BROWNSTAR

The air was still in the dim den when Brownstar woke. Leaves scattered the floor still from last fall, and they rustled when Brownstar rose from his nest. He stretched his skinny frame, belly yowling for food.

He left the den, into the snow-covered clearing, cats padded to their duties, their frame just as skinny. He looked at the fresh kill pile, seeing a skinny mouse and a small rabbit. Brownstar turned away, his belly protesting, and headed to the medicine cat's den in search of Littlefeather.

A small white she-cat blocked his way, "You must eat, father."

He looked down at the mouse, his mouth watering, "No, I will eat later. Give that to the elders, Icepaw."

His daughter urged, "Please, father! You're getting skinny!"

"So is everyone else," He said firmly, "The clan goes first."

Brownstar pushed past the small apprentice and continued padding to the medicine cat's den.

"What is it, Brownstar?" Littlefeather meowed when he arrived.

Brownstar approached the small cat, "I had a dream from Starclan."

Littlefeather stopped sorting herbs and turned to sit in front of her leader, "What was it about."

"Bluestar told me, 'Snow will fall like never before, hunger will kill, a Clan will be lost, and a new Clan will be born'," Brownstar shivered as he repeated the prophecy.

Littlefeather looked thoughtful for a moment then said, "I will think about that, meanwhile, you should eat,"

Brownstar opened his mouth to argue but was cut off, "As a medicine cat, I order you to eat."

Brownstar ducked out of the den and headed toward the fresh kill pile. Hidden at the base was a skinny thrush, which he took and headed to the base of high rock.

"Would you like to share the thrush with me?" Brownstar called as his mate, Poppytwist, approached.

"Maybe a bit, but I have to get back to our kits," Poppytwist tried to hesitate but hunger took over.

Brownstar gorged with the ginger she-cat and before he new it the thrush was gone. His belly still protested for food, the thrush doing nothing to help the hunger.

Brownstar liked his lips, savoring the last taste and said, "How is our kits doing?"

Poppytwist looked at him in the eyes, "They are very skinny, but they are active, I think they are ready to become apprentices soon," she gave Brownstar a lick in the cheek and left to her kits.