Graystar flattened his ears, upset by what his medicine cat had just told him. They'd just lost another cat to the cold. That was the fourth this moon and the seventh this leaf-bare.

"Who was it?" He murmured.

"A queen, Willowsong." Olivedusk shook her head sadly. "Her body was so frozen, I could hardly tell who it was. She was heavily pregnant."

"That was our only queen." Graystar realised. "We won't be getting new cats in CreekClan after all. Oatpaw and Barkpaw can't do all of the apprentice work themselves."

"New kits will come. Find a she-cat willing to get pregnant." Olivedusk advised. "It's time you became a father."

Graystar growled at the idea. He had never wanted a mate. The very idea made him angry. There were plenty of toms in the Clan. "I'll have to tell the others. Perhaps we'll have to invite new cats into the Clan."

"Maybe." Olivedusk gazed at the stars. "More snow is on the way."

"CreekClan will not freeze." Graystar got to his paws. "Eventually, Newleaf will come. The Clan will live on."