Almost a moon had passed since Catnip had been gone. He was dead, that was for sure. Smokey was shaken the most of all of them. He had always had a special place in his heart for their grandfather. Aside from that, leaf-bare was getting worse, and little by little, the Twolegs had been taking the straw and hay out of the barn for the horses, and mice were harder to find.
"As far as I know, this has never been a problem here." Amber meowed in between licks as she groomed her thick tabby fur.
"I wonder what Catnip would've done?" Smokey whispered. He was shaking, and obviously freezing. He didn't have long fur like Amber's to keep him warm. That, he'd inherited from their mother.
Coal, who was curled up in a pitiful hay pile, spoke softly. "He would've told us to work together to find a solution." He smiled warmly, amusement in his eyes for a brief moment. "Then he would've told us that big long story about the time when he survived without food for, what was it?"
"Eighteen sunrises!" Smokey purred. "He told ridiculous tales."
Can you hear us, Catnip? We miss you. Amber thought sadly.
Just then, the creaking of the barn door made Amber jump. Two Twoleg kits walked in. They were wearing very brightly coloured pelts all over their hairless bodies, and were covered in snow. They were squealing something in their odd language that none of the cats could understand. They slowly padded over to the three young cats and set down a bowl of some kind. It was filled with a creamy white substance, and it was steaming.
"Milk!" Coal exclaimed as he ran over to it. He quickly began lapping at the warm liquid, and soon enough, so did Smokey and Amber. The Twolegs giggled and, after patting each cat gently on their head, left through the big door.
The milk was heavenly. It's heat seemed to thaw every cold part of Amber's body, warming her from nose to tail-tip. It had been so long since the Twolegs had brought them anything to eat and, seeing as this was by far the coldest leaf-bare they'd had yet, they must have had a spark of compassion towards the felines living in their barn.

When the milk was gone and their bellies were full, the three cats curled up together, sharing their warmth and cozying up. Amber's chin rested on her brother's side and Coal had his tail curled around Amber's back. An audible purring sound came from each of them before they fell asleep.

"Foxstar!" Amber had opened her eyes in the large field once again, but her father was nowhere to be seen. "Foxstar? Father?"
"He isn't here right now." The voice made her jump and sent chills down her spine. It felt so familiar, but she couldn't tell whose it was. Amber quickly turned around to see her; a beautiful tortoiseshell she-cat stood before her, her tail wrapped neatly around her paws, stars shimmering in her pelt.
"Who are you?" Amber blinked at the cat. Should she know her? It was all so confusing: StarClan, Catnip's death, why did everything have to be so complicated?
"My name is Splashfoot." Her eyes stared straight into Amber's.
Splashfoot... where have I heard that name? Suddenly it hit her. "You're Catnip's littermate! He told us about his sister who had left his family!"
"Yes, that's right." The elegant she-cat stood up. "I decided that barn life was too easy and left my brother. Soon, you too will have to make a decision like I did."
"What do you mean?" The dream started to fade. "Splashfoot!" The tortoiseshell turned away from Amber and started to walk away. "I need answers!"

Amber awoke confused and bewildered. Apparently it showed on her face because Coal gave her a look like 'Are you okay?'.
What was she saying? First Catnip told me to find the Clans, and now Splashfoot shows up? Do I... Do I need to leave Smokey and Coal to find a new home?