Frostrose puffed for breath through the mouthful of herbs clasped between her teeth, her legs wobbling dangerously as she attempted to step over a large branch. The leaves plastered against her face made it difficult to navigate the already overgrown forest Ashclan called home. But Frostrose was a practiced hand and soon enough she’d cleared the branch with her nettle leaves safely in tow.

But this was only the first trip of many, the remaining herbs carefully hidden and awaiting her return. In the past few days she’d spent much of her time collecting all the herbs she could find in an effort to prepare her stores for the coming Leaf-Bare. Once the snows came it would be nearly impossible for her to restock her stores - so what she gathered now was going to be what they had.

It was a stressful time in the life of a medicine cat, but Frostrose felt confident she could manage the endeavor.

Well.

The delicate calico let out a grunt as she ran headlong into a thicket of bushes, the herbs in her mouth having prevented her from detecting the obstacle. Sticks and thorns scraped at her sides as she scrambled to back away from the tangle.

“Mouse-dung!” She swore beneath her breath, twisting herself free at last at the cost of some fur. But the damage had already been done and her nettle leaves were already scattered along the forest floor.