“It couldn’t have been that bad.” Frozensight mewed, their tail-tip flicking as they picked up a black, slimy stem with a claw, shaking their head as they placed it with the small pile of other rotting herbs.

Silentstar paced in an agitated circle, “Hollystar announced it to all the clans, as if she planned it!” she hissed. “What am I supposed to do? StarClan hasn’t spoken to you in half a moon when we need them most! WindClan is dying without their guidance!” the words made her chest twist with pain.

Frozensight stopped sorting, looking down at the barley usable herbs they had saved from the pile of rotting ones. “I know.” they whispered, “I know, Silentstar and there's nothing I can do except pray that they’ll speak to me eventually.”

Silentstar knew the silver-blue tabby had a good reasoning but it was eating away at her.
“What if we went to the Moonpool?” the WindClan leader meowed, looking up at the half-blind medicine cat. Frozensight looked up, “Maybe that's what StarClan wants? For us to go to them.”

Frozensight paused before looking back down, shrugged. “We could do that.” they agreed, “We can go tonight, when the moon is at its fullest and all the warriors are fast asleep.” Silentstar dipped her head at her friend, “Thank you, Frozensight.” the tabby leader sighed.

“Of course. Now I’m going to search for more herbs, we’re much too low.”
Silentstar padded out of the medicine cat den. Clayfur was just pushing his way out of the tall grass that surrounded the warriors den, “Gorgepaw!” he meowed, watching as his apprentice stumbled out of the apprentices’ den. Fur fluffing out, looking as if he had just woken from a deep slumber.

“Come on! We’re going on patrol!”
Silentstar nodded and walked up to him, “Take two more warriors with you,  patrol the ThunderClan border and double mark it. Hollystar was trying to stir up trouble last night. We’re going to show her WindClan is not weak.”

Clayfur looked up at her, blinking slowly. He looked to tired.
“Of course.”  he meowed, “Goldentail! Harewhisker! You’re coming with us!” After a few moments, Harewhisker came stumbling out of the tall, dead grass, shaking his fur out.

“Couldn’t you have taken Birchback?” he yawned, “He hasn’t been patrolling in days.”

Goldentail nodded as she emerged after her denmate, “I agree. Birchback barely comes out of his nest and when he does, he just asks Frozensight if Rosethroat’s okay.” she scoffed, "I understand he's worried, she my clanmate but he's overreacting. She'll be fine." She hissed.

Clayfur flicked his tail, looking over at the warriors den before sighing. “Birchback! You’re leading the patrol today!” Silentstar felt her shoulder’s slump.
“Birchback! Come on.” she mewed, after a few heartbeats, Birchback’s brown-and-white tabby pelt flashed against the yellow, frost covered grass.
Silentstar’s golden eyes widened as her gaze landed on him.

He looked like a wreck.

His fur looked like it hadn’t been groomed in days, tangled, matted, and dirty. He looked so skinny Silentstar wasn’t sure how he could even stand on his paws, she could see his ribcage through his messy fur. Birchback’s normally bright amber eyes now dull and dark, he looked like he hadn’t slept since Rosethroat first became ill.

“Birchback?” she gasped. Birchback gazed back weakly.

“Silentstar.” he rasped. “I’m so sorry I let you down.”

Silentstar shook her head. Head whirling. “Clayfur, take them all will you.” she twitched her tail before she began to walk back to her den, she took on pawsteps closer to her den when suddenly Tigerkit raced right past her, making her gasp, tripping over her pale paws.

“Tigerkit!” Lilyfang yowled, trotting over to grab him by his thick, tabby scruff and hauling him back.
He whined as he hung in her jaws.
“I’m so sorry. He’s been wanting to go out all day-”
Silentstar silenced the queen with a flick of her tail, her golden gaze landed on Tigerkit. Who was squirming in his mothers jaws, paws churning angrily.

“Lilyfang. I know this is early but, do you think your kits are ready to become apprentices?” Lilyfang’s pale green eyes widened and Tigerkit paused, stopping his small fit of rage, his small amber gaze widening.

~

“Tigerpaw! Horizionpaw! Fernpaw!”

The clan called the names of the new apprentices, Tigerpaw stood proudly beside her, chin lifted proudly.

Silentstar had taken Tigerpaw on as her own while Bolderclaw received Horizionpaw and Birchback, Fernpaw.

Phesantflight and Lilyfang trotted over, Lilyfang licked Horizionpaw between her small, round ears while Phesantflight nudged Fernpaw affectionately.
The two she-cats had become mates after Lilyfang’s old mate, Buzzardrunner, passed away in his sleep from something not even Frozensight could figure out, so they just chalked it up had no idea about.
Buzzardrunner was an amazing, optimistic warrior, who had trained Twigheart. 
“Congratulations, you three.” Lightsong purred, her tail dragging on Fernpaw’s flank. “You’ve received amazing mentors.” Tigerpaw smirked, a sharp fang poked out. “I know i’ve got the coolest one.” he boasted, lifting his chin.
Lightsong purred, looking at the new apprentice. Her round blue eyes twinkled with pure amusement. Lilyfang sighed, shaking her head as Pheasantflight chuckled. “That’s my little warrior.” the tawny she-cat smiled as Tigerpaw leapt past her and towards Fernpaw.

Horizionpaw bounced around Boulderclaw, landing beside Fernpaw and Tigerpaw, smiling wide, ignoring her brothers previous smug comment.
“Boulderclaw! Can we go look at the moorland? Phesantflight says its beautiful! Especilly with all the snow!” Tigerpaw looked up at her and Silentstar looked down at him.
“Can we?” he mewed, his voice sounding quite squeaky after having speaking so big about having her as a mentor.
The WindClan leader laughed, purring. “I don’t see why not.”

The apprentice ceremony had made everyone happier, but for how long? The question burning in Silentstar’s mind. She had to keep her Clan with high spirits, just until she or Frozensight reached StarClan to speak to them.

“Birchback, I expect you and Fernpaw will be joining us?” Birchback looked up, shrugging. “I… I suppose so.” Silentstar nodded. She had given her former deputy an apprentice in the hopes of it him getting back on his paws. He need to grow responsible.
“Birchback! Before you leave, someone would like to congratulate you!” Birchback’s ears pricked and he raced over towards Frozensight. The medicine cat nodded to him and moved out of the way as the brown-and-silver tabby tom raced into the den.

Silentstar watched before looking away and down at Fernpaw. “If Birchback promises to do something with you, and never does it. Please, tell me. Okay?” Fernpaw looked up, shyly nodding. Boulderclaw sniffed, “Not to judge, Silentstar. But why give Birchback an apprentice now? He can barely take care of himself.” the large grey tom growled. Silentstar met Boulderclaw’s gaze.
“Responsibility.”
He nodded, whiskers twitching.