"The snow must stay in the dying wind, defeat the darkness and bring peace to the clans..." A voice whispered into her ear and Snowpaw awoke in surprise, panting heavily. Everyone else was asleep, unaware of the words that haunted Snowpaws dreams. She sighed, annoyed. Why did Starclan have to make things so confusing? She had thought about confronting Smokeclaw, the clans' medicine cat but had quickly decided against it. She needed to work this out for herself. A yowl of pain echoed through the den and Snowpaw jumped in alarm. It was Dovecloud, the queen who had looked after her when she first came to Windclan.
"She must be having her kits." Dustpaw mumbled, still half asleep.
"Well with all the noise she's making, the whole clan will be awake." Darkpaw muttered, sounding annoyed.
Another cry came from the nursery, awakening the remaining apprentices.
"Is Thunderclan attacking!" Amberpaw asked, her eyes wide with fear.
Snowpaw saw Darkpaw roll his eyes. "No, mousebrain. Dovecloud's having her kits." He explained impatiently.
"Oh." The younger apprentice whispered, embarrassed.
Snowpaw yawned, tired. "I wonder how many kits she's having" she wondered aloud and Darkpaw snorted.
"Who cares? I just want her to shut up so I can get back to sleep" he grumbled and Snowpaw glared at him.
"Are all toms this uncompassionate?" she asked herself, hoping the answer would be no.
The shrieks stopped and the apprentices finally got back to sleep. Snowpaw huddled in her nest, hoping Dovecloud was ok. She closed her eyes and let herself slip into darkness.
Snowpaw stared at the three tiny kits and smiled.
"They're so cute!" she exclaimed, watching them in awe. "Have you named them yet?"
Dovecloud nodded and smiled. "This one's Hawkkit" she meowed, flicking her tail to a black tom with a brown muzzle and paws. "Mosskit" her tail pointed to a black and white she-cat. "And Swiftkit" she nodded towards a jet black tom.
Thunderstrike gave his mate a loving lick. "Our kits are beautiful." He meowed, watching them suckle from Dovecloud. She smiled back. "They are." She agreed.
Snowpaw left the newly made parents in peace and padded outside, the gently breeze tickling her fur. She was grateful no one had questioned her when she had arrived back at camp the night before. She sighed, knowing she was going to have to give answers eventually.
"Snowpaw!" Willowheart called from the freshkill pile and Snowpaw padded over.
"Hey Willowheart" she meowed, greeting her friend.
"Want to share?" Willowheart asked, taking a rabbit and pushing it to Snowpaw.
"Thanks" she meowed, taking a bite before pushing it back towards the she-cat. "So how's life as a warrior?" Snowpaw asked.
"It's great!" Willowheart exclaimed, her eyes twinkling. "Although, I do miss sharing a den with Dustpaw." She added, blushing.
Snowpaw looked up, surprised. She had no idea Willowheart had feelings for Dustpaw. "Well, he's almost completed his training. It won't be long till your together again." She meowed, giggling.
Willowheart battered her playfully, her ears glowing red. "So what's happening with you and Shadowpaw?" she asked cheekily.
Snowpaw was taken by surprise. "What do you mean?" she asked, confused.
Willowheart rolled her eyes. "Aw come on!" she shrieked. "It's so obvious he likes you."
Snowpaws jaw opened in shock. "Shadowpaw and I are just friends." She meowed confidently, taking another bite of rabbit.
Willowheart shrugged. "Whatever you say. But he totally likes you." She winked and padded away, leaving Snowpaw with the unfinished rabbit.
Snowpaw sighed, lost in her thoughts. Did she love Shadowpaw? She wasn't sure. She frowned and finished the rabbit, her heart banging against her chest.
"Snowpaw" Blackthorn meowed, flicking his tail for her to follow him. She hurried after him, licking her lips from her meal.
"Yes Blackthorn?" she asked.
"I want you, Shadowpaw, Spiderfang, Hazelpelt and Blossomcloud to go on a hunting patrol." He instructed and Snowpaw nodded obediently. "The others are waiting outside the entrance."
Snowpaw found the others and they set off, Spiderfang taking the lead. Shadowpaw padded beside her, she felt nervous. Did he really like her?
"You ok Snowpaw?" He asked, looking at her with concern. Snowpaw smiled.
"I'm fine." She reassured him, the nerves disappearing instantly.
Snowpaw sniffed the air and picked up the fresh scent of Rabbit. She looked around and spotted the creature, several fox tail lengths away from her. The rabbit was unaware of the cats and Snowpaw used this to advantage, slowing creeping forward. She crouched low and pounced, startling the rabbit.
"Oh no you don't" she hissed as the rabbit fled, Snowpaw chasing after it with determination. She finally caught it, killing it with a swift bite to the neck.
"Nice catch!" Shadowpaw praised her as she padded back to the others, the rabbit dangling limply from her jaws.
"Thanks" she mumbled, burying the rabbit and continuing to hunt.
By the time they arrived back at camp, Snowpaw was exhausted. She added her rabbit, plus the three mice she caught onto the pile.
That night, while everyone was asleep, she quietly snuck out of camp. She hurried across the lonely moor and reached the border. Thornpaw was waiting and when he saw her, he smiled.
"I almost didn't think you were coming" he teased as she sat down. She laughed, happy to be with her friend again.
"How's Thunderclan?" she asked.
"It's good. Everyones missing you though" he meowed, sitting beside her so that their pelts were touching.
Snowpaw sighed; she couldn't help but miss her old clan.
"Snowpaw, there's something I need to tell you" Thornpaw meowed seriously, gazing into her blue eyes.
Snowpaw stared back. "What is it?" she asked.
Thornpaw hesisitated. "I love you Snowpaw" he confessed, taking her by surprise.
Snowpaw looked away; she didn't think of Thornpaw as anything more than a friend.
"Thornpaw... We're in different clans now" she pointed out, staring at the ground.
"Yes I know but, you could come back to Thunderclan" he suggested hopefully.
Snowpaw frowned and shook her head. "Windclan is my home now; I have to be loyal to them" she stood up. "I shouldn't be here, I have to go."
Thornpaw looked hurt. "You don't love me then?"
Snowpaw couldn't look at him. "I'm sorry Thornpaw" she whispered, turning and running as fast as her paws could take her. She ran and ran until she couldn't run anymore. Collapsing on the moor, she stared up into the stars, the pain slowly thawing away. She sat there, for what felt like moons, staring into the sky.
"Snowpaw, are you ok?" Shadowpaws concerned meow startled her. He sat beside her in silence, wrapping his tail around her.
That unfamiliar feeling shot through her body like electricity and suddenly she knew what it was.
She looked into Shadowpaws eyes and saw the same emotion reflected in his.
"I love you Shadowpaw" she whispered and he smiled back, looking like he had just defeated the whole of Shadowclan.
"I love you too Snowpaw" he murmered back, twining his tail with hers. The two apprentices sat there, pelts touching, gazing into the stars. Snowpaw smiled, burying her head into his scruff. She had never felt so happy.
Ok, what do you guys think? Be honest, if you hate it, totally fine. Please review, I love reviews. :) Even mean reviews, I would just like to see that people are actually reading my writing. Anyway, have a fantastic day everyone. I'll post the next chapter ASAP! xx
