Prologue
Brightstar stared back at his clanmates as they moved through the mountainous region.
Fernclan had been travelling for a moon, maybe two. It was hard for him to keep count when every moment they were padding across landscapes, looking for somewhere they would be safe, safe from the dangers Starclan warned them of.
He always found his mind wandering back to thoughts of how they got here. The reason they were far, far, away from their home, in a land they knew next to nothing about.
Their medicine cat, Larkpool, had a vision from Starclan. A terrible storm would hit their clan, destroying the territory. The Clan had to move to another territory, a territory able to maintain their clan and keep them safe. The clan was weary, tired of travelling for so long. Streamfoot had suggested living in the mountains for a bit. They would adapt to the cold, surely, and if they didn't end up staying, they could travel when Nightstep's kits were named apprentices.
They'd find prey, and there didn't seem to be any cats living there that would challenge them. It would be perfect to rest for a few moons before embarking on their grand journey again. But Larkpool didn't even give a heartbeat to think about it. She repeated over and over that they had to keep going. Disaster would strike them here too. They needed to find the place. The right place.
Brightstar couldn't hold back a sigh. Was Larkpool right? Perhaps she'd just gone crazy. When they came across the mountains, Brightstar realized he would miss having sore paws after they went numb with cold. Streamfoot had told them that their whiskers wouldn't stay frozen for long. It was only a day more of travel, and then they'd be out of the mountains.
They'd gone so far, suffered so much. Was it worth it? He noticed Larkpool chatting with Nopelt and Mapleflower. The old furless tom, Nopelt, was visibly shivering, even though Larkpool and Mapleflower had pressed themselves against both sides of him, trying to keep him warm enough to go on. It would truly be a miracle if the tom survived the cold.
"How can we go on like this..? We have no idea where we're going.." Brightstar muttered to himself, and padded up to the three.
Larkpool turned to him, and purred. "Hello, Brightstar." She greeted him.
Mapleflower twitched an ear, but Nopelt seemed not to realize he had approached.
"I hope you're not pestering Larkpool with complaints. She's been so helpful to me and Nopelt. My bones really aren't suited for this kind of travel.." Mapleflower rasped, and raised her nose to the cloudy sky, as if she could see it with her blind eyes.
Brightstar dipped his head respectfully. "I'm sure you both will be fine." He meowed, although he doubted it himself. "Although.. Larkpool, I have something to ask of you."
Larkpool's gaze hardened, but Brightstar continued. "Are you..Are you sure there's a..safer, better place?"
Mapleflower's ears lowered, and Larkpool stopped walking, whipping around to face the tom.
"Are you doubting me, Brightstar? Me?!" The clan stopped awkwardly to watch the scene.
Brightstar remained calm. This wasn't a time to argue. "Of course not, Larkpool."
Larkpool took a step closer to Brightstar, their noses now almost touching. "I trust in what Starclan sent me. We will find this place. You have faith in me, and in our ancestors, don't you?."
Brightstar moved back, and nodded. "I do."
"Then, we'll keep moving. Whatever happens, Starclan is on our side. I know they are." Larkpool's tail gave a final lash, and she hurried back to Nopelt's side. Hawkstrike gave him a sympathetic look, before turning towards the path ahead.
Brightstar took in a deep breath. Larkpool was right. Starclan could never let anything happen to them. Wherever they went, wherever this place was, they'd be safe as long as their ancestors were with them every pawstep of the way.
He was sure of it.
