River Clan 19/20

“Why isn’t there enough food?” The wail echoed around the camp.

Leafbare was bearing down hard. Leaffrost was constantly busy. Even in the cold, Fuzzypelt smiled. The winter was, if she stopped to gaze upon it, beautiful. The enchanting, sparkling snow glistened on every tree, and covered the ground. Eyes sparkling in excitement, Fuzzypelt bounded around, leaving deep tracks in the cold fluff.

“So, how is Berryfrost?” Fuzzypelt mewed to Leaffrost, casually.

“Getting better!” Leaffrost’s mewed happily.

For, even in this horribly freezing season, Berryfrost was to have kits. Berryfrost peeked out of the nursery. She had heard the remark.

“I’m fine, thank you!” Berryfrost growled good-naturedly.

Fuzzypelt was curious. Berryfrost’s kits would liven up the camp for sure. Fuzzypelt remembered when Specklepaw, Meadowpaw, and Moonpaw, her apprentice were kits. Curious, inventive, and pests at some times. Now they were serious paws, training daily. Everything was perfect except for two things. One, leafbare meant less prey and more sickness. Two, Luna’s clan was soon to attack. Fuzzypelt thought hard about this troubling subject. She decided to pay extra attention the north border, were the swamp was. She flexed her claws, and gritted her teeth determinedly. The wind blew her already-ruffled fur into a fiercer complexion. She would not let any cats destroy River Clan.

“No claws, sheath them now!” Fuzzypelt ordered.

Specklepaw and Moonpaw were training. Specklepaw pounced, paws extended, but Moonpaw lept lightly to the side. She swipped at him, her blow glancing off of his ear. When Specklepaw yowled in pain, clawing desparatly at his ear, Fuzzypelt frowned at Moonpaw, who had her claws unsheathed. Specklepaw’s ear now had a small scar. Looking guitily at the icy ground now, Moonpaw shrunk under the frowning gaze of her half-mentor.

“Yes, Fuzzypelt,” she mewed obediently.

With leafbare pushing down it’s hardest, the three apprentices were sharing four mentors. Fuzzypelt, Brackentail, Runningclaw, and Badgerclaw were lustily training the four trouble-some paws.

Specklepaw attempted to glare at his sister, but at Moonkit’s sorry look a mischevious smile bloomed on his face. Yowling suddenly, he pounced lightly on to the unsuspecting apprentice. They tumbled around on the ground, wrestling. Specklepaw went limp. Moonpaw towered over him. Suddenly he rolled out from under her, sliding on the ice. Moonpaw faceplanted, and drew herself up with a snow-whiskered face, snorting.

Fuzzypelt laughed to herself. Through all the troubles and worries, River Clan was surviving and even growing.