Prologue
A line of thin cats made their way through the forest. Their fur was dull and dirty. And you could see their ribs beneath their scant pelts. They had been through the worst and most had come out alive. A tortoiseshell she-cat brought up the very rear of the group. Her tail dragging in the dirt.
"Dawnriver, are you ok?" a small brown she-cat asked.
"I'm fine Shyfawn. Just tired." Dawnriver sighed.
"I'm sorry about Flowerheart." Shyfawn whispered. "She was a great deputy. And mentor to you."
Dawnriver choked up again at the thought of her beloved former mentor, killed crossing a Thunderpath. They had buried her body a while back. Dawnriver could still feel the dirt that clogged her claws from when she dug a grave for Flowerheart. They had come so far and had lost so much. Ever since the four other Clans decide to chase SkyClan out of the forest. To let an entire Clan die because they were too greedy and arrogant to give some of their territory to the needy SkyClan cats. Because of them Flowerheart was dead. And an entire Clan was on their own.
"Brokenstar, we're hungry!" a little gray she-kit complained.
Her two siblings began to complain of their hunger too.
"There, there, Dovekit, just a little longer and then you can rest and eat." Brokenstar assured her kit.
"But we're hungry and tired now!" cried a little orange-and-white tom.
"Now, now, Leafkit. You heard your mother. Just a little farther. You three are very strong and brave kits." a hulking dark gray tabby tom meowed to the three tired kittens.
They looked up at their father with big round eyes.
"Yes, Stonesong." they meowed in unison.
Dawnriver looked at the three little kits. They had suffered the most by far. All three of them only 5 moons old. Not even old enough to become apprentices and they were already running for their lives. Dawnriver cursed the other Clans for what they had done. They traveled for a while longer before coming to a stop under a large oak tree to rest.
"Any cat strong enough to hunt do so. And I want two cats posted as guards." Brokenstar ordered.
"As you wish, Brokenstar." Cloudchaser rounded up Jaywing and Moonrise and left.
"We can hunt too." Furledbracken and Fishleap offered.
"Good. Then off you go. Tansyfoot can you join them?" Brokenstar meowed.
"Of course, Brokenstar." Tansyfoot dashed after the two cats.
Dawnriver admired the yellow tabby. He was always want to please and prove himself to the Clan. Dawnriver watch him until he disappeared into the bracken.
"I'll stand guard." Dawnriver meowed.
"Me too." Shyfawn said.
"Good. Thank you both." Brokenstar thanked them.
Dawnriver and Shyfawn took up points of guard at opposite sides of the clearing. I will protect my Clan if it's the last thing I do. Dawnriver thought. The sun had begun to dip in the sky. Night is near. Dawnriver thought. So where are Furledbracken, Fishleap and Tansyfoot?
Before she could ask all three cats came barreling through the brush. Each one holding a bird in their jaws.
"Good, you found prey." Brokenstar meowed a sigh of relief.
"But that's not all we found!" Fishleap said excitedly setting down his prey.
"Yes. We found a gorge!" Furledbracken said.
"And we think it could be our new home." Tansyfoot finished.
"Our new home?" Runninghorse asked. "Did I hear him right?"
"Yes you did, Runninghorse." Cloudysun answered her mate.
"We will camp out here tonight. I need two more cats to relive Dawnriver and Shyfawn from their post." Brokenstar meowed. "And in the morning Tansyfoot, Dawnriver, Cloudchaser and I will go check out the gorge.
"Jaggedlightning and I will take up guard duty." Whisperingbreeze said.
"Good." Brokenstar nodded to them.
Dawnriver and Shyfawn say down together. They had just begun to share tongues when Cloudchaser returned with a mouse and Jaywing was helping Moonrise carry a large rabbit. The Clan settled down and enjoyed their first good meal and rest.
Dawnriver was awoken by the dawn sun streaming through the trees. She got up and stretched. The other cats chosen to leave were also waking.
"Good luck." Whisperingbreeze meowed as Dawnriver passed her.
"Thanks. And you get some sleep." Dawnriver told the tired she-cat.
The silver-gray tabby she-cat nodded before making herself a nest under the oak tree.
"Stonesong you're in charge until I return." Brokenstar told her mate.
"Good luck." Stonesong and Brokenstar brushed muzzles.
Leafkit blinked sleep out of his eyes. "Brokenstar where are you going?"
"I am going to find our new home. Go back to sleep I will be back soon." Brokenstar purred.
"Ok." Leafkit yawned.
Brokenstar licked his kit on the head then the group of cats left.
Dawnriver fell into the lead with Tansyfoot.
"So how did you find the gorge?" she asked.
"Well I was chasing my prey when I stumbled upon the gorge. I went back and got Fishleap and Furledbracken and we checked it out."
"Were there any other animals there?"
Dawnriver questioned.
"No. Nothing but a few stale scents."
Tansyfoot reported.
"Do you think it could be our new home?" Dawnriver asked hopefully.
"I'm positive it's our new home." Tansyfoot promised.
"Tansyfoot." Brokenstar joined them. "How much farther?"
"It's just a little farther." Tansyfoot assured his leader.
When they arrived at the gorge Dawnriver was amazed by the size and beauty of the gorge. The dawn sun made the orange sandy rocks glow.
"This is it." Dawnriver whispered. "I can feel it."
"Cloudchaser and I will check out the top three dens. Tansyfoot and Dawnriver take the lower two." Brokenstar ordered before disappearing with Cloudchaser.
"Come on, Dawnriver!" Tansyfoot said dashing towards the nearest cave.
It was past sun high when the group of cats returned to the rest of the Clan. When they arrived they were greeted enthusiastically by their Clan mates. Nonstop questions deafened Dawnriver.
"I have news!" Brokenstar called over all the went silent and looked to their leader. "SkyClan has found a new home!"