Edited ✔️

Guess what :3 so, when I started this book, it was FEBRUARY. Now I'm already at chapter twenty eight when I thought that it would take much much longer to get here. Thanks to all of you who read along as I update!!! ^_^
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Icetail easily followed Flameheart's scent towards CloudClan.

From a distance, he spotted his friend crouched low to the ground, stalking a rabbit by where the border marker was supposed to be. The rabbit hopped a few paces towards Flameheart, and the ginger tom leaped, unnoticed, giving it a killing blow to the neck.

"Got it!" exclaimed Flameheart eagerly.

Icetail padded out from the undergrowth. "A fine catch," he praised. "And a rabbit too! The Clan will be pleased."

Flameheart purred. "Thanks. What are you doing all the way out here? I thought Sparrowheart told you to rest."

"I came to talk to you."

Flameheart took the rabbit in between his jaws, and mumbled, "Right. Let's talk at camp. The hunting patrol is almost finished."

"No, we can't go back right now. I have to talk to you about the prophecy," meowed Icetail. And at that, Flameheart froze and looked up.

"The prophecy?" he asked with surprise.

"That's right . . ." Icetail said with a sigh. "Back at camp I heard an old elder's tail  The story took place a long time ago, about the destruction of the Clans. That's when DarkClan came into making."

"Came in to making?" Flameheart asked again.

"Yes, that's what's so important! Stripeeyes said that this was a true story. The point is, DarkClan is not a real Clan. And the prophecy says it too, the darkness was never meant to be!"

Flameheart nodded. "I understand your point . . ."

"I think it's warning us about war, Flameheart."

"We are already at war," meowed Flameheart. "It's MoonClan's war."

"Exactly," said Icetail. "And soon enough, the other Clans might get called in this war, too. Or at least that's what I think. And the two cats in the prophecy, the one who will lead and the one who will destroy, might play a big role on whether or not we'll win."

"If that's the case, then finding out should be our priority."

"You're right," Icetail replied. "So that's why I need to talk to StarClan. I need to find that underground pool again!"

* * *

Icetail and Flameheart walked side-by-side back in the direction of the camp. Suddenly, a rustle in the bushes was heard, and Icetail froze. Flameheart's gaze shot at Icetail, curious, though he didn't say a word.

In the distance, Icetail spotted Vinetail padding through the forest, herbs in his mouth. Icetail breathed a sigh of relief. It's only the medicine cat . . . he thought. But then, another cat leaped out of the undergrowth. His pelt was muddied and his eyes blazed.

The cat leaped onto Vinetail's back, pinning him down. Vinetail gasped and tried to push the cat off, but already, his teeth sunk into Vinetail's neck.

"Vinetail!" Icetail shrieked, dashing over. The attacker looked up and saw the Clan cats, then dashed. Icetail leaped over a few twigs, and reached the medicine cat. Flameheart followed him. "Flameheart, take Vinetail back to camp!" he ordered before chasing after the attacker.

Flameheart obeyed, knowing that this was no time to argue, and helped the medicine cat on his paws. Icetail pelted through the bushes.

This is the same as before! he thought with a rush of adrenaline. This is the cat who attacked Grayfur! Unforgivable, attacking defenseless cats like this!

"Come back here and fight me like a warrior!" Icetail yowled through the forest.

The cat didn't stop running. He only sped up his pace, disappearing into the undergrowth. Icetail sped up too, determined to catch this despicable cat. A line of bushes blocked his path up ahead and he pushed off his hind legs, leaping into the air and over it with the grace of a MoonClan warrior. He was expecting to see the attacker just beyond the bush, but was surprised when he saw nothing but a large rock. Icetail couldn't react in time to the obstacle and immediately, his head collided with the rock, causing his body to crash right into a pool of mud.

The last thing he saw was Silverpaw and Grayfur before he fell unconscious.

* * *

Icetail's eyes shot open as he gasped for air, leaping straight to his paws. Silverpaw stared at him with surprise, eyes wide. She must have been cleaning the mud from his pelt.

"Wh-what happened?" he managed, trying to recall the events prior to falling asleep. His head ached and he felt a rush of energy pooling up his spine. That's right, someone attached Vinetail!

The apprentice looked grim. "You were chasing the cat who murdered Vinetail, and you hit your head—"

"The cat who murdered Vinetail?!" Icetail cut her off. "You mean he's dead?" He was about to yell, but Silverpaw stopped him by digging her face in his pelt. Surprised, Icetail looked down to her starry silver pelt.

"He-he's dead . . ." she repeated. "And the attacker got away with it."

Icetail calmed down, but grief overcame his heart. Sparrowheart padded inside the den, followed by the shy apprentice, Droppaw, and Flameheart. "What did I tell you about leaving camp?" demanded Sparrowheart. "For days and days, you work hard non-stop, and now you almost got yourself killed!"

"I wasn't about to get myself killed. I was about to catch the cat who hurt my Clanmate! And I would have got him, too!" he snapped, turning to face his father with a look of defiance in his eyes.

"If it weren't for Icetail, we wouldn't of been able to even see what got Vinetail," Flameheart said in Icetail's defense.

Brightstar also padded into the den. Her eyes were dull and clouded with grief, and her fur was messy as if it were unkept for days. "Icetail . . . did you see what this cat looked like?" she asked.

Icetail thought long and hard. "I thought I saw blue eyes. Mud covered his pelt, so I didn't catch his scent or see what his pelt looked like. But I'm sure if I saw him again, I'd recognize him." He abruptly stood up. "Let me out on a patrol, Brightstar. Please. I need to find this cat."

"No, you're exhausted," Sparrowheart objected. "I should have Sweetpaw check on you."

"Don't let Sweetpaw check on me. She's probably in shock," Icetail snapped. He thought of the medicine cat's apprentice and how close to finishing her training she was. She especially had a close bond with her mentor, having spent every day of her apprenticeship with him. His heart began to ache for the poor she-cat. After all, he knew what it felt like to lose your mentor.

Droppaw stepped up. "I can bring you extra moss and a piece of prey, Icetail," she offered. "Your father is right. You should rest up your energy."

"I don't want to rest," murmured Icetail, saddened by his thoughts. "Let me see Vinetail."

They moved out of the way, revealing the congested entrance to the medicine den. He padded outside to see that the sky was dark. The moon was up. How long had he been unconscious? He saw Vinetail's body under the moonlight. He looked as handsome as Featherbreeze was on the day of her vigil. Icetail collapsed by the medicine cat's body and pressed his nose to Vinetail's cold fur.

"I'm sorry," whispered Icetail. "This is my fault. If only I had been quicker."

A new presence came up from behind Icetail. "It isn't your fault," a soft voice said. He turned to see Sweetpaw. "You did everything you could, Icetail. Don't beat yourself up over this. You have too many things on your mind already."

"How do you . . ."

"Vinetail told me everything," she whispered, staring down at her dead mentor. Icetail understood. She must've known about the prophecy, then. "He was going to name me a full medicine cat this quarter moon. Now I don't know how I will be a medicine cat anymore without having a proper naming ceremony. I'm useless without Vinetail." Her voice cracked at her last words.

"You shouldn't beat yourself up over this either," meowed Icetail quietly. "Perhaps the other medicine cats will name you."

She nodded. "That's what's supposed to happen. But I wanted Vinetail to do it."

Icetail sighed. Life is tough. We all learn it the hard way, he would of said, but he didn't. This was no time to be saying sad and insensitive things like that. He payed his last respect to the medicine cat and said goodnight to Sweetpaw before clambered to the warrior's den, head thumping madly.

Icetail didn't want to talk to anybody anymore.

He crawled into his nest and got comfortable, keeping his gaze on Vinetail's limp body. Cats silently grieved around him, heads bent down and eyes closed tightly. The loss of a medicine cat was probably the hardest loss of all.

As Icetail slowly drifted to sleep, he saw Dewfang pad into the camp with his patrol. All cats with him immediately rushed over to the dead body, questions being raised and words of grief and comfort being shared. Dewfang stared from afar, his gaze watching the medicine cat's body coldly.

And at that, Icetail fell into sleep.

For the second time this quarter moon, he dreamt. He found himself in a clearing of a Clan. Upon the leader's den was his brother, proudly basking in the sunlight as the Clan chanted his name.

"Dewstar! Dewstar! Dewstar!"

Realization hit Icetail hard in the head. This is also part of the prophecy. His dream . . . it was telling him his long awaited answer. Icetail was not the cat who would lead. He was the cat who would destroy. And Dewfang was the second cat of the prophecy. The true leader.