• Prologue


    The icy wind whirled snow between frozen trees, and into some of the few small, dingy huts that are scattered by the trees that surrounds lake Acurity. But the snow that was piled on them, made the huts look like little caves leading underground. Stars glittering coldly overhead. A new moon seemed invisible to the indigo sky. The roof creaked uncomfortably as cold, atumn winds blew hard agianst it's evergreen branches. In the depts of one of the huts came a chilling wail. Two small pups layed stiff in a bed layed with cotton from many Swablu's wings. Their bodies as cold as the ice that made the walls of the hut. A Glaceon gently nosed her two newly born pups, but none of them stired. Tears weilding in her eyes, that ran down her face.
    "My pups!" She sobbed. "Don't make your poor mother suffer like this..." Another eery cry erupted from the pokemon.
    "Enough Diamondtail!" An elderly Glaceon spoke out from the blackness. Organizing berries and seeds, in what little light there was of the new moon. "You're not the only one in the nursery, you know. Some of the other mothers are trying to rest." Some of other mother's raised their heads, glaring at Diamondtail through sleepy eyes. Then went back to sleep, their heads turned.
    " I don't care! My pups are dead Frostbite!" Diamondtail spat. Frostbite left his medicines, and sat next to Diamondtail."You expect me to come-down after this, is that what you're telling me!?!" Awakened by the Diamondtail, an Eevee from another bed quietly stalks towards her nest.
    "No, I am not saying that. I'm only stating that-as your clan healer-you shouldn't cry so much over Wild and Hawk, they have already gone to join the ranks of Star Clan. And in the meantime, take care of your remaining pup."
    But Diamondtail didn't seem like she was listening. She was staring blankly at the wall; lost in her thoughts. "Star Clan is punishing me for killing Hailstorm and Bluepaws." Diamondtail muttered. "They took Cinderfang to Sliverphase after he bleesed me with his pups. But now they are taking them away from me, too. But why..?" Diamondtail stared frantically at Frostbite. "Why are they so angry with me?! I didn't do anything wrong. I was only doing it what my mother told me to do. I'm right, aren't I? Tell me I'm right!"
    Frostbite sighed and gazed at Diamondtail with distant sadness in his eyes, then looked down at his paws. "You didn't do anything wrong, Diamondtail..." He murmered at last.
    Suddenly less anxious, Diamondtail glared down at the tiny, brown puff of fur that suckled on her milk. "This pup is even smaller than the others. What makes you think that this one will live to see dawn?! Star Clan will take her by then!"
    "Our warrior ancestors are not to blame for your misery!" Frostbite snapped.
    "Then who is, Frostbite!? You can't honestly believe that all these deaths are just coincidents, do you!?!"
    "....She's beautiful." Suprised, the two pokemon stared down at the Eevee hunched over the bed.
    "What are you doing up so late, Artic?" Frostbite questioned.
    "I wanted to see her." Artic replied without taking his eyes off the pup. "She so pure....like the cold snow outside." After a while he peered up at Frostbite and asked. "What's her name?"
    "She haven't receive a name yet." Frostbite replied. "Her mother has to decide."
    "What are you gonna name her?" Artic stared up at Diamondtail.
    "What's the point...Star Clan is determined to take away me happiness. All from the death of my stupid brother and sister. Why give her a name when, she to, will leave me to join to Sliverphase?"
    "...Because even if it seems like she won't live for long, at least a name will remind the newborn how her parents feels about her before she leaves..."
    At first, Frostbite was dumbfounded. That a mere pup a few weeks old, was capable of creating such a response in such a short time. Then gently smiled. Diamondtail, on the other hand, wasn't so impressed. But soon, a smirk appeared on her face.
    " You have a point there....Very well, then." Diamondtail studied the hapless pup, now sleeping peacefully in her warmth. "I shall name her Crowfood. That way when she leaves me, Star Clan will know how I feel about them!"
    Artic gasped. "That's a horrible name!" He sqeaked. "Don't name her that! You have to change it!"
    "Indeed." Frostbite responded with an edge of challange in his voice. "Do not torment this precious pup for your misfortunes."
    " Shut up, the both of you! It's not neither of your decissions what I name her! Now get out of my sight," Diamondtail rested her head on her paws, and closed her eyes." I need to get up early to bury my pups...before the next snow storm hits."

    Chapter #1:
    Apprenticeship


    "Aren't you excited, Crowfood!" Snow asked me as she rolled a huge snowball around the training field. "We're going to have our apprentice ceremony today! We'll finally move out of the nursery, and live in the apprentices' den with Articphase!"
    "....I missed him when he left."
    "I know! When he was sleeping with us, everyday was so much fun with him around."
    All of a sudden, Snow front paws quickly sunk into the snowball; trying to free herself, Snow placed her hind paws on the ball and pulled hard. As good as her plan sounded, later she got her hind paws stunk in as well. Now fustrated, Snow shaked voilently, determined to break free. The snowball suddenly moved on it's own, rolling over Snow! Flailing, she finally escaped from the cold prison, but unfortunatly, the snowball was broken in many peices. I was rolling around in the snow, laughing so hard that my belly hurted.
    "Darn it! Why are we doing even doing this!? We aren't even rookies yet, and already we're doing chores!"
    After my laughing subduded, I layed calmly on my back. "Because we wandered away from the nursery without telling anyone."
    "Yeah, but we went hunting. You even caught a Swablu!"
    "It could be worse," I sat up and shock off the snow that clung to my pelt, scoop up some snow, and clumped a small pile togetheir." We could be taking care of the elders like Crystal and White.
    Snow shivered. "Eew! Your right, the elder's hut smells like fish bile! But those two deserved it. They wouldn't have felt better unless they started an argument about how stupid the rules are, that pups couldn't leave camp before they are apprenticed."
    "And besides," I stared up at the cloudless sky. Gazing at the Waxing Gibbous that refused to stay hidden in the clear blue. Breathing in the fresh, cold air made the insides of my nose tingle. "On nice, autumn days like today, the sky seems to go on forever...."
    "Your right."
    A cold ball of snow smashed in my face. "Your too slow! You'll have to be quicker if you want to become an apprentice."
    "You're acting like your an apprentice yourself. Oh! That reminds me, who do you want as a mentor?"
    "Not Raggedtail that's for sure! I want a nice mentor like Frostpelt."
    To be honest I wouldn't perfer him either. Raggedtail has a jagged tail since the day he was born. He usually seemed grumpy most of the time and had little patients with rookies of counldn't keep up with his lessons. But compared to Frostpelt, the two reminds me of night and day. Raggedtail was the cold, solitary winter and Frostpelt was the fresh, ivory spring. So full of life and light, always kind and understanding. I don't blame Snow for wanting her as a mentor.
    "That goes for you too, Crowfood. Who do you want for a mentor?"
    "I'd pretty much accept any one", I replied focusing more on another ball of snow. " As long as I'm made a warrior faster."
    When I looked up, Snow was a nose length away from my face. "Yeah right, I know want you're really trying to say! You don't have to be so modest Crowfood. I can see it in your eyes. You'd put up with anyone as long as it isn't Bluefur or Raggedtail or Diamondtial-Oops!" Snow backed away. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean too--!"
    "That okay. I understand."
    A few monthes ago, Frostbite, the clan healer, told me more about my mother before I was born. Like when Diamondtail was still a rookie she fell in love with a young, strong, noble warrior named Cinderfang, who took her in as his mate and conceived me. But after being at fault for the death of so many elders, due to the rotten Magikarp she fed them, she was punished by watching her siblings become warriors and evoling into Glaceons before her. Even though she finally became a warrior a moon and a half later, Diamondtail carried much hatered in her heart. So much that she decided that blood, not honor, was the only solution to her anger and embrassment. A moon after her siblings became warriors, she lured her sister, Bluepaws, to an ice ledge and pushed her to her death. At first, the clan thought that Bluepaws death was an "accident" and let it slide, but after Iceheart passed away, Hailstorm, Diamondtail's brother, was awarded leader of Ice Clan. Diamondtail belived she would have made a much better leader than her brother. And soon it became clear to my mother that power was more importanted to her than anything else, maybe even me. She maliciously killed her brother in cold blood in order to acheive power, but fortunatly, her treachrous plan was discovered before she was handed power on a "sliver platter" (whatever that is). Frostbite says that if Diamondtail wasn't pregnant with me, then she would've been evicted from the clan immediantly.
    Now her history are stories to scare pups, so hopefully none of them would repeat the same bloodshed in the future. Even today, the clan still she her as a heartless murderer, and me as a pure soul who came from something so vile, and cursed with such a horrid name. But I don't care about how bad my name is. And how the clan pities me. I don't need it. All I really care about is proving to them that I'm more than just an pup, but more of a warrior who the clan can respect depend on.
    Bluenose never liked my mother. Ever since she was a rookie, she never shook the feeling that something dark was lurking in the depts of Diamondtail's mind. And thinks that maybe I too, might walk in her pawsteps. She always keeps a close eye on me, like Star Clan watching over the 7 clans in Shinnoh. Her constant spying on my is troubling enough, but being her rookie will seem like she now had the right to (which she pretty much has now but I would never admit it).

    "I hope you two learned a valuable lesson." Fringeheart's deep, reassuring voice came to ear as he slowly padded up to us. His rookie Articphase following behind.
    "I would hate to see you two back here tomorrow morning shovling more snow off the trainging field." Articphase taunted.
    "I know I have!" Snow bounded from behind and stood beside me. "I'll wait after I'm a rookie before I'm back here."
    "You better!" A mischeavious twinkle shown in Articsphase's eyes. "Because after you recieve your rookie ceremony, I'll show you guys something amazing!"
    "Speaking of ceremonies," Fringeheart spoke silently. "You two have been working hard today. Why don't you pups get some rest so you won't look so tired during your ceremony. Articphase-you and I-will be practicing on the 'hunter's stack' in that patch over there." Fringeheart pointed his nose to a cornor of the field.
    The thought of curling up in my soft, cotton bed made me realize how tired my paws were. A yawn brought a tear to my eye. I trotted back towards camp with Snow behind me. As I passed Articphase, my fur brushed agianst his and a whisper came to ear saying: "I'll see you in the rookie's hut tonight."
    I tilt my head back, seeing Articphase sliently winked at me before padded after his mentor.
    "Ooooh." Snow cooed; eying Articphase as we got further away."He's totally hitting on you, Crowfood! If you don't be careful you just might end up being his to-night...."
    My face felt hot with embrassment. "Snow, How can you say such a thing!? Do you even know what that means?!?"
    "What? Of course! I swear, the girls in camp says in happened a millions times before! They even took the time to explain it to me."
    "....You listen to too much gossip...."
    The more Snow rambled on and on about resent clan gossip, the more I longed to nap in my distant bed.


    As soon as my hind-paws touched the cotton of the nest, I colasped in a heap. Spears of light shown through the hard, never melting ice from the hut's walls. Making them shine like frost on a rock in the sun's rays. Looking around, it's sad to know this is my last time sleeping in the cozy nursery. I'll miss the warm, milky smell of the pups that slept soundly in their mother's warmth. My eyes automatically traveled to a curtain of tree leaves hanging over a huge crack in the wall, leading into Frostbite's chamber. The fragrent, musty smell of herbs, and berries washed over me as I remember how Frostbite kept his medicines organized and neat. Not leaving a single berry out of place. Always taking the time to check in on the mother's and their beloved pups before going back to his job. The pup slowly drifted in and out of sleep, then fell in a doze. The gentle rising and falling of Night and Kelp's back, until it matched Mirrorwater's rythmatic breathing.
    It pains my heart a bit to know I never had that kind of comfort growing up. Knowing that whatever dark creatures that lurked in the shadows of my dreams appeared, my mother would be there to sooth me back to sleep, as if nothing happened. Sadly, she left the nursery as soon as I could walk on my own nest and never came back to the nursery. Not even to visit. Instead she stayed in the Warrior's hut. Frostbite took care of me afterwards while struggling to care for the clan, I was on my own.
    I feel guilty. The Warrior Code states that healers can not take care of their pups, unless they have a skillfully trained healer rookie avaiable to temperaly take over. Even though I wasn't his pups, he still treated me like I was. I also regreted having Blizzardprint lie to himself and the Warrior Code, after allowing Frostbite to do this. I shouldn't be so selfish.
    After she left, mom went straight back to her warrior duties. Even if I couldn't have her, the clan was lucky to have someone who'd help feed and defend the clan (even if Ice clan didn't have much enemies) with her life.
    A fluffy brown puff of fur plopped in front of my face. Snow's familiar scent drifted into my nose. "It's pretty chilly in the nursery, isn't it?"
    At first, I didn't understand. But then a feeling of warmth flooded over me. I buried my head in Snow's fur. "Thank you."
    "....Isn't that what friends are for?"


    Cold night air whispered into my ears. I instantly awoke and found myself curled up in the middle of a blanket of snow, dotted with trees. And snow clouds scattered across the indigo sky. The starlight covered the clearing in a pale light. All was white. All was dark. I searched the sky for a brighter light, but the moon was empty.
    " Wow! You came to visit us!"
    The sudden voice startled me. I jumped to my paws. "Whose there!"
    "Can you believe it Wild? Little Crowfood dosen't remember who we are." Another voice spoke. "That breaks my heart."
    "Well we did leave her alone with ma, Hawk."
    Wild? Hawk? I thought. Why do these names seem so familar to me? I remembered watching the rise of an early, spring morning while Frostbite told me more about me past. " Are you two my brothers in Star Clan?"
    "Finally! You remembered us!"
    Cold air blasted passed me, flattening my fur. And sending snow into my face. I felt as if I was going to get blown off my feet. Then suddenly the wind stopped. I opened my eyes and gazed at the two ghostly Eevees standing before me. Stars shining on their pelts. An Eevee with a tidy pelt, indigo eyes, and a mane as soft as the cotton in the nursery stepped forward. "My name is Wild," He pointed his nose towards the Eevee behind him with ruffled fur, amber eyes, and some stuble growing off the top of his head. "And this is your other older brother, Hawk. We have come to you in a dream to congratulate you on being a rookie."
    I looked down at my paws. Even though I'm only dreaming, a fresh wave of grief washed over. Wild and Hawk died shortly after they were brought into the world. And now they have to watch their little sister from the stars, by all rights should have died along side of them, slowly growing up into the warriors they will never become now.
    Hawk padded around Wild and pressed his nose agianst mine, until both of our eyes met. "Don't worry about us anymore," His voice was bright but his amber gaze was feeled with sorrow. "There's nothing we can do about it, we're already dead. All we care about is your happiness. Don't let the cold, harsh, unforgiving, frozen waste land like Ice Clan or Star Clan bring you down."
    ]"Wild! How can you say such a thing about the clan you were born into?" I thought the same thing!
    The sorrow that was once gleaming in Wild's eyes soon turned into hot flames. Wild backed away from me and faced Hawk. "You know as well as I do, that if it wasn't for--."
    Wild was interupted by strong winds blowing lots of snow everywhere. "I'm sorry Crowfood!" Hawk yelled in the raging winds. "Star Clan wants us to go home!"
    "Wait! What were you trying to say before! About Ice Clan?!"
    "Goodbye!"
    Wait! But the words wouldn't come out. Everything went white, then there was nothing but darkness.


    A paw was jabbing me in my ribs. "Wake up you crazy furball!" Snow was croching over me. "Your yelling and flailing in your sleep!"
    I felt even more exhausted then I did before. I managed to sit up straight. "Sorry."
    "You probaly had a bad dream."
    "Yeah...a dream."
    "Anyway," Suddenly aware Snow was still talking to me. "Our Rookie ceremony is about to start. Do you want to miss it?!"
    Hearing about the ceremony melted away my tiredness. My rookie ceremony was more important than anything else. This is something I can't aford to miss. Thinking of Wild and Hawk, me becoming a warrior is the only thing they're looking froward to. I have to do it, for them.
    "The clan is holding the ceremony around lake Acurity."
    "Lets go then."

    The sky was streaked with pink clouds as the sun setted behind the trees around the lake. Clanmates sat close togetheir, leaving a clear path for the pups to walk down during the ceremony. The lake was filled with excited murmurs of the growing clan. The current clan leader, Blizzardprint, was in deep conversation with his healer and lietenant sitting at the bank of the lake, at the end of the pathway.
    Blizzardprint was sitting on top of a huge frozen rock while wearing his Zinc band. And from the looks of it, Frostbite is wearing his Persim scarf. Frostbite had told me before that Blizzardprint's Zinc band boost his defense. And his Persim scarf pervents confusion, and was passed down from the healer after the other in the clan and Blizzardprint's Zinc band, passed down from leader to lietenant. He only wears it on special occasions like ceremonies or Clan Gatherings.
    Snow and I was thoroughly cleaning our snow covered pelts. Wondering where the lietenant could've gone, a bit of movement in the crowd caught my eye and detected Breezetail weaving through the crowd towards us. When she reached us she started licking roughly at the fur on top of Snow's head.
    Snow jerked back. "Mama, I'm not a pup anymore! I can clean myself."
    "I know. But you are still a little pup to me."
    Reluctantly, Snow let her mother groom her. " Aaah, mama...."
    I wasn't listening to the two argue. I was paying more attention to Breezetail's plain, glittering copper scarf embrode with broken crystals in the center to shape a snowflake. When Blizzardprint leaves to join Star Clan, Breezetail will change the second part of her name to 'print' and trade in her scarf for the Zinc band. Only when rookies becomes warriors will they be given colorful bands or scarfs to represent their clans. Even though they're plain and have no special powers like the Persim scarf or Zinc band that are given to higher ranking members, like leaders and healers, it's still admired for it courage, determination, or etc. that it symbolizes. Ice Clan's glittering clothes stands for beauty. When I'm a warrior, I'll wear one of those beautiful clothes myself...
    "Speaking of grooming," Breezetail's voice snapped me back to reality. "Where is your mother? I'm sure she would flatten the fur sticking out of your back."
    Scanning the crowd, I noticed Diamondtail's glittering crimson scarf between some warriors. Surwuring through the crowd, I finally confronted my mother. At first it looks like she was glaring intenstly at the clan leader, but then I found out it was Bluenose she was staring at so hotly. Bluenose was brusing down her son, Claw's fur with her front paw, while her other pups, White and Crystal, were grooming each other.
    "....Why are you here?" It took me a while before I realized she was talking to me. "You don't expect me to prepare you for your ceremony, do you?!"
    "N-no. I-"
    "Good! Star Clan gave you two paws, and a tongue for a reason." Her face curled in disgust. "Star Clan..." Mother gazed up at Sliverphase, the place were Star Clan is said to live. "...There awful name dosen't have the rights to pass my jaws."
    I stared at her in astonishment. Mother dosen't hate Star Clan so much as to desrepsect their name, does she?!? These were her warrior ancestors. Warriors who gave their lives to protect thier clans and continues to guide them in the afterlife.
    "They have made me suffer more than anyone else. And now..." The lost gaze in mother's eyes shifted to cold fire when she glared down at me. "And now I'm stuck with a weakling like you!" Mother got up, and padded to the farther side of the path before settling down. Far away from me. I sighed and struggled arching my tongue across my back.
    "She has some nerve!" Breezetail's scorn caught me by surprise. She craned her neck and licked down the sticking hair with ease. " Honestly, I don't know why your mother won't let your siblings go." So she was refering to Wild and Hawk. I concluded. "The sooner she does, the sooner she can start focusing her attentions on you."
    "It's okay." I reassured. " I use to it. I don't mind, really!"
    The look in her eyes told me how much the young lietenant was concerned about me.
    "Let all those old enough to grow a thick pelt to withstand the cold, gather here before Glacier Rock!" Blizzardprint strong voice rose above the murmuring and everyone fell silent.
    Breezetail placed her unusually long, diamond tail around Snow and me and whispered. "When Blizzardprint waves his tail, you two will trot down the pathway and take a place around the Glacier Rock. As soon as your approach the rock, you will have to be silent for the rest of the ceremony. Blizzardprint will chant the ancient recitual, and gives you your Ice Emblem. After his gives you your mentor, you'll get up and take your place next to him."
    I never heard of an Ice Emblem before but, I didn't have time to ask. Blizzardprint waved his tail to call all the Eevees forward. First, White trotted down the pathway. Shorty after, Crystal and Claw. Then Holly hitted the path. When we were finally given the 'okay' from Breezetail, Snow and I trotted side by side. The excited audience will filled with onlookers and soon-to-be warriors. Glancing at the crowd, I noticed Articphase eyeing me warmly while he sat next to his mentor, Fringeheart. The mood quickly vanished when mother squeezed through the crowd and sat beside him. Articphase, suddenly aware of my mother looming over him, immediantly straightened up and looked serious. As if his reputation depended on it. I should do the same.
    As soon as we were up close to Glacier Rock, the evening sun's rays struck the rock. Casting pale blue and pink shadows. Snow and I sat in a half circle along with everyone else. Blizzardprint leaped down and pointed his muzzle to the sky. Breezetail came into veiw and sat beside her loyal leader. The first few stars were starting to appear in the fading light. The rock itself seemed to shine like a star. As the reflected light from the rock beamed upon Blizzardprint's and Breezetail's fur, their pelt seemed to set ablaze in the dying rays.

    "I call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these pups! They wish to work hard to learn your ways of the Warrior Code and to serve their clan!"

    Frostbite seeped behind the rock and reappeared with what looked like large transparent snowflakes. Those must be the Ice Emblems.
    He placed them on the ground and sat behind his leader. Blizzardprint then beckoned Claw with his tail. Seconds later, Claw stood in front of him.

    "Claw! Do you wish to worship the Warrior Code! To learn, to respect, to serve, to train, and honer it! Even at the cost of your own life!"

    Claw hesitated for awhile until he finally replied. "...I do."
    Blizzardprint gentle placed his massive paw upon Claw's head and tilted his muzzle back to the stars. His eyes closed. "Then by the power of Star Clan, I grant you your rookie name. Claw! From this day forward until you recieve your warrior name, you shall be known as Clawphase! May Star Clan accepts and honors you as one of their own."

    "Clawphase! Clawphase!" The crowd chanted Clawphase's new name. Then queitly vanished into silent snow.

    Frostbite picked up an Ice Emblem and placed it on Clawphase's mane. Like magic the snowflake disappeared and shown itself as a white mark. That was amazing, and the look in Snow's eyes said the same.
    Blizzardprint studied the crowd. "Raggedtail! After Breezetail, you have already proven to Star Clan that you are an excellent mentor. I hope you will pass on all the lessons you have learned to this rookie." Clawphase touched nose with his mentor, and sat quietly beside his mentor.
    Everyone after Clawphase continued the same cycle. Crystalphase was being mentored by Icefang. Next, Whitephase mentor was Featherstorm. After that, Hollyphase's mentor was Bluenose. Now it was Snowphase's turn.
    "...Diamondtail!" Horrified gasps thundered through the crowd. Diamondtail, who at laying on her side looked drowsy with sleep, also took the news with shock. Almost at once outragous slures were being spilled by the lake.
    "How can you give my daughter to a murderer like Diamondtail!" Breezetail growled into the leader's ear, yet loud enough to be heard throughout the clearing.
    "Diamondtail will only teach the rookie how to spill blood!" Cloudpaws shouted. "If she doesn't spill hers first!"
    "Diamondtail doesn't have the rights' to mentor a rookie!" Bluenose snarled.
    Blizzardprint seemed unphased the the clan's rage. He calmly raised his paw for silence. And the lake grew quiet agian. "Diamondtail is strong and loyal warrior, despite her gorey past. I trust her to pass on all the lessons she have learned to this rookie."
    Snowphase was slowly padded towards her mentor who was now sitting patiently in the crowd. After touching noses with mother, Snowphase took a seat beside her. She looked miserable. Poor Snowphase.
    The sky was now indigo and stars appeared. The moonlight from the waxing gibbous poured over the lake. Glossing a sliver sheen over everything by the lake. Blizzardprint beckoned me forward with his tail. "Crowfood! From this day forward you shall be known as Crowfoodphase! May Star Clan accepts and honors you!" That sounds even worse then before I got my 'phase' name!
    All a sudden, the lake's sliver cover was shrowed in darkness. Everyone by the lake was sent in a panic. Looking at the sky, only a single star could be seen shining in the pitch-blackness. But as soon as it started, the blackness was gone. A cloud had just drifted over the moon.

    "It's a sign from Star Clan!" Cloudpaws cried. "Star Clan is angry with us! I just now it!"
    "Calm down, Cloudpaws." Fringeheart soothingly reassured his sister."It's just a cloud. There is nothing to fear."
    "Then explain where the cloud suddenly came from!? There wasn't a single cloud in sight all day! Star Clan send the sign to prove they're angry with us!"
    "What if it's not a sign from Star Clan." Cottonphase poorly atempts to calm her mentor. "Maybe it's just a passing snowcloud."
    "The season is to early for falling snow. We have at least another moon!" Bouncephase snarled.
    "Any bird brain would have thought of that!" Purephase chipped in. The leader and his lietenant stared in dismayed at their awol rookies.
    "Can't you stupid furballs see?!" Cloudpaws concluded. "Star Clan is angry with us because choose Diamondtail to mentor an inexperenced rookie!"
    Hollyphase dug her face into her mentor's fur, now sliver in the rich moonlight. "Will you relax Cloudpaws! Your scaring the rookies!" Bluenose snapped, her fur along her back was rising.
    "They should be scaried!" Cloudpaws snapped back. "For all we know, we could all join Star Clan tonight!" Cloudpaws unsheated her claws.
    "As if! You're not even a healer, how would you know if it's an sign or not!" Bluenose unsheated her claws as well.
    "I don't have to be a healer to tell it's a sign--"
    "Enough!" Blizzardprint snarled. I nearly jumped. Blizzardprint was always charming and soft-spoken. Seeing him so angry and fierce frightens me. Is that what it's really like to be a leader? "You two are interfering with this pup's ceremony and causing unnessesary panic!"
    The two sheathed their claws. Both glaring intensly as backed away from each other.
    Blizzardprint scanned the shocked crowd. Searching for a mentor for me. One Glaceon stepped out of the anxious crowd and stood before him. It was Frostpelt!
    She bowed her head. "Blizzardprint, if it isn't to much to ask, I would be honered to mentor li'l Crowphase myself." Crowphase? Blizzardprint looked surprised. "Please."
    "So be it then." Blizzardprint stared down at me. "Crowfoodphase, Frostpelt will be your mentor." I touched nose with my mentor and sat next to her just like how I was instructed earlier by Breezetail. While staring at the starry sky, my eyes suddenly fell on Frostbite. He had a searching look in his eyes, peering up at Sliverplains. Frostbite surely dosen't belive that Star Clan sent that cloud to tell Ice Clan there angry with them...does he? That wasn't clear. What was was that even though this was my first ceremony on the path of becoming a warrior, I have a feeling that most ceremonies aren't as abnormal as this one.

    Frostpelt decided to walk with me back to camp but, after that, she left to go hunting on the night patrol. Padding through the ice barrier surrounding the camp, the clearing was quiet yet the clan's fear scent described a different story. Everyone's is taking this 'disappearing moon' too seriously! I thought. The smell of food from the fresh-kill pile reminded me how hungry I was. I haven't eaten anything since this morning. Padding to the pile, I noticed at the corner of my eye, that Articphase was trotting up to me.
    "Hey Crowphase-is that okay if I call you that?"
    "Sure."
    "Great. I mean-I didn't want you to feel uncomfortable or anything. Anyway, Crowphase, do you want to share my Swablu with me?"
    "Thank you." I gazed at the nursery. "After I made sure Frostbite has already eaten." I picked out a Surskit and padded into the nursery. Articphase layed under and Ice ledge and waited.
    A tail lenght away from the Frostbite's medicine chamber, voices came to ear before I could enter.
    "Are you sure?"
    "There's no doubt about it, Blizzardprint. Only Star Clan would send a cloud over the moon on a cloudless day. It's a sign but, not in the way the clan thinks."
    "The way Star Clan sent that sign...it almost seemed liked they were angry with us."
    Frostbite, Blizzardprint...and Breezetail?! Did the clan leader decided to seek adivce from the healer about the 'disappearing moon'? If so, then why bring the lietenant into the conversation? Curious, I abondoned the Surskit by the doorway and crawled under the curtains until my head stuck through the other side.
    Blizzardprint and Breezetail leaned closer. But only the leader spoke. "So it wasn't an omen?"
    "No." Frostbite replied after what seemed like a long time.
    "Thank Star Clan!" Yes, thank Star Clan.
    "...It's a prophecy." Both Blizzardprint, Breezetail and I were left wide eyed. Frostbite stared into the stary sky through the sky'light. Stars filling his eyes. " A single star will rise from the shadows and save the 7 clans from the darkness lurking in their hearts."