Hi *hides timidly* I know this took long but here . . . D: I'm not really proud of it but . . .

Don't forget to vote on the poll :D?

Chapter 21: The New Medicine Cat

Ivyfang glared at Stormpaw when the she-cat entered the clearing. "You're late," she commented.

Stormpaw hesitated, "Yeah, sorry." What? It's not like she was going to tell Ivyfang she had skipped training to go and visit Swallowflight who was even from another Clan. Ivyfang had always said training with the most important thing.

Ivyfang disappeared from where she had been standing moments before and reappeared at the edge of the clearing, "Training time." The small apprentice spun on her paws and threw herself at her mentor. Ivyfang merely dodged and left Stormpaw tumbling through the dirt.

Blackfeather cawed in laughter and Stormpaw huffed with disappointment. Why can't I do things right? My thoughts are distracted.

"That's enough," Ivyfang decided but Stormpaw could see the disgrace in her eyes. "Wake soon, I have a feeling you'll be walking a lot today," she meowed with an amused expression.

Stormpaw gulped and the forest melted around her. Blackfeather screeched and raced into the air and disappeared from sight just as the Dark Forest disappeared.

0o0o0o0o

Stormpaw woke in her nest and yawned loudly. Nightpaw and Specklepaw had already gone to training so she was alone in the small den. The blue-eyed apprentice padded into the clearing and trembled from the cold. Wind blew into her face and snow covered her pelt in seconds.

"StarClan its freezing!" she exclaimed and bounded towards Snowspirit who was eating a vole near the fresh-kill pile. "Are we training today?" she asked through chattering teeth.

Snowspirit laughed, "Nah, I think all the apprentices get the day off."

Stormpaw sighed in relief and went over towards the camp entrance, she wanted to go to the ThornClan border and talk to Swallowflight as she had the night before. They had talked, raced (Swallowflight won by a mile), and hunted even. Swallowflight sure treated her better than most cats in RainClan. Since Mistpaw and Grassblade's deaths she wasn't really talking to a whole lot of cats – save Nightpaw.

"Stormpaw, over here," Smokestar called, interrupting her thoughts. The stormy-eyed apprentice bounded over to her leader and looked at him with eagerness.

"I want you and Specklepaw to join my patrol," Smokestar meowed. "I think Berryfoot and Oakpelt should come with us. We're going to BreezeClan to ask them if they can spare a medicine cat."

Stormpaw blinked in surprise, "W-what?" she asked, figuring she had heard wrong.

Smokestar nodded, "They have a medicine cat to spare and RainClan desperately needs one. Being our allies hopefully they will agree or we might have to back out of the alliance."

The three other cats soon joined them and Smokestar re-explained their mission. Then with a cheerfully yowl he bounded out of camp and into the forest. "Is he alright?" Specklepaw muttered before bounding after the leader.

Once they were outside of the camp barriers they were pelted with snow. The tiny flakes stuck to their pelts and seeped down into their fur. Stormpaw shivered and Smokestar led them carefully through the territory, often stopping to avoid thin ice and common snake paths (even though there were probably none out in this weather).

"Keep your eyes open and make sure none of those DarkClan cats are around," Smokestar ordered as they left RainClan territory and slowly made a wide loop around ThornClan so they could pass by without disturbing the battle-hungry cats.

Smokestar didn't break his running pace as they neared BreezeClan territory. He stopped just before the border and sat to patiently waited until a patrol came to escort them to the camp.

"This is mouse-brained," Berryfoot said after a while. "We're going to freeze if we wait much longer."

Stormpaw didn't argue, her paws were numb and she was constantly shivering as the wind blew right through her fur. She tasted the air and on the fast-moving breeze she could smell BreezeClan, "Here they come," she mewed.

Sure enough a few seconds later a small patrol came into view. Stormpaw recognized Cinderpaw, Owlflight, and Talonpaw . . . they all looked cold and extremely hungry. Cinderpaw and Owlflight both had small rabbits in their jaws and Talonpaw was holding some withered leaves and a small twig that had tiny purple berries dangling off of it.

"Greetings," Smokestar dipped his head to the patrol, "we would like to speak with Runningstar."

Talonpaw glowered at the RainClan cats, "Why should we?" he growled. "Come to spy on our camp and run back to your Clan and tell them how weak we are because it's leaf-bare?"

"Talonpaw silence!" Owlflight hissed. "RainClan are our allies and look at them, if you ask me they're hardly looking like a threat. Come with us, Smokestar," she added.

The BreezeClan cats led the patrol through their territory. Stormpaw looked around excitedly, their territory was completely covered in snow drifts, huge ones that were taller than two cats! She laughed playfully and leaped into the drift before bursting out of it seconds later. "I can't believe it! It's so deep!" she yowled.

Cinderpaw and Specklepaw joined her and they all jumped into the drifts before bursting out of them and spraying snow everywhere. The warriors just watched in amusement but Talonpaw had a sour expression on his face.

0o0o0o0o0o

"Smokestar what can we do for you?" Runningstar asked when she saw the RainClan patrol.

Runningstar was quiet the whole time as Smokestar explained the situation. She glanced thoughtfully at her medicine cats, "I suppose you could have Talonpaw. After all, Robinsong is young and won't be dying any time soon. Talonpaw!"

The light gray medicine cat padded over and sat down, "What is it?" he asked.

"RainClan's medicine cats, Mistpaw and Sweetwind, have recently been killed, leaving RainClan defenseless to greencough, whitecough, ThornClan, and this mysterious new DarkClan. I want you to go to RainClan and live there to serve as their medicine cat until they find a new one. Understood?" Runningstar looked expectantly at the young cat.

Talonpaw's brow furrowed, "W-w-what? Why can't I stay here? Robinsong can go instead," he protested. "I don't want to go near RainClan filth."

Stormpaw grimaced, the poor tom was younger than her, maybe seven moons at the most. He certainly didn't seem ready to leave his home and come to a whole new territory with different cats and personalities.

Runningstar frowned at him, "Talonpaw it is your duty as a medicine cat to serve those in need and by helping RainClan you'll be fulfilling your promise that you swore," she explained logically.

Talonpaw sighed and padded over to Robinsong to say his goodbye.

Smokestar and the patrol waited by the entrance of the camp. Stormpaw watched as an old queen came out of the nursery. Two small she-cats tumbled around her paws and when they spotted Talonpaw they made a mad dash towards the tom. The young medicine bent down to nuzzle the kits and he touched noses with the queen.

Stormpaw managed a sad smile at the scene. But at least RainClan would be safe. They had a new medicine cat now – even if he was an annoying furball – yet DarkClan remained, a growing shadow over the Clans.

I know I owe you all an explanation and really I don't have one. I started the chapter, then stopped, then started again, then stopped . . . and repeated that until now. I was extremely busy I have a tournament in two days that I have been working my butt off so I can earn a medal or a pin in it. And I've been studying for mid-terms like crazy.

And I'm sorry to say but I'm busy this weekend too. Saturday I'm at the tournament and will be gone all day (Its far and my friend's mom is driving and she's kinda . . . slow and talkative so . . .) Then on Sunday I have church until 10:30ish and I might be going with my friends somewhere and won't get back until late. Then I have Monday off and I'm going to visit family.

My deepest apologies. Please remember to vote on the poll *gives big bag of cookies to everyone who's already vote* thank you!

~Stormyyy