The black clouds loomed in the air, and cast a dark shadow over the forest. Dark smoke billowed in the air, and the flames consumed whatever they came in contact with. The cats of NightClan ran around frantically, trying to reach the small island in the middle of the pond. The dark orange flames leapt high, and the lack of stars brought fear to the cats.

"Moonwhisker," one golden tom yelled. Smoke surrounded him, and he coughed. "Moonwhisker!" He yowled. The smoke burned his eyes. He had to get out of here, but he couldn't leave his mate. He gasped for air, he couldn't take it! He ran out of the flames, and went over to the edge of the pond, his eyes burning.

"Lionstar? Is that you?" A small she-cat called out. She came over to him. "What happened? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine Shadowpool," he mewed, coughing. The she-cat looked at him curiously.

"You must have inhaled a lot of smoke," she mewed. "What were you thinking?" Her mew was harsh, but concerned.

"I was looking for Moonwhisker," he mewed. Shadowpool relaxed.

"Lionstar, Moonwhisker's fine," she purred. "She escaped out of the nursery with Leopardclaw."

"So she's ok?" The NightClan leader asked. He looked at the she-cat, who turned away guiltily.

"No," she whispered. "She's not ok."

"What?!" Lionstar mewed. Shadowpool looked at him.

"She inhaled a lot of smoke while she was escaping. Now she doesn't have enough energy to suckle her kit," the cat mewed. Lionstar's breathing quickened. His mate...his kit...no, no, no, no, no!

"Will she be ok?" he whispered.

"Only time can tell," the she-cat mewed "Jadeflower has barely enough milk for her kits, and now she has to suckle Rainkit too." Shadowpool's mew was distressed. Lionstar gazed up at the stars. StarClan, help us, he thought.

"But Jadeflower's kits are to be apprenticed soon, right?" He asked. The she-cat shook her head.

"Have you forgotten? They just turned five moons old, and we have to find a new territory soon," she mewed. "We have to find new territory now."

"Our fate is in the hands of StarClan," he mewed. "It is up to them to decide what will happen to us." The she-cat nodded.

"Lionstar, it is your duty to help the clan," Shadowpool mewed. "Especially when they need you most." He nodded.

"I'm worried about Moonwhisker," he mewed.

"Moonwhisker will recover, but it will take several moons," she mewed. "For now, Jadeflower will suckle Rainkit until we can find another queen." He nodded. Lionstar's mind was buzzing with thoughts, but one particular one kept echoing in his head.

Only time will tell...

XXX

"Lionstar!" Shadowpool prodded at his side. "It's Jadeflower. She dosen't have enough milk to suckle the Rainkit, we have to find another queen!"

"But we only have Jadeflower and Moonwhisker," he gasped. Shadowpool nodded grimly.

"Exactly my point," she mewed. "We have to find Rainkit and Moonwhisker a new home."

"Moonwhisker has to go too?" He asked.

"She dosen't have enough energy to travel with us, so she has to go wherever Rainkit is going," Shadowpool mewed. Lionstar grimaced. Do I have to leave my mate too? "I already made arrangements to take Moonwhisker to RainClan," Shadowpool whispered. Lionstar gasped.

"RainClan?" He yowled. "You're sending her to RainClan?" Shadowpool tensed.

"They were the only ones that would accept her," she hissed. "Would you risk the safety of your kit and your mate?" He relaxed.

"I want to at least...say goodbye," he whispered. Shadowpool nodded.

"Follow me," she mewed. The two cats walked through the bunches of cats that were huddling together for warmth. The small island that was sheltering the NightClan cats was small and exposed, and with leaf-bare coming so soon, warmpth was hard to find. Shadowpool and Lionstar padded over to the small silver tabby queen, who lifted her head weakly when she saw the two cats approaching.

"Lionstar?" she mewed. The golden tom licked his mate's head.

"I'm here," he mewed. The silver she-cat purred.

"I really don't want to go," she whispered. "But this is for Rainkit's safety." He nodded wearily, and felt his heart break in two as he saw the small silvery-grey she-kit shivering next to his mate.

"I'll miss you," he whispered.

"I'll miss you too," she whispered. "And maybe our paths will cross agian, and we'll be together." He nodded. On the horizon, he saw three cats padding into the makeshift camp. The RainClan cats had come. Lionstar stood up straight as one dark tabby tom stepped up to the NightClan leader.

"Swiftstar is being generous," he hissed "And will accept the queen and the kit into RainClan. If I was leader, I would never allow a NightClan cat into my clan," he mewed. Lionstar tensed.

"Give her my thanks," he mewed sternly. The tom nodded grimly.

"Is that them?" He asked, nodding towards Moonwhisker and Rainkit. Lionstar nodded. The dark tom went over to Rainkit, and gingerly picked her up in his mouth. She squeaked. Moonwhisker tried to stand up and walk, but stumbled many times. A RainClan she-cat came over to her, and Moonwhisker gratefully lay on her for support.

"Goodbye," Lionstar mewed. This was it. His mate and his kit were to leave forever, and the NightClan cats had to find a new home. He watched them walk away, and for a second, he thought he saw Moonwhisker look back at him sadly. Shadowpool came up to him.

"We're ready to go," she whispered. He swallowed the lump in his throat, and padded after the Medicine cat. He led his clan away from their old home, which was blackened by the fire, and hopefully, he had the courage to lead them into a good home...

Hello! Welcome to my first story! Please try not to make the flames too harsh! Constrctive criticism is always welcome. Thanks again!

Shadedlily