Prologue
Sunlight shone among a large clearing in a forest. Trees dotted the clearing and birds sang. Silver fur glistened among the undergrowth as a small she-cat stalked her prey, a brown and tan snake with a drak brown head. It's tongue flashed, in and out, as it slithered along, unaware of the predator stalking it. The she-cat stalked forwards, her pale blue eyes glistening. Wildflowers dotted the clearing as the snake slithered past them. The she-cat drew closer to her unsuspecting prey and then she pounced, delivering a killing bite and she purred happily. She burried her prey and raced off to catch more.
A few moons had passed and the silver spotted tabby she-cat sat at the only entrance to the clearing, stone walls surrounding her on either side. Rain cascaded slowly down from the dark clouds above and the she-cat relished the cool feel of droplets in her pelt as opposed to the hot, greenleaf sun. She closed her eyes and pictured her parents, warriors of RiverClan, as she and her sister Streamkit, played mossball, watching on with pride. She remembered batting at Streamkit's gray ears as they fought over a fish, and she purredin amusement.
A loud, surprised yelp caught the she-cat's attention, snapping her out of her thoughts. She opened her eyes and looked calmly oer her shoulder, "What is it now, Milkstep? Another mouse jump from the bushes?" She questioned. Milkstep, a dark brown tom with different colored eyes shook his wide head as he lay on the ground next to their freshkill pile. "No, I just didn't expect to see snakes in the prey pile. After all, don't you fish, not hunt land prey?" He then stood and shook out his pelt. "I wouldn't want to be those snakes." He shuddered. The she-cat rolled her eyes, "At least i'm trying to hunt!" she snapped, "All you have caught is fleas!" Milkstep trotted towards her with a cheeky grin, "Why don't you teach me, oh great RiverClan cat!" He mocked, before backing away when he saw the glint in her eye. "I think that is exactly what i'll do!" She then leaped at the brown tom. "Snowfoot, I-" was all he managed to get out before he was tackled by the silver she-cat. They rolled across the clearing, yelling and playfighting. When they broke apart, Snowfoot let out a string of noises that mimicked the birds that still sang. Milkstep laughed as she pawed at a fly buzzing around her ear. She lunged at him once more and they resumed their playfighting. "Alright! I'm done!" Snowfoot mewed as she sat down and began to scratch behind her ear, Milkstep doing the same. "Time to learn how to hunt around here, Milkstep!" Snowfoot purred. Milkstep groaned, "Let me guess, i'm the prey again?"
"Yup!" Snowfoot hissed playfully and she lunged at him once more. "Come on! I thought ThunderClan trained their cats better than this!" Snowfoot teased as Milkstep fell for the play-dead trick. Milkstep opened his jaws to protest when Snowfoot stopped and stared, slapping her pale blue and silver spotted tail into his mouth. "Quiet!" She hissed, "Did you hear that?" A loud crack of a twig rang loudly in the clearing. Both cats slid their claws out and bared their teeth as an older golden-and-white tabby tom pushed through the bracken. He then stopped and stared, the bell on his collar ringed loudly in the sudden silence. "Umm...hello?" the tom said in a happy tone.
"Who are you?" Milkstep growled, lowly. "Me? I'm Golden Bee! And who might you be?" he asked, taking a step forwards. "None of your buisiness! What do you want?" Milkstep spat while Snowfoot looked on in silence. "Well, I heard about some wild cats living around here and I wanted to meet them. Are you the wild cats?" Golden Bee asked, not flinching at Milkstep's rude tone. Snowfoot nodded, "Yes. Are you not afraid, Golden Bee?" Golden Bee smiled, "Why? Should I be? We don't get many wild cats around here that don't live with the loners in the abandoned house." Milkstep rolled his eyes and moved protectively in front of Snowfoot, "Why are you here?" he questioned slowly, his eyes narrowed. "I wanted to ask if I can experience the life of a wild cat?" Golden Bee asked. He quickly added at Milkstep and Snowfoot's annoyed looks, "At least for a few days! I can learn how to hunt and help you with ensuring you get enough prey to eat!" Snowfoot gave him a curious look, "How about fighting? There are badgers and foxes here, right?" The two former warriors grew confused as Golden Bee's eyes widened in horror, "We don't fight without reason! Every animal lives in basic peace with eachother. When we want to fight, which is rare, we do so under the watchful eyes of The Pack. They don't want any foxes, badgers, wolves, or cats to die in battle due to something that happened seasons ago. You need a spirit to guard your home if you wish to live in the wild. I hear Drift is looking for a new area to protect!"
Milkstep cocked his head to the side, "Spirits? Drift? What in StarClan are you talking about?" Golden Bee sighed, " The spirits have different abilities to help with surviving in the wild. They protect the wilderness from twolegs and prevent twolegs from reforming the territory. Drift is a Snow Spirit. She grows and gives healing herbs in exchange for wildflowers. Since this clearing is full of them it would make sense to choose her." Snowfoot nodded, "You want to join us?" Golden Bee nodded, "My twoleg made me a show cat. But I am getting old and he will need a new cat soon anyways to show. It makes sense to leave now so he can focus on the new cat. I can help you with contacting Drift as well. Once you have a Spirit, you can expand your group. By the way, which of you wants to be leader?" Milkstep immediately volunteered Snowfoot with the reasoning that Drift is a Snow Spirit and Snowfoot begins with the word 'snow'. Golden Bee nodded as Snowstar sighed in exasperation. "Fine." She murmered. "The group could be called SnowClan! In honor of you, Snowfoot!" Milkstep began bouncing on his paws as Snowfoot and Golden Bee rolled their eyes at him. "You may join, then." Snowfoot spoke as she gazed at her companion, "He is too much for me to handle alone."