Stars Rising

Chapter 11

PufferPaw woke to the crunches of snow outside the apprentices den, he rose to his paws and Stretched out, as he puffed his coat out, stepping out into the snow covered camp.

" Stars, where did all this come from! It was beautiful yesterday! "

PrimrosePaw meowed, stepping out besides her brother, nudging him slightly.

" I'm sure your going to be fine! You and that thick coat of yours, of course I had to get the shortest fur of us all. "

PrimrosePaw continued, and PufferPaw nodded along, the cold snow was unusually to him, would training be harder? Would he have to watch out for some sorta of snow creatures? The thought made him shiver.

" PufferPaw, you ok? Cmon, let's go see what mom has to say about this snow! "

PrimrosePaw proposed, and PufferPaw jumped slightly, nodding.

" yeah, let's go...then we should find our mentors..."

PufferPaw mewed, and trudged through the snow, his short legs weren't the best at traveling far, Especially in snow.

" MistyFoot! Where are you! Come out! "

PrimrosePaw called, PufferPaw stood silently, he shouldn't be afraid of some snow creature, he was a warriors apprentice, and GrassPelt would protect him if need be.

" Stars sake...it's barley sunrise...will you shut your trap! "

The two turned around, and where greet with there father, Talon. PufferPaw could see his heavy exhales, as  her glared down at them with his one amber eye.

" Dad! What do you think of all this snow! Isn't it neat!! "

Talon have a slight chuckle, and nodded.

" Yes yes...it reminds me of my home up in the mountains, it almost always snowed up there, the rivers where frozen solid, the snow was so deep PufferPaw over here would be covered to his ears. You've got the height PrimrosePaw, you'd survive longest in the mountains. Maybe PerchPaw would too..."

Talon said, sitting himself down as he spoke. PufferPaw shuttered at the thought of be anywhere near the Rocky Mountains, how dangerous he heard they where.

" Say...I think the river is frozen..why don't we try something I was taught in the mountains, sounds fun hm? "

Talon suggested, PrimrosePaw bounced on her paws, While PufferPaw tilted his head worriedly.

" Isn't that dangerous....? "

" Don't be such a Kitten Puffer...come on you two, follow me. "

Talon growled, and lead the two out of camp, the sun was just beginning to rise, PufferPaw felt worry rise through his body, after what happened with NettlePaw the days before, he wanted nothing to do with the river, Frozen or not. When they arrived, PufferPaw could see the ice covering the river, something in him made him want to run back to camp, but Talon wouldn't let him live it down.

" Now, with soft paws, jump onto the ice. "

Talon said, and demonstrated, waiting for the others to join. PrimrosePaw hurriedly leapt across, standing softly on the ice, holding herself upright without slipping.

" Dad...this isn't a good idea...what if something happens..? "

Talon growled, and stalked off the ice, grabbing PufferPaws scruff, and dragging him towards the ice.

" No! I don't wanna! Dad stop! "

PufferPaw cried, and Talon snarled, holding him tighter.

" Stop beings such a baby, and do something good for once! "

Talon tossed PufferPaw onto the ice, and he landed with a thud, slipping all over the ice, and struggling to get on his paws, his breath heaved as Talon walked back onto the ice.

" now, finally. What your going to do is slam your paw into the ice and make a hole, make sure to scoop up the ice you break, like so. "

Talon slammed his paw into the ice, and scooped it out, tossing it to the side.

" when we gather enough Ice, we will be able to keep the prey on the fresh kill pile fresher for a while. Now you two, go. "

PufferPaw could hardly stand, as PrimrosePaw slammed her paw down, the ice began to crack, PufferPaws heart raced as he felt the ice grow weak.  Talon grabbed PrimrosePaw and leapt of the ice.

" PUFFERPAW, MOVE YOU FISHHEAD! "

PufferPaw was frozen, and the ice under him broke, and he felt the cold water take him over. He tried the push through the ice, but it was too heavy, his eyes widened as he realized he was trapped, his Apprenticeship was over. He felt his eyes slowly closed, before he was grabbed out of the ice, and dragged onto land. He coughed out the cold water, and looked up, Talon looked down at him.

" YOU COULD OF DIED!! WHATS THE MATTER WITH YOU! "

Talon snarled, and PufferPaw rose to his feet, the sounds, the cold, everything made him feel even worse than before. He backed up slightly, tears forming in his eyes.

" YOUR NOTHING, IF I DIDN'T DO SOMETHING, YOU WOULD OF DIED! MAYBE IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THE CLAN IF YOU VANISHED! "

" Dad! "

PrimrosePaw called, and PufferPaw couldn't take it. With a swift turn, he ran into the woods, tumbling over the snow, crying into the sky.

" I'm nothing! Worthless! I don't care where my paws take me, as long as it's far away, where I'm not a burden!! "