Poisoned Fangs, Scenes 22-26: Iceclan's settlement

### Summary:

Polarstar looked at all of his Clan mates. They were all starving and needed a place to call home.

Polarstar did not want to risk going into a territory with other cats. And what about the dead cat that was eaten?

He was so scared for his clan

"polarstar what's are next move?" Snowhare asked the young cat had only been deputy for a couple moons since the last deputy starved. "we can't lose more cats"

"I-"

"I don't know"

He answered

Snowhare looked at they're leader "well you better think of something soon" they paused "squirrelcoats kits are coming soon we need to find a safe environment for them" Snowhare said

"yes..."

A sudden idea came upon him

"the clan must vote if we should stay or wander somewhere else"

"what!?" Snowhare replied "you are out leader you make decisions!" Snowhare said "what if its an even count?" They asked "we need to go back to clan Territory or find somewhere safe!"

"... Alright"

"Fogclan is the closest" snowhare said

"then there is no choice but to go into the territory then. We must travel with the kits and queens in the middle of the crowd, safe. The most healthy warriors must protect every cat in the middle from the outside and then we'll also look less...  Hopeless"

"shouldn't we go into they're camp?" Snowhare asked "If I remember daisystar is they're leader?" Snowhare said "he would let us in I know him well"

"yes"

"what if-" snowhare paused "nevermind" the young cat thought of Heatherstar "what if she took over the other clans?" They thought "no" fogclan is big and has many Warriors" snowhare watched as polarstar called they're Clanmates "what if daisystar isn't leader anymore" they thought "milkwhisker was deputy was he a good leader"

"what if what, speak your mind"

"what if Heatherstar has taken over the clans?"

Polerstar went quiet.

He wasn't thinking properly, the death of his kits were too much to handle.

"even if Heatherstar took over the clans, Fogclan would not have fallen. They are strong"

"or..."

He turned to the clan:

"I will travel to their camp with one other cat, my deputy will stay her with the clan"

"who will come with me? "

"my other concern is what if daisystar isn't leader?" Snowhare continued

"I'm going with you" snowhare said

"No!" said Polarstar

"if I die then you will lead the clan to safety. You have to protect the clan"

"you will not die!" Snowhare said "I will go in your place if you won't take me with you!" Snowhare demanded

"you have plenty of lives left!"

"you can replace me!" Snowhare said

Polarstar smiled.

"you have always been so stubborn, Snowhare."

"I will not let you die, I have many lives left, which is why I will go with another cat that isn't you, just in case I cannot go home because of an injury"

"no" snowhare said "you will let me go even if I have to make you!"

Shiningswoop, the dark-striped red tabby she-cat flicked her tail, "would you two stop quarreling already? We need to find a place to stay, I can almost feel my nose is about to fall out" The old she cat slumped down, "we're starving and leaf bare is nearly here, make a desicion now, and quick" she growled

"I'm going to fogclan" snowhare said

"yes, snowhare will not come" polarstar said firmly. "And Ravenclaw will come with me"

"you can replace me!" Snowhare said "iceclan needs you we can't replace you!"

"look at all the young cats in our clan!"

He hissed at Snowhare "my lives are easily replaceable."

"just let me go in your place!" Snowhare begged "it's not that hard!"

"Iceclan needs you." polarstar said.

"I have lived my life."

"are you mouse-brain Snowhare?! We're dying! We need fresh-prey! How can we afford to lose anymore cats!?" Shiningswoop yowled after them

"I can't let you die!" Snowhare said before running past they're leader in the direction they hoped fogclan was.

"someone stop them! "

"or at least go with them

Maggotsnow brushed the leaders spine with her bushy tail.  “There’s no time, Polarstar. Focus on your clan, Snowhare is strong. We need to hunt before we all starve to death!” She croaked.

He nodded.

"I'll make a hunting patrol"

Snowhare continued to run untill they heard a familiar voice

"Ferretswoop!" They thought before running into the gray tom

"snowhare?" The tom asked "what are you doing here?" Snowhare looked at him "I should ask the same aren't you a echoclan cat?" Ferretswoop shook his head "not anymore I'm a loner I live with Máni" snowhare looked confused "who's máni? Why did you leave the clans?" Ferretswoop just stared at them "I don't belong in the clans I was wrong about trusting Heatherstar and everyone thinks I'm a traitor!"

"ferretswoop thinking wrong doesn't make you a traitor and you still haven't told me who máni is?"

"I'll introduce you to him!" Ferretswoop said

a small she cat peek out of a snowy bush "ferretswoop?" the she-cat's paws crunch as she walked on the snow, "who is this?" She tilted her head at the cat.

"oh this is Snowhare, one of my friends"

"were are the others of your clan? Are they-dead?

Snowhare froze "no all of them are fine" Snowhare responed "I ran- I was sent to fine clan cats"

"oh... How is Polarstar doing?  How are his cute little kits? "

"why are you here then?" winter shook out the snow on her fur

Ferrtswoop ignored the small cat

“I found ferretswoop and thought he was still a echoclan cat"

Snowhare looked at ferretswoop sadly "they didn't make it through the first snow"

Snowhare paused "wait is the place your staying safe?"

Winter spoke up before ferretswoop could, "of course! We're doing so much better than any of other clans could be!" She fluffed up with pride

"Yeah, the cave is nice and cozy. You could bring your clan to it! "

"will you come with me to my clan?" Snowhare asked "I'll need help convincing them"

"oh, sure! "

Winter turned back around to head back to the cave. "I'm freezing! I'm going back to mani"

The 2 cats made they're way back to iceclan

"Polarstar!" Snowhare called prepared for the lecture

"thank goodness! They’re back! " exclaimed Polarstar

Maggotsnow dropped the small shrew she was sharing with Snowpaw and got to her paws. “Who’s that cat with them?”

"this is ferretswoop" snowhare said "he's a was a echoclan cat but now hes a loner he knows a place we can stay" explained snowhare

Polarstar hissed.

"he smells like an echoclan cat mixed with some loner! "

Maggotsnow padded up to her leader in powerful strides, though she was very weak. She was ready to defend her leader of anything went wrong.

"Ferretswoop is my friend!" Snowhare said

Snowpaw bounced with excitement, looking like a living ball of snow. “A place to sleep? Count me in!”

"it does sound nice... " Polarstar said

Shiningswoop, sighed, "as long as we have somewhere to stay, I'm satisfied enough. my old bones can't stand the cold anymore"

"Ferretswoop and I will lead the way"

Maggotsnow sighed, “If you and Snowhare think it’s a good idea then we should check it out. I’ll make sure it’s safe when we get there.”

"I do not know this... Ferretswoop, but I do not trust him. But if snowhare does..." Polarstar paused.

Snowhare and ferretswoop lead the group of cats till snowhare had to let ferretswoop lead. The cats came up to a large cave. Maggotsnow sniffed the ground wearily and stalked around for a bit. A thin black figure darted out of the cave, landing on top of her. “Who are you cats?” He demanded, his eyes wide with fear at the number of them.

"Mantis! Get off her" ferretswoop demanded

Winter peaked out the cave “that’s iceclan?”

Polarstar hissed and grabbed the black figure and through it off Maggotsnow

A big fluffy cat slowly Walked out of the cave wanting to know what the noise was about

Mantis slid across the ground on his claws, his crooked tail up in the air.

He jumped in front of the cat quickly and protectively

"mantis what is going on?" The cat asked

“Ferretswoop led a giant patrol of cats directly to our cave!” Mantis growled

“Hey! At least they don’t seem that much of a threat to us though!” Winter snapped

"well ferretswoop meant no harm" the cat said and slide past the black cat "hello I'm máni" he said

Polarstar dug his claws into the ground "I know you...."

Máni looked at a large white tom "you must be the leader?" He asked

"yes" he growled

"no need to be aggressive" máni said we mean no harm you just scared mantis that's all" máni said and smiled

"I'm sure I saw him before..." he said quietly

"who?" Máni asked

Mantis scowled at Máni for saying he was scared and sat down beside him.

"mantis?"

He nodded

Mantis’s pupils shrunk in surprise. “Wait- Polarstar is that you?”

"mantis do you know this cat?"

“how can it be-you were dead..you are dead!” Polarstar shrieked

Mantis looked thoughtfully at the leader. “I didn’t die, atleast not fully.”

Máni looked at mantis with surprise that quickly went away "I don't know who you are but you leave mantis alone!" The tom tone turned hostile

Winter looked up at the sky, the snow that was softly falling was slowly becoming a blizzard.

“I think we should take this inside the cave instead”

Mantis put his paw on Mánis chest to stop him. “It’s okay! Let’s just go inside.”

Máni watched the clan cats are whatever they were "what do you want?"

Mantis averted his gaze from Máni and Polarstar awkwardly. “This might take a while to explain.”

"Mantis what is going on?" Máni asked

"please tell me" the tom let down his calm nature

Mantis sighed. “I knew Polarstar a while back, after Beetlescar died. I lived in Iceclan for a little while, not very long only a few moons. You know I don’t like clan life so I was in and out usually. But I got a little interested in learning more about Polarstar so we hung out and hunted together. It got a little more serious after that. Then Iceclan was being driven out by Heatherstar and I tried to escape and I was almost killed by Heatherstar. Soooo that’s how we know eachother....” He grinned awkwardly

Máni looked at mantis "w..why haven't you told me?"

Mantis sighed. “I don’t like bringing up the past. There’s a lot about me that no one knows about. I’m trying to live in the present. With you.” He rubbed his head against Mánis chest.

"what's going on with you two then? “ Polarstar asked

Mantis cringed visually

Mantis placed his paw on Máni’s. “We’re in a relationship.”

Shiningswoop yawned she stretched her legs and got into a sleeping position as the cats talked.

Máni glared at polarstar before smiling "what brings you here?"

Maggotsnow was looking at Mantis bewildered and cut in. “Oooh so your that weird tom that kept flirting with Polarstar!” Mantis shifted uncomfortably.

Máni sighed "I'll only ask one more time what are you here for?"

"all our kits are dying because of the weather, and even our strongest warriors cannot cope. we had to come here" Explained Polarstar

"well in that case we have some rules" máni replied

Mantis snickered, noticing that Máni was getting worked up. He enjoyed seeing him act tough.

“We don't plan on staying here for long…” muttered Polarstar

"doesn't matter!" Máni said "as long as your here you follow out rules"

"first off what do you believe happens after death?" Máni asked

"are you serious? "

"yes I'm serious" máni said

Mantis rolled his eyes and let out a purr

"we believe the northern lights are cat spirits and take us into the sky" Polarstar said

"wrong!" Máni said "nothing happens when die and if you're lucky and live you're life the right way you'll get a second chance" máni added before continuing "believing this way helps make sure you live your life to the fullest and you can't say oh well maybe next time" Máni smiled "there may not be a next time"

"nice way to think" Polarstar said politely

"right way to think" máni corrected the tom

Mantis nudged his mate with a purr. “Tyrant.”

Máni smiled at mantis before looking back up at polarstar "then leave"

"you'll listen or leave it's simple" máni said

Mantis looked at him pleadingly. “Please let them stay! Do you really want to be responsible for the death of innocent cats and kits?”

"I can tell" máni said it isn't the first time clan cats have came over here talking about starclan"

"they have to listen or they won't live a good life I'm helping them" máni said

Mantis rubbed against him. “ I don’t think that’s the real reason.” He teased

“You’re jealous.”

Polarstar felt very uncomfortable as the two cats talked to each other

"I am not" he answered quickly "now what happens when you die?" He asked polarstar

"I honestly don't care what my clan thinks of when we all die" he growled slightly, but then felt the need to stop. "I let anyone think  whatever they want"

"That's not our rule" he smiled "we need to agree and not argue"

Winter scoffed “clan cats only think of only themselves”

Mantis let out a growl. “Atleast let them stay the night!”

"máni turned to winter you're right" he said "clan cats are why my brother's gone"

"I'll give you the night" he sighed "and if you still believe in starclan or whatever you're gone"

“Whatever, they better not stir up any trouble like last time” winter flicked her tail

"you brother.. Died because of clan cats-?” asked Polarstar

"yes he did" máni growled

Mantis stood up. “I’m gonna go take a walk. You can sort this out yourselves.”

"I'm so so sorry." Polarstar said his eyes softening

"it's not you're fault" máni said "now shut up" he said and turned and walked to the far end of the cave and laid down

“It’s getting late, make yourselves comfortable” winter sighed then padded to a corner of the cave and laid down as well.

"thank you"

"stay up front" máni called