The snow continued to batter across the landscape for the next two moons as the cats could do nothing but hunker down in their dens and stay put. The harsh snow and frigid winds would make a cat think twice before wandering out of the camp to go look for prey. However, the cold does not last and the thaw has arrived.
Tawnyfoot was in a deep slumber as she was waiting for something to happen. Soon the water began to drip into her den, her nose twitched thinking it was snow. The dripping continued as she soon flicked her ears in annoyance as some snow fell on her head waking her up.
"It better be Newleaf already! I'm getting tired of the snow." Tawnyfoot grumbled as her green eyes shot open. She popped her head outside of the den to see the landscape had transformed as there were patches of white across the camp but there were also patches of brown and gray landscape as an indication that the thaw has begun, the leafbare was over. Tawnyfoot stretched herself out of the den as she looked around. Numerous other cats followed as they were waking up from their sleep. Crowstom was also awake as he looked around.
"Could Newleaf be already here?" Crowstorm asked. He was confused as the thaw had freed the landscape from the deep freeze. Tawnyfoot looked around to see a groundhog scamper about looking for something to eat. Crowstorm looked at Tawnyfoot who looked half-starved due to how long they were resting. Crowstorm despite him starving himself left the camp as he snuck up on the groundhog. The groundhog raised his head in alarm and began to scamper back into the den but it was too slow. Crowstorm swiftly leaped onto the groundhog killing it swiftly as he raised his head in triumph. Crowstorm soon turned back to Tawnyfoot.
"Looks like you caught the early worm." Tawnyfoot mewed as Crowstorm had caught his first prey of the season.
"Yes and it's for you, you're looking pretty thin yourself so you need to eat if all of us are going to get through these first few days of Newleaf." Crowstorm mewed. Tawnyfoot soon began to eat the groundhog greedily as she demanded it, after a long leafbare of huddling in their dens, they were itching to find food. Tawnyfoot decided to sun herself in the cold air to relax and build some energy up.
Featherstar soon emerged from her den as she was looking around to see many cats were beginning to get up and wander around. She knew she was putting this off for a long time and now she wanted to make sure all the cats got a mentor and begin their training. They didn't know what was going to happen this season but like all others, they knew they were going to make the most of it. Featherstar climbed to the top of the rock as she gathered all the cats in her clan.
"All cats that are old enough to catch their own prey, gather around for a clan meeting." Featherstar announced. All the cats gathered as they were worried about what was going to happen for this season. "I would want to have Stormpaw and Hazelpaw have mentors like I promised them before leafbare got the best of us. Stormpaw, your mentor will be Snowstorm. And Hazelpaw, your mentor will be Ferntail. Ivykit, Lightkit, Spiderkit and Specklekit until you receive your warrior names, you will be called Ivypaw, Lightpaw, Spiderpaw and Specklepaw. Lightpaw your mentor will be Brightspots. Lightpaw your mentor will be Swiftbreeze. Specklepaw your mentor will be Tulipleaf. And Ivypaw, your mentor will be Shadowstep, we definitely need another medicine cat. Meeting dismissed." Featherstar soon left as the clan activity resumed.
Shadowstep was horrified now that he had an apprentice to train against his will. Rowanstar had promised him not to give him an apprentice as he didn't want to go through training one since he found apprentices to be annoying and asking questions instead of figuring out how to do it. Featherstar knew she needed a medicine cat if Shadowstep was to die suddenly or his age would catch up with him and he would be forced to retire. It was clear that he was in for a rough ride with Ivypaw with him in the medicine den. Tawnyfoot padded up to Shadowstep who was ignoring his new apprentice.
"Is there anything wrong Shadowstep?" Tawnyfoot mewed as she was concerned with the medicine cat.
"Out of all of the cats to get an apprentice, why does it have to be me?" Shadowstep growled in anger. It was clear that he didn't want any cat to be his apprentice as he was now frustrated with the future he has.
"All medicine cats should have apprentices, you'll get used to it. And what would happen to our clan if we didn't have a medicine cat after you?" Tawnyfoot mewed. Her green eyes trying to get the medicine cat's attention. Shadowstep was doing his best to not have his apprentice.
"I don't want Ivypaw as my apprentice, she only adds onto the problems I already have." Shadowstep grumbled. He soon turned and walked away to sulk by himself. Tawnyfoot turned away as she went out of the camp to have her paws on the snow before it was to thaw all away. She had one place on her mind.
Jaywing and Berrytail padded out of the den together as siblings as they wanted to explore the fluffy white snow like they were apprentices again. They looked around as they were playing around in the snow even though they have responsibilities now. Jaywing discovered something by the lone tree where they held their gatherings; it was still partly buried in the snow as she looked around. She began to dig away at the snow as she uncovered the stick. She puts her nose to it as the voices sounded in her head.
"If you escape from Rock's death trial, you get to live." A she cat's voice sounded from the stick. Jaywing looked up as she heard the voice, what could it mean, they decided to bring the stick with them as they went to gather anything they could eat.
"Shadowstep must know about this." Jaywing mewed with wonder. Her bushy black tail wiggled on the snow as she remained perplexed by the presence of the stick. They padded away to look for food for the clan.
Tawnyfoot trekked across the territory as she wanted to check on some of the cats that she hadn't got the chance to see in a long while. She approached Shadowclan territory as she was excited yet nervous about what was going to happen. She padded up the ridge for the first time alone. She looked around as she was looking as far as she could see below her. She began thinking about Crowstorm and the first time he took her to the very spot. She closed her eyes and began to think. However, it didn't last as the cawing of golden eagles woke her up. She looked up to see a massive golden bird swoop overhead with a lemming in its huge talons. It landed down on to its nest to feed the offspring it had. Soon a voice called out from the right of her.
"You're here! We haven't seen you in so long." Tawnyfoot turned around to see that it was Robinflight as he was leading a patrol.
"I've became a warrior before the leafbare snow set in, I'm Tawnyfoot now." Tawnyfoot mewed.
"Congrats." Robinflight mewed warmly. He puts his head onto the she-cat in a gesture of his love. "You're a lot bigger than the last time I saw you; did you grow?" Robinflight wasn't used to Tawnyfoot's new appearance, last time he saw her, she was a lot smaller with newborn kits cuddled around her, but now she was big but at the same time, beautiful.
"So did anything change?" Tawnyfoot asked as she wanted to catch up on what was going on.
"Nothing much, Reedsplash is expecting kits again, Her kits previously are still apprentices but they will become warriors very soon and I got my own apprentice myself, her name is Finchpaw." Robinflight mewed.
"Well that's what you get when you're the spawn of Ferncloud." Tawnyfoot laughed.
"Yeah, I wish I can take you to visit Reedsplash but its best we give her some space at the moment, plus do you plan on having anymore kits?" Robinflight asked curiously. Tawnyfoot paused as the word kits hit her hard. She began to refer to Rowanstar's trials and how she was going to bring new life to the clans. She stood there thinking for a bit. She soon shook her head snapping back to reality.
"I want to but not at the moment when prey is still scarce, we just woke up." Tawnyfoot mewed. She looked around see what was going on as she waited for a response.
"It's fine. A waking cat would want to get their strength back up before they start with anything. Also I feel like I don't like any of the she-cats in this clan." Robinflight mewed before admitting his feelings.
"What do you mean by that?" Tawnyfoot asked. She began to blush thinking about what Robinflight meant.
"I feel like most of the She-cats in my clan about my age are either not willing to do anything important like hunt or go on a patrol or their causing mischief." Robinflight mewed. "Pebblestar doesn't like slackers in his clan and all the she-cats that are willing to do something are usually the senior warriors since they know how to do this."
"I can understand that he's striving for something but what would it be?" Tawnyfoot asked.
"I don't know exactly but I got to go, I'll tell you at the next gathering, it was nice talking to you." Robinflight mewed. He padded away with Finchpaw as Tawnyfoot looked overhead. She was excited for something now but what would it be. She turned around as she went off to hunt as she wanted to make the most of her time out. Maybe Robinflight was such a good cat that she could have kits with him. But she had to keep this a secret.
[A/N]: Sorry if this is the only chapter upload for the entire weekend but it's going to be busy today and for the rest of the week. Once this month is over, I can possibly continue this or do it at a reduced pace and upload chapters whenever. Spring break for me is late this year and I got some good news. I've applied for graduation after July and I'm ready to do something else. Keep watch when I post the next chapter. Peace my friends.