The air stilled until the trees were silent, and the only sound was SnowClan cats sharing tongues with one another. Icestar made her way out of her den and onto the Meeting Stone. "All cats old enough to catch their own prey, join beneath the Meeting Stone for a Clan meeting!" She called.

The cats stopped sharing tongues and gathered together. Lilyfall made her way out of the elders' den beside Shadewhisker to sit with Larkstripe, who was on her other side; her spiky furred brown tabby pelt spiking with anticipation. "What do you think the meeting's about?" She asked the dark green eyed she-cat. Lilyfall was unsure what it could be about.

Olivepad was crouched below her leader, her gaze calm. Cinderwing and Barkpelt were next to the deputy, Cinderwing's gray coat ruffled as the young medicine cat had been interrupted mid-groom.

"What's going on?" Frosteye muttered to Brownstripe as she leaned into her. The brown tabby shrugged her shoulders. "I have no idea." She replied.

Lilyfall could Duskgaze's hushed voice as he meowed to Firetail, "Remember how quick she sent out the border patrols yesterday?"

"Cats of SnowClan, I have grave news. For in this time of peace, a battle with PeakClan is near. Of course this was inevitable, however, as this Clan's leader, I say that we will not be beaten!" She declared. The cats yowled their agreement. Lilyfall simply blinked, drinking in the words, slowly beginning to remember this moment when she had been an apprentice; the excitement of her first battle, the thrill of shredding fur.

"My kits! What if something happens? What if they try to attack the nursery?" Called Violetpool from the crowd, her eyes wide in distress. Ebonytail pressed close to his mate lovingly. "They'll meet my claws before they can even think of heading for our nursery." He vowed, lifting his chin and flexing his class until they pricked the snow beneath his paw-pads.

"Icestar, if I may, suggest something, I say we should prepare. Perhaps, Berryclaw and I take a warrior and an apprentice and go through the basic moves and join up for a mock-battle later?" Olivepad meowed, her night-black ears pricking. Icestar purred in approval. "Organize as you see fit. I believe it is an exceptional idea." The white she-cat purred. With that, she called the meeting to an end and made her way down from the stone.

The SnowClan cats talk to each other. Lilyfall saw Duskgaze and made her way over to he black tom. "What about me? What can I do to help with the battle training?" She asked with hopeful curiosity. The black tom stared down at his white paws, shifting on them with obvious awkwardness. There was a faint sound of pawstep behind her and Lilyfall turned herself around to meet Berryclaw's gaze. The she-cat had been her former mentor and helped become a warrior. Now that almost seemed like her training was all for nothing.

"Maybe you can observe." The patched tortoiseshell meowed careful. Lilyfall's hope began to suddenly fade. "But I want to help the Clan any way I can. That's what a warrior does." She pointed out.

Berryclaw sighed. "The Clan just wants you safe. Please as my former apprentice, listen to me." She mewed, touching her tail to her shoulder. The white she-cat stared at her leg then back at the small black-red tortoiseshell. "I'm sorry Lilyfall." She padded past her and followed after Duskgaze to Olivepad and the rest of her Clanmates.

Pelt hot with shame, she let her tail hug her legs. Had her injury really proved that she would never be useful? Smelling Hollowjaw nearby, she flinched. The young brown tabby queen, who had been an apprentice alongside her, sat by her side. "Don't worry about it." She told her.

"Oh? You mean the fact that my willingness to help my Clan was turned down by my own former mentor?" Lilyfall mumbled. The she-cat pressed herself close to her Clanmate. "You know what I mean. The Clan's just really worried. After the rockslide, we thought we had seen the last of suffering." She mewed softly.

"I just wish that day never happened." Lilyfall's voice trembled. Hollowjaw tilted her head. "But remember? You pushed Dawntail out of the way saving her life. She could have been dead if it weren't for you." She reminded her.

The white she-cat blinked. "I guess so." Her voice was distant as she stared off into seemingly nothing, letting her thoughts move about in her head.