compliance [C]

The chill in the air grew more unmistakable with each passing day, and each passing day it was as hard to ignore as the hunger pangs gnawing at her. Wolfblossom padded at her sister's side, paws heavy on the dew-frosted ground, the weariness in her expression underscored with worry. They should not have had to come begging at all, but the simple fact was that Skyclan's territory was hardly capable of sustaining them. Riverclan did seem to be having their own problems, if the odd scent that drifted from the river and their own lean warriors at the last gathering was any indication, but Wolfblossom was more concerned with her own clanmates. The rest of the forest's evident problems were unfortunate, but the deputy would do everything she could to make sure Skyclan survived the cold moons ahead. The forest starving this early in the season was not a promising sign.

A heavy frown had settled onto her face at the sight of the river, a low sigh escaping her. She had told Sunfire that Riverclan could likely spare the territory they didn't fish on, and that would have been true a moon ago, but a matter of days seemed to have changed that. The worst Riverclan could say was no, of course... And that was not something Skyclan could afford. Unease made her stomach churn, but Wolfblossom pushed it away. They would deal with that bridge if they got to it, she supposed. Silently, the deputy leaned against Birdstar's flank in support.

With another shake of her head, Wolfblossom's expression settled onto something more neutral as she gazed across the river, blue eyes searching for Riverclan's leadership.

When the news came from the border that SkyClan's leadership were seeking an audience, Perchstar could feel nothing but a vague emptiness in her chest. Perhaps she ought to have dreaded the appearance of Birdstar in such lean times, when speaking with another leader more likely meant harm than good. Perhaps she ought to have felt more warmly, given the many times she had strolled the river hoping vainly to see a pair of green eyes on the other side and hear a wry joke or two. However, the warring of feelings that should have existed left nothing but a hole, a void, which could be filled by anything it came across.

Or maybe, that hollow feeling was just hunger.

Perchstar rose to her feet from where she had been lying in her den. To conserve strength, she would sit or lie down whenever she was not actively going somewhere. She still had apprentices to train, hunting patrols to join, and many cats to speak to about various issues. But when she spoke or when she thought, there was no need to stand and put on some semblance of strength that all her Clanmates knew she didn't have. When was the last time she had eaten again? She was unsure whether it had been two days ago now or three. With such little prey, she had gone back to her old habits of eating as little as possible. But now, it was for a good reason. She had lives to spare, if necessary. Her Clanmates did not. She was not breaking her promise to Poppyshine and Stormdance. After all, taking care of her own needs did not apply when the needs of the rest of the Clan were so great.

With a brief nod, the leader collected Poppyshine and they went off through the territory. The all-too-familiar stench of whatever was corrupting the river's waters rose high over the other scents of early morning frost, of cold apricity, of crackling reeds resting in frigid mud. Her eyes caught on the bloated corpse of a fish, floating lazily down the stream, and all of a sudden she had to suppress the urge to retch as an image of Cloverheart flashed before her eyes. That had been so long ago. Dead fish were not the same as the waterlogged carcass of her friend. The culprit was gone and SkyClan were now her allies. And yet... and yet.

Perchstar managed to distract herself with the sight of a small puddle of dew, untainted by the river's poison. She waved to Poppyshine with her tail, then stooped low, taking quick and deep sips. The sensation of evening-chilled water soothing her parched throat made a shudder run down her spine. She could have drunk the entire small pool's worth, and then three more just like it. But she stepped back after just a few laps and allowed Poppyshine her turn. It was important to ration even as small of a water source as this. The sensation of swallowing had awakened her hunger, but she bit it back and waited with patient, untrembling limbs. She would not allow herself to appear weak before Birdstar, no matter how inclined she was to trust the SkyClan leader. It was simply not in her blood.

Once the deputy had finished, the two continued their short walk to the border. Perchstar had been avoiding the river as much as possible, so it felt strange to go right up to it now. Her throat twisted at the sight of the thick, unwatery fluid, coursing down the streambed that had been the source of life for her Clan for untold generations. What could this be, but punishment from the stars? Poppyshine's patrol had found nothing as of yet... All she could hope was that this would pass soon. If it didn't... she didn't want to think about what would happen.

There, just across the sluggish river, Birdstar and Wolfblossom both waited. Perchstar offered a respectful dip of her head to them. She couldn't help but notice, as she had before, that both normally-stocky and muscular she-cats seemed somehow diminished. Hunger recognized hunger. The leanness to their face, the sunkenness so desperately trying to be hidden from their eyes, was evident. Perchstar felt an unpleasant suspicion that she already knew what this conversation was going to be about. Yet surely, Birdstar would not ask, seeing the evidence of RiverClan's own starvation right before her eyes. Perhaps it was an unrelated matter. ...They would see. "Good morning, Birdstar, Wolfblossom." Perchstar was infinitely thankful for the small drink of water, which had taken the dry rasp from her voice if only temporarily. "What brings you here?" There was little point in the formality of asking how they had been. One glance made it all too obvious.

The sound of pawsteps heralded the approach of the Riverclanners, and Wolfblossom gave a short nod to Perchstar and Poppyshine. Their pelts were dull and thinning, Poppyshine's gaze lacked the usual cheer, and it was easy to see why, if the last gathering hadn't been enough proof. More concerning to Wolfblossom however, was her own clanmates, similarly starved and exhausted. Her friends, her family... Her grandkits, though they weren't exactly kits anymore. All at risk as the forest crumbled from the weight of the clan it was beholden to support.

Wolfblossom let Birdstar take the lead, her gaze settling on the two Riverclanners before her. She doubted that this request would go over well, even with their alliance, but Birdstar was right. They had to ask, there was no other option. The possibility that they would agree seemed as slim a chance as Wolfblossom catching a rabbit... But the worst that could be said was no, right?