𝚞𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 [chapter one up!]

𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚞𝚎

 

-- Icekit shrunk against the wall of the camp as the slim leader walked past. The white and gray kit's ears twisted back. Flamestar stopped in her tracks, her tail swaying.

Maybe it's just me, but she just looks terrifying. Icekit blinked, one of her paws dragging back in the dirt. The leader's head turned to the side the slightest bit. Icekit swore she saw the slits in her green eyes turn to her for just a moment, before her ears perked back up and she returned to her slow walk towards her den. The other group of kits snickered at Icekit's frozen position, but a single lash of Flamestar's tail, dangerously close to Jumpkit's nose, sent him jumping back and squealing.

Icekit scoffed quietly at the other tom-kit. She didn't dare let the slightly older kits hear her, as she sunk low to the ground and trotted over to the shade of the huge pine tree to the side of the camp. Sunfang was already lounging in the spot. He opened one of amber eyes to look at the tiny kit.

"Hello, Icekit," he purred quietly, his tail flicking contently.

"Hi, Sunfang," she responded happily. Her blue eyes, which were dark before, brightened as she settled down next to the tom.

Sunfang yawned, resting his head back on his paws. "So," he started, shifting his position again, laying comfortably. "You seem jumpy around Flameh- star."

Icekit flinched. "I don't like her."

The warriors tail flicked over Icekit, brushing over her muzzle. She sneezed. His eyes opened fully now, giving a warning glance to the kit. "We're gonna have to live with it." His voice lowered. "You can't do anything about it, especially not now." His eyes darted to the other end of the camp, where Flamestar was hidden away in her den. "Trust me, we're all wary. And I'm sure we're all odd in our own ways."

"No, but she's not just odd, she's evil!" Icekit complained.

Sunfang glared at her again. It was clear no other cat heard them, though. "You know you can't run around saying that." He said quietly, resting his head down again.

Icekit remembered the day Duskstar was dragged into camp, a few sunrises ago, like it had just happened.

She sat outside of the nursery, her eyes huge.

"What happened to him?"

The multicolored deputy stopped, looking down at the kit. Her eyes were sympathetic. "Foxes got to him when I was trying to show him the scent."

"Oh." Icekit's gaze fell to the dirt.

"But don't worry," Flameheart continued. "It'll all be fine. You may not trust me like everyone here does, but you can. I'll make sure ShadowClan will rise above everyone else. We'll be stronger, better then anyone else. I'll make sure of it."

Icekit just nodded along with her, before the deputy bowed her head and padded to the leaders den. But her pelt still pricked. Something about those words didn't settle. Maybe it was her tone, the look in her eyes, but it was something. Something that wasn't right with the new leader, and she knew she wasn't the only one thinking it.

"But-" Icekit started, silencing herself. She sighed, laying down in the same position Sunfang was. Her ears lowered, her tail laying limp on the ground. Maybe she couldn't do anything now, but oh, she would. If it was the last thing she did.

 

𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚗𝚎

 

-- Jumpkit laughed, waving his tail. Every other kit followed him. The little gang of kits thought it was absolutely great to terrorize Icekit, as none of the other cats in the Clan (except for Sunfang) paid much attention to her, other than the occasional small talk or question. But right now, Sunfang wasn't here.

The orangish-brown kit threw his head back, stepping backwards into the group of other kits. Looking behind him, he growled.

"Where's Flamestar?"

Icekit heard the real fear in Jumpkit's voice, but didn't comment on it. Yet. Her icy eyes narrowed.

"She went out hunting last I heard." Snowkit meowed, her amber eyes scanning the other kits. Being Jumpkit's brother, she bossed them around just as much as he did.

"Really?" Jumpkit asked, one of his dark ears perking. "Heh." He turned his head sharply towards Icekit. "Dare you to go into her den. Do it, and- err, I'll think of something later."

"I'm not as stupid as you think." Icekit snarled, her ears flattening,

"Really? 'Cause I bet Mudkit would."

"W-what? No I wouldn-"

"Don't be a scaredy-kit." Jumpkit scoffed.

"Yeah, Mudkit, don't be a scaredy-kit." Icekit fired back, her eyes twinkling with determination.

"Uh... I will, after Icekit does!" Mudkit said, turning his head and closing his eyes.

"Oh yeah?" Jumpkit again. "Well, do it, Icekit."

"Make me." She spat.

"Really? I think it's because you're a-" He leaned in close, his green eyes narrowing, a sly smile on his muzzle. "Scaredy-kit."

Icekit hissed, shoving Jumpkit aside. "Watch me, mouse-brain!"

She stomped forward, pausing about a fox-length away from the leaders den, turning back to look at the other kits, who were advancing slowly.

"Snowkit, you're sure she's out hunting?"

"That's what Foxflame said."

The kit was a gossip queen. "Are you sure?"

Even Jumpkit now looked at his sister, seeming worried. He clearly didn't think his joke would get this far. Icekit didn't either, but no one would get away with insulting her.

"Yeah, haven't seen her in camp for a while. I bet she'll be back before sun-high."

Icekit looked up at the sky. Only a few stray clouds floated across the vast blue space. The sun wasn't far from its highest point. She turned back to the den, staring at the thick layer of moss covering the entrance. "Tell me if any cat sees." She muttered, creeping forward.

The few steps turned into a tree length. Her eyes were filled with determination, but she was terrified. She approached the moss, pausing. Slowly, her nose pushed through the moss, and before her eyes adjusted, she slipped her whole body inside it.

She heard murmurs from the kittens outside. Raising her eyes up to take in the whole den, she couldn't believe it.

It was... completely normal. Way too normal, actually. The moss was arranged in a perfect nest. There were no scraps to be seen anywhere else on the ground. The stone walls were smooth and clean.

Her eyes narrowed. There's no way. Who- who even keeps their nest this clean? She circled around it, making sure not to touch any of it. It's unnaturally clean. There's no way a normal cat could-

And that's when the den flooded with sunlight, and her head shot up to see the face she least wanted to see.

 

2

 

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3

 

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