a/n @Mistyheart101 is AMAZING. This fan-art was originally supposed to be for Icetail's Enemy, but since I'm a turd and forgot to post it there, I'll be posting it here! You guys have should go check out her drawings! Btw, thanks for being patient for the next update.

Icestar paced around, a bit frustrated. He'd been like this for a little while now. It felt absolutely impossible to lift the tree from Skypelt's leg. He, Bloodpaw and Amberpaw could not do it alone, so he ordered his apprentice to fetch help at camp. They should be arriving any moment now; Skypelt looked as if he was at his limit, and there was no doubt that the bones crushed under the tree of his hindpaw were broken.

This'll give Sweetheart a lot of work, he thought with a sigh, recalling the memories of what happens when a cat breaks their bones. He couldn't even imagine the pain that Skypelt had to withstand!

Bloodpaw, who was picking at the barks of the tree like Icestar ordered, spat out a rotten piece. "When will they get here?" he asked, trying to hide the complaint from his voice.

Skypelt grunted. "Hopefully soon!"

Icestar nodded, giving his friend a comforting lick around the ear. "Amberpaw's fast, she'll be here before you can say rabb—"

"I'm here!" an unusually high-pitched voice puffed. With great relief, Icestar looked up to see his apprentice Amberpaw, panting out of breath which explained her tone of voice. Silverleaf was next to reach the fallen tree, just as breathless as the younger she-cat. Her eyes met her father's and she gasped, rushing to his side. Squirreltail and Sharpfang arrived next.

Bloodpaw seemed just as relieved as Icestar. "I thought you'd never make it," muttered the scarlet-furred apprentice.

Sharpfang gave him a disapproving look. "Hush, Bloodpaw. Amberpaw's the fastest cat in camp, and there's not a single one who can outrun her."

Icestar recalled the times that Amperpaw had been desperate to learn the tricks to being fast as a younger apprentice. She was always slower than the others when she first started out, never reacting quick enough to fighting moves or leaping for prey. But the shame of that must have led her to push herself harder than the rest, training her legs to run and move faster than any other cat in MoonClan's. He felt proud that she took such an initiative.

"Maybe Swiftbreeze could, but that doesn't matter." Amberpaw gulped down the last bit of air before letting her breath run out smoothly. "What's more important is helping Skypelt."

"What of Sweetheart?" asked Icestar, looking in between the four of them.

Squirreltail stepped up, and spat a bundle of herbs to the ground. "She said this would do it for the pain. She could not come because some cat needed her, and she'll tend to Skypelt once he gets to camp."

Icestar observed the pile, trying his hardest to remember what they were. When he simply couldn't recall, he nodded towards Amberpaw. "Give Skypelt some."

Amberpaw did as told, and pressed some of the herbs to his mouth. As soon as he licked them up, Sharpfang padded by the tree. "Alright, I will need every cat's help to shift the tree. Bloodpaw, stay by Skypelt to help pull him out. I'm guessing he cannot do it alone."

"Don't worry, we'll get you out," Silverleaf said assuringly to her father. She gave his ear a comforting lick before padding by Icestar's side, giving him and the others a nod.

When the others nodded that they were ready, Icestar ordered, "On my count. One, two, three!"

Every cat's legs strained as they tried their best to move the tree. Bloodpaw stood to the side, waiting for a chance to pull his mentor out, but that chance never came. The group stopped with exhaustion, and they all looked at Icestar.

"It's not working," Squirreltail murmured, his eyes round with fear.

"It has to!" Silverleaf objected.

Icestar cut off the two siblings. "Of course it is going to work, you shouldn't become frustrated after the first try. Perhaps we have to dig Skypelt out . . ." He observed the surroundings, wondering what he could use to help pull out the senior warrior.

Bloodpaw stepped before all the MoonClan cats, his ears angled forward. "I have an idea." The rest snapped their eyes toward the young apprentice, and he pointed his ears backward before turning his head. "This has happened before when I was a DarkClan kit. But look," he stated, observing the pine forest behind them.

Icestar looked as told, and he saw hills as tall as a tree, covered in more trees and vines that were turning green from the changing season. He wondered what Bloodpaw was getting at.

"Look at what?" questioned Sharpfang with impatience.

"We could tie those vines around the tree Skypelt is on, tie it to another tree, and uproot that other tree to lift this one." He stared at the group. "When one tree falls, the other will lift, if they're at least the same size."

Interested, Icestar asked, "How would you uproot a tree?"

"Most trees in the territory are loose anyhow!" he pointed out. "Maybe a heavy push will do. If anything, we could dig a bit."

"But some other cat can get crushed—" Amberpaw pointed out.

"And it could take too long," continued Silverleaf, cutting off the apprentice she-cat.

Icestar shook his head, interested in Bloodpaw's proposal. "No, this could work."

"Well, we cannot just stand around!" snapped Sharpfang, already trotting up the hill. "Talking won't help Skypelt. Let's get this over with."

"And quick!" pointed out Squirreltail, following the deputy. Icestar looked at Skypelt, who's eyes were closed with pain. He swiftly gave his friend a promise that he would help him out, before running up the hill as well with Bloodpaw and Silverleaf. Amberpaw stayed behind, a bit frustrated, by the side of Skypelt.

By the time Icestar reached Sharpfang and the others, Bloodpaw had already pointed out a tree good enough that could do the job. Its wood was dark and thick, but it moved ever so slightly at the touch of the wind. Its roots were just as loose as the tree that hit Skypelt, so he knew it would work for sure.

"Next, we've got to find the perfect vine," explained Bloodpaw, as he looked around in the treetops. Every cat scanned the naked branches budding with tiny leaves, hoping to make out the perfect vine. It was not until Silverleaf gave a yowl of delight.

"Look, there's the perfect one!" she exclaimed, pointing with her tail. "Icestar, if you could throw one end to us, Sharpfang and I could tie it. Squirreltail and Amberpaw can work on the other end with the other tree over there."

Icestar nodded with approval. "Well done. Everyone, get in to positions. Bloodpaw, come with me."

Icestar leaped onto the nearest tree with Bloodpaw by his heels. Their eyes were on a vine hung overhead. It seemed to be long enough to reach both trees, and hopefully thick and strong enough to lift the heavy weights. Icestar was proud of Bloodpaw for coming up with such a great idea to prove to MoonClan his worth, and he was as well proud of Silverleaf's good eyes.

He hauled himself up a nearest branch with strong forearms, and scrambled up. The branch swayed a bit at his weight. For a moment, he was completely still in fear of falling, but when he felt reassured enough to go on, he leaped to the next branch and unsteadily hooked his claws into the bark. I won't fall today, he thought. Not with Skypelt still in pain!

For a moment, he was about to leap up to the next branch, until he heard Bloodpaw struggling. He peered down to see the young apprentice's reddish fur spiked up in all directions, his chest heaving with exhaustion.

"Bloodpaw!" Icestar called, wondering if he should have taken Amberpaw up instead. "Are you alright?"

"I-I never did much tree-climbing!" he admitted, his eyes round. He looked more like a kit than ever, especially by looking weak. Bloodpaw was usually solemn and quiet, always looking for a chance to boast his skills. After all, as a six-moon-old apprentice, he's gotten quite far with training, being two moons ahead for the reason that he grew up in DarkClan. But now, he looked for once like he was struggling.

Icestar lowered down. "Let me help you," offered the leader.

Bloodpaw's nose flared, but he didn't say anything. Perhaps he was too proud to admit he needed help, but he wasn't dumb enough to say no.

Icestar's jaws gripped into Bloodpaw's scruff, and with all his might, he tried to lift him. This was nothing like lifting his own two-moon old kits off the ground, who were as light as mice. Lifting Bloodpaw was more like lifting two fattened rabbits.

He successfully lifted Bloodpaw despite his weight, and the apprentice's claws scrambled through the bark as he attempted to pull himself up as well. After much struggle, Icestar finally managed to bring Bloodpaw up next to him.

Panting, Bloodpaw murmured, "Thanks . . ."

"No trouble," agreed Icestar. "Let us not waste any time—"

The branch they stood on swayed uncomfortably, cutting off Icestar's words. The two toms immediately tensed, knowing that it was too weak to support both of their weights.

Without a second to waste, Bloodpaw hurled himself off the branch and onto another, gripping his claws onto the bark before hauling himself up with his back paws. Icestar looked up ahead and saw the vine was close, so he leaped as well into another direction.

"Bloodpaw!" called Icestar the moment he landed, since they were on the opposite side of the tree from each other. "Grab one end and take it to Amberpaw!"

"Yes, Icestar," Bloodpaw responded.

Icestar looked at his own end of the vine, noticing how most of it was stuffed into the high trunk of the tree. Perhaps a nestling squirrel bundled its moist and thick leaves into its den, since the scent of the squirrel was strong, but it had most likely fled due to the presence of cats onto its tree.

He grabbed his own vine, and looked down to Silverleaf and Sharpfang, who were waiting anxiously by the tall, standing tree. The vine was difficult to pull, but he managed to do it anyway, yanking it on his way down. When he was halfway to the ground, he noticed how close standing to the tree's branches were, so he decided to leap onto it.

"Icestar!" gasped Silverleaf. "That's not a good idea!"

Icestar struggled, pulling his vine onward. "It's fine," he mumbled, knowing that he shouldn't let go. He took a swift glance backward, noticing that Bloodpaw had already gotten to Amberpaw, and she, Bloodpaw and Squirreltail were already tying a firm knot to the tree. Icestar was close enough to the ground now, so he jumped off the branch and landed unsteadily onto the earth, his paws wobbling a bit.

"Are you okay?" Sharpfang asked, noticing his trembling paws.

Icestar forced himself to walk forward, and spat out the vine. "Yes, I'm fine, but Skypelt is not. Let us get this done quickly."

Silverleaf gave a nod of understanding and took the vine, immediately running to the other side of the trunk and back, to wrap the vine fully around it.

"It has to be much more secure than that," Icestar mumbled. "Tie the vine to the branches, too, and wrap it around a few more times. Then, give it a pull to make sure it'll stay. I will be right back." He trotted away from his spot, scrambling down the slope to meet up with Squirreltail and his group. "How are things going here?"

"They're going just fine," mumbled Amberpaw, as Bloodpaw leaped off the top of the fallen trunk.

"Bloodpaw's doing great," Squirreltail said. "With his small size, he was able to wrap the vine efficiently enough. I think we're just about ready."

Icestar crouched by Skypelt. "How are you holding up?" he asked his friend.

"F-fine. I think I've forgotten the pain," murmured the white-furred tom. 

Icestar gave Skypelt a comforting lick around the ear, before standing up to face Squirreltail once more. "Alright, come help us uproot the tree. Sharpfang and Silverleaf might be just about finished. Amberpaw, Bloodpaw, once this tree lifts, help pull Skypelt out, alright?"

Amberpaw and Bloodpaw nodded in unison and then glared at each other as Icestar led Squirreltail up the slope, trotting to quicken his pace. Once he reached Sharpfang and Silverleaf once more, he noticed that the vine had been tightened securely, and that their plan would surely work.

"Let's start by pushing it in the opposite direction," meowed Icestar, already placing his paws on the trunk. Everyone else got into position also. "On my count. Three, two, one!" Every cat gave a strong push. The tree swayed a bit like planned, but it was far to heavy to tip. "Try one more time. Three, two, one!" With a huge effort, Icestar pushed with all his might. The tree shifted a bit and his heart had grown hope as his paws dug deeper into the cool dirt.

Finally, after much struggling, the tree finally tipped.

"Watch out!" Sharpfang warned the patrol as the tree came crashing down. As it fell to its side, Icestar stared with shock as the tree's roots pulled apart from the ground, flinging up into the air with a loud crackling sound. Dirt splayed all over every cat's pelts, and a rushed wind brushed past Icestar's face as the tree finally settled to its side. His ears angled back as he heard the other tree's weight lifting. He whirled around to see that the two apprentices were indeed doing their jobs, dragging out Skypelt from under the tree, but the tree croaked and the vine stretched—Icestar became a bit nervous.

For a short moment that seemed like eternity, every cat rushed past Icestar and ran towards Amberpaw, Blackpaw and Skypelt. Skypelt was laid on his side, with blood pooling around the bottom half of his body. Thankfully he was still awake. Silverleaf was soothing her father's fur as Amberpaw set the cobwebs and gave him more herbs; Sharpfang helped Skypelt up onto three paws as they slowly limped away from the scene.

Icestar wanted to rush toward Skypelt, too. He wanted to comfort his friend, too . . . but his paws did not move. Something was calling him; the smell of Twoleg stench and heather; the sound or echoes and projection.

There was another cave opening.

As fast as a rabbit, Icestar dashed from his spot and skidded to a halt beside the uprooted tree. Staring down, he didn't see at all the remains of roots, twigs, seeds and dirt. There was indeed a cave, and inside, loud noises clanked, perhaps rock against something else. Several tree-eaters tore at the boulders down in the cavern, and Twolegs were everywhere—there were perhaps twice as many as there had been before.

The cavern was under DarkClan, and it was uprooting trees one by one, tearing the land beneath it. The scent and the noise scared off the prey, and the land was crumpling.

The other Clans! Icestar thought, his fur prickling with unease. No cat inhabited DarkClan's abandoned territory, but there was surely no telling if the other Clans were in danger of this too. After all, DarkClan's territory was at the center of the entire forest.

* * *

As the patrol walked back to camp, Icestar and Sharpfang trailed behind the patrol. Silverleaf and Squirreltail were helping Skypelt slowly limp back to camp on either side of him, talking softly together.

"I am going to have to mention my discovery during the next gathering," Icestar murmured to his deputy after telling him what he saw. "DarkClan is in the center of the Clans' territories. We could all be in danger."

Sharpfang shook his head unsurely. "But is it wise causing a riot? Maybe the destruction is for DarkClan alone."

"But if Twoleg stench spreads, that will drive away the forest prey, and poison the lakes!" he growled, slumping his shoulders as he walked. "Only StarClan knows what will happen to the forest because of the caverns."

"Maybe they don't." Sharpfang stopped in his tracks, and picked his head up to the patrol ahead. "There's a strange scent around camp. We'd better run ahead to check it out . . ."

Icestar nodded, and trotted a few paces quicker, brushing by Silverleaf and the rest as he went. Passing a few more bushes, the leader and deputy finally saw the cam—though he knew something was wrong. Without waiting, he ran down the slope leading to the camp entrance, and slipped through the opening.

He was immediately met by the surprised gaze of Blackpaw.

"You're back!" murmured the apprentice. "Something bad happened to Dewkit and Ravenkit. They escaped camp and were chased by a rogue—"

"They what?" Icestar cut off, his heart stopping in his chest.

Silverleaf slipped through the camp entrance as well. "Oh StarClan, are they okay? I shouldn't have left camp!"

"They're fine, but we caught the rogue that tried to kill them," Blackpaw said.

Icestar exchanged a quick glance with his mate. "We'll deal with the kits after. First, take me to this rogue, Blackpaw." A deep growl of anger rumbled from the back of his throat.

How dare some cat threaten MoonClan and my kits!