"What's happening?" Silverstar was at the medicine cat's side in an instant, Icefrost at her heels.

Briarfang and Whiteclaw, sharing a thrush beneath Highrock, swung their broad heads at Flowertail. Dawnstripe slipped from the nursery entrance, her gaze darting anxiously around the clearing till it rested on the kits. Blackkit was charging toward the fresh-kill pile with his denmates clustered behind.
Hawkflame and Ashfall came down from the warriors's den and hurried after Bluefeather and Crowclaw.

"Look at the sunlight," Flowertail breathed, her eyes still fixed on the prey.

Poolpaw, suddenly crowded out by her Clanmates, slipped between legs and under bellies to see the sparrow. Flowertail was pointing a claw at the prey.

"Look," the medicine cat spoke. "See how dawn sunlight sprays across the sparrow?" Her tail lashed back and forth. "A stray of daylight just doesn't appear out of nowhere! And on a sparrow!"

"But what does it mean?" Silverstar demanded.
"DawnClan is the Clan where they get most sparrows," Flowertail growled. "I saw a vision and how we will be crushed by DawnClan."

Snowheart leaned forward. "How can you be so sure?"
"She's a medicine cat!" Briarfang snapped. "She shares tongues with StarClan!"

"This sign was sent by StarClan as a warning," Flowertail went on. "Like a storm, DawnClan will rage through the forest. They will destroy us, and make IceClan territory a wasteland. We will be clawed down like cracking down ice."

Raindapple nosed in beside Poolpaw. "That's impossible!" She meowed.
Whiteclaw wrapped his tail protectively around Poolpaw, his pelt bristling.
She could feel her parents trembling.
Around the clearing, she could see some of her Clanmates exchanging fearful glances.

Flowertail dipped her head. "StarClan has spoken."
Silverstar was staring at the sparrow. "When?" She rasped.
Flowertail blinked. "I can't tell. But the sign has been sent now to give us time to prepare."

"Then we must prepare!" Whiteclaw yowled, lashing his tail.
"There's no time!" Ravenbird barged forward and hooked the sparrow with one claw, holding it for all the Clan to see. "We must attack first!"
Briarfang and Whiteclaw yowled in agreement.
Springleaf clawed the ground. "DawnClan doesn't know we've been warned. We have the advantage. We must use it!"

Silverstar took the sparrow from Ravenbird and laid it back on the ground. "We have many kits, and our kits need to be fed," she meowed slowly. She gazed around at her Clan. "Can we really risk fighting and injury when we should be strengthening our Clan?"
"Can we risk not fighting?" Ravenbird hissed. "StarClan has warned us that there may be no Clan to strengthen if we don't act!"

Swiftfur padded forward, her black pelt bristling. "Should we really attack on nothing more than a piece of prey?"

There was a gasp from some of her Clanmates. Bravepaw whispered, "You can't challenge the medicine cat like that!"
Poolpaw glanced at him; she wasn't sure if he'd meant anyone to hear.

Briarfang's tail quivered. "Is it Flowertail you doubt, or StarClan?" he challenged.
"If we can't trust StarClan, then we are lost," Springleaf muttered.

Poolpaw saw anguish darken Silverstar's gaze. She had a sudden, painful understanding of the decision that lay in her paws. Attack DawnClan and risk death and injury to her Clan. Delay, and risk being wiped out. And all hung on the meaning in a dead sparrow.

Whiteclaw began to pace. "Why are you hesitating? The decision is easy! You are choosing between survival and destruction!"
Icefrost paced in front of her leader. "But who knows which action will cause destruction and which survival?"
"I think StarClan has made that clear," Snowheart growled. 

Poolpaw could see Silverstar's gaze darting around her Clan, glittering with unease. She knew her father wanted to fight so he could protect his family, and Briarfang wanted to fight from the start. And now they had the backing of StarClan. How could Silverstar refuse? What would happen if she did? How could she lead IceClan without the respect of her warriors?

Silverstar dipped her head. "We'll attack DawnClan at dawn."

Murmurs of approval swept through the warriors closest to the leader; at the edges of the clearing, elders and she-cats muttered darkly.

Dawnstripe stared in dismay at the sparrow, pressing Amberkit against her. "It's okay," she whispered, pressing her muzzle against her daughter's soft head. "You'll be safe in the nursery." Her gaze lifted to meet Snowheart's, and a flash of fear passed between them that made Poolpaw's pelt bristle.

Raindapple tensed beside her. "Will all the apprentices have to fight?"
Poolpaw's felt excitement surge through her. Would this be her first battle?
"All must fight when we face this much danger!" Briarfang meowed.

Silverstar turned to Hawkflame. "Is Bravepaw ready for battle?"
Hawkflame nodded, reluctantly.
"Then he will be part of the battle party." Silverstar's gaze turned to Ashfall. "You and Duskpaw will remain behind with Crowclaw and Speckledall to defend the camp in case DawnClan counterattacks."
Duskpaw began to object. "But I want to—!"
"We'll defend the camp with our lives if necessary," Ashfall cut her off.

"What about Featherpaw and Poolpaw?" Whiteclaw demanded, a tremor in his mew.
Silverstar blinked. "I would never send apprentices into battle with so little training," she assured him.

"But I want to fight!" Poolpaw's ears prickled.
"No, Poolpaw." Silverstar shook her head. "You won't fight. But you will have a taste of battle."
Poolpaw's eyes lit up.
Poolpaw felt her mother stiffen as the IceClan leader went on. "You and Featherpaw will go with the raiding party, but not to fight. You'll wait where it's safe, ready to carry messages or help with the wounded."
"Is that all?" Poolpaw's tail drooped.

"That's plenty!" Featherpaw nosed her way to her sister's side. "We'll do our best," she said to Silverstar. "Even if we can't fight."

Murmurs of approval rippled through the Clan.
"Imagine! Such a big message from just a sparrow!" Featherpaw purred. "Flowertail must be so clever to see it."

Flowertail had picked up the sparrow and was carrying it away through the tunnel. As Poolpaw watched the shadows swallow her, she looked up.
I hope she's right, for all our sakes.

Evening had fallen.
The dusk patrol went out as usual, just as hunting parties had come and gone during the afternoon, restocking the fresh-kill pile as though nothing had changed.

Poolpaw washed her paws beside the nursery. They were sore after an afternoon helping Swiftfur and Icefrost reinforce the walls. She glanced at the sky. Why hadn't the rain come? The clouds were as grey as a squirrel's pelt, but they seemed reluctant to give up their load.
Yet Owlpaw had promised rain, and Poolpaw couldn't help but believe the medicine-cat apprentice. She'd been busy all afternoon, slipping in and out of camp, returning each time with a bundle of herbs. She was padding across the clearing now, her black pelt glistening in the twilight.

She hurried to meet her, catching up to her as she reached the tunnel. "Where's the rain?"
She dropped her bundle and turned her bright emerald gaze on her. "It'll come when it's ready," she told her.
"Before the battle?"
"I don't know." She bent down, ready to pick up her herbs.

"What are they for?" Poolpaw was reluctant to let her go, reassured by her calm presence.
"These will give the warriors strength," she told her. "Each cat will eat some before the battle."

"Have you eaten?" Owlpaw asked. Around the clearing, their Clanmates were settling down in knots, sharing prey and tongues.
"I'm not hungry," Poolpaw said stubbornly.
"Eat anyway," Owlpaw advised. "Our Clan needs you to be strong."

"Finnneeee." Poolpaw nodded, and she turned toward the fresh-kill pile. She chose a squirrel and carried it to where her denmates lay beside the rock pile.
Duskpaw and Bravepaw were absorbed in eating while Featherpaw was munching away into a mouse.

As Poolpaw layed down and took a bite out of her squirrel, she noticed Duskpaw's nervous expression. "I don't know what you're worrying about," she spoke. "You won't even be fighting."
Duskpaw stared at her, round-eyed. "Aren't you scared?"
"No DawnClan cat's going to beat me," she boasted.

Bravepaw gave out a purr. "I've been practicing my attack moves all day," he mewed. "We will win if I'm in the battle!"

Poolpaw was suddenly aware that she knew no battle moves at all. Perhaps she should learn one, just in case. She watched Briarfang on the far side of the clearing showing Springleaf how to roll and then jump with her forepaws extended in a vicious attack.
"Remember," he was telling her, "keep your claws sheathed until the leap."
Springleaf tried to move again, sitting up afterward and looking pleased.
"Good." Briarfang nodded.

Poolpaw sighed, knowing Briarfang will be too busy to teach her a battle move. She took another bite and swallowed it. She nudged the squirrel away. How could she eat in this weather?

"Not hungry?" Silverstar's mew made her jump.
She stood at the pile of rocks and looked at the apprentices. "A good meal tonight will mean a good battle tomorrow."
Poolpaw lowered her gaze.

Silverstar's eyes glowed in the half-light. "I remember my first battle," she meowed. "Hopefall insisted I eat a mouse, but I hid it when her back was turned and then told her it was delicious."
"Really?" Poolpaw let out a small gasp of awe. She would of probably done worse than that!
"Really," she purred. "She didn't believe me, of course. All cats fear their first battle. But you.. you're different, you have no fear-scent."

"Do I still have to eat?" Poolpaw mewed.
"Not if you don't want to." Silverstar flicked her tail. "It's natural to be nervous or excited. But, only a frost-brain would rush into battle without fear." Was she glancing at Briarfang as she spoke? "But remember: You are IceClan cats, natural-born warriors. Trust your instincts. And we'll be fighting Clan cats, not loner or rouges. They won't go out of their way to harm youngsters like you."

Poolpaw stood up, fluffing out her fur. "We don't need special treatment."
Silverstar's whiskers twitched. "And you won't get any," she reassured her. "I'm relying on you two to stay alert and do exactly as you're told, as soon as you're told. Lives may depend on how quickly you act."
Poolpaw felt excitement surge through her again.
"But," Silverstar went on, "I know you'll do your best and StarClan will guide your paws." She glanced at Bravepaw and Duskpaw. "All of you."

Before they could answer she padded away, stopping beside Dawnstripe. The golden tabby she-cat sat hunched outside the nursery with Briarpool while their kits tumbled around them. The Clan's youngest members seemed to be the only cats unmoved by the looming battle. If anything, they were nosier than ever.

"If I were fighting tomorrow," Blackkit declared, "I'd get a DawnClan warrior like this." He hooked up the shrew he'd been eating. "And shred it." He tossed the half-eaten fresh-kill to the ground and pounced on it, claws unsheathed.
"Don't play with your food," Briarpool scolded. "It's disrespectful. That shrew died so that we may live."

Blackkit sat up, looking annoyed. "You just don't want me to become a warrior! You want me to stay a kit forever!"
Silverstar cuffed him playfully around the ear. "I doubt she'd be able to," she purred.

Blackkit looked up at the IceClan leader. "Can I come to the battle?"
Silverstar shook her head. "I need you to stay here and help defend the nursery."
Blackkit puffed out his chest. "No DawnClan cat'll make it past me."
"I believe you." Silverstar sounded calm.

As Poolpaw watched her reassure her Clanmates, she realized that all trace of the doubt she'd seen in her earlier was gone. She stood with her broad head high and her powerful shoulders stiff, as though already primed for battle.

She wondered how many lives she had left. Perhaps one of them was confidence. Why did only leaders get to have nine lives? Wouldn't it be more useful if StarClan granted every cat nine lives?

Whiteclaw and Raindapple padded from the tunnel, their eyes glowing in the half-light. Whiteclaw looked at his daughters. "You two should get to sleep early tonight." He reached Poolpaw and Featherpaw and touched each in turn lightly with his muzzle. Poolpaw could smell fear on his pelt, but his mew was unchanged. "I haven't seen your nests yet. Are they comfortable?"
"I wouldn't mind a bit more moss," Featherpaw mewed.
"I'll get some from mine." Raindapple padded quickly away toward the warrior's den.

"Are you going to eat that?" Duskpaw was eyeing Poolpaw's squirrel.
Poolpaw shook her head and tossed it back to the light-brown tabby apprentice.
"You might as well have mine, too." Featherpaw added, flinging her mouse after.
Duskpaw licked her lips. "If you insist," she mewed. "I just hope the sound of your bellies rumbling doesn't wake me up in the night."

Poolpaw stood and stretched till her legs trembled. She nosed her way through the apprentice den's entrance and into the shelter of the den and began to paw at her nest.

Featherpaw followed her in. "Are you tired?"
Poolpaw shook her head. "I just don't like waiting for tomorrow. I wish it were morning already."
She gave her black paws a lick. The scent of the nursery was still on them, and she wished for a moment that she were safely back there with Raindapple and Whiteclaw and Dawnstripe and Briarpool and the kits. As she pushed the thought away, Whiteclaw slid in. He purred and nuzzled his daughter's heads.

Poolpaw looked up at her father. "Dad?"
"What is it, Poolpaw?"
"How many battles have you fought in?"
Whiteclaw thought for a moment. "Too many to count, though they were really just border fights—driving out intruders. This will be the first time I've fought on a Clan's territory."

"Are you nervous?" Featherpaw asked.
Poolpaw snorted. "Of course he's not nervous! He's a IceClan warrior."
Whiteclaw licked Featherpaw affectionally between the ears. "All warriors are nervous before battle—if not for themselves, then for their denmates and their whole Clan. It makes their senses sharper and their claws fiercer, and it gives them hunger for victory."

Raindapple had then came in, moss tucked under her chin and dangling from her jaws. She dropped half in Featherpaw's nest and the other half in Poolpaw's. Quietly, she smoothed out each pile until both nests were soft with it.

Poolpaw sighed. "Thanks for the moss, mom."
Featherpaw was circling in hers. "It's so soft."

"It should keep you warm," Raindapple meowed.
"After the battle, we'll go out as a family and collect more and make sure both your nests are as soft as feathers," added Whiteclaw.
Poolpaw closed her eyes. She imagined herself padding through the snowy woods beside Raindapple, Whiteclaw and Featherpaw, the battle far behind and nothing to worry of but where to find the softest moss. The thought soothed her.

"We'll just lie down near you while you go to sleep." Whiteclaw settled on his belly near Poolpaw while Raindapple curled near Featherpaw.
Poolpaw could hear Featherpaw's breath slowing as Raindapple purred gently.
Rolling toward the warmth of her father, she felt Whiteclaw's soft belly fur brush her pelt.
Happily, she drifted to sleep.

Half blinking, she felt Whiteclaw stir and saw Raindapple and Whiteclaw got to their paws, she saw Duskpaw and Bravepaw asleep in their nests. It must be late.

Raindapple rubbed her head against Poolpaw. "Sleep well, little one." The warrior's breath stirred Poolpaw's ear fur.
Whiteclaw purred. "We will always be with you."

The dirt scraped and Raindapple and Whiteclaw were gone.