Rusty trailed after Spottedleaf as they made their way through the forest back towards Barley's farm. His ears twitched at every sound the forest made and he longed for the open air. The trees blocked so much and it unnerved him to think that there were cats that could live like this.
He gazed at Spottedleaf, who moved unperturbed through the short forest grass, ears forward. Her dappled pelt seemed to shimmer as it passed through the sunbeams filtering through the branches. She looked back at him and blinked sympathetically.
"Won't be long now," she assured him, resting her tail on his shoulder. Rusty flicked his ears as a leaf fell past them and he shivered slightly. At least the trees helped block most of the wind, which he guessed would help in the colder months ahead.
"You'd think I'd be used to this, living inside a barn," he mewed, looking around. "But it's so noisy here."
Spottedleaf chuckled. "You get used to it and learn to tune it out eventually. A lot of apprentices struggle with it, but the warriors do their best to help them."
They reached the edge of the forest and Spottedleaf gazed towards FourTrees. She glanced at Rusty and was surprised to see him flatten his ears at the sight of the oaks. "What is it?" she asked, tilting her head.
Rusty twitched, then looked at her sheepishly. "Sorry," he mewed. "It's just the history of that place, and how the clans came to be."
Spottedleaf looked at him in surprise. "You know about the dawn of the clans?"
Rusty nodded. "They're in StarClan and will tell you about it, whether you want to hear it or not."
"You really don't like StarClan, do you?"
The loner's whiskers drooped. "I prefer a quiet night's sleep if it's all the same to you."
Spottedleaf grimaced. "As a medicine cat, I understand. As a cat, I sympathize." She gazed past the trees and sighed, idly kneading the ground with her paws, before she looked back at Rusty.
"Did you talk with anyone in particular? Clear Sky, Wind Runner, Tall Shadow, Thunder?"
Rusty nodded. "I spent time with Clear Sky on more than one occasion." His whiskers twitched. "Reminds me of Tigerclaw in some aspects, although I don't know if Tigerclaw's capable of the same cruelty, even if it's to protect his clan."
Spottedleaf looked away, gaze troubled. "He is," she murmured, tailtip twitching. "He's killed to defend our borders. Although never against clan cats," she added. "He'll batter them black and blue, but he won't kill them."
"Would be nice if that was enough to ensure peace," Rusty sighed. "But there's plenty of problems that'll drive a cat to do things they shouldn't, especially if someone may die if they don't." He looked back at the forest. "What if his kits are sick or starving? What if someone kidnaps them as leverage to get food and medicine for their clan? What would he do in that situation?"
Spottedleaf shivered, gazing down at her paws. "He would do whatever it took to ensure their safety." She met Rusty's gaze. "Every clan cat would."
Green eyes met amber for a few heartbeats, before Spottedleaf flicked his nose with her tail.
"But it shouldn't come to that. Not anymore."
Rusty's ears flicked. "I feel like I've been hearing that a lot lately. It sounds like they're saying it to remind themselves."
Spottedleaf stretched a paw towards FourTrees. "It takes time to change, and it's so easy to go back to the way things were. With Leaf-bare around the corner, the clans are going to be challenged like never before."
Rusty glanced sharply at her, but whatever had caused her to say that had passed and she blinked at him, eyes clear.
"See you later then? Enjoy the rest of the day."
Rusty met her gaze, wondering which StarClan cat had given her that warning, and nodded before bounding down the slope towards the tree hollow, before skirting around it.
Spottedleaf watched until his ginger pelt vanished amongst the grass before turning back towards home.
Tallstar stared out over the moor, lost in thought.
Leaf-bare would soon be on them, and he hoped they would be able to weather it. Although, he mused, it should technically be easier given the clans' recent changes towards one another.
He heard pawsteps come up beside him and he turned his head to see Barkface sit next to him.
"It's getting colder," the medicine cat noted, before shaking his head. "Sorry, that's too obvious." He looked at Tallstar. "What's on your mind?"
"Just thinking about Leaf-bare and how we're going to deal with it. We know where most rabbit nests are, and we should be able to dig them out without too much trouble if we need to, although that's not a solution we can rely on." His whiskers twitched in amusement. "Despite how they breed, we still need to be careful not to go overboard." He glanced back towards the camp. "And what of Morningflower?"
"She's doing well. Storkkit and Quailkit are hale and hearty, and Gorsepaw seems to have assumed watch over them by virtue of being firstborn." Barkface snorted. "It's been rather hectic with them tumbling about underpaw, but it's always good to see new kits."
Tallstar nodded. "That is indeed good news. Have you heard anything from StarClan?"
Barkface's fur rippled. "Only that Leaf-bare is going to challenge the clans like never before."
Tallstar's ears twitched at the squeal of a kit from the camp. He curled his tail over his paws and closed his eyes. "That's to be expected. Relationships are bound to be strained once prey becomes scarce and herbs become frostbitten and useless." He turned his gaze towards Barkface, opening his eyes. "How are your stores doing?"
"They'll manage. We still have a moon or so before replenishing them will become difficult." Barkface looked towards Barley's farm, barely visible in the distance. "Besides, if it becomes truly dire, we can always ask for help."
Tallstar licked his lips. "It's a weird feeling, isn't it? The clans usually kept to themselves outside of Gatherings and border scraps, but now we've started talking more often and even crossing borders without issue."
Barkface looked at him. "How does that make you feel?"
Tallstar was silent for a moment, claws flexing against the moorland. "Content," he mewed at last. "The way it always should've been."
Barkface nodded, before getting to his paws. "Don't stay up too late. You need your sleep, just like the rest of us."
Tallstar chuckled, waving his tail in farewell as Barkface took his leave, and Tallstar returned his gaze to the windswept plains, lost in his thoughts.
