It was later that day. Many cats were lined up outside the gorse tunnel. There was one line of apprentices, one line of elders, one line of queens, and one line of warriors, and a small ginger she-cat was going up and down the rows, checking their health conditions.

At the nursery on the other side of the clearing, Runningstar was helping the queens to the gorse tunnel. He had gotten three warriors, Starfur, Longwhisker, and Chasewind, to help him carry the kits, and Runningstar himself helped to escort the queens.

Newtfrost trotted up ahead. She had insisted that she could go on her own. She was in a bad mood ever since both Pineclaw and Budkit had died. It was very unlike her.

When Summerheart and her kits had made it to the line, Runningstar sighed in relief. "Phew. There, you and your kits are safe to go!" He assured them. "Weavepaw is just going to come over and check to see that you don't have any symptoms of that nasty disease."

Summerheart flinched at the mention of the disease, but nodded and sat down behind Deerstripe, who was heavily pregnant. It wasn't too long ago that Summerheart had lost Pondkit to the disease.

Finally, the last cat that needed help was Cloverleaf. Runningstar ran for his mate, anxious to help her and the kits, but Longwhisker was right behind him.

When he saw the tabby she-cat, they both purred and rubbed each other affectionately. Runningstar was so happy to have a mate through these hard times.

"Can I carry a kit?" Asked Runningstar.

Cloverleaf purred. "You should," She mewed happily. "They're your daughters."

Runningstar purred with delight and picked up the white she-kit with ginger on her toes and the tips of her ears. She was beautiful once her fur had dried out.

"Want me to take this other one, Runningstar?" Asked Longwhisker.

Runningstar nodded, pushing the other kit, who was brown with a black underbelly, towards Longwhisker. A very strange feature on the kit caught his eye. She had a large black spot on her muzzle. He felt a warmth rise up in his heart. He loved his kits- they were the best kits a father could ask for.

He briefly set down his kit and talked to Cloverleaf. "Have you decided to name them yet?" He asked.

Cloverleaf let out a small purr. "Yes, I have. The black and brown one is named Wrenkit, and the ginger and white one is Soarkit."

Soarkit and Wrenkit. Something about those wonderful names made Runningstar so happy he could fly to StarClan and back.

"Do you like them?" Asked Cloverleaf nervously.

Runningstar flicked his tail across Cloverleaf's ears in reply and nodded. They were beautiful names for beautiful kits.

They had arrived at the line for the queens. "Are you ready to leave?" Asked Runningstar after he had set down the tiny kit.

Cloverleaf shrugged. "I guess I'm just not ready to leave this camp. I grew up here…this was where I first met you, where I was made an apprentice and a warrior…" She sighed. "I'm going to miss it here."

"We aren't leaving forever!" Purred Runningstar. "We'll come back in a few moons, perhaps a season." He nuzzled his mate, mewed farewell, and padded to Weavepaw for a checkover.

Weavepaw sniffed him over. "Hmm…you don't seem very warm," She mewed, pressing her paws to his face. "Sorry, it's part of the process. No streaming nose or eyes…no frailness or dull coat…you're ready to go," She mewed confidently.

Runningstar purred. "Thank you, Weavepaw," He meowed. "You're doing a good job." He looked around and lowered his voice. "How are the ill cats?"

"You mean how were the ill cats." Mewed Weavepaw sadly. "The rest looked like they were going through torture. Fortunately, they didn't know we were leaving them. I gave them some deathberries to put them out of their misery."

Runningstar gave a short nod of approval. "Good choice. Did they accept them?"

"They knew they were going to die anyway and accepted them willingly. I agree- it's much better than coughing and sneezing to death," Weavepaw said.

Runningstar ran his tail around her shoulders. "Wonderful job you're doing. One more question- did you bury them?"

Weavepaw nodded. "I made sure their loved ones were there to say their last goodbyes."

"Good. You are doing an awesome job. No other cat could have done better," Runningstar mewed.

Suddenly a wail came from the elders line. Weavepaw groaned. "I'll be right back," She growled. "I'll be right there with more poppy seeds, Spiritwing! Your joints can wait a few moments!"

Runningstar chuckled. His Clan was molding from the devastated Clan into strong, kind, loyal cats. In another half-moon, it would be time for her to receive her medicine cat name.

After Spiritwing had been attended to, Weavepaw confirmed everyone was ready to leave. Runningstar padded through the sea of cats to the front of all four lines. All the talking cats lowered their voices for him to speak.

"Cats of ThunderClan, three moons ago, your leader, Ashstar died. I did my best to take her place as a caring, noble leader. I hope I've been doing an okay job. This sickness has really been challenging me to take all my loyalty to the test- loyalty to StarClan as well as ThunderClan. And of course, loyalty to all of you. And let me tell you, every single one of you are the best cats a leader could have in his Clan. Thank you."

"Go Runningstar!" Squealed Rosekit. She blushed as all eyes turned to her.

"Now, all of you, please stay behind me and never leave your line," Runningstar ordered. "We are not moving to Sunningrocks."

The Clan let out gasps of anxiety. The elders turned to each other with fear.

"StarClan has told me that we should go to the apple blossom hollow. It seems like a safer place, more concealed like our former camp."

Runningstar turned toward the gorse tunnel. "Everyone ready?" He asked.

Murmurs of agreement came from the cats.

"Let's go," Runningstar mewed. He turned around to see the clearing one last time. His heart felt heavy. This was the place where he had been born and trained as an apprentice. Where he had become an apprentice, warrior, and deputy. Where he had fought countless battles to defend his Clan. Where his beautiful kits were born, where he had met his mate…where he had seen many cats grow up and grow strong. He would miss this camp more than anything before, but he knew that they would come back, someday when famine had left the camp, and his Clan could live in harmony.

And as he turned to leave out of the gorse tunnel, he knew that every other cat lined up behind him was thinking the same thing.