Chapter 1: The Rise of MoonClan

"Are we there yet?" mewled the little brown kit that was quickly shushed by an older cat. One cat lagged behind the others. Two young cats were whispering to each other, hiding in the shadow of an eagle. They were sitting in the open with no cover. We can't go on like this.

"Cats of..." A gray she-cat called, but her voice trailed off. "Everyone gather around." Weary cats limped over to her. Pads where smeared with blood and everyone was as thin as a branch.

"I know this has been a hard journey but-" the she-cat, supposedly the leader of the group, started, only to be cut off.

"But you believe our warrior ancestors are leading us to a place that really exists where we can live, and oh, maybe not all die on the way there? Is that what you think, Moontail?"

"Foxflight, please be quiet and listen to me please." Moontail snapped. "Listen to me, please! StarClan hasn't told me anything. They showed me this remarkable rich forest with other cats already living there. After all Firestar has done to bring this Clan together, I don't need it to shatter before my paws.

"Here's what I decided, we're going to make a name that will represent our strong will and determination. Whiteheart, scout this area for any herbs, take a couple of apprentices with you. We're going to rest here until we're well enough to continue this journey. Meanwhile, I want all of you to think of a name you think fits us the best. Willowleaf," Moontail called to her close friend and loyal deputy, "Organize hunting patrols with the healthiest and fittest cats you can find."

"You got it Moontail." Willowleaf chirped. "Thistletail, Lionclaw and Mistypaw, you're one patrol. Bigpaw, Wolfpaw and Foxflight, you be the other. Sunsplash, Stonepelt and Skyfur, you be a last one."

Cats have gathered into small groups to talk about the new Clan name.

"I think SunClan represents how strong and lasting we are, like a sun that lasts for moons and moons, even when the clouds block it from view." a elder rasped.

"CatClan!" a group of kits mewed. "Because we're cats in a Clan!"

"FlowerClan!"

"SeaClan?"

"MountainClan!" more and more ideas came. Moontail looked down proudly at her Clan.

"How about MoonClan? Because all the Clan's names came from their first leader." A queen suggested. Many other cats agreed.

"That's a better name..." one kit who called out 'CatClan' said.

"Perfect! Thank you, Spottedshine!" Moontail purred, waving her tail. Spottedshine and Willowleaf were her absolute best friends she could count on forever.

Whiteheart and three other apprentices returned, their jaws filled with a bunch of herbs.

"I don't recognize a bunch of these herbs but I'm afraid we'll just have to experiment on cats." Whiteheart explained, placing her bundle of leaves on the ground. "I can recognize yarrow and catmint, and I caught a whiff of burdock root somewhere but I couldn't track it."

"Is there any cat who is willing to test out new herbs?" Moontail called. A few elders and senior warriors came forward.

"Better test it on our older bodies then the ones who have a longer life to live." A brown tortoiseshell meowed. Whiteheart brightened up.

"Great, thanks Birdclaw and everyone! I highly doubt these could kill you but they may make you sick, so I can use the yarrow to make you even more sick until you throw it up."

"Um... Okay, Whiteheart." a white warrior mumbled.

That night when Moontail laid her head to sleep, the woke up in a totally different surrounding. There was a lush forest and a vast field of flowers. A stream overflowing with fish lived there too. She saw three groups of cats gathered around a high rock. These must be the first three Clans StarClan sent here. Moontail thought. They seemed to be having a Gathering, unlike the Gatherings Moontail attended back in Firestar's forest, where they held theirs on a full moon, they held their's in broad daylight. They all looked like the four Clans Moontail knew. The shiny, glossy coats who sat near the stream was probably RiverClan, but maybe they had a different name. The slightly skinny and nimble-looking cats who sat in the open flowery field resembled a lot of WindClan. The shady looking cats hiding in the shadows of the tall oaks where almost a ShadowClan twin. But Moontail realized there was no ThunderClan resembling Clan. There was an empty spot facing the forest.

That is our spot.