A thin layer of snow covered the ground. Iceslide shivered as the cold night air brushed his pelt. He scraped at the hard ground and dug a small hole, dropping a freshly caught mouse in and covering it with dirt and snow. He looked up at the moon. I still have time... But I'd like to catch a bit more before I go.

A day had passed since he'd saved Poisoned Sap from the dog in twolegplace. She had introduced him to her brother, a cat unlike any other he'd met, Bone Shred. The powerful looking cat was leader of a large group of cats who lived in an abandoned twoleg nest on the outskirts of twolegplace. But these cats were ill and starving. The sight of it had saddened Iceslide, and he had offered to catch prey for the group.

I have to hunt more than I used to in the clan. Iceslide thought. Between them and these twolegplace cats, I've really got my paws full. He began to wonder if he'd been wise to take on the task of hunting for them. I'm only one cat, and about thirty of them. I can't possibly catch enough prey for them all! But I suppose I can do my best. At least they won't all starve.

He sniffed at the air, but the snow made it difficult to pick up a strong scent. Most prey won't like being out in the snow anyway. Catching fish had been an option, but the river would be cold as ice in this weather. And he would be sure to catch a cold if he trekked all the way to twolegplace with soaked paws. I'll just have to make do with voles and mice.

He spotted movement by the roots of a beech tree and flashed his attention to it. A black squirrel was sniffing and leaping among the roots. 

Iceslide hesitated. RiverClan cats don't climb trees... But maybe I can catch it before it decides to. He crouched and slowly moved forward, careful where he put his paws. The snow was soft and powdery, unlikely to crunch and give him away. As he neared the squirrel, it gave a nervous scuttle toward the other side of the root, seeming to sense him, but it didn't flee.

After a moment of hesitation, he pounced, and half a moment later, the squirrel started up the tree. But Iceslide quickly stretched up his claws and fastened them into its bushy tail. The squirrel let out a startled squeak as it was dragged down from the tree, and he sank his teeth into its neck. The rodent squealed before going limp. 

Maybe a second round of training with Frozenripple did me some good after all. Iceslide thought reluctantly. I was a lousy hunter before.

He picked up the squirrel and carried it back to where he'd been burying the fresh kill. He decided that he'd caught enough for the night. Four mice and a squirrel. If I risk staying out any longer, I'll never make it to twolegplace and back before my clanmates awake.

Iceslide dug up the rest of the prey, carefully picking them up by their tails. Ugh, I didn't think about how I'd have to carry it... He made sure he was gripping all the tails firmly in his teeth before starting toward twolegplace. At least some cats won't go hungry tonight.

***

By the time Iceslide reached the abandoned twoleg nest, he was freezing and exhausted, and his teeth were sore from carrying the prey all this way. The squirrel was especially heavy, and the bushy fur in his mouth was making him feel sick. 

He padded up the cracked steps of the nest and hesitated. If he went right in, he might be attacked. It was the middle of the night, and they might think him a stranger. He lifted a paw and scratched at the wood of the doorframe. 

After a few moments, A black tom stuck his head out, his amber eyes narrowed. "What do you want? Go away!"

Iceslide was about to drop the prey and explain himself when another cat hurried to the tom's side. "No, Shadow Snarl!" The she-cat snapped at him. "This is Iceslide, remember?" She turned to him and purred a greeting. "Come on in."

The two cats turned away, and he followed them into the old nest. It was very dark, and most cats were asleep on old couches, shelves, and under tables. A few raised their heads at the newcomer.

"Iceslide," Bone Shred's voice rumbled, and he saw the black tom sitting in the shadows near the wall, looking at him through the dark sockets of the skull he wore. "That's not all for us, is it?"

He dipped his head and dropped the prey on the wooden floor, shaking frost from his fur. "Yes, of course." He meowed as the tom stepped forward and sniffed the squirrel. "I'm sorry I couldn't catch more."

"Mama, look, look!" 

Iceslide turned to see the three kits racing over to him, their eyes filled with delight. Their mother raised her head drowsily from where she slept under a table.

"He kept his promise!" The dark tabby kit exclaimed, his little tail high in the air as he sniffed the mouse eagerly. "Look at that mouse!"

"Wow!" The she-cat squeaked and took the mouse by its tail.

"Scrappy, Sunny, Skipper!" Their mother called softly. "Don't be rude. It might not be for you."

The three kits paused and looked up at Iceslide and Bone Shred. Sunny didn't let go of the mouse's tail, her yellow eyes filled with hope and hunger.

"It's all yours," Iceslide purred and nudged it toward the kits with his paw. The three kits immediately took the mouse and ran back to their mother with it. "Make sure you share!" He called after them in amusement.

Some other cats were moving closer, studying the prey hesitantly. Iceslide noticed the sick scrawny elder he'd seen the day before. He looked even worse, wheezing and shivering. Feeling a rush of sympathy, Iceslide picked up the squirrel and padded over to him.

The old tom drifted his gaze to him and sniffled, not raising his head from his paws. "Hmm?"

"Have this." Iceslide dropped the squirrel and nudged it toward him. "It'll make you feel better."

The elderly tabby gave the squirrel a brief sniff, then shook his head. "Prey won't do me no good now," He rasped. "Give it to a younger cat."

He was startled. "But you're sick and starv-"

"No." Bone Shred appeared at his side and reached out, pulling the squirrel away from the elder. The tabby watched it for a moment, then closed his eyes. "He's right, he's not going to make it through the winter."

Iceslide hesitated, looking at the elder sympathetically. "But there's still time..."

"Prey is to be used on the cats who are young and strong," Bone Shred meowed firmly. "There is no point in feeding a cat who's just going to die anyway. Let him be, he won't last much longer." He stepped forward and rested his paw on the elder's scrawny flank. "Rest now. Your suffering will end soon."

The elder let out a raspy sigh. Iceslide stared at him sadly. I suppose it makes sense... But it's still very sad. He reluctantly turned away from the dying cat.

Bone Shred had brought the squirrel over to two toms. One was a Siamese cat, the other a silver cat with cuts on his face. "Oil Tail, Glass Face, here." He gave them the squirrel, and the two began eating. 

Iceslide spotted two cats sitting in a corner and picked up a mouse, padding over to them. A dark gray tom was sitting close to a yellow tabby and white she-cat. Both were terribly thin, but young. The tom eyed him warily as he approached.

He dropped the mouse and purred a greeting. "Hello. Would you like to share this?"

"Yes." The tom replied almost immediately, and Iceslide realized how hungry he must be. He looked embarrassed and licked his chest. "Yes, of course. Thank you."

"Yes, thank you." The she-cat added gratefully. "You're very kind."

Iceslide felt pride warm him and sat down. "It's the least I could do. My name is Iceslide."

"I'm Howl," The tom meowed as the she-cat crouched and took a bite out of the mouse. "This is my mate, Dandelion." He crouched beside her and joined her in eating.

"Iceslide," Bone Shred called, and he dipped his head to the couple before turning to the leader. "I gave the last mouse to Crimson Ice and Poisoned Sap." He dipped his head. "We're very grateful for this."

He dipped his head. "I couldn't turn away a cat in need." He stretched his jaws in a yawn. I'm so tired... I'd better get back to camp. "I should be going."

Bone Shred flicked an ear. "You must be very tired from the journey here. Rest for a while first, I insist."

Iceslide hesitated. I guess I could, just for a little while... He settled onto his stomach, becoming aware of how sore his legs were.

The dark tom crouched beside him, and it was silent for a while. Eventually, Bone Shred turned to him. "There must be a lot of prey where you come from," He commented. "You have enough to share."

"Well, yes," Iceslide meowed, glad to have the awkward silence broken. "The forest is full of prey."

"You're very fortunate." Bone Shred looked at his paws. "We struggle to find food every day. It's hard living here."

Sympathy filled his heart. "You deserve a better home." 

"Yes." Bone Shred paused and looked to him thoughtfully. "Perhaps you can take us to this forest of yours?" He suggested. "It would save you the trouble of hunting for us. We'd hate to be a burden."

Iceslide hesitated. As much as he wanted to help these cats, it was a ridiculous idea. There were about thirty of them, and there was no way they could all join RiverClan. He doubted Shimmerstar would be pleased if he brought her a group of scrawny twolegplace cats. There was no way they could join in any of the clans without Iceslide's secret being revealed.

"I'm sorry, I can't do that," Iceslide meowed reluctantly. "I shouldn't even be here. My clan would be furious. And there just isn't enough room for you all."

Bone Shred was quiet for a moment. "I understand." He said at last. "I suppose we can manage fine here."

"Rocky! No!"

A wail startled Iceslide, and he swung his head around. Dandelion was crouched over a scrawny brown tom who lay motionless in a corner. "He's dead!" She cried, and Howl pressed against her, resting his tail around her.

"He starved to death," Bone Shred meowed quietly. "He was old and sick anyway, like that other cat you tried to give the squirrel to." He sat up and raised his voice. "Crimson Ice, Dark Hawk, go take the body outside."

Iceslide stared sadly as the two cats carried the dead cat between them and headed outside. Dandelion started after him, but Howl blocked her, shaking his head. She hung her head and sobbed. 

I have to do something... He thought sadly. This is terrible. He looked at Bone Shred. "I think there's a patch of forest just outside RiverClan territory," He meowed hesitantly. "It's not very big, but I think you could settle there. There would be much more prey."

"Hmm..." Bone Shred's tail twitched slowly as he thought. "I think that would be perfect." He stood up and raised his voice. "Iceslide has offered to take us to a new home by the forest!"

The cats around them murmured to one another excitedly.

"Really? With lots of food?" A kit squeaked.

"Is it far?"

"Will we be safe?"

Bone Shred looked at Iceslide, and he quickly spoke up. "Of course!" Iceslide meowed, raising his voice for all to hear. "There's a patch of woodland, and the land will be yours. You'll be safe, sheltered, and you'll have plenty of food."

The cats meowed together excitedly.

"That sounds great!" Howl exclaimed.

"When do we leave?" The queen under the table asked anxiously.

"I suggest we leave at dawn." Bone Shred looked beside him at Iceslide. "What do you say, friend?"

He hesitated. I should be getting back to camp... But they need someone to lead them there. He hoped that if anyone asked, Sunripple would cover for him. He was clever and could come up with an explanation to Iceslide's whereabouts.

"Yes," Iceslide agreed, looking around at the eager cats. "We'll leave at dawn." Pride filled his chest. I'm going to help these cats! They won't have to live like this any longer. They'll be much better off by the forest.