IceClan was blessed with little issues as they started to form the basis of their camp. The clearing they had stumbled upon was truly perfect, down to every last detail.

The bushes that lined the edges were so thick, the only way in or out was the small entrance tunnel they had come through. Elkstar had given Lionpaw the duty of finding sticks to lodge beneath the branches to make the hole larger.

Sootsplash and Falcon were tasked to bring any vines they could find back to camp, to weave between the branches of the dens. It had been slow work at first, but the camp finally took form.

Pineheart sat alone, next to one of the leafy branches that jutted from the warrior's den. He had only slept there for a few nights, but it already felt like home. Inside, there was enough room for at least two dozen fluffy, moss nests.

He was quiet, deep in thought, as the clearing started to stir to life at the start of a new day. Elkstar appeared from the depths of a deep hole near the far side of the camp. He had made his den in the abandoned hollow, which allowed Brokensong to claim the hidden cave among the roots of the tree that towered on the opposite side of the space.

Here, she could treat her patients in privacy. The spring that dripped nearby would suffice as a water source to give any cat too injured to walk to the pool in the center of the clearing.

As if I'm cue, Brokensong's slender face appeared from between the tangled roots. Pineheart could hear Blue's voice as he called out behind her, and the medicine cat turned and disappeared back into her den.

He knew the she-cat had still not received signs from the ancestors on what herbs she needed. But that didn't stop her optimism. She had ventured into the jungle only just yesterday, with Falcon and Stone to guard her. Surprisingly, she returned with the familiar leaves of coltsfoot and catmint.

Meanwhile, Elkstar had been busy as he organized the daily hunting patrols. No concrete boundaries had yet been set, so there was no need for border patrols for now.

The freshkill pile, which was placed only a few foxlengths away from the camp's center, overflowed with the warm bodies of prey. It almost felt suspicious, with how well things were going.

But Pineheart wouldn't take it for granted. He took a deep breath to prepare himself for his daily jobs. Elkstar headed straight towards him, his eyes bright and his ears perked and alert.

"Good morning," he beamed, his throat throbbed with the force of a deep purr.

"Good morning," Pineheart replied. Beside him, he could hear some of the others as they stirred in their nests.

"I'd like you to lead a hunting patrol," Elkstar instructed, "after Stone and Olive get up, you can take them too."

Pineheart nodded, "sure thing."

But before Elkstar padded away, he leaned in close to whisper in Pineheart's ear. "Just make sure you're back by sunhigh," he murmured.

His whiskers twitched with curiosity but he did kept his mouth shut as Elkstar stood and trotted away towards the medicine den.

Eventually, Pineheart could hear a single cat push through the branches of the warrior's den. It was Frostfeather.

"When did you start waking up before me?" she teased as she flicked her tail over Pineheart's snout. He snorted as he lifted his paw to bat at her tailtip.

"Maybe you've just gotten lazy," he replied cheekily.

Frostfeather let out a mrrow of laughter, her whiskers twitched playfully. "Yeah and hedgehogs fly.." she grunted.

As they talked, Olive and Stone finally emerged alongside the others. Pineheart stepped aside to intercept them.

"Elkstar wants us on a hunting patrol," he explained.

Stone gave an eager bounce, despite the sleep that still hung in her eyes. Sootsplash gave a slight nod in response. All the other cats made their way to the fresh kill pile, which quickly depleted the mound to only a few shriveled remains.

"Alright, let's go!" Pineheart called as he made his way to the camp entrance and pushed his way out into the jungle.

~~~~~

Sunhigh came quicker than expected. Pineheart had urged his campmates along, Elkstar's whispered message still rang in his ears. His jaw ached with the weight of his prey, which mostly consisted of birds with feathers as bright as the evening sky.

Stone had actually found a tiny den of mice, which she carried proudly at the rear of the patrol. Olive had encountered some small lizards, but they were too fast for her clumsy paws.

Pineheart forced his way back into camp, the bush's branches scraped angrily over his fur. As he emerged into the open, he was startled to see that everyone had gathered beside the pool at the center of camp. Beside the water's edge, Elkstar sat with his head held high.

The hunting patrol quickly ran forward to deposit their prey before they joined their campmates at the outside of the crowd. Elkstar must have noticed their arrival, for he began to speak.

"My friends, this is my first time calling a Clan meeting as leader," he remarked, "but I feel I have a very special task to complete today."

The gathered cats exchanged confused glances, but kept quiet as Elkstar continued. "I have no doubt that the worst is behind us! We have finally found our home, where StarClan promised we would be safe from harm!"

His gaze traveled proudly over his Clanmates, his eyes shined with immeasurable happiness. "So, on this day, I will name my deputy!"

Anxious murmurs swept over the cats as they tried to guess who it would be. Elkstar's expression gave nothing away as he started to recite the traditional words of all Clan cats.

"I say these words before all of StarClan, so they may hear and approve my choice," he meowed, "Pineheart will be the new deputy of IceClan!"

Pineheart felt his heart clench with surprise. His Clanmates all turned to him with purrs of congratulation. Near the front of the group, Frostfeather's voice rose with affection for her brother. "Pineheart! Pineheart!"

The rest of the Clan joined her chant. "Pineheart! Pineheart! Pineheart!"

He could feel his heart as it slammed in his chest. His breath came in fast, shallow gasps, but honor as fierce as fire seared his heart. "I won't let you down," he vowed as he dipped his head to Elkstar.

After the outburst died down, Elkstar once more swept his attention over the crowd. "I also wanted to preform one more ceremony," he shouted, "provided the Dockcats approve."

Falcon looked uncertain, but Stone and Lily leaped up with enthusiasm. "Anything, Elkstar," Stone purred.

"As IceClan cats, I feel it would be best if you took on Clan names," he explained, "names that reflect your skills and qualities of a warrior."

Drizzle squealed with delight, which almost made her cough with the force of her outburst. Pineheart was pleased to see Falcon as he nodded in agreement.

"Carry on," Falcon acknowledged.

Elkstar inhaled, ready to recite the words that had been burned into his memory. "The life of a Clan is not complete without the making of new warriors," he began, "it is with my humblest of duties, that I give our friends true Clan names."

First, he turned to Falcon. The muscular tom stood as rigid as stone as Elkleap continued, "Falcon, do you promise to uphold your duty as a warrior, and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

The question appeared to place a weight over Falcon's shoulders. But as he lifted his head, he stood tall as he replied, "I do."

"Then, with the power of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. From this moment on, you will be known as Falconcry!" Elkstar yowled towards the sky.

The camp erupted into similar shouts of appreciation. "Falconcry! Falconcry! Falconcry!"

Elkstar repeated the ceremony four more times. Stone took the name of Stoneflower, Lily the name of Lilystep, Olive was renamed Olivenose, Smog had changed to Smogcloud, and Drizzle was given the apprentice name of Drizzlepaw. Pineheart would become her mentor, after she was healed enough to be taken out of camp.

Brokensong pulled Blue close with her tail as Elkstar turned to address the small gray tom. "Blue, it is by my understanding that you do not wish to be a warrior like the others," he meowed.

Blue shook his head as he turned to look up into Brokensong's face. "No, I want to be a medicine cat!" he chirped.

Elkstar laughed, his shoulders bobbed with the force of his breath. "Then, it is settled. Blue will be known as Bluepaw. Brokensong will be his mentor."

Brokensong purred as she bent down to brush her nose along the top of Bluepaw's head. "You already have what it takes to be an excellent medicine cat," she murmured.

As the excitement died down, Elkstar held up his tail to gather his Clan's attention one more time. "I haven't forgotten about you," he insisted as he turned to look at Lionpaw.

She had sat patiently next to Sootsplash the entire time. But as Elkstar beckoned her closer, her whiskers twitched with anticipation.

"Lionpaw, you have been an apprentice far longer than normal," he meowed, "you faced the horrendous difficulties back in our old home, and made this journey that was thought impossible."

Lionpaw's ears flattened in embarrassment as Elkstar praised her. "I know, with Shimmerpaw and Meadowshine to look over you, StarClan has nothing but great things in store. It is with my deepest respect, that I give you your warrior name."

Again, Elkstar took a steady breath as he spoke the words that came so naturally to his mind. "Lionpaw, do you promise to uphold your duty as a warrior, and to protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

The whole world seemed to go silent as it waited for her response. "I do!"

"Then by this moment forward, your name shall be Lionleap!" He shouted, his gaze bright as he looked down at the slender golden she-cat. Her fur immediately fluffed in joy as the Clan called out her new name.

"Lionleap! Lionleap! Lionleap!"

As the ceremony came to a close, Elkstar grabbed prey from the freshkill pile to toss to his warriors. "Tonight, we will have a feast! IceClan will never be defeated!"

Pineheart caught a thick feathered bird that Elkstar tossed towards him. Frostfeather leaned closer, "we can share if you'd like," she whispered.

Pineheart pushed the bird closer to her paws. As the Clan tucked into their prey, it almost sounded like the jungle called out in joy for their new inhabitants.

IceClan! IceClan! IceClan!