Chapter Text
Ivyclaw had it in her grasp. That's right, stay turned the other way... As quick as a hare, Ivyclaw leaped out of her hiding spot, pinning the squirrel under her paw. Before it could even think about running away, Ivyclaw nipped its neck, and it fell limp. She sat up proudly, her catch in her jaws.
"Great catch!" A familiar gruff voice sounded behind her. She turned to see Slateheart, her hunting partner, staring proudly at her. "Thanks," Ivyclaw mewed. It hadn't been long since Slateheart had defected from Cloakstar and joined TrailClan, even though his sister had chosen to stay back. "Compliments are just what I need right now." It was true. Ivyclaw had been at war in her mind ever since Silence had been forced into voluntary exile when Cloakstar threatened to murder Stickycloud. It was hard, living without her mother. She had never been separated from her for such a long period of time. It was leaf-bare now - a little over a season since Silence left.
Silence was not the only thing that had happened in leaf-fall. Cloakstar, somehow, miraculously obtained nine lives from StarClan. It had taken a while, but Blazestar had as well. Eventually, they had a clash, and Cloakstar had lost his first life, but he was no less angry or mean than he was before. "Hello?" Slateheart's irritated meow broke into her thoughts. Oops! Have I been daydreaming again? "Sorry," She apologized, shame brewing beneath her pelt. "There's no need to." Slateheart's voice softened. "I know you're going through a lot right now. I am too." Slateheart was telling the truth too. He had not been accepted by everyone in the clan when he had first rejoined - some thought he might be a spy. "I said we should head back to camp," Slateheart repeated. "Both our catches should be enough. Plus, wouldn't you want to get back to our nest and out of this snow?" Ivyclaw shivered and nodded in agreement. "Good idea. If we stay out here any longer, my paws will freeze off!"
They returned to camp and dropped off their catches. Ivyclaw, tired from the hunt and patrol before that, walked over to her nest. She closed her eyes, attempting to sleep, when she overheard two more cats coming in. "Hey Slateheart," He heard Chocolatefang's taunting tone. Oh great, what now? "Where've you been? What news do you have to report back to Cloakstar?" "Listen, what makes you still believe I follow Cloakstar? That cat is a tyrant!" Slateheart sighed. "Perhaps it's because you're rarely ever in the hollow. You're always sneaking away and passing it off as hunting or patrolling." Ivyclaw heard Cloudstorm join in. Those two cats - Cloudstorm and Chocolatefang - never truly accepted Slateheart in TrailClan. "Why do I even try with you two?" Ivyclaw heard Slateheart pad away.
Just as Ivyclaw started to doze off, she was awoken by another noise outside. Great StarClan, can't anyone get any sleep here? Annoyed, she pushed her way out of the den. The clan was gathered around the fern tunnel. "What's going on?" Ivyclaw asked her brother, Coalbreath. "I dunno. Energyheart's patrol just returned." He reported. Blazestar appeared from his den near the limestone pile and began powerwalking toward the group. "What's going on?" he demanded. Ivyclaw squished into the crowd. Energyheart, Firestorm, and Raggedpaw surrounded the stranger they had brought in.
It was a black-and-white tom with short fur. He looked no larger than an apprentice. "Who are you?" Blazestar asked. "I have no name." The stranger responded. "But if I had to choose, I believe I'd like to be called Gamble." Blazestar's ears twitched. "Okay. How old are you, 'Gamble'?" Blazestar's voice was cool, but Ivyclaw knew far too well how it burned. "Well, I can't remember that far back, so I'd say I'm pretty young. The earliest I remember is the last time it was warm. The leaves on trees were full and green..." "You mean Greenleaf?" Cloudstorm butted in. "Really? Is that what you all call it?" Gamble turned from Blazestar to Cloudstorm. "'Greenleaf'? Is that the best name you could come up with?" Cloudstorm looked embarrassed at the question. "Well, it wasn't really us that named it..." He broke off when Gamble interrupted. "I was thinking something with more pizzaz, like... summer, or something interesting like that."
"Enough." Blazestar meowed firmly. "Why are you here?" Gamble's eyes lit at the question. "I was hoping you'd ask that. I was told of a lush place filled with tall green trees, wide rolling moors, crystal-clear rivers... He called it The Forest." "Who is this cat that told you of this place?" Chocolatefang questioned. "My friend." Gamble dismissed the question. "But I overshot The Forest and decided to land here." "If I may," Firestorm requested. "We found him sitting on the edge of our territory as if he was waiting." Blazestar seemed even more intrigued. "Interesting... It seems like you know some of Clan life." "I've had my fair share," Gamble admitted. Ivyclaw saw Blazestar suddenly become aware the rest of the clan was watching the two converse. "Come with me to my den, Gamble." He ordered hastily. "And the rest of you, carry on with your duties." Blazestar bounded away toward his den, tail streaming out behind him. Gamble followed, matching his moves.
"Great, another cat!" Stickycloud meowed cheerfully. "At our still-pitiful size compared to other clans, we need all the help we can get!" "I dunno about that," Ivyclaw replied. "He seemed to know a lot. Too much, about clan life. If he really is who he says he is, how would he know about our culture?" Stickycloud turned to her, looking down at her former apprentice. "What makes you so untrustworthy of him?" "He said he's had his fair share of clan life." Ivyclaw meowed. "Do you think he learned that from Cloakstar?" "Oh, don't be ridiculous! Gamble would've never survived Cloakstar if he met him." Without giving Ivyclaw a chance to respond, she bounded away toward her den.
I don't know who he is, or where he's from. Ivyclaw reflected. I can't trust him yet.