Frostfoot stretched her legs as they grew cold. It was some time now after the border patrol, and now the hunting patrol and Thinwhisker had been sent out to hunt for the Clan.
Frostfoot's own paws itched to hunt, but she knew she had to stay with the very few warriors left in the camp. She kept her back straight, her eyes staring straight ahead at Honeystar, who was talking to Fernpelt, who had left the nursery.
Fernpelt's face was contorted sadness, yet hopefulness, as she talked to Honeystar.
Her eyes mere slits, she strained to see a lump of tan, gray-black, and blue-gray fur between Fernpelt's front paws. It was Branchkit!
Frostfoot boldly puffed out her chest of white fur and strode over to the nursery. "Fernpelt, what's Branchkit doing outside the nursery?"
"She has greencough." Fernpelt's voice was like a dropping stone, her moss-green eyes looked petrified with fear, and her body was stiff.
"Yes," Honeystar mewed quietly. "Snowfeather's about to take her into her and Whiteleg's den for treatment. Whiteleg is going out to find catmint, and she's looking for a warrior or two who can help her look and recognize the plant."
Snowfeather appeared then, her long fur (The likeness of Cloudtail's fur, when he was alive) buffeted by an icy wind. She picked up Branchkit's scruff in her jaws gently, and took her away, flicking her tail tip worriedly.
Whiteleg's red eyes seared into Frostfoot's icy-blue ones. She flicked her tail tip as a signal for Frostfoot to come there and talk to her, and she obliged, curiosity pricking her pelt.
"Frostfoot," she meowed seriously. "Don't you remember our Star Frost Patrol days?"
"Of course I remember," purred Frostfoot fondly, her eyes glistening with memories.
"I want the members of the Star Frost to go on this mission with me." Her mew was firm, but her body was shaking.
"What?" hissed Frostfoot in disbelief. "Even Sunpaw?" Her tone was almost like a warning.
"Listen.
StarClan…They talked to me the other night. They told me the all
the members of the Star Frost, even Sunpaw, will be needed for a
special mission. I now realize that this must be what the mission
is."
"But Sunpaw…She's gone now, isn't she? We might
risk lives just looking for her. Branchkit…She's so tiny. And
Cloudwhisp is deputy." Frostfoot's facial features betrayed
nothing but a cool stare, though a million feelings burned beneath.
"I think she might be hiding out still, on CloudClan territory."
"We haven't scented her."
"She hasn't lost her CloudClan smell," Whiteleg pointed out fiercely. "Listen, Frostfoot, you're our leader. We need you."
Frostfoot backed away a couple of pawsteps. "I'm not a real leader. Not to anyone, Whiteleg."
"Remember the prophecy."
That was all Whiteleg mewed, before hanging her head.
"Alright. We'll find Sunpaw." Frostfoot's voice reeked of defeat.
"Frostfoot, you're the only one I'm going to tell this," Whiteleg began seriously, "and I expect you to tell no one else." She paused, as if thinking of the right words to say, and to show the seriousness of what she was about to say. "Snowfeather is showing signs of greencough. If we don't return with catmint and Sunpaw in time, we could loose all three."
Frostfoot flicked her tail tip with understanding. "Tantail and Turtleshell need to be gathered. Let's fetch them." She arched her back gracefully, icy-blue eyes shining with a purpose. StarClan trusted her, and she was going to fulfill this prophecy. She would give her life to.