The effects of leaf-bare were beginning to show. Despite recovering fully from my injuries, I felt weak with hunger.

The fresh-kill pile seemed to become smaller over the days. Coughs wrecked the medicine cat den with illness as the medicine cat and the apprentice sought to find more herbs to cure the sick cats.

I grimaced. The other day, Flightclaw was coughing, though he tried to cover it up. Meanwhile, Ripplesnow and Treewhisker had to be confined to the medicine cat den due to Aspenfern's fear that it would spread to the Clan.

The level of activity in the camp seemed to stall. Woodspots looked skinner than normal as he arranged for more hunting patrols.

If only they could find anything in this weather, I thought grimly.

Despite everything, Clan life had to go on. Fangstar's threat won't go away because of leaf-bare and ThunderClan was far from ready. We are at our weakest, so why isn't ShadowClan attacking?

Maybe they are weak too, I mused, working on making a comfortable nest for Kinktail. She looked sad, missing the former ShadowClan elder.

Hoping to cheer her up, I decided to try getting her to tell me some stories. "Kinktail, could you tell me a story?"

The elderly brown tabby she-cat closed her eyes. "I suppose it's better than just sitting around. Get comfortable."

"When I was just a young apprentice, Juniperstorm, an elder at that time, told me a peculiar tale of two rivals. Deerheart and Raincreek were their names. They were apprenticed at the same time and sought to surpass each other." Kinktail allowed a small smile to creep onto her face, while I listened attentively.

"Both were egoistic and envious of each other. They also had great ambitions to become the next leader of ThunderClan, though they chose different paths. Deerheart gathered the support of the warriors with her brilliant oratory skills while Raincreek won respect through the silent display of her skills."

"Both of them sound capable to be leader," I commented.

"Indeed. Eventually, Deerheart was chosen to become ThunderClan's deputy, much to Raincreek's unhappiness. Something changed that day. No longer were they friendly rivals, for it turned to a bitter relationship. As time went past, Deerheart took her place as ThunderClan's leader, choosing another cat to become deputy."

There was a slight frown on the elder's face. "While Deerstar matured to become the leader the Clan needed, Raincreek harboured resentment towards her. One day, she challenged Deerstar to a battle, to determine who was the better warrior."

"Juniperstorm witnessed the fierce battle, which occurred near a steep cliff. Even as a storm raged over their heads, the two rivals fought. However, it was then when Raincreek slipped. Juniperstorm did not manage to see what happened due to the heavy rain, but Deerstar reported that Raincreek fell over the edge. Later, they found her body and gave her a proper burial."

I shifted uneasily. Raincreek reminded a lot of myself, during the times I got jealous when I was not given a greater role to play. Forever left in the dust...

"Thank you for the story, Kinktail," I mewed, dipping my head respectfully. "Did you need anything else?"

"Vole would be nice," Kinktail meowed wistfully.

"I'll catch one for you," I offered.

As I exited the elder's den, Dustpaw padded up to me. Despite the tiredness in his paws, his eyes still shone with determination.

"Do you want to go hunting together?" the former ShadowClan apprentice asked. "Strikestar wanted every cat to at least go out in pairs."

"Sure," I agreed, feeling my stomach grumble. "I need to get a vole for Kinktail. They are found near rivers, aren't they?"

"Yup. Luckily for you, I think I found a good place for voles," Dustpaw mewed cheerfully.

"Lead the way." I flicked my tail, eager to get going.

The dark grey tom led me towards the river at the border between RiverClan and ThunderClan. Noticing my worried face, he turned to me.

"Don't worry, Sunningrocks is not off limits," he mewed, "but we are not heading there."

"I know. I'm just worried about ThunderClan. Leaf-bare has barely began and it has already taken a toll on us," I sighed.

"That's why I am doing the best I can to help," Dustpaw pointed out. "It is... what Nightflame would have wanted."

I blinked in surprise.

"I think that the reason he left, was not to escape Fangstar, but it was because he felt that his best would not help ThunderClan. He did not want to be a burden," he told me, not slowing down his pace.

"I see... do you miss ShadowClan?" I asked, before frantically adding, "If you don't mind me asking, of course."

Dustpaw stopped. "I do. I was still a young kit when Fangstar became leader, but the situation then was not as worse as now. I wish I could relive the days I spent with my mentor... those were good days," he spoke wistfully.

I acknowledged it with a nod, sympathising with his experience. "I miss my home too..." I murmured, mostly to myself.

Dustpaw shook the snow out of his pelt. "Let's get back to hunting. You still have a vole to catch."

As he took off, I remained where I was for a few moments to sort out my thoughts. After settling on a decision, I resumed the hunt.