Edited ✔️

Icetail sat right besides Brightstar in his makeshift nest that they set up in her den. "What's the news?" he asked his leader. The leader's den was dark, but comfortable, shielding away all sorts of rain and wind. He wondered how such a large space could only be used for one cat.

Brightstar looked to her paws. "Two cats have gone missing," she responded. "Thornheart . . . and your father, Sparrowheart."

Icetail's heart almost stopped. "Why?" he asked immediately. "Why would they leave? Where have they gone?"

Brightstar shook her head. "I do not know." Her voice was low, and her gaze was sad. "I deeply hope that they're okay—but they've been gone since the rain has started. The sun is set and the moon has risen, but it's been covered by clouds so we can't see through the forest. We won't be able to travel until we can see."

Icetail sighed and looked down to his paws. "Please, StarClan. Let them be okay," he murmured. He lied down in his nest, and Brightstar rest a comforting paw over Icetail's shoulder.

"My apprentice," she mewed. "What if MoonClan were to go into a battle, and you knew that they'd lose and you had a choice of survival? What if that survival was . . . joining the opposing side of the battle?"

Icetail's sleepy eyes closed. "Are you kidding? I love my Clan more than life itself and I will fight to the bitter end to keep my Clanmates happy and safe. I would never join the other side." He yawned as he felt Brightstar's comforting touch tense up.

"I only have two lives left," she murmured in his ear. "Sparrowheart will surely become the leader soon."

"Talk about something happy," said Icetail sleepily. "Tomorrow I need to find . . . Sparrowheart." His speech was becoming slurred, and Icetail could barely hold his head up anymore.

"Sleep my apprentice," Brightstar whispered. "Let StarClan bless your dreams. Tomorrow we will solve this."

* * *

When Icetail woke up once more, Brightstar was gone. Instead, right by his side, he wasn't surprised to see Silverleaf asleep, propped up by the wall of the den as if she was watching him for a time. He smiled, but it was short-lived as soon as he remembered the news about Sparrowheart and Thornheart.

He got up from his nest, stretching from his long sleep, followed by a luxurious yawn. He should not be sleeping in a time like this. I have to see if Sparrowheart and Thornheart are back. He gently rested Silverleaf in his nest so she could sleep more comfortably, and then he padded outside of the den.

His eyes were immediately blinded by the bright light of the sun, and he squinted to see if he could make out what was going on. The camp was damp, freshly washed from the rainstorm. Rainwhisker seemed to be recovering in the medicine den, but he was still coughing, and Shadowheart was already on his paws, talking softly to the older warriors.

Icetail searched around the camp for his father, but Sparrowheart was not seen. He must still be missing! Icetail thought with worry. He knew that he had to go find his father and missing Clanmate. He spotted Brightstar speaking to two senior warriors, Mousetail and Sharpfang.

As he made his way towards his leader, he passed Nightrose and Sagepelt, and he was close enough to make out their conversation. "I'm not sure, but Sweetheart said that she thinks I'm having kits," whispered Sagepelt.

"Kits at this time?" Nightrose whispered back. "We're in the middle of a war!"

"You had kits in the middle of a war," responded Sagepelt. "Plus, it doesn't feel like a war. There's hardly any real battles anymore. I wonder if DarkClan forgot about it."

"That's not the point," Nightrose said back. "It's almost leaf-bare. This could be difficult for you—"

He averted his ears from their conversation. He was a little curious about the kits, but that is not what he should be listening to right now. He continued through the camp, padding over to his leader and the senior warriors. He felt a little more drawn towards their conversation right now given the situation.

"Hi Brightstar," Icetail greeted.

Sharpfang looked up, barely acknowledging him before turning back to Brightstar. Mousetail and Brightstar, however, returned the greeting. 

"Morning Icetail," said the leader. "We were just discussing where we should search for Sparrowheart and Thornheart first."

"I was suggesting near DarkClan," said Mousetail. "I have a strong feeling that they could be nearby there."

"Not DarkClan again!" groaned Icetail. "Whenever a single MoonClan even so approaches them, we have this huge trouble! I almost died many times because of those savages. And not to mention our poor Clanmates!" His words were ice cold. "Why would Sparrowheart be at their borders anyway? And why would he take Thornheart of all cats?"

"Calm down, Icetail," scolded Brightstar. "We don't know the facts. We're still smoothening that out."

"I have to go out and see," said Icetail.

"Are you crazy?" snapped his leader. "The other day you almost drowned. Stop being so reckless or I'll ban you from ever going out again!"

"I'm not being reckless," muttered Icetail. I'm just worried about my father and my Clanmate. I have that right! he thought angrily. "Come on, let me please go on a patrol? I won't be mouse-brained this time. I just want to search."

Brightstar narrowed her eyes. "I'll be the one to decide that." She turned and began to pad away to the Moonrock with Mousetail following close behind her.

Sharpfang closed his eyes and sighed. "You're a real pain," he growled, before he went after their leader.

Icetail narrowed his eyes, but went after them as well. He sat down in the clearing right besides Ashtail, his previous mentor when he was just a new apprentice. He eyed Ashtail's large chest scar, recalling his first battle with the DarkClan, and hoped that Sparrowheart hadn't come to a similar fate.

Ashtail noticed him staring and waved his tail. Icetail smiled a greeting in response for a brief moment before he looked back up to the Moonrock.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, join beneath the Moonrock for a Clan meeting!" Brightstar summoned, her voice loud and strong.

Every cat padded into the clearing, even Nightrose and her kits although they were still not yet old enough to catch prey. Everyone looked up at her, curious at what was going to happen—the news about Sparrowheart and Thornheart had already reached the ears of all cats.

"As you know," the leader began, "Thornheart and our deputy had gone missing during the storm! We don't know where they'll be; all scents and tracks have been washed away from the rainwater. I'll be assigning search patrols. The first suspected location is DarkClan—Sharpfang, you'll lead the patrol there. Take Bluewing and . . ." Her tail scanned the clearing and landed on Icetail. "You. If you want to go so bad, go with Sharpfang."

Icetail mentally groaned. Why is she always assigning me with Sharpfang? But he felt grateful that she was at least letting him out.

"StreamClan's patrol will be lead by Redsky, along with cats she chooses . . ."

Icetail stopped listening to the announcements and padded over to Sharpfang. The older warrior sighed and muttered, "I guess we're stuck with each other again."

Icetail nodded with agreement. "I guess we are."

Bluewing padded over to the group. "We have to leave now," she said. "The sooner we find things out, the better."

Sharpfang beckoned his patrol forward with his tail. "Let's go."

Icetail followed Sharpfang as he led his patrol outside the camp as soon as Brightstar concluded her announcement. Bluewing served as the rear, quietly following the two toms as Icetail made an effort to speak. "I heard Sagepelt might be having kits," he said.

Sharpfang didn't reply.

"Aren't you excited to be a father?" Icetail went on.

Sharpfang sighed. "Stop."

"I'm just trying to talk," Icetail snapped. "What's your problem? What do you have against me?" He wondered deep down about that, too. Sharpfang had always been super dry and cold with Icetail as long as he could recall, even when he was an apprentice. I don't remember doing anything wrong, I think.

"It's not you," said Sharpfang. "It's your kin."

"My kin?" Icetail repeated, confused. "What in StarClan's name do you mean?"

"What I mean is, I don't like where you came from," Sharpfang muttered, looking down to his paws. "Ever since that day many seasons ago, I've felt heart-broken. It's all because of your kin."

"Quit it with the riddles and tell me!" growled Icetail.

Bluewing's head was hanging. She probably knew the reason, too. "Every cat from Featherbreeze and Sparrowheart's time know what happened," she murmured. "I do not think you're a kit that needs to be hidden from the truth anymore. Now that there's no cat around, I think you should tell him, Sharpfang."

"I have a right to know," Icetail demanded.

The patrol of three padded through the quiet and damp forest. The air felt tense for Icetail, but deep down, he was excited and scared for Sharpfang's response.

"A long time ago," began the older warrior, "I was an apprentice in MoonClan alongside with your father. Things were bright and happy—DarkClan was snappy all the time, sure, but they were nowhere near as worse as they are now. Those were what we called the pure days."

Bluewing smiled. "I remember it. I was an apprentice, too. In DarkClan, though, their previous leader before Sandstar had kits with his mate. They had two daughters—one kit by the name of Sandkit, and then their first-born, Featherkit."

Icetail's heart almost stopped. "You don't mean—"

"Yes," Sharpfang cut off. "That's your mother. She was originally born into DarkClan as the daughter of their leader, kin of the leadership name."

"Isn't a leader supposed to be chosen, not born?" asked Icetail. DarkClan surely must follow at least some of the warrior code, right? Why in StarClan's name would they abandon it like this?

"Few cats know the true facts about DarkClan," said Sharpfang, "but Featherbreeze told us everything. She said that the kits of the leaders were normally the heirs to their leadership. Once the leader dies, the most eligible of their kin has the right to become the new leader. Since Featherbreeze was the first-born and the bigger kit, she was the chosen one to become DarkClan's next leader. But when she was an apprentice, things changed. She started coming to the MoonClan borders. That's how we met . . . and we'd meet in secret for moons before she was caught by a patrol."

"You?" asked Icetail in surprise. He stopped walking, causing the other two to stop with him. "Wasn't Sparrowheart her mate? Don't tell me you're my father!"

"I'm not your father," Sharpfang responded harshly. "And yes, Sparrowheart was her mate. She didn't even know him then—she'd just meet with me and no cat else. But soon, when she was captured for trespassing and taken to MoonClan's camp, she met your father, and they talked, and seemed to have gotten close."

Oh, thought Icetail. He must of been in love with her. Now that I put two and two together . . . she must have broken his heart by falling in love with Sparrowheart.

"The day that changed everything was that same quarter moon we had caputed your mother," Bluewing continued. "Featherbreeze—or Featherpaw at that time—stayed in our camp for those next few days because she didn't resist us. But DarkClan got angry, and they wanted to take her back. It was my first battle . . . DarkClan invaded our camp and threatened us that if we did not return their heir, then they would slaughter our Clanmates."

"But Featherpaw stopped it," Sharpfang growled, the memory flashing through his eyes. "She told them that she would return with them, and she did. But then, she came back to our camp two days later carrying a tiny kit in her jaws that went by the name of Ripplekit."

"Silverleaf's and Squirreltail's mother!" exclaimed Icetail. "Their mother was from DarkClan too?"

"Yes, but Ripplefur was never aware of it," explained Bluewing. "Featherpaw had told us that she had stolen Ripplekit from the nursery. She didn't have a kind mother to take care of her. Another battle broke out between MoonClan and DarkClan, but this time, Featherpaw did not go back. She said she wanted to stay with MoonClan, and Brightstar let her. But DarkClan was angry that their heir and one of their kits were gone . . . and they vowed to never let it easy for MoonClan ever again."

"Is that why they tried to steal Silverleaf and Squirreltail when they were kits?" growled Icetail, clawing at the ground. "And you once told me that they tried to steal my brother and I when we were kits. Is it all because Featherbreeze was from DarkClan?"

Bluewing nodded. "That's right," she mewed with a sigh. "They tried to steal you two so they could raise you in DarkClan as the new heirs, but it turned out to be unsuccessful. They did manage to steal your sister . . ." Bluewing murmured, her voice getting low.

Icetail's eyes widened. "I have a sister?"

"She lives in DarkClan, and she goes by the name of Lilyclaw. Shadowheart also has DarkClan roots, if you did not know. His sister is Deathwing," Bluewing explained. "Over the moons, MoonClan became interlaced with DarkClan through different loyalties but similar kinship. I wouldn't be surprised if you'd ever met Lilyclaw in battle."

"Why didn't Featherbreeze ever steal Lilyclaw back?" whispered Icetail, pain gripping his thought. I wonder what growing up with Lilyclaw would of been like. "Did Featherbreeze not . . . care for her?"

"Featherbreeze loved her," murmured Sharpfang, eyes flashing with grief. "She was devastated when Lilyclaw was taken. We were ready to take her back, but Featherbreeze stopped us and told us that it's best not to do it. She explained to us that they'd treat Lilyclaw good and with respect, and that she already had two other kits to take care of. She didn't want to be the start of another battle."

"Sparrowheart objected deeply, but he soon he started to accept her wish," Bluewing added.

He looked down to his paws, disbelief swirling in his eyes. So many things have been hidden from me for all these moons. I wonder why Featherbreeze never told me. Was it because she thought I'd leave MoonClan and join DarkClan? he thought sadly.

"How many cats know about this?" Icetail murmured.

"Only those old enough to have fought in that battle," said Sharpfang. He glared up into the sky. "With all these younger warriors, things like this can easily be forgotten. But I'll never forget."

Featherbreeze and I are more alike than I ever thought! Icetail looked up at the sky and past the tree branches overhead. I didn't know that she was so ridden with guilt.

"I can't believe this," he whispered. "And I never knew?"

Sharpfang opened his mouth to speak, but grew silent as his ears pricked forward. Bluewing jolted upright, too. The nearby undergrowth rattled as a newcomer made their way through the forest. Icetail, Sharpfang and Bluewing's eyes snapped in the direction where it came from, immediately growing tense with alert. It didn't sound like there was just one cat approaching. No, there were more!

"Believe it, Icetail," laughed a voice. The cat in the lead emerged through the tangle of bushes. Icetail spotted none other than Dewfang, surrounded by a few other DarkClan cats.

"Why are you here, Dewfang?" Icetail snarled, his fur immediately going on end. His heart pounded with fear. And where is Sparrowheart? He caught wind of his father's scent amongst the crowd of trespassers. They must've had him!

"I do not think that a cat like you should speak so rudely to the leader of a Clan," snarled his brother, unsheathing his claws. "I go by the name of Dewstar now, leader of DarkClan." Icetail's eyes widened. "And I did not come here to fight. I came here to make a proposition."

"What kind of proposition?" growled Sharpfang.

"The other day, I found Sparrowheart walking too close to our borders," Dewfang began. "So my Clanmates captured him, and now, I'd like to return him."

"Then give back our father!" demanded Icetail.

"I'll give him back if you, Icetail, come with us in his place," Dewfang meowed. "It's fair, really. You will become a loyal DarkClan prisoner in our camp if you want to save your father."

Icetail was about to speak, until his father and his deputy cut him off.

"Don't do it, Icetail!" choked Sparrowheart. Icetail's eyes trailed the group of cats and found him lying between two of the bigger warriors. His heart broke as he saw Sparrowheart's battered condition. He was all beaten and scratched up, his fur matted with blood. "Please . . . I'd rather die than to see my only kit turn away from the warrior code!"

Icetail eyed his father painfully. It hurt to see Sparrowheart so beaten and desperate. Deep down, he knew that Sparrowheart was right. Deep down, fear also rested in his heart. What would Dewfang do if Icetail were to refuse? They were clearly outnumbered, and Sparrowheart was weak.

Oh StarClan! Icetail thought, thinking of ways to scoop his father up and run. We're too outmatched to back away from this without bloodshed!

Sparrowheart gravely stared at Icetail as they waited for his response. His father shook his head ever so slightly, his eyes speaking louder than his actions. Don't do it, Icetail. Know where your loyalties lie! he seemed to call out to him.

With that, Icetail turned back to Dewfang. "I will not leave my place as a loyal MoonClan warrior," he hissed fiercely. "There is no other Clan in this forest as true or as brave! My heart lives here—filled with heroic cats who'd never turn away from the code."

Sparrowheart's eyes filled with happiness, and he cracked a small smile. If Icetail were close enough, he was convinced that he was  even purring. "Thank you . . ."

"Kill him," Dewfang ordered. "Kill Sparrowheart!"

Icetail bolted from his spot, but he was stopped by Dewfang's patrol of cats, hissing threateningly for him not to move.

"Don't do it!" Icetail yowled, swiping furiously. Sharpfang and Bluewing raced up to him, holding him back.

"Icetail, we must escape! It's Sparrowheart's will!" Sharpfang hissed in his ear.

Icetail couldn't listen to those words. He struggled to get closer to Sparrowheart. "Dewfang, don't kill our father! Please!"

"I told you once, and I will not tell you again," snarled the DarkClan leader. "My name is not Dewfang anymore. I am Dewstar! I decide who dies and who lives! Kill MoonClan's deputy!"

"Yes, Dewstar," hissed a she-cat, padding up to Sparrowheart with barred fangs.

"Icetail, leave me be!" Sparrowheart snapped. "This is not your fault. It was Dewstar . . . not you . . ." And at that instant, the she-cat snapped Sparrowheart's neck with her jaws. Sparrowheart collapsed, dead on the ground with blood pooling around his head.

Icetail let out a yowl of grief. "You'll pay, Dewfang! You'll pay for this!"

"Next time you will be calling me Dewstar," his brother meowed. "Because next time I see you, not only will I lead DarkClan, but I will also be the new leader of MoonClan."

A/N Dun dun dunnnn. Sparrowheart is dead :O AND Icetail finally knows the truth about where he is from and all that crap :D How was this chapter?

Next chapter, some big events will be happening C: stay tuned lol