Investigations [C]

Iceheart

Iceheart was relieved when Nightstalker told her that she could do a scouting patrol of ShadowClan’s land. Officially, it was to search for any bad mud traps or other landscaping that would cause damage to cats when they send a wider patrol to investigate deeper into the territory. Unofficially, Iceheart is searching for any sign of Forestbreeze or Honeypaw. She prayed that she would find nothing of them here.

She looked over her shoulder at Roseburn and Starlingflare. The former had healed up from her injuries enough to accompany the journey, and the latter was to ensure that there was no funny business against ThunderClan. Iceheart was not pleased at bringing a ThunderClan cat to the territory, but ThunderClan had insisted, as had Nightstalker.

Looking forward again, they arrived at the Thunderpath. There was no way that Iceheart was going to show Starlingflare the tunnel they use to cross it safely, so that meant crossing here now. Unfortunate.

“Be careful crossing,” Iceheart said to them both. “I want no injuries going in or coming back.” She looked forward again and focused. She saw a monster coming from down the way and so she crouched and waited. It went past with a roar and she forced herself not to flinch. The moment it was passed, Iceheart sprinted across the path and leapt into some brush padding to catch herself. She whipped around to watch the other two, making sure they are safe getting across. Her whiskers twitched impatiently, but she held her tongue.

Iceheart

Iceheart nodded when both cats made it safely across the Thunderpath. She turned forward and they proceeded officially into ShadowClan territory.

It smelled like home, a fact that made Iceheart’s chest ache. It smelled wetter and that was evident with the sticky pools of mud under their paw pads as they walked. ShadowClan had always been a little damp, being a marsh and all, but never to this degree. There weren’t huge swirling rivers of water anymore, but there sopping ground was still gross and uncomfortable.

“Be mindful of deep pools or mud traps,” Iceheart meowed over her shoulder. Nightstalker had warned her of the possibility of those being prevalent, especially near the deep marshes. They needed to make sure that there was a path to camp first and foremost. They could handle the rest of the territory so long as that was safe.

Her gaze swept around as they walked. There was old prey that had gotten washed up in the water, their bodies left to rot and turn to crow food, so the stench was a little overwhelming. She did not smell or spot any sign of other cats having been left behind to die, though, which was a relief. Iceheart hoped that it would remain that way.