The early morning call above startled Icepaw and I awake. Blinking open my eyes, I had to squint as the morning sunshine filtered through the entrance to the hollow tree. I looked around and caught Icepaw's gaze as she lifted her small head from her makeshift nest. Cool air was starting to change to the familiar warm air. Standing up, I glanced up into the dark tree. I noticed the whole trunk was hollowed out. I narrowed my eyes and took a step closer to the back wall. Are those scratches? Running a paw over the trunk, I could feel the several slices in the wood as my pads touched them. I looked to Icepaw, but before I could say anything, Poisons call came from above. 

"Deaths of last night," Poison's voice was emotionless as usual. "Cloudtail." I waited for him to continue, but he stopped there. Anger shimmered through my thick pelt. There should've been more deaths, that way I wouldn't have to kill so many cats to get out of this awful place! My tail flicked to and fro, but the anger didn't stay long. I began wondering if Lostface was sad that her former mate had been killed. With a sigh, I guessed she didn't... she was as heartless as a fox. 

An awkward silence remained and I wasn't sure what to say to break it. Icepaw's voice almost startled me as she muttered, "I'd hoped Hawkpaw was dead by now. You'd think they had a fight between all of them by now," She sat beside me, her fur brushing mine. I nodded, "Oh well." I murmured, climbing out of the hole in the tree and standing on the nearest thawing branch. 

"We need to hunt. First, we should make a marker on this tree only we'd recognize. Just in case we need to flee up here." I suggested as the young apprentice followed me. Icepaw nodded, eyes narrowed in thought. Would a scratch in the tree be enough? Or should I peel the bark off? Maybe I should leave something at the base of the tree?

"What are you thinking?" Icepaw's mew drove me from my thoughts. I glanced over and then looked to the ground. It took me a few heartbeats to reply. "Maybe we should peel the bark off the tree and leave a few scratches in the trunk," Icepaw nodded, standing and she began to climb down. 

Before I could start to climb down, she paused. "How will we get up if it's so far from branches?" She called. Once she was close enough to the ground, I began to make my way down. My heart lurched as my hind leg slipped off of the slippery trunk. Catching myself, I swallowed a whine as my front claws ached from my weight.

"I'll do it to this tree and the one that we used to climb up and make our way over then." I groaned as I hopped off of the tree trunk when I was close enough to the ground. The grass was just starting to thaw, cold droplets soaking the fur on my legs. I shook out my paws and then the tip of my tail as it had trailed along with me into the ground.

Hurrying away, I glanced over my shoulder at the young she-cat. "Come along, we need to get started quickly so we can hunt." I called to her even though she was already on my heels. 

"I don't think any prey would be out yet, it's too cold even for me!" Icepaw commented and I snickered, padding to the tree we had used to climb to the one we slept in. Together we peeled a chunk of the bark off and tore a few deep scratches into the trunk. Sticky sap stuck to my paw and I fiercely rubbed my paw on the wet ground in an attempt to get rid of it. "Ugh! This will take moons to get off..." I growled and, ignoring the sticks and dirt that was clumping up on my paws, began to pad to the next tree. 

Standing back, I noticed it wasn't as visible as I had hoped. "Icepaw, continue on these trees. I'm going to grab something to make this one more noticeable. And don't make the tree we sleep in noticeable, if Hawkpaw finds it he'd probably come and kill us in our sleep." Icepaw looked over her shoulder to hear me better and nodded when I had finished. She got back down to all fours and headed to the next tree over. "Be right back," She mumbled an okay as I trotted away.

I searched the ground for something that would stick out in a dim forest. Something that would catch our eyes if we were running, maybe even in the dark.

As I scanned through the trees, my eyes suddenly spotted a birch tree. Perfect! I ran over to it and started to strip what was left of the trees bark. It seemed that the wind had done a pretty good job of it, too.

I carried a mouth full of the white and black bark back to the trees to see that Icepaw was no where to be seen. I slowly and wearily stalked to the base of our tree, looking around with uncertain eyes. I dropped the bark slowly beside a root. Slowly, I lifted each paw and placed them carefully to make no noise. Breath quickening, I passed the tree I stripped but there was still no Icepaw. Then I neared the second one that Icepaw must've stripped, but Icepaw was still no where to be seen. I came to the tree we had bared together. 

Where in StarClan's name is she? I wondered, my heart starting to hammer in my chest. 

I fought the urge to call her name, scared that I would attract an enemy. Am I really that cowardly? Isn't it a good thing to call to her, so if she is being attacked I would distract her attacker?

Despite my fears, I called out to her. "Icepaw! Icepaw where are you?" I kept my voice as low as I could so it didn't echo through the mysterious trees. I didn't need anything after me, after all. 

I saw a flash of white and I hurried over. All of a sudden, she leaped over me and began to chase something along the ground. My heart fluttered with relief and I sighed, sitting down. She was only hunting. 

Icepaw padded over happily with a young rabbit in her jaws. "Awesome job, Icepaw!" I commented in awe. My eyes turned cold and I stomped my paw down to the ground. "I was scared to death, I though you were getting attacked! Why didn't you tell me before I left that you were going to hunt?" I growled and she flinched at my tone. I felt guilt creep up on me at my outburst.

"Sorry, Feathertail," She mumbled with the fur in her mouth, shuffling her paws. She dropped the brown, furry rabbit. "I spotted it soon after you left and I thought you'd take longer so I didn't think you'd need to look for me..." 

I sighed, softening my eyes and dipped my head to her. Touching noses, I responded quietly, "I was just worried. Take that up to the tree and I'll finish down here." Icepaw nodded and grabbed the rabbit, quickly scampering away to our tree. 

Trotting to the roots I had left the white bark on, I snagged it and slapped it onto the sticky sap on the tree. With a growling stomach, I scurried up the tree and carelessly made my way across the branches. By the time I got to the den, the sun was up and blazing on my back. I think I'll lay under the suns rays today, that is, if I can even find a place on the branch where the sun showers down. 

I licked my lips as I entered the hollow tree. "I waited for you to eat. You have no idea how hard that was!" Icepaw purred and I purred in return, even as I ate the first bite of the still warm prey.

"Good catch," I muttered through a mouth full of prey. Icepaw mumbled a thanks and kept eating. We were too hungry to even talk after that, eating every last morsel of prey that was on the young rabbit's bones. I devoured the last bite of my side of the rabbit and licked my lips. I began cleaning my fur to get rid of any knots or fleas. 

"I'll get some moss to renew our nests and maybe a bird to have for later, we can use the feathers for the nest." I suggested. Icepaw nodded, cleaning her fur thoroughly as well. We cleaned our pelts so well, it was as if we were going to sit vigil for the ones we lost to BloodClan's Hunger Games.

I held back a purr as I realized how stupid that sounded. Vigil? For the ones who died? We hadn't done that in seasons! Which is sad to admit, actually.

I stood up after Icepaw had finished grooming herself, ready to leave. "I will go out to get moss and attempt to find a bird! Could you clean up the tree a bit? There's still cobwebs everywhere. Maybe collect them and leave them for an emergency?" I asked over my shoulder and Icepaw nodded. I dipped my head in thanks and stepped out into the warm air.

Quickly, I climbed my way down the tree trunk and threw myself off the tree. Landing with a thud, I tried not let out a groan as the soggy leaf litter soaked into my pads. I sniffed around to find some soft moss. Paw step after paw step, I dragged myself away from the sight of the tree Icepaw awaited in. I started to become paranoid about bumping into an enemy and I had to keep my ears sharp and eyes wide open. 

Stay calm, no one would be over here right now. Hawkpaw can't kill me anyway! He's... um... he should be a warrior but hey! He's still an apprentice, right?

I kept stalking, looking around the forest for any fluffy green moss. I scanned the trees, rocks and and flat grounds but there was none. How in StarClan's name can there be none? I began to look behind the rocks, my heart thumping so loud I was scared someone was going to hear it.

"Scared, Feathertail?" 

A raspy voice came from behind me and I practically jumped out of my fur. I whipped around, instincts telling me to flee. I unsheathed my claws and stood my ground. I looked around but there was no one. Lowering myself down, I prepared for a fight. I didn't dare turn back to the boulder I stood in front of. Looking around with wide eyes, I backed into the boulder. My breathing came in short gasps and I fought the urge to run away to the tree. The nests were damp and old, I had to get moss!

After several paralyzing heartbeats passed, I whipped back around and sniffed around the boulder. Within heartbeats, I discovered the thick, fluffy moss. "Finally," I breathed. Relief washed over me as I peeled it off. Rolling it into a ball, I carried it away. I started to head back to the tree and halted as I found more. I ripped it off as quick as I could, suddenly feeling anxious... It felt like several pairs of eyes were burning through my skin and seeming to go to my soul.

I trotted off, trying not to seem like I was trying to get away quick, but failing miserably. "Where are you off to, Feathertail? Has something scared you?" A vicious whisper came from right beside my ear, as if there was someone beside me. 

I gasped and whirled around, looking at every tree and every aspect of the forest. I fought the urge to let out a whimper so I bit onto the moss harder and ran towards the tree. There was no one. Am I going insane? 

"If you run they'll catch you anyway..." 

"You're going to suffer..." 

"Come on, quit running away from your problems!" 

"You're going to die like the rest of your kin!" 

"You were supposed to die but Loudbelly took your place! How pathetic..." 

The fur along my spine bristled up as anxiety pricked my heart. I took off running, climbing up the tree as fast as my legs would let me. 

"Where are you going? To hide?" 

"You can run, but you can't hide, Feathertail..." 

"We know where you sleep!" The whispers seemed to speak directly into my ear. 

Stop! Just shut up! I wanted to scream at the voices, but the voices kept speaking. How am I supposed to block them out! They won't stop! Stop talking! Leave me alone!

I took a deep breath, put a smile on my face and climbed into the den. I dropped the moss and looked up at Icepaw. Her eyes were filled with relief, but behind that was worry. "I thought you'd never come back, I started to get worried..." Icepaw mewed, making a small nest out of the moss. 

"How did you manage to only get that much?" 

"Wow, you really are pathetic!" 

"What a shame. Icepaw doesn't stand a chance with a cat like you..." 

"There was almost none out there, I will go back out later." I told her. Icepaw looked me in the eye and narrowed her eyes. She tried to ask something but I waved my tail in the air, silencing her before she could speak, "I'll be back, promise."