AN: I am so sorry for the long wait. I've been really caught up in other writing, and the final stretch of S2L. Since that's done I should be able to update more often, but I am going on vacation this week so not sure where that's gonna go. Thanks everyone for your reviews, you're awesome! :D

Chapter 1

Leafbare had arrived in the forest. Cold winds brushed through the trees, sending shivers down Riverspirit's spine.

She stood alone in the clearing unlike her Clanmates. She would never feel accepted among them after everything that had happened. She was too different for that to happen.

Riverspirit shook her head and tried to clear the thoughts churning within. Soon it would snow, and the first chills of leafbare would claim many lives. She had heard of this happening before, and she could sense it in the air.

It's going to be colder than before, she thought. Something was wrong with the forest. Riverspirit could feel it in her wings as she flared them open. This leafbare was going to challenge everyone's survival skills once it came into full swing.

"Why are you still awake?" Riverspirit whirled around to see Cedarclaw looking at her.

The medicine cat had once been a good friend to her, maybe even more at one point. But all of that had changed as soon as Riverspirit left his den. It was like their time together had never happened.

"I've been thinking," she meowed.

"About what?" Cedarclaw sat down beside her, tail flicking from side to side as he watched the sky.

"Things you wouldn't be interested in," she hissed.

Cedarclaw looked taken aback by her sudden attitude. Her eyes suddenly narrowed when she noticed that he looked more hurt than before.

"I'm sorry," she sighed. "I'm just worried about... what happened to my sister."

She never told anyone about her discovery of Ravenpaw. Knowing that her sister was probably alive and well made her feel some kind of hope. Not even Cedarclaw was aware of the close bond they once shared.

"I didn't know you had a sister," Cedarclaw murmured.

"You know that Stormstar is my mother, don't you?" Riverspirit looked at Cedarclaw seriously this time. When Cedarclaw nodded, Riverspirit let out another sigh. "She had two kits, and they were separated at birth. One of those kits was raised in RiverClan... while the other was... raised here."

"And the kit that was raised in RiverClan is your sister?" Cedarclaw tilted his head to one side.

Riverspirit nodded, and she felt sorrow clench her heart as she remembered her sister. Ravenpaw had been full of spirit and determination. She didn't even know whether or not her sister was alive. All she knew was that she would never see Ravenpaw again.

"I'm sorry, I know what it's like to lose a sibling," he added.

She had almost forgotten that Cedarclaw's sister, Aspenpaw, had died in the battle against Shadowpelt. So many lives had been lost that it was hard to keep track.

"I'm sorry I brought it up," she murmured.

Cedarclaw simply dipped his head before standing up and leaving her. She wished she had remembered earlier that Aspenpaw was Cedarclaw's sister. He of all cats knew what it was like to lose a sibling, though he never showed any kind of emotion.

Life in ThunderClan had changed since Ashfur's return. Ferncloud refused to speak to anyone except Birchnose and Larchwing. Dustpelt had a difficult time getting her out of the nursery, even though she was days away from giving birth.

Leafheart of all cats had just moved to the nursery. Riverspirit knew that she should be happy for her friend, but the suspicion that Flamestrike was not the father had risen. Leafheart had never shown any interest in Flamestrike, and they were too young to be mates to begin with.

I don't know why cats think it's such a good idea to find a mate right away, Riverspirit thought as she gave her paw another thoughtful wash. She would never find a mate in her lifetime. Not with the wings that kept her apart from others. I'm just lucky to have friends, she reminded herself bitterly.

"Riverspirit, I want you to patrol the RiverClan border with Brambleclaw, Sootpelt and Brightheart," Brackenfur meowed when he saw her sitting alone.

He was almost always the first cat to wake up every morning. Riverspirit was beginning to notice how old he was. The fur along his muzzle was turning a faint silver. Even the way he moved was evident of his age.

She wasn't going to enjoy patrolling with Sootpelt. They had never gotten along well to begin with. And since her wings had come in, Sootpelt gave her an even harder time. She knew better than to argue with the deputy though. Brackenfur wanted to keep the borders safe, and that was what mattered.

It didn't take long for Sootpelt and Brightheart to wake up. Brambleclaw had already woken up before them and was getting his apprentice. Frozenpaw poked her head out of the apprentice's den heartbeats after Brambleclaw had woken her up. She was still shaking off sleep as she lumbered towards the gathered patrol.

"The RiverClan cats are going to laugh at us when they see those," Sootpelt grumbled.

"Keep your tail in your mouth, Sootpelt!" Brightheart snapped after cuffing his ears. Sootpelt ducked his head in embarrassment, and Riverspirit looked at Brightheart in surprise. Though she had never spoken to Brightheart she respected the ginger and white she-cat.

Maybe she knows what I'm going through, she realized.

Riverspirit fought back the urge to laugh when she saw the look Sootpelt gave Brightheart. This patrol was going to be interesting to say the least.