The Path of the Cloud

by Cloudstar of Fireclan

My first fanfic! At first, Cloudkit just wants to be a normal warrior. She has few ambitions to become a leader. But that is what she is forced to do. However, she quickly finds that leading a Clan is a nearly impossible task. In addition, cats that were thought to have been gone long ago are back- and they want more than revenge. Please review!

1. Prologue

Prologue

"Fire! Fire! The forest is on fire!"

"Get the kits!"

"Check the elder's den!"

"Clear the camp!"

"The apprentice's den is clear!" A black tom called.

"No one in the warrior's den!" a golden brown tabby tom reported. He sprinted toward a den woven with honeysuckle and ivy. As he ran, a spark flew to a tree at the top of the camp. The tree lit ablaze, groaned and toppled over onto the den.

"Dustwing!" The tom ran even faster. Just as he reached the entrance, a brown and white she-cat rushed out, her eyes wild with terror, quick in spite of her swollen belly.

"Think...kits...coming," she panted.

"I'll get Gingerpelt," the tom called over his shoulder, already racing off. He stopped when he came to a cave embedded in the rock. "Gingerpelt?" he called into it. A orange cat instantly appeared next to him, holding a honeycomb in her jaws.

"Yes, Sunwhisker?" she asked, calm despite the fire and chaos.

"Dustwing's kits are coming," he told her. Gingerpelt dropped the honeycomb and rushed into the cave, coming out with a mouthful of pungent leaves.

"Raspberry," she mumbled around them. "To help her give birth. Now where is Dustwing?"

"Just outside the entrance to the nursery."

"We'll have to get her out." Gingerpelt raced back towards the center of the camp where Dustwing was. Gingerpelt grabbed her scruff and started pulling her to the
river just outside of camp. Sunwhisker raced ahead, clearing every piece of debris out of the path to the river.

When they reached the stream, Sunwhisker asked, "You want me to take her over?"

Before Gingerpelt could reply, Sunwhisker took hold of Dustwing's scruff and started to paddle across the river. Gingerpelt stared blankly through the smoke where Sunwhisker had disappeared, then shook her head, grabbed a few of the partially ripped leaves scattered around her, and started swimming after him.

On the other side of the river, Dustwing had started convulsing. Gingerpelt calmly started giving her the raspberry leaves, still managing to ignore the cats panicking around her. Finally, a kit came out. Dustwing nipped the sac and started licking the kit. Soon, a little tortoiseshell and white she-kit was suckling at her mother's belly. Dustwing looked up, her eyes tired, but also burning with pride for her daughter.

"What will we name her?" she asked Sunwhisker.

Just then, a thundercloud rumbled on the horizon. "Cloudkit," he replied.