WINTERGAZE'S LIFE

Chapter 7

Finchshade sniffed as Dahliaheart and Hallowedwisp walked beside him. "I think I've got enough herbs, I'll go back to camp." Mewled Hallowedwisp, he ducked his head and lowered his body along with his head to Dahliaheart. Getting up and running off before he had a slap across his face. Finchshade chuckled in amusement till he smelt something off. "Riverclan." he sniffed again. "Blood, warrior blood." Dahliaheart's whiskers twitched in worry. "That doesn't sound good at all. We need to check it out." They smelt smoke, turning to look at each other with worry they went forward. Finchshade felt the bundle of herbs in his jaw drop onto the ground. Autumnpaw was nowhere to be seen. And there was Winterpaw, her chin and one of her front-paws on Rippleleap, blood was stained on Rippleleap's throat as her eyes were wide and duck-like. Left over rain dripping from the leaves of trees washed out the fire. Finchshade stood the in astonishment, Dahliaheart frozen beside him. The two warriors were shocked, Finchshade summoned a sympathetic frown as he looked at Winterpaw, staring at Dahliaheart. "Come on, she must be grieving the most." He whispered, walking up to Winterpaw. "Winterpaw." Winterpaw didn't flinch, though her ear gave a twitch which had shown she knew they were there. "Come on Winterpaw. We need to take Rippleleap to camp so everyone can mourn." Finchshade looked around for a moment, his ears flicking back as he noticed there was no presence of the golden apprentice. "Where's Autumnpaw?" Winterpaw didn't answer that question instead she stiffened, letting out shaky breaths until she stood up. "He, he got taken to.." she couldn't finish the sentence as her breath started to shake again, "he got taken to riverclan." She closed her eyes, her claws digging into the dirt, a cry escaping from her. "It's okay Winterpaw." Mewed Dahliaheart, slinking down and taking the hind of Rippleleap's weight onto her back. Finchshade took the front and Winterpaw grabbed the herbs, the flowers in her paw, causing her to limp as she walked on three paws with her fourth occupied.

They reached the camp and the clan had mourned for Rippleleap, Winterpaw was still beside her dead body, her scent was taken away from the flowers over her body. Flowers. Winterpaw grabbed a bundle of vines beside her and wrapped it around her left front-leg. Then she wrapped the biggest flower around her ear. With some vine left over she wrapped it around her hind-leg, resting her head on Rippleleap's fur as she fell asleep. As sleep swept over her she let out upset sniffs. Her dream went over the horrible memory she tried to block out as much as she could. "You left me, you're nothing but a disappointment to me." The words Sandleap screamed rang in her ears. She shut her eyes more and they shot open as she heard a warrior murmuring under her breath in her ear. She turned her gaze to see Smokeleaf giving her a look full of worry. "I'm so sorry Winterpaw." She comforted the she-cat with words. Winterpaw looked up at her. Smokeleaf looked at Coalkit from afar. "A cat is getting their apprentice ceremony in three sunrises, I need to have you there, we'll be expecting company from now on." Winterpaw sniffed. "What'd that mean?" Winterpaw stared at Coalkit, she remembered that the tom-cat came to visit their den not long ago. Winterpaw's thoughts strayed for awhile. Then she went to her den and fell into sleep.

Three sunrises had passed, today was the day. Winterpaw exited the den, yesterday she helped the elders bury her mother's body. Despite only being seven moons, she put hard work into it. Her determination giving her a source of strength. She saw Coalkit cleaning his fur, his eyes closed. Winterpaw stared past Coalkit to Soulstar, who was exchanging words with Smokeleaf. Tempestcrow sat, Winterpaw realised she'd been sour ever since Junipercloud died. Hallowwisp came over to her with a squirrel hanging from his jaws. Winterpaw turned away before she heard a flirty remark from Hallowwisp to Tempestcrow. Winterpaw approached Dappledpaw and Tansypaw who were boasting about what their warrior name might be. "I'm gonna be Dappledclaw for sure!" He leaped up to his paws. "I want something more simple, like Tansywing or something." Winterpaw observed that the apprentice was possessively pressed up against Dappledpaw. She noticed the two denmates were very close. Winterpaw flicked her tail and Tansypaw gestured her forward, inviting her over. "We're sorry about Rippleleap, Winterpaw, we know how hard it is to lose a parent." Winterpaw gave them a blink of gratitude. "Thank you, it's an extreme loss for everyone" She frowned, remembering Autumnpaw. She'd usually hang out with her littermate everyday. Her gaze flitted across the clearing wishing she could still see the golden shape. Winterpaw watched Soulstar leap up onto Shade Rock, she turned to look at Coalkit who seemed to be excited out of his fur. Her attention flicked back to Soulstar as his voice rang out across the camp. "Let all cats old enough to seek through the darkest of shadows, gather beneath shaderock for a clan meeting!" Winterpaw saw Smokeleaf dip away from the elders and wave her tail to Winterpaw, welcoming her over to sit beside her. Winterpaw settled beside the she-cat and looked up at her, following her gaze that sat on the little tom-kit, his fur was well groomed and he sat in the middle of the clearing. Winterpaw focused on the kit, who was buzzing with excitement. Soulstar's voice spoke up again and she lifted her head up to look at him, seeing that the tom had his eyes fixed on Coalkit.  "Coalkit, you have reached the age of six moons, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Coalpaw. Your mentor will be Smokeleaf. Smokeleaf looked at Winterpaw, gave her a nod and a smile. Winterpaw gave a soft smile back, in all that's happened today she thought nothing would make it better, she was wrong. Soulstar spoke again, "I hope Smokeleaf will pass down all she knows on to you. Smokeleaf, you are ready to take on an another apprentice. You have received excellent training from your former mentor and you have shown yourself to be calm and patient. You will be the mentor of Coalpaw and I expect you to pass on all you know to Coalpaw.
Smokeleaf, who had left Winterpaw's side and stood next to Coalpaw, touched noses with the apprentice. Winterpaw's ear gave a flick as the clearing rang with Shadowclan's voices of congratulations. "Coalpaw! Coalpaw! Coalpaw! Coalpaw!" When the chanting was put to a stop so was the meeting. Coalpaw and Smokeleaf walked over to Winterpaw as Winterpaw stood up, dipped her head and began to introduce herself. "Hello, my name's Winterpaw, I'm excited to work with you." She gave a wide smile to the tom, feeling excited to have help with all the injured warriors.