White Death [Icee/Sleepy only]

The river was just a white torrent here, jutting with half-hidden spiked rocks and dangerous crags. It swirled and foamed, frothing like a snarling monster, powerful enough to crush a cat under the weight of the surging water. To RiverClan, it was part of StarClan's blessing. The river protected them, fed them, provided for them, gave them their name and pride. To any other Clan cat, the river was death, a swelling tide that couldn't be broken or fought, that couldn't be stopped in its tracks, that wiped away all trace of you.

It was calmer upstream, near Sunningrocks, but here, nearer to the SkyClan border, it was especially dangerous. Even in the shallows, it wouldn't be hard to sweep a cat off their feet and wash them away. RiverClan could swim, but SkyClan, ThunderClan, WindClan? They were useless in the water. One misstep and even the strongest ThunderClan cat would sink like a stone, helpless and screaming.

What she wouldn't give to see them all drown.

When Duskfall had accused her Clan of murder... for a heartbeat, Sparrowleaf had been scared. Who wouldn't be? She had been scared that she hadn't covered her tracks well enough, that she left something behind, that they had it all figured out... But even when ThunderClan was right for once, they still managed to be wrong. It was just ThunderClan's baseless suspicion. A ThunderClan cat was dead, and so RiverClan had to be responsible. No evidence, no proof, no good reason. That was just how it was.

She'd avenged Nightpaw and watched his murderer die, and there she thought that would be the end of it. She could've just sat back and enjoyed the rest of her days healing her Clanmates and advising Fishstar, and one day they would win back Sunningrocks, and ThunderClan would get their due. But that wasn't it. Sparrowleaf had heard all their voices at the Gathering, had seen how stupid and greedy they all were... The whole Clan was corrupt, from top to bottom, from the apprentices to Duskfall to Spottedstar herself. They cared nothing for justice or the Code, only blood, only territory, only their own inflated pride.

Sparrowleaf raked her claws along the rocks, staring into the water.

Twenty kits...

RiverClan hadn't recovered from their ambush. ThunderClan was too big for all their sakes. If they attacked again, to avenge the foxheart that had ripped out Nightpaw's throat?

They have to pay. Every single one of them. Even if I have to kill them all myself.

Finally!

After moons of being cooped up in the stuffy nursery Whitecloud was free to roam the territory once more. Her legs stiff from so much 'resting', the queen decided to venture out and visit the river. With the Clan having reclaimed Sunningrocks only a few moons ago, the white she-cat decided a nice sunbath would be the best way to raise her spirits. Making her way out of camp with a smile, she had no idea what she was walking into.

The journey seemed extra long on this particular day. "Am I lost?" she asked herself, continuing anyways. Sniffing the air, she knew she was still on ThunderClan territory, but where exactly? It wasn't until she was close to the border that she began hearing the rushing currents of the river. Her sense of smell was masked by mist and fish as she approached the rapids. The roaring of the water began to hurt her sensitive ears, causing her to lay down and hold them down, praying for a distraction.

Whitecloud had no idea the medicine cat was there with her major senses stifled and overwhelmed. She could no longer tell where she was, and with no one there to help her find her way, she was helpless. Feeling like a lost kit, she rose, trying to turn back around to return to camp. She was caught off guard when her paws met more water. Was she surrounded by it? How in StarClan did she even get there? There had to be a way back. She continued to turn, but kept running into the river. Backing up, she tried to overcome the muffling scents but with no success. With no other choice she rose her head and let out an intense yowl. It was quickly drowned out by the crashing waters. Was there no escape?

"StarClan help me.." she murmured and settled down, powerless.

Sparrowleaf's thoughts had been lost in the swirling waters, still fighting the battle of RiverClan's camp over again in her mind, hardly even feeling the cool spray of mist against her face as she stared into the foaming rapids. The flash of white in the corner of her eye made her look up, and her eyes narrowed as the she-cat gave a helpless yowl, her voice drowned out by the roar of the torrent. Her whiskers twitched. ThunderClan? It had to be. This was too far from the SkyClan border, and the white cat had come walking in from the other direction. Alone?

Her whiskers twitched again. It was hard to say, but from the way she stumbled around in the water like a helpless kit, she had to be. If she was part of a patrol, someone would've helped her by now... Sparrowleaf felt herself freeze in place.

This is just like last time.

She glanced up at the sky, parting her mouth in a wordless prayer. A gift of justice, Sparrowleaf thought to herself. For you.

Steeling her heart, the medicine cat took a deep breath and padded forward, eyes locked on the she-cat. Why doesn't she just walk out? Is she that stupid? No... Sparrowleaf caught a glimpse of her eyes, glazed and blue like frost. Blind. She's helpless in the water.

This really was too easy.

Sparrowleaf crept into the shallows, closer to the ThunderClan cat, heart pounding in her chest. It was narrower here, but the current could sweep you off your feet, and the river was deceptively deep near the middle. Step too close without knowing how to swim, and...

"Are you lost?" she asked her, approaching closer. She had to shout to be heard above the water. "Do you need help?"

Whitecloud jumped at the sound of another voice. Her ears flicked towards the voice, barely hearing it over the rushing water. Something about being lost and needing help, for what she could make out. Trying to come closer, she made sure to stay low and keep her paws away from the river. She didn't know who this cat was, but she wouldn't turn down the opportunity to talk to them. There was no way in StarClan she was leaving alone.

"W-who are you?" she called back, her voice faltering with each word. "Can you get me out of here?" the she-cat cried out, hoping they could still hear her.

ooc: short post is short

"I'm from SkyClan," she answered. "Can't you see me?" Sparrowleaf slapped her paw down into the water, making a splash. "Just follow my voice. Come closer, this way."

The perfect crime. A spider and its web...

ooc: shorter post is shorter

SkyClan? Am I really that far from home? she wondered, taking a cautious step forward. Feeling the cold water hit her paw made her retract, but she knew she couldn't just stay there. Listening carefully, she turned in the direction of the she-cat, taking another step forward. Hissing at the brisk water, she continued to take small and tentative steps.

"C-Can you help me? I can't swim well.." she asked, her legs now fully submerged. After taking her next step, the queen's paw slipped on the slime covered rock, sending her face first into the river. Bringing her head back to the surface, the blind she-cat gasped for air, only to be pulled under once more. Her legs gave out and she was dragged down the river quickly. Swimming up furiously, she managed to grab a lungful of air and scream "Help me!" at the she-cat.