Ghoststar had waited a few days to make the announcement of what would be done about the travelers, the rouges, and Streampaw. She wanted things to die down and the clan to fall back into normal routine, but with cold weather and lack of prey hanging over the clan there really was no normal.
"How did patrols go?" Ghoststar sprung through the snow over to Darkmoon as she entered camp, shaking off frost. The black she-cat greeted her leader with a respectful nod before speaking.
"No sign of rouges."
"Yet." Ghoststar reminded her. Darkmoon looked at her skeptically but didn't argue. There were cats that didn't trust the traveling tribe cats and didn't believe their ominous warning of rouges coming to destroy the clan. "Im going to have a meeting today about whats the best way to prepare for an attack. Keep everyone in camp." The black Deputy nodded.
"Ill have to go get Spottedpaw and Redclaw, they're out training." Ghoststar gave Darkmoon a flick of her tail and the she-cat ran back out into the cold of the thick forest. Ghoststar didn't like how things looked in leaf bare. The trees were bare and white or dark brown and twisted in tangles of branches. The ground didn't have its usual thick foliage and all the cats of Twilightclan felt hopelessly vulnerable. They had grown used to slinking through thick undergrowth and tangles of trees. It was like a totally different forest in the cold season. And the rouges would choose to attack at this time, of course. She sighed heavily, heading toward Twilight Rock.
Leaping up in one bound, she settled down on the stingingly cold rock. The clan was moving slow as the cold stung bones and joints. Weak sunlight beamed down on everything, offering little warmth or comfort. Ghoststar watched warriors share what little prey there was and Apprentices changing dens beddings to try and keep things dry for the clan. Queens kept their kits inside focusing on fighting off sickness and cold. Dawnflight was close to having her kits. Ghoststar hoped it would happen in new leaf, but life didn't seem to be working in the clans favor these past few moons.
Darkmoon finally got back with the Warrior and Apprentice and Ghoststar wasted no time yowling for a meeting. Cats gathered in front of the rock, pressing close together to stay warm. She was glad her clan seemed close despite the hard times. "Cats of Twilightclan! I know you've all been waiting to hear what the decision is on the news we have been given." She watched as gazes were cats back to the travelers. The two strange cats had been staying with the clan as guests, or more so prisoners, since they'd given the warning. They hadn't tried to escape and had respected the cats assigned to guard them. Ghoststar had spoken to them more than once since their arrival, and they seemed like good cats just as much victims of the rouges as Twilightclan would be without them.
"I do believe Ash and Honey on their warning about the rouges. They've told me about their tribe and the danger of these ruthless cats and we would be fools not to prepare for an attack." Their were grumbles from the cats below. "Even if this attack never comes, at least we were prepared. Id rather be safe than sorry." The clan quieted and waited to hear about the plan.
"I want to strengthen our patrols. There should be one out at every point of the day. We need to keep our scents strong through the snow. I also want training to be amped up as well. That includes warriors. Our fighting needs to be at its best." She felt a knot tightening in her belly. "Streampaw will be put to the task of making the camp more impenetrable. She can have warriors and apprentices help her. Lastly, we need to stalk up on herbs. If anyone sees any plants they might recognize or think are herbs tell Silverpaw or Scorchtooth." The cats in the clearing nodded, looking tense and worried at the prospect of battle. This would be the first time the clan prepared for a big battle. Hopefully it would be their first big victory.
"Ash and Honey will be staying with us until new leaf comes. Its not safe for them to travel in this weather." She heard some hisses of protest but shot the cats fierce glares to silence them. "This will be respected." Ghoststar lashed her tail in warning. Ash and Honey nodded gratefully from the back of the group, yet they pushed close together with worried looks at the rest of the clan.
"Dismissed." Hopefully this will be enough. I can't let our clan be destroyed its first leaf bare. That just can't happen.
