Disclaimer: …
A/N: This is a filler chapter. I need to waste some time. Sorry. Though this chapter isn't a complete waste of time. There are a few important things in this chapter, so pay attention.
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Flamespirit-eth: Thanks! -gives you cookie- I seriously have no idea how to enable anonymous reviewers. I feel so stupid. PM me please. Thanks.
Mintytooth: Indeed, another cat is hiding something. You shall soon find out who that tabby is, though Moonstar has already guessed correctly. The cat that is a causing Lionkit's nightmare is… I can't tell you. But it is a very interesting cat.
GoldenFox13: Thanks:) Though I'm curious to know why you didn't review why you didn't review the previous story. Oh well. It doesn't matter.
Moonstar of FireClan: I like to confuse my readers! -grins- Indigokit has some… issues at the moment. Just what kind of issues shall be revealed soon. You've assumed correctly. The tabby she-cat will most likely play a large part in the story. I like Blazingstar too. There are definite reasons as to why his personality is so mysterious… which, like everything else, will be revealed later. Poor Pantherstar has issues too. Acidpaw's pretty mad about that too. Acidpaw's is definitely still planning to leave when Rainpaw's time is up… Rainpaw better hurry! Thanks for the super awesome review!
Speaker of the Dragons: Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. Some of the chapters are a bit unclear, I know. I have a few chapters that were not beta-ed.
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HUGE THANKS TO MY FANTASTIC SUPER-BETA, MISTYTAIL, FOR GIVING GREAT IDEAS WITH THIS CHAPTER!!!
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Chapter Three
The Tradition of the First Snow-Fall
"Acidpaw! Acidpaw! Wake up!"
The black-furred apprentice blinked open his acid green eyes.
"What is it?" he moaned, "What do you want, Rainpaw?"
"Get up! There's a Clan meeting!" boomed the she-cat's voice, "But that's less important. It snowed! Get up! Hurry!"
Acidpaw knew she had left because he heard her claws scraping on the floor of the Apprentice Den. The apprentice heaved himself to his paws. He hated snow. It was too cold.
The entire Clan was gathered at the Treestump.
"Cats of ForestClan," meowed Pantherstar, "Leaf-bare has arrived."
"We can tell," grumbled Acidpaw to himself.
"This is the first snowfall. Today, all the apprentices will have the day off, and all punishments will be lifted until sunset."
Most of the senior Warriors laughed. Pantherstar's eyes gleamed with joy as well.
"The Warriors who have been here during ForestClan's leadership under Redstar know that the Tradition of the First Snow-Fall has been carried out ever since Flamestar was made leader many moons ago," explained Pantherstar, seeing the confused look on the apprentices' faces, "Falconbeak will arrange a hunting patrol and dawn patrol. The rest of you are free to take the day off unless you are called for a border patrol."
All of the apprentices cheered and raced off in different directions.
Acidpaw turned around slowly. He finally had a day away from his punishment. What was he going to do with his day? He didn't have any chores, since he had taken care of cleaning the elders' den the night before.
The black-furred apprentice suddenly received a shower of snow in his face. He hissed angrily. Who in StarClan's name had the nerve to shove snow at him?
"Come on Acidpaw!" yowled Rainpaw's voice gleefully, brushing the snow off his face with her tail, "Loosen up!"
Acidpaw growled and turned away, his ears drooping. He heard Rainpaw coming closer to him.
Perfect, thought Acidpaw, Just what I wanted her to do…
"Acidpaw, are you—" started Rainpaw. A cascade of snow stopped her abruptly, temporarily blinding her. The last thing she saw before snow was the smirk on Acidpaw's face.
Rainpaw shook her head angrily, clearing the white powder. "Snow fight!" she howled.
Acidpaw was nowhere to be seen, but cats all around camp were flinging snow at each other.
The Medicine Cat apprentice dashed out of camp. Where was that annoying acid-eyed…
Rainpaw couldn't come up with an insult for Acidpaw because before she had time to think, a large pile of snow stopped all movement. She poked her head out of the snowdrift. She was immobilized. Rainpaw looked up into a nearby tree. Acidpaw's lithe black-furred form was standing triumphantly on a branch that had previously held snow on it.
Rainpaw snarled. "That was a cheap trick!" she fumed.
"Loosen up," mocked Acidpaw, leaping out of the tree and sprinting off.
"Wait till I get out of here, you little—pipsqueak!"
Acidpaw never heard her. He was too busy running for dear life. Angry she-cats were not pleasant to deal with.
Rainpaw was stuck.
"How humiliating…" she muttered, her ears turning slightly pink.
"You stuck?"
"Mistypaw!" exclaimed Rainpaw happily.
Mistypaw started to dig her out.
"I was pretty freaked out when I woke up this morning," meowed the silver-tailed she-cat, "I've never seen snow before. CanyonClan migrates to the desert when it starts to get cold."
Rainpaw laughed. She was finally able to move her legs again. "Thanks Mistypaw. I have to go get Acidpaw back for that one!"
Mistypaw looked at Rainpaw in surprise. "Acidpaw got you stuck? I was assuming that it was Oceanpaw or Lynxpaw!"
"I shoved some snow in his face first thing in the morning. He was just trying to get me back for it," explained Rainpaw.
The former CanyonClan cat's eyes narrowed. "You seem to be hanging around him a lot more lately. Be careful. Remember, a Medicine Cat—"
"I've heard it plenty of times," Rainpaw cut in, "Acidpaw is just a friend, nothing more. I'm not even sure if he sees me as a friend. I'm probably more of an acquaintance."
"Right. I understand," meowed Mistypaw. She glanced around nervously, "I have to go. Things to do. See you later!"
"Bye!" replied Rainpaw.
Odd… Being a loner, she couldn't have anything much to do…
Rainpaw suddenly remembered that she had to get Acidpaw back for letting a snowdrift fall on her.
The Medicine Cat apprentice growled. "I'll get you!"
Medicine Cat den…
Silverdiamond looked at the kittypet's sleeping form. He had been unconscious for nearly a moon and a half, and she was beginning to wonder if he would survive. She and Rainpaw had managed to force some food down his throat, as well as water, but getting him to swallow was nearly impossible. He was scrawny, even to the point of emaciated.
The Medicine Cat studied Freddy's appearance. He was a long-furred orange cat with white patches here and there. He was a relatively big cat, he must've been at least nine or ten moons old.
Silverdiamond resumed sorting the herbs. Rainpaw had collected a lot of medicinal plants. She was excelling at her duties. She still had a lot to learn though. Even if she had perfectly memorized each and every plant, she still hadn't experienced the battlefield. She would have to cope with seeing cats trying to kill each other. Rainpaw had yet to use her skills on a patient in real danger. So far, the injuries her mentor assigned to her were mostly small cuts and torn claws and embedded thorns here and there.
Speaking of embedded thorns…
"Silverdiamond…" whispered a tiny voice.
The Medicine Cat turned around. She saw Indigokit holding Redkit by the scruff.
"Indigokit! Put her down!" ordered Silverdiamond harshly.
"Okay," replied Indigokit, dropping her ungracefully.
"Ow!" whined Redkit, "That hurt!"
"You were meant to put her down gently!" scolded the Medicine Cat.
Indigokit shrugged.
"What's the matter, little one?" asked Silverdiamond, crouching next to Redkit.
The ginger kit sniffled and twitched her front paw. "I think I have a thorn stuck and it really hurts."
"How in StarClan's name did you manage to get a thorn stuck during leaf-bare?" exclaimed the silver-and-black she-cat.
Indigokit snorted. "That's what I'd like to know!"
"I was playing with Lionkit, Soulkit, and Lightningkit outside in the snow, and we were near the brambles that you can only see in greenleaf, but I forgot that they were there, and then I stepped on them."
"That was intelligent," muttered Indigokit sarcastically.
"You would've done the same!" hissed Redkit.
"Would not!"
"Would too!"
"Would not!"
"Would too!"
"Would not!"
"Would too!"
"Would not!"
"Would too!"
"Would not!"
"Would too!"
"Would not!"
"Would too!"
"Stop it!" yowled Silverdiamond.
"Sorry," mewed both kits, their heads down in shame.
"Just why is Indigokit here with you if you absolutely despise each other?" asked Silverdiamond.
Indigokit snorted. "The big baby here was too pathetic to walk by herself, so the queens told me, since I'm the oldest in the nursery, to carry Redkit here. You don't think that I really brought her here of my own will, did you?"
Silverdiamond rolled her eyes, "Whatever you say, Indigokit. Let me see your paw, Redkit."
The little kit stuck out her aching paw.
"It's not deep," meowed the Medicine Cat, "I'll take it out quickly. If you need to scream, then prevent that by biting Indigokit's tail. Since you'll be so concentrated on biting, then it'll hurt less."
"Okay," mewed Redkit, taking the tabby kit's tail in her mouth.
"Hey!" growled Indigokit, "I never agreed to this!"
Silverdiamond ignored him and tugged out the thorn. Redkit bit Indigokit's tail hard enough to draw a little bit of blood.
"Owww!!" yowled Indigokit, pulling his tail away and examining his 'wound', "That hurt me more than the thorn hurt you!"
Silverdiamond frowned. "Redkit, did it really hurt so much that you needed to bite so hard?"
"Not really," replied Redkit smugly, "In fact, it really didn't hurt at all. I just thought that it would be funny to bite Indigokit's tail!"
"Why you little—" snarled Indigokit, "I'll get you!"
"If you can catch me!" laughed Redkit. She raced out of the Medicine Cat den, "Thanks Silverdiamond!"
Silverdiamond shook her head. "Kits."
Drinking Stream…
Rainpaw saw Acidpaw. He was headed for a hollow tree stump on the far side of the drinking stream. He tested the ice, making sure it was solid, before dashing across.
"You can't escape!" yowled Rainpaw.
She entered the tree stump. She tried to stop, but skidded on some ice and smashed into the back wall of the tree stump. Everything went black.
Acidpaw stared at her. He smirked. "Did I mention the ice?"
The black tom turned to leave the hollow stump, but before he could, a cascade of snow blocked the exit.
"Foxdung!" cursed Acidpaw.
He moved forward to try and dig out, but he slipped on the ice and hit his head on another wall of the tree stump. He too, was out cold.
Moonrise at ForestClan camp…
Oceanpaw, Lynxpaw, and Spotpaw were facing off in the snow fight against Breezepaw, Wolfpaw, and Stripepaw. Currently, the three she-cats were totally creaming the opposing side. Breezepaw received a large amount of snow in his face from Lynxpaw, while Oceanpaw and Spotpaw were ganging up on Stripepaw.
Wolfpaw was standing there innocently.
"Wolfpaw!" yowled the gray tom, spitting out a chunk of snow, "When I said we were a team, that means helping us!"
"Rebel, Wolfpaw!" meowed Lynxpaw gleefully, "Join us!"
Wolfpaw smiled. "Okay."
Breezepaw's jaw dropped. "Wolfpaw!"
Nursery…
"I completely beat you, Indigokit, there's no denying it!" mewed Redkit proudly.
"You most certainly did not!" retorted the tabby kit.
They had a huge snow fight earlier, and it was Redkit and Lionkit who had beaten Indigokit and Stormkit, although, Lionkit and Stormkit didn't really participate.
"Did too!"
"No you didn't!"
"You're just afraid of admitting that a she-cat beat you!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Am not!"
"Are too! Wait… huh?" Indigokit stopped to think about that.
Redkit burst out laughing. "That's the oldest trick there is! I can't believe you fell for that!"
The tips of Indigokit's ears burned in embarrassment. He turned away.
"Whatever," he muttered, "I still beat you…"
"No you didn't."
"Be quiet."
Tree stump near the Drinking Stream…
When Rainpaw opened her eyes, it was dark. She assumed that it was around moonrise. After a few seconds of letting her eyes adjust to the dimness of the tree stump, she saw Acidpaw lying on his side, his head against the wall of the hollow.
"Acidpaw?" she meowed softly.
"Go away" murmured Acidpaw in his sleep, "I hate chores."
"Acidpaw wake up!"
"Why…?"
"Because!" hissed Rainpaw desperately, "We're still in that tree stump! There's snow in front of the exit! Help me dig it out of the way!"
"It's just snow…" replied Acidpaw, curling himself into a tight ball, "Dig it out in the morning. If we're lucky, it might melt before we wake up."
Seeing that it was no use trying to convince him, Rainpaw sighed and curled up, falling asleep once again, too tired to keep protesting.
Medicine Cat den…
Silverdiamond yawned and blinked open her orange eyes. Stepping out of her den, she realized that it was nearly sunhigh. She had slept in. At least no one had come in with any injuries. She chose a plump vole from the fresh-kill pile. This was probably the best she would be able to get until newleaf. She shivered. It was colder than it had been the day before. All the snow on the ground had become icy and hard, contrary to the soft, powdery dust from the Tradition of the First Snow-Fall.
"Hello Silverdiamond!" meowed Blindnose cheerfully, munching on a mouse.
"Blindnose? What are you doing outside the elders' den?" asked the Medicine Cat.
"I'm chewing on this mouse here, and remembering the days when I used to lead the leaf-bare dawn patrol. Darn good times, those were. The crunch of the snow and the ice, just a lovely sound."
"Blindnose?" called Goosefang's voice.
"Oh hello, Goosefang!" replied the eldest of ForestClan, "Would you like to join Whisperedsong and I? We were just remembering the old times."
"I'm Silverdiamond," corrected the Medicine Cat, "Whisperedsong was my mother, remember?"
"Ah, yes. My bad. A lovely she-cat, Whisperedsong was. A fine Warrior. I wonder how her kits are doing…"
"I'm one of her kits, Blindnose," meowed Silverdiamond.
"Blindnose," growled the white-furred elder, cutting Silverdiamond off before she could say anything else, "You were supposed to bring back a meal for the three of us, not eat it outside by yourself!"
"Three of who?"
Goosefang sighed. "The three badgers that are currently sharing tongues with the kits," she meowed sarcastically, "Who do you think?"
Blindnose gasped. "Badgers? In camp? This is madness!"
The white-furred elder rolled her eyes. "I was kidding, you numbskull."
The eldest of ForestClan had a blank look on his face. "Kidding about what?"
"The badgers…"
"You shouldn't joke about stuff like that!" growled Blindnose angrily.
"Sorry, sorry! Sheesh… Come Blindnose, back to the elders' den."
Silverdiamond sighed as she watched Goosefang drag her senile friend away. "I'll send one of the apprentices to bring you some fresh-kill later!"
"Thanks!" replied Goosefang.
Normally, one would get an ill-tempered retort from Goosefang, but she and Silverdiamond had been close friends since they were out of the nursery many seasons ago.
Silverdiamond glanced around camp. Her apprentice was not to be seen. Falconbeak passed by the Medicine Cat, muttering angrily to himself.
"Daft little furball. How dare make a disappearing act when he knows that he has chores to do!"
Tree stump…
Acidpaw opened his eyes. The sun was up now, but he could only tell by the little beams of light coming through the cracks of the tree stump. The other thing he noticed was that it was cold. Colder than it had been the day before. The black-furred apprentice rose to his paws, deciding to dig the snow away from the exit. He didn't wake Rainpaw because he wanted to see the astonished look on her face when she realized he had left without her.
His paw came down on the snow at the exit, which was removed hastily. Acidpaw's paw throbbed. The snow had gotten colder? Was that even possible? Or had it hardened somehow?
"Oh StarClan no…"
"What is it, Acidpaw?" Rainpaw meowed groggily.
"…"
"What? Hurry up and dig away the snow. I want to go back to camp so that I can have some fresh-kill. I'm so hungry I could eat half the forest."
"Imagine how fat you'd get."
"I know—Wait a minute… Hey!"
Acidpaw snickered.
"Just hurry up and dig the snow out of the way. I'll be up soon to help you."
Returning to his normal serious face, Acidpaw tested the snow again with the same results. Rainpaw was not going to like this…
"Um… Rainpaw?"
"Wow, you're actually talking to me," teased the Medicine Cat Apprentice, "Just hurry up. Silverdiamond is going to wonder where I am. I have chores to do, herbs to sort."
"There's a problem."
"About what? The snow?" meowed Rainpaw sarcastically.
"Actually, yeah."
"What?"
"Well… it's… sort of… not snow no more."
"What are you talking about?" Rainpaw got to her paws and touched the snow, also pulling away her paw after a few seconds, "StarClan no… ICE?"
"Well done stating the obvious."
"What are we going to do? We're stuck in a tree stump!"
"It's better than doing chores."
"I don't care! I need to get out of here!"
Acidpaw sighed. "Do you think I don't?"
"You're not helping!" hissed Rainpaw. She looked at the ceiling of the tree stump, "HEEEEEEEEEEELP!"
"Rainpaw, shut up! You're hurting my ears!"
"How else do you want to get out of here?"
Acidpaw looked around, as if searching for something. "I don't know."
They were silent for a while.
"Acidpaw… Are we going to die here?" asked Rainpaw.
"Yeah, probably."
"You aren't supposed to say that!"
"Do you want me to lie?"
Rainpaw looked down at her paws. "No."
Acidpaw's eyes widened. "Shh!" he silenced Rainpaw.
Faint voices could be heard.
"… wonder… Rainpaw… could be…" it was Snakefang's voice.
Rainpaw gasped. "Snakefang!" she yowled.
"… whoa! Sharktooth… hear that?"
"Yeah!"
The two trapped apprentices heard pawsteps approaching.
"Rainpaw?" came Sharktooth's voice, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," replied the Medicine Cat apprentice, "We're trapped. There's solid ice blocking the exit."
"Really?" asked Snakefang's voice. His pawsteps faded away, "StarClan, it's true!"
"Don't worry, Rainpaw, we'll get you out of there."
"And what am I?" retorted Acidpaw angrily, "Crowfood?"
"Keep your fur on," growled Sharktooth, "Listen, both of you. The top of the tree stump looks really thin, so Snakefang and I are going to jump on it. Stand against the walls, we don't want to fall on you."
Acidpaw did what he was told reluctantly. "We could've gotten out ourselves."
"No we couldn't," retorted Rainpaw, who was standing next to him.
Acidpaw and Rainpaw's pelts' brushed for a split second. Both apprentices' ears' burned.
A thin crack on light shone from the ceiling of the tree stump and next thing they knew, Snakefang and Sharktooth had joined them in the tree stump. Said Warriors immediately leaped out again.
"Come on, you two. Silverdiamond and Falconbeak are looking for you," meowed Snakefang.
"I bet I know what Falconbeak wants…" muttered Acidpaw darkly.
"It's your own fault for getting into so much trouble," meowed Sharktooth.
Acidpaw spun around. "Shut up!" he hissed, "Why is everyone blaming me? It's always, Acidpaw this, Acidpaw that! Why don't do place all of your blame on somebody else for a change?"
With that, Acidpaw stormed off to camp.
"Acidpaw!" yowled Rainpaw after him.
"It's no use, Rainpaw," meowed Snakefang.
"Just forget it," added Sharktooth, "It'll blow over."
Rainpaw nodded sadly and followed them to camp.
The day went on as if the tree stump incident had never happened. Hours became days, and soon The Tradition of the First Snow-Fall was seven sunrises behind them.
Rainpaw woke up to an empty apprentice den. She heard many voices coming from outside.
What's all the commotion? wondered Rainpaw.
She stepped out of the den. Many of the Clan was gathered around Lavaflame and Foxclaw. Rainpaw approached as well. Leaning against Foxclaw's shoulder, unconscious, was a tiny, emaciated, and strangely familiar-looking tabby cat.
"Move aside," ordered Pantherstar to the crowd of cats, "What's going on here?"
"We were on the dawn patrol," explained Lavaflame, "And Foxclaw and I saw her unconscious on the border of the Twoleg Path. We weren't just going to leave her there."
"Well done," praised the Clan leader, "Silverdiamond?"
The Medicine Cat approached. The tabby she-cat was shifted from Foxclaw's shoulder to Silverdiamond's.
"Rainpaw," summoned Silverdiamond.
The Medicine Cat Apprentice nodded and followed her mentor into the Medicine Cat den.
"I need you to get her some fresh-kill. Go quickly. Then come back here for some feverfew."
Rainpaw nodded. "Right away."
Silverdiamond turned her attention to the tabby she-cat. She lay her down on a pile of moss.
The tabby she-cat opened her eyes. She struggled to lift her head and frowned in confusion when Silverdiamond looked down at her.
I'm… alive?
"It's alright. You're safe now," whispered the Medicine Cat soothingly, "My apprentice has gone to fetch you some food. It certainly looks like you need it."
Thank you…
Rainpaw returned to Silverdiamond with a mouse dangling from her jaws. She put it down in front of the tabby she-cat.
"Here you go. You'll be better in no time, you'll see."
The tabby she-cat stared at Rainpaw in shock.
Is that the she-cat that saved from Seapaw and Hawkpaw?
"What is it?" asked Rainpaw.
The tabby she-cat's mouth opened but no sound came out.
It was Rainpaw's turn to be surprised.
"Oh StarClan…" she whispered, "I know you…"
The tabby she-cat nodded weakly.
"Maddie?"
Rainpaw and Silverdiamond spun around. There was Freddy, the cat who no one thought would survive, staggering to his paws.
"Maddie," he whispered, staring directly at the tabby she-cat, "Is that you?"
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That's the end of this chapter. Virtual cookies to all that review!