Frostfoot's pelt brushed against nothing but cold air. It was leaf-bare, and the warm days of new-leaf and greenleaf were forgotten, because nothing but icy-cold chills and snow banks replaced it.
Frostfoot, herself, was happy to see that Tantail's sisters, Branchkit, Bluekit, and Ashkit, were surviving, even in the cold weather. She knew they spent restless moments in the nursery, wanting to go outside where there brother and there brother's mate was.
"It's time for the hunting patrol," croaked Honeystar. She almost sounded as if she'd caught a bought of whitecough or greencough, but she had no other signs. Frostfoot knew it was because she felt defeated as a leader; this was her first leaf-bare in ruling.
"Who'll lead it? Cloudwhisp, maybe?" asked Frostfoot gently, using her tail to stroke Honeystar comfortingly along her spine.
"No, Cloudwhisp's ill," fretted Honeystar. "She has a bought of greencough. We don't have a lot of catmint." Honeystar turned away, pools of yellow for eyes suddenly hardening to chips of yellow flint. "No, I'd actually like Warmbreeze to lead the first hunting patrol."
Warmbreeze was close by, so he nodded. "Who shall I take?" he questioned.
"Take Cloudwhisker and Turtleshell, please," Honeystar meowed quickly, rising to her paws as snowflakes began to fall from the sky. She sighed, her pelt sticking up as white specks dotted it.
"I'd like to lead the second hunting patrol," Frostfoot ventured.
"No, I refuse that," Honeystar snapped wildly, rounding on Frostfoot. "You must lead the border patrol! I need my strongest warriors at the ready!"
"Of course." Frostfoot dipped her head.
"Alright, then. Tantail and I will join you," Honeystar purred simply, content that Frostfoot hadn't protested.
"I don't think we have enough warriors for another hunting patrol," Tantail meowed boldly. "Fernpelt's in the nursery with Branchkit, Bluekit, and Ashkit. Cloudwhisp's ill. Snowfeather and Whiteleg obviously can't go on any patrols. Wiseheart's an elder, so that only leaves Thinwhisker, because everyone else is on patrol."
"Then Thinwhisker will hunt by himself." Honeystar mewed this as simply as if cats hunted by themselves when the Clan was this vulnerable all the time.
"Let's set out at once." Honeystar started towards the entrance.
"With all due respect, Honeystar, I don't think we should leave the camp unguarded. The patrols shouldn't all leave at once," Thinwhisker spoke up.
Honeystar stopped, turned her head around, and looked at the black, brown, and white tom, his ribs clearly visible in this leaf-bare.
"You're right. The border patrol will leave first, then, the hunting patrols."
Honeystar bounded out of the CloudClan camp, stopping only when she was out of earshot of the other cats, so they couldn't make any suggestions to her. Frostfoot remembered the tales of Bluestar when BoulderClan was ThunderClan, and how she went mad. Honeystar seemed almost to be acting mad.
They started along the border with BoulderClan, Frostfoot and Tantail walking side-by-side as Honeystar followed, feeling more like a third wheel than anything. Frostfoot watched Tantail mark the borders, freshening up the rich, distinctive scent of CloudClan.
"We need to find more warriors," Tantail mewed to Frostfoot, aware of Honeystar's ears pricking noticeably. She wanted to hear what two of her favorite warriors thought of how she was handling the Clan. She was aware that they were immersed in each other, and, therefore, not aware that Honeystar was listening in.
"We can't go and pick up loners, rogues, and kittypets, though, Tantail." Frostfoot's mew was taut. "And none of this is Honeystar's fault."
"When did I say it was Honeystar's fault?" snapped Tantail angrily. He instantly cooled, laying his tail along Frostfoot's muscled shoulders, which were steadily weakening and losing their muscle because of the lack of food.
"I know you didn't. But, anyhow, we're just going to hope that Branchkit, Bluekit, and Ashkit become apprentices quickly and then, excellent warriors. We know that's the path for them."
"With Whiteleg as Snowfeather's apprentice, there's no room for another medicine cat, but I've been talking to Ashkit. She's fascinated by the herbs. I'd hate to see her have to fallow the path of a warrior if she doesn't want to." Tantail paused to mark along the border with VineClan before continuing on his way.
"Does she? Well, if she trains as a warrior first, it will give her great fighting and hunting skills. Medicine cats don't really need to know that much about the warrior life," meowed Frostfoot.
And they continued the rest of their patrol discussing the three kits; Tantail's sisters.
