Frostpaw was lying her in nest, watching the snowflakes and flurries fall to the cold hard ground. Some of them fell rather quickly, some fluttered and floated this way that that, and some swirled in circles until they touched the ground. She could hear Frozenpaw snoring softly to her left. The other apprentices were, Iciclepaw, Featherpaw, and Blizzardpaw. Frostpaw could only hear the rhythmic patterns of their breathing, unlike Frozenpaw they didn't snore. Frostpaw's gaze wandered to the ceiling overhead. It was made out of an old bramble cluster. It was a fairly sized cylinder shape with a dome like ceiling. Frostpaw arose from her nest and padded out of the apprentice's den. She paused in the entrance, just looking out at the clearing. Fresh new snow had fallen last night, it was the perfect kind of snow as Frostpaw liked to call it. Just by looking at it she knew it was the perfect powder snow that crunched just the right amount and your paw sunk just the right amount when you stepped.

The clearing was pure white, no other color could be seen. Thought Frostpaw knew where everything was even with out the distinct shapes of it all, they were all covered in snow. She stepped out of the 'door way' of the apprentice's den and slowly walked out into the camp clearing. The snow was falling at a slowly increasing level. Just in the few paw steps out of the den she already had flurries and snowflakes clinging to her silver fur. Frostpaw turned her head skyward and was greeted by a few snowflakes on her nose and face. Maybe when she was a kit she would have sneezed or rubbed her paws on her nose, but now she wasn't phased. It happened so often that she no longer was bothered by it. Frostpaw continued out into the clearing and decided to have some fun. She bounded around in the snow and flung it up into the air with her paws as she ran around. Then she had an idea, the kits were always up early and never had anyone to play with. Flurrynose's kits were just about six moons old. While Skytail's litter, were only three moons old. Frostpaw quickly ran over to the nursery and poked her head inside. She saw Flurrynose laying down with her kits mewing at her. They were pleading to go outside and play in the snow.

"I can take then Flurrynose!" Frostpaw said happily.
"Are you sure? They can be a paw full." Flurrynose cautioned.
"We will be good! We promise!" Lynxkit and Whitekit cried.
"And they won't be alone. I'll join them." Frozenpaw said walking up to the nursery.
"Okay go, but stay in the camp. Don't let them leave." Flurrynose said with a relieved smile.

The kits ran out of the nursery along with the two apprentices. They pranced around in the snow and played tag. Lynxkit leaped onto Frozenpaw's tail and the apprentice jumped into the air, leaving Lynxkit laughing and rolling in the soft snow. Frostpaw couldn't help it, she laughed too. Whitekit was to busy creeping up on Lynxkit to react. As the four of them were playing Frostpaw couldn't help but notice how much the kits looked like Wolfstrike, a warrior of StormClan. Flurrynose had not announced who the father was, and she had the right to as a queen. The warrior tom had been rather nice around the kits and very kind to Flurrynose. Frostpaw had also noticed that Silverpoppy had been getting awfully large in her belly. It sure wasn't from the amount of prey she was getting, Frostpaw had seen the warrior she-cat eating less then her fair share.

For the first time Frostpaw realized how small their Clan was. She suddenly felt two very different feelings, one was fear. If they had a sickness break out in the Clan it would be devastating, or if another Clan attacked them or if any deaths happened in the Clan. The second feeling was determination. The Clan needed more cats in it period. They needed kits, which then made more apprentices, and then they would have more warriors! Frostpaw would train extra hard and take a mate when she was a warrior. Frostpaw would make sure the Clan had kits. She knew Frozenpaw liked her, he was always kind to her and offered to help her. Like now when he was playing with the kits with her. Frostpaw had never realized it until Iciclepaw said something, she had come up to Frostpaw late one snowy night after a long day and said...

"I think Frozenpaw fancies you. Don't deny your affection for him either. You might not know it but I see the way you look at him." Iciclepaw had said. Frostpaw had been to started to reply. She had finished her red furred squirrel and slipped back into the bramble den. Only Iciclepaw and Featherpaw were in the den, Frozenpaw and Blizzardpaw had been sent with their mentors out on the moon high patrol.

Frostpaw was suddenly pulled back to reality by Lynxkit and Whitekit barreling into her. It sent Frozenpaw into a fit of laughter. The two six moon old kits knocked Frostpaw off her paws and into the snow. Thankfully it was nice and soft and very powdery. The kits had pinned her down, and Frostpaw let them. What good would it be to spoil their fun? The kits were just giddy and giggling away at their accomplishment of knocking over the she-cat. Frostpaw smiled and shook the kits off her and got to her paws.

"Can you guys show us your battle moves? Please?" Lynxkit begged.
"Yeah show us how to attack enemy Clans!" Whitekit chimed.
"Well there is this one move... Frostpaw do you think they can handle it?" Frozenpaw asked.
"I don't know Frozenpaw, they have shown some potential." Frostpaw replied going along with Frozenpaw. The kits eyes were as big as full moons and they looked so cute, Frostpaw thought. The kits immediately faced each other and play fought each other. Whitekit growled at his sister and pounced at her. But Lynxkit was too quick, she dove and rolled to the side. But she was dizzy and it gave Whitekit enough time to get up and ran at her. Lynxkit recovered enough from her dizziness and charged straight for her brother. While they were play fighting Frozenpaw leaned over and whispered to Frostpaw.

"Look at how quick and lean Lynxkit is? She'll be a great fighter and hunter. " he said evaluating the kits.
"Yeah, and look at how much bigger Whitekit is, his size will match Wolfstrike's he'll he a great fighter too." Frostpaw whispered back. She realized they sounded like mentors. Someday they would be. The kits had finished their demonstration and turned to the apprentices. They both looked pleased.
"Well done. Now I will show you the special move. It only works when a cat least expects it. Watch closely." Frozenpaw said to the eager kits. Frostpaw sat down and faced Frozenpaw to watch this oh so secret move. Frozenpaw got down into a crouch and his tail swished over the ground and then he turned and leaped onto Frostpaw. She looked up and met Frozenpaw's gaze. She purred and shoved him off herself. Unaware until now, she heard chuckling, that they had an audience. She quickly turned her head to the source of the light laughter. It was coming from the entrance to the warrior's den. All of the warriors and deputy were watching them. Even The other apprentices were standing with them amused.

Frostpaw looked at the cats who were laughing at her and Frozenpaw. She didn't feel embarrass when she met the eyes of her mentor Hailfang, his white fur blended in with the snow around him. Iciclepaw was sitting with her friend Featherpaw. Frozenpaw was already walking over to his buddy Blizzardpaw. Frostpaw nudged the kits back to their paws and took them back to the nursery. It was time to start her apprentice duties. Frostpaw dropped them off at the nursery where Flurrynose was waiting, the queen thanked the apprentice and Frostpaw nodded and trotted over to the other warriors and apprentices. Snowgaze was just beginning to organize the patrols for the day.

"Hailfang, you will go on a RainClan border patrol with Frostpaw, Blackice, and Sliverpoppy. Moonpelt, take Blizzardpaw, Swanflight, and Slushfur on a SunClan border patrol. MountainClan will be patrolled later. Leopardleap lead a hunting patrol with Featherpaw and Iciclepaw. " Snowgaze said instructing the cats of the Clan.
Frostpaw watched as the cats divided into their parties. She turned to Hailfang as Silverpoppy came over with her large belly. Blackice slugged over slowly his fur fluffed up against the falling snow. Frostpaw heard Iciclepaw and Featherpaw leaving the camp, with Leopardleap right behind them. She turned to see the other border patrol leaving through the hollow tree. Many, many moons ago even before Nightwind, the eldest cat in the the Clan, was born a tree fell. It was an evergreen tree, StormClan territory only has evergreen trees and plants. It had crushed the old bramble bush that used to be the opening to the Clan camp. There was some thing wrong with the tree because it was already hollow on the inside, the only troubles were picking off the branches and re positioning them to make a secure barrier from the cold outside and threat of attacks. The tree now served as a tunnel in and out of the camp.

Frostpaw had been so caught up in the memory that she didn't hear Hailfang say to head out. The other cats were a few paces a head of her and she ran a little to catch up. When she reached them she noticed how big Silverpoppy really was. Her belly was huge! She must have had three to five kits in there. Thought what did Frostpaw know about this? She wasn't going to ask the she-cat if she really was expecting kits. Icedrop, the Clan's medicine cat would know, and Silverpoppy herself of course.

The snow was still falling a steady level while the four cats made their way through the snow. The StormClan territory is mostly clear, with the of snow of course. They did have some trees thought they were all evergreen trees. So all pine trees and a few hedges and small bushes here and there. They had multiple clusters of pine trees all through out the territory. Right now their patrol as heading for the thickest one, which bordered the RainClan territory. The snow had made its way through trees and fell to the ground below.

Frostpaw walked beside her mentor Hailfang, she really admired the tom and thought he was a very good mentor. The scent of mouse made its way to Frostpaw's nose and she dropped into a hunting position and padded slowly forward keeping her weight on her hanches and not her paws. She heard the rest of the patrol stop and watch her. Frostpaw's eyes locked onto the mouse it was near the base of a pine tree scurrying around. Frostpaw crept up very close and pounced on it. She caught it and killed it right away and picked it up to show her mentor.

Hailfang nodded as Blackice padded over to the left deeper into the forest. He emerge a few second later with two mice in his jaws. Hailfang smiled at the good catch they just had. "Thank you StarClan." He said turning his skyward. They paused for a few minutes to eat from the three mice they caught. Frostpaw ate about half of her mouse and then saw that Silverpoppy has only eaten a few bites from one of the other mice. She pushed her mouse over to the warrior she-cat. Silverpoppy licked her lips looking at the juicy mouse. She smiled at Frostpaw and then finished it in a few quick bites. The cats rose to their paws and made their way through the dense pine trees.

The patrol emerge from the pine trees to a small clearing where the snow was coming to a thinning as they reached the bordered of RainClan. Hailfang and Blackice renewed the scent markers as Silverpoppy gazed across the border into the neighboring Clan territory. The snow had all but come to an end here, RainClan territory was just a few tail lengths in front of them. Frostpaw looked across too, the pine trees continued on the other side, she could see where the pine trees met the deciduous forest. All of RainClan and parts of SunClan were deciduous trees and plants. Frostpaw had heard this from the few gatherings she had attended and when older cats talk about the three other Clans. MountainClan was far to their left, where the trees thinned out to nothing. MountainClan was the largest in numbers. They had so many cats in their Clan. SunClan was to their right, and RainClan was in front of them. Frostpaw couldn't imagine a Clan territory without snow! In StormClan there was always snow on the ground, even in Greenleaf the hottest season of the year. The current season was the end of Leaf-Fall. Which made it very easy to spot the RainClan trees, since they had red, orange, and yellow colors against the cool dark green of StormClan. Though Frostpaw knew they would lose their leafs soon, that was why the season was called Leaf-Fall. It was just before Leaf-Bare, when all the leaves from the trees would be gone. Except for plants in StormClan, they kept green season after season.

"Alright, let's finish this up." Hailfang said as he turned and headed farther along the RainClan territory.
"Sounds good to me!" Silverpoppy said smiling.
The patrol heading in a single file line along the border. They had gone to the left and eventually came to the end of the RainClan border. It was clearly marked by the stream that was flowing down from high up the mountain. It served as the border between the clans of StormClan, RainClan, and MountainClan. This was one of the larger and fuller streams that flowed down from the mountain. They refreshed the markers and headed back to the Clan camp. The patrol padded through clusters of pine trees and then clearing of snow and then back to the snow covered trees. Frostpaw was still a little hungry, she hadn't eaten a whole lot of the mouse she had given to Silverpoppy. But she would be able to make it back to camp where the fresh kill pile would have something for her.

"Have you guys heard the word? Iciclepaw and Featherpaw will be made into warriors if their assessment today goes well." Silverpoppy said happily.
"I know, Leopardleap has been dropping hints." Blackice grunted. Frostpaw sometimes forgot he was there, he as such a calm and collect tom, and very quiet. He hardly shared what was on his mind.
"The Clan will need their service. We are awfully small in numbers." Hailfang replied, slightly concerned.
"Not to worry. Flurrynose's kits will be made in to apprentices very soon. She told me that she'd have a word with Cloudstar about their ceremony. They are just about six moons." Silverpoppy said.

Frostpaw listened to the warriors conversation as they approached the Clan camp entrance. Hailfang entered the hollowed tree trunk first, followed by Frostpaw, then Silverpoppy, and last Blackice. Frostpaw followed her mentor until they came to the end of the tree. It opened up to the camp where life was buzzing and flourishing. It seemed as if the whole Clan was here at this moment. Flurrynose was sitting outside the nursery with her two kits; Lynxkit and Whitekit, and Skytail the other queen was introducing her kits to the outside world for the first time. Skytail's litter had two she-cats of Dovekit and Fawnkit, and a tom that was Owlkit. Frostpaw thought they were about three moons old. She looked over to the apprentices little section of the camp, she saw Frozenpaw and Blizzardpaw sharing fresh kill with each other. While Iciclepaw and Featherpaw were sharing tongues just outside the den. The elders weren't outside, they were most likely sleeping. Thought all of the warriors were out and even Icedrop the Clan's medicine cat was out and about. But before Frostpaw could do anything else Cloudstar's yowl sounded from the Highrock.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting! I ask that Lynxkit and Whitekit join us as well." Cloudstar called. Frostpaw sighed and then padded over to sit below the Highrock. She saw Snowgaze slip through the gathering cats to bound up to her spot, a rock that stuck out below the leader's. The rest of the cats had made their way over to the Highrock.

"Today is a very ceremony filled day. It is sunhigh and we will be welcoming two kits into their apprentice moons, and recognizing two new warriors." Cloudstar began. Frostpaw saw that Featherpaw was sitting next to her mentor Leapardleap and they both were looking proud. Frostpaw caught sight of Iciclepaw sitting just below, Snowgaze's perch. "Lynxkit, you have reached the age if six moons. It is now time for you to be apprenticed. From this day forward, until you have received your warrior name you shall be known as Lynxpaw. Your mentor will be Swanflight. I hope Swanflight will pass down all that she knows to you." Cloudstar counted on with the ceremony. Frostpaw noticed that the elders were watching from the entrance to their den. "Swanflight, you are ready to take on an apprentice. You received excellent feedback from Moonpelt, and have shown your intelligence and loyalty. You will be mentor to Lynxpaw and I know that you will pass on all that you know to this young apprentice." Cloudstar finished and the new pair touched noses. He did the same thing for Whitepaw with his new mentor of Blackice.

"Now, we will have our new warriors. I Cloudstar, leader of StormClan call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these two apprentices. They have both trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in return. Iciclepaw and Featherpaw do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan even at the cost of your life?" Cloudstar asked. They both replied firmly I do. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Iciclepaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Icicleheart. StarClan honors your spirit and strength and we welcome you as a full warrior of StormClan." Cloudstar paused in between the two she-cats. "Featherpaw, from this moment on you shall be known as Featherstorm. StarClan honors your skill and bravery, we welcome you as a full warrior of StormClan." Cloudstar finished.

The Clan went crazy, cheering all four new names. Frostpaw joined in as they cheer for the apprentice first, "Lynxpaw! Whitepaw!" Then they all roared for Icicleheart and Featherstorm. Frostpaw padded over to the new warriors to congratulate them. After the buzz from the ceremonies died down the Clan resumed its daily routines. Frostpaw suddenly remembered something. Blizzardpaw was now the oldest apprentice, followed closely behind by Frozenpaw and Frostpaw, herself. The three of them could now sleep in the center of the den! Where it was warmest and they got to use the former apprentice's nest to make theirs better. She quickly bounded over to the apprentices den. She pulled some of Icicleheart's old nest and some of Featherstorm's old nest to suit her own. Thought she did leave some for Blizzardpaw and Frozenpaw. Frostpaw's nest was now warmer, it as thicker with all the added moss and a few feathers, and shed tufts of fur. She laid in it and rolled over and found that it fit her expectations. Since Leaf-Bare was on its way she would want all the extra warmth she could get.

Frostpaw left the apprentice's den and headed over to the fresh kill pile. She examined it carefully before choosing a nice looking squirrle. She picked it up from the pile and took it over near the apprentice den. She ate the squirrle slowly, savoring it's taste. When it was finished she gave herself a quick little bath and went back into the apprentice den. Frostpaw found herself tired and full from the meal she had, and all she wanted was to sleep. Since there was no one else in the den she flopped down on her nest and got herself comfy and cozy before drifting off into sleep.