Despite the warmth and comfort that Pantherleap's pelt brought, it didn't make the world go away.

When he opened his eyes again, the world was still around him. The world that held the coldness of leaf-bare and the chill of the snow all around, and the world that cradled its love for the snow like a newborn kit. The world that allowed the sun to slip in and out from behind the dark and angry clouds, only shining its light every few moments, so the snow could stick around.

The world in which Willowdapple loved him and thought he'd saved her kits or something dumb like that; the world in which he was harboring many secrets, a main one being the relationship with the tom next to him; the world in which SageClan had a leader that didn't seem to care about anyone, save for himself; the world in which everything he said was carefully chosen to ensure all was well.

For if he messed up, it was easy to banish him or make him suffer because of what he did. Depending on what it was, he could easily be exiled. Though, if he was careful, it was easy to pass it off. However, none of that even needed to happen, at least he hoped so. As long as he was precise with his words, then he'd be fine.

With a swift movement, he rose to his paws and cast his dark gray gaze to the warrior beside him. Pantherleap appeared startled, jumping momentarily as the pale tom inched away from him. Pantherleap also rose to his paws, tail flickering against the ground as he looked to his mate, his head lightly tipping to the side.

"Can we go back to camp now?" Adderheart asked softly. His voice seemed to be a carefully twirled spider web, one that was easily destroyed by simply a passing wind, and the chilly leaf-bare wind swooped by and stole his voice.

Pantherleap let his figure inch closer to Adderheart's before he nodded. "Of course we can."

"Do you really think Finchpaw's ceremony will be today?" He asked. Earlier he said it probably wasn't. But what if it is, and I'm just wasting my time? He thought, ears twitching as he cast his dark gray gaze around at the snowy area.

"I don't think so, but I don't know," he answered, ears twitching. With that, Pantherleap headed forward, realizing a moment too late that the snow would be in the way. Adderheart shook his head and with a swift movement, he leaped cleanly over the large section of snow blocking the way.

His tail drooped perfectly so that it swept off the top layer of the snow, and he landed on the other side on an equally tall portion of snow. No matter how much sun it got, it always seemed to be there. At least, now it did. The snow grumbled and hissed at anyone trying to get rid of it, poking at their paws with a cold needle that would never go away.

After waiting for a few moments longer, Pantherleap came crashing through the wall of snow, his figure bashing against the cold substance. He shook his pelt out and snow went flying, and Adderheart narrowly dodged him and the particles of snow that flew up into the air.

Pantherleap gave him an apologetic look, though from there, the two headed off.

The journey back wasn't exactly a great one. It was improved by Pantherleap, of course, but besides that, it wasn't too pleasant. Every pawstep meant snow, and that meant being cold. And obviously, that wasn't great for anyone. By the time they'd gone halfway, both of them were shivering and had fluffed out their pelts, instinctively shifting closer to each other.

Then Pantherleap started to pick up some scents of nearby cats and he quickly pulled away, to Adderheart's dismay. But he knew it was for the best and so he made no comment, and he simply let it happen, as there was nothing he could do anyway.

Eventually, the two made it to camp, and Pantherleap insisted Adderheart go in first, so he did.

It was essentially the same as it had been. Lightly colored shadows danced in the corners of the camp, dashing around underneath where they could live, throwing elaborate parties for sundown's arrival, though the sun that laid delicately in the sky watched with a careful eye, as if to say that it was not yet time for sundown.

The clouds that had plagued it so prominently earlier had dissipated, appearing to quite literally disappear in thin air. They'd raced to the other side of the sky and then from there had easily flitted away, and then the sun was left to wreck its bright and warm damage upon the snowy world below it and the sky that was growing peachier by the moment.

But the snow was strong, and the sun was weak, so the snow stayed while the sun tried its best. It tried, it really did, it tried to get rid of the snow, for it knew how much the world hated it, and how annoying it could be. Though no matter how strong its rays were, leaf-bare dulled them and made them weaker by the moment. And as leaf-bare grew stronger, the sun grew weaker.

So the snowy "walls" within the camp had not grown much smaller, and if anything, they appeared to have been reinforced. By what? Adderheart didn't know, but he managed to walk in anyway and spotted that a small section of the snow had been cleared out. The snow from there was likely added on top, he realized, ears twitching as he padded over to the area without snow.

It felt wonderfully warm on his paws, and it was only because he hadn't felt something that wasn't snow in what felt like a million moons. He stood there for a few minutes, studying the area, and he realized that where he was standing would be the perfect place for a Clan meeting. Quickly, he backed up and then headed for the warrior's den, standing near the entrance.

He was fine being there, if he was being honest, as he could see that the area directly in front of each of the dens had been cleared of snow. He didn't know who had done this, but he thanked them anyways, silently of course. Maybe he'd ask around and thank them for it. But that wouldn't be normal. Cats don't thank others here.

Shifting momentarily, he glanced to where he assumed Pantherleap would be, and he spotted the tom heading through the camp entrance and settling down in the middle of the camp. Adderheart rose to his paws and headed over to him, sitting down.

That was the very moment where he realized that a Clan meeting had been called and he'd completely missed the call. How had that happened? I thought I was listening... I thought...? His muzzle wrinkled momentarily but he looked upward, wrapping his tail over his paws as a few others cats' pelts brushed against his own.

He shifted, tail flickering back and forth as he shivered absently. He wished that they'd move away, though he couldn't exactly tell them to move, as he didn't know who it was. Briefly, he allowed his dark gray gaze to skimp around the area, and he spotted the majority of the Clan gathered.

"Today, I will conduct one of the most important ceremonies known to our kind."

Cougarstar's voice split across the clearing, causing the very ground to shake under the prospect that it was experiencing a Clan meeting. Everyone glanced up to him, seeming to know what he was speaking of. Adderheart sent a look to Pantherleap, though the tom wasn't looking at him.

The warrior was staring straight up at his brother, green eyes carefully trained upon the leader's. Adderheart quickly pretended that he was looking past the tom beside him and he glanced at the next closest cat; Finchpaw. She was also looking at the leader, though her gaze wandered momentarily, catching upon Adderheart's.

He dipped her head to her, not sure of what exactly he was doing, though he didn't seem to notice the fact that she sent one back to him. He looked back to the leader, who was surveying his Clan with a thorn-sharp gaze, almost as sharp as the claws he held on his hefty tawny paws. His mate was settled beside him, and Bearpatch was seated nearby, too.

"Bumblepaw, Swallowpaw, Birchpaw, and Finchpaw, please step forward."

All four apprentices stepped forward, their pawsteps lightly echoing as they did so. Birchpaw was first, followed by Bumblepaw, and Swallowpaw was quick to hurry up, standing beside the others. Finchpaw strolled up carefully, her figure composed with a warrior-like stature. She appeared almost elegant in the shiny light of the sun reflecting off the snow.

"Each of these apprentices has proved that they are capable to become warriors. Under the guidance of Fernfall, Fluffyflame, Freckletuft, and Bearpatch, they have learned a lot about our Clan and about how to protect themselves," he stated, his shoulders squared as he stared down at the apprentices.

"During their mid-assessment, they encountered rogues on our territory," he added, his lips drawing back in a snarl as he thought of the cats. Adderheart shifted, ears flickering harshly back and forth. That's what it was? Rogues?

The crowd of gathered cats seemed not to know of this fact either, as a ripple of surprise threaded its way through the cats. Runningfoot cast Beetlepath a sharp glance, and the green-eyed warrior sent a smile his way. Confusion flickered through Adderheart, and the crowd began to murmur.

"Hush!"

The voice split the clearing like a knife through thread, and everyone instantly seemed to stop talking. The wind continued to swirl around the clearing, biting into his pelt as he waited for the leader to continue. He appeared angry, hissing momentarily as he had thumped his tail against the ground beneath him to once more gain the attention of SageClanners.

"As we all know," he began once more, voice dripping with venom, "the rogues often harass us early. This is particularly true recently, as such an early leaf-bare leads to such early attack from the rogues. And for this reason, I find it only necessary to make warriors in such a time."

"Only after their mid-assessments?" A cat blurted, and all eyes seemed to turn to whoever it was; a light brown she-cat with darker spots, and a snow-white patch around her eye. Briargaze. Her dark blue eyes suddenly flashed but she tipped her head as she stared up to the leader.

"Yes," he responded, voice still furious. Notes of the same venom from before easily slipped in and out of his voice as he spoke. "Do you have a problem with that?"

She shook her head, though her jaw was pressed as if she wanted to say something more. But she didn't. Briargaze simply stayed silent, her posture as straight as ever as she lifted her head to stare at the leader, as if she were silently challenging him. Cougarstar's lips drew back and he let out a snarl, and many of the cats in the crowd flinched.

He whipped to stare at the crowd, eyes sharpening. "Growing weak, are we?" He prompted, giving another hiss of disapproval. "I demand fighting training for tomorrow. One simple snarl should not scare half of SageClan. Especially if we are to beat these rogues that do not leave us alone," he added, glaring momentarily before appearing to wish to continue with the ceremony.

"Each of these apprentices," he started once more, waving his tail almost lazily at the four cats below, "have proven themselves to me through being able to fend of these rogues. While the warriors present did help, it is clear that they know exactly how to defend from rogues, which is precisely what we need. Bumblepaw, step forward."

The black-and-white apprentice did as he was asked, his figure moving lightly as snow crunched beneath his paws. He allowed his head to tip upward a little, light brown gaze meeting the leader's sharp green one.

"I, as leader of SageClan, call upon the strength of my ancestors to allow this apprentice to become a warrior. Not through hard work but by intelligence they've been given and born with, Bumblepaw deserves a warrior name, and if StarClan not agree, then strike him down."

The common words of a warrior ceremony swirled through the air, and the clouds simply watched. The snow murmured quietly, and although Adderheart personally had never seen a "striking down", he knew it was possible. There'd been stories, many of which, that described cats who were fine until warriorhood, and before they knew it, the apprentice was lying dead in the middle of the clearing.

He knew not of who had told it to him. Many stories had been passed down over the moons, and he didn't know them by who told them to him anymore. He knew them by name, and one of the only stories he'd heard that included the "striking down" of an apprentice was dubbed "Drifting Sparks".

Consequently, the two apprentices were siblings and named Driftpaw and Sparkpaw. He wasn't sure who their mentors had been, though it wasn't relevant to the story. To an onlooker, the two were the perfect apprentices. They always helped out, they always cleaned nests, and they even picked ticks off the elders when they didn't have mouse bile.

Driftpaw, particularly, was quieter than his brother. Though, nobody seemed to mind all too much. Sparkpaw was talkative enough for both of them, getting to know a lot of the warriors from a young age. They did excellently on their mid-assessments, and they had apparently almost had their ceremonies right after.

However, the leader at the time, Pheasantstar, insisted they wait. His mate had wished and wished for the two apprentices to become warriors. Though, it didn't work, and all while the apprentices were waiting, they were trading information away. They were giving some of the Clan's secrets off to a group of which was fiercely hated by the entirety of SageClan. To who?

To the rogues.

Consequently, it had also been right at the beginning of leaf-bare and a horrible prey shortage had plagued the Clan for the past couple moons. In exchange for what was assumed to be prey, the two apprentices gave secrets and information to the rogues. Nobody was sure how this information came to be known, as it was assumed that they had it closely guarded. Though it didn't really seem to matter.

As the ceremony finally occurred on the first day of their twelfth moon, Driftpaw was set to go first. And he did, until his figure was scorched by StarClan above. StarClan hadn't even given Pheasantstar enough time to finish what he was saying — he had only gotten as far as "and if StarClan" when their ancestors struck the apprentice down.

Instantly, panic had spread among the cats, but Pheasantstar assured them it was fine. Nobody believed him, of course, and he quickly attempted to do Sparkpaw's ceremony soon after to ensure all was well. However, the same happened, only the apprentice was struck down earlier than before — "and if" was as far as he'd ever get.

Though, the entire idea of it had been shoved rather hurriedly under the rug as soon as it had arrived. After they were scorched to pieces, Pheasantstar ordered their bodies cleaned immediately, and the Clan hurried away as the healers came to help clean up. Pheasantstar demanded that it not be spoken of, except in stories, portraying them as the bad cats in the grand scheme.

And of course, it didn't happen this time.

"Then by the powers I hold, I bestow my best warrior name upon him."

Cougarstar beckoned with his tail at Bumblepaw, and the tom approached, lifting his head up as he tipped it down. Harshly, the leader tapped his muzzle against the apprentice's head.

"From now on, you will be known as Bumblepuddle."

The leader drew back as the warrior did the same, and he continued.

"For your creativity and your balanced skills, you will now be known as a warrior of SageClan."

Despite the words Cougarstar spoke, Adderheart knew the skills and the personality trait were just... lies. The leader didn't actually take time to get to know anyone within the Clan, and he just picked random traits he thought were fine. He was told by the mentors which skills the apprentices had, and he just easily skimped off that.

The Clan didn't cheer. It wasn't custom to do so, at least not yet. Bumblepuddle withdrew into the crowd, and the cats lightly shifted to ensure he had a place to stand. With that, Cougarstar looked to the remaining apprentices, and he almost seemed to sneer as his green gaze landed upon Finchpaw. With that, he began to talk once more.

"Finchpaw, step forward."

With a quick motion, the apprentice did as asked.

"I, as leader of SageClan, call upon the strength of my ancestors to allow this apprentice to become a warrior. Not through hard work but by intelligence they've been given and born with, Finchpaw deserves a warrior name, and if StarClan not agree, then strike her down."

Nothing.

"Then by the powers I hold, I bestow my best warrior name upon her."

Once more did he beckon with his tail, and the she-cat stepped forward, her head lifting up but dipping to show her respect. The tawny leader was only a little softer in that he nudged her head.

"From now on, you will be known as Finchtansy."

Again, he drew back, and the warrior did the same as he continued.

"For your intelligence and hunting skill, you will now be known as a warrior of SageClan."

The she-cat turned, tail flickering momentarily as she gazed around the crowd. A few cats nearby, appearing to be the ones who had moved in order to ensure that Bumblepuddle had a place to stand, shifted away once more. She padded back and seated herself down, and Adderheart couldn't help but glance back.

Her gaze was simply stuck ahead, as if she was focused on something that was bound to happen. That she knew was to happen, and as much as she wanted to stop it, whatever it was... it simply wouldn't. Her gaze was dark, shadowed despite the happy event going on. It's her warrior ceremony. Shouldn't she be happy? Despite this, he swallowed his misgivings and looked back to the leader.

"Swallowpaw, step forward."

She did as asked.

"I, as leader of SageClan, call upon the strength of my ancestors to allow this apprentice to become a warrior. Not through hard work but by intelligence they've been given and born with, Swallowpaw deserves a warrior name, and if StarClan not agree, then strike her down."

Of course, nothing happened.

"Then by the powers I hold, I bestow my best warrior name upon her."

Once more did he beckon his tail to the warrior-to-be, and the she-cat stepped forward as was customary. She dipped her head though lifted it, and he did the same motion before beginning to speak.

"From now on, you will be known as Swallowripple."

As per the last times, both cats drew back.

"For your forethought and excelling skills, you will now be known as a warrior of SageClan."

Swallowripple turned back and instantly went to where the two previous apprentice-now-warriors had gone. She blended easily into the crowd, slipping in as if she was a snowflake among a snowdrift. Before she could even be seen she was gone, blended away and faded away in the memories of the Clan. Now all eyes turned to Birchpaw as the leader spoke.

"Birchpaw, step forward."

He did.

"I, as leader of SageClan, call upon the strength of my ancestors to allow this apprentice to become a warrior. Not through hard work but by intelligence they've been given and born with, Birchpaw deserves a warrior name, and if StarClan not agree, then strike him down."

And just like that, lightning split the icy and swirling leaf-bare air alongside a bright flash of light, and the apprentice lay still in the middle of the camp.