"Nice catch." The tabby frame of Eclipseknight appeared through the trees. In this weather, it was perhaps wise to be hunting anything but their usual prey. Even if it wasn't frozen, the chill could kill a cat, or bring on sickness, and with the clan just starting to recover, they couldn't afford an outbreak of anything, even the slightest cold.

"At this point, anything is better than nothing. I'm surprised the clan hasn't eaten all the frogs yet." Eclipseknight didn't usually see her clanmates eating such prey, as usually fish or land animals were more than enough to suffice, but times were desperate, and who knew what became acceptable when someone was starving? "Does the prey seem to be running well? I was just coming out to hunt myself, so I haven't really seen for myself yet." Running well had a different meaning in leafbare, but the question still stood. With their fewer clanmates, at least less prey went farther, though the thought made the warrior's stomach drop at the thought of all those they'd lost.

Her smile froze a touch, though she understood the former kittypet's point, and, admittedly, couldn't really be angry about it. Not only because it would be hypocritical to criticize the younger cat when the eclipse eyed feline's own mother had been a former kittypet too. "It's a principle thing. The warrior code itself tells us that we reject the life of a kittypet, Hazelstorm. To take prey from them breaks the code, first and foremost. We'd much rather go hungry than take what a twoleg would offer us."

"No, but it is admitting that we're willing to take something from another creature, and is often seen as the first step in becoming a kittypet. We're a prideful and self-reliant bunch. The day we need a twoleg's help to survive is the day we're no longer able to call ourselves a clan. We had daylight warriors, once upon a time not too long ago, those who lived with a paw in both worlds, loner or kittypet, and clan cat. They were cats who could never quite give up the comforts they had of living alone or with twolegs, and though they were a skilled and loyal bunch in their own right, they were content to be part of a group only at their own convenience." Eclipseknight wasn't trying to bash the cats who put effort into the clan, either. But even they had known that they were comfortable in the lives they had, the assurance that they had something to fall back on if this life became 'too harsh' or simply ceased being fun.

"Maybe, but again, that brings us back to the point of self-reliance. There's no guarantee the twolegs would let us go after helping us, if they even could, nor that they would leave us in the same state as we are. Most kittypets can't have kits, and many aren't even allowed outdoors. Who's to say we'd be the lucky ones? We're not young, cute kits. We're battle hardened warriors with scars and harsh temperaments. Not exactly the kind of cats who make a good pet. Code aside, the dangers of accepting their help far outweigh the benefits. We've survived this long without their help, and we will continue to do so." Eclipseknight explained. She understood that the twolegs could work miracles compared to their own medicine at times, but this sort of destruction wasn't the norm. Most illnesses didn't bring a clan to it's knees, on the verge of breaking apart entirely.

"Actually, why don't you come with me. Talking about the daylight warriors reminded me of something. It'll be a bit of a walk, though." Eclipseknight replied, her smile thoughtful, but sad. Seba had lived on a farm, and the barn had always been overflowing with mice. The daylight warrior had died with the sickness, but the older feline still remembered the location. If they made it to the barn, that would certainly be enough prey for the clan.

She turned and trotted away, leading them in silence for a few long moments before she spoke up. "One of the daylight warriors, Seba, used to live in a barn overflowing with mice. She.... didn't make it, but undoubtedly, the barn should still have plenty prey, even this time of year. WaterClan won't accept twoleg food, but I doubt anyone will turn away a plump mouse." It was ironic, and perhaps hypocritical in itself, to hunt food out of a twoleg's creation, but not accept the hard pellets they gave, and the wry smile Eclipseknight gave indicated she knew that fact full well.

"She was, and maybe they have, but that's a risk we'll have to take, right? If we're lucky, there won't be anyone, or those that are there are friendly. This is possibly the only chance we have of actually getting the clan properly fed for once in the past few moons." It was a good point that Hazelstorm had, that Seba's barn may have been taken over by a random rogue, or another cat that a twoleg had brought in. Hopefully, if there was anyone there, they wouldn't cause any problems.

( Kitting thread made! )

It was a trek to get to the barn. Not only because of the snow and the fact that Eclipseknight was still recovering physically from the devastation, but for the simple reason that the barn was a distance away. It wasn't too surprising, given that the clans didn't like settling near twolegs. Eventually, however, they crossed the land, and trotted across empty corn fields, dry, cut stalks peeking up just above the snow as they headed for the red barn in the distance, the paint faded in places, but still clearly intact.

Peeking her head inside as they neared, the overwhelming scent of hay and mice met her nose, mouth watering at the prospect of a good meal to be had. Too bad she wouldn't be able to taste them until they returned to camp. With no apparent danger in sight, Eclipseknight dared to offer a small smile to Hazelstorm and slip in past the just open doors, the sounds of scuffling prey meeting her ears, and even flashes of mice darting in and out seemingly without fear of the cats who'd come to slay them. It was just as the tabby remembered, and she couldn't help but let her smile widen. WaterClan would eat well tonight, and though they'd have to be careful from decimating the entire population, patrols could be sent every so often to hunt the mice here, and they'd have a steady source of prey throughout the leafbare, which would be a miracle for the recovering clan.