Challenge 3: First Snow
Burningpaw blinked open his eyes sleepily. He spotted his brother peering through the den entrance, tail raised high.
"What is it?" He mewed. "Wavepaw?"
The blue-gray apprentice turned back towards him. "Come and see!"
Burningpaw scrambled from his nest and over to his brother's side. He peeked over his shoulder and spotted a strange white substance covering the ground. It fell from the sky as well, but in smaller flakes.
"Wow!" He purred. "Lemme out!"
He scrambled over Wavepaw, who hissed in protest. He darted into the middle of the camp, jaw hanging open as he looked around. The white stuff was everywhere. Even on top of the fresh-kill pile.
"It's snow." An amused voice came from a black tom nearby.
"Snow?" Burningpaw cocked his head at his mentor. "Crowheart, will it affect today's training?"
"Actually," Crowheart mewed. "I was letting you stay in camp today, for that very reason."
"Really?"
"Yep. Go enjoy yourself."
"Thanks!" Burningpaw felt a wave of gratitude towards his mentor.
He flinched as some of the cold snow landed on his back.
"C'mon!" Wavepaw purred, leaping on top of him. "Let's have fun!"
They raced around the camp, kicking up pawfuls of snow. His brother knocked him to the ground, laying beside him. Snow covered their pelts, dampening them. He rolled onto his back, letting the dim sunshine warm his fur. He let out a yawn and glanced at his brother, who was getting to his paws.
"Where are you going?" Burningpaw asked curiously.
"I might see if Sparrowpelt can take me on a hunting patrol." Wavepaw shrugged.
"Alright." He mewed simply. "Have fun."
His brother snorted. "You too."
Wavepaw padded away, meeting up with his mentor and vanishing out of camp. Burningpaw got to his paws, shaking snow from his fur. He darted over to the fresh-kill pile, digging snow off of it. He pulled out a medium sized hare from the middle of it and padded back into the apprentices' den. He ate quickly, racing back into the snow. It was coming down in large, thick flakes. He raced around the clearing, batting at each flake like a kit. Though he had to admit, he felt like one again.
After a while, he joined Crowheart in one of the few snow-less spots of the camp. He groomed his orange and black pelt in swift licks. Then he settled down, looking through the snow at the rest of the cats.
"Bored?" His mentor asked after a few heartbeats.
"Yes, actually." Burningpaw admitted. "Can we go hunt?"
Crowheart's ear twitched. "The snow is too thick, Burningpaw."
"But Sparrowpelt and Wavepaw are hunting out there!" He retorted, anger spiking up his fur.
"What?" His mentor jolted to his paws. "It's dangerous in snow this thick! They could be killed. Are you sure that they're out there?"
The young apprentice nodded, fear making his tail twitch. "We need to help them!"
"We can't risk any more cats." The firm, deep voice of Bramblestorm came. The brown deputy walked into their little snow-less spot. "Two are more than enough."
"What if they die?" Burningpaw asked, fear for his brother flowing through him. "Wavepaw might need my help right now."
"We can't lose you too, Burningpaw." Bramblestorm gazed fondly at him, trying to get the message through to him.
"Look, father." He hissed. "While you hide in camp, I'll find my brother."
The angry apprentice raced back into the snow, ignoring his father's calls from behind. His pelt plastered to his sides, soaked, as snow covered it. He shoved through the bramble barrier, knocking most of the snow off, only to have more build up in his thick fur. He raced through the trees.
"Wavepaw!" He yowled, blinking snow from his green eyes. "Brother! Where are you?"
"Burningpaw!" Sparrowpelt's voice screeched back.
The black and white warrior burst into sight, racing to his side.
"Where's my brother?"
"I don't know." The warrior admitted. "We got seperated."
"He's lost?" Burningpaw growled.
"C'mon, we have to find him." Sparrowpelt told him. "Just stay close to me, got it?"
He nodded.
"Good."
They clambered over the snow covered ground, panting and shivering. After a while, his whole body was numb. He hardly noticed when he tripped over something hidden in the snow.
"Are you alright?" His brother's mentor asked.
He let out a small huff, teeth chattering. "I'm freezing. What did I trip on?"
"I don't k-know, let me check." The warrior stuttered.
Burningpaw got to his feet, turning around to join the black and white tom. He helped him start unburying the object. But it was during those few heartbeats when he realized that this wasn't a thing. It was a living thing. They uncovered a mouse tail sized space of gray-blue fur, matted to the body of its owner. He felt his heart leap into his throat. Please don't be Wavepaw…
Challenge 3- Complete
Word Count- 815 (Not counting everything in bold)