I know there's been a long delay on this story, but, there's some importance to get out of the way.

First: Thank you to the reviewers so far, sorry I didn't say that earlier.

Second: There has been a lot of changing to this story, most notably character names and descriptions. So if you're one of the readers who read this story when it first came out, and you see a cat's name spelled different, it's most likely not a typo. I suggest you go back to the prologue and re-read the allegiance before reading this. So, without further ado, the story. Enjoy.

Chapter 4

The temperature grew bitter as days passed. GlacierClan had been working hard to survive the upcoming blizzard. Food was scare due to hibernation, but the warriors tried to gather as much, making a hole to protect it. Shelter was alright, though hail will surely damage. Snowpool had gathered enough herbs to help if clanmates caught whitecough or greencough, and a few extra.

Froststar still acted strange. He viewed progress from High Rock. But he acted awfully quiet, letting Deerpelt speak his words. He must be cautious, not terrified, of the blizzard, or worse. Hopefully the leader would attain his duty as leader when an event of StarClan would enact.

The event of apprenticeship. Kits become apprentices after they are six moons old. They follow the path their paws are now on.

White pellets wafted from the sky. They covered the ground below. Trees held no leaves, birdsong muted from the cold. Water froze up with a thin layer of ice. Leaf-Bare had finally come.

"Hey Honeykit! Look!" Robinkit dashed out of the nursery to look around. His littermate followed behind.

"It's snow! And it's soft!" Honeykit padded at the snow, making small crunching noises.

"And the lake's frozen!"

"Yes, but just don't go walking on it. It's not thick ice." Seascar stopped to face them.

"How would you know?" The black kit frowned.

"Leaf-Bares ago my mother walked on the frozen lake accidentally and crashed through the ice and drowned." It was painful for him to speak that piece of history. The kits jumped.

"Seascar, don't scare the young ones." Lionleap walked up.

"Well, I said that just so they don't try the same thing." The senior warrior brushed his tail against her flank. He soon padded off.

"And kits, I believe it's been six moons. It would be time for you to be apprentices." Lionleap explained before trotting away.

"Apprentices, finally! I've been getting too big for this nursery!" Icekit poked her head out. She and Owlkit came out.

"I'm going to ask Snowpool something..." Owlkit squinted towards the Medicine Den.

"How did you get sore pads again?" The white cat said, chewing the Coltsfoot to a pulp and applying it to Eagleclaw's pads.

"I think it's just from patrolling." Snowpool stilled looked on with a curious eye,

"It must've been a long patrol to get another case in just a few days..."

"Hi, Snowpool and Eagleclaw." Owlkit greeted.

"Hello Owlkit. Eagleclaw, your pads will heal soon, just make sure not too go on such long 'patrols'." The calico tom nodded. After he left, the two looked at eachother.

"You sure do like medicine cat duties. I think I know why you're here."

"Yes, I was wondering if, I could be your apprentice?" She was unsure. Was it more complicated than just collecting herbs and healing wounds?

"I can see you'd be a better medicine cat than a warrior. But it's not as simple as you think. You would play more of a role with StarClan than anyone else. And, you can't have kits." Snowpool explained.

Being connected to StarClan would surely be a benefit? But then, she couldn't have kits of her own. It would be her choice. Owlkit still felt as if the Medicine Cat path was something she could do right. She wanted to help her clanmates more than anything. And Snowpool would guide her through. The decision was made.

"I'll be your apprentice."

"Cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath the High Rock!" Froststar yowled. The clan's paw prints embedded to the snow as they met. He must've gathered his voice together in time.

"There are new apprentices tonight. Quite a number. First, Snowpool will deem his apprentice." Surprised mews came from the cats beneath. Snowpool padded to the High Rock.

"I have been getting older by the moon. I do not know how long I would be here, so I've found that it is the right time for an apprentice. There has been one kit eager enough to take up the duty. So here, Owlkit, now Owlpaw, will be my apprentice. We will travel to the moonstone next morning." Owlpaw smiled and touched noses with Snowpool.

The apprenticeship went on. Maplekit became Maplepaw, and was mentored by Seascar. Icekit was now Icepaw, mentored by Blackstorm. Honeykit, now Honeypaw, mentored by Silverwind. And Robinkit was Robinpaw, mentored by Deerpelt!

"Maplepaw! Owlpaw! Icepaw! Honeypaw! Robinpaw!" The crowd cheered their new names and congratulated. Robinpaw looked around.

It was hard getting used to his name. But now he can train to be warriors! His friends must be thinking the same thing. All this thinking had made him hungry.

"I'm hungry."

"Me too. Let's see the fresh-kill pile." Honeypaw trotted forward, brushing her tail in Robinpaw's face. He laughed in agreement.

They examined the hole in which prey was stored. There were few pieces, as everybody else were eating. Robinpaw picked a plump mouse, "Honeypaw, do you want to share this with me?"

"Sure. It will save more prey." They gazed around. The clans ate in divided groups, it seems. They lied down and ate with Maplepaw, Icepaw, and two different cats, a gray she-cat and a brown tom.

"It's about time there were new apprentices!" The brown tom mewed satisfyingly. "I'm Oakpaw, if you didn't know. We already know your names."

"And I'm Graypaw." The gray cat greeted, taking a bite out of a small fish. Robinpaw did the same with his mouse. The meat was tantalizing as it entered his mouth. He never tasted fresh-kill before.

"So what does an apprentice do?" Maplepaw asked.

"You just have to learn everything a warrior does. Learn to hunt, patrol borders, fight, so on." Graypaw explained.

"It's tough, though." Oakpaw added.

"Even though it would be hard, I'll do it! I'd stand up and be the best warrior ever!" They kept eating quietly.

Robinpaw wondered where Owlpaw was. Wasn't she supposed to be eating with them? He saw her grab a thrush out of the pile, heading towards the medicine den. "Where are you going?"

"Snowpool and I have to talk about our trip to the Moonstone. That's all I can tell you." The apprentice then padded out of sight.

Dusk had shined upon the dens. Everyone slept peacefully. But snow was raining down fast. Snowpool checked Owlpaw. She was curled up beside him. He smiled, then closed his eyes for a moment. A flash of shock spread through his mind like lightning.

"The blizzard! It's coming right now!"

He dashed out of the den quickly. He had to alert everyone to stay calm! The wind was violent, shaking the trees. Snow pelted at high speeds.

"Everyone! The blizzard is here! Stay calm and keep to your dens! If the hail destroys shelter, retreat to the forest quickly!" He yowled. He tried to clutch onto the ground, but the snow was too thick in layer. He was getting farther by the second.

Soon it was hopeless, so he let his paws go as he was swept away. Distressed calls "Snowpool! Snowpool!" sounded from his den.

His side throbbed in pain as he hit a tree. He couldn't get up. It felt like all of his joints were frozen. Suddenly, a set of teeth clenched his scruff from behind, and yanked him into the forest with immense power.

Well, there's Chapter 4. Don't worry, there'll be action in the next chapter. I was anticipating it, too. Hope you enjoyed! Stay tuned!