Edited ✔️

After months I've gone this far, and, CHAPTER TWELVE, FINALLY! WOOT, WOOT! I am excited to where this book will lead! Anyways, I am back, also as the WattyWarrior's new admin :) Please check out there account, it's on my profile and they are also dedicated in one of my chapters in the book. WattyWarriors is a fan magazine thing for the Warriors Fandom (duh) and advertises other authors to hundreds of readers. Check them out and possibly you'll be interviewed if you get recommended!

Icepaw let out a long sigh as he placed down the last piece of moss on the elder's bedding. He was exhausted. Today, though, was the day Brightstar promised he'd finally be out of punishment for what he did last moon when Featherbreeze died. Her death still clung hard to his head, but he was forced to live through it.

Thrushclaw padded into the den, holding a plump vole in his jaws. "Hi again, Icepaw," the elder greeted, climbing into his nest. "Ah, I'll miss having a new fresh moss nest every single day."

Icepaw nodded. "I think that Stripeeye's nest will be the last of my punishment," he meowed, "since the Gathering is tonight."

Thrushclaw bit into the vole, eating only small bites. "I hope Stripeeyes gets back soon. This is our prey for the day, and he's out getting water. He won't be happy to see his meal cold."

"Then you should wait for him," advised Icepaw with a small smile. "That old cat gets grumpy too much."

He scented something, and the gray tabby tom walked into the den as well, his almost blind eyes glaring hard at Icepaw. "Hey, I ain't that old," he growled. "But I'll get grumpier if you don't finish changing my moss!"

Icepaw gasped and looked at Stripeeyes. "Oh, sorry," he said, a bit embarrassed. He set down the new moss, straightening it out and made sure that there was no thorns, bugs or dirt on it. Perfect, there was nothing in sight. "There you go!"

Stripeeyes nodded to Icepaw, settling down in his nest with comfort. "Hey, let me have a few bites," he told Thrushclaw, who began to munch down in the vole.

"Okay," replied the other elder, pushing over the piece of prey. Icepaw's stomach rumbled even more now. When were warriors and apprentices allowed to eat? He couldn't wait till the hunting patrols returned. Leaf-bare had just begun, and he and the rest of the Clan were running out of prey to eat.

He looked down to the two elders. "Is there anything else you would like me to do?" he asked. "Err, before I leave?"

"Go on," said Stripeeyes. "Thrushclaw and I need our peace."

Icepaw dipped his head, turned and left. The camp was half deserted. Squirrelkit and Silverkit slept peacefully in the nursery, with the new queen, Nightrose by them. She announced that she was going to have Fireshade's kits just a few days ago. The only apprentice in camp was Volepaw as well as the medicine-cat apprentice, Sweetpaw.

She rushed out of the medicine den, walking over to Icepaw.

"Hi," Icepaw meowed.

Sweetpaw sighed. "Go bury the old moss," she ordered, "with leaf-bare here we have to get rid of things that the elders, who get sick way too much, use."

Icepaw's tail dropped. Sweetpaw didn't even return his greeting. "Alright," he muttered with annoyance, grabbing the bundles in his jaws before slowly padding out of camp. She went right back to the medicine den.

I swear to StarClan that Sweetpaw is too obsessed with herbs, thought Icepaw angrily. He trailed out of camp, the moss becoming uncomfortable in his mouth. He wished that he was the only one who has to do this. He'd been collecting moss this whole moon!

He could hear a patrol in the distance as he found the perfect spot to dig. It was the StreamClan border patrol coming near. He ignored them for a second and began to dig his hole, throwing the moss inside. The patrol was very close now.

He could see Fireshade leading Dawnpaw, Shadowheart and Grayfur over. He could also smell fresh kill. Had they found prey while on a border patrol? As he finished burying the moss, they crossed his path.

"Hi Icepaw!" Dawnpaw meowed cheerfully.

"Hey," he said, patting the ground. "There, finished."

"Finished with what?" asked Dawnpaw curiously. "Oh, come, Fireshade's patrol isn't gonna wait for us." She began to pad ahead, in back of Grayfur as the rear.

Icepaw trotted over. "I was just burying the elder's old moss," he explained. "Sweetpaw ordered me to do so because she said the elders can get sick easily, and she doesn't want anymore sickness in camp."

"You're letting her boss you around?" snorted Dawnpaw with a laugh. "That sounds very silly!"

Grayfur laughed right in front of the two. "Well, Dawnpaw, she's becoming just like Vinetail," the senior warrior pointed out. "And she's obsessed with herbs."

"Tell me about it," muttered Icepaw, rolling his eyes. "Have you seen Dewpaw anywhere?"

Dawnpaw shook her head. "No, he's hunting near StreamClan, remember?" she asked. "His patrol is going to come when ours gets back to camp."

Icepaw sighed and nodded. "Okay, that's fine," he said. Icepaw followed the patrol until they got to camp, his paws cold on the forest floor. The silence was still taking place in the Clan, and a chill of unease ran up his spine. The silence was . . . unusual.

He shrugged and padded over to the warrior's den. Sparrowheart was silently sitting in the back of the den, his eyes on his paws. Icepaw padded over to his father slowly.

"Hi." The apprentice made sure he was speaking slowly. "Sparrowheart?"

For a moment, the tom didn't move, until he finally looked up and down to his son. "Oh, uh, sorry . . . Icepaw," said Sparrowheart, struggling with words. He'd been like this since Featherbreeze's, Ripplefur's and Spottedkit's untimely deaths. "I was just lost in thought."

"Oh, okay," Icepaw replied. "I was just wondering if there was anything else you wanted me to do."

Sparrowheart shook his head. "No. Brightstar is going to announce the cats who are going to the gathering when the last two patrols arrive. You can start to eat, but something small."

"Okay, th-thanks," said the gray tom, awkwardly padding out of the den. He hoped he didn't disturb the other warriors. As soon as he padded out, his eyes rested on the fresh kill pile, disturbing his belly even more.

Well, Sparrowheart did say that I was allowed to have my share now, thought the gray apprentice. He padded over and looked at his choices. Either a thrush, two mice or squirrel. He decided to take the smallest mouse for himself since he had nobody to share anything with. Besides, the fresh kill pile should be stocked as soon as the patrols get back to camp.

Sighing, Icepaw settled down with his prey, and his tail lashed with hunger. The camp was still quiet, small talks going all around. He ate his prey alone, not willing to bother any cat.

Finally, as soon as Icepaw was done with his meal, he could see the StreamClan hunting patrol get back, followed by the last border patrol. He watched as Dewpaw came into camp first, holding a large vole and mouse in his jaws proudly. He must've been lucky today.

Dawnpaw went running up, gasping. "Wow!" she said, completely amazed. "How'd you get such good catches?"

Mousetail smiled in pride. "He's a good hunter," the senior warrior boasted about his apprentice. "He trains hard and does very well in most of his hunts."

"Thanks," said Dewpaw.

Icepaw shrunk to himself, remaining silent. The small mouse's delicious taste faded away in his mouth as Dewpaw dropped his prey onto the fresh kill pile. It also seemed that the hunting party caught another squirrel and thrush. It was enough to feed most the Clan, but Icepaw already has had his share.

He slowly padded over to the apprentice den, letting his brother receive all the attention. It was better if all these cats forgot about him anyways. He didn't feel like talking most days.

Just as he sat down comfortably in his own nest, Brightstar walked into the den after him. "Icepaw," she said. He looked up quickly, surprised. What would Brightstar want out of him? "Tonight is the Gathering as you know, and you are officially relieved from your punishment."

Icepaw dipped his head to her. "Thank you Brightstar."

"You'd best not get too comfortable here, I am about to make an announcement," she meowed, walking out of the den, her tail flicking as if beckoning him forward. Icepaw shrugged and followed, sitting in the back of the large group of Clan cats.

The MoonClan leader climbed to the top of the Moonrock, and looked down to her Clan. "Everyone gather here for an announcement!" she called, not having to summon her Clan into the clearing. Most cats were there anyways. "I have decided which cats to take to the Gathering with me." She paused, and every cat including Icepaw looked up hopefully. "I choose Sparrowheart, Vinetail, Fireshade, Nightrose, Skypelt, Bluewing, Sagepelt, Rosepetal, Rainwhisker, Sharpfang, Volepaw and Dewpaw."

Icepaw's tail drooped even though he knew it was coming.

"That is all the cats I am willing to take tonight. Eat, rest, and prepare yourself for the Gathering," the leader ordered, and climbed down from her spot and padded into her den.

Dewpaw walked over eagerly. "I can't believe I get to go to the gathering!" he said eagerly.

Icepaw nodded and smiled. "Brightstar was right to choose you," he said. "But hey, if you don't tell me the details of what happens tonight I will claw your throat out, got it?"

Dewpaw's whiskers twitched. "Alright. I gotta get ready, I'll talk to you later," he said, waving his tail before walking in the opposite direction.

Icepaw nodded, laying down in his own nest comfortably. The sun was down already, so why bother stay awake if he wasn't going to go to the Gathering? As he slowly closed his eyes, the last thing he could see was Brightstar's watchful eyes staring right back at his.

He was awake again, but he knew that it was just a dream. He sat from a large rock, similar to the one from the Gathering. He realized in just a moment he was at the Clan's gathering place! His fur bristled and he tensed, growling to himself a little.

What am I doing here? Icepaw snarled in his head. Haven't I experienced enough strange dreams? Haven't I gone through enough trouble? What does StarClan want from me!

His claws unsheathed, not knowing what to expect. Nothing but a slight breeze stirred in the cool moonlight. Leaves drifted through the wind, carrying a fresh scent of every Clan, DarkClan's scent stood out the most. But suddenly, he felt the area darknen.

Icepaw gasped, looking up to the moon to see the clouds covering his only bright source of light. The moon was full and bright, but slowly faded away as StarClan covered the beautiful full circle.

StarClan! thought Icepaw with a start, gasping and tensing. Is . . . this a sign? Are you trying to tell me something? The gray apprentice's amber eyes blazed as all the light disappeared. It felt dark, darker than he has ever seen. Is this a sign, or is StarClan mad at the Clans again?

Icepaw woke up with a start.

"Icepaw!" his brother growled, shoving him. "Get up, won't you?"

The gray apprentice groaned, slowly lifting his head off of his comfortable nest. "What is it now, Dewpaw?" he mumbled. "Weren't you going"—he was cut off by a small yawn—"to the Gathering?"

Dewpaw laughed a little. "You're a heavy sleeper," he meowed, sitting down and washing his paws. "The Gathering passed, you were just asleep."

Icepaw yawned again and nodded, getting up to his paws. "So what happened there, Dewpaw?" he asked, wondering what was going on with DarkClan.

Dewpaw growled to himself. "The moon disappeared again tonight," he explained to his brother. "DarkClan was picking fights with MarshClan and MoonClan as soon as Brightstar pointed out the attacks from last moon. MarshClan was completely on our side. The other Clans were silent."

"Oh," murmured Icepaw. "Anything about the other Clans, besides the silence?" Maybe this is what my dream meant, he thought.

"StreamClan kept yapping about their prey supply," he muttered, "kept sayin' things about how good they were managing, and how many kits they were getting. Pretty annoying if you ask me. Also it's the same old thing with CloudClan. MarshClan seemed completely honest, because they said that they weren't doing too good and Sandstar looked pretty happy about that. Brightstar only carefully told them about Ripplefur and Featherbreeze."

"Nothing about Spottedkit or Ashtail?" asked Icepaw with a surprise.

Dewpaw shook his head. "Of course not," he said. "Spottedkit and Ashtail are our closely guarded secrets. Until Ashtail is fully healed, nobody will know that he's hurt. Spottedkit is among StarClan, yes, but every cat of the other Clans only believe Ripplefur had two kits. Spottedkit will only make DarkClan want to attack us more 'cause they will think we're weak."

Icepaw sat back, thinking for a moment. The Clan cats must think that Ripplefur died in battle as well. Brightstar didn't speak of Spottedkit because then everyone else will think that there was sickness in MoonClan.

He admired Brightstar's tact. To be a leader must mean to protect your Clan in every way possible.

He nodded to Dewpaw. "I understand now, I guess."

"Good," laughed the apprentice. "Explaining things is hard."

Icepaw shrugged. "I don't know."

Dewpaw nodded. "Well, come on Icepaw! I actually came here to get you. You're on the MarshClan hunting patrol with me, Mousetail and Skypelt."