It was still leaf-bare, and RiverClan were starving. The river was almost empty of fish. Mosspelt hadn't had a decent meal for days. No cat had.

Mosspelt saw Heavypaw walking into the camp, with a fish in his mouth.

"Good catch," Mosspelt meowed.

Heavypaw dropped the fish on the ground. "But that was all I managed to get."

"It's good for this leaf-bare," Mosspelt meowed, rubbing noses with him.

"Heavypaw," Leopardfur meowed, walking up to them. "Bring that to Lilystem."

Heavypaw nodded and carried the fish to the elders' den. Mosspelt watched him go, trying to find a comfortable position in the snow. Heavypaw trotted out of the elders' den and sat down beside her. They shared tongues in the cold snow. Mosspelt saw Shadepaw walking up to them.

"It's so cold!" Shadepaw complained.

Then Shadepaw gave a little mrrow of amusement.

"I bet you two aren't cold," she purred.

Mosspelt scooted a little further from Heavypaw, looking down.

"Don't let me disturb you," Shadepaw teased, trotting away with her tail high.

Heavypaw suddenly looked uncomfortable. "I feel strange."

"What is it?" Mosspelt asked anxiously.

"Bellyache," Heavypaw grunted.

"You should go see Mudfur," Mosspelt meowed.

Heavypaw nodded and walked toward Mudfur's den.

Mosspelt heard a yowl from the elders' den. Lilystem! She raced into the den and saw her mother stretched out on the ground, panting. She spun around and raced into Mudfur's den. The medicine cat was just picking out some herbs for Heavypaw.

"Mudfur, come quick," Mosspelt panted. "It's Lilystem!"

Mudfur followed her into the elders' den. He crouched over Lilystem and put his paws on her stomach.

"She's got some kind of toxin in her system," Mudfur meowed. "Stay here with her while I go get the herbs."

Mosspelt nodded and Mudfur raced away. He was soon back with a mouthful of herbs. He put them into Lilystem's mouth and rubbed her throat to make her swallow them. After a little while, her convulsions ceased and she seemed to be resting more peacefully.

"Do you know what she ate that could have been poisonous?" Mudfur asked.

"She ate a fish," Mosspelt answered. "Heavypaw caught it."

Mudfur nodded. "Go find some warriors to move her to my den."

Mosspelt raced out of the den, looking frantically around.

"Mistyfoot! Loudbelly!" she called. "Will you help me?"

The two warriors followed her into the elders' den and carefully moved Lilystem into the medicine den. Heavypaw's eyes widened when they brought her in. He rubbed himself against Mosspelt, silently reassuring her with his presence.

The two apprentices walked into the clearing. Mosspelt heard a yowl, and looked up to see Nightstar, Cinderfur, and a gray tabby tom.

"What do you want?" Leopardfur challenged them.

"We wish to speak to Crookedstar," Nightstar meowed.

Crookedstar emerged from his den. "What do you have to say, Nightstar?"

By now, most of the warriors had come into the clearing.

"ShadowClan have too little prey," Nightstar meowed. "We are starving. We need more prey, or many will not survive this leaf-bare."

Crookedstar nodded. "RiverClan have the same problem."

"If WindClan were gone, we could share the prey in the uplands," Nightstar meowed.

"You mean if we drive them out?" Crookedstar asked.

"Yes," Nightstar nodded.

"We need the prey," Leopardfur spoke up.

Crookedstar looked thoughtful. Then he nodded.

"I can think of no other way to help my Clan survive this leaf-bare," he meowed. "RiverClan shall fight with you."

"In half a moon, we attack," Nightstar meowed.

Crookedstar nodded. "Blackclaw, escort them back to their territory."

The four cats turned and walked away. Mosspelt watched them for a little, and then trotted into the warriors' den. She prayed that StarClan would look after her mother, and not take her away from her yet.