Tornadostorm's Super Sad Story; Book 3! (Ready for a New Start)

Cometstar hesitated a moment glancing once more at the stones. The eyes of everyone, myself included, was locked on the oddly pastel she-cat. "Moving to another part of the forest!" She concluded with finality. Murmurs -a mix of approval and disapproval- filled the air around me. I glanced side to side, watching the expressions of my clanmates and my friends.
 
"I think this will be good for us, especially in our current state." Jewelsky meowed with a satisfied purr. I gave her a warm smile; she caught my eye and returned it. "Well then! Not what I expected." Deertail murmured. I nodded to my former apprentice, and was about to offer my voice to the many surrounding me, when one broke above the others, calling my attention back to her "We will leave at the first light of dawn, so prepare as much as you can for the journey ahead of us." Mistystar finished, scanning her clanmates and that of her allies for their reaction. I noticed Cometstar doing the same.
 
Mistystar turned to her, and they talked with their heads close together for a moment. I wondered what they were talking about. Maybe the medical situation in our clans? I had taken notice that neither Twilightstorm nor Islandpaw were  among the LightningClan cats who came to vote, and I only realized later that night, that Deertail had been scanning the cats as they came in, looking  for the small spotted she-cat
 
Suddenly I was jerked out of my thoughts as fluffy fur pressed against mine, and a familiar scent wafted over my nose. I couldn't help but purr at it's presence "Stealthvixen!" I exclaimed in a slightly hushed voice. My stomach hurt with an aching pain, and looking up at the fox next to me, I could tell she felt it too. It was oddly familiar, from my kithood, journeying with Stealthvixen at my side as we made or way to a new home.
 
 I decided to remind my friend of the event. She seemed to distracted by everything around her to have responded to my greeting anyway. "I don't think I've felt this hungry sense I was a kit." I meowed pointedly. She glanced at me "Haha! Yes! Remember?" I nodded with a purr. "I'm so glad we traveled together. I don't think I would have made it without you." "Me either." She said after a moment, wrapping her fluffy tail around me.
 
That evening, Glimmerwing and I sent out several hunting patrols in hopes of finding enough food to give the clans the energy to travel in the morning. They returned with some food, which Cometstar, Mistystar, Glimmerwing and I split between the clans, the four of us eating last. (By then I was feeling so weak I could faint, and nearly had earlier that evening)
 
After eating my portion of half a mouse, I started helping get LightningClan cats (and foxes) places to sleep. In the end, after everything was said and done, Stealthvixen and I shared a nest, Willowkit shared with the younger Ebonykit, and Glimmerwing shared with Roseblossom.
 
I was awoken during the night by my stomach. It hurt with hunger, and waking up because of that was becoming a regular thing for the majority of my clanmates, save a few who were just as worse off with illness. I turned to try to get back to sleep quickly, when suddenly I heard terrible coughing from another den. My ears perked, and I lifted my head. "Wha..." I stood, careful not to wake Stealthvixen, who's warm, fluffy fur was actually quite comfortable in the cold of leafbare, and made my way out. Nearly stepping on Glimmerwing's tail. Only then noticing Roseblossom was not in Glimmerwing's nest with her. This sparked worry in my chest, and I bolted into the snow, sending up clouds of white at my paws. "The ice is cold." I thought absently.
 
The noise was coming from the apprentice's den. This made my heart skip a beat a second time "Midnightpaw?!" I knew the apprentice was sick, but I didn't think she was this bad! She sounded so weak! Bursting into the den, I saw a whole group of cats surrounding a nest, I couldn't see it's occupant through the crowd, but my heart skipped a beat for a third time when I noticed Midnightpaw standing among the crowd, watching the nest fearfully. I pushed through the crowd to see what was going on. The majority of the crowd had given the nest space, only Mistystar and Roseblossom stood with their paws in the moss. In it.. I saw... I....
 
 My heart dropped, and I felt sick all in one instant. I crouched down to heave, but the feeling faded quickly enough to save me the experience. "I...I...Icepaw!" I gasped. The white and grey apprentice seemed so weak, so... Thin! Her fur was a mess, and I could see her eyes and nose crusted over with the later stages of Greencough. "Oh noooo!" I spoke just above a whisper, my already agitated stomach tightening
 
Roseblossom was crouched next to her, her face buried in her apprentice's shoulder fur, I could tell by the spastic movements of her sides that she was crying. Mistystar looked stressed as well, I could see it in her eyes, and the spiked fur on her spine. Icepaw wasn't doing well. We needed a medicine-cat! I flexed my claws in anger, but was quickly drawn back to the sick cat in the nest as she let out another horrible coughing fit. I crouched near her, and gently licked her cheek "it's ok, Icepaw! You'll be ok!"
 
"Whitefeather.... Will Icepaw be ok?" Midnightpaw, almost as tall as the white she-cat she was adressing, looked at her mentor. Whitefeather looked back. "I hope so." She murmured with carefully chosen words.
 
I pressed my ear against Icepaw's chest, wetting both my cheeks and her side with tears. "Her lungs are so clogged, it can't be easy for her to breathe." I murmured. She let out another coughing fit, and finished it with a loud, pained mooooow I closed my eyes. "Hang in there, please!" I rasped. "I need you... Roseblossom needs you!" I glanced at the Abyssinian next to me as I spoke. Wheatpaw, could you please get some cat mint for me?" I asked, turning to the LightningClan apprentice, who nodded vigorously, and with her own cough for emphasis, turned and dashed off.
 
 
I turned back to my daughter, she was very still in her nest. The only sign she was alive was a gentle rise and fall of her chest that was very weak and barely visible. But there wasn't much I could do until Wheatpaw came back, and I wasn't sure she knew which leaves were Catmint. I sat watching Icepaw, at the moment I could barely feel my aching stomach. I cast a glance at Roseblossom and Mistystar. Roseblossom looked stressed. Staring at Icepaw, and kneading the ground anxiously with he front paws. Mistystar was nosing and licking Icepaw's head and neck, trying to coax more life out into her.
 
Suddenly Icepaw's chest stopped moving. I was jolted out of my thoughts. "Oh no! No! NO!" I lurched forward, placing my front paws on her side, and started shoving, trying to make her breathe again "please, breathe Icepaw! Please! One gasp is all I want!"
 
I tried for several moments, honestly probably longer then I should have, to stimulate her to breathe again, with no luck. Eventually I gave up, and rested my front paws on the cold ground next to her nest in defeat. Roseblossom watched me in pleading horror for several moments, before suddenly bursting into tears, and shoving her face into her apprentice's cold, soft, form. Her crying, and the grief in her voice, it pushed me over the edge, and I burst into tears as well. my shaky weak legs giving out from under me, causing me to crouch close to the ground, caught up in my own fresh grief.
 
"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! Please for-forgive me! I just... Wanted to protect you, by bringing you here! But... I.. Just sealed your fate." my crying became louder with that thought as my grief only grew.
 
I took several breathes to calm myself. I'd be ok... I knew that... I then was able to hear Roseblossom's tears, and the pained mews and soft crying of the cats around me. This would hit Roseblossom extremely hard, I knew that. I pressed closer to the she-cat. Forcing my voice to be comforting
 
"I-I-I'm s-so... sorryy..." I rasped. She leaned against me, resting her head on my shoulder, it was a comforting gesture for the both of us. "Wh-why?" Roseblossom responded "You... You were the one who brought her wonderful life into the world." I couldn't help  but purr. Roseblossom was right. Icepaw's life had been wonderful. That happy thought was followed by another wave of sorrow, and it took every ounce of my self control not to cry again, although I think a tear ran down my cheek.
 
I took several moments just sitting there, my eyes closed, letting myself think. Looking back, I'm not sure if I was awake or asleep. But eventually, I stood. Looking at Icepaw's limp body one last time. "Roseblossom."  spoke gently. "Help me?" She glanced up at me confused for a moment, before that was replaced with understanding. I caught a thoughtful look from Mistystar as Roseblossom stood, but chose to ignore it, as the two of us walked towards the white apprentice's limp body, and carried her out. I held her scruff, and Roseblossom held her back legs in her jaw.
 
The two of us placed her in the middle of the clearing. We would sit vigil with her tonight. I barely noticed the other cats drifting around us, some coming to sit with her, or with us, and to give their final words to her, before eventually moving off, or heading back to their own nests now that the situation in the apprentice's den was over. I was drifting in and out of sleep, but sleep must have taken me, because I woke up the next morning to Mistystar calling for a clan meeting. I stretched, arching my back to get the stiffness from sleeping on hard stone out of my muscles, before walking over to the Rockpath, and taking a moment to conjure the energy, jumping up onto it, standing next to my leader.
 
Cometstar and Glimmerwing joined us moments later, and I greeted them each with a nod. It took me a moment to notice Roseblossom watching curiously from her spot next to Icepaw's body.
 
Once the clans were gathered, Mistystar began. "I'm sure you all know what will be happening today, for we will be setting out to find a new home in the forest. One unclaimed by clan, and full of prey to support us. But first," She glanced pointedly at Willowkit, sitting in the crowd. The little she-kit had just gotten over her own bout of greencough. But luckily had been strong enough to survive.
 
"Willowkit," Mistystar continued "you have grown to the age of 6 moons, and therefore are old enough to become an apprentice. Please come forward." The little she-kit perked up with a gasp, and padded forward, tail high in the air "From this moment on, until you reach your warrior name, you will be known as Willowpaw, apprentice of CloudClan. Roseblossom will be your mentor."
 
She glanced at the shocked, and uncertain she-cat, now standing, next to her fromer apprentice's body "I know you just lost Icepaw, but I'm sure you deserve a second chance to help your clan grow in this way. There fore, I hope you will pass on your thoughtfulness and your hunting prowess on as you train your new apprentice." She then proceeded to raise her voice in a celebratory chant
 
 "Willowpaw! Willowpaw! Willowpaw!" She purred as the clan followed suit, me included. "Meeting dismissed! Once you are done congratulating Willowpaw and Roseblossom, please gather your traveling herbs from Whitefeather, and gather near the entrance, and we will be underway." The clans cheered for Willowpaw, I leapt down from my post, and gave quiet congratulations to the new apprentice and mentor.
 
I then made my way to the entrance of the medicine-cat's den, my head and heart heavy with thoughts of Icepaw, Dew, and Coal, when suddenly Whitefeather's voice pulled me to reality. "Here. Eat these." Her voice was soft with sympathy. I glanced at my friend, and gently nuzzled her, then taking the bundle of leaves from her paws, I ate them. They were bitter, and I scrunched my nose at the taste.
 
I then made my way to the tired looking Mistystar, and sat next to her. I gently leaned against her. "You ok?" I asked without moving my head "Yeah." She said. Her tired expression reflected in her tone "Hungry, but ok." "Hopefully we'll have food soon." I murmured. "Yeah, hopefully. Leafbare needs to end. Badly. Food will only get more scarce the longer leafbare persists." I sighed, still resting part of my weight on her shoulder, sense she didn't seem to mind.
 
"We'll be ok. The clan'll be ok...." I forced myself not to add the word 'right?' on the end. Flexing my claws, I saw everyone had gotten their traveling herbs, wilted and dry as they were, and Cometstar was approaching us, Glimmerwing close behind. "Let's go." Mistystar said, standing, before I could get the words out. As I walked by where Icepaw had been laying, I realized someone had already removed  her from the camp, and most likely buried her. The thought that I wasn't there sent a few tears running down my cheeks, but I remained silent, and shoved the thought aside. At least she wouldn't be left to be eaten by the other predators of the forest.
 
The four of us wordlessly entered the crowd growing by the entrance, and fought our way through it. Then wordlessly. Left camp. Wordlessly, the others followed. Wordlessly, grief, sorrow, and solemn seriousness was shared between us all. Even the kits remained wordless as we walked. Out of the wordless part of the wordless forest. We remained silent.

"You sure you don't want to come with us?" I didn't care, I let my desperation show. Dew sighed. "Don't worry about us." She murmured. "We've always managed on our own. I think we'll continue to be ok." I could sense the bitterness in her tone, but I didn't let it get to me. Instead, I gently leaned forward and rested my nose on hers. "Are you sure?" I whispered.


"Coal's sick. And you both look thin." She sighed "So hunting's been a bit scarce. But you knew that, you're leaving." I narrowed my eyes apologetically at her. "You could stay with us, you don't even need to join our clan, just travel with us to better hunting grounds. Please..?" I looked hopefully at her. "You don't need to keep asking, it won't change my answer. I don't intend to travel all that way just to stay near to you, when you didn't care enough to stay near us."

I sighed "Dew, I have duties with my clan, I can't just up and leave them like I used to do. You know that." She blinked. "I do, I'm sorry. It's just Coal's condition has been getting to me." She flexed her claws and looked away, the darkness of the cave we were in mostly shielding her expression. I glanced past her at Coal, the young black tom curled up asleep in his nest. his ragged, thin fur fluffed against the cold of Leafbare, yet not thick enough to fully block it. He hadn't been maintaining himself, too sick to, I figured, and it seemed with the same greencough that had been spreading through our camp. "Maybe we can help him." I offered. "NO!" Dew snapped back, drawing her lips in a snarl, which I met with a calm, yet cold warning glare. Her resolve to be angry with me melted under it, thank goodness. She sighed in an attempt to further her self-control. I took a moment to appreciate that.

"I don't want any clan-cat besides you, to know where we are. Not after what happened with the wolf." My mind flashed with images of that battle, and I quickly shoved them away. It was clear that Dew blamed the little kit, who we had named Blazekit, for what happened to Littleleap. Should I tell her that Blazekit had recently died of the same greencough that ravaged our clans, and seemed to be ravaging Coal? I decided against it.

"Well, I should be leaving. It'll be difficult to catch my clan again if I keep this up." I sighed. Standing, I turned "Well, goodbye, I love you." Dew stiffened at my words. And honestly, they felt weird on my tounge, but never the less they were true. She lowered her gaze. "I love you too." She whispered gently under her breath. I nodded, and with one final look at Coal, turned, and left. "I'm going to miss this forest...

Really, even though I wasn't born here, it's my home." I mentally said my goodbye to the forest and our old camp, as I forced my tired aching legs into a run. Catching up with the cats infront of me. The snow below my paws already numbing my paw pads. I forced myself to the front of the group near Mistystar, Cometstar and Glimmerwing. But it wasn't long before Mistystar slowed to a stop, and looked around. "OK" She called "Lets take a few minutes to reenergize, Tornadostorm, Glimmerwing, can you assign a few hunting patrols? Maybe you can find some shr]\[
ews or other birds loolking for seeds in the snow?" I nodded, and assigned Midnightpaw, Whitefeather, Roseblossom on a patrol -Glimmerwing had Jewelsky join them- and then Tawny LC deputy had Stealthvixen, Wheatpaw go on a different patrol. In the end her and I joined them.

I parted my jaws as I followed Glimmerwing through the snow, the leafless trees allowing alot of afternoon light to pour down through their branches. Suddenly, I heard the chirping of a bird. Both Glimmerwing and I froze, and if I could guess, Stealthvixen and Wheatpaw behind us froze as well. I droppped into the hunters crouch, mentally ranting about my dark fur, as I stalked towards a scrawny Thrush, who had been making the chirping that had brought our patrol to a halt. Trying to stay both upwind, and behind the bird, I inched closer. Suddenly springing. I felt the bird hit my claws, and I knocked it to the ground. Pinning it, I delivered a killing bite. The three cats, well, two cats and a fox, around me cheered. "Great catch Tornadostorm!" Stealthvixen said nonchelantly, although I could see her excitement as she stared at the thrush in my jaws. Somehow, it wasn't overly scrawny either.

Burying the bird in the snow, I followed the patrol as it continued to weave through the barren trees of the forest. Wheatpaw suddenly took off after a Squirrel, which escaped her and started chitting at her through the trees. She glared at it, her tail lashing like a mad dog. I flashed her a sympathetic glance which went unnoticed. Looking at the squirrel, I saw it was scranwy though. And while it may have been useful, I told myself it wouldn't have had much meat on it anyway.

Our patrol contiued on for a couple more hours, and stumbled back, barely staying on our paws with a thrush, a mouse who had been coming out of it's hole to drink,  and the squirrel, which a determined Glimmerwing had climbed to the very top of the tree to fetch.
It wasn't long after we returned that the patrol consisting of mostly CloudClan cats returned as well. I noticed Jewelsky looking irritated with empty jaws, while Midnightpaw and Whitefeather each held two catches, two mice, (one in each cat's mouth) another, scrawnier Thrush, and a small rat. Where had they found THAT? Whitefeather dropped her mouse and the rat on our little pile, and Midnightpaw followed suit with her mouse and thrush.

Mistystar and Cometstar devided the prey themselves, telling Glimmerwing and I to rest, and I was happy to oblige them. I carried my thrush over to Whitefeather, and placed myself next to her. She glanced up at me. "Oh! Hey, Tornadostorm." She let out a soft purr. I nodded through my catch. Placing it between us, I meowed simply "Share?" To which Whitefeather nodded, and took a fairly large bite. I could see it was satisfying as she closed her eyes for a moment, then began to eat much more quickly and much more hungrily. After a few moments, I spoke up "How you holding up?" She glanced at me with a look that somehow said one second "Pretty well." She responded after finishing her bite.

"The hunting patrol was kind of interesting." She began, between another bite. I silently nodded, and took another bite of my own. "So, Midnightpaw caught a thrush, but as she was digging a hole to bury it, a rat came out of seemly nowhere, and tried to steal the bird." She looked up at me, her eyes wide as she waited for my reaction. I gasped through my nose "Oh my gosh! Weeeelll looks like we're not the only ones hungry this leafbare." She nodded. "Apparently not! So, Jewelsky noticed first, and leapt forward to get the bird back, but she just couldn't get it to let go, so Roseblossom and I went to help out-" Here I interuppted her with an interested "uhhuh?" and an encouraging look on my face. She obliged

"- And we totally batted both the rat, and the thrust away from Jewelsky, and I eneded up killing it, to bring back as prey. Anything we can get, right?" I nodded. "Woah! Sounds intense." I let out a purr. She purred back. "Yes, super intense. Jewelsky was a little on edge ever sense. But I'm guessing that's cause hunger." "Probably." I smiled at my friend. "The two mice we caught under some tree roots. I have no idea what they were doing out of their holes. We got lucky." "Yeah! Good job!" I took another bite, and Whitefeather followed suit, and we ate in silence for another few moments, before Willowpaw came and joined us. "Hey." She greeted, crouching and curling herself up comfortably in the cold snow, next to Whitefeather. "Mind if I join?" I nodded "Feel free!" the young she-cat leaned forward and started eating some of the Thrush that was left.

With three cats eating one bird, it was gone quite quickly. We didn't get up and start moving right away though. We spent several minutes just talking, and, well, as Mistystar said, reengergizing. After a bit, our conversation was silenced by Cometstar's voice "We should get moving, if we're going to make any progress in our search." Standing, I made my way over to Mistystar, barely noticing Whitefeather following close behind, until she sped up to walk alongside me. I smiled at her, and we walked in comfortable silence, (even more so that we had semi full stomaches, SEMI full)

We gathered around the two leaders, who once everyone was up and seemed ready, started moving out. Whitefeather, Mistystar and I were near the front of the group. Whitefeather and I on opposite sides of Mistystar, and I listened as the two sisters talked. It was fun to hear, considering the tight and comfortable relationship the two had. I glanced next to me at Glimmerwing, with an amused expression, my ear flicked towards Mistystar and Whitefeather. Glimmerwing returned my look, and we silently agreed their relationship was the best.

We walked on in silence for a bit after that, I felt the evening, sunset warmth on my back as we continued to walk, not really taking anymore breaks, but all of us showing signs of being tired.
Suddenly, I smelled something off. Forcing my aching, tired, shaky-with-hunger legs to move forward, and trotted up ahead of the group. Cresting a small hill, I saw what I had smelled. A fox. Something in me told me this fox was extremely dangerous, even though I had never encountered a dangerous fox before. I snarled, arching my back. It bared it's teeth at me. This fox felt bigger then Stealthvixen somehow, and looked different in coloring. It barked at me, and I got the feeling it was willing to try cat for a meal. And with the kits with us, I wasn't risking it.

I screeched a loud angry defensive yowl of defiance, and leapt at it, not noticing it parting it's jaws to bite at me.

Time seemed to slow. Mistystar crested the hill, and saw the fox, her eyes growing wide. She didn't really notice me leaping at it for several more moments. I faintly heard Glimmerwing screech behind me "TORNADOSTORM STOP!" Too late.

It's jaws clamped around my chest and shoulders, it grabbed hold, the fox's jaws tightening dangerously, and shook me.

Time returned to normal. Mistystar and Glimmerwing leapt forward and slashed at the fox, causing it to toss me aside. I slid through the snow, my chest ached and it hurt to breathe, but I pushed myself to my feet anyway, I barely noticed the red snow beneathe my paws. Everyone I loved was in danger. Charging forward, I purposely misjuged a leap onto the fox's back, clawing my way to the top. It yelped in pain. Sitting on it's back for a moment, I took several breaths, trying to adjust myself to the pain in my chest. Deciding I had done so enough, I slashed at the back of the Fox's neck. Roseblossom leapt up next to me on it's back, and bit and clawed at it's side. Finally, it started bucking. I didn't end up holding on very long, and ws thrown off.

Quickly getting back onto my feet with a decisive cough, I moved to get back into the fight, when the fox turned tail and ran. Luckily Roseblossom leapt off it's back in time, and spit at it, arching her back, in angry defiance. I sat where I was, trying to recover my breath.

I just needed a minute.

The clans moved around me, fiddling with the kits, checking over eachother and themselves for injuries, and otherwise mulling about. It made for a very anxious atmosphere. I gave in to another coughing fit, it hurt to cough, and I let out a pained groan, before spitting towards the snow at my paws, leaving a few little red flecks there. Was I bleeding? I let out a sigh, which was more of a wheeze.

Whitefeather walked towards me, hearing my cough. I narrowed my eyes defensively at her as I caught her glance at the red stained snow at my paws, from where my fox bite was still bleeding, before looking up, and addressing me. "Are you sure you're ok?" She said worriedly, her grey tipped tail swishing. I blinked, trying to soften my gaze, she was only trying to help. "Yeah, I'm-" I coughed again, taking a second to catch my breath afterwards.

"-fine..." She sighed, and took a few steps closer. "You're coughing allot for being 'fine'." I smiled reassuringly at her. "That bite is just making my chest hurt, that's all." "Can I take a look at it?" "Would that help?" Silence spread between us for a moment. "We don't have a medicine cat, Tornadostorm. Let me look at you." I nodded "Ok. Sure." She walked over, and started cheking me over. "These teeth marks are pretty deep." She murmured. "I hope the fox didn't hurt your lungs. "that would explain the coughing though." I thought to myself.
"Really you should rest..." She murmured worriedly. "Mustardblossom always said the best medicine was rest." I nodded "Yeah, but I can't really rest now. We need to find somewhere for the clan to stay." Whitefeather gave a soft smile. "Alright. Here, let me give you some poppy seeds... I think I can remember Mustardblossom giving me some when I got a thorn in my paw."


I remained silent, remembering when Lilypelt give me poppyseeds for when I had Dew. A wave of grief washed over me, as I remembered that I probably wouldn't see her again. "I didn't even have the courage to tell her Icepaw had died..." I closed my eyes, trying not to let a tear escape from under their lids, when Whitefeather spoke up "am I hurting you?" I shook my head, "Oh, no, I was just thinking about Icepaw." Whitefeather looked at me sympathetically. "Well I'll be right back, I'm going to get something to help with the pain. And maybe I can find something for coughs? I don't know, honestly." She shook her head defeatedly, then turned and walked off. I watched her for a moment, noticing her small, bony frame, and tired movements. This clan needed prey, and rest. Badly... I closed my eyes tightly. Focusing on my breathing and the pain in my chest to ignore the now noticed hunger in my own stomach.

--

We ended up spending the night there, spread around the leafless leafbare trees. The poppy seeds had helped with the pain, and helped me sleep, and my chest had stopped bleeding, mostly, but I was still coughing, unable to clear the tightness in my chest.


That morning, Mistystar got us all up fairly early to get moving again. Whitefeather gave me some more poppyseeds, and we headed off again. Stealthvixen walked protectively by my side, and I hung near the back of the group, still dealing with an annoying cough. Stealthvixen occassionally flashed me a concerned expression, and I tried to match each one with a reassuring smile. Eventually, she murmured "are you sure your ok?" "I'm fine." I panted, breathless. Allot of the cats were, after how long we had been walking. She opened her fairly large jaws to protest, pinning her ears slightly, but I cut her off, picking up my pace "One sec, I've got to assign a hunting patrol. I don't know how much longer the clans can go without food." Stealthvixen let a low foxish growl of minor annoyance out, and I trotted forward, ignoring the immense pain in my chest from all the motion, and caught up with Mistystar, once I had recieved her permission, I assigned Midnightpaw, Deertail, and Roseblossom to a hunting patrol. Glimmerwing later assigned a small hunting duo of Stealthvixen and Jewelsky as well.

The rest of us rested, and some even slept, to get reengerized. I dozed, but never fell fully asleep. Soon the patrols returned, they actually had quite a bit of prey! My ears perked as I watched them return, with a happy sparkle in their eyes and kink in their tails. I sat up, and watched as Mistystar and Cometstar approached them, exmaining their catches, and spreading them out around the clans. There was actually enough prey for everyone to have an entire prey animal.

I watched as Stealthvixen approached me with a small rabit, and a robin in her jaws "Robin? Maybe leafbare was finally ending..." the thought lifted my spirits more then they already were, and I gave a happy purr as Stealthvix lay down next to me, and wrapped her warm fluffy tail around me. I settled down, pressing comfortably against my friend, and 'sister' as we silently ate prey together. Stealthvixen had somehow subtley gotten me to eat the rabbit without protest, and I relished the feeling of a full stomach again, having eaten almost all of the rabbit. Glancing at my friend, I noticed she had already finished her Thrush, and was glancing longingly at the rest of my rabbit. Without hesitation I pawed it towards her. "Thanks!" She yipped, finishing it off quickly. "We should be getting close now." I murmured. She looked at me interested "really?" "Yeah. If there's this much prey here, if we go a little further, it should be good to make a new territory." Stealthvixen gave a surprised "huh!" and after a few more moments of silence, in which I nearly fell asleep, before I was awoken by a painful coughing fit, Stealthvixen stood, and the clans slowly started getting moving around us.

I felt like protesting we should stay here longer, but I kept my jaws shut, as silently the clan moved off again. I noticed some cats carrying uneaten prey. Not wanting to waste the little bit that was left over. I wasn't too happy that there was leftovers, I realized. It meant the stomaches of the clans were smaller. Too much prolonged malnurishment. Hopefully that would be over soon.
The clans traveled for about another two hours before they came across what looked like a deep, dried up pond-bed. Not big enough to be a lake, yet still fairly big. A small river poured over the most jagged, steep edge, into a small pool off to one side at the bottom. The inside of this pond bed seemed to be made mostly of stone, not really soft soil. A large jutting overhang stretched itself out as if trying to reach the middle of the camp, yet not coming nearly close enough. Curiously, we explored the area. "Wow..." Mistystar's mistified voice next to me caught me off guard, and I looked at her. "This place reminds me of... RainClan..."

She seemed so caught up in her memories. I sympathized. I remembered living in StormClan. I had loved that clan. "HEY LOOK!" Willowpaw called... From behind the waterfall. Mistystar and I shared a surprised glance, and trotted over to see what she was talking about. "Look!" the brown she-cat purred. "There's a cave back here!" Mistystar easily and confidently leapt through the waterfall, and after a moment of hesitation, I followed her. I was instantly soaked, and I couldn't help, but shake the water out of my fur. Both nearby she-cats exclaimed in protest at the action, and I chuckled, and apologized. Followed up by a coughing fit. Regaining my composure, I looked around. It was a small, dark cave. Just slightly big for a den. I blinked thoughtfully. Roseblossom then called from the other side of the waterfall "Guys, there are tons of little caves, and cracks here, allot of them are big enough for dens! This is amazing!" Mistystar let out a happy murrow and leapt through the waterfall once more. Willowpaw followed her, and after one more moment of hesitation, I leapt after them, still startled by the sudden rush of ice cold water. I shook my fur once more, though it still determinedly stuck to my sides.

"What do you think?" Mistystar asked me once I was through. "I... I like it." I responed thoughtfully. "We could make a living here." Mistystar nodded. Excitement glittering in her eyes. She leapt up onto the overhang, and let out a murrow to get everyone's attention. "CloudClan, with your approval... Our clan shall reside here." Shocked, and excited gasps and murmurs spread through both clans. Approving cheers quickly erupted from the CloudClan cats, silenced only by LightnigClan's leader "I believe it suits you." Cometstar meowed, from where she stood among the crowd. "LightningClan will look for somewhere nearby." Mistystar nodded to her. At a swish of Cometstar's tail, plus a "come along, they have work to do, and so do we." and several good byes between the clans, including between me and Stealthvixen, Lightningclan made their way up a less steep incline in the pond-bed, and disappeard over the ridge.

--

It took several days to settle in fully, but things had worked out pretty well! There was a small crack in the wall above the overhang that opened up into a small little cave, half the size of the one behind the waterfall, that Mistystar made her den, another in a large rock that the clan had dug out that became the nursery, the larger one behind the waterfall became the warriors den, and several more dens were discovered over the next few days that became the apprentice's den, medicine-cats den, and elders den.

That, plus prey was running better here then at our old home, the clan wasn't doing nearly as poorly as before.

I think the clan will do well here.

I let out another coughing fit, easily pawing snow over the few flecks of red left behind. I had been getting better, slowly, but I still coughed every so often.

But my thoughts were dragged out of my current health by Midnightpaw, who had pretty much fully recovered from her bout of Greencough, approaching me. "Hey." I greeted, twitching my whiskers welcomingly to the apprentice. She didn't really look like an apprentice anymore though. "Hey! Guess what?!" "What?" "Mistystar and Whitefeather said I would be holding my Warriors Assessment today!" My ears perked. "Really?" This would be interesting! The first warrior in this new territory. Especially sense we recently got word LightningClan had settled, and the leaders had set territory markers. "Yeah!!" Midnightpaw said, excitement glittering in her eyes. I could tell it was taking everything in her not to bounce up and down. "When is your assessment?" I asked, tilting my head. "Midnightpaw!" Whitefeather called to her apprentice, approaching the two of us. Midnightpaw glanced at me, then back at her mentor. "Right now apparently." I laughed "Go have fun, and do your best!" With a determined nod, Midnightpaw loped over to her mentor, and the two she-cats left the camp.


Later that evening, I was watching the sunset, when I heard the rustling of cats decending the steep slope into the camp. I watched with curiosity as Midnightpaw and Whitefeather returned. Midnightpaw carrying a rabbit in her jaws. She put the prey on the pile, and Whitefeather scrambled onto the Overhang, and into Mistystar's den. It took allot in me to wait for them instead of going and listening in, but it wasn't long before both she-cats emerged, Mistystar sat near the edge of the Overhang, and Whitefeather leapt down into the clearing below, but didn't go far. I could already tell what was going on, and obviously so could Midnightpaw, as she curiously moved to the edge of the overhang, and sat down. I waited where I was sitting until Mistystar called "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather below the Overhang for a Clan Meeting" That being my que, I leapt up onto the Overhang, and took my place next to Mistystar, sitting and wrapping my tail calmly around my paws, although I could feel the excitement buzzing beneath my pelt, and I couldn't help but fidget.


"Midnightpaw, come forward." Mistystar murrowed in a formal tone. The young she-cat took several steps forward, and finally leapt up to join us on the Overhang. Her and I shared an excited glance, then Mistystar continued "this apprentice has trained hard to understand the ways of the clan, and follow it's noble code, and I hope you will accept her as a full warrior in turn." She looked at the black she-cat next to her, who was just as fidgety as I was. "Do you promise to defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?" Midnightpaw nodded slowly, then murmured "Yes." I smiled, and Mistystar continued "then from now on, you will be known as Midnightflame, warrior of CloudClan." The clan erupted in cheers, and happy yowls, which developed into the familiar chant, "MIDNIGHTFLAME! MIDNIGHTFLAME! MIDNIGHTFLAME!" I happily joined in, letting my voice ring loud and clear. Mistystar silenced the crowd with a wave of her tail. "Midnightflame will stand guard over the camp tonight in vigil. Meeting dismissed." Midnightflame gave Mistystar's shoulder a gentle lick, and Mistystar responded with a quick lick to Midnightflame's head. Then the young warrior jumped down, and was swarmed by happy congratulating clanmates. I leapt down, and joined them.


After a rather... Lean... Feast was held, the clan was starting to settle in for the night when Jewelsky came into the camp. Mistystar approached her. "Jewelsky, welcome. What's going on?" Jewelsky gave a swish of her tail as acknowledgement, panting kind of breathless. "I found something... I think CloudClan should... Should know about it." "What is it?" Mistystar tilted her head. "Something... Really cool!" She murrowed. Mistystar nodded. "Show me." I took a step forward. "Can I come? This seems like something interesting." Mistystar nodded to me, and Jewelsky turned and took off, the two of us dashing off after her.


The journey wasn't actually that far. Near the borders between LightningClan and CloudClan's territories, we came to a large white tree. It was leafless, and had a huge thick white twisted trunk. It looked rather whitered with age, but just then the moon came out from behind a cloud, the light of the moon shone right on the tree. It's white bark reflected the light brilliantly, seeming to shine twice as bright, "woah..." I rasped quietly. Mistystar's eyes were clouded with respect, and admiration, and she approached the tree. "This place is special." She murmured. "I know!" Jewelsky meowed excitedly. "I was curious, so I climbed into the tree, and when I laid own on a branch, I fell asleep, and.." She glanced at me pointedly. "I talked to Moonflame..." Her voice was barely above a whisper, and my eyes grew wide with shock, and I felt them stinging with tears. Jewelsky smiled at me.


"This... This could be where the clans are meant to come.. The medicine-cats, for their meetings... The deputies to recieve their nine lives... It's... It's perfect..!" Mistystar nodded. "Yes, it is!" She let out a purr. "Does Cometstar know?" Jewelsky nodded. "Yeah, she's the one who sent me over here to tell you." Mistystar smiled at the warrior. "Thank you for showing us.... Does the rest of LightningClan know?" Jewelsky shook her head. "No, Cometstar said we should announce it to everyone at the Gathering this full moon." "Alright, that works." Mistystar turnued to me. "Can you keep this to yourself, Tornadostorm? Until then?" I nodded "Of course, Mistystar." I faintly heard an owl hooting in the distance. Mistystar must have taken notice of it. "It's getting late. You should be getting back to your clan, Jewelsky. I'll see you at the gathering?" The tabby warrior nodded "Yeah, thank you for letting me show this to you!" "of course." She turned and ran off towards LightningClan, and the two of us turned and headed back.

--

It was two weeks later. I felt excitement bubbling in my paws as the cats going to the gathering collected near the entrance to the camp. Midnightflame seemed even more excited then me, though. But I could understand. It was her first gathering sense she became a warrior. And even though I couldn't see Whitefeather in the jumble of cats, I could sense her pride in her apprentice. Just then, Mistystar started leading the cats out. I followed at the back, watching for stragglers, as we ran through our new territory. The slowly melting snow crunching under paw. It wasn't long before our group arrived at the arranged meeting spot; a place along the border with a large jagged rock, surrounded by a small clearing, and long grass. The members of CloudClan waded through the grass, which was just above belly-length, and began mingling with the LightnigClan cats already present.

I wandered over, to join Glimmerwing and Stealthvixen talking to Whitefeather and Roseblossom.

Stealthvixen glanced up, and saw me, getting a mischevious smile, she yapped "Oh noo!! We're out numbered, Glimmerwing!" Glimmerwing glanced up, following Stealthvixen's gaze, and caught my eye, as I laugehd "oh! Hey Tornadostorm!" She meowed, Whitefeather and Roseblossom joining in my chuckling for a moment before I responded, sitting down next to Roseblossom, across from the LightningClan cats "Hey Glimmerwing." Roseblossom glanced at me "we were just talking about our new territories!" "Yeah?" I looked at the russet warrior next to me. "Yeah." Roseblossom turned back to the two LightningClan cats.


"There's a waterfall that falls infront of the entrance to our den, it's really nice." "Really nice?" I asked, confused. "It soaks right into my fur, and I have to shake it out four times a minute." everyone erupted with laughter at that comment. "Yeah, waterfalls are a pain for newbies." Whitefeather teased "Newbies?!" I countered, mock offended. She smirked in response "Oh yeah, but the kits handle it fine." I pouted at her, and that caused another eruption of laughter. "Seriously though," Roseblossom said, slowing her chuckling "It can get a bit too wet sometimes. Whitefeather and I are used to it because of RainClan is all." "Oh right, you both were born in RainClan." "Actually, I wasn't born there." Roseblossom murmured.

"But they're the clan that found me and took me in." "Oh yeah!" I said, swishing my tail "Well I'm glad they did." She nodded. Glimmerwing opened her jaws to meantion something, when Cometstar's voice rung above the rest "The Gathering is about to begin!" We all turned, and started gathering around the rock, where Cometstar and Mistystar each stood, placing themselves on percarious spikes of the rock. I took my place against the rock with my back to it, with Glimmerwing, watching my clanmates as they curiously gathered around the rock, looking up at the leaders.


I listened, as Cometstar began. "Prey is running well in LightningClan. Much better then our old territory, and we have named a new apprentice." Excited and surprised murmurs spread through the group. "Vinekit is now Vinepaw, with Jewelsky as his mentor." Cheers erupted from both clans, us all chanting Vinepaw and Jewelsky's names "VINEPAW! JEWELSKY! VINEPAW! JEWELSKY!". I scanned the group, and located a small brown tabby tom, standing next to Jewelsky, his chest puffed out proudly.


Looking over my shoulder at the two she-cats on the rock, I saw
Cometstar look at Mistystar, who looked back at her surprised. After a heartbeat of hesitation, Mistystar stepped forward, and began. "Prey is running well in CloudClan as well, we have found a good fishing spot, and mice and voles are starting to come out from their dens. We have also named a new warrior, Midnightpaw has become Midnightflame!" The clans chanted for the young warrior of CloudClan "MIDNIGHTFLAME MIDNIGHTFLAME!"


Once the cheers quieted down, I heard Cometstar as she stepped forward once more. "I have an announcement." The clans were completely silent now, and Cometstar continued "One of my warriors, Jewelsky, found a tree recently. Sitting in this tree's branches, she realized the tree was where we could contact our ancestors. She has already shown Mistystar where it is, and I'm sure she'd be willing to show any of you who are interested in seeing it." Cheers, and excited yowls spread through the clans. I smiled happily as I watched them. "Meeting dismissed." Mistystar finished, leaping down from the rock with an audible thud. I stood, and followed her, as she began gathering our clan. Once everyone was present, we made our way back to our camp.

All was right with the world, for the moment.

It had been a couple weeks sense then. I stetched, and made my way out of the den. It was early, and the camp was shrouded in darkness, as the dawn light hadn't made it's way into the clearing quite yet. "I get up to early." I grumbled to myself. The thought triggering a wide yawn. Suddenly I heard a quiet stiffled groan. I glanced around the camp, my eyes locking on Roseblossom's fluffed, dark fur, as she hunched over near the corner of the camp. My tail raised in concerned curiosity, I made my way over to her. "Roseblossom? Are you ok?" She glanced at me. Her eyes were dull, and clouded, and she looked tired. "I-I'm fine." I narrowed my eyes doubtfully. "I'm taking you off duties for the day. You should get some rest." Roseblossom opened her mouth to protest, but I moved off before she could form words.

I assigned Whitefeather, Midnightflame and Willowpaw to a hunting patrol, and Mistystar had decided to go on a duo border patorl with her and Deertail.

I gave myself the duty of keeping an eye on Roseblossom throughout the day, whenever I caught sight of her.

at about sun high, I slipped into the Warriors Den to check on her. Shaking off my pelt, I strode over to the dark fur warrior, curled up quietly in her nest. "Roseblossom?" She glanced up at me with a tired face. "Yes, Tornadostorm?" "I came to check on you. I mean, I know a LITTLE about medical herbs, traveling on my own for a long time forced me to figure out plantlife, so I knew what to avoid out there." I sat infront of her, near her head, and draped my tail over her back. "So... What's bothering you?" Roseblossom blinked, and hesitated, before responding; "I feel tired. And nauseus all the time..... And when I'm not nauseus, I'm hungry... Always hungry." She growled. "Something's wrong with me."

I nodded, thoughtfully. Trying to keep the hopeful glint out of my eye. "Can you stretch out for a second? I want to check something." She looked up at me doubtfully, then stretched herself out, splaying herself across her nest. I reached, and gently ran my paw over her stomach. I gasped. "R-Roseblossom... Yo.." I stopped myself, wanting to confirm my suspicions before I finished my diagnosis. I counted as I felt, and finally came do a decision. I gasped. "R-Roseblossom... You're... Going to have kits! At least two." My voice rose to an excited squeal near the end of my sentance.

Roseblossom gasped "wait, WHAT?!" I nodded. "You and Runningfrost should be proud! You'll have lovely kits!" "How do you know?" Roseblossom asked warily. "I've been a mother before, remember?" I forced my face not to darken, as I knew the comment had brought Icepaw to my friend's mind. "I know what to look for." I finished softly. Roseblossom nodded, standing. She started to head out of the den, I followed close beside her, our pelts brushing "I want to go on as many patrols as I can before I'm trapped in the nursery." She murmured thoughtfully. "Otherwise I"ll just be bored by the end of their kithood." I laughed. "Ok. Don't worry, you know. You'll be a great mother." Roseblossom gave me an uncertain smile, and bounded over to Runningfrost, an older CloudClan warrior, to tell him the news.

"Please lord let the kits have a good life here in CloudClan. We need them almost as much as they need us..." I closed my eyes, lost to my own thoughts.


~~~~~~


It had been three moons sense Roseblossom had found she was with kits, and now two healthy she-kits bounded out of the nursery, both bursting with excited, happy laughter, as they ran, tails in the air, from something in the nursery. Roseblossom strode out after them, and glanced at me, from where I sat near the entrance to the warriors den. I flashed her an amused smirk.

She just lightly shook her head, and loped up to the kits "Careful now!" She mewed, as little Saltkit tried to claw her way onto the jutting rock with Mistystar's den on it. "You're not strong enough to climb all the way up there yet." "BUT I WANNA SEE THE LEADER'S DEN!" She wailed, as her mother plucked her off the crumbly dirt wall of the dry pond bed. "How am I supposed to pretend to be leader if I can't stand where M-Misty does?!" She protested, flailing in her mother's grip. "You don't need to stand there to adress your clan." Roseblossom explained, calmly. "Then where?" Lotuskit, the older of the two, asked. Sitting herself infront of her mother, her long white fluffy fur making her look like a cotton ball at this age. I snickered at the thought, and strided over two the small family;

"You see, a clan leader can adress the clan from pretty much anywhere. Most commonly Mistystar would adress the clan either from the Jutting Rock over there, or from right under it." I looked between the two kits. "What are you two playing, anyway?" The two kits looked at each other, and Saltkit piped up "I'm playing Leader!" "and I'm not." Lotuskit added. I glanced at Lotuskit thoughtfully. "What do YOU want to play, Lotuskit?" She shook her head. "I'm not interested in playing any games, really." I glanced at Roseblossom confused. The queen caught my glance, and explained "Lotuskit is a very serious kit. She's not very interested in the games her sister plays."

"What do you like to do, Lotuskit?" She looked thoughtful. "I like playing with the plants around camp." I perked my ears. "Yeah?" She nodded, and began listing what she knew about the plants around camp. I was rather impressed with her knowledge. "You're boring." Saltkit growled to her sister. Roseblossom pawed at her daughter. "Shhh, don't say things like that." Saltkit sighed. "Sorry." "Hey Saltkit, Lotuskit, why don't you two go play over there?" I swished my tail over towards the other side of camp. I need to talk to your mother about something." Both kits nodded, Lotuskit with a bit of hesitance, and ran off.

"Roseblossom.." I murmured without looking. "Do you think Lotuskit should become a medicine-cat?" Roseblossom stiffened. "Do you really think that's what she was meant to do?" I nodded "Yes. Her interest, and knowledge in plants is promising, and sense Mustardblossom and Creekpaw died, we have been left without a knowledgable healer. And Twilightstorm is still sick with greencough, there's no way she can take care of two clans." Roseblossom nodded. "I see what you mean. I'll talk to Mistystar about it." I smiled "Cool. Do you want to tell her or should I?" "I will." Roseblossom turned, and called the two kits over. I stood, and intercepted Saltkit. "Hey you, why don't we practice our hunter's crouch over here?" The kit's tail shot up. "Yes, Tornadostorm! Please!" She bounded after me, as I lead her to the middle of camp.

Once she was standing next to me, I lowered myself to the ground, and posed myself into a hunters crouch. Watching myself extra carefully this time, as to demonstrate a proper crouch, instead of bad habits picked up with experience. Saltkit examined me carefully, her little eyes narrowing, then lowered herself into a crouch. It was a pretty poor attempt, but for a first attempt, not too shabby. I stood, and used a gentle push, or nudge of my paw to right her. Once she was in a mostly proper hunter's crouch, I smiled "How does that feel?" "weird." Saltkit replied, with a stressed tone "WHY CAN'T IT BE COMFORTABLE?!" I shook my head "comfortable, once you get used to it. But it's effective." She growled in frustration, and I chuckled. OK, now, stalk forward. I watched as she carefully put one tiny paw infront of the other.

Suddenly Mistystar and Deertail returned. I looked up from helping Saltkit to watch them as they strode across camp. Oddly enough they were carrying what looked like prey. I thought they had gone on a border patrol... I stood, and without a word to the kit, trotted over to the two she-cats. "What's going on?" I asked. Both turned to me, their mouths full...
of... KITS?! Three kits in total were in the two she-cat's jaws. Deertail held one little kit forcefully in her jaws, and Mistystar more gingerly held the other two, as they squirmed.

"Where'd you find them?" I rasped. "There were 6 kits found near the river separating us from LightningClan" Mistystar explained. "We happened upon them at the same time as a LightningClan patrol, and divided the kits depending on which borer they were on. LightningClan took three, and we took three." I opened my jaws "no, they don't seem related. They're all different ages, and very different coat patterns." I glanced at the kits thoughtfully. "Will we train them as warriors?" "I don't see why not." Mistystar smiled.
"Where we found these kits seems to be kind of a... Kit dumping ground of sorts, for something, or someone. But despite this, most of them seem to be in good condition."


I smiled, and Mistystar and Deertail leapt onto the Jagged, rock, and Mistystar yowled,
placing the kits between her forepaws "Let all cats old enough to catch their own pray gather beneath the jagged rock for a clan meeting." The clan gathered curiously around me.
"Recently, along the border with LightningClan, 6 kits were found." Gasps spread throughout the clan. "LightningClan has taken three, and we have taken three." She looked at the kits between her and Deertail's paws. "And we will train them to be strong warriors for their new clan, so they can defend their new home. And as warriors, they shall have warrior names."
The kits looked up at Mistystar nervously, I only now noticed they all three had seemed nervous this whole time. A wave of sympathy washed over me. She gestured to each one,
and named them, using a thoughtful tone "This younger one shall be Ravenkit, and the two older ones shall be Shaggykit, and Pebblekit. Roseblossom, sense you have recently had kits, about the same age as these three, I expect you will take care of them?"

The queen next to me nodded "Of course, Mistystar." Mistystar swished her tail in acknowledgement "OK, then, meeting dismissed." And she leapt down.

Five new kits... the future looked bright.