Edited ✔️
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Small flakes of snow swirled into the ThunderClan clearing with early rays of dawn sunshine glittering between them, the small particles landing on the ground in minuscule clumps, slowly stacking up to make piles upon piles of snow. The yellow tinged clouds that breezed above deposited the substance gradually, and from the cold, harsh coughs exploded into flurries from the medicine den. Leopardstalk and Twigpool were working their tails off in fear of the gradually spreading greencough, and glimpses of the two tom's frantic states were frequent.

Snowdrift emerged from the warriors den, snowflakes immediately drifting down and clamping onto his fur. Although invisible against his white pelt, he could still feel the cold clusters of snow gathering on his pelt, and he shook the loose pieces of frost to the ground, barely able to contain the chattering of his teeth against the biting cold. He breathed out a sigh, a plume of fog whisking around his muzzle at the exhalation, and he bushed up his fur to try and remain warm, although the attempt proved to be useless as a bitter gust of wind rushed across his pelt and sent him shivering once again.

Snowdrift lifted his head as a golden she-cat beckoned him over from beside the highledge, and he instantaneously obeyed, padding swiftly over to the deputy. The white tom gave a respectful dip of his head, and Littleshine let out a small chuckle.

"No need to be so formal, Snowdrift." The white and golden she-cat meowed, a slight trill to her mew.

Snowdrift shrugged, flicking an ear as he settled down in a sitting position beside the higher ranked she-cat. Littleshine looked up at the sky, where dawn light had sifted through the clouds and sent rays of reddish sunshine into the hollow. Calmly, the deputy inclined her head to the side, averting her attention back to the white warrior. "You're up quite early." She acknowledged, flicking her tail against Snowdrift's flank to briefly catch his attention.

Once again, he shrugged, his blue eyes flicking in Littleshine's direction. "I suppose I am." He murmured, shuffling on his paws.

Searching desperately for a conversation starter, Littleshine scavenged for words, her jaws clamped shut for a few moments before speaking again, this time with humor rising her mew to a teasing purr. "So, Snowdrift. I've noticed you and Streamflower growing quite close. Have anything to say on that?" The golden cat quirked an interrogating brow, and Snowdrift felt his paws grow hot, and he began to fidget uncomfortably under her piercing stare.

"N-No." He stammered, looking at Littleshine with rounded eyes. "There has been no advancements to our relationship — er, friendship." He meowed, quickly correcting himself with a nervous duck of his head.

Snowdrift lowered himself to the ground as a small laugh burst from Littleshine's maw, a smile sprawled across her muzzle and a fretful frown across his.

"Snowdrift, it defeats the purpose of lying when you act all shamefully like that." She pointed out with a smile in her voice.

Snowdrift's neck bristled, and he shot an icy blue glare at her. "For StarClan's sake, Littleshine! Just let me contain both Streamflower and I's relationship for at least a moon before you come butting into it." He tilted his head to the side. "Please."

Littleshine huffed in amusement, her orange eyes glittering as she looked Snowdrift up and down. "Fine, fine. I'll keep your little secret." She shouldered him gently, and he let out a relieved chuckle, his fur lying flat. "Anyways, congratulations on finding yourself a mate!" Her eyes shimmered slightly with sadness, but it vanished as soon as Snowdrift spotted it.

The tom shook more flakes of snow from his fur. "Thanks." He meowed, his tail tip flicking lightly. The two fell into silence as the clan gradually awoke, the squeals of Splinterkit and Beetlekit rising from their nests shattering the morning silence.

"Snowdrift," Littleshine finally acknowledged, snatching the warrior's attention. "Would you mind fetching Firesplash and Redspark for a hunting patrol? I'd like for you to take them out somewhat early today. We can't afford the snow to grow heavier and diminish any opportunity to catch our clanmates food."

Snowdrift inclined his head in an obedient nod, rising steadily to his paws. "Of course, Littleshine." He meowed. The deputy cast him a grateful smile as he padded back in the direction he came, and back into the warrior's den.

Treading lightly, the tom maneuvered his way around his clanmate's sleeping bodies, accidentally stepping on one of them.

"Hey! That was my paw!" Lilystripe snapped, her amber eyes flashing furiously in the dimly lit den.

Swallowing down an angry retort, Snowdrift apologetically dipped his head. "Sorry." He muttered, before turning around and resuming in his venture across the den. Finally, he arrived at a moss nest where a reddish-brown tom resided, his flanks lightly rising and falling as gentle snores racked through his chest.

Snowdrift prodded the tom in the side, and Redspark blearily lifted his muzzle, his eyelids fluttering as he focused his gaze on Snowdrift. "What is it?" He murmured, jaws gaping in a quick yawn.

Snowdrift tilted his head. "Littleshine would like for you to go on a hunting patrol with me." He meowed.

Redspark rose to his paws, arching his back in a stretch. "Alright." He said breathlessly, his whiskers quivering in anticipation. "I'll meet you outside in a little bit."

Snowdrift gave an appreciative nod, and went to find Firesplash, this time careful as to not step on anybody. Once finding the dark ginger she-cat, he made his way back out into the clearing. The trio soon gathered, their fur bushed against the cold. As Littleshine had predicted, the flurries of snow strengthened, nearly blinding the patrol as they headed out of camp.

"Let's try the Sky Oak." Redspark suggested, his voice nearly carried away by the whistling wind. Both Snowdrift and Firesplash murmured their agreement, and the three trekked towards the towering oak tree.

Halfway there, Firesplash broke into a frenzy of hacking coughs, her body shuddering at each harsh sound that burst from her lungs. Snowdrift pricked his ears, resting his tail gently along the she-cat's hunched shoulders. "Are you alright?" He asked, worry tinging his mew.

Firesplash bobbed her head in a weak nod. "Y-Yeah." She rasped, flicking her ears dismissively. "I'm fine." She shouldered away Snowdrift's tail, and sped up, trying to force his mind away from her coughing. Billowing a small sigh, Snowdrift brushed his way back in the lead of the patrol, and led his two clanmates to the Sky Oak. Not long after, the trio had emerged into a small clearing with a huge oak placed in the dead center. It's branches were stretched to the sky, letting soft whistles fill the air as wind whipped through every nook and cranny between the crammed branches.

Snowdrift tasted the air, allowing the scents of the frosted forest to wash over him. He padded forward, lowering his muzzle as the faint scent of rabbit tickled his nose. Following the trail, he found a rabbit's burrow, and excitement rippled through his fur.

"Redspark! Firesplash!" He shouted, hoping his companions would hear his summons. A few heartbeats later, the two came pounding in his direction, panting briefly as he caught their attention. He beckoned the two forward and instructed them to surround the burrow, and they did, crouching against the ground and mimicking Snowdrift's silence.

After waiting for what felt like moons, a pink nose jutted out from the hole, followed soon by the whole rabbit. It snuffled along the ground as more rabbits began to emerge, their light brown pelts like spotlights against the snow.

It's a burrow filled to the rim with rabbits! Snowdrift thought, hungrily licking his chops. Once what he assumed was the whole burrow of rabbits has emerged, he gave a signal with his tail. Firesplash leaped over the burrow and let out a raspy yowl, startling the rabbits into racing in any open direction. Three pounded towards Snowdrift, and he burst from the snow as the prey neared. Their beady eyes rounded, the whites of their eyes showing in the midst of their terror. Quickly he slammed his paws down on two, dispatching them with quick bites as the third scampered away, it's haunches wet with a new scar from Snowdrift's lashing claws. Firesplash only caught one, for she had begun coughing in the middle of trying to catch a second, and Redspark caught two, making it three as he snagged the one Snowdrift had wounded and quickly ending its life with a snap of its neck.

The three were silent as they all caught their breath, sides heaving. The patrol exchanged triumphant smiles, joy fizzing around the atmosphere.

Redspark let out a delighted purr, his tail swishing joyfully back and forth. "That was an excellent catch!" He praised, pride beaming beneath his pelt.

Snowdrift nodded with a responding purr, his eyes glowing with achievement. "It truly was." He agreed. "Shall we head back to camp? This should be enough to feed nearly the whole clan."

Redspark and Firesplash dipped their heads in agreement, and each cat picked up two rabbits as they headed back into the blinding snow, padding in the direction of camp with pride bringing a bounce to each of their steps.

I can't wait to put this on the freshkill pile. Snowdrift thought gladly to himself. Nobody will go hungry today! Ruffling his fur, he cast a sidelong glance at his companions, whose eyes reflected his jubilant thoughts.

***

By the time the trio had made it to the clearing, the wind had brewed down a little bit, but the snow itself grew even heavier. Snowdrift could hardly see a whisker's length in front of himself as snowflakes whipped around his face, and he did his best to ignore the frosted flakes of frozen rain.

Firesplash coughed hoarsely, doubling over for a few long moments as she heaved for breath. Snowdrift eyed her in concern, and approached her gently. "You should go see Leopardstalk." He coaxed, trying to meet Firesplash's flickering gaze.

Firesplash opened her jaws to protest, but Snowdrift's hard gaze assured her into silence. Her head dropped, and she breathed out a hoarse sigh. "Fine." She rasped, her tail tip twitching irritably. Submissively, the ginger she-cat turned and padded to the medicine den, where Leopardstalk and Twigpool waited.

The bramble barrier rustled as the dawn border patrol burst in, their tails lifted pridefully into the air. Tilting his head to the side, Snowdrift watched as Mosspounce, Willowbush, Ravenheart, and Marigoldpaw padded confidently towards the highledge, where Pebblestar resided with his tail wrapped firmly across his forepaws. Snowdrift suddenly noticed fresh new scars dotting the patrol's fur, blood still oozing from the wounds, and he gave a small huff as he realized that there had been a border skirmish.

Marigoldpaw and Mosspounce seemed especially proud, the two cats puffing out their chest fur. The four crowded around the highledge, reporting what had happened to Pebblestar. And immediately pride swamped his smug expression.

"Good job." He meowed, raising his voice so all of ThunderClan could hear his praise. "That should've shown those WindClan mousebrains not to hunt in our territory." His eyes flashed indignantly, and Snowdrift felt a flutter in his stomach that told him that his leader's announcement wasn't entirely the truth.

Not wanted to arouse any unnecessary punishment, Snowdrift clamped his jaws shut rather than objecting to Pebblestar, and quickly he swiped his tail over his paws. "Hey Snowdrift!" A meow disrupted his posture, and he spun around, only to meet his eyes with Streamflower. His surprise melting into relief, he let out a purr.

"Hi, Streamflower." He trilled as his mate affectionately touched her nose to his.

The gray she-cat smiled, and tilted her head to the side. "Would you like to share a vole with me?" She offered kindly.

Snowdrift pondered for a moment, his eyes lighting up. "Of course!" He replied, pricking his ears.

Streamflower picked up a vole Snowdrift hadn't noticed at her feet, and the two padded towards the side of the clearing and chose a spot sheltered by the branches of a spindly oak. They both chewed at the vole, dividing it evenly between themselves. Swallowing down a mouthful of meat, Snowdrift flicked his gaze towards the gray she-cat, watching as she finished her share of the prey. She lifted her gaze and smiled at him, before quickly burying the bones of the vole.

"I'm a bit tired," Snowdrift meowed, stretching to his paws. "I'm going to go get some rest."

Streamflower gave a small nod. "I'll come, too." She mewed, arching her spine before following Snowdrift to the warriors den. The white tom settled down in his nest, placing his muzzle against his paws. Streamflower lay in her nest, which resided only a few claw-lengths away. Snowdrift listened as Streamflower's breathing slowed into an easy rise and fall, signifying that she had drifted off to sleep. Snowdrift soon followed suit, feeling sleep wrap over him.

He felt the ground shift beneath his paws, and in replacement of soft moss he felt an unknown material prick at his pads. "Follow the brightest star, and it will lead you to a greater destiny. Pebbles the color of scarlet with wash upon the shore, leaving havoc and destruction in its path. Follow the brightest star, and all will be fine. The weather will rise and heal, to protect all from falling downhill." A voice whispered, power to their ominous words. Snowdrift's eyes fluttered open, stars swirling around his head and flecking the sky with their light glow. In the center of the glowing dots, the brightest star Snowdrift had ever seen resided, sparkling down at him with a light so bright that it sent him shivering.

Suddenly, the stars were swept away by flurries of smoke, the black fog consuming them with a large puff. Yellow eyes found a place up in the now pitch black sky, and they glowed eerily down at the white tom. A cat's silhouette placed itself in front of the eyes, flames stretching up behind it and lapping furiously at the starless sky. Prickling fear cascaded over Snowdrift as the cat turned to face him, and a screech tore through the air as the cat launched at him, claws flashing. Snowdrift cried out as he was pummeled to the ground, and the weight vanished, only to be replaced by a sticky wet substance creeping up past him and holding him to the ground. Writhing in attempt to escape, Snowdrift was glued to the ground as he was swallowed by rivers of blood.

"Follow the brightest star!" A voice shrilled past the blood pouring into Snowdrift's ears.

"Follow the brightest star!"

Fire swept into one with the scarlet liquid, burning Snowdrift's skin with such pain and fury as blood pumped into his lungs. He writhed and fought for breath, gurgling as instead of air he breathed in blood, and his chest heaved desperately as the world began spinning around his drenched body.

"Follow the brightest star!"

Pebbles began raining from the concealed sky, pounding in around Snowdrift and soaking in with the blood. He released himself into the grasp of the flames and blood, giving up on trying to regain his breath.

"Follow the brightest star!" 

And with the last repetition of that haunting phrase, everything turned dark, the scent of blood still lingering on Snowdrift's tongue.