Flower of Snow
By: Snowstep
Forbidden love. Thunderstripe disobeys StarClan's wishes by loving a cat he cannot have. Now he's gone... what would she do? The she-cat that loved him back; how would she feel? And what would the clan turn out to be, after disasters all pile up on FireClan?
-Prologue-
As three cats padded to the cold north, they spotted the high, snowy mountains. That was their goal. The air became colder as they neared the northern mountains of the snow owls, so they ate Flame Berries to warm their bodies.
Soon it was sun-high, and the group of cats were climbing the mountains.
"Are we there yet?" panted one of the smallest cat in the group.
"The herbs! We're almost there! Look!" a handsome tabby tom in the lead of the group flickered his tail towards a small bundle of pointy ice-like leaves on the edge of a cliff.
The cats moved on slowly, careful with each step they took, and headed for the cliff where the Icicle Leaves grew. Suddenly, the small brown-grey tom that was panting hard for breath slipped as a rock slid from under his paw.
"Thunderstripe! Help!" he cried as he tried to hold onto the edge with his claws.
"Mosstail!" the handsome leader of the group hurried back down to help his comrade.
He reached down and took Mosstail by his scruff, and dragged him back onto the cliff. They were both out of breath, and panted hard while a brown tom jumped down from a higher cliff and landed softly beside them.
"Are you two okay?"
"Yes, we're alright, Mudear," answered Thunderstripe.
"Thanks," panted Mosstail. "For saving me."
"Can we go on now? It's almost sun-down!" complained Mudear.
"Okay, let's go," Thunderstripe mewed.
Climbing the last cliff, they finally got to where the Icicle Leaves grew, and took as many as they could possibly carry. Then, before they left to go back to camp, Thunderstripe paused as he looked up to see a beautiful white flower.
This must be a Snowflower, thought Thunderstripe happily.
"Mudear, Mosstail, go on without me. I'll meet you at the bottom after I do something." Thunderstripe took a look at the other two cats, who nodded approvingly, and climbed higher onto the mountains.
"Got it," Thunderstripe grunted as he carefully took the Snowflower between his teeth. "Snowfur's going to be happy to see what I got her."
He took the beautiful white flower with him down the cold, icy mountain. Mudear and Mosstail were waiting for him under an old oak tree a little way from the edge of the mountains.
"I see you're finally down," growled Mudear. "We've already hunted. There's not much around this cold place, but at least there's something."
"We've left a rabbit for you," Mosstail pointed at a small pile of snow under the roots of the huge oak with his tail, then looked curiously at the flower between Thunderstripe's teeth. "Hey, what's that you have there?"
Thunderstripe gently set the precious white flower down and mewed happily, "This is a Snowflower. Snowfur's always talking about them."
"You know medicine cats can't have kits!"
"Drop it, okay?"
"I've seen you with her these past few moons!"
"She's just a…good friend, so I want to give her something she's always wanted, that's all," he groaned. "Let's get some sleep. We're going to need it tomorrow."
Thunderstripe woke with a start, staring fearfully around. There was a strong acrid scent around him and an orange light shone dimly from behind him. With a sudden sense of horror he turned around, and saw what it was.
"Fire!" he hissed. "Get up!"
"What?" Mosstail blinked slowly and yawned. Beside him Mudear was awake and stared at the flaming tree with fear.
"Fire! Get the herbs and run for it!"
Mosstail suddenly jerked awake and carried the herbs to a safe distance while Thunderstripe hurried to find the precious Snowflower he got for the beautiful white medicine cat. The flower was still lying where he left it when he slept, unharmed and sparkling with the reflection of the blazing fire. He ducked quickly to collect the snowy flower and ran for it, but a thick branch suddenly fell from the tree and landed right on top of him, knocking his breath out along with the flower.
No…I must get it…… Exhausted and worn out, the tom reached out his paw for the fallen Snowflower, though his energy was slowly draining out.
Just…a bit further…... Finally, with his last ounce of strength, he had the flower in his paw.
With his last breath, he let out a short sigh as he looked at the beautiful flower, then closed his eyes.
Did you like it? Or was I a little fast on making him die? ... Please R&R telling me what you think!
What is special about the Snow Flower? Tell me what you think.
Snowstep
-and the story begins-