A regular morning, or as regular as it could be, greeted the RiverClan deputy. Mistyfoot stretched in her place at the center of the warriors' den. Her jaws parted to let out a quiet yawn, and her breath was mist in the cold morning air. The mist surprised her; could it seriously be that cold already? Many things were passing unknown on the edge of her mind these days.

Giving one last shake and stretch, she picked her way through the sleeping bodies of her warriors and padded quietly into the clearing. It was colder outside the den than in. Ice crackled underpaw, and Mistyfoot wondered where it had come from. Her blue eyes searched the clearing, falling on the small fresh-kill pile first and then moving on to stop at the reeds. Her eyes widened in shock, and carefully gripping the ice she went to investigate.

The reeds were covered in ice as well, and their roots were imbedded in the icy water. It seemed like temperatures had gotten cold enough to freeze the river around their camp. The deputy's eyes focused as the cold air woke her up. She moved forward more evenly, and hesitated before stepping onto the ice. A sharp crack came of her escapade, and Mistyfoot quickly leaped back as the ice broke.

Well, there were good things about that. A cat could get fish from the water if they were foolish enough to be moving around rather than expending as little energy as possible. Mistyfoot shook her head. The leaf-bare ahead looked hard already. She actually felt grateful today that the Clans were gone, but a hint of sadness and abandonment quickly changed her mind. The absence of the Clans was forever on the RiverClanners' minds, particularly on Leopardstar's. Leopardstar didn't get to report and cover up for RiverClan at Gatherings anymore. The seasons old tradition no longer took place.

A quiet meow behind her made the deputy whip her head around. A small brown tabby tom was picking his way through the ice towards her, an even smaller she-cat at his side. Voletooth and Minnowpaw must be going out for training Mistyfoot thought, and then answered their greeting with a smooth dip of her head.

"How's the ice?" asked Voletooth. Minnowpaw padded away with a sigh as the two warriors engaged in conversation. Her silver coat was barely darker than the snow. This would make her a good hunter today.

"You can't walk on it. Be prepared to swim," replied Mistyfoot smoothly. Her blue eyes followed Minnowpaw's movement, assessing the apprentice's age. Minnowpaw was around ten moons old. In another moon or so it would be time for her to become a warrior. If we get that far without going mad thought Mistyfoot darkly, then shook her head to clear it of these thoughts.

Voletooth nodded and summoned his apprentice with a flick of his tail. The two set out cautiously. Minnowpaw leaped over the broken ice and then hissed as the ice she landed on collapsed under her weight. She went under, but emerged seconds later, paws churning the water to keep her afloat and her eyes an expression of pain at the intense cold. Voletooth shook his head and purred with amusement before joining his apprentice in the water. Together they carved a path through the ice to the riverbank on the other side.

Mistyfoot's thoughts returned to the day ahead. There was no dawn patrol anymore – instead, there were endless hunting patrols. The deputy thought she might as well lead one, and padded over to the fresh kill pile to eat before heading out.

Activity was becoming apparent in the camp. There was a low rustle near the elders' den, and Mothwing appeared. The medicine cat stretched, her small muscles rippling, and then padded across the camp to beat Mistyfoot to the fresh-kill pile. Mistyfoot nodded a greeting to her and chose a small mouse. Mothwing was equally courteous, meowing a respectful greeting before grabbing a small silver fish and disappearing back into her den.

Dapplenose appeared from the warriors' den with Beechfur right behind her. Mistyfoot looked at them and decided it was time for a patrol. Taking the last bite of her mouse, she stood and made her way towards their approaching forms.

"Hunting patrol?" she inquired.

Dapplenose's response was a nod, and Beechfur copied her. There was no prey left on the pile, so the three left camp instantly. As Mistyfoot walked into the icy water and began to swim for the opposite shore, she heard Beechfur curse as he followed. Dapplenose was quiet, but a sharp intake of breath from her showed her surprise at the temperature.

Mistyfoot agreed with them. The water bit into her bones like the sharpest claw, leaving no place warmth and taking from her all thoughts of warmth and good. When Mistyfoot climbed out at last it was with relief. No fishing today she thought.

While waiting for the other warriors to climb out her gaze became fixed on the water level. It was lower than usual, not drastically but lower. It was a source of concern for her now. Yet another hardship of leaf-bare.

When the other two cats finally climbed out and onto the bank, she set off for the forested part of the territory. The two followed expressionlessly, and a regular old day was spelled out in front of her.

The mouse was smaller than the one she had this morning. Mistyfoot searched for another bite, her growling stomach hungering for more. The fresh-kill pile had been dispersed among the Clan. They never had extra. Her thoughts turned to leading another hunting patrol when a ginger and white tom bounded breathlessly over to her.

"Mistyfoot! You have to come and see! It's urgent!" he panted.

The RiverClan deputy was on her feet in an instant, tail lashing as she picked up on Pouncetail's urgency.

"Where's Leopardstar?" she inquired urgently.

"On patrol," he replied, then waved his tail impatiently. "Come, Mistyfoot, you really must see this!".

Mistyfoot hesitated a second, then summoned Reedwhisker. The black tom padded over expressionlessly, waiting for orders. "Lead the way," Mistyfoot ordered.

Pouncetail quickly turned tail and led the way across the camp and through the icy water. Then the tom veered away and tore off in the direction of ThunderClan's territory. Mistyfoot's heart lifted. Had ThunderClan returned? She inhaled deeply, and only smelled the comforting aroma of RiverClan. There was no ThunderClan scent on Pouncetail's pelt either. Her eyes narrowed. Had something else happened?

Pouncetail led them right to the edge of the river, and then skidded to a halt. "Look!" he panted breathlessly. Mistyfoot's eyes did look, and what she saw terrified her.

Water covered ThunderClan's territory completely. It was like the river had become an ocean, stretching up tall to engulf the forest. How had this happened? The trees were still standing. It was like the water had just appeared. It was disturbing. StarClan, why don't you help us for once? she thought in her head. As if to answer her thought, the wind blew softly, carrying with it the calming scent of fish and RiverClan. Everything will be fine it seemed to say. Mistyfoot took it in her stride and talked to her warriors confidently and authoritatively.

"Reedwhisker, fetch Leopardstar. She should be in the forest grove. Pouncetail, do you know when this happened?".

The tom shook his head. "I was hunting by myself and trying my paw at fishing in this ice, but I never got to it. What does it mean Mistyfoot?".

The RiverClan deputy's blue eyes were like chips of ice. "I don't know," she replied coolly.