Poolpaw padded past her sister pushed through the apprentice den as morning started rising and orange streaks started fading from the sky.

She then noticed Featherpaw trodding toward the entrance to camp.
"Where are you going?" Poolpaw mewed.
Featherpaw glanced back at her, "Bluefeather's taking me hunting again so I can practice my stalking, Icefrost said since your still healing from that thorn, you can stay in camp for today."
Poolpaw cursed Sunpaw. The next time I see you Sunpaw, I gonna kill you!

After she watched Featherpaw leave camp with Bluefeather, Poolpaw padded to the fresh-kill pile. Her squirrel was gone, and she sighed, disappointed she wasn't able to eat her own first kill.

Icefrost was sheltering beside the frozen nettle patch with Owlpaw and Flowertail, hunched against the wind.
Poolpaw hoped she could get a chance to hunt. "Am I supposed to hunt before I eat?" Poolpaw called to her.
Icefrost shook her head. "You must be hungry after last night. Eat first, and then clear out the nursery."

Poolpaw nodded and took out a vole from the pile, carrying it to the rock pile. There were no sign of Duskpaw or Bravepaw; they must be out training.

As she swallowed the last mouthful, Owlpaw padded toward her. "I've got some fresh bedding stored in the medicine clearing," she told her. She sniffed the air. "There's rain coming, so I collected some while it was still dry. Help yourself when you need to refill the nests in the nursery."
"Thank you." Poolpaw ran her paw over her muzzle and got to her paws. "I'll clear out the old stuff and then come get it."
"Don't worry," Owlpaw mewed, "I'll bring it over."

Poolpaw wanted to ask something, "Hey.. how long have you been a medicine cat apprentice?"
Owlpaw shrugged. "Not that long. I went to the moonstone the day before your first day out of the nursery,"
Poolpaw looked at her. "How long does it take to become a full medicine cat?"
Owlpaw took a deep breath. "Really, realllly long. And it'll be much longer for me, probably when there is a new leader since I became an apprentice when I was only one moon old."
Huh. Poolpaw thought.

Poolpaw now need to get to work. She padded to the nursery. She hadn't been back here since she'd move to the apprentice's den, and it felt familiar yet strange to be squeezing in through the entrance.
She remembered straight ahead that Raindapple wasn't a queen anymore and was now back to being a warrior when she couldn't see any sight of Raindapple.

Dawnstripe was curled in her nest with Thornkit and Amberkit, offering them a morsel of mouse.
"It's chewy," Amberkit complained.
"I'll eat your bit," Thornkit offered.

"You've had plenty," Dawnstripe chided. "If you want more, you can go to the fresh-kill pile."
"Really?" Thornkit's ears prickled. "Can I choose anything I want?"
"Yes," Dawnstripe answered, "but nothing too big."

"I'll go with him," Blackkit offered.
"Good idea." Briarpool pushed Icekit off her belly. The small, white she-kit opened her mouth, eyes wide with complaint, but Briarpool silenced. "Why don't you go outside and play, too?"
"Come on!" Blackkit urged. "It'll be fun!"
"But it's cold," she grumbled. "When Owlpaw brought the mouse, she said rain's coming."
"All the more reason to get some exercise before it does," Briarpool advised.

Poolpaw let out a small meow to let them know she was there.
"Hello, Poolpaw!" Briarpool broke into a purr. "I didn't see you come in. I hear you made a great catch yesterday. Stormclaw was certainly pleased to have such a big meal."
"I was just lucky," Poolpaw said casually, trying to hold down the purr of pride in her throat.
"I'm sure it was more than luck," Briarpool meowed.
Poolpaw finally let out her purr. "I've come to clear out the den."

"There!" Dawnstripe meowed, whisking Thornkit and Amberkit out of the nest with her tail. "It's time you all went outside and got some fresh air. Poolpaw will need room."
Icekit sat up. "But what if it rains?"
"It's too chilly to go out," Amberkit wailed.
Dawnstripe rolled her eyes. "All IceClan cats for generations can withstand subzero temperatures."

"It's okay, I can work around you." Poolpaw offered.
"No," Briarpool meowed firmly. "True warriors don't hide from the weather."

"Exactly," Blackkit agreed. "Come on, you two." He padded around the den, nudging each of the other kits toward the entrance. "I'll make sure the wind doesn't blow you away."
Thornkit was already outside with the others, muttering complaints, letting themselves be herded from the den.

Briarpool rolled onto her back and stretched. "You must be tired after the Gathering." She yawned.
"How was it?" Dawnstripe asked.
Poolpaw didn't say that an annoying yet funny code-breaker had basically forced her to break the warrior code. "It was great."

Trying to change the subject, she looked at the two queens, "So wow. Lots of kits.."
Dawnstripe nodded, puting in her agreement, "Mhm. Me and my mate are proud of Thornkit and Amberkit,"
Briarpool. "I remember a time where there have been both female mates."
Dawnstripe looked at Briarpool, "I'm more into males."
Poolpaw shrugged. "I am in a bit of both,"

She began plucking old straws and strands of bracken from the edges of Dawnstripe's nest.
Owlpaw scraped through the stone floor with two bundles of moss. Owlpaw dropped the moss by her front paws.

After some work, she heard a mew. "Poolpaw! Poolpaw!" Featherpaw's mew came from the clearing outside. She sounded excited.
Poolpaw glanced at Owlpaw, she knew she was an apprentice like her, but she was a medicine cat apprentice. She wondered if she'd mind her if she left her for a moment.
"Go on," Owlpaw mewed. "I'll manage here."
Quick as a mouse, Poolpaw turned and slid out of the den.

Featherpaw was sitting proudly by the fresh-kill pile. A sparrow lay at her paws. "My own catch!" she called as Poolpaw raced to join her.
Poolpaw sniffed the sparrow. It smelled fresh and warm, and it made her mouth water. "My favorite!"

Flowertail, crouching by the frozen nettle patch, got to her paws and wandered over. "You are both amazing hunters, IceClan honors that." She meowed approvingly.

But when she glanced down to admire the sparrow, bright sunlight springed onto the sparrow all of a sudden, she froze and her brushed out as her eyes grew as wide as a owl's.
"Oh no!" She yowled.
Poolpaw peered at the sparrow. Was she shocked from the sudden sunlight spraying onto the sparrow?

Flowertail's eyes had glowed pure white for a brief second and then she was shaking from nose to tail-tip. "Dear, StarClan!" She wailed, ringing around the camp. "A sign from StarClan! Destruction for us is coming!"