Darkness is Here

Iceshadow stared out into gloomy, dark forest. It was as if the weather knew that something terrible had happened, and decided to cast it on to the whole of OakClan territory. How pitifully we all seem. He thought bitterly, slicing a stem of a flower in half.

"Iceshadow, we should be leaving soon." Fallenpath's mew broke his train of thoughts. "Luckily the wind let up in such short time, so we will be able to make it to the Moonpool before dusk."

Iceshadow shook his head. How can she speak so freely, as if nothing has happened? It disgusts me. "I'm going alone." He said, his meow gruff and filled with conviction.

"What? No, I have to come with-" Fallenpath started, but Iceshadow just sighed.

"No. I have to do this alone. I don't care what you say." He meowed, his tail tip flicking. Without waiting for her response, he left camp, the slight shake of the ferns being the only sign that we was ever there.

~*~

Iceshadow slowly stepped out into the clearing, he was mystified by the glow the small pool reflected out, and he wondered if this was how every cat felt when they entered this scared place. Tentatively, he made his way across, and stopped to stare at his reflection. His ice blue eyes, the dark gray, almost black stripes cutting across his skin. You have your father's eyes. Snowfall's voice rang inside his head, and although it filled him with grief, he loved to hear the sound of her voice. Settling down, he slowly began to lap up the water, and he waited for sleep to take him.

~*~

 Iceshadow awoke to a landscape covered with mist, blocking his sight. He strained and strained to see through it, but he was only able to see glimpses of the silhouettes of cats off in the distance, but not enough so that he was able to identify them. He tried to move forward, but it felt like his legs were glued to the ground, and panicked thoughts began to consume him. What's happening?! He wanted to wail, but nothing came out. 

A few moments passed, and he began to hear voices. They were rising and falling, like the waves the Queens described while telling the story of the Sun-Drown Place. He couldn't make out exactly what they were saying, but he was able to get a few wisps of their conversation.

"Our decision is final."

"I don't care what you say! This is completely mouse-brain!"

"There is nothing you can do, all of us agreed."
"You're mad! Insane, even!"

"Stop it Cloudstar!"

The name rang inside Iceshadow's head like a bell. Cloudstar? Could it be? Was it his father? Soon, both of the cats came into view, and he could see more following them. Just as he had thought, his father was striding next to a dark, long-furred tabby. Joy overcame his panic, and for a few moments, all he wanted to do was run up to his father and confide all of his worries to him. But then, a bitter, sour emotion overcame him. I wouldn't have all of these worries if he didn't appoint me as deputy! I can never forgive him! He thought scathingly. He finally took his eyes off Cloudstar, and searched for his mother. He finally spotted her padding slowly next to Pondskip, one of her old friends before she died while fighting a badger. Her coat gleamed and her eyes were lit with their old fire, and he was glad that she looked much stronger than she used to. I wonder which cats will give me my nine lives!  By that time, the dark brown tabby and Cloudstar were about a fox-length away from him, though Iceshadow noticed something unusual in his eyes. Is that.. fear? He wondered, though he dared that not be true. Before he could shake the thoughts away, the burly tom that was next to his father started to speak.

"Iceshadow, we have dreadful things to tell you." Was the last thing the young tom would have thought to come out of one of his ancestors. Iceshadow blinked in confusion, but the cat, who had yet to identify himself, continued talking. "Darkness is coming to the forest, and the only way to stop this, is to not give you your nine lives." Iceshadow's eyes widened, and his head swam. His legs felt like they could no longer support himself, though they stayed glued to the earth.

"Wha-" He tried to speak, but the StarClan warrior cut him off.

"I'm sorry, but-" Iceshadow's eyes lit with fury.

"Don't interrupt me!" He spat. "This is totally ridiculous! Stop playing this game and grant me my leadership!" His own anger surprised himself, but let himself continue, fuming. "I have nothing to do with this darkness you're talking about! I'm a loyal OakClan cat!" He snarled.

"I'm sorry, but this needs to be done. We will take the necessary precautions we need to keep our Clan safe." A random cat called out, and Cloudstar bared his teeth at them. Iceshadow whipped his head towards his father. Do something! He wanted to yowl, but Cloudstar just looked sadly at him, despair in his clear blue eyes. Before Iceshadow could react, the tabby spoke again. "Good-bye, Iceshadow." And the warrior was once again plunged into darkness.

~*~

Iceshadow gasped, his body trembling. A steady rain began to fall, something that he should be joyful for, but he felt nothing inside as lightning lit the sky. With his rage spilling over like an overflowing river, he yowled towards the sky, "StarClan has abandoned us!"