It had been a few weeks since the whole MoonClan encounter. Snowpaw had been worrying about her family and if they were okay or not. What if they weren't? What if they were injured? What if...they were dead?

            She shuddered, trying not to think about it. The snow had gone down some, only patches remaining on the ground, but Snowpaw knew there was more snow coming. There always would be.

            Snowpaw yawned as she arose then picked at a dead rabbit that was laid out for her.

            "Why are you picking at your prey?" Stonecloud asked.

            Snowpaw shrugged. "Just not hungry, that's all."

            "Not hungry? You're a growing she-cat. You should eat," Stonecloud said.

            Snowpaw sighed then turned towards Stonecloud. "Are we learning more herbs today?"

            Stonecloud nodded. "Do you remember the ones I taught you yesterday?"

            Snowpaw nodded, beginning to recite them. "Poppy seeds for distress, snakeroot for poison, yarrow for extracting poison, and tansy to cure coughs."

            "Good," Stonecloud said. "You really are learning. You could be a medicine cat."

            "But I don't want to be one," Snowpaw said.

            Stonecloud laughed. "Don't worry, you don't have to. Today we're going to talk about the dangerous berries and such."

            "Dangerous?"

            "You didn't know there were herbs that could kill a cat?" Stonecloud asked.

            "Oh, I knew," Snowpaw said. "I just didn't know there were more dangerous herbs other than deathberries. M-mother used to...talk about them," she sighed.

            "Are you alright?" Stonecloud asked.

            "No," Snowpaw sniffed. "I miss Mommy."

            "I know you do," Stonecloud said, comforting the she-cat. "But, we have to move on. Your mother can't do anything for you anymore. You have to grow up on your own."

            "NO, YOU LIAR!" Snowpaw hissed, her ears folding back with rage and her teeth bared. "SHE COULD'VE SAVED ME FROM THIS CURSE! SHE COULD'VE COME BACK FOR ME! SHE-SHE COULD'VE TAKEN CARE OF ME AND SHE STILL CAN! LEAVE ME ALONE!" she hissed, running off into the woods.

            "Wait, Snowpaw, I didn't mean," Stonecloud's words faded out.

            Snowpaw ran through the woods, some snow falling. Snowpaw wailed, nearly scaring every bird and piece of prey away. She continued running until she came to a large tree.

            She stopped, curling up in its roots. She sniffed, tears streaming down her white chin. She remembered back to BloodClan where her mother had concealed her in her tail. Where her mother had given her a nest to sleep in when her siblings harassed her. Her mother had protected her.

            "Snowfeather, come back," Snowpaw whispered.

            Snowpaw looked up, seeing berries hanging from a bush. She knew exactly what they were. Deathberries.

            A part of her wanted to grab one and eat it right there so she could end it all. She hated her life and everyone in it. Why had StarClan given her such a cruel one?

            Snowpaw groaned. Why couldn't she have saved that tom? Or Redpool? Why did she have to leave Oceankit and Wavekit? Why did StarClan have to watch after her when they had given her a horrible life? Where had her mother even gone?

            Snowpaw buried her head in her paws, wailing.

            Where even was she? She had wandered far from the tiny base camp they had. She stood up, looking around, the cold winter breeze sweeping at her fur.

            "Hello?" Snowpaw called.

            Snowpaw breathed in a familiar and warm scent. She gasped, seeing Silverwhisker standing beside her.

            "Silverwhisker! How did you—"

            "I'm a StarClan cat, Snowpaw. Wipe those tears from your face and don't you dare lay a claw on those berries. Why are you so depressed?"

            "BECAUSE STARCLAN HAS GIVEN ME A TERRIBLE LIFE!" she spat, sweeping her tail.

            "StarClan has only protected you," Silverwhisker spoke calmly.

            "I should eat those berries!" Snowpaw hissed. "I hate my life!"

            "So did I," Silverwhisker said, drifting over towards her. "But I grew to like it and accept it. And you should too. Things will get better."

            "All you did was die!" Snowpaw spat. "How could you like that?!"

            "Look," Silverwhisker said sharply. "I'm sorry you were separated from your mother and family, but haven't you had good times along the way? StarClan has done so much for you!"

            "Like what? What have you done for me?" Snowpaw asked.

            "StarClan gave you food and shelter when you were on the brink of death. StarClan rescued you from being poisoned by Wavekit and led you across the river. We are training you to be a warrior right now! What more could you ask?" Silverwhisker asked.

            "I want my family," Snowpaw whimpered.

            "Your family that abandoned you and harassed you?"

            "Not my mother!" Snowpaw hissed. "It may sound crazy, but I miss my father, brother, sister, and my mother."

            "I am sorry, Snowpaw, but I can not help you with that. One day, you will understand," Silverwhisker sighed. "Now we better head back to base camp. Stonecloud still needs to show you those herbs."

            Snowpaw sighed. "Alright," she said, drooping her tail as she padded back with Silverwhisker.

            Snowpaw sighed, wondering if things would ever get better. Would she ever know the truth of her abandonment or not?

            She got back to base camp, seeing Stonecloud in the camp.

            "Snowpaw, I'm sorry for what I said earlier," Stonecloud said.

            "It's alright," Snowpaw sighed. "I'm sorry for running off. Can you just show me the dangerous plants now so I won't poison myself?"

            "Sure," Stonecloud laughed, leading her away from Silverwhisker and back into the forest.

            Snowpaw padded through the forest, feeling the newly formed snow underneath her paws. Snowpaw and Stonecloud almost blended in with the white forest, their coats almost the exact same color.

            Soon enough, Stonecloud stopped at a spot. Snowpaw looked, spotting bright red berries that were quite round, very noticable in the white snow.

            "Holly berries," Stonecloud said. "They're dangerous to kits. They're poisonous and could even kill a cat, but if treated quickly, the cat could survive."

            Snowpaw nodded, glancing at the berries in the white snow. She had never seen them before.

            "They look beautiful," Snowpaw said.

            "That's the idea," Stonecloud replied. "Their beauty drags you in and it makes them look delicious. But don't eat them."

            Snowpaw nodded, following after Stonecloud as they left the holly bush.

            Stonecloud led her to another small clearing. Suddenly, Stonecloud began to float and light shone down on a spot of snow, revealing the ground underneath. Large, but beautiful, flowers rose from the ground, their colors of purple, yellow, and more. Seeds grew in them, some lying on the ground.

            "Foxglove seeds," Stonecloud spoke. "Never eat them. They look like poppy seeds, but they can easily cause paralysis or failure of the heart."

            Snowpaw nodded, watching as the flowers and seeds sunk down, snow covering the ground again.

            "You must watch out for deathberries, foxglove seeds, and holly berries," Stonecloud warned.

            "I will," Snowpaw replied, following her back to camp.

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Which StarClan cat do you like better-Stonecloud or Silverwhisker? Why? What's your opinion on both?

Thanks for reading!