Warriors: The Prophecy of Frost - Apprentice's Journey

Chapter 15- Cold

"Follow," Smallweb ordered. Frostpaw turned to face Sofie. "Are you coming?"

"No," she replied finally. "I... have to go."

"Okay," Frostpaw's tail drooped. She had to respect Sofie's decision. "Thank you for all your help."

Sofie acknowledged it with a nod before padding away.

"Bye!" Frostpaw yowled.

"Bye!" came Sofie's call.

Soon, her pale russet tabby pelt was out of sight.

Will I ever see her again? Frostpaw thought, following the DragonClan cats.

"Welcome to our camp!" Russetpaw mewed when they walked past a thorn barrier.

To Frostpaw's surprise, the camp was like ThunderClan's camp. The other DragonClan cats turned to see her and she felt slightly embarrassed.

"Welcome to DragonClan," a voice mewed strongly.

Frostpaw spotted a golden tom jumping down from a tall rock to meet her.

"My name is Goldenstar," he introduced warmly, looking at a reddish orange tom. "And this is Blaststorm, my deputy. Forestbrook is our medicine cat."

"Were you told that I was coming?" Frostpaw asked.

"Yes," Goldenstar replied. "Your name is Frostpaw, right?"

Frostpaw nodded.

"Come," he mewed, "I wish to tell you a story."

~~~~

When Frostpaw settled in Goldenstar's den, he spoke, his eyes glittering with memories.

"When our first leader, Dragonstar, was still alive, I was still a rather young warrior. Like many of my Clanmates, I was not born in DragonClan. That time, we were threatened by a group of rogues led by a cat called Bloodfang. We could have been doomed if it wasn't for your mother..."

"Bluewish never went further than Highstones," Frostpaw mewed in confusion.

"So Froststar is not your mother?" Goldenstar frowned. "Who are her kits?"

"Fernstorm and Hailfall," Frostpaw replied. "Hailfall is my father."

The DragonClan leader muttered something under his breath and turned to her, "You look very much like Froststar... and as I was saying, she made a journey as well to get to here. When she had the chance to leave, she didn't. Not only did Froststar not leave, she fought with us bravely, defeating the enemy and bringing us peace."

"Wow," Frostpaw blinked.

"I'm sad to hear that she's dead," Goldenstar sighed. "But she has returned here in a way... through kin. Now, you must be wondering why you are here."

"Why am I here then?" Frostpaw questioned.

"I was told that a powerful enemy is rising," he spoke solemnly. "One that will bring uncertainty and destruction among your Clan and the other three. Although our debt to Froststar can never be repaid and I, with some others are willing to help your Clan, some wouldn't like to help other Clan readily... So, you need to prove yourself in a way."

"How can I do that?" she mewed in confusion.

"As you know, we are the only Clan at the lake currently," Goldenstar began to explain. "You are to go to different parts of the lake to bring back herbs. But don't worry, you won't go alone. I will pick some cat to accompany you. For now, you will train with our apprentices."

Frostpaw nodded.

When Frostpaw padded out of the den and sat nervously among the DragonClan cats, Goldenstar yowled, "Let all cats who are old enough to catch their own prey to gather at Highrock for a Clan meeting!"

Frostpaw thought the entire Clan was already there, but more cats poured out of their respective dens.

"Our Clan have another visitor," Goldenstar spoke confidently. "Her name is Frostpaw, from ThunderClan. She is sent by StarClan to come here and we are to help her Clan..."

"Why do we have to help?" a wary voice called out.

Goldenstar's eye twitched and he mewed, "Wavetail, I understand your worries. But what her kin have done to help us can never be repaid."

"We should worry about ourselves!" another voice, fierce and insistent spoke. "Leaf fall is coming, and our herb supplies are low. Why should we help a Clan so far away for the sake of a mousebrained thing?"

"Watch what you are saying, Rushingstorm," Blaststorm had leaped to his paws, snarling angrily. "You were lucky that you are not borned at that time!"

"Blaststorm, I understand your intention and indeed Rushingstorm was being a pain," Goldenstar mewed calmly. "I haven't finish speaking yet."

"Frostpaw will be required to go around the lake to gather some of the essential herbs that are far from our reach," he announced, glaring at Rushingstorm. "For now, she will train with our apprentices. I will be her temporary mentor."

As Goldenstar dismissed his Clan, Frostpaw heard Rushingstorm snort. "I bet she wouldn't last a day alone at the lake!"