Dainty flakes of snow drifted from the foggy leaf-bare sky. Fawnpaw and the rest of the apprentices huddled together inside the apprentice den attempting to keep warm. Fadingwhisper had deemed Darkpaw fit to leave her den and return to regular duties the day before. Fawnpaw had noticed that Sagepaw developed a keen liking to Darkpaw and tried spending every waking moment with her. The two of them were bundled together in the middle of the den talking away. Shadowpaw layed next to Fawnpaw shivering with bristled fur.
"It's so cold! I've never been this cold in my entire life." He groaned through gritted teeth. Scooting closer and closer, he pressed deep into Fawnpaw's pelt. She shivered as she felt his tail curl around her flank and rested by her side. Despite her close friendships with the other apprentices, she had never felt more cared for.
"I don't know about you guys, but I am so glad that Tallsky let the apprentices have a day off." Antpaw huffed, tussling with Lightningpaw in the back.
"Me too. But even if he hadn't, Shadowpaw and I would still be doing nothing. Considering there aren't enough warriors for us to have mentors." Darkpaw put in. Lightningpaw shot his head up and sneezed.
"Yeah, and with Hawkstar being pregnant and all, I don't have a mentor! This Clan is too small."
"Hey, it could be worse. Fadingwhisper told me earlier that DeathClan used to be really small." Fawnpaw recounted.
"Has anyone ever realizes how strange our den is? I mean, it's a bunch of boulders smushed together in a circle and covered in pine needles. All the other dens are either underground or in a clump of ferns." Lightningpaw said, smacking Antpaw in the face. Sagepaw glared at the two rambunctious toms with annoyance.
"Would you two calm down? This den is too crowded for you two to be wrestling. Tallsky has given us a free day, so take advantage of it. Take a nap, talk quietly, just stop being rough!" Darkpaw rolled her eyes at him and cuffed his ear playfully. Fawnpaw noticed how sleepy she felt with the warm den air engulfing her.
"Sagepaw might be right. I'm going to take a nap." Shadowpaw rolled over, his face pointing away from her.
"Alright. I think I'm going to pay Ripplepaw a visit." Fawnpaw shakily stood to her paws. The air outside of the den felt chilled. Gentle flakes of snow landed on her fur, causing an uncomfortable shudder to ripple through her body. She took a sharp left turn and tumbled into the medicine den. Sharp scents engulfed her nostrils, stinging her to the core.
"Fawnpaw! What a delightful surprise. I was just sorting the herbs we need for leaf-bare. StarClan forbid greencough invades our camp." Ripplepaw squealed while her paws worked tirelessly, sorting through piles of plants."Fadingwhisper told me earlier that Lichenspark has been very cold lately. Her old age must be weakening her body. Why don't you join me while I take her some fresh moss and poppyseed."
"Poppyseed? Why does she need those?"
"It's pretty hard to sleep when you're cold. A poppyseed should help her sleep at night." Fawnpaw thought of the frail she-cat curled sleepily inside her den.
"I will go with you." Fawnpaw veered her head to the left and right."So, where is Fadingwhisper? Shouldn't she be here helping you sort things?" Ripplepaw ambled off and gathered a wad of moss in her mouth.
"She's out gathering catmint just in case. Do me a favor and grab a poppyseed. Lap one onto your tongue and don't drop it. Then follow me to the elders den."
...
"Oh thank you. Lichenspark has been complaining nonstop about her sleeplessness." Krestelflight mewed. Fawnpaw held the seed on her tongue while moving towards the elder.
"Fawnpaw? Is that you?" Lichenspark lifted her head shakily. Fawnpaw cringed at the sight of her shifty movements. She spat out the poppyseed and gently put it at her paws.
"Here, eat this. It will help you sleep." The old she-cat squinted her eyes trying to focus on the seed. Without questions, she licked the seed up and cracked it between her teeth. Ripplepaw quickly replaced the dirtied bedding with fluffy, clean moss.
"Ripplepaw, may I have a word?" Fawnpaw watched Lichenspark curl into a ball and doze off into a deep sleep. With each breath, her pelt rose and fell at a steady rate. To Fawnpaw, it seemed almost peaceful. A moment later, Ripplepaw gave Krestelflight a worrisome look, then stood.
"Come on Fawnpaw. Let's leave them to rest." She scrambled out of the den and trotted at her friend's side.
"So what was that about? Is Krestelflight alright?" Fawnpaw's paws grew colder with each step and eventually went numb. I hate snow. Suddenly,Tallsky and Deerleap came tumbling in through the thorn tunnel. Chests heaving, Deerleap shouted loudly.
"Somebody come quick! Fadingwhisper is hurt!" Her yellow eyes were flooded with terror. Hawkstar burst out from the nursery and pelted for the two warriors.
"What happened?"
"We, we were out hunting and, and we found her at the river bank." Tallsky explained.
"Ripplepaw, gather cobwebs and poppyseeds for pain, now!" Fawnpaw followed Ripplepaw into the medicine den and they set to work, frantically collecting the needed supplies. The trip to the river bank was all a blur. Ripplepaw worked swiftly, cleaning Fadingwhisper's torn belly and wrapping it in cobwebs. Crimson blood gushed from the wound and formed a pool in the blanket of snow. Fawnpaw stood by Deerleap's flank watching the whole scene. Hawkstar was crouched by Fadingwhisper's side whispering words of comfort into her ear.
"Ripplepaw...come here." Fadingwhisper gasped. Her breaths came in short bursts, causing uncomfortable spasms to ripple down her legs. Ripplepaw ignored her mentor's words and continued on. "Ripplepaw, listen close. My time in this Clan has come to an end and there is something you need to know...before I go." A shrill wail escaped the gray she-cat's mouth.
"No, you can't leave me! I'm not ready!" Fawnpaw trembled as she watched the dying she-cat brush her tail along her apprentice's back.
"You are ready. You've learned plenty of things to go on without me. Now listen closely. A great darkness is coming. It will rise and choke anything that dares to challenge it, like the smoke that is birthed from a fire." She paused abruptly to reel in a long breath. "It is my time now. Goodbye Ripplepaw." Fadingwhisper closed her eyes. All at once, her chest ceased to rise.
"No!" Ripplepaw wailed. She stopped her feet into the ground and buried her nose into the dead she-cat's pelt. After a moment or two, she lazily lifted her head with a sniffle. "I think...I think this is what Adderdust spoke of at the last gathering." Hawkstar padded over to Tallsky.
"What do you mean buy that?" Tallsky inquired.
"The whispers of the night will fade and darkness will rise. Fadingwhisper is...dead now. So the rest of the prophecy is going to play out." The group of cats stood in silence for a while, mourning the death of their beloved medicine cat when a terrible shriek shook the forest to its core. Fawnpaw perked her ears, her heart pounding quickly. Shooting a worried glance at the rest of the cats, Fawnpaw took off.
"That was Krestelflight!" She shouted back. As trees blurred in her vision, she couldn't help but think that something terrible happened to Lichenspark.