Silverstep was leaning firmly on Brownpelt's shoulder. Less for balance support, more for emotional support, it seemed. Their ears were back, their whiskers were drooping, their eyes were dark and watery.
They passed Jaggedtooth, sat in front of a rabbithole. He sneered.
"Tigerstar really is a terrible leader!" He commented, "Sending the cripple out to hunt!"
Blackfoot sheathed and unsheathed his claws, taking in a deep breath. A cat lower than his position would've flayed his pelt- in fact, Brownpelt had his claws unsheathed, teeth bared, a growl rising in his throat, looking dangerously at Jaggedtooth.
Blackfoot dragged his tail over the tip of his whiskers. "It's not worth it," he said quietly, falling back to Silverstep's other side, encouraging the two to walk on. Brownpelt agreed, but the fire didn't fade from his eyes. Silverstep sheathed and unsheathed their claws, closing their eyes, their shoulders shaking. A low whimper came from their closed muzzle.
"...I know Tigerstar sent us all to hunt," they started, voice unsteady, "But I just… I really want to soak my pelt and calm down for a bit."
Blackfoot nodded, turning his attention to Leopardstar. She was crouched down at the bank of the river, tip of a paw in.
"It's cold," she muttered.
"I don't care," they retorted, carefully padding closer, "It'll numb the heat of my embarrassment and shame."
Brownpelt pounced forward, "I-I'm coming in with you! Don't want you getting swept away."
"Tigerstar would love to see me swept away."
"...but I wouldn't."
Silverstep turned their gaze to the river, stepping in until their back was completely covered. Brownpelt took a deep breath and followed, cringing with every step. Blackfoot turned to Leopardstar, watching anxiously. When she returned the gaze, she spoke.
"Voles and shrews," she muttered, "There's a very good place just a few tail-lengths downriver. It's just across from Sunningrocks." With that, she flicked her tail and led Blackfoot.
She patted the ground with a paw, her voice low as she gathered Blackfoot into a bush, their whiskers touching. Blackfoot cleared his throat and shifted so they weren't, looking away before Leopardstar spoke.
"The shore is small here and the river is deep. By the time you feel sand you're halfway on your way to drowning."
"Sweet Starclan."
"Be careful," she purred, smugly smiling. She then angled her ears forward, staring through the leaves, her gaze caught on a small fuzzy brown shape right on the edge of the water. She burst out of the bush, crashing on top of it, before picking it up in her teeth, still.
Blackfoot slunk out of the bush, shocked and almost embarrassed. She quietly buried it.
"...is that how Riverclan hunts on land?"
"Hm?"
"You don't bite your prey's throat you just…"
"Crush it's spine? Of course! No use in dripping unnecessary blood and leading foxes and badgers to your camp." She then tilted her head forward, "It might be richers up there."
The two crouched into more bushes, Blackfoot effectively catching a fat shrew- after a bit of struggle with coming down hard enough to break bones- and Leopardstar another water vole.
"I'm… a bit surprised you know how to hunt, on land." Blackfoot guilty admitted.
Leopardstar shrugged, "Sometimes the river freezes and we need too. Brownpelt and Silverstep are just about startling all the fish down there," she glanced across the river, staring longingly at Sunningrocks, "Better than eating cattails," she added, voice unfocused.
Suddenly, a patrol bust from the bushes on the other side of the river, the tall, sleek, creamy, dark-striped tabby was the first to hiss. A shorter, more tan tom silenced him with an ear flick.
"Greetings, Leopardstar!" he called.
"Brackenfur!"
"Tigerstar has made both clans live in the same camp together, has he?" the creamy tom growled.
"...and hello to you, too, Longtail." Leopardstar responded, voice emotionless.
"They're only hunting," said a brown-and-white tabby, "You have anything to ask, Ashpaw?"
Ashpaw nodded, padding closer to shoe, "How are Featherpaw and Stormpaw?!"
Leopardstar glanced between Blackfoot and her paws for a moment, before turning back, "They're… great!" she lied.
Ashpaw smiled and bounded back up to his mentor. Dustpelt nodded and tilted his head to move the patrol along. As soon as they were out of earshot, Leopardstar groaned. Blackfoot sighed through his teeth. He understood the she-cat's pain, he had to lie about the state of apprentices under Brokenstar's reign too. He scooted closer, gently wrapping his head around hers, falling into his chest fur. He stepped back after a few moments.
"Let's get back to camp," he said, digging up their catches, "Or, at least, back to Brownpelt and Silverstep. Maybe we could get a few fish?"
Leopardstar nodded, small smile forming on her face. Taking the voles in her mouth, they headed back. Brownpelt was standing half-way on shore, big fish firmly in his jaws. His eyes shone and Silverstep purred in pride, briefly running their head on his shoulder.
"Brownpelt caught this fish all by himself!" Silverstep purred as they stepped closer. Brownpelt looked like he wanted to refute, but his mouth was too full.
"Good job," Blackfoot congratulated, "It looks like it'll feed all the apprentices." Leopardstar nodded in agreement. He turned away bashfully, tilting his head upriver in a question. Leopardstar nodded, leading them back to camp.