Warriors: Beyond the River (SOB prequel) (COMPLETE)

Chapter 7

Oh, no. He flinched and turned to see Frostedcloud standing behind him, his blue eyes fixed on him. Not that piece of mouse-dung!

"And some of us could use more of that feeling." He narrowed his eyes at Iceslide. "It's about time you started pulling your weight around here. You never go on patrols, and when you do, you run off. I wonder where?"

Iceslide's tail twitched with irritation. "It's none of your business what I do," He retorted. "I'll patrol when I want to patrol and hunt when I want to hunt." Before Frostedcloud could respond, he added, "In fact, I think I'll go now." He met the deputy's gaze. "If that's quite alright with you, Frostedcloud?"

The RiverClan deputy studied him, his eyes narrowed to slits. Iceslide returned his gaze calmly, tail lashing. "Very well, Iceslide." He growled at last. "You go hunting."

Iceslide nodded shortly and turned away, heading for the camp exit. There's no way I'm going hunting for you. He thought crossly. I'm going to twolegplace where my friends are. He bounded across the stepping stones, his heart racing with excitement. And Violet.

***

He nearly ran all the way to twolegplace. Frustration over Frostedcloud's words pulsed through him. He thinks he's so smart and he can control every cat just because he's deputy!  He's nothing but an annoying furball! 

It wasn't long before he reached Juicy's home. He climbed over the fence and leaped down onto the soft grass on the other side. Sure enough, the orange and white kittypet was lounging on his lawnchair. Parrot and Violet were laying near him, looking content.

"Iceslide!" Violet perked up when she saw him and got to her paws, padding over to him. 

He let out a loud purr and hurried toward her, touching his nose to hers. "Violet! I missed you." Happiness filled his heart at being so close to her again. "How are you?"

"I'm fine." She licked his head, and he purred loudly. "Better now that you're here. Are you alright?"

"Now I am." He gazed at her for a moment longer before looking up at Juicy, who had rolled over to see him. "Hi, Juicy."

"Hello, Iceslide," The kittypet yawned. "How's life in the forest?"

He hesitated. "It's as well as it can be." He looked to Parrot. "Hey Pa-" He broke off, blinking. "Parrot?"

The black and red tom was rolling around in the grass, purring very loudly and rubbing his muzzle all over a fuzzy yellow thing. "Oh, hiiiiii Icey..." He purred.

Iceslide blinked, studying him. "What's up with you? You're acting weird."

"His twolegs gave him that catnip toy," Juicy meowed, looking amused. "He's been all over it all day."

"Catnip?" He echoed, looking at the yellow thing that Parrot was so excited over. "What's that?"

Violet's blue eyes gleamed with amusement. "It's the stuff inside it."

"It's sooooooo gooooood!" Parrot purred loudly and licked it. "Try iiitttttt!" He twisted and rolled around in the grass before pawing the toy toward him.

Iceslide frowned. Twoleg things are weird... He crouched by the catnip toy and sniffed it. What's so great about- He froze as the strong, pleasant scent reached his tongue. Oh... He began to sniff quickly all over it. "That smell...!"