Rainpaw woke with the rising sun and stretched in his nest in the apprentices' den. It was nearly empty and he could see the sleeping forms of Snowpaw and Leopardpaw.
He prodded Snowpaw in the side and the white apprentice's head shot up. "What? Are we under attack?"
"No, Snowpaw," Rainpaw sighed.
"Then why'd you wake me for?" Snowpaw grumbled. "I thought our mentors decided to give us the day off."
"Do you know where Blackpaw is?" Rainpaw asked, trying to sound casual.
"No, I haven't seen her since moonhigh," Snowpaw replied, getting to his paws.
The two apprentices padded out of the den and, after a quick scan of the clearing, confirmed that their sister wasn't in the camp.
"Maybe she just went out on patrol," Snowpaw suggested. "We need all the prey we can get before they take to their burrows for good."
It was only then that Rainpaw noticed the icy chill in the air and the dark storm clouds that had gathered in the night. Instead of dew, the grass was covered in a crisp layer of frost.
"Come on, let's go ask Smalltail," Rainpaw said and they made their way over to the warriors' den.
"Okay, while you're doing that, I'll go and see if I can find Bluefeather," Snowpaw decided and walked off.
The clouds broke open and snow began to fall, the first snow of the coming leafbare. It chilled Rainpaw's fur as he entered the warriors' den, flicking the moisture from his ears.
"Smalltail?" Rainpaw called.
"Rainpaw? What are you doing here?"
"Have you seen Blackpaw?" Rainpaw asked.
"I don't believe I have," the old warrior replied. "I gave her the day off from training."
"Why? Is she missing?" Icewhisker had come to listen to the conversation and there was a hint of worry in her voice.
"I hope not," Rainpaw breathed.
"Well, I'm sure she's okay," Smalltail assured him. "She's probably just gone off hunting somewhere. I wouldn't worry too much."
"Okay," Rainpaw said and backed out of the den. He turned and nearly ran into a dark tabby tom. He gasped, realizing it was Brokenfoot, the crazy elder loyal to Shadestar.
"I've seen her," he growled. "She left the camp after Shadestar, but he didn't see her. She saw something she never should have seen. Heard something not meant to be heard."
"What are you talking about?" Rainpaw demanded, losing his patience and feeling a jolt of fear that made his fur stand on end.
"She's at Snakerocks," the tom grunted and turned away.
Trying to look normal, Rainpaw headed toward the fern tunnel. He thought about going to find Snowpaw but it would take too long. When he climbed out of the ravine, he broke into a run as the snow fell thickly to the ground.
Snowflakes lazily twirled through the open door, settling onto the hay where they melted. Inside the barn was warm, safe from the storm that raged overhead.
Misty crouched low, watching Night as the black loner circled, her tail twitching. Then she leaped and Misty sidestepped, avoiding the attack. She raised a paw to bat at her mother as she sailed past.
"Not bad," Night commented, licking her paw and drawing it across her ear.
"Is this to scare those wild cats away?" Misty questioned. "'cause I don't know how well it'll work."
"No, they're not like that, I've told you," Night replied. "No, I'm teaching you to fight in case you ever meet any cat who isn't as reasonable."
"Oh," Misty mewed, then dropped into a crouch. "Can you show me that one move again?" But she relaxed her position when two cats padded into the barn. When she recognized them, she let out a purr of joy.
"Gus!" she exclaimed upon seeing the ginger tom. "It's so good to see you." Then she turned to the second cat, a delicate she-cat with cream and white fur. "Angel, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with your twolegs?"
The kittypet shook her head. "My housefolk have gone out somewhere. They won't miss me for the time being."
"Well I'm glad you're here," Misty said.
"Yes, but what brings you here?" Night asked.
"Can't a couple of lonely cats come by to visit some old friends?" Gus asked.
"In this weather?" Night meowed.
"Of course," replied Gus. "Although it wasn't so much the weather as it was those wild cats. We were almost killed on our way here!"
"Gus!" Night exclaimed, shocked by his persistent stories and exaggerations.
"What?" Gus asked in all innocence. "It's true!" He turned to face Misty. "How 'bout I tell you the story, huh?"
Misty nodded eagerly, ignoring Night's disapproving glance.
"Well, we were just walkin' along, mindin' our own business when all of a sudden this huge cat jumps out. He was this big dark tabby with fierce teeth and long sharp claws. He jumped out at us and attacked but I managed to get a hold of him and I clawed him and there was this huge fight but in the end I sent him yowling into the trees with his tail between his legs."
"That was a lovely story, Gus," Angel chimed. "Too bad it wasn't nearly as exciting as the way you put it."
"Hey! I saved your pelt back there!" Gus shot back, indignant.
"I was in no danger," Angel replied coolly. "You think that just because I'm a kittypet I can't fight my own battles."
"Oh, I know you can," Gus said.
Misty purred at her two friends' teasing. Then the warm barn vanished and she found herself shivering in the snow.
"Blackpaw!" the voice rang through the air, filled with panic. A lone cat was running through the trees, his gray pelt streaked with snow. His dark blue eyes were wide.
She tried to call out to him but he didn't seem to hear her, continuing on his way.
"He cannot hear you," the voice said, echoing her thoughts, and she turned around to see Stormheart. The tom's fur seemed to expel the snow and he stood out vividly, almost unreal. But his eyes were weary and sad.
"But he seems so lost," Misty replied. "Please. We must help him."
"One day we will, Misty," Stormheart said. "But for now he must face this alone."
"Wait. How do you know my name?" Misty asked warily.
Stormheart turned that sad gaze upon her. "Just remember the prophecy, Misty," he said, his voice grave. "Remember."
"Misty? Misty, what's the matter?" Night's voice broke in and she shook her head, once again in the nice warm barn.
"Oh…nothing," Misty replied casually, but that was a lie. There was definitely something wrong.
Rainpaw stumbled through the snow, his paws frozen and numb. The wind whipped the snow into a flurry, a blizzard that stung his eyes.
He slipped on the ice and called out again but his sister did not reply. His journey seemed to last many seasons as he trudged through a world of white. He couldn't see, he couldn't breathe. The storm was working against him, trying to hold him back.
His frost-bitten paws finally gave way and he fell into the snow. The soft white seemed to swallow him up, offering a promising and tempting comfort, the strange warmth drawing him down into darkness.
He didn't know how long he lay there in a numb state of being, accepting the cold that crept into his pelt and chilled him down to the bone. He knew he had to go somewhere, but at the moment it didn't seem so important. All he wanted was to stay here. Stay here forever.
"Rainpaw!" He didn't know whether he had imagined the voice or not, but he recognized it as his sister's. "Rainpaw! Get up!"
He raised his head but could not see any break in the snow. His eye lids drooped.
"Rainpaw!" This time the voice was louder and more insistent. "Please come! I've found out something!"
Gritting his teeth against his exhaustion, Rainpaw made an effort and managed to get to his feet. He took off past the trees, just then realizing how close he was to Snakerocks.
He heard voices ahead and wanted to leap out to his sister's aid, but he knew that wouldn't do anything. He slowed his pace and, crouching to blend in with the snow, he peered out through the bushes.
Blackpaw was there, huddled on the ground, shivering uncontrollably and Rainpaw gasped at the sight of blood dripping from a scratch on her shoulder.
"I told you," she whispered. "I saw nothing."
"You lie," Thistletooth lashed out and she squeaked when a claw snagged on her ear.
"Calm yourself, Thistletooth," Shadestar growled. "She can't tell us anything if you kill her."
"She heard something," Thistletooth snarled. "She knows what we're planning. And I bet she'll tell that pathetic Raggedfur. There'll be a rebellion."
"Yes, but we must question her first," Shadestar reasoned. "Raggedfur may be planning something and she'll know about it."
Blackpaw turned her head and her wide, scared eyes locked onto Rainpaw's. She looked surprised but quickly turned away so as not to give away his position.
"I'll never tell you anything!" she spat defiantly, sweeping the snow behind her delicately with her fluffy tail. "And you'll never win. StarClan will defeat you and you'll go to the Dark Forest, you crowfood-eating piece of fox dung!"
Thistletooth hissed and surged forward, throwing her off her paws and shoving her into the snow. She let out a shocked squeal and tried to retaliate, swiping at him with her claws. He cuffed her on the side of the head and she fell back again.
Shadestar watched coldly as his deputy brutally attacked the young apprentice. Blood spattered the snow which was churned by the fighting ThunderClan cats.
Blackpaw tried to avoid the next attack but Thistletooth was stronger and lunged forward, burying his claws in her back. She screeched as she fell to the ground. Then she was silent and Thistletooth stepped back, satisfied.
"No," Rainpaw whispered, staring in horror at his sister's bleeding body.
"Come," Shadestar said. "We must return to camp." He turned and vanished into the woods with his deputy.
"No!" Rainpaw burst out of his hiding place and ran to his littermate's side. "Blackpaw," he murmured but she did not reply. She remained still even when he nudged her blood-soaked flank. The snow that rested on her fur did not melt.
"No, please," he begged, his voice cracking. He pushed his nose into his sister's fur and closed his eyes, in mourning.
After what seemed like several moons had passed, he opened his eyes and prepared to take the bad news back to Snowpaw.
But something stopped him. An odd formation in the snow. It was a wavy mark stained with drops of blood but it caught his attention. It couldn't have been made by the scuffle for it was too deliberate. His mind flashed on the image of Blackpaw's tail swishing over the snow and how she had heard something of Shadestar's plan that had cost her her life. She had heard something.
The pattern she had made looked almost like the snow had been swept over by the wind. WindClan.
They were planning on attacking WindClan next.