Snow's blaze

"Come on, Snow! Wake up you sleeping hedgehog!" a vioce woke Snow from her dreams. Blinking she opened her eyes and shaked moss from her pelt. Her sister, Blue was sitting in the nest, her gray-and-blue striped pelt fluffed up against the cold winter air. She could not see her other littermates, but she guessed they where already outside of the nursery, playing. As she followed Blue out and saw her two big littermates, Poppy and Pine, a question flashed through her mind again: Why where they so much bigger than me and Blue? "Looks like our kitties are finally awake." barked Pine the moment they apeared outside. "And this bossy know-it-all is fluffing out his fur again" Snow muttered in responce. Poppy was sitting a little way back, clearly trying to stand out of their arguments, but after a long heartbeat she padded slowly to them. "Hey. Ignore him." She muttered to Snow and Blue "He is only angry because he can't do anything right!" Anger flashed through Pine's eyes as he heard his sister's comment "You just wait till we are helpers," he growled "I will beat you, till you will be pleading for mercy!" "Try me, if you dare" Snow retorted. He growled and leaped for her. But she side-stepped, just like the helpers told her to, and as Pine hit the ground, she was on him in an instant, pinning him down. Pine, growling and snapping, shaked her of and spun around to face her. Snow's eyes where blazing as she jumped out of his way and slashed out her jet-black forepaw as she saw Mountain-help and Strike-help train. Her claws slashed his muzzle and blood rolled out. Pine shrieked in pain and threw himself blindly at Snow. That's when Patchleap stepped in and Pine ended diging his claws and teeth into her leg. She snatched him by his scurff and lied down gelntly; when she turned to Snow her eyes weren't gentle at all. "What's the meaning of this, attacking your brother like that?" Patchleap snarled, looking ready to tear Snow to pieces. Snow winced at her raw, sharp words and saw Pine glare at her triumphantly. She sank her head and muttered a "sorry" than padded back through the snow to the nursery. Just at the entrance she looked over her shulder, growled "Puppypet!" at Pine and jumped into the nest. Curling into a tight ball, she wished this was just a bad dream, that would be over soon. She might have won the fight but her mother blamed her, as always. Her ears twiched at the sound of two pair of pawsteps heading into the nursery. Snow lifted her head and saw Poppy and Blue slowly padding to the nest. "We will be better of not trying to calm Snow. You know how she hates it, when Patchleap snarles at her." She didn't heard any more as sleep took her over once more. When she woke she saw that Blue, Poppy and even Pine where bunched around her, in their mothers fur. In the nest next to theirs was Thistle and Sweet with their parents Hailclaw and Tallclaw. They created a brown and black ball of fur. With Sweet's white-orange-and-black pelt shoning on top. Snow sighed. She wished Moon would also spend more time with them, but he's the Clan leader, her doesn't have time to wast with pups. Snow let out a growl and padded to the entrace to the nursery. Nursery was in a hole covered with thorns and the only tiny entrance in and out was a hole in the thorn wall hiden in tall grass.The nests where made out of ferns and moss, and feathers as well. As Snow padded out, growling at thorns striking her fur she gazed at the high rock wall, shielding one side of the camp. At the base was a hole covered in wines and behind them was Moon gently snoring. He never even wisited them and Snow wondered if he likes them at all. Something stirred at the ather side of the stone wall and a moment later Sunheal's head popped out of the healer's hole. The healers's den was a deep hole which tuorned into a cave, where they stored all their herbs and sick dogs stayed there too. Next to it was a pool with a tiny stream leading into it. Sunheal dropped a wad of moss at the edge of the pool and soaked in the cold water. Snow remembered that Sunheal and her helper Fern-help where caring after Sootleap, who was axidentally caught up in a fight between Clan of the Claws and Clan of the Fangs and was badly injured. Snow couldn't wait to become a helper. She will learn every skill there is and crush every cat that gets under her paws. She was to troubled by the thoughts to notice Poppy sitting next to her. "What a beautiful full moon tonight" Poppy muttered. Snow lifted her head to gaze at the moon and barked "Yeah it's so magical. I feel like it's calling me." "That's nonsense!" growled a voice behind them. Both pups jumped and spun around. Reed-old was sitting behind them, his face troubled. "I can feel however I like!" snapped Snow in her defense. Reed-old just flicked his tail for Poppy and Snow to follow and padded of across the camp towards the elders' den. Poppy followed instantly but Snow held back for a moment. Than got to her paws eventuely and trotted of after them. When she reached the hole, both Poppy and Reed-old have already disappeared inside. Snow padded on slowly through the dark tunnel. As she was swallowed by the dark Snow realized she could see faint light up ahead. It grew a bit brighter when she reached a cave where elders had their nests. She had never been there so it was shoking to find it had holes in the roof. Not big enough for a cat to squeeze through but not too small for moon light to shine in. Under the biggest hole she could make out a sleeping dog, Fang-old. Snow shivered. Sweet warned her not to wake him or she will get her ears clawed into pieces.Looking aroung she spotted Reed-old and Poppy in the corner and hurried to them. "So, what's the big idea?" she muttered to Reed-old. The orange-and-brown dog looked like a silver crystal in the half-light. Snow glimpsed Reed-old closing his eyes, as if remembering something long ago. "There is a story of dogs who called themselfs wolves. It's said they where stronger and bigger than normal dogs and that they were the masters of these woods long before humans. But when humans came to this world wolves where forced out and replaced by dogs. Nobody had ever seen a wolf, but it is said that they live on in dogs as spirits. It is said that the only difference between a normal dog and a dog with a wolf-spirit inside is a special bond with the moon that only wolf-spirits share." He opened his eyes again and looked straight into Snow's eyes. "Yeah, nice story, but you don't mean this, do you? Like there was never any wolf-spirit, for sure?" Snow asked, feeling slightly exited and nervous. Reed-old's eyes darkened with trouble "I don't know. Nobody knows if this is just a pup tale or if it is real." "Wow!" Poppy exclained beside her. "Just imagening my sister is so special makes me so proud." Her bigger littermate wasn't aware of Snow studying her paws for answers. Without saying any more Snow got to her paws, dipped her head to the elder and padded out. Her head was spinning with everything Reed-old said. Was he only making a fool out of her or did he meant it? She shook her head and padded on and before she knew it she stood in front of Moon's den. She wanted to call to him for advice but then she remembered what happened last time and kept her mouth shut. Last time the only thing he said was: Stop wasting my time. I have more important things to do. Snow looked around and realized that the sky was paling with the up coming dawn. She sighed. Another day with Pine and Patchleap at her tail. She hurried into the nursery to make it look she had been there the whole night. Snow squeezed into the nest and closed her eyes. It felt like a moment later when she woke up. But the sky was pale blue and the sun was high in the sky. She stretched and walked to the entrace to the nursery and out. She was surprised to find only Blue awake. "Where did Patchleap go?" she asked with no interest at all. As long as Patchleap stayed out of her fur, she will be as good as happy. Blue didn't took her eyes off of the camp entrance "She left with Poppy and Pine to collect new moss instead of the helpers." "Oh. I'm sorry you had to stay behind because of me. At least that's what I guess is Patchleap's reason." Blue was also Patchleap's usual target, if there is trouble it's always Snow or Blue who get blamed. Blue looked at her with dark eyes. "She said I'm supposed to wait for you to wake up, but I know she just doesn't want me with her at all." they sat on in silence.

Something moved behind them and a heartbeat later Moon apeared from the entrance to his den. He walked to his deputy Ashclaw, barked something too low for the pups to hear. When the gray-and-white deputy nodded, Moon turned his attention to the camp and barked "Let all dogs gether here beside me!" His black pelt shone in the sunlight and his red half-moon and wind-like spin on his flank looked like dried blood, but the circle on his forhead was as bright as the setting sun almost hiding the aqua blue eyes of Snow's father. Beside him Ashclaw's gray fur was clean and his amber eyes shone with pride on his white face. His gray muzzle was open to reveal his long fangs, while his white tail was twiching impatiently and he worked his white paws on the ground in front of him. Sunheal's gray-and-orange head popped out of the Healers' den and she hurried out to take her place on the other side of her leader, her grass green eyes filled with grieve. She was quickly followed by a brown-and-white she-dog who's bright yellow eyes showed no bright spirit unlike usual. Fern-help sat next to Sunheal quietly. A orange patched brown pelt of Heartclaw apeared in the entrance to the hunters and fighters' den closly followed by a light blue-and gray one of Featherclaw talking in low voices. From the top of the fallen tree above the den jumped Gorseclaw and Starryclaw barking exitedly. Stoneclaw, Shinningclaw and Dustleap stretched before following all the others. Rainleap, Windleap and Airleap lifted their heads from their prey and finished it quickly. At the tunnel entrance appeared Patchleap with Pine and Poppy all caring wads of moss. All spies held back, obviously feeling wierd among dogs. Snow spun around as Hailclaw, Tallclaw and their pups, Sweet and Thistle emerged from the nursery. Their smooth fur almost glowed in the sunlight as they padded to stand at the front of the crowd. She was suprised, because pups where supposed to stay out of the Clan meetings. Than she remembered that Sweet and Thistle had already reached six moons and will become helpers. That's not fair Snow thought I am strang enough to be an helper too, doesn't matter I am only one moon. Mountain-help came to sit next to them his fur also as glossy as Thistle and Sweet's, who welcomed him warmly. Who would want to be friends with that bossy arrogant furball Snow thought. She noticed Strike-help glaring at him from the back of the crowd. Last to come where the two eldery brothers Fang-old and Reed-old. Moon watched the Clan for a while before he spoke. "It's time for me to perform a important ceremony. We have two new helpers to welcome." He nodded to the two exited pups and they rushed forward him. He turned to Thistle and barked "This pup reatched his sixth moon and it is time for him to become a helper to this Clan. Thistle, from now on till you have earned your place in the Clan you will be known as Thistle-help. Rainleap, you will be Thistle-help's mentor. I hope you will pass on all your qualities to your new helper and teach him the importances of Clan live." The blue-and-gray dog padded forward and touched noses with Thistle-help who looked more annoyed than exited and Snow heard him mutter "A hunter. That's just great. What does he know?" Moon ignored him and continued "This pup reatched her sixth moon and it is time for her to become a helper to this Clan. Sweet, from now on till you have earned your place in the Clan you will be known as Sweet-help." he turned his gaze to Shinningclaw "Shinningclaw, you will be Sweet-help's mentor. I hope you will pass on all your qualities to your new helper and teach him the importances of Clan live." Sweet-help was in front of Shinningclaw with one jump and was bombarding him with questions. Moon rised his proud gaze again and let it rest briefly on Pine and Poppy than he turned to Mountain-help. "There is one more ceremony I need to hold. Gorseclaw" Moon turned to his brother "has Mountain-help learned the importants of a fighter?" Gorseclaw studied his helper for a moment than nodded "Yes he has." Snow noticed that Ashclaw looked ready to brust with pride and remembered that Mountain-help was his son. "Mountain-help, stand forward." Moon continued "Do you wish to become a fighter of your Clan?" "I do" Mountain-help roared into the sun. Moon locked his cold gaze with Mountain-help's "Than in the name of Wise Stars I present you with your fighter name. From this moment you will be known as Mountainclaw." The Clan broke into friendly cheers as the two new helpers and new fighter had been announced. Snow was about to congratulate Sweet-help and Thistle-help when she spotted Sunheal muttering something quickly to Moon, her eyes troubled. He nodded and raised his tail for atention. All eyes turned on him and surprised muttering broke among the dogs as a giant wave. For some reason Moon looked unhappy. "I know you where happy for our new helpers and fighter but eventuelly there is also some bad news for today. You all know about Sootleap getting involved in a fight. Sadly he won't be able to walk again." a ripple of shoke waved through the watching dogs. Moon turned to Sunheal "Sunheal, will you explain what happened?" "Yes. I am sorry but Sootleap's hind legs won't work again. He broke his backbone is broken. I know you think bones heal, and yes they do but not backbone. Sootleap won't feel anything in any of his hind legs." she turned to Moon as she finished her speech. "As hard it is for me to say a good bey to an good Clanmate, no one can change his destiny. Can I go see him? I need to have a word with him."