Sorry for the wait :D I wanna thank Sunripple and Mosspaw for all the lovely suggestions you've given me. I'll definitely be using them c:
Snowflower's POV
Snowflower watched as Rainstrike entered the camp and headed straight for the medicine cat den. He had been coming for half a moon now and Snowflower rolled her eyes.
To her it was obvious that Blueleaf had broken both the warrior code and the medicine cat code. She let out a sigh as she headed towards the apprentice den.
Flamepaw was extremely easy to teach, but a lot of times it seemed Flamepaw was her mentor. He began to teach her how ShadowClan cats fight. Though he had only shown her ShadowClan tactics.
The one her apprentice had showed her was called the Night Ambush. Snowflower purred at the memory of telling him they were both in trouble when it came to hiding in the shadows because of their pelts.
"Flamepaw time to get up" Snowflower mewed sweetly to her apprentice as she stuck her head in the den. She thought of the apprentice as her foster son and cared deeply for the apprentice.
"Five more minutes mother" Flamepaw mumbled loudly as he stirred from his sleep.
Snowflower scoffed loudly and Flamepaw's head shot up. His ears were pressed to his skull as he stood up and began to pick his way around the sleeping apprentices.
Snowflower backed up as Flamepaw exited the den.
"S-Sorry Snowflower, I really didn't mean it…" he mewed embarrassedly.
Snowflower nuzzled her apprentice lightly. "It's fine, you can call me whatever you'd like. I think of myself as your mother anyways. I saved you after all and ShadowClan doesn't seem to care." Snowflower pointed out.
Flamepaw looked to his paws and let out a small sigh. "I miss ShadowClan sometimes. I left some really great friends behind like Shadowpaw and Gorsepaw, and they'll wonder why I'm still an apprentice when I see them again" Flamepaw admitted. "Do you think I could go to the gathering tonight?" Flamepaw asked, changing the subject quickly.
Snowflower shrugged and began to pad towards the entrance. "Who knows, c'mon I'm gonna show you an extra special move that only Greycloud and I know. Our mother is a decedent of a SkyClan warrior which means that me and Greycloud have SkyClan blood running through our veins. If you don't know SkyClan I suppose you can ask the elders and change their bedding or search for ticks while they talk" Snowflower explained as the exited the camp.
Flamepaw tilted his head in interest as they veered away from the training hollow. "Hey I thought you were going to teach me a new move!" Flamepaw growled impatiently.
Snowflower rolled her eyes and turned to look at her apprentice. "I'm gonna teach you the Branch Swing" Snowflower purred. She turned on her paws quickly and began to scale up the tree. She balanced on the lowest branch and steadied her breathing.
Without a second though she jumped off the branch hooking her front claws into the branch, swinging towards the ground as she began to kick out with her paws with her claws sheathed.
Snowflower unhooked her claws from the branch and landed gracefully on her feet. "Well what do you think Flamepaw?" Snowflower asked as she looked to the flame colored apprentice.
Flamepaw fidgeted nervously as he looked up to the tree. "I-I can't do it" he meowed quietly.
Snowflower looked to her apprentice in confusion and nearly cuffed herself with her own paw. "Flamepaw do you know how to climb trees?" she asked.
Flamepaw lashed his tail angrily and glared at her. "Of course I can! I am ThunderClan aren't I?" he hissed as he leaped onto the tree, digging his claws into its bark.
Snowflower watched as her apprentice tried to scramble up the tree clumsily, having difficulty until he slipped.
Flamepaw let out a screech as he slipped off the trunk and began to fall to the ground.
Snowflower felt her fur rise as she dove instinctively to soften the tom's impact.
As Flamepaw fell on top of her the wind was knocked out of her chest. She stood shakily, knocking Flamepaw off of her.
"Are you a mouse-brain?!" she hissed angrily to the apprentice. "If you can't climb a dumb tree then say so! Don't be an idiot and go climbing it. You could get hurt!" she yowled loudly at Flamepaw.
Snowflower continued to lash her tail as she shot an icy glare to her apprentice. She watched as tears pooled at his eyes and his fur was raised in defense.
Snowflower let out a gasp and she sat down. "I'm sorry Flamepaw. I just don't want you getting hurt and that's why I snapped." Snowflower admitted. She looked back on her apprentice days and knew she would not have cared if Brackenflame had chosen Silverstorm as a mate instead of her. She noticed that Flamepaw was looking at his paws and she stood up and nuzzled him gently.
"Hey what's the matter my little Flamepaw?" Snowflower asked, rasping her tongue over his ear.
"I just wanted to impress you. I never knew how to climb trees, and I'm scared of heights" Flamepaw admitted guiltily.
Snowflower looked at the flame pelted tom and began to laugh loudly. This brave little kit was scared of heights.
"It's not funny!" Flamepaw protested.
"'I'm sorry Flamepaw it's not. It's just for one so brave I didn't expect you to be scared of anything" Snowflower meowed and she turned towards the tree, examining it.
"Alright put your paw right here" Snowflower instructed as she indicating the spot with her own paw.
"Why right here?" Flamepaw asked as Snowflower moved her paw and Flamepaw placed his there. "Hey there's a little nick here where I can place my paws!" Flamepaw exclaimed.
Snowflower nodded and began to climb the tree in reverse. She continued indicating where the nicks were where Flamepaw could continue climbing the tree until they were on the lowest branch.
Snowflower sat on the branch as she watched Flamepaw wobble on the branch. "Use your tail Flamepaw. Your tail is everything up here in the trees." Snowflower instructed, her tail raised as she balanced.
Flamepaw imitated his mentor and stopped his wobbling, but was still shaky. "Snowflower… It's too high!" Flamepaw squeaked in fear, his body quivering with fear.
"Flamepaw it'll be alright. Listen to the forest, it'll tell you where your enemies are. The cracking of branches, the cries of alarmed birds, anything that seems out of place could mean either a clan mate walking around or an enemy intruder" Snowflower instructed, trying to distract her apprentice from his fear. She watched as Flamepaw's ears pricked slightly as the sound of a bird crying out a warning flew out of the tree in the branches above them.
Snowflower opened her mouth and scented around, trying to capture anything unusual. The wind buffeted at her face and she caught a small scent of her sister.
"Are you ready to learn another move?" Snowflower asked mischievously.
"But I haven't done the first one yet" Flamepaw meowed confused.
Snowflower roll her eyes and slid down the trunk slightly. "Now do what I do" Snowflower hissed quietly up to him as Greycloud and Sunpaw came into view.
Snowflower craned her head as she watched Greycloud and Sunpaw come closer, stopping occasionally to sniff at things.
"Are you ready Flamepaw?" Snowflower asked gently, looking to her apprentice as the duo was a rabbit length away.
Flamepaw nodded his head eagerly and locked his eyes on his foster brother.
"Let's get lower" Snowflower instructed until they were able to clear a jump towards them. "When I say now we spring from the trunk with our back legs, understand?" Snowflower instructed softly, watching as Greycloud and Sunpaw padded into sight.
"Now!"
Greycloud's POV
Greycloud watched as her apprentice sniffed at a bush and flicked his tail in excitement.
"Greycloud I smell a rabbit nearby!" Sunpaw exclaimed.
Greycloud began to purr until she heard a loud yowl.
"Now!"
Greycloud was pushed into the ground as a body jumped on her. She heard Sunpaw yelp for help and she growled, surging upwards, knocking her attacker off of her.
Greycloud flipped, battering her paws at the cat's stomach until she heard a gasp of pain. She quickly cleared her mind and noticed it was Snowflower
"Great StarClan Snowflower! You scared me" Greycloud exclaimed as she slithered out from underneath her sister.
"Sometimes I forget I'm expecting kits" Snowflower panted as she sat down heavily.
"S-Sorry sister I didn't realize…" Greycloud murmured, looking to Snowflower's belly. It was slightly swollen, but not enough to notice she was gaining weight.
Did she look like that? Greycloud tried to look at her stomach, but was stopped as two bodies crashed into her.
"Hey fur-ball it's me Flamepaw, you can stop now!" Flamepaw crowed as he pinned his foster brother down.
"Get off me Flamepaw! It's not fair to play with you!" Sunpaw hissed.
"Don't you always want to play with your brother?" Flamepaw inquired, jumping off of Sunpaw.
Sunpaw shook the dust from his fur and glared at the flame colored apprentice. "You aren't my brother! My brothers are Spottedpaw, and Kinkpaw. My sister is Cinderpaw! You are nothing but ShadowClan scum!" Sunpaw snarled.
Greycloud looked at her apprentice in shock at such harsh words. He was usually kind-hearted and sweet. Before Greycloud could rebuke her apprentice Snowflower stood in front of the golden furred tom, her fur bristling angrily.
Greycloud watched in horror as Snowflower raised her paw and cuffed the apprentice on top of the head.
"Clan mates don't speak to each other like that!" her sister hissed, her icy blue eyes narrowed into angry slits.
Greycloud looked behind Snowflower and noticed that Flamepaw was crying. "How dare you say that to your brother? I don't care if you aren't related to him your mother took him in and treated him like he was a part of your family! You know your mother was once a- " Greycloud looked sternly to her sister, cutting off what she was about to say and draped her tail over her apprentices shoulder.
"This is my apprentice Snowflower, I will give him his punishment on my own" Greycloud meowed flatly. She knew if she didn't take this situation into her own paws Snowflower would've gone out of control again.
Snowflower let out an exasperated sigh and began to lead Flamepaw towards the camp. "C'mon let's go help your sister with the elders" Snowflower meowed enthusiastically, trying to cheer Flamepaw up.
Greycloud watched as they disappeared and turned her head back to look at Sunpaw who was sulking under a bush.
"C'mon out Sunpaw. We're wasting daylight and I seriously need to punish you" Greycloud meowed sternly.
Sunpaw dove deeper into the bush and Greycloud rolled her eyes and growled.
"If you don't come out now you won't be able to participate in the battle" Greycloud meowed loudly and Sunpaw sat where he was, his tail flicking back and forth.
Greycloud let out a sigh and latched her teeth on her apprentice's tail and dragged him out.
"Ow! What in StarClan's name are you doing Greycloud?! My mother is going to hear about this!" Sunpaw growled as Greycloud let go of his tail.
"Listen here you little runt!" Greycloud hissed, her patience running short with her apprentice. "I do not care who your mother is, I am your mentor and you will NOT talk to me in that manner! I am sick in tired of high and mighty act. Cut it out or you will NEVER be a warrior!" Greycloud snarled at him.
Sunpaw stared at her wide-eyed, his tail still as his whiskers twitched in thought.
"Now go hunt for the elders. I'm not confining you to camp like I should, but you are to tend to the elders for the next moon do you understand Sunpaw?" Greycloud hissed the order, pointing out that he was still nothing but an apprentice.
Sunpaw got up without saying a word and disappeared into the forest.
Greycloud let a hiss escape from her clenched teeth as she stalked back towards the camp. Hopefully the battle would come soon so she could tear her claws through RiverClan flesh.
Snowflower's POV
Snowflower stretched her body as she exited the warriors den. The sun was going down and the gathering would be soon. She stepped out of the way as, Gingerfoot, the newest warrior gaped his jaws in a yawn.
"I hope I get to go to the gathering tonight. I want to see the look on my friend's faces when they find out I'm a warrior!" the white tom meowed proudly.
Snowflower purred and spotted Brackenflame stepping out of the medicine cat den, his face distorted with anger.
Snowflower looked around frantically for Greycloud, or even Redfeather so that she wouldn't have to break the news to him by herself. Her feeble attempt failed as Brackenflame stalked towards her.
"Do you have something to tell me?!" he hissed angrily, his tail lashing from side to side.
"B-Brackenflame I'm sorry I just thought if you knew you wouldn't let me participate in the battle." Snowflower began to explain. She looked up and spotted confusion on her mates face.
"What in StarClan's name are you talking about Snowflower? I'm talking about why Flamepaw need thyme because of Sunpaw." Brackenflame began. "I don't want that little rascal being hurt. It's strange but I feel like his father" Brackenflame admitted softly.
Snowflower let out a purr of relief and nuzzled the flame colored tom. "If anybody looked for the first time they might think you are. The only thing that's different is that his eyes are green and yours are blue." Snowflower meowed and looked at Leafstar as she exited her den.
"The warriors I wish to take to the gathering are Gingerfoot, Brackenflame, Redfeather, Stormheart, Snowflower, Greycloud, Silverstorm, Nightheart, Flamepaw, Cinderpaw, and Spottedpaw." Leafstar finished as she leaped down and began to head towards the entrance.
"Leafstar why are we taking so many?" Silverstorm asked, eyeing the gathering patrol.
Leafstar let out a small side and turned to her clan, "To be honest we can never be too careful when we have war on our paws. I want Jaywing to stay here tonight and help protect the camp with the remaining warriors. I want Brightcloud to reinforce the nursery with the help of Kinkpaw. I want Sunpaw to reinforce the elders den since he is on punishment and not allowed to come to gathering strictly specified by his mentor" Leafstar meowed, shooting an apologetic glance at her enraged son. "Jaywing will be protecting the entrance with Wildfur. And the rest of the warriors will helping out to reinforce things or go hunting" Leafstar meowed.
Snowflower looked at her leader with sympathy and nearly jumped at Brackenflame's fur brushed against hers.
"So what were you talking about not being able to battle?" Brackenflame asked, tilting his head with curiosity.
Snowflower stiffened slightly and began to walk with the group as they departed from camp. "To be honest Brackenflame I didn't want to tell you until the battle was over, but… I'm expecting kits Brackenflame. They're yours" Snowflower admitted. She lifted her head and warmth spread through her as Brackenflame had a stupid grin on his face.
"So what you're saying is that I'm going to be a father?" he asked excitedly, bouncing slightly on his paws.
Snowflower purred and nodded "Yes now stop bouncing around like that, the other clans are going to think you're an apprentice." Snowflower pointed out.
Brackenflame stopped bouncing and looked around "I need to tell Redfeather! And Leafstar! She might announce and I can yowl with happiness!" Brackenflame purred.
Before Snowflower could protest her mate dashed off and she sighed, spotting Greycloud walking by herself. "Greycloud are you alright?" Snowflower asked as she caught up to her sister.
Greycloud looked up and nodded, "I'm just worried that Sunpaw is going to hate me until I give him his warrior name." Greycloud meowed.
Snowflower shook her head and nudged Greycloud "Stop stressing, it isn't good for the kits. Oh and you can tell Redfeather about them. I told Brackenflame already" Snowflower mewed softly.
Greycloud began to chuckle and she looked proudly to her mate as Brackenflame and him talked excitedly. "I might have let it slip tonight when I was talking about Sunpaw to him" Greycloud admitted.
Snowflower purred with amusement and spotted fourtrees. She let out a sigh as she scented WindClan and ShadowClan. Thoughts of Dappleflower and Nightblaze entered her mind and she began to bristle.
"Snowflower what's the matter?" Greycloud asked, pressing herself against her.
Snowflower shook her head and glanced at Greycloud. "I'm worried about Dappleflower and Nightblaze. Their father is rather cruel you know Fallenstreak? Or Fallenstar I should say" Snowflower pointed out.
"Snowflower! Oh please you've got to help me!"
Ah I do believe the next chapter will be the last one. If not then it will be the one afterwards. I dunno depends on how I write. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!