Hello everyone! I recently lost the flash drive where all my other fanfics are saved, so I thought that until I find it, I may as well start a new one! This is the story of Hollykit, if she had survived to make the Great Journey. Thanks for checking it out and I hope you enjoy!

Also, if you have any preference for her mentor/mate/warrior name, start thinking on it and sending me suggestions, as this story will (hopefully) be a little more fast-paced than some of my others.

Chapter 1

Cold… Hollykit tried to open her mouth to complain to Ferncloud about how cold she was, but only a pathetic whine left her throat as she squirmed closer to her mother's pale gray pelt. She could feel Birchkit shivering beside her, but she had lost the strength to tremble like that a long time ago.

"Hollykit?" Ferncloud's soft tone was edged with panic.

So tired… Suddenly she didn't envy Birchkit's shivers so much. It had to be exhausting, and she felt as if she could sleep for a moon.

"Goldenflower, fetch Cinderpelt—hurry!" Their mother's voice cracked, and she began nudging Hollykit. "Don't fall asleep, little one," she cooed desperately.

Hollykit tried to object and explain to Ferncloud that she just wanted to take a nap, but her voice wouldn't come, and she was too tired to try any harder. She doesn't need to sound so scared… It's just a nap… Just a nap…

Hollykit woke slowly, startled by warmth beneath her. She blinked in confusion and was met by the sight of her mother's pelt.

"Thank SatrClan," Ferncloud let out a breath of relief.

"Did something happen?" Hollykit's mew came out as a croak. How long was I asleep? She tried to stand, but the ground sank beneath her, prompting a surprised squeak from her throat.

"No," her mother rasped her tongue gently over Hollykit's ear. "Just stay there for now, little one, you can't be on the ground."

As Ferncloud spoke, Hollykit realized it hadn't been the ground sinking beneath her tiny paws, but her mother's flank. No wonder it's so warm. "Where's Birchkit?"

Ferncloud flicked her ears towards the entrance to the small cave they were sheltering in. "He's outside playing with Cody."

"Cody?" The tabby she-kit echoed curiously. "Who's that?" She was disappointed when Ferncloud only shook her head in response.

"Don't worry about that right now, Hollykit. You must rest. We're leaving the forest tomorrow."

"Leaving the forest?" Hollykit's amber eyes grew wide. "But-!"

"Hush now," Ferncloud swept her tail down the kit's flank. "Rest, or I'll tell Firestar you aren't fit to be an apprentice."

Hollykit puffed her breath out in an irritated sigh, but curled into a tight ball regardless. I just woke up. Even as she thought it, a yawn stretched her tiny jaws. Well, I guess one more nap wouldn't hurt…

When Ferncloud woke her next, Hollykit had wished she had slept more. Her paws were heavy as stones and she struggled to keep her eyes open. Still, she stumbled wearily after her mother as they left Sunningrocks behind them forever.

"Mother, why do we have to leave while it's raining?" The tiny she-cat whined miserably. Ferncloud flashed her only daughter an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry, little one," she whispered. "Dustpelt? Could you carry her?"

Hollykit started as her father padded up behind her. "I can walk!" She ducked away from her father's jaws. Dustpelt sighed, but didn't try to pick her up again. He simply moved to walk above her, letting her take shelter beneath his broad shoulders as she stumbled along between his paws. It wasn't long before her strength left her though, and though she would never admit it she was relieved when Dustpelt let out an amused snort and picked her up by her scruff. I'll walk more tomorrow…

"Hollykit, wake up! Wake up!"

"Birchkit…?" The skinny she-kit blinked blurrily up at her lighter-furred brother. "Why did you wake me up…?"

His amber eyes were bright with excitement. "Because!" He squeaked. "Dustpelt just came back from leading a hunting patrol, and Mother said that there's enough fresh-kill for us each to have our own piece!"

"Really?" She turned her own bright amber gaze to Ferncloud, who nodded.

"Just let me know if you can't chew it," she fussed, giving each of the kits a few rough licks.

Hollykit rolled her eyes. "I can chew just fine!" She insisted haughtily.

Dustpelt's whiskers were twitching with amusement as he approached, fresh-kill dangling from his jaws. Hollykit's attitude melted away at the sight of the first real meal she would ever eat.

"I've never seen so much food!" She bounced to her father's and sniffed eagerly at the fresh-kill.

He dropped it all at Ferncloud's paws, and she pulled the vole from the small pile. "You each get one mouse," she pushed the mice towards her kits with one paw.

"What about you?" Birchkit looked curiously up at their father. "There's not enough for you to eat, too…"

Hollykit felt a flash of admiration for the dark tabby warrior as he shrugged. "I'll eat later. It's a warrior's duty to feed his Clan first—especially his own kits." With that, he gave them each an uncharacteristically gentle lick between the ears and padded away to where Firestar was speaking with the older warriors.

"I'm going to be as great of a warrior as Dustpelt one day." Hollykit vowed, puffing her chest out.

"Not if I do it first!" Birchkit taunted, crouching down as if preparing to pounce.

"Now, now," Ferncloud stuck her tail between them. "Eat your fresh-kill before it gets cold. Dustpelt will scold you if you're wasteful."

"Yes, Mother," Birchkit sighed. Hollykit mumbled a small agreement before tucking into her mouse. She was surprised by how hard it was to take a bite out of, but once she finally tore a piece off, it all but melted in her mouth. As soon as she swallowed the morsel, her stomach let out a ferocious growl, and she finished the rest in a few famished gulps. She licked her lips and let out a yawn.

"When can I have more?"

Ferncloud let out a small purr of amusement. "Not now, little one. We've got to leave."

The Clans started bunching up to leave almost as soon as the words left their mother's mouth. As they walked, Birchkit told Hollykit what she had missed while Dustpelt had carried her sleeping form yesterday. They had crossed WindClan's treacherous territory and taken shelter at Ravenpaw's barn. She remembered Ravenpaw from when he had come to ThunderClan's camp—she wished she had been awake to see him again before they left. Now they were heading towards the mountains. Hollykit was excited; she had never seen mountains before. But the older cats seemed on edge, their ears pricked and their tails flicking anxiously to and fro.

It was hard for Hollykit to focus on the passing surroundings. When she was walking it took all of her strength to keep putting one paw in front of the other, and when she was being carried by Dustpelt or Sandstorm all she could think about was the hunger gnawing at her stomach and the cold numbing her ears and paws. She walked a little less every day, and by the time she glimpsed the mountains looming in the distance, Dustpelt wouldn't let her walk at all. As much as the tiny kit wanted to get frustrated and object, she couldn't find the strength to do so. Instead, she slept, and let her father carry her through the mountains and towards their new home.