#iceclaw

Monologue from Lakespeckle's POV:

…And just like that, Rainfall was River Colony’s new Captain.

Rainfall…the Shimmering Star.

(Lakespeckle looks confused at Rainfall. Their eyes meet and Lakespeckle looks away.)

(Lakespeckle leaves to check on her new-born: Gray. She gives him a nuzzle as she thinks.)

I can’t shake this feeling. I need advice. If a poisonous herb is taking root in River Colony, isn’t it an Herbalists job to dig it out? I don’t know the first thing about spirits though…Mistysnow in Field Colony. Maybe she can help. (scene end)

(Next morning)

(walking in River. It’s a lovely early dawn. Foggy, misty morning. Lakespeckle crosses the border.)

Ice: And where do you think you’re going?

(Lakespeckle is shocked. Where is the voice?)

(The fog reveals nothing.)

Lake: Who-? Iceclaw?

(no response)

Lake: Where are you?

(She waits and listens. Nothing…She slowly continues her walk. Suddenly Iceclaw is in front of her.)

Lake: Spirits! Oh Iceclaw. You scared me halfway to the Beyond! 

Ice: You didn’t answer my question.

Lake: …..OH. Oh of course. I just–sorry for leaving without telling anyone–I just…uh, I just had a couple of things I wanted to talk to Mistysnow about. Y’know. Herbalist things.

(His eyes narrow. A smile spreads across his face.)

Lake: I wanted to be sure to catch her before she goes out for the day…I’ll be back at camp soon…So you don’t have to worry about me– (She slowly tries to walk around him. Iceclaw just stares.)

(Lake hesitates. Waiting for some kind of response. Iceclaw jumps her, toppling her over and biting down hard into her neck. A pitiful struggle plays out. With Iceclaw bearing down over Lakespeckle and giving her zero leverage.)

Lake: (Screams) STOP! H-HEELP! 

(Camera pans out. Lake can do nothing against his attacks. Her screaming becomes a choke, and fades.)

(A rustling is heard. Iceclaw looks up, covered in Lake’s blood. Toad jumps out from the grasses.)

Toad: What is going on here! What are you doin– (He sees Lake and Ice and stops. His confusion turns to anger)  Lakespeckle…Iceclaw! What is the meaning of this?! What are you doing on Field Colon- (Iceclaw lunges, and Toadstalk doges him swiftly)

(Another fight breaks out. Fur and grass go flying. Then. Silence.)

(Iceclaw licks the blood off his paws. There’s barely a scratch on him. As he disappears into the fog, the camera pans down to two bodies. Laying still on the ground. Blood everywhere. Toad suddenly breathes again. He looks at Lakespeckle, who is breathing very shallowly, and moves his ragged body over to her, licking a few of her wounds and then lying on top of her to try to stop the bleeding with his own weight.)

Toad: Hang on…someone will find…us. Just…(he flops, unable to continue)

(Fade to black)

(Fade back in. A Field Colony patrol finds Toad, alone. With blood everywhere and Lakespeckle’s fur all over the crime scene. A bloody trail through the grass is her escape route.)

(Shadowclaw looks at his brother and yowls.)