowheart emerged right beside Flameheart, his black pelt barely visible against the night sky.

"But," Sharpfang said, "we have been talking with Ashtail."

"What has Ashtail told you?" Icestar urged, wanting to get into the topic of Dewstar's threat. He was eager and scared to see what his Clanmates would think.

"He told us of what Dewstar has in plan," meowed Sharpfang. "That we will either attack, or live under his rule . . ."

Icestar's eyes widened. They already know?

"He only talked to us three," Shadowheart murmured, keeping his voice low. "Perhaps he wanted to speak with me because my sister lives in DarkClan, and to Flameheart because that is his birth Clan."

"Wh-what do you both think about this . . . ?" Icestar asked, his heart pounding. For some reason, it made him even more scared.

Shadowheart was the first to step up. "I want to fight," he declared. "Even though I have a sister there, I must put my Clan first."

Flameheart nodded with agreement. "And I never want to join DarkClan again. My days there are long over, so I want to fight as well."

Icestar was surprised. Every cat that he asked so far wanted to fight. These are true warriors, he told himself. Cats who will not abandon their Clan is what makes a strong heart. He turned to Sharpfang, wondering what the gray tom will say.

"I . . . want to fight as well," Sharpfang said. "I'm not at all eager risking the lives of my kits, but I will fight to the bitter end to keep them safe from harm. Whatever decision I make, Sagepelt stands strong by me, and so do my kits."

Icestar nodded and glanced up at the sky, where the stars slowly started to emerge by the crescent moon. "I think I know what to do now," he said, his voice low. The leader's heart swelled as he thought of how much his Clanmates cared for each other. I can never let this friendship between us all die. Everyone agrees so too. He padded away from the three cats, and climbed back on the Moonrock. He gazed down at his Clan, his scars from past battles glinting at the light of the moon's touch.

"Cats of MoonClan, gather around to hear what I must say!" he called.

In no time, cats began crawling out of the warrior's den, all murmuring in confusion. Amberpaw, Blackpaw and Goldenpaw all padded out of the apprentice den, side-by-side, while the elders, excluding Stripeeyes, clambered into the clearing. Silverleaf sat with Sagepelt and her kits by the nursery with her brother, Squirreltail and his mate, Goldsun. Crowflight took a spot besides Shadowheart, Sharpfang and Stonetooth, and he could also make out Swiftbreeze and Nightrose sitting by each other near the entrance of the camp, coming in from their guard duties. Fireshade and Rainwhisker met with Ashtail and sat near the front of the clearing. The rest of the cats sat by the back, keeping close to the warm warrior's den.

Icestar stared down at his Clan with a deep feeling touching his heart. These were his friends and family, and he knew that he could not give that up. Thanks to Ashtail, Silverleaf, Shadowheart, Sharpfang and Flameheart, he realized this.

Then, he began to speak. "I've been thinking of something deeply for a day now," he said. "Not long ago, Dewstar spoke to me. He gave our Clan options . . . that we either go under his rule and surrender so we don't have to right, or we refuse and fight this battle. He gave me two moons to give him an answer." He stopped talking, and looked down to everyone, gaze sweeping around the clearing. "I have concluded my decision with the help of some cats: we are going into war."