Warriors: Drizzlestar's Change

Chapter 9

  "What do you mean she was taken by twolegs!"
  Drizzlefrost and Leapfrost had returned to camp and told the clan the news about Rosepaw. Rosepaw's mother, Redclaw, seemed to be the angriest.
  "How could you have let that happen?!" Redclaw spat, her eyes blazing with fury. "My poor kit!"
  Breezetail was beside his mate, trying to calm her. But it wasn't working. Redclaw continued to speak.
  "StarClan knows where the twolegs took her! What if they hurt her!?" Redclaw hissed.
  "I'll send a search party right away to look for her." Oaklight assured her.
  Redclaw glared at him. "And what if you don't find her? Then what!?"
  "We will keep looking." Oaklight replied calmly. Drizzlefrost stood in silence, too ashamed to speak.
  "I joined this clan to protect my kits from the twolegs!" Redclaw carried on with rage. "And now you're making me regret it!"
  "They will find her. Even if they don't, Rosepaw will find her way back, she's very smart." Breezetail soothed.
  Redclaw just slouched down, her head low. "My poor, poor kit."
  Breezetail led her to the medicine cat's den, where Snowleaf was waiting for them. Drizzlefrost watched them go then sighed.
  Leapfrost rested his tail on Drizzlefrost's shoulder. "It's okay. We tried our best to get her out."
  Drizzlefrost glared at him. "It's not okay! It's my fault we couldn't get her out! I was the one who convinced you to leave!"
  Leapfrost's gaze softened. "It's because of you that we're both safe. The twolegs could have taken us too."
  Drizzlefrost looked away. "I still shouldn't have left her."
  Before Leapfrost could reply, she got to her paws and raced into the forest.

  Drizzlefrost sat by the river in the forest, watching the water flow. Drizzlefrost stiffened as she heard paw steps behind her. She relaxed as she saw who it was; Leapfrost.
  He sat down beside her, looking at the water too.
  Drizzlefrost sighed. "I'm sorry for snapping at you."
  "It's okay." Leapfrost replied. "It may be hard to believe, but there was nothing we could have done to save Rosepaw. We tried our best to save her, and that's all that matters. We will find her. She'll come back to us."
  All Drizzlefrost could say was; "Thank you."
  Then they sat there for what seemed like hours, watching the water in silence.

  Drizzlefrost walked through the undergrowth, keeping a look out for prey. The other members of her hunting party had gone in opposite directions. She stopped near the WindClan border and pricked her ears, hearing two voices not too far away.
  Curious, Drizzlefrost walked towards the voices, stopping as she saw two shapes. She quickly crouched behind a bush and peered around, looking at the cats.
  Drizzlefrost stopped herself from gasping. One of the cats was a black tabby, Blackstorm. The other cat, Drizzlefrost had only seen at the gathering. It was the WindClan warrior, Redstrike.
  This just has to be a misunderstanding. Blackstorm will chase him away any second now. Drizzlefrost thought. But Blackstorm never did. Instead, the WindClan tom nuzzled her. Blackstorm licked his ear in return and the two walked in opposite directions, back to their own territories.
  Drizzlefrost watched, her eyes wide. She followed Blackstorm, staying out of sight. Drizzlefrost jumped in front of her friend once they were far enough from the border.
  Blackstorm's eyes widened in surprise. "Great StarClan! You scared me!"
  Drizzlefrost narrowed her eyes. "I saw everything. Explain."
  Blackstorm opened her mouth to protest but then sighed. "There's no point in denying if you already saw. But please, don't tell anyone."
  "Blackstorm, you're breaking-"
  "Yes, I know." Blackstorm interrupted. "I know I'm breaking the warrior code. But I love him. Don't you get it? And if you're really my friend, I can trust you not to tell anyone."
  Drizzlefrost looked down so Blackstorm continued. "Please. Do it for me."
  Drizzlefrost looked at Blackstorm and after a moment of hesitation, she nodded. "Your secret's safe with me."
  Blackstorm smiled. "Thank you."
  "But you need to be more careful." Drizzlefrost said. "Someone else may catch you, and I don't think they'll be as forgiving as me. Promise you'll be more careful next time?"
  "Yes, of course." Blackstorm promised.
  "Good." Drizzlefrost replied. "Now let's catch some prey before heading back to camp."

  Once Drizzlefrost and Blackstorm got back to camp, Pricklekit pounced on top of Drizzlefrost.
  "I'm becoming an apprentice today!" She mewed with excitement. "Oaklight said so!"
  "That's great!" Drizzlefrost purred.
  "Yes. And yet another apprentice to get new moss for my nest." Blackstorm said with a smile.
  "Hey!" Pricklekit squeaked.
  "I'm just kidding." Blackstorm laughed. "Maybe."
  Drizzlefrost nudged her friend then padded to the fresh kill pile, dropping her prey. Blackstorm followed, doing the same, and Pricklekit behind her.
  Drizzlefrost looked at Oaklight as he jumped onto the Hightree. Drizzlefrost noticed that the fur on his muzzle was turning white from age.
  "May all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Hightree for a clan meeting!" Oaklight called.
  "That's me!" Pricklekit whispered to Drizzlefrost as they all sat down.
  Drizzlefrost smiled as Oaklight continued. "Three kits are ready to become apprentices." Oaklight started. "Flamekit, Cinderkit, and Pricklekit, please step forward."
  Pricklekit and the other two kits stepped forward, excitement shining in their eyes.
  "Flamekit, from this moment on until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as Flamepaw. Leapfrost, I have trained you well and I know you are ready to have your first apprentice." Oaklight announced. The clan cheered Flamepaw's name. Drizzlefrost smiled at Leapfrost as he touched noses with his new apprentice.
  "Cinderkit, from this moment on until you've earned your warrior name, you shall be known as Cinderpaw." Oaklight continued. "Scorchpelt will be your mentor. I know and hope she will pass on her bravery and skill to you."
  The clan cheered Cinderpaw's new name as Scorchpelt touched noses with her.
  "Pricklekit, from this moment on until you have earned your warrior name, you will be known as Pricklepaw." Oaklight said. "Drizzlefrost, I have also taught you well and I know you will train this apprentice to become a great warrior."
  Drizzlefrost's heart skipped a beat, joy swelling through her. She padded over to Pricklepaw and touched noses with her as the clan cheered her name.
  As the cheers died down, Oaklight continued. "And with that, I believe it is time to appoint a new deputy."
  The clan started to whisper to each other. Drizzlefrost noticed that Jaggedclaw had puffed out her chest, as if she already knew who Oaklight was going to choose.
  But Oaklight looked at Drizzlefrost. "Drizzlefrost will be the deputy of FireClan."