Snowstorm

**Snowstorm** is a beautiful, long-furred white she-cat with blue eyes.

## History

Snowkit is born to Viperfang and Cedarheart, alongside her sister Graykit. The sisters were born in the height of leaf-bare, causing the warriors of RiverClan to fret over their safety due to the lack of food. Cedarheart prevents this by hunting every day for his family, and it inevitably causes him his life when he is killed by a fox. Viperfang mourns heavily over the loss of her mate, and it takes the other queens in the den to help raise Graykit and Snowkit.
Snowkit and Graykit are apprenticed to the warriors Jaymoon and Tawnybrook. On their first hunt, Jaymoon learns that Viperfang was killed by a venomous snake while patrolling the ShadowClan patrol. Jaymoon waits until the two apprentices return to camp to break the news gently to them. Both are distraught and mourn silently, and Jaybrook and Tawnybrook decide the best way to distract them from their mourning is to train them.
Jaymoon convinces Snowpaw to attend the first Gathering that Otterstar allowed her to, telling her that Graypaw is going. Snowpaw is unable to muster the courage, so Jaymoon invites Otterstar to try to encourage her. Otterstar tells Snowpaw that Viperfang and Cedarheart would've wanted her to go. At her Clan leader's assurance, Snowpaw attends with Graypaw, but stays with Jaymoon and Tawnybrook. At the Gathering, Tawnybrook encourages the two to explore the island. Jaymoon keeps a close eye on both of them, but loses sight of them when a warrior of WindClan speaks to him. Graypaw and Snowpaw laugh as they evade the gray tabby, and Graypaw races over to show some training techniques with ShadowClan apprentices.
Snowpaw meets Pearpaw, a ThunderClan apprentice wandering the lakeshore. He talks to her, and Snowpaw finds herself engaged in the conversation, unable to look away from the other cat. When the Gathering comes to an end, Pearpaw makes her promise to speak to him again. Snowpaw agrees eagerly. When she arrives back at the RiverClan contingent, Jaymoon asks her what happened to put such a smile on her face. Snowpaw tells him it is nothing, but back at camp in the apprentices' den, she tells Graypaw what happened. Graypaw is taken aback, reminding her that Jaymoon taught her that romance between other Clans is forbidden. Snowpaw begs her not to tell anyone, and Graypaw reluctantly agrees.
The next night, Snowpaw leaves camp and swims over to the island to meet Pearpaw. The two challenge each other to climb the tree on the island, and Pearpaw gets there before Snowpaw does. Snowpaw argues that she is better at swimming, and Pearpaw agrees to challenge her. Snowpaw is hesitant, knowing that ThunderClan cats are unable to swim. Pearpaw gives her a challenging gaze, and Snowpaw caves. Pearpaw accidentally trips on a pebble on the water and nearly falls to his demise, but Snowpaw rescues him and tells him that she had warned him about this. Pearpaw simply laughs it off.
The two apprentices continue to meet. Back at RiverClan, Snowpaw notices that she is the target of Goosepaw's affections, and quietly wishes to herself that she wanted to feel the same. She knows that meeting Pearpaw as often as she did would not result in anything good, just like Graypaw had warned her. She spends time with Goosepaw as a friend, and Graypaw tells her that Goosepaw obviously likes her. Snowpaw retorts at her that there is only one cat she likes. As she walks away, Graypaw watches her with a crestfallen expression, feeling stuck, knowing she is unable to tell her mentor or anyone else, but she is forced to watch a doomed relationship.
Snowpaw and Graypaw become warriors, Snowstorm and Grayripple. They hold vigil that night, and Grayripple breaks it by asking her if she feels she is doing the right thing. Snowstorm replies yes. Grayripple tells her that she will help her whenever she can. Snowstorm thanks her. The day after, Snowstorm meets Pearpaw and excitedly tells him about her warrior name. Pearpaw tells her that he received his name as well, and it was Peartuft. The two cats decide to repeat their challenge of the first time they met, and this time, they both complete it successfully. Peartuft comments that means StarClan is happy they are together. Snowstorm half-heartedly agrees, the warnings of her sister and her mentor echoing in her mind.
The next day, Snowstorm is exhausted from meeting with Peartuft all night, but Dapplewing assigns her to a patrol with her and Shimmerwing. Snowstorm joins them, and they are attacked by a fox. Dapplewing and Shimmerwing fend the fox off easily, but Snowstorm's blows are weak and off target. She looks up to see the fox charging at her, but Dapplewing leaps on top of the fox and Shimmerwing jumps in front of her to protect her. When the battle is over, Shimmerwing questions Snowstorm, asking her what happened. Dapplewing suggests that she is sick, and she should see Starlingfern. Snowstorm knows the reason, but agrees anyway.
Snowstorm heads to Starlingfern's den, who tells her that she is expecting kits. Shell-shocked, Snowstorm has no idea what to do. She talks to her sister, who tells her that she can tell the Clan that Gooseclaw is the father. Snowstorm looks at her paws, feeling ashamed that she had fended off Gooseclaw's advances and wonders what he would say to being used. The next night, Snowstorm meets Gooseclaw and asks to talk to him. The two cats walk around in silence, and Snowstorm asks him for help. Gooseclaw questions her on what happened, and Snowstorm tells him that she is in a rut, and she needs him. Gooseclaw pauses, and tells her that he will help her with anything. Snowstorm smiles and understands that Gooseclaw got the message, and says no more.
Jaymoon watches Snowstorm over the next few days, concerned about his former apprentice's health. He confronts her and asks her why she is sad. Snowstorm, feeling helpless, confesses to her mentor what had happened and what she had done. Jaymoon is silent, and asks her why he should not report this to Otterstar. Snowstorm pleads with him not to, and Jaymoon examines her, asking her why she did not tell anyone in the first place, as she did not have to suffer alone. Jaymoon promises to keep quiet, but in exchange, she must end the doomed relationship. Snowstorm looks up at the cat she had always seen as a father figure and agrees. Jaymoon tells Snowstorm that she is not alone, and he will help her every step of the way.
A few days later, Snowstorm meets Peartuft on the island again. To her dismay, Peartuft's expression is confused and frustrated, unlike the way he looked at her before as if she was the only thing that mattered to him. Peartuft tells her that they can no longer meet anymore. Snowstorm asks him why, and Peartuft confesses it was because his brother, Rootberry, found out. Snowstorm is hurt, but understands and agrees. She does not tell him about her pregnancy, fearing it would make things worse. The two cats spend one last night under the sunset and agree to part in the morning. Snowstorm tells him that he will always be the one she loves.
At camp, Snowstorm is questioned by Grayripple. Snowstorm confesses that she and Peartuft had stopped meeting. Grayripple pauses and expresses her condolences, and asks if Gooseclaw agreed to help her. Snowstorm confirms it. Over the next couple of moons, Snowstorm's pregnancy becomes more prominent, and Gooseclaw announces that he is the father, which the Clan believes. Snowstorm gives birth in an empty nursery with just Starlingfern, per her request. Snowstorm gives birth to three kits. One of the kits, which looks exactly like Peartuft, is sickly at birth and dies a few days later. Snowstorm names it Pearkit and buries it herself, wondering if it was an omen. The other kits, Icekit and Meadowkit, are healthy and prosper over the few moons.
Snowstorm is pleased with Otterstar's choice of mentors for her daughters, Runningflame and Rippleheart. She attends both of them on their first Gathering, and when she is seated with Gooseclaw, notices the pain in Peartuft's eyes as Otterstar announces the new apprentices and their parents. Snowstorm looks away. At the end of the Gathering, Peartuft rounds Snowstorm to a private edge of the island, and asks her if she stopped loving him. Snowstorm says she does not know, and walks away. Peartuft attempts to stop her, but Gooseclaw walks over to Peartuft and asks him to go to his own territory. Peartuft snaps at Gooseclaw until Dapplewing interferes. She orders Peartuft to leave, and brings Snowstorm back to her Clanmates.
After this, Snowstorm purposely avoids going to Gatherings unless Otterstar calls her to. When Dapplewing becomes leader, she names Snowstorm's kits warriors, Iceshine and Meadowdawn.
She fights for her Clan leader in the war. When the truth about her mate and daughters' parentage is revealed, Dapplestar rounds up Snowstorm and Peartuft and demands they tell her the truth, adding that she has no warmth in her heart for liars and she will strike them down if they do not. Peartuft, intimidated by the leader, admits that Iceshine and Meadowdawn are his daughters, and Snowstorm confirms it. Dapplestar brings Snowstorm back to camp, where she demands to see him and Gooseclaw. Snowstorm and Gooseclaw apologize to Dapplestar and beg her for mercy. Seeing as they are warriors of RiverClan, Dapplestar expresses her deep disappointment that they had lied, but also reminds them that she cares neither for birth nor status. She tells them that she will give them a second chance, but if it were to happen again, she will show no mercy. Snowstorm and Gooseclaw thank her.
Snowstorm tries to apologize to her daughters about lying to them, but they are deeply hurt and feel betrayed.
RiverClan splits into two after Shimmerwing's assumed murder of Dapplestar and Shellfall's will to defend her. Meadowdawn stays with Shellfall due to her love of him. Snowstorm stays with Meadowdawn, wanting to keep an eye on her daughter who has fallen heads over heels for a tom. Gooseclaw tries to convince her to leave Shellfall's side, but Snowstorm simply tells him that she must stay with her daughter. Gooseclaw tells her that Iceshine is on Shimmerwing's side. Snowstorm gazes at him with a look full of pity, and asks him to tell Iceshine that she loves her. Gooseclaw bids farewell to the two of them, knowing this is the last time he will see them. He tells them he loves them, and leaves them to go to Shimmerwing's side with Iceshine.
Snowstorm is killed by a WindClan warrior and is among the casualties of the battle. Meadowdawn and Iceshine grieve for their lost parents. Snowstorm and Gooseclaw reunite in StarClan.
## Trivia

### Theme Songs

* **Enchanted** by Taylor Swift; *to Peartuft*

*This night is sparkling, don't you let it go. I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home. I'll spend forever wondering if you knew, I was enchanted to meet you.*

## Quotes

**Dapplestar**: "*I am the leader of RiverClan, Dapplestar, who pales before no god or StarClan warrior. Unlike Rootstar, I have no warmth in my heart for liars. If you do not speak the truth to me here, I will make certain it is here where you die. So... tell me... are Meadowdawn and Iceshine your kits?*"

**Peartuft**: "*Yes. Iceshine and Meadowdawn are Snowstorm and I's kits. We met for moons under Otterstar's reign.*"

**Snowstorm**: "*Dapplestar, please don't hurt them. It's not their fault. You can do what you want with me, I understand. It is not their fault that I made such a foolish error.*"

**Snowstorm**: "*I am so sorry, Dapplestar, for lying to you and Otterstar, for my entire Clan, for having these forbidden kits. There is no excuse for my crimes. I have broken the warrior code, and I accept whatever judgement you pass onto me.*"

**Gooseclaw**: "*I apologize, too. I have broken the warrior code by not telling you or Otterstar the true parentage of these kits, and I have been lying for years about who their father is. I, also, accept what sentence you impose on me... for I deserve it.*"

**Dapplestar**: "*As you can tell from Shellfall, and from Moonpaw and Sunpaw, I do not care for a cat’s birth or status. What matters to me is that they are loyal warriors who have the drive to serve their Clan. Where they come from means nothing to me. Yes, I am heavily disappointed that both of you broke the code for years and did not apologize for your actions. However... I cannot fault Iceshine and Meadowdawn. It is not their fault. And… I also forgive the both of you. Breaking the code or not, you have served Otterstar and I excellently. I want to give both of you a second chance. I do not believe you betrayed me. The only thing I ask for in return is that you follow the warrior code strictly this time. This is the only time I will say this, for, if you break the code again, or if you lie to me... you will meet your death at my claws.*"

—Snowstorm, Gooseclaw, and Dapplestar