This was her first leaf-bare as a medicine cat apprentice.

Lotusfire had done well to warn her of the serious hardships Mistclan would face, and showed her how to deal with them, but it was still rather surreal to see her clan grind to the halts of winter.

Prey was becoming increasingly scarce, and while she did not like to, she often found she had to take her share from the fresh-kill pile earlier than she would have liked, or risk not eating at all.

Sometimes she ate only once. But that was okay. Her clanmates were fed, and that was what was important. They needed to be healthy and strong to hunt for the rest of them. So far, she had been the chief use case of the herbs they kept on hand for belly aches and hunger pangs.

Her mentor was keeping her busy, the list of chores the medicine cat rattled off was seeming to grow larger by the day, but for the most part it remained the same. She was to check on the most vulnerable members of the clan, the queens with newborn kits, some of the more frail elders. To make sure they were eating and warm. Count the herb stores twice a day, at dawn and at dusk - and if possible - fetch more of what they were lacking to add it to their pharmacy.

With the chill of leaf-bare now firmly with its paws around them, the elders frequently lamented their aching joints.

Their store of columbine root was, and always had been, quick to deplete.

When Eaglefang had informed her of what looked to be a dying columbine plant near the border, she asked her father to keep an eye on it during his patrols.

This morning he informed her that it was certainly dying, likely not going to last past the evening frost they could both smell brewing in the air, let alone till new-leaf. Now she had to rescue what she could.

Spottedpaw did not bother telling her mentor of her current mission. They rarely checked up after her, and if they did, it was only to scold her. If she mentioned it to the medicine cat, they'd likely find some fault with her plan. Question her judgment on "destroying" a plant, criticize her for not saving enough. This was the safest way.

Her father might not have known much about plants, but she trusted his common sense. And it couldn't hurt for her to take a look at it with her own eyes.

---

Upon further inspection, the plant was indeed on its last threads of life. It was different from an expected state of winter dormancy, the beginnings of rot had begun to scent. The cycle of freezing rain in-between snows keeping the ground wet was likely to blame.

She quickly and delicately began to dig into the earth around the stalk to free up the root ball of the unlucky perennial.

When she had secured the cluster of roots, a noise made her freeze, the smell of fresh Ridgeclan reaching her nose through her catch.

Her heart began to beat wildly. She was near the border, but a Ridgeclan cat shouldn't be this close. This was firmly Mistclan territory. Was she in danger? Were they here to attack her clan once again?

She had been practicing defensive moves with Salamanderpaw, but none of that knowledge gave her any confidence. Neither did her sanctuary status as a learning medicine cat.

Instinct told her to hide, and she did exactly that, creeping into a bush to try and listen out for more intruders. There was no way in Starclan she would confront them personally. If she was fortunate, maybe she would see a cat to describe to [Mistclan deputy] or Hailstar. She'd let warriors handle warrior things.

"I know you're there,"

The confidence in the cat's voice was rather unnerving.

The roaring of blood in her ears disguised Frostpaw's familiar voice and the columbine her scent.

The Ridgeclaner moved closer towards her hiding spot, and she was suddenly made aware that stealth was something she also needed to work on.

Spottedpaw continued to listen, silent and still.

"I apologize for my unexpected visit, I was just looking for herbs and realized too late I had crossed the border, but I am...alone."

'Why would they be looking for herbs?'

Her brow furrowed as she dropped the columbine roots and her mouth parted to take in the "stranger's" scent.

...Frostpaw. Frostpaw!

Nosing herself out of the bushes, nearly immediately after the realization, the calico snapped from fearful to fanatical.

"Frostpaw! Thank Starclan it's you! You scared me!"

A small purr hummed from her chest at the realization she was dealing with friend not foe.

"It's just me too."