Sorry I haven't been able to update in a while. I will try my best to finish this story in the next few weeks. I'd say there's only about one or two chapters left of this one. Thank you all for your continued support and reading.

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Chapter 22: A New Star

Icepool trotted alongside the lake, gazing out at the moorland. In the past few moons, the sight of WindClan's territory had brought fire to her eyes and anger to her heart but now the ragged, empty landscape just allowed sadness to seep into her belly. The Clans were falling apart before her eyes. WindClan was left without a leader, deputy, or proper medicine cat. ShadowClan barely had any warriors left. It seemed to Icepool that the only Clan relatively unscathed by Strongstar's wrath was ThunderClan.

"If we're going to see WindClan at the Gathering why do we have to visit them now?" Seapaw's voice cut into Icepool's thoughts.

Icepool turned and glanced over her shoulder at the small black apprentice, flicking her tail fondly at her.

"Because that's what Silverstar asked me to do," Icepool explained, "She wants to make sure WindClan is safe."

"Won't they get angry? We're on their territory, after all," Seapaw pointed out.

"That's why it's only you and me," Icepool meowed, "Plus, they're not in a position to turn down help."

Icepool was glad Silverstar's task for her wasn't more daunting. She was still exhausted from the battle with WindClan. But Seapaw's words made her pelt prickle with unease. What if Strongstar was still around his old Clan? Was he watching her right at this minute? Icepool scanned the rolling hills, looking for the bulky black shape of the cat she hated so much. Leopardstar's words kept flowing back into her head. "He has not finished with RiverClan yet..."

"Icepool, are you okay?" Seapaw asked, concern in her voice.

"I'm fine, Seapaw, thanks," Icepool responded quickly, "Come on, we're almost at their camp. Let's pick up the pace."

"Do you really think that the remaining WindClan cats are going to start following the warrior code again?" Seapaw questioned, running up to Icepool's side so she could walk next to her.

"I don't know," Icepool admitted, "I hope so. All the cats who left were the ones who seemed especially loyal to Strongstar. Their are some cats remaining who I know are good."

An image of Cloudspot flashed into Icepool's mind. She remembered how he'd jumped in front of Strongstar to prevent him from tearing her apart in battle. With a jolt, Icepool realized he had saved her life. She owed him now.

Besides her, Seapaw lifted her nose to the wind, inhaling deeply. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. Icepool suppressed a purr. She was glad Silverstar had suggested Seapaw go with her, although it was a little odd that she didn't want the apprentice to remain at camp with her mentor and train.

"I smell WindClan cats!" Seapaw exclaimed, "We must be close."

Icepool nodded her agreement and led Seapaw up a sloping hill, away from the lake.

"There's the camp, up ahead," Icepool mewed, pointing at the dip in the ground with her gray tail. She could just make out the shape of a cat sitting on a rock just outside of the camp, watching them approach.

As they got closer, the cat jumped down and waved its tail at them, signaling for the RiverClan cats to slow down.

"What are you two doing here?" the cat spat out.

Icepool suddenly recognized the black and white pelt of Spottedmask and felt her ears grow hot. The she-cat had been close to Strongstar yet she hadn't left camp with his other followers. Icepool couldn't help but wonder why. Was she still in contact with Strongstar, plotting to take over the Clans?

"We came to talk to..." Seapaw began, suddenly trailing off.

Icepool understood her hesitation. She couldn't say "leader." Or even "deputy." WindClan had no cat in charge as far as Icepool could tell.

"We've come to talk to WindClan cats as a whole," Icepool told Spottedmask, "You can understand that RiverClan is suspicious from the recent activities that have taken place here. We want to be sure there are no followers of Strongstar left in WindClan and that WindClan is beginning to recover."

Icepool narrowed her eyes at Spottedmask as she spoke, not breaking eye-contact with the thin she-cat. Spottedmask suddenly looked at her paws, her ears twitching uncomfortably.

"Any cat who was loyal to Strongstar has left," she mumbled, "But you should come talk to Cloudspot and Poppypaw. We want to rebuild WindClan without Strongstar's influence."

Icepool's tail whipped around uncertainly. She couldn't tell whether or not Spottedmask was being sincere. She hadn't forgotten the way the WindClan cat had looked adoringly at Strongstar when she was being held captive.

"Fine. Let's go," Icepool replied tersely.

Spottedmask nodded and turned, leading the two RiverClan cats into the sparse and empty-looking camp. Icepool sadly took in the amount of cats that were left in WindClan. There were barely any warriors and Icepool recognized the two elders she had seen on patrols before when they had crossed WindClan to speak to Redstar.

"What are they doing here!" a voice cried out.

Icepool and Seapaw glanced around, watching as a familiar calico she-cat skidded to a halt in front of them.

"Acornpaw," Icepool murmured, remembering the apprentice she had encountered before.

"They need to talk to us," Spottedmask replied, "They want to make sure we're okay."

"We don't need your help," spat Acornpaw, turning her blue gaze to Seapaw, "We're fine alone!"

"Obviously you're not," Seapaw replied drily.

Before Acornpaw could reply, Spottedmask flicked her with her tail and gave her a meaningful look.

"Go take care of Lizardtail," she ordered, "Her kits need to eat."

Icepool's ear pricked forward. Lizardtail had her kits then. The last time she saw the queen she had ambushed Icepool from behind, with her belly swollen from kits, and knocked her out.

"How are the kits doing?" Seapaw asked, trying to sound nonchalant. Icepool understood her question. It would be good for WindClan to have more future warriors; especially those that could be raised without Strongstar around.

"They're healthy," Spottedmask replied, "Three toms and one she-cat."

"Icepool!"

Icepool recognized the voice before she even had a chance to look around. She ran forward, her eyes landing on the white pelt of Cloudspot bounding towards her. The tom butted his head against hers affectionately and gave her ear a swift lick.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"I'm alright, thanks to you," Icepool whispered, "I never got a chance to thank you for saving my life."

"Don't worry about it," Cloudspot purred, "I would do it a hundred times over."

Icepool felt her paws grow hot. She was so grateful for everything Cloudspot had done for her. She turned and beckoned Seapaw over with her tail. The apprentice leaped forward, mewing a greeting to Cloudspot.

"We came to find out how WindClan is doing," Icepool reported to Cloudspot, "Have you had any news from StarClan about what to do yet?"

Cloudspot shook his head sadly. "I fear they have deserted us. We haven't heard anything from them in a long time."

"I'm sure they haven't deserted you," Icepool assured the tom, "They know Strongstar has left WindClan now. Cloudspot, your Clan needs a new leader."

"Cloudspot," Spottedmask padded up next to her Clanmate, "I'm not sure how much information we should give these cats."

"Don't be mouse-brained, Spottedmask," Cloudspot snapped, "Icepool saved our Clan. We owe RiverClan so much for driving out Strongstar."

Icepool felt a shiver as she remembered the prophecy. WindClan might feel safe now but she knew Strongstar wasn't out of the picture yet. Spottedmask grunted something under her breath and then walked away towards a gorse bush, flashing a glance back at Icepool as she went.

"I don't know if you can trust her," Icepool whispered to Cloudspot when the black and white cat had disappeared under the bush.

"I know," Cloudspot agreed, "But for now I'll just have to watch her carefully."

"Cloudspot!" a light brown she-cat hurried across the clearing of the camp, pausing only for a second to spare a look at Icepool and Seapaw before continuing, "StarClan has finally given me a sign!"

Cloudspot spun around, hope glistening in his eyes. "What is it, Poppypaw?"

"They've shown me who the new leader needs to be!" Poppypaw said excitedly, motioning with her tail for the tom to follow her.

Cloudspot flicked his tail at Icepool, wanting her to come with him, and the three cats set off towards a flattened boulder that stood near the edge of the camp. Upon it lay a large leaf that was oddly dappled with black and white splotches, not unlike a cat's pelt. The three cats gathered around it, staring.

"A cat named Tallstar came to speak to me in a vision," Poppypaw started, "and he said that 'the masked cat' needed to lead. Then he left this on the stone."

"Spottedmask!" Cloudspot cried, "Quickly, Poppypaw, go fetch her."

The medicine cat tore off across the clearing, towards the gorse bush where Spottedmask had disappeared earlier. Cloudspot then turned to Icepool, wariness glowing in his eyes.

"Why would StarClan want to give nine lives to a cat who was so close to Strongstar?" he wondered.

Icepool felt her insides grow colder. She couldn't believe what she had just witnessed but if StarClan had approved it, they must be right. She hoped they knew what they were doing.

"If StarClan trusts her enough to make her leader of WindClan, we must trust her too," Icepool conceded.

"They're coming," Cloudspot said, his ears flicking forward as Spottedmask and Poppypaw approached them.

"Is it true?" Spottedmask gasped, "StarClan wants me to lead?"

"That's what Poppypaw said," Cloudspot shrugged, "And they left this leaf too."

"I'll do my best," Spottedmask murmured, "I'll have to go to Moonpool tonight. Poppypaw, I think you should come with me. You need a proper name."

"But Spottedmask," Poppypaw protested, "I don't think StarClan wants me to be a medicine cat yet. I still have so much to learn."

"We have no choice," Spottedmask argued, "WindClan needs a real medicine cat. You can continue to learn as you go on. StarClan has shown they approve of you by sending you this message anyway."

Poppypaw looked uncertain but nodded, her bright blue eyes worried. Cloudspot glanced at Icepool, who suddenly felt very out of place watching the whole event transpire. She didn't belong here for this. It was a private WindClan activity. She had found out what Silverstar wanted her to. It was time to return to RiverClan.

"I must go," she announced cordially, "Thank you for seeing us. Spottedmask, I wish you the best of luck. You too, Poppypaw. Cloudspot, I hope to see you at the Gathering. May StarClan light your paths."

Cloudspot touched his nose to Icepool's gently, his warm breath curling over her face and stirring something deep inside her.

"Go with StarClan," he replied.

Spottedmask watched them carefully and then flicked her tail at Icepool with a polite dismissal.

"Thank you for your concern for our Clan," she told Icepool, "But in the future, wait for a Gathering. We are alright now."

"Yeah, because we helped you out," Icepool heard Seapaw mutter from behind her.

Icepool dipped her head respectfully, trying to keep her suspicion of Spottedmask out of her head. Pressing her tail against Cloudspot's shoulder one last time, Icepool made her way out of the WindClan camp, Seapaw trailing along after her. Silverstar would not be disappointed with the amount of news Icepool had to give. As the sun began to set, Icepool's paws tingled. Changes were coming and she knew the next day's Gathering would be an interesting one.