A few days passed without Oakstar launching an attack on IceClan. The clans were tense but it seemed like the Breezeclan leader must be plotting something far worse than Blizzardstar had thought. Border patrols returned with scratches and missing patches of fur, but that was clearly from the rising tensions between them.

I don't think Oakstar's warriors know what to do, Blizzardstar thought to himself. He had already spoken to his warriors about his views on the situation. He told them he would prefer that they try and prevent any fighting, rather then entice it. No one really seemed to be disappointed. Wildflight had agreed that the forest would be better off if they all lived in peace.

Blizzardstar was just greatful to have Spottedrose to help convince them. She agreed that without the need for battle, their friends and loved ones should live much longer, fuller lives. Blizzardstar was even starting to find himself eager to spend time with Spottedrose. Any time their duties allowed them to cross paths, he felt as though he was filled with butterflies.

This morning, Blizzardstar was helping Wildflight organize the daily patrols. Redfern, the fluffy orange she-cat, was leading a border patrol around the far edge of the forest. While Webstripe, Goldensky, Meadowshine, and Stormpaw were going hunting deep into Iceclan's pine forest.
He had wanted to make sure Spottedrose was not given a patrol. He wanted to take her to hunt by the Ancient Birch. The enormous, towering tree was usually always teeming with all kinds of prey.

As Wildflight finished, Blizzardstar turned to her and meowed, "I'm taking Spottedrose and Quickwater hunting." She just nodded casually and continued on her way to giving the left over apprentices some duties around camp.

Quickwater, who was only sitting a few mouse lengths away, padded over as Wildflight departed. "I heard you want me for hunting," she mewed as she approached, "I'm getting a bit too old to stalk as quick and quiet as you."

Blizzardstar flicked his tail, narrowing his eyes. "You are still young." he insisted.

As soon as Spottedrose appeared, they left for their hunting patrol. The Ancient Birch was a little bit of a hike away from camp, but the area was lush and full of juicy prey. "I'm used to catching snow hares." Spottedrose murmured softly, feeling embarrassed in her lack of hunting skills.

Quickwater flicked her tail, "hunting weasels and squirrels is easy." she scoffed. Blizzardstar knew that Spottedrose would learn quickly, she was thin and nimble. She had the perfect traits to hunt in the pine forest. "You'll get the hang of it in no time." He meowed, agreeing with Quickwater.

Blizzardstar could see the shadow of the wide trunk through the slender pine trees ahead, making him break into a sprint. Even though it hadn't snowed in a couple moons now, there were still scant patches of it here and there. The snowy white leader dove into a small clump, letting it cover his pelt in tiny pricks of cold.

"I don't know how you can do that," Spottedrose giggled as she finally caught up. He peeked out from the snow, his eyes slitted. "Well sometimes the best prey is caught when you're hiding in a clump of snow." he pointed out, his whiskers twitching.

Quickwater padded past, flicking her tail. "We won't catch any prey if you just goof around." she meowed over her shoulder. Shimmerpelt mrrowed with laughter and bounded after the gray tabby she-cat.  Polarstar quickly leaped out of the snow mound and ran after them.

The ground all around the Birch was void of snow, grass and dirt taking its place. "Usually the ground is thick with snow here." Polarstar meowed as he swept his tail around to indicate the expanse of dirt and shrubs. The tall tree stood alone in a clearing, without smaller pine and sycamores to block the path of snow.

"The last snow we had was before the battle with Breezeclan. The one where Lilybloom was killed," Quickwater meowed softly next to Blizzardstar. He shrugged it off, he knew it was bound to snow again eventually.

"Well we should probably go ahead and start hunting, right." Spottedrose asked innocently. Blizzardstar flicked his tail tip against her side, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye.

"Go ahead, just bring anything you catch back to this spot." he mewed. In those moments, Quickwater had already padded away to begin her hunt. Spottedrose stalked away as soon as Blizzardstar was silent. She must be eager to prove her worth to her companions. Blizzardstar sat there for a few more long seconds before standing and padding onto the grassy surface. He hoped to catch some juicy prey to take back to his clan.

~~
Spottedrose looked down at her pile of prey, feeling quite pleased with how much she had caught since they started. Quickwater's pile was about the same size, while Blizzardstar's was a couple pieces smaller.

She felt like Blizzardstar was preoccupied, something seemed to be troubling him. She padded over to him, hoping to see what might be on his mind. He was sitting next to his prey pile, staring out through the pine trees.

"I didn't realize we were so near to the border." Blizzardstar mewed quietly. Spottedrose could barely hear him over the sounds of birds and the rush of wind in the trees. He seemed to be staring out through the edge of the forest. She looked through the trees and saw the rolling hills of her home, beginning in the distance. She could see a red smear of pelt color against the tree line.

"I think that's Foxstreak," Spottedrose mewed hopefully as she started to quickly trot over to the border. Blizzardstar followed a little more slowly, his pelt starting to bristle. As he caught up at the border, he could hear Spottedrose speaking worriedly with the rusty red she-cat, Foxstreak.

"Oakstar has grown very cold and.. different, since you left." Foxstreak mewed, her eyes round with fear. "He only wants us to train for battle, if we are seen hunting when we should be training he gets real angry." she whispered, casting glances back to the hillside as she spoke.

"A life of endless battle does that to a leader." Blizzardstar meowed as he came to stand beside Spottedrose.

"I don't understand how a cat as wise as Oakstar could be wrong!" the red she-cat meowed angrily. Spottedrose touched her with a paw, "Blizzardstar has had his fill of battle and blood shed. He wants peace for his kin and his warriors. That' something I wish Oakstar had wished for me when I was a kit."

Foxstreak bowed her head sadly, hunching her shoulders. "But Oakstar is wise and noble! How can I believe he has led us wrong this whole time!" she wailed.

Blizzardstar looked at the sobbing she-cat, his heart pricking with sympathy. "Battle and blood shed has been a part of the forest for many seasons before even Oakstar and myself," he pointed out, "after all, my father made my mother battle in the bloodiest fight our lands have ever seen. I wish they were still alive today. That's something I hope won't have to happen agan."

Foxstreak looked at him seriously, wariness shadowed in her gaze, "I also want peace for my clanmates." she whispered. Blizzardstar took a few steps closer, letting his tail touch against Foxstreak's paw.

"I want to help you," he began slowly, "but it will take some time to convince my warriors to help you. They think they will all be killed, by Oakstar and his followers." Foxstreak glanced anxiously back towards her camp before speaking to Blizzardstar once more, "I can try and see if any of my clanmates feel the same as I do. Maybe we can all talk to him, and change his mind" she mewed hastily.

"Go, return to our camp," Spottedrose urged her, "we will try and bring some clanmates to help, maybe in the coming moons."

Foxstreak began to protest, "a few moons is too long..." but Blizzardstar and Spottedrose were already racing away back into the forest. Spottedrose took one last glance back at her friend before she was swallowed by pine trees in the distance.