Bright Forest

Chapter 11

After a moon, leaf-bare started to come around: prey was getting progressively scarce and it was harder to go outside and hunt. Despite that though, Glistenfall has been cured by Marigold and the latter became way less stressed than in leaf-fall.

Rustpaw's battle training sessions were slightly slowed down, but still doable: he only did a few however, because of the rough temperatures.

Branchpaw's attitude did not change, which Rustpaw was hoping for: he didn't even share a mouse with the former kittypet when there were only two other pieces of fresh-kill in the pile. The only thing that changed with the dark brown tom is that he started to talk less with him, but in those rare cases just to insult him.

The forest was covered in snow, and the sky was getting dark. Rustpaw sniffed the air:-Night already?

-The days shorten during leaf-bare!- answered Poolspring.

They entered the camp, with Treefeather rushing in: they had been on a border patrol with the medicine cat collecting some herbs that were there.

That day there was a lot of chaos in camp: Rainingbud was going to give birth soon, Gemwing was very nervous and kept returning from the medicine den to the warriors den, Marigold kept yelling at him to calm down because she was being bothered and Spottedpaw was very anxious because she was going to assist her and help a cat give birth for the first time.

Rustpaw looked at the fresh-kill pile. "Nothing more than a robin and two thin mice..."

Spottedpaw reached him:-Hey! How's it going?

-Fine, I guess...- he mumbled.

-I'm very nervous for Rainingbud... especially by looking at the sky!

The ginger tom looked up: the sky was filled with dark gray clouds and a bit windy.

-Is this a sign from StarClan?- he asked.

-Probably not...- she answered. -Sometimes cold weather happens. And if it was an omen there wouldn't quite be a good reason. We... actually received a prophecy a few moons ago, they can't give us another one right after that!

-Maybe they're mad at us?

Suddenly, a yowl came from the nursery. Marigold stood outside:-Spottedpaw!

-I'm coming!

He looked at his friend running to the medicine cat, and since he didn't have much to do he returned to the apprentice's den. Luckily Branchpaw was on patrol, so he had it all for himself. The camp floor was covered by a thin layer of snow that made his paws wet, so he laid down on his nest. Meanwhile he overheard conversations that happened around him.

-Spottedpaw! Bring me some moss and water.- yelled Marigold.

-Okay!

-Hurry up!

-Jeez! Fine!

-Why did we make the nursery so far from the medicine den...

He saw the calico apprentice rushing from den to den and dropped it near the nursery. She then followed her mentor in.

Meanwhile, Deerleap and Branchpaw returned to camp: just a singular squirrel.

Gemwing saw them and hissed:-Just a squirrel? Come on! What kind of patrol was that? My dear Rainingbud having kits!

Branchpaw's fur began to bristle and Deerleap growled:-We're still in leafbare, mousebrain! Prey is scarce, and we're no StarClan hunters.

-Calm down you three!- Poolspring came in. -Go rest, tomorrow's a busy day, especially with Rainingbud's litter!