Book 1: Frozen Pines
Frost blinked awake, nestled safe and warm in a soft, mossy nest in the nursery of the ShadowClan camp.
The nursery under the thorn bush was crowded with queens and kits despite the bitter leaf-bare that locked the forest in its jaws. There were three ShadowClan queens—Larkfoot and her five moon old kits Dampkit and Dewkit. Amberberry with her newborns, Mosskit and Murmurkit. And, Redclaw with her kits Pinekit, Poolkit, and Autumnkit, who were around a moon and a half old, only a few sunrises older than Frost.
Frost and her mother had only been in the nursery for a few sunrises, but Frost was already feeling much better. Her paws no longer trembled when she stood, and her skin no longer ached with the cold. She was warm now, and her belly was full for the first time that she could remember. Her mother also had been given fresh-kill to eat, and she shared some small pieces with Frost.
The queens all seemed nice enough, although Frost had barely left her mother's side since they got there, and so she hadn't really spoken to them. Although, Redclaw, the queen with black fur and bright red patches, had shared some milk with Frost since May's milk hadn't come back in yet.
The stranger cat that Frost saw the most, out of even the other queens, was a cat named Clearstream, the one the others called "medicine cat." Frost didn't understand a lot of the words some of the other cats used. But, she didn't like this "medicine cat." Clearstream was soft spoken with gentle blue eyes, but she kept making Frost and her mother eat these terrible tasting leaves.
Frost sighed and wrinkled her nose up at the thought. She wondered if Clearstream or her "apprentice" -another strange word- Elmclaw would come by with more leaves today. She hoped not.
Frost went to snuggle into her mother's side but quickly recoiled with surprise when she felt that her mother's fur was cold. Frost's brow furrowed in confusion.
"Mama?" Frost peeped, pressing a paw to her mother's flank.
May did not stir. She remained curled up, her eyes shut and her fluffy tail covering her muzzle. Her face looked calm.
"Mama?" Frost called a bit louder, trying to wake her.
Redclaw stirred in her nest, her three kits still sleeping by her belly.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Frost didn't reply, instead she continued to prod at her mother with her paw, trying to rouse her.
"Oh no," Redclaw muttered. "Larkfoot!"
Larkfoot, a pale tabby queen, blinked awake.
"Go get Clearstream!" Redclaw meowed.
Larkfoot's eyes widened as she shot one look at May and Frost, then she got to her paws and dashed out of the den.
"Where are you going?" Dewkit meowed, blinking awake as her mother bounded out of the nursery.
Frost hardly noticed Larkfoot leave. She couldn't focus on anything but the mounting concern in her belly. What was happening to her mother?
Only a few moments later, Larkfoot was back, with Clearstream in tow, along with Elmclaw and Sedgestar. Frost recoiled at the sight of the grey tabby, her eyes widening as the already crowded nursery was suddenly filled to the brim with cats.
Clearstream's brow was furrowed, her eyes concerned.
"…She was so weak when she got here. She wasn't improving much, but I thought she could still pull through…" Clearstream was meowing, walking up to May.
Frost crouched down, flattening herself against the moss of the nest as her eyes flashed with confusion and fear.
Clearstream bent down and pressed her ear to May's chest. Then she straightened, sadly shaking her head.
"A shame," Sedgestar said in his deep meow. "I saw a warrior's spirit in her."
Sedgestar nodded towards the exit of the den.
"Let's take her body out," he meowed.
Frost's eyes widened in terror as Elmclaw and Clearstream flanked May and lifted her between them. May slouched between them, her head lolling as the medicine cats picked her up from the nest, heading towards the entrance of the nursery.
"Wait!" Frost meowed, suddenly finding her voice as she scrambled to her paws.
"Where are you taking her? Stop!" Frost cried as they walked May outside.
"Stay here, little one," Elmclaw rumbled, flashing her a glance of his sharp green eyes over his shoulder.
"Come here, Frostkit," Redclaw called softly, getting to her paws.
"My name is Frost!" Frost meowed, stumbling after May.
"Mama!" Frost yowled.
Redclaw padded over to her, wrapping her tail around her to stop her.
"Mama!" Frost wailed, trying to scramble away from her.
"Shh, she's gone," Redclaw meowed, reaching a paw out to block Frost.
Frost froze at her words.
It couldn't be true. Her mother couldn't be gone like Rain and Snow. Frost needed her. She couldn't've left her alone.
"Mama…" Frost repeated weakly.
"It'll be okay little one," Redclaw said softly, pulling Frost close again.
Frost was silent. She stood still, quiet and stiff as Redclaw nuzzled her head, and Redclaw's unfamiliar fur and scent enveloped her.
"I just don't understand why we have to play with her!" Autumnkit complained, his brow furrowed as he blinked angrily up at Redclaw.
"Because leaving Frostkit out is mean." Redclaw's voice was stern, and her eyes sharp as she glared down at her son.
Frostkit sat silently at Redclaw's side, staring down at the ground with an empty gaze.
"But, look at her just sitting there!" Pinekit meowed with a sniff, wrinkling up her black nose. "She's no fun!"
Frostkit continued to sit in silence, scuffling her paws on the mossy nursery fur. She was unable to look at the other kits.
"Yeah! And, she's a rogue!" Poolkit chimed in. "Beepaw told me; he was on the patrol that found her."
"Rogues aren't supposed to be in ShadowClan," Pinekit added haughtily.
"So, we don't want to play with her," Autumnkit finished, giving his dark ginger and white pelt a self-satisfied shake.
"Too bad you have no choice in the matter," Redclaw growled. "Frostkit isn't going anywhere, so you three better learn to play nice."
Poolkit, Autumnkit, and Pinekit muttered unhappily to each other with twitching tails as Redclaw bent her head to nudge Frostkit forward with her muzzle.
"Go on, Frostkit," Redclaw said.
Quietly, Frostkit walked over to the other kits.
"Ugh, fine," Pinekit meowed. "But, she's not on my team!"
"I'm with Pinekit!" Poolkit meowed quickly, bounding over to his sister.
"Hey!" Autumnkit protested as Pinekit and Poolkit dashed out of the nursery.
He sighed, looking over at Frostkit. Frostkit stared back at him with large, pale blue eyes.
"Alright, come on," Autumnkit muttered, walking out of the den slowly as Frostkit silently followed.
Frostkit blinked as her eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight outside of the den. The air was cold, but the sun was shining brightly. A chilly leaf-bare breeze blew through camp, but Frostkit barely felt it. She had gotten bigger since May's death, stronger too, and her coat had gotten thicker and longer. Her pelt was a creamy-white everywhere but her face, tail, and paws. They were a light grey, just like her mother. But, she hadn't seen those markings on any other cat in camp. Although, maybe there were other cats she hadn't seen... she was still getting used to number of cats in the ShadowClan. There was almost an overwhelming amount.
"Okay, we get to be ShadowClan warriors," Pinekit meowed, gesturing with her tail to herself and Poolkit. "You two are ThunderClan!"
"Why do we have to be ThunderClan!" Autumnkit protested, his expression sulky.
"Because you two are smelly mice-munchers," Pinekit meowed with a smug whisker twitch.
"Am not!" Autumnkit gasped, springing at Pinekit.
He bowled his sister over, and they went tumbling head over tail.
"Get Frostkit!" Pinekit meowed to Poolkit. "Smelly ThunderClan warriors are attacking!"
Poolkit sprung at Frostkit, but she neatly ducked under his leap. Poolkit turned and swiped at her, and again Frostkit leapt out of his way. Poolkit pounced with a irritated snarl, his growing frustration obvious, but Frostkit just dodged once more. Poolkit was big and clumsy, while Frostkit was small, nimble and quick.
"Aren't you going to fight me, mouse-heart!" Poolkit meowed, his black-and-white tail twitching. "ShadowClan never runs from a fight!"
Frostkit was silent, hanging back a safe few tail-lengths away from him. Poolkit frowned at her.
"You're no fun!" Poolkit said, before turning to spring at Autumnkit instead.
He and Pinekit quickly ganged up on Autumnkit, and soon they had their brother pinned, squeaking and withering under them.
"Let me up!" Autumnkit cried.
"Can't you fight us, Autumnkit?" Pinekit taunted, her black tail waving victoriously in the air. "Or, are you as weak as a WindClan cat?"
"I'm not WindClan! And, I'm not weak!" Autumnkit hissed, futilely struggling under his siblings' paws.
"Oh, yeah? Then why are you so—" Pinekit began. "Oomph!"
Pinekit's mew was cut short when Frostkit leapt at her, barreling her over and sending the two of them tumbling through the dirt. Autumnkit buckled with more vigor from under Poolkit, managing to shake him off.
"Get off me, rogue!" Pinekit spat furiously, grappling with Frostkit on the ground.
Frostkit narrowed her pale blue eyes at Pinekit, flipping over on top of her.
"Watch out Frostkit!" Autumnkit meowed.
Frostkit turned and saw Poolkit leaping at her. Frostkit ducked under Poolkit, and sprung off of Pinekit. Poolkit and Pinekit whirled to face her, side by side. They stalked up to Frostkit with snarls. Frostkit crouched close to the ground, quickly backpedaling away from them.
Then Frostkit felt a rush of air over her as Autumnkit sprung over her head, landing in front of her and rearing back on his hindpaws. He sent his siblings flying with two powerful swats of his paws before falling back onto all four of his feet.
"Ow! You hit me really hard, Autumnkit!" Poolkit meowed accusingly, reaching a paw up to his sore jaw.
"I've had enough of this dumb game!" Autumnkit snapped. "You two aren't playing fair!"
Pinekit scowled at him, her tail twitching.
"What's the matter with you? Normally you're fun," she said, glaring at Autumnkit.
"I'm going back to the nursery," Autumnkit grumbled, turning around with a swish of his dark ginger tail.
Frostkit silently followed Autumnkit away, not looking at Poolkit or Pinekit.
"Leave me alone," Autumnkit meowed to Frostkit as they entered the bramble tunnel that led to the nursery. "It's your fault that they're being so mean."
Frostkit hesitated, her paws faltering. She felt her stomach tighten as if she ate a rock, and she stared down at the ground.
Autumnkit cast a glance back at her over his shoulder. He sighed.
"I guess you can't help it that you don't have any friends," he muttered.
Frostkit had been gazing at her paws, but she lifted her eyes to meet Autumnkit when he said that. Autumnkit and Frostkit just stared at each other in silence for a few heartbeats.
"Do you ever say anything at all?" Autumnkit meowed, his brow furrowing.
"…Yeah," Frostkit said softly in reply.
"Oh," Autumnkit said with a blink of surprise.
Autumnkit turned back towards the nursery.
"Well, come on then," he meowed, disappearing into the bramble thicket.
Frostkit padded forward and followed him into the nursery.
Redclaw hesitated at the edge of the big Oak Tree's roots, near the entrance of the leader's den.
"Come in, Redclaw," Sedgestar meowed from inside the den, scenting her presence.
Redclaw twined her way through the twisting root tunnel, coming out into the warm, but dimly lit den, cozily lined with moss. Sedgestar sat in the center of the den with his brown-striped tail wrapped neatly around his paws. Sedgestar's mate Emberflower sat to his left, and the deputy Grovepelt sat to his right.
"You asked to see me?" Redclaw meowed, eyeing the cats before her.
"Yes," Sedgestar meowed, inclining his head to her. "Have a seat, Redclaw."
Redclaw obeyed, settling onto the soft moss.
"As you know, tonight is the night of the gathering," Sedgestar said. "And, so I must decide what to tell the other Clans about our newest member, Frostkit."
"Yes…" Redclaw meowed slowly, not sure where the leader was going with this.
"Frostkit has been under your care for some paw-fuls of sunrises now. So, tell me, what has she said of her father?" Sedgestar asked.
"Nothing," Redclaw meowed, her brow furrowed at the unusual question. "I mean, I think she knows she has a father. But, she's never met him. She's not even told me his name."
Sedgestar nodded.
"I see…" he meowed, his gaze thoughtful.
"I assumed he is just some rogue, like her mother... is he not?" Redclaw meowed.
Sedgestar was silent. Redclaw gazed at him.
"If I may…" Redclaw said, her voice hesitant. "Why are you asking me about this, Sedgestar?"
Sedgestar's glanced at Redclaw.
"Frostkit's father is not a rogue. He is a SkyClan warrior," Sedgestar meowed.
"What?" Redclaw said as her eyes stretched wide. "Who?"
"I don't know," Sedgestar said, shaking his head. "I thought Frostkit may, but it seems like she does not. The identity of her father appears to have died with May."
Sedgestar shot a sharp glance at Redclaw.
"How does Frostkit get along with the other kits? Have they accepted her?" he asked.
"Wait a moment," Redclaw meowed, ignoring his questions as her tone turned more accusative. "Are you thinking of getting rid of her? Giving Frostkit to SkyClan!?"
Sedgestar sighed.
"May told me that she met with her mate and tried to seek shelter with SkyClan, but that he drove her away," Sedgestar meowed. "However, the warrior code forbids the negligence of kits in need. If I were to bring up Frostkit during the gathering, in front of all of the Clans and their leaders, Fennelstar would have no choice but to take Frostkit in, or face backlash from all of the Clans."
"Why do you want to get rid of her?" Redclaw demanded, the red and black fur on her back rising defensively. "And, send her to a father that doesn't want her? She's just a kit! She's done nothing wrong!"
"I have nothing against Frostkit. I am not heartless, Redclaw," Sedgestar said, shooting her a look out of narrowed amber eyes. "I am just trying to do what is best for my Clan. We are in the middle of a difficult leaf-bare. And, the nursery is full of ShadowClan-born kits. We have no space or fresh-kill to spare."
"How do you know that the father will step forward? SkyClan could just say that you're lying," Redclaw pointed out. "And, if it is fresh-kill you are worried about, then Frostkit can have my share."
"And, mine," Emberflower said, shooting her mate a pointed look.
Sedgestar glanced over at Emberflower and his gaze softened.
"Is this truly what you want?" Sedgestar asked, looking back at Redclaw. "You already have your paws full with three other kits to raise."
"Frostkit hasn't even been here for a moon," Redclaw meowed, raising her chin to meet her leader's gaze levelly. "But, I already love her as I do Autumnkit, Pinekit, and Poolkit. Besides, I won't be raising her alone. Amberberry and Larkfoot have been more than willing to help care for her. Surely the three of us will be able to manage one more little kit."
Sedgestar was silent for a moment as he deliberated.
"Very well. She can stay," Sedgestar meowed, giving a decisive nod.
Redclaw's tail curled up in delight.
"On one condition…" Sedgestar added. "Frostkit cannot know that her father is from SkyClan."
"Okay," Redclaw said slowly, her excitement fading at Sedgestar's serious tone. "But, why?"
"You, Weaseltail, and the other queens will raise her as a member of our Clan," Sedgestar said. "I will not raise a kit that becomes a warrior whose loyalty might come into question. In the heat of battle, I will not have her hesitate because of the remains of some bond of kinship. As far as Frostkit will know, she has no family besides ShadowClan."
Sedgestar paused for emphasis, gazing at Redclaw hard.
"Do you understand?" Sedgestar asked.
Redclaw nodded.
"Good. As you said, her father does not want her anyway. It will do Frostkit no harm to grow up without knowing his existence," Sedgestar replied with a dismissive tail-flick. "To prevent Frostkit from finding out about her parentage, the less cats who know it the better. So, you are to tell no other cat that you know her father is a SkyClan warrior. Not the other queens. Even Weaseltail. The only other cats who know are Grovepelt and Emberflower."
Sedgestar nodded towards the cats at his side.
"And, Beepaw and Swoopstrike, the cats that were on the patrol that found May and Frostkit."
Sedgestar turned to Emberflower.
"Can we trust that Beepaw stays quiet?" Sedgestar asked, his gaze softening again as he looked at his mate. "Apprentices are notoriously chatty."
"Beepaw is nearing the end of his training," Emberflower replied. "He is a serious and loyal cat. He will do as you say."
Sedgestar nodded.
"Good," he meowed. "And, I will speak with Swoopstrike. He's hot-headed, but smart and fiercely loyal. As much as he doesn't like the fact that Frostkit's father is a SkyClan warrior, I'm sure he will see the wisdom behind my words and keep his mouth shut."
Sedgestar turned his attention back to Redclaw.
"I will tell the other Clans that ShadowClan has taken in an orphaned rogue she-kit and is raising her as our own. And, mention nothing of SkyClan," Sedgestar meowed. "You are dismissed."