𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙜𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙤𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙘𝙚 its size, batting at the fresh snow as it packed beneath her paws and fell from the sky. The air was sharp, with a nippy wind that buffeted the treetops overhead. The snow kept coming, building mouse-length by mouse-length each sunrise. Leaf-bare was finally upon them, and the air only got colder. The snow hardly melted, and the sun hid behind clouds that traveled across a blue sky.
Indigokit knew that her apprenticeship would be coming soon. She was nearly six moons old and more ready than ever to leave the snow-filled quarry. The Gathering happened the sunrise before, and Indigokit hoped she could attend the next one.
She looked up from her paws as Fawnkit and Willowkit pounced on the snow near her. The white powder had begun to accumulate so much that Foxstar and Sunflare had ordered some warriors to haul it out of camp. Sunflare had also specifically asked that snow be left outside the nursery for the kits to play in. She appreciated that the new deputy looked out for her and her littermates despite being a witness to Deadfang's treacherous murder. Indigokit shuddered and pushed the thoughts about her father away before they could form.
She looked around, noticing Frostpaw and Mountainpaw reinforcing the apprentices' den. The snow had taken its toll on some of the dens, but the nursery still held up well. Indigokit watched the two toms expertly weave reeds to support the den. She tilted her head, slightly confused. Aren't reeds used on MarshClan dens? she wondered to herself. She held back a purr of laughter when she noticed Mountainpaw drop a reed and pick it back up. She took a few paces toward them, hearing Mountainpaw muttering incoherent curses under his breath.
"You won't be done until sunhigh if you keep dropping reeds!" Frostpaw taunted, weaving faster. "And you'll never beat me."
Mountainpaw shot him a glare. "It's not a game, Frostpaw," he pointed out. "I'm more focused on the quality of my weaving. Your weaves look horrible."
Frostpaw only rolled his eyes. "You take it too seriously," he teased, slowing down and shaking out his pelt as if what Mountainpaw had said had gotten under his fur.
"I don't think Hailflurry would be very pleased with you. And I don't want snow falling on my head when I'm sleeping!" Mountainpaw shot back at his littermate.
Frostpaw only flattened his ears and suppressed a mrrow of laughter. Indigokit chuckled, hearing snow crunching as Fawnkit sat beside her, his eyes locked on the toms that Indigokit was watching.
