The Looming Darkness (A WARRIOR CATS FANFICTION)

Chapter 10

Leafpool was awake early. Her mouth was full of cold, damp herbs as she returned to the empty, hushed camp. The air was cold, and Leafpool was eager to get the herbs stored up fast. She had planned and prepared for leafbare as much as possible. Now that the Clans were together and there were no borders, she hoped it would be easier to search freely during the coldest season for the cats.

The dawn patrol had not returned with any prey yet. Leafpool decided to slip into the medicine den before they returned. She did not like to make it obvious that she was worried about the supplies for so many cats, but she was. She just kept it to herself, along with many memories that had rekindled inside of her. So many feelings had been uprooted since she was forced to leave StarClan.

"Leafpool-" She turned to face the cat near the medicine den.

I thought I was alone. That's strange, she thought to herself.

Crowstar looked around awkwardly, checking to see if any cats nearby could see him. Leafpool's eyes filled up with a familiar sadness when she looked upon him. Even after all the time apart, her hollow, empty expression haunted the black warrior and made it hard for him to look into her eyes. 

"I was wondering- maybe I could speak with you about some of the elders in my Clan. I thought they might need some herbs."

"Why don't you ask Kestrelflight?" Her tail seemed to droop as she spoke to him.

"Well, I don't want the cats to become more sick, and since Kestrelflight is not awake yet, I thought it best to speak with you. Do you mind if we speak somewhere else though?" He lowered his voice. "I don't want the other cats to worry."

Leafpool blinked her eyes, stunned. "Sure, there is a pebble path by the lake not far from here. I might be able to find some additional herbs from there."

The two cats walked side by side, away from the camp in silence until their figures disappeared.

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Hollyleaf grumbled as she patrolled through the forest looking for prey.

"It's not even leafbare, and I can't find hardly anything!"

"Speak for yourself. I have a plump, juicy vole." Turtlecrawl beamed, her head held high, and her tail swishing with pride.

"One vole is not enough for all these cats." Hollyleaf rolled her eyes. It's too bad she doesn't hunt as well as she boasts. 

"I agree with Hollyleaf." Lionblaze interrupted Hollyleaf's anger thoughts. He grazed his sister's starry side affectionately. "There is not enough prey. I have been doing dawn patrols for several mornings now since my recovery, and it seems every day the prey is becoming less."

"We do with what we can." Firestar commented from behind. His voice sounded very fatigued.

"I think we should spread out more." Lionblaze asserted. "I am not afraid of the shadow cat. We are hunting too close together. Now that the Clans are hunting all together, we should be able to explore all the land for prey. It will give us more options."

"I would ask your leader for permission before you go to another area, Lionblaze." Firestar responded sternly.

"I'll go with you." Hollyleaf stayed by her brother's side. Together, they scented for Squirrelstar, trying to keep themselves quiet. They knew that she would be hunting nearby. 

They found her trying to catch a mouse that had temporarily left its hiding. She jumped onto the leaves that it was hiding under, pouncing it, then swiping  it with success. "Finally!" She cried out victoriously.