Story Part 21 Part 4 *Mentoring*

Snowstar sighed, and turned back to camp when Lionflame vanished. Rockpaw came out of the apprentice den.
"Hi, Snowstar," he mewed. "Should we get some training in?"
"Sure," Snowstar told her apprentice. "We'll start off patrolling the border, since that's mainly what you don't know." It's so weird being his mentor when we're the same age, but not the same age, Snowstar thought as she trotted off out of camp with Rockpaw behind her.
"There's the SnowyOak, where medicine cats share tongues with their ancestors." Snowstar pointed out. Then she swept her tail toward the river on the right that they were approaching. "Across there is FeatherClan's territory. They are our allies. Past them is PowerClan. They are neutral, as far as I know. Anyways, the river is a great place to catch fish." She swept her tail toward their left, the trees. "The trees are great places for other prey. Mice, squirrels, rabbits, birds, and more."
Rockpaw nodded absently, taking it all in.
"I'm not sure I can teach you much more. You'll probably be a warrior soon," Snowstar commented later. I'll think of just the right name for my old friend, she thought. "Let's hunt!"
She bounded off the trail into the woods. Rockpaw followed.

Gathering 6/15/11

Tomorrow night is the gathering.
Here is the link. Come and post your comments on Clan life. As leader, I will only post general stuff. You can post about your apprentices, kits, etc.
http://moonstargathering.blogspot.com/


~Snowstar

Story Part 21 Part 3 *Questions*

The sun rose slowly, and Snowstar looked up from her vigil beside Lilypaw. Suprisingly, no one had fallen asleep on vigil. The elders came out of their den and took up the apprentice's body, moving it to the site of the burial. Snowstar, Raincloud, Winterpaw, Eaglepaw, and Etharpaw followed behind. After Lilypaw was gone, the group dragged back into camp. Snowstar and Raincloud went to the leader's den. The apprentices went to their den, and the elders went to the fresh-kill pile. The moment Snowstar lay down, she was out.

*

The sun was high in the sky when Snowstar awoke. She was careful not to wake Raincloud, who was still asleep. Skypelt met her at the entrance of the den.
"What's happened," Snowstar yawned.
"I sorted out patrols, don't worry," Skypelt told her.
Something in Snowstar's  mind clicked. "Have you seen Lionflame or Ashfire recently?"
"No," her deputy replied.
"They told me that Lilypaw would die, and another would come to mend broken hearts." Snowstar confided. "I'm wondering just who those two think they are."
Skypelt shrugged. "I can't help you there, Snowstar."
Snowstar dipped her head. "Yes, I'll have to search for some answers myself." Then she padded off to the fresh-kill pile. Her stomach growled with hunger. After she had had a nice plump fish, she looked up to see Lionflame padding into the camp. She leaped to her paws and raced over to him.
"Why did you make a prophecy that said my kit would die?" she asked.
"Just so you know," Lionflame responded, "I had told you that the prophecy was from StarClan, not me. And even when StarClan told me the prophecy, they seemed saddened when they said it. They didn't want it to happen either. They just passed on their knowledge to me, and Ashfire and I passed it on to you."
Snowstar looked taken-aback. "Well, yes, but you didn't have to tell me. It would have saved me some worrying."
 "It is not up to me to not tell you something that StarClan told me to tell you. Do not forget that they said you will be brought hope, and your broken heart will be mended." Lionflame looked at her. "Take courage, for StarClan would not give you a burden they knew you could not handle."
How are you so wise? Snowstar wondered. "Do you know if the hope they have promised has come?"
"Only you will know for sure," Lionflame replied. Then he turned to leave.
"Wait," Snowstar commanded. "Are you going to join the Clan?"
Lionflame seemed to consider this. "I do not know. I must ask my brother. We will make the decision together." He turned to leave once more.
"Where is Ashfire?" Snowstar asked. Lionflame either didn't hear, didn't know, or didn't think he had to give an answer.

Story Part 21 Part 2 *Lilypaw Lost*

"Rockpaw, will you join the Clan?" Snowstar asked her friend.
Rockpaw pondered for a moment. "Yes. I don't know much. I was only an apprentice when I died."
"Yeah, but we both were well into our training, and I'm sure you learned a lot in StarClan," Snowstar mewed.
"So he will be in the apprentice den?" Etharpaw asked again.
Snowstar swung her head toward Etharpaw. "Yes, at least for a bit while he learns the ways of FrostClan."
She turned back to Rockpaw. "You will be my apprentice. Come, we will have the ceremony and then sit vigil for - Lilypaw." Her voice broke.
Rockpaw dipped his head and followed her out of the den. Raincloud, Tawnyflash, Wavepaw, and the other apprentices followed too, carrying Lilypaw.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join beneath IceRock for a Clan meeting," Snowstar called out, leaping onto IceRock.
"I would like to welcome a new apprentice into the Clan," she announced. Whispers sounded through the assembled cats.
"I knew Rockpaw when we were younger, before I started FrostClan. We were friends, and then... He had a tragic accident and died. As you probably already know, my kit, Lilypaw died from her injuries in the fox fight. Somehow her death transported Rockpaw back to life, and he appeared in the Medicine Cat Den when Lilypaw died. Rockpaw, from now on until you become a warrior, I will be your mentor and teach you the ways of FrostClan."
Snowstar leaped off the rock and touched her nose to his.
Rockpaw! Rockpaw! Rockpaw! Rockpaw!
After the cheering had died down, she added. "We will sit vigil for Lilypaw tonight, and bury her at dawn." Snowstar walked away from her new apprentice and sat beside Lilypaw, pushing her nose into her fur. "I'll miss you," she murmered. Raincloud sat beside her, his nose in Lilypaw's fur too. Then Eaglepaw, Etharpaw, and Winterpaw, who kept shooting hostile glances at Rockpaw. I'll have to talk to him about that later. she thought. Then she pushed out all thoughts but her grief for Lilypaw.

Story Part 21 Part 1 *Sudden Apperance*

Snowstar raced toward the medicine den.
Tawnyflash looked up as her leader raced in. "What?"
"Lilypaw," Snowstar panted. Her daughter was still breathing. She raised her head up to the sky. "Thank you, StarClan." she murmered.
"It's been a long day," a voice behind her said. Raincloud laid his tail upon her back "Why don't you get some sleep? Tawnyflash and Wavepaw will make sure that everything will be okay."
Snowstar relaxed and went to her den with Raincloud.

*

Snowstar yawned and stretched. She had had a fitful sleep with no dreams. Raincloud was gone, and his scent was stale. Skypelt must have assigned him to dawn patrol, Snowstar thought. She arched her back and padded out of her den. Etharpaw, Eaglepaw, and Winterpaw were sharing a salmon by the apprentice den, while Eclipseshadow was showing Lionpaw and Sunpaw a battle move, which they eagerly tried to copy. Tawnyflash appeared with Wavepaw from the tunnel with bundles of herbs in their jaws, and then vanished inside the medicine den. Other warriors were sharing prey by the warriors den. It's a normal day in FrostClan. We're already recovering from the fox attack. Only one thing was missing... Lilypaw!

Snowstar padded toward the medicine den, when she nearly got bowled over by Wavepaw, racing from the den, eyes wide.

"Snowstar," she panted. "Something's wrong!"

Snowstar gasped and raced the rest of the way to the den. When she entered, she saw Lilypaw. She padded lightly toward her daughter, thinking she might be sleeping.
"There's no need for that," came Tawnyflash's voice. It chilled Snowstar to the bone. "She's gone..."
Snowstar let out a wail. The camp was suddenly silent. Raincloud pushed his way into the den, followed by Etharpaw, Eaglepaw, and Winterpaw. Snowstar wailed again, the sound of grief only a mother mourning her kit can cry. "The prophecy..." she muttered. "Why did it have to come?"
"I couldn't stop it..." a voice whispered in her ear.
Snowstar spun around and took in the scent and sight of the new cat. He had a dark brown tabby pelt, and deep, brown eyes, sparkling with grief.
"I tried," the cat went on. "But she was too far gone..."
Snowstar laid her tail on his pelt. "I understand now... They took Lilypaw to be with them, but gave you back to me. I should be glad, but it was at such a high price..." here her voice cracked.
"Ahem...." Raincloud was looking at her. "Who exactly is this cat?"
"Meet Rockpaw. We used to... know each other. Before I started this Clan." Snowstar explained.
"So... you were friends." Raincloud prompted.
"Yes. We were - friends." Snowstar answered.
"We're apprentices too!" Etharpaw mewed from behind Snowstar and Raincloud. "Where do you come from?"
"Well," Rockpaw seemed uncomfortable. "StarClan..."
"You're dead? Have you come to guide Lilypaw? Howcomewecanseeyou?" Etharpaw's questions spewed from her mouth.
"I was dead. Now I am alive." he replied bluntly.
"You can train with us," Etharpaw offered. "Snowstar, who will his mentor be?"
Rockpaw purred. "Your kits are inquisitive. I like that."
"Hey! We're not kits any more!" exclaimed Eaglepaw. Only Winterpaw remained silent.
I don't care if this cat was dead and is now alive. I only care that Lilypaw is gone... Winterpaw glared at Rockpaw, understanding the earlier part of the conversation. He took Lilypaw so he could come back.