The forest was silent as the first snow of leaf-bare began to fall, the sun was tucked away behind the clouds and the moon had begun to set. A figure padded through the forest her blue eyes determined to find what had been killing her clan, the snow hid her faded pelt well as it fell from fluffy clouds. She followed the scent of the things that had killed three of her clanmates over the seasons, Echomists kits had been raised and were now almost apprentices. The strange kit turned out to be a younger version of its killer counter part, it's canine-like features made it strange amongst the clan but no matter what Echomist still loved it as her own. Frostkit, Badgerkit and the pup whom Echomist named Greykit was bigger then his adoptive siblings, Greykit thought of himself as an oddly large cat and even learned how to speak their language. The quiet night snow filled night sent shivers down Fallenstars spine, her eyes narrowed as the stench grew stronger. Suddenly she was surrounded by snarling snapping jaws, she froze her back arched ready to fight her way out. She noticed a single flake floating down from the clouds, her eyes widened as the night grew quiet and the snowflake turned into a starclan cat.
"Shadows will creep up the tree like fire in the night, only those who are brave enough will not die," the white she-cat meowed in a steady tone, Fallenstars eyes widened as she jolted awake. She leapt to her paws expecting to see snapping jaws and large white teeth, after a minute or so she calmed down remembering she was safe and sound in her den surrounded by her clan. The sun had only just risen over the horizon leaving a soft blanket of warmth over the land, Fallenstar groomed her ruffled fur before padding out into the camp. Flintleaf noticed the fear in her leaders eyes but didn't point it out as the clan needed to believe their leader knew what she was doing, the grey and white she-cat felt sympathy for Fallenstar as no cat should sit back and watch their clanmates die to the strange dogs that had made their home on Treeclan territory. Shadowfeather sat guarding the camp entrance with Rabbitleap who had recently healed from his near death experience, Fallenstar knew the clan needed rest but with so many deaths over the past season had shaken the clan. Fallenstar grabbed a scrawny mouse from the fresh-kill pile and sat at the edge of camp to think, her dream had shaken her and she couldn't tell what was going on anymore. The sky was beginning to fill with clouds which made Fallenstars heart sink, she had hoped today would have been nice and sunny but starclan had other ideas. Giving a sigh Fallenstar chewed on her mouse half consciously while watching Badgerkit, Frostkit and Greykit play, Greykit could easily overpower his siblings but he allowed them to win from time to time like a good brother would. She was happy that the clan treated Greykit like they would his siblings, they had accepted him as he was which spared Fallenstar the grief of having to convince them. The sun had risen nicely by the time Fallenstar finished her mouse and clouds had covered the sky threatening to cover the ground in a thick layer of snow, having nothing to do Fallenstar grabbed a squirrel from the prey pile and padded towards the nursery where her sister lay soaking up what warmth remained in the rocks. Greykit, Badgerkit and Frostkit bounded over excitement in their eyes, Fallenstar loved their playful ways.
"Hi Fallenstar!" The trio greeted, Fallenstar nuzzled her kin before dropping the squirrel at her sisters paws.
"Hello kits, I hope you are training to be warriors, we need strong warriors in this clan," Fallenstar purred, all three kits tripped over each other trying to show off their skills their mother had taught them.
"Very good little ones now why don't you come over and try some of my squirrel?" Echomist offered, Greykit waited back while his smaller siblings ate first. Once they ate their fill did her try the squirrel, he hesitated at first before taking a small chunk for himself and padding off to eat it.
"Young Greykit is growing rather quickly wouldn't you say Echomist?" Fallenstar half meowed to herself, her sister lifted her head from eating and licked her lips.
"Indeed, he looks like he's six moons already! I must say though he does play nicely despite his power and size," Echomist purred fond of her kits, Fallenstar continued to watch them for a little while before padding off to speak with her medicine cats.
"Hello Heavystep, greetings Windfur, how does our herb stock look for this season?" Fallenstar asked her voice soft and calm despite her rattled nerves, Heavystep finished up what he was doing before turning to his leader.
"Herbs are well and stock looks good, if only we could have saved our clanmates when they needed us, I reckon we get most of the clan together and seek em dogs eh?" Heavystep meowed a hiss edging at his tone, Fallenstar considered this for a moment.
"You have a good point Heavystep but what if the dogs are waiting for us to leave our camp undefended so they can sneak in and eat our young?" Fallenstar fretted, Heavystep sighed and shook out his fur.
"You have a point Fallenstar, Anyways I'm gunna go try and find some more herbs before the snow kills the last lot," Heavystep sighed, Fallenstar padded out and looked over her clan. Most cats had deep wounds that were still healing and no cat was in the state to fight off the strange dogs, their pelts were too thick for normal claws to get through and their teeth were larger then a snakes fangs. Their eyes burned like the sun filled with wisdom beyond the clans understanding, Fallenstar noticed Silverwish leading a hunting patrol out before the snow broke out so they could catch what remained out of its burrows before the snow drove the prey underground. Fallenstar padded over to Silverwish, the grey tabby she-cat halted and looked at her leader with curious eyes.
"Hey Silverwish would you mind if I joined your hunting patrol, I need to clear my head with some good hunting," Fallenstar meowed, Silverwish nodded her eyes bright.
"It's always an honour to hunt with you Fallenstar," Silverwish purred, Fallenstar gave a friendly smile before leading the way out of camp. The clouds began to grow dark with heavy snowflakes awaiting their chance to break free from the clouds, Fallenstar sighed and went her own way to hunt. Today would be quiet she hoped, but not everything was to be quiet in the coming storm.