WINTERGAZE'S LIFE

Chapter 9

Today was the day, Reaper would be receiving his warrior ceremony. Winterpaw stretched, she didn't really care. Reaper would just be another clanmate just like the others. Winterpaw rolled in the dirt then got up, tracing her tongue over her paw. Reaper was staring at his reflection in the water after his bandages had come off, Smokeleaf had sat by his side the whole time, Winterpaw was sorting the herbs. Spikekit, Crimsonkit and Swiftkit were six moons now, Pumpkinkit was four moons, he still had two moons ahead of him, Foxfire had offered to take care of him but she could tell Foxfire wanted to leave the nursery soon. Glazesight was glad to leave the Nursery. And Spikekit Crimsonkit and Swiftkit seemed to be bursting with excitement, Reaper and the three kits would all be going into training. Soulstar informed Glazesight and Foxfire that their kits would be getting their ceremony just a bit late as people would have to get used to Reaper. Winterpaw had been in the Nursery at the time checking up on the kits as she usually did, leaf-bare was just around the corner. Winter'Paw's thoughts were cut off as Smokeleaf entered the den, holding a big plump toad and dropping it beside Reaper. She had a frog in her mouth. "Help yourself to some fresh-kill and then go get some thyme for us please, we're running low." Winterpaw nodded, she picked up the frog thoughtfully and trotted out of the den, placing it just beside the medicine den and crouching down, tearing parts out of the frog and chewing. Once she had finished it, she got up and stretched. She gave her paws a quick wash then left to go find thyme. She passed the clearing and then went through the exit, her ears giving a swift flick.

Winterpaw crossed the territory cautiously, careful not to bump into the Dawn patrol. There was a puddle in front of Carrionplace, Winterpaw turned to it, trotting over to the body of water. Winterpaw reached the water, the swampy reeds shadowing any fish that might be in there. She spotted a few fish and if she crossed a patrol, she'd let them know. She bent her head down and grabbed some thyme, her teeth wrapping around the herbs. She searched for another bundle, assuming just one more batch of thyme would be good before she went back. She saw thyme laying near the borage, from the corner of her eye she saw the Dawn patrol with prey full in their mouth leaving back to camp, Winterpaw gave them a swift nod. She'd inform the Sunhigh patrol about the fish. Her head turned back to the herbs and she shoved the thyme to a corner of her mouth and picked up the other bundle of thyme. Her maw was filled with thyme and she turned back toward camp. She stared at the slowly frosting grass, her paws feeling cold. Her eyes flicked around at the trees and bushes. Everything was slowly collecting frost, leaf-bare was coming and it'd be harsh. She sighed between the huge bundle of thyme. The leaves had grown just well, which she was thankful for. The herbs and prey were still popular. She felt her paws switch to the familiar path of back to camp. She's learnt her territory quite well after the two moons of learning. Winterpaw reached the camp, noticing from the corner of her eye Reaper was beside Soulstar, she didn't pay much attention to it as she walked past them and swished into the medicine den. Smokeleaf greeted her with a nod. "Just in time!" She walked past her as Winterpaw set the herbs out neatly on the shelf. "Reaper's apprentice ceremony is just about to start!" She mewed, her eyes bright. Winterpaw sniffed. "Alright, I'll be sure to be there." Smokeleaf nodded, and then sat down to clean her fur. Winterpaw realised she should do the same, she lifted up her front leg and licked her armpit, keeping her ears alert for Soulstar's meeting call. She continued to clean her fur, switching over to her chest fur. Then her fur fluffed up when she heard a screech. She looked outside of the den, narrowing her eyes to figure out who the two cats were. She figured out it Tempestcrow was staring at Soulstar as if all his fur just fell off. Winterpaw sat down and gave her fur a few strokes. She must've gotten some crazy news.

Soulstar's voice rang across the clearing. "Let all cats old enough to seek through the darkest of shadows, gather below Shade Rock for a clan meeting!" Winterpaw saw cats file out of their dens, she felt Smokeleaf's presence stray away from her as she exited the medicine den. Winterpaw followed her and sat beside her. She and Smokeleaf were close to Reaper. Who's expression seemed to be awed. When the elders passed Smokeleaf to sit somewhere, Smokeleaf nodded to the cats who have served the clan for so many moons. She turned her head and frowned. She wished she could sit next to Autumnpaw. She shifted her paws and realised Coalpaw wasn't with them, she turned her head to see Coalpaw sitting behind Smokeleaf, hidden in the bushes. Her eyes big as she gazed across the clearing. Soulstar spoke up again, his voice rippling across the clearing. "As you all know, we've had a cat in our care who was found extremely injured and almost dead on our territory." Winterpaw's ears gave a flick as she heard mewls of protest rising from her clanmates. Winterpaw watched as the cat's turned their gaze to Reaper, Reaper shrunk as his tail twitched and his claws unsheathed. Winterpaw's eye twitched. Please starclan don't make this a fight. Winterpaw finally decided to listen to their complaints. "Shadowclan no longer cares for clan blood? What are we, Thunderclan?" Winterpaw heard a voice ring out. Winterpaw turned her head as Soulstar's voice hushed the clan. "Please settle down. I didn't call this meeting to be talked over." His voice turned into a growl, his ears flicking at either side of his head. The clan went silent, turning their gaze back to Soulstar. "Now, after much discussion with Smokeleaf and Owlfeather, it's come to my attention the fate of this cat now lies within my paws. I could either rid him from the clan forever now he's healed or take him on as a Warrior. After an unsuccessful season of kitting where only Swayfern gave life to a litter of two kits, it's become clear to me the answer to my question. Winterpaw saw Smokeleaf giving a smile and a nod of approval, happy that Reaper would be in the clan now. "Reaper has proven to be a strong, resilient cat with use to us and will be staying within our camp's safety and assuming the name Reaperpaw per his request to keep his original name. He will be training under our very own Tempestcrow, where he'll learn the ways of the Shadowclan warrior." Winterpaw gave a quick glance at Tempestcrow who wasn't pleased at all. This must've been the news she received that made her screech. Her thought were snatched away as unenthusiastic chants began, though Smokeleaf's chant sounded like she just saw Shadowclan win a war against all the other clans. Winterpaw stared at her paws in boredom as Soulstar began to speak again, she turned her head up to listen. "I am hoping you will all greet Reaperpaw with empathy and meet him eye-to-eye in time as he proves himself to us. Owlfeather has already assigned patrols so you should all know your responsibilities. Clan dismissed." Winterpaw yawned but her ears pricked up as Smokeleaf turned to her. "You're excused from your duties for the rest of the day. Winterpaw gave her a grateful nod. She crept over to a place in the camp and thought for a moment, how much she missed Autumnpaw. She thought of how miserable he must be in Riverclan camp, it made her fur itch and her body tremble. She needed to get out of camp to think about things. So much was happening, her gaze followed the grass that laid out in front of her paws. She saw Tempestcrow and Reaperpaw on her stroll, but she didn't let them know of her presence. Instead, she went over to the tunnel, staring out across into Riverclan territory, squinting her eyes hoping that maybe she could see Autumnpaw from here. She wondered if they gave him a new name. She'd figure that out soon, the gathering was just a few moons away.