Heartstorm entered the den after a hunting patrol. He had only managed to catch a skinny squirrel and a sparrow with Sparkbelly. Times were getting harder as leaf-bare had started. Heartstorm padded across the frozen ground towards the elders den where Silverdrop and the kits were. Bumblekit was listening to Pigeonfeather attentively and Brightkit was practising fighting moves with Thornstar. Silverdrop chatted to Floodwhisker who, as always, looked ruffled and unhappy. Heartstorm gave her a small lick on the forehead. 

          "Hey, how was it?" asked Silverdrop. 

           "Not that good," sighed Heartstorm.

           "It's always like that in leaf-bare," Floodwhisker mumbled. "And now we don't even have apprentices." 

           "Hi Heartstorm!" cried Bumblekit, jumping towards him. Heartstorm smiled. 

           "Hey," he replied, his eyes twinkling. "How was your day?" 

           "Pigeonfeather was telling me about a time when Frogleap saved him," Bumblekit told Heartstorm. "Frogleap is really good." 

           "Yes, he is," nodded Heartstorm amused. Thornstar swept out his paw and Brightkit leapt up. She flew over Thornstar's paw and tumbled to the ground. She quickly got up to face Thornstar once more. 

            "Brightkit is doing well, isn't she?" Heartstorm said. Silverdrop nodded. 

             "They've been fighting non stop," smiled Silverdrop. 

              "Can I go see Heatherkit?" asked Bumblekit. 

              "Of course," Heartstorm said. "Do you know where she is?" 

              "In the nursery," Bumblekit said. "Bye Silverdrop and Heartstorm." he trotted towards the nursery. Heartstorm watched as he emerged some time later with Heatherkit at his tail. They raced towards the medicine den. Heartstorm turned back to Silverdrop. 

            "How was your day?" he asked her. "Hope you're not getting too bored staying in camp all day." 

             "I stay in camp all day," Floodwhisker muttered. 

             "Not too boring," shrugged Silverdrop. "Can you watch Brightkit? I think I'm going to take a short walk." Heartstorm nodded and settled down, happy to see Floodwhisker closing his eyes. he didn't fancy talking to Floodwhisker. Heartstorm watched proudly as Brightkit fought with Thornstar. Thornstar kept correcting her and helping her. 

              "Right, I'm getting hungry," Thornstar said finally. "Would you be so kind to get us elders something to eat?" Brightkit nodded and sprinted away. Thornstar turned to Heartstorm. 

             "She's a very quick learner and very enthusiastic," Thornstar said. 

              "Yeah, she'll be a great warrior," Heartstorm agreed. 

              "I know she will," Thornstar nodded. "Great things will happen to her." Before Heartstorm could question Thornstar, Brightkit was back. She dropped the sparrow Heartstorm had hunted at Thornstar's feet. 

              "Thank you Brightkit," Thornstar dipped his head. "Pigeonfeather and I'll share." 

              "Can we fight more?" asked Brightkit, wriggling her tail. Thornstar gave a tired smile. 

               "Maybe tomorrow alright?" he said, flicking his tail. Brightkit sighed but nodded. 

               "Ok, I'll see you tomorrow!" she exclaimed and trotted to Heartstorm. "Can I eat?" Heartstorm nodded and got up, dipping his head to Thornstar. He padded with Brightkit towards the fresh-kill pile. 

                "So, learned anything new?" asked Heartstorm. 

                "Yeah! I can dodge any moves you throw at me!" exclaimed Brightkit. Heartstorm chuckled. 

              "You're going to have to show me later," Heartstorm said. They picked a small mouse and Heartstorm let Brightkit take a few bites first. 

               "I'm full," she said after a few mouthfuls then yawned. 

              "I saw that," smiled Heartstorm. "You're going back to the nursery to sleep early tonight." 

               "Awwww," moaned Brightkit. "Please? I'm not tired!" Heartstorm chuckled. 

              "I'll give you a few more minutes to stay up but just to find your brother at the medicine den," Heartstorm said. "Tell him to get back to the nursery." Brightkit sighed but nodded. She trotted away to find Bumblekit. Heartstorm gobbled up his mouse. Deerflame trotted towards him. 

               "hey, what's up?" asked Heartstorm. 

                "There isn't enough food," Deerflame said. "Reedstar ordered another hunting patrol. Can you come?" It was almost sunset. 

                "Sure," shrugged Heartstorm, although he felt extremely tired. 

                 "Thanks," sighed Deerflame in relief. "Everybody else has gone on a hunting patrol and are already tired. And Greyspeck is getting tired... and weak. Frogleap's got him in the medicine den, in case he's got greencough." Heartstorm grimaced. Then quickly got up. 

               "I'll be right back," he told Deerflame and raced to the medicine den. He burst into the den and looked around. Frogleap was talking to Bumblekit while Brightkit and Heatherkit played at the side. He spotted Greyspeck sprawled on the ground in a nest. 

                "Frogleap, isn't Greyspeck sick?" Heartstorm exclaimed. "Kits, out." Heatherkit and Brightkit trotted out, talking excitedly. 

                "But Frogleap was-" Bumblekit begged. 

               "Bumblekit, out," Heartstorm said firmly. Bumblekit mumbled bye to Frogleap and trailed out. 

                "Why, don't want them to hang out with me?" Frogleap raised his eyebrows. 

              "Greyspeck is sick. Do you want the kits to be sick as well?" Heartstorm retorted. 

            "Who's the medicine cat here? I know when a cat is sick. Greyspeck is just weak and more prone to greencough. I'm keeping him here to make sure he doesn't catch it. Get him stronger," Frogleap replied. 

              "Right, sorry," muttered Heartstorm. "It's their bed time anyways." 

               "Yes of course," snorted Frogleap. "Goodbye." Heartstorm pushed out of the medicine den and herded the kits back towards the nursery. He settled them down with Acornheart then slipped out to find Deerflame. She was waiting with a grumpy looking Eelfrost and Rainfeather. She smiled at Heartstorm. 

               "Everybody else is exhausted," Deerflame said. "So we'll be four, but it's fine." She smiled and the four cats padded out of camp. Heartstorm ached to go back and sleep but he trudged after Deerflame. 

               "Did she force you into this?" Eelfrost whispered. 

               "Not really," replied Heartstorm wearily. He was regretting his choice. 

                 "She did, I was sleeping," Eelfrost sighed. Heartstorm let out a small chuckle. 

                 "I'd happily sleep right now. I've been to like three patrols today," Heartstorm agreed. 

                  "I know right," Eelfrost nodded. "Well, two. But that's the same thing." Heartstorm laughed. A cold wind blew and Heartstorm cringed. He turned his face away. He looked up. It could have been night. The sky was covered in dark grey clouds and there was no light. The air was freezing and the ground covered in ice. 

               "Are you sure we should be hunting?" called out Eelfrost. 

               "Yeah," Deerflame replied, glaring at him. 

              "I mean, it looks like there' s going to be a storm," Eelfrost said. 

              "Not now, tomorrow morning probably," replied Rainfeather for Deerflame, gazing up. "So we need to fill the fresh kill pile just in case." 

                "Why just us?" grumbled Heartstorm. 

               "Reedstar will be sending out two more patrols," Deerflame replied. 

              "Are you his new deputy?" asked Eelfrost grumpily. 

               "I am not," replied Deerflame. "Look, let's just do it quick. I'll go with Rainfeather, you guys go together." Without being told twice, Heartstorm and Eelfrost turned away and made their way away from the two she-cats. A strong wind started to pick up, ruffling Heartstorm's fur. He grit his teeth and shook himself. 

               "StarClan! It's cold," he muttered. 

                "Can we just go back and say we couldn't find anything?" Eelfrost said. 

               "I'm really tempted," Heartstorm replied but he knew it was their duty. What if there wasn't enough food. He couldn't imagine his kits and Silverdrop starving. He wouldn't let that happen. Suddenly, there was a loud crack and the sky lit up. Heartstorm halted and stared up at the sky. A blinding light flashed then disappeared. 

                "Lightning," Eelfrost groaned. "Great, let's go back. It's dangerous. There's definitely going to be a storm." 

                "We've gotta hunt," Heartstorm replied. 

                 "But there's a snow storm coming!" complained Eelfrost. 

                  "Imagine Embergaze, Softcry or Deerflame starving. Or anybody from the Clan starving. We can help," Heartstorm said. Eelfrost nodded and they trudged through the forest, listening and sniffing for food. All Heartstorm could smell was frosty cold and he could only see naked trees and the barren ground. It was hopeless, no animal would be out before a snow storm. And they shouldn't either. But Reedstar must've known what he was doing when he sent them on a hunting patrol. Heartstorm took a deep breath and told himself he could do it. Eelfrost wasn't even complaining anymore, just concentrated. Heartstorm told himself if Eelfrost could do it, so could he. They finally heard a bird squawk but it fluttered away before they could reach it, screeching angrily. Heartstorm sighed. Eelfrost sunk to the ground and Heartstorm made no move to stop him. The wind had picked up and Heartstorm fur was being blown around. He looked up. The sky was darker than ever, as if it was a night without any moon or stars. Heartstorm shivered. 

               "I think it's time to get back," Eelfrost said through chattering teeth. Heartstorm couldn't agree any less. Suddenly, Deerflame and Rainfeather burst through the trees. 

              "It's a big snowstorm!" yelled Deerflame, tugging Eelfrost to his feet. "Come on, we need to get back to camp!" 

               "Just a moment ago you said it wouldn't come till tomorrow," replied Eelfrost. Rainfeather flicked her tail. 

               "Eelfrost shut up," she snapped. "Now come on." Suddenly, a large gust of wind hurtled towards them. Ice stung Heartstorm's skin and he had to narrow his eyes. 

                 "Not a snowstorm," Rainfeather growled. "A hailstorm." All four cats snapped to attention and hurtled towards camp. Heartstorm pelted after Deerflame, Rainfeather and Eelfrost. Together, they leapt over a fallen tree and dodged large roots. Finally they spotted camp. The wind was whistling beside them. Heartstorm's eyes stung and his whole body was cold. As they broke into camp, they found it in chaos. Cats were everywhere, yelling orders and closing up den entrances. Reedstar spotted them and he sighed in relief, seeing Deerflame and Rainfeather. 

                 "The other patrols aren't back yet," he told them. "Deerflame and Rainfeather, get into the warrior's den and patch up holes from inside. Eelfrost patch up as many wholes around the camp. Ask Blacktail if you don't know with what. And Heartstorm you go to the nursery." Heartstorm nodded in relief. He ran towards the nursery where Cloudbreeze and Sparkbelly were already patching up. The wind was so strong, Heartstorm felt as if it would sweep them off his feet. Ice everywhere was being thrown around and snow had started to fall. Heartstorm started to help Cloudbreeze and Sparkbelly, pushing branches, rocks, leaves, anything he could in front of the nursery. He could hear Bumblekit and Brightkit shooting questions from inside to Silverdrop and he imagined her calm voice, replying them. Heartstorm's heart raced as he searched for anything he could find. Suddenly, the snow reached up to his knees. A shout rang out. 

             "Into your dens!" hollered Reedstar. "Everybody into a den! Nobody goes into the apprentice den! One warrior at least in each den!"