?????????????????? 一 ???? ?? ??????? [?]

?????h?ρt?r ??????

"I want to take a closer look," Larkpaw informed Fernpool and leapt off through the snow.

A few cats had gathered at the pool. Larkpaw pushed through a gap between Mottletail and Toadleap and crouched down to get a better look at the icy surface. It was milky white, so it was impossible to see the ground as usually.

On the opposite side, Palestar tapped the cold, smooth surface with a forepaw. Her light blue eyes were narrow with worry. "We're lucky the ice is still thin," the light grey and white spotted leader commented. "We should break it up so that the water supply isn't interrupted. Who knows what the rest of the waters out in the forest look like."

The River Ravine! I wonder if the river is frozen over too? Larkpaw suddenly felt the urge to find out as soon as possible. She was dying to know what something like that might look like.

Pinefur stood up. "I haven't been assigned any tasks for the first part of the day yet. So I could lead a patrol and search for stones."

"Good idea," Palestar agreed.

Toadleap, Raspberrytail and Splashpaw joined Pinefur comparatively quickly. Larkpaw shifted back and forth, undecided, as she toyed with the idea of joining them. After all, she was lucky enough to have a day off today.

Finally, she rushed forward and caught up with the patrol before they could disappear through the Birchtunnel. "Can I join you?" she gasped.

"Me too." Reddapple trotted over. The sight of the tabico she-cat delighted Larkpaw. The last time she had seen her, Reddapple had spent her days badly injured in the medicine cat's den. By now, only a long scar on her chest, partially covered by fur, bore witness to her near death.

When she heard the sound of her Clanmates' voices, Pinefur stopped. Her tail curled upwards contentedly. "More paws are always useful," the reddish-brown she-cat replied.

Little clouds came out of Larkpaw's mouth every time she exhaled. With a hint of envy, she glanced at Pinefur's long, thick fur. As a cat with SnowClan kin, she was well adapted to the cold.

Shivering, Larkpaw shook off the thick layer of snow that had gathered on her back and head in the meantime.

"Mouse-brain! Why don't you watch out!"

Startled, Larkpaw paused, then had to suppress an amused purr. All the snow had namely landed on Reddapple. Cursing, she jumped a few steps away to remove the flakes from her pelt.

Shaking her head, but with a good-natured expression, Pinefur turned her gaze away. "She's never liked snow. I bet if it were up to Reddapple, she'd want to spend the whole leaf-bare in a cave."

Oh, that's probably why she reacted like that. Hot with shame, Larkpaw ducked her head. She'd better remember that before she annoyed Reddapple again.

"Come to think of it, Mistpaw should come along too," Pinefur explained. "He'll hate me for it, but he needs to learn that there are other duties that he has to fulfil as a Clan cat." With these words, she ran over to the apprentices' den and returned shortly afterwards with her apprentice in tow.

It was clear from Mistpaw's shuffling gait and half-closed eyes that he would have preferred to continue slumbering in his nest. Inwardly, that was also Larkpaw's wish. Somewhat wistfully, she thought back to how comparatively warm it had been in the den.

Now finally complete, the patrol left the camp. Larkpaw automatically dropped to the end. Here she could stroll along leisurely behind the others without anyone shouting at her, she should hurry and not stand in the way.

As they made their way downstream and away from the River Ravine, Mistpaw turned to Larkpaw. From narrowed eyes, she gave him a sceptical look and quickened her pace. The memory of the night before last, when she had spoken to Bramblepaw, came back to her. There was a pretty good chance that Shadowpaw had told Mistpaw about their secret encounter.