Edited ✔️

Icetail finally felt like he was returning back to normal.

For a few days, he didn't leave on a patrol. He remained within the safety of MoonClan's camp, just as Sparrowheart had been nagging and Sweetheart advised. Lately, he felt more and more rested and confident, especially since he got to know his Clanmates a little more during his time of rest.

He didn't do much for the past few days. He'd listen to the stories of the elders, take Sweetheart's medicine so his shoulder wound could heal quicker, he would hang around with the kits more, help the apprentices with their duties, and get to know the senior warriors and their past lives better.

He was even getting closer to Silverpaw. For the first time ever, he felt warm because of her, and his thoughts and wonders about the prophecy of darkness were going astray. He knew that he'd soon have to get back on track though, but for now, he just wanted to rest.

Currently, he took Nightrose's place to watch her kits, Amberkit, Blackkit, and Goldenkit. Goldpaw was with them, playing a game of Clans that they all seemed to enjoy.

"You can never beat AmberClan, you GoldClan scum!" spat Amberkit, right beside her brother Blackkit.

"Never!" responded Goldpaw. "The golden warriors shall rule this forest!"

Icetail purred as he watched them. Their game of Clans was actually quite amusing, considering the fact that Goldpaw and Goldenkit together made a Clan called GoldClan.

He watched as Blackkit leaped at Goldenkit, but Goldpaw easily defended her 'Clanmate' by knocking him down with her strong forepaw.

"Go get Amberstar, Goldenstar!" Goldpaw meowed, turning to her companion.

"On it!" Goldenkit meowed, rushing after Amberkit. She tackled Amberkit down, imitating Goldpaw's moves. Goldenkit was actually quite good at imitating the older she-cat, and Icetail had a feeling that she would become a great learner as an apprentice.

Amberkit snarled. "That's no fair! You're an apprentice, Goldpaw! You're helping Goldenkit cheat and you'll beat Blackkit!"

"I can take Goldpaw on," Blackkit growled, pushing her off of him. He stood with pride. "Don't underestimate me just because I'm a kit."

"It's Goldheart to you!" Goldpaw snapped. "I'm no silly apprentice. I'm the sole deputy of GoldClan!" She puffed out her chest in pride, and her golden eyes gleamed.

"Take this, you mongrel!" Blackkit shot back, leaping on her.

Icetail laughed. All of the kits, including the apprentice, glanced quickly at him. "You know, you're posture is all wrong, Blackkit," he said. "You look like a duck fishing in water with your rump so high."

"Ha!" Amberkit squeaked.

"No I don't!" retorted Blackkit. He got back in a crouch, but this time, he fixed his posture. "See? I'm awesome at crouching."

"All of you kits got it wrong. Goldpaw, why don't you show them so your battle can be more fair?" he asked her. She nodded, and the kits eagerly gasped.

"Battle-training! Battle-training!" Goldenkit changed. She got into a messy posture already, and looked up at Goldpaw for approval. "Is this good?" she asked her Clanmate. Icetail remembered when Silverpaw was a kit and she'd always ask for training from him. He enjoyed the good memories.

Goldpaw shrugged, studying her Clanmate. "Try and lean more closer to the ground, y'know, so close that your belly fur grazes with it. And keep your tail down, too." She gave an example of an almost-perfect hunting crouch. Amberkit copied Goldpaw and got it exactly. "That's perfect, Amberkit!"

"Yay!" Amberkit squeaked, leaping onto Icetail. "Did you see? I did it!"

"Ow!" Icetail grunted in pain, even though he exaggerated a bit. "Don't kill me!"

Amberkit laughed. "You're no match for me!"

"I suppose you're right," Icetail meowed. "But when my shoulder wounds completely heal, then you'll be pinned to the ground in an instant."

"That's cause you're a warrior!" retorted Blackkit, pouncing on Icetail's back.

Icetail grunted in pain again. "You two are heavy," he groaned.

"We're like the sizes of apprentices already!" Goldenkit said eagerly. "Soon enough Brightstar will name us apprentices! Who knows if you'll be my mentor?"

Silverpaw padded up, letting out mrrows of laughter. "You kits look like you are all wearing out Icetail," she pointed out, amused. "Looks like he'll have to be sent to the elder's den early."

"No way!" Icetail said, playfully leaping at her.

"See! I knew you were faking it!" Goldenkit grumbled.

Icetail purred at Goldenkit. "It was nice playing with you, but I suppose I have to go," said Icetail. "Right, Silverpaw?" He looked at Silverpaw, wondering if she actually needed something. Not much has been going on for the past few days.

"Right," Silverpaw said with a laugh. "I have to talk to Icetail without any kits listening in."

"Icetail and Silverpaw are in love!" teased Goldpaw, bouncing around them. Even though she was about the age of Silverpaw, Goldpaw had always been an excited she-cat and had the personality of a kit. "Icetail and Silverpaw! Icetail and Silverpaw!"

"Oh, shut up," said Icetail.

"Seriously," complained Silverpaw.

Goldpaw sighed. "You two are no fun . . . Alright, I'll keep the kits occupied, Icetail. You can run along!" she purred, looking at Silverpaw once more.

I bet she's still thinking that I'm in love with Silverpaw, thought Icetail. That's not true! She's just my friend! He padded after her, lost in thought. He looked at the silver-furred apprentice and his heart skipped a beat. Right? "What did you want to talk about?"

"Sweetheart wants to check on your wound," she replied, "so she sent me to get you."

He nodded. The pain was still there, but it was faint and Icetail barely could notice it anymore. He felt that the gash was becoming a mere scar now to merge in with the rest of his battle scars. He thought about Dewfur. I wonder where my brother is now, he thought.

He followed Silverpaw to the medicine den, his gaze on the camp entrance. He felt that his brother would walk in, not as an enemy, but merely back from a patrol as if his treachery had all been a dream of Icetail's. He sighed with sadness, knowing that it was but a mere fantasy for that to happen.

I shouldn't think about Dewfang, Icetail decided. Thinking of him will not help my recovery. No, it will make the scar in my heart burn worse. He looked over his shoulder to see that Goldpaw and the kits were still playing. I don't think I need to bother them for a while.

"Wait here," whispered Silverpaw. "I'm going to see if Sweetheart is available."

Icetail nodded and sat down, wrapping his tail around his paws. A moment later, Silverpaw returned and gestured him inside. At the same moment, Sagepelt limped out of the den.

"Thanks, Sweetheart! I feel much better," meowed the she-cat over her shoulder. Judging by the smell blood on her paw, Icetail guessed that she must've stepped on a thorn.

"Your welcome, Sagepelt. Oh, Icetail! Good, you're here," said Sweetheart when she noticed him. "Let me see your shoulder."

Icetail nodded and sat down, while Silverpaw reached up and unwrapped the cobwebs around the gash with her teeth. Sweetheart put a paw on it, and Icetail winced, pain coming its way. The gash was nothing but a mere cut now, but it was still painful when cats touched it.

"I don't think it's infected, and you really don't need more treatments," Sweetheart said. She shook her head. "Wait, no. I'm being an idiot . . . you might be in pain. Does it hurt?"

"Only when it's poked," Icetail explained.

Sweetheart frowned. "I suppose I used the wrong herbs on your shoulder."

Icetail felt bad. I should've told her how much the pain improved! he thought. He didn't mean to make her feel bad. He was about to open his mouth to tell her, but she cut him off by a deep sigh.

"I'm sorry. I'm not helping at all," Sweetheart murmured. "I'm trying to be a good medicine cat, but I'm close to nothing without Vinetail." She looked down to her paws sadly.

Sweetheart's hurting too, realized Icetail. But her pain is her grief, just like mine and the rest of MoonClan's.

"Vinetail wouldn't want you saying that!" gasped Silverpaw. "You're an amazing medicine cat in his place." She put her tail over Sweetheart's shoulder. "You're the only cat in MoonClan that knows the way of the medicine. If you give up, then there'd be no cat to take care of us. We trust you, so you have to trust yourself too, Sweetheart!"

Icetail nodded in agreement. "And I was about to tell you how much better I'm doing, all thanks to you."

Sweetheart gave a sad smile. "I suppose you're right. I shouldn't complain. Silverpaw, I need your help. Clean his wound with wet moss."

Silverpaw nodded and padded outside the den, grabbing a piece of moss before she left the camp to go to the nearby river. Icetail sighed, thinking. On the first day of my apprenticeship, I went to that river with Dewpaw and our mentors . . . those days were so well. I don't know what happened!

"Good, she's gone," said Sweetheart. Then, her gaze looked down to Icetail and her eyes narrowed. "Icetail, I wanted to talk to you about something. The other night, I had a dream. I saw no StarClan cats . . . but I did see you." She kept her hard gaze on him, and Icetail tensed.

I never tell any cat about my dreams, he thought nervously. What if she is having the same dreams that I've had? "What was I doing in your dream, Sweetheart?" he asked cautiously.

Her voice lowered. "I was in a big clearing, and there were many cats there as well. You were at the base of a large rock, looking up at Dewfang in shame as the clearing of cats chanted 'Dewstar.' "

Icetail tensed. He had that dream before! That was the dream that came to him before Dewfang had left MoonClan. Fear swept over him. He heard someone pad into the medicine den, and Flameheart's scent overcame the space.

"I am sorry that I was eavesdropping," he said, dipping his head, "but Icetail's name wasn't the one that was being chanted as a leader's name?"

"I heard the name Dewstar, loud and clear," responded Sweetheart.

Icetail's gaze kept to his paws. Flameheart must think I am the cat who is going to destroy! he thought with dread. So must Sweetheart! He wondered what he was going to do for a moment, until Silverpaw padded back inside the den, carrying the wet moss.

"Hi Flameheart," she said, as she passed over to Icetail. Flameheart dipped his head to her in greeting, and then left the medicine den, knowing that this matter can't be discussed in front of her. She put the wet moss over his wound, and the cold water cleaned the area soothingly.

"Good job," Sweetheart told Silverpaw. "Now all you need to do is put a cobweb onto it, and he will be ready."

"Alright," said Silverpaw, doing as told. Icetail felt better already when the process was done. He smiled gratefully towards the silver apprentice, despite feeling worry in his chest about the dream.

Sweetheart passed Icetail a poppy seed, ordering, "If you want a restful night, you should eat that." She leaned in closer and whispered, "Tonight, I'm going to the Cave of Stars to share my dreams with StarClan. I hope . . . that I find my answers there." And with that, she padded outside the medicine den.

Silverpaw looked curious. "What was she whispering about?"

Icetail shrugged. "She told me . . . to make sure that you take over the medicine den while she is gone tonight. She must of noticed how much you volunteered to help me and she probably trusts you."

Silverpaw laughed. "I helped you that much?"

"You wouldn't leave my side all this time," he remarked, laughing as well. She doesn't suspect my lie, he thought.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey, join beneath the Moonrock for a Clan meeting!" yowled the leader of MoonClan. Icetail looked outside the den at Brightstar, wondering what was going on.

He shrugged and padded outside the den with Silverpaw. When every cat had gathered, Brightstar began her announcement.

"Yesterday, Silverpaw and Squirrelpaw had their warrior assessment," she said. Silverpaw tensed and looked up eagerly. Icetail never had one of those because he became a warrior for saving his Clan. He suddenly wondered what happened at these assessments. "I've asked Grayfur and Bluewing of their progress, and they confirmed that the apprentices had passed. Correct?"

"That's right," said Bluewing. "Squirrelpaw's results were excellent."

Grayfur nodded in agreement. "Silverpaw is ready to become a warrior!"

Silverpaw gasped eagerly right besides Icetail. He smiled, proud of her and her brother. I'm glad I got to watch them grow up, he thought.

"So these two apprentices are ready to become warriors! I, leader of MoonClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn." She paused and looked in Icetail's direction, where the small apprentice trembled with excitement. "Silverpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your own life?"

"I do!" she said loudly.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Silverpaw, from this moment on, you will be known as Silverleaf. StarClan honors your spirit, warmth and thoughtfulness, and we welcome you as a full warrior of MoonClan."

"Silverleaf! Silverleaf!" every cat of MoonClan cheered.

Brightstar padded from her den, and rest her muzzle on top of Silverleaf's head. She licked her leader's shoulder in respect, and the two broke apart. Brightstar padded back the Moonrock, now getting on with Squirrelpaw's ceremony. He was named Squirreltail for his strength, bravery and courage.

Brightstar continued, "Tonight will be their warrior vigils. They will stay up all night in the silence of the Clan as said in the warrior code. That will be all for this matter. Congratulations, Silverleaf and Squirreltail!"

Squirreltail bounded over swiftly to where Silverleaf and Icetail were. "We're warriors!" he said excitedly. "I can't believe it!"

"Believe it!" Silverleaf responded, smiling brightly.

"You two should not talk too much," advised Icetail. "I'm going to sleep since the sun is setting. Remember to watch over the medicine den, Silverleaf. And keep your eyes on the camp entrance, Squirreltail. Don't fall asleep."

"Night!" said Squirreltail, before turning to talk to his sister once more.

* * *

That night, Icetail was restless in a way. He was uncomfortable in his nest, and his fur was on edge the whole night. When the next morning came, the sun was covered heavily by dark gray clouds, and the day was dim. His gaze remained on the sky, and he knew very well that the dark clouds were not going to rain judging by the smell—it lacked rainwater.

That's weird, he thought. Why are the clouds there but no rain? These kind of clouds should only come when there'd be a heavy downpour.

He looked closer, and realized something; No, this is not natural. This is an omen! His heart beat hard and unsteadily fast in his chest. StarClan's telling me something. They're giving me a warning.

The darkness is close . . .