The clans prepared themselves for the onset of Leaf-bare over the next few weeks, stockpiling herbs, making sure everyone was healthy, and keeping a close eye on where prey buried their nuts for the winter, since those places usually made for good hunting as everything settled down for the cold months ahead.
Spottedleaf woke up to one chilly morning to see frost lining the rock opening of her deb, and when she stepped outside, found a thin layer of snow covering everything. Fireleap was already awake and glanced at her, ears twitching.
"Good morning, and a fine Leaf-bare to you," the ginger molly mewed, tail twitching.
Spottedleaf nodded, looking around. "So begins the hardest time for every clan." She shivered. "I only hope we can get through it."
"We will," Fireleap mewed, pressing against her lightly. "Besides, if everyone keeps a cool head on their shoulders, there shouldn't be much issue."
The tortoiseshell wished she could share her friend's optimism, but there was still a great many threats looming ahead of them.
"We'll have to keep an eye out for whitecough amongst the kits and elderly, and hope it doesn't spread to greencough." She stared at her stores of herbs, wrapped in leaves to insulate and preserve them from the cold. "It's extremely common this time of year."
Fireleap brushed her tail over Spottedleaf's shoulder. "We'll be fine. You're the best healer in the clans."
Spottedleaf rolled her eyes. "In ThunderClan, perhaps." Her eyes glimmered. "But that's neither here nor there. Shall we go see how everyone else is doing?"
Fireleap stretched one leg at a time, yawning widely, then gave herself a vigorous shake and trotted after the tortoiseshell.
Mousefur, Longtail, Runningwind, and Tigerclaw were returning from a patrol, prey in their jaws, while Goldenflower padded out of the nursery, Tawnykit and Bramblekit following after her, eyes wide at the frost on the ground.
Cinderpaw poked her head out of the apprentice's den and wrinkled her nose at the cold air. Brackenpaw and Ashpaw crowded around her, before Brightpaw shoved them outside with a grumble, then clambered over them on her way towards the warriors den, where Graystripe and Raventhroat were brushing frost off the opening before it dropped onto someone.
Redtail called for a patrol, causing Raventhroat to get to his paws. He meowed at Brightpaw, who turned to follow him, where they were joined by Thornpaw and Swiftpaw, all eager to go out and see the territory.
"Lively," Fireleap noted, glancing around, ears perked. Spottedleaf nodded, before watching Bluestar and Redtail come around Highrock, murmuring to one another. Freleap felt her pelt prickle with apprehension and hoped they weren't talking about anything that'd cause a problem for the clan. The two cats separated and Fireleap let out a sigh of relief.
"What's got you spooked?" Spottedleaf asked, nudging the young cat. "You've been jumping at snowflakes."
Fireleap twitched her ears at the strange turn of phrase. "I'm just a little wary about Leaf-bare."
Spottedleaf nodded thoughtfully. "This'll be your first outside of a Twoleg nest, won't it?" Her tail flicked from side to side. "Don't worry, it's not as scary as it looks." She glanced over Fireleap's pelt wryly. "At least you don't have to worry about getting lost amidst a squall."
"And prey will be able to see me a mile away," Fireleap added dyly. Spottedleaf snickered, giving her a nuzzle.
"You'll be fine," she assured her. "Come on, let's go see if the elders need anything."
Mistyfoot and Oakheart stared out over the river, pelts shifting in the chill air.
"Doesn't seem like there's much reason to go to Sunningrocks to hunt," Mistyfoot noted, staring at the flowing river water.
"Doesn't hurt to check anyway," Oakheart meowed, looking around. "Although given the temperature, swimming over seems a bit stupid."
Mistyfoot let out a soft snort and followed her father further along the riverbank until they reached a set of stones jutting out of the water. She eyed them dubiously.
"Won't they also be slippery from the water splashing over them?"
Oakheart nodded, shaking his paws. "Yes, but at least falling in here isn't as dangerous as trying to cross elsewhere, since you can see the bottom." He jumped to the first rock and let out a hiss at the chilled surface. He then kept going, making it to the other side without issue, where he started licking his pads to warm them. Mistyfoot followed him without issue, before doing the same to her chilled paws.
They trotted back towards Sunningrocks, slowing as they approached. Mistyfoot opened her mouth to taste the air and Oakheart sniffed the ground carefully.
"There's prey-scent here," he purred, before peering at the rocks warily. "Finding it is going to be the hard part."
Mistyfoot shook her head. "If we can find one den hole, one of us can stay at it and the other can circle around to find the other, then drive prey towards an exit, so either way we should get something, at least."
Oakheart nodded, before sniffing among the base of the rocks, slowing moving around them. Mistyfoot watched him silently until he stopped and lifted his tail to signal he'd found an opening. Mistyfoot came up beside him, tilting her ears. "Who's going to make the catch?"
"I'll spook them," Oakheart meowed. "You're a faster hunter than I am."
"I got it from you," Mistyfoot purred, before going off to find another exit. Oakheart then heard her stop moving, and after a few seconds, he started yowling into the hole in front of him. He heard the scrabbling of startled paws and the squeaks of voles, and he was then surprised by a vole barreling towards him in a blind panic and he barely managed to latch his claws into it.
Mistyfoot came around the rocks, tail twitching excitedly. "I got two!" She blinked to see the one he'd killed and smirked. "Not very bright, are they?"
Oakheart purred, and the two returned to their clan.
