[Deleted]

    The weather had started to clear up in the valley, although hunger was still a very real issue in Treeclan. With the awful blizzard finally clearing Nightpaw knew the importance of her task, the clan still needed food even if there seemed to be none. Extra hunting patrols had been dispatched to try and find every bit of prey possible, however as important as her job was Nightpaw was having a problem taking the patrol seriously. Puddlepaw was also on the patrol and when Nightpaw was cold, tired and hungry there was nobody she would rather be with; Puddlepaw had an adverse effect on Nightpaw's professionalism however, thus Nightpaw was bouncing behind her best friend trying to run her down. "Get back here you cunning rabbit!" Nightpaw shouted as the laughing Puddlepaw evaded her whilst replying, "Not a chance, mousebrain!" She had barely gotten the words out before Nightpaw shouted back, "SILENCE SQUIRREL!"
 

    Usually the apprentices were focused and dedicated to their training, however clan life was nothing short of depressing during the cold leafbare. They both knew they would probably be harshly reprimanded for their actions, but neither cared as they hadn't had this much fun in moons. Their mentors would have to catch them to tell them off, which would have meant safety for a while yet if Puddlepaw hadn't caught her paw on a root hidden beneath the snow covering. Nightpaw wasn't able to react to her friends sudden deceleration and both ended up tumbling into a snowbank as a giant ball of fluff and laughter.

Fawn

[Fawn]

Sprucefur
40 Moons || Tom || TreeClan || Warrior

If it weren't for the treacherous leafbare still pummeling the valley, Sprucefur had a feeling that Lionstar would have reprimanded the apprentices for their playful banter as they tumbled into a snowbank.

Being assigned to a patrol with Lionstar, Puddlepaw and his own apprentice, Nightpaw, had been a little strange. It was surreal to think that he, at long last, had his very own apprentice—something that felt almost late, but he was glad it had arrived nevertheless. Sprucefur had never been especially eager to teach another cat the ways of warriorhood, yet as the moons had progressed, doubts had begun to plague his thoughts. Was Lionstar showing favoritism to others in the Clan, by awarding them apprenticeships ahead of him?

Or worse, was he easily overlooked because his performance in TreeClan was, at best, average? The last few moons leading up to Stormpaw's and Nightpaw's apprentice ceremony had seen him going on extra patrols and hunting as often as he could without making his efforts seem too obvious, or like he was deliberately trying to impress Lionstar.

Somehow, that hard work had paid off. And he didn't mind walking behind Lionstar, once more stuck in the golden tom's shadow. Instead, the pale-furred tom kept a considering eye upon Puddlepaw and Nightpaw as they played.
"Be careful, Nightpaw." He mewed in his quiet, patient tone of voice. It took effort not to be overprotective of the she-cat; he had quickly gotten attached to her, and now he viewed apprenticeship as less of a duty and more as a bonding experience. He would let them carry on their game for a little while longer.

Lionstar, on the other hand, had gone briefly ahead of them, his mane blowing in the strengthening wind as he raised his nose to scent the area. It was as the golden Clan leader turned back to the group that he noticed the icicles wobbling over the two laughing kittens. "Puddlepaw! Nightpaw! MOVE!"

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Word Count: 312 Words
Tags: @poptart

[Deleted]

    The gentle words of Nightpaws' mentor were lost on the apprentices, they went in one ear and out the other. This was far too bad, if they could barely hear Sprucefur's words they never had a chance to anticipate the looming danger from the snow logged branch above them as it creaked. Deciding to turn the tables on her black friend Puddlepaw quickly whirled around and began to charge Nightpaw. Being quick on her feet Nightpaw put on the brakes as her paws churned in the snow looking for purchase barely turning around in time to flee Puddlepaws vigorous assault. This one action would set in motion a series of events that would seal the poor apprentices' fate.

    If their roles hadn't changed they would still be leaving the overloaded trees' vicinity, however they were now on a collision course with disaster as Nightpaw passed under its clutches once more. Unlike the softer spoken tom Lionstars booming voice caught the apprentices off guard, both slowing as they turned to look at their leader wondering what danger he could possibly be referring too. This was all it took to position Puddlepaw directly under the branch as a sharp crack echoed through the cold air, Nightpaw barely registered as the pawsteps behind her ceased. The black apprentice's focus shifted, still giggling as she turned to investigate the noise she had grown so accustomed to during the winter moons.

    The sight that greeted her was nothing short of ghastly, under a large branch her best friend lay sprawled out with wide scared eyes. Puddlepaw was frosted with a layer of white snow that left her partially buried, she made no sound but that of her short, shallow breaths. Nightpaw slowly approached in silence sharing the same wide eyed stare as Puddlepaw, their eye contact was chilling. "P-Puddlepaw?" Nightpaw mewed softly, receiving only struggling breaths in reply. The poor apprentice wasn't even able to to beg for assurance that she would be alright, as her best friend stared on in horror Puddlepaw was forced to remain mute until the end of her short life.

Fawn

[Fawn]

Sprucefur
40 Moons || Tom || TreeClan || Warrior

Noooo!
Warriors, both pale and tawny-gold, threw themselves against the heavy bough crushing the life out of Puddlepaw's tiny body. Sprucefur pushed until his shoulder ached, but his heart ached harder; panting, he dug his paws into the snow and finally succeeded in forcing the bough at least partway from the little pale she-cat. He heard Lionstar's lamenting cry, and he gazed, shocked, upon the damage done to her. Her spine had been snapped in a way no creature's spine should ever be, and he saw the struggle, the terror in her eyes as the life was forced from her with a merciless rapidity.

StarClan, why... Sprucefur had seen death in his lifetime. He had seen elders pass on to hunt with their ancestors in starry, misted fields; he had seen friends and enemies alike die in combat. But this, the senselessness of this death, cut him down to the raw center of his heart, and he swallowed a hard lump in his throat.

Lionstar was beside Puddlepaw now, the large golden tom licking the top of her head, providing what little comfort he could possibly give to the dying she-cat.

Not at all forgetful of his own apprentice, Sprucefur looked upon her with a bereaved heart, memories that had been reality mere seconds ago playing over and over in his head. They had been innocent apprentices, finding fun and enjoyment in the harshest of seasons TreeClan could scarcely imagine.
"Nightpaw, I..." Sprucefur's words failed him. He could not think of something to say. What could he? How could he provide comfort over such a senseless death? Without anything to utter, the pale warrior came over and licked her cheek, trying to draw her gently away from Puddlepaw's body.

He dared not ask Nightpaw to help carry her back to camp, for a vigil. And he hoped Lionstar wouldn't either.

Conscious of his duties as a mentor, of his position of strength and reason in distressful, tragic times, Sprucefur stifled down his own shock and distress to better cope with Nightpaw's. He could handle his feelings in the privacy of the warrior's den, or even alone at a later time—all that mattered was that he was here for her. A shudder passed through Sprucefur's body, as he saw Puddlepaw's from the corners of his eyes. That could have been Nightpaw. That could have been anyone.

"May StarClan welcome you with open paws, Puddlepaw." Lionstar whispered to the dead she-cat, and he raised his head, sober-eyed, to look at Sprucefur.
"Take Nightpaw back to camp."

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Word Count: 414 Words
Tags: @poptart
Notes: </3 Puddlepaw!

[Deleted]

    Nightpaw watched in silence as her friend met her slow demise, she would regret not offering support to Puddlepaw in her last moments for the rest of her life. She was barely aware of her mentor as he moved to stand beside her and did his best to over support. She shrugged off the comfort Sprucefur tried to provide and moved to touch noses with Puddlepaw, it was too late though as she had already passed. "Come on! You can get through this, just hold on..." She whispered with urgency to her now deceased friend, when she received no response she added a pitiful "Please..." She mewled softly as Lionstar said the only words that seemed appropriate given the tragedy, Nightpaw had never really thought much about Starclan. That was about to change, she would never stop wondering if she would ever see her friend again. In a daze she was lead away by her mentor at their leaders command, she floated back to camp in a daze in what seemed to be her worst Nightmare.

Fawn

[Insidious]

He could've warned her. He saw the icicles shaking long before Lionstar brought the young pair's attention to the danger right above them. There was more than one danger right above them, and that their clan leader had missed it was a pure twist of fate. The slender tom, thinned by the hardships of leafbare, pressed his underbelly against the branch on which he rested, waiting for what was impossible to stop. When the branch collapsed, and he spied a small body trapped underneath it, breathless, he smiled.

He could've done something to prevent the she-cat's untimely death. Perhaps he would've, too, had it not been for Lionstar's presence. It was their leader's fault that she died, really, when to consider it under that light. If he said something, he risked being found out, and there was no telling what kind of reaction Lionstar would have to the exile trespassing. When it came down to his life, or hers... it was rather obvious in the moment what choice he would make.

It was the other apprentice that caught his attention. There was something so much deeper than sadness in her expression that he couldn't hope to place it before she was coaxed away by her mentor. He could've gained her favour by saving her friend, there was no doubt, but with a glint in his eyes, the gears of his mind beginning to spin, he could gain so much more than her favour with her friend dead. Once the clearing was empty, and Lionstar moved on with the body of the deceased apprentice - likely too caught up in the loss of a TreeClan life to suspect he had another audience - did Grayowl descend his perch. He stared the way they had all gone, knowing it was too risky to take chase. Besides, the mourning apprentice was under the close-watch of her mentor, and he wouldn't be able to take her under his wing without a fight. He could only hope that she would take her leave from camp to properly grieve on her own. He was betting on a lot of possibilites, but he could never be too careful.

He waited for her, and he would wait until it was no longer safe for him to do so. She would come back, he knew that she would - it was something of an intuition, a sixth sense, reserved for the young minds he warped. Worst case scenario, he could get into contact with his daughter, Mockingbird, and instruct for the delivery of the apprentice, but it seemed he began to think of solutions a moment too soon. The bushes rattled, and he spun, a wicked grin on his face that he muted into cautious concern just in time for the reveal of her face. Being here would surprise her, no doubt, and take her off guard, so he would need to work quickly.

@poptart