That morning everyone got up alongside the lake as they were deciding on how they were going to find their new territories. The cats were decided who was going to scout the land to decide who should settle where. Juniperpaw was enjoying a mouse with Lightpaw when Poppyfrost padded her way up to apprentice.
"You're coming with me; we need your help to find Thunder-clan's new camp as well as everyone else's." Poppyfrost mewed as she turned and padded away to greet the cats who were going to find the new territory. Among them were Reedwhisker, Patchpaw, Nightcloud, Tawnypelt and Cherrytail.
"Ready to begin the journey to find our new homes?" Asked Nightcloud.
"Sure." Juniperpaw mewed. As he began to lead the way. But while traveling, he found something off with Tawnypelt.
"Is there anything wrong Tawnypelt?" Juniperpaw asked.
"I wanted to tell you or Molestar about this but Me and Tigerstar are the only cats that remain of Shadow-clan." Tawnypelt mewed. Juniperpaw's ears have flattened with disbelief.
"What happened?" Juniperpaw mewed.
"It started long ago when Rowanstar was still alive, there was this cat named Darktail and his kin as they destroyed the clan from the inside out, we were deeply battered and we couldn't rebuild. Many of us gave up the status of warriors as we all became rouges; Rowanstar gave up his spot as leader as he left to be a Rouge then Tigerstar took over. We had ten cats when we first met the mutts, then the drought came and five died including Snowbird, Shadow-clan's only queen we had. Next the great journey began, and the other three went to go join Sky-clan and then we're the only ones left. I don't know how we're going to recover afterwards?" Tawnypelt mewed as they became cries of pure sadness.
"It's okay." Juniperpaw mewed as he tried to comfort her of her sadness. "We'll talk with Molestar to see if some of us can join Shadow-clan on a temporary basis until the clan has recovered enough. You're not going to go down just yet."
"Thanks, at least there is one cat I can trust to help solve my problems." Tawnypelt mewed as her crying stopped.
"Hey cats, river-clan found their territory, we can all go home now." Reedwhisker mewed as he settled down at the base of the Allegheny River.
"But everyone else still needs to find there." Patchpaw mewed.
"Okay fine. Go fetch Mistystar to tell them to come to this spot." Reedwhisker mewed.
"Sure thing." Patchpaw mewed as she raced back to fetch everyone who was down the river. Reedwhisker soon marked an X on the spot on where he found their territory.
The remaining cats cross the stream that would lead them deeper into the thick forest.
"We can use the streams as the borders for our new territories." Poppyfrost suggested.
"Great idea." Nightcloud mewed. She was feeling better as she was starting to get over Breezepelt's death.
The cats continued to wander through the forest as Juniperpaw soon fell down into a hole. Poppyfrost looked anxiously to make sure that he was okay. Fortunately the hole wasn't very deep as it was surrounded by Cedar trees.
"I'm just gonna live here now." Junierpaw mewed as the hole was perfect for him.
"You're such a silly kit." Poppyfrost mewed gleefully. Juniperpaw puts an X in the territory as they went to go find more of their territories.
They soon crossed another stream as it was proving to be a marker for their territory as they pressed deeper into the forest. Unaware that several cats were sitting around, soon a black and white cat jumped out at them as they scattered into a defensive position.
"Looks like I won't be having anyone join my group the black and white cat sarcastically whined as his yellow eyes stared at them.
"Join? What group?" Tawnypelt mewed.
"Me and a few others as known as the Forest runners, we live in the forest and we wanted to start a clan of our own." The black cat mewed as seven claws came out of his front paw.
"And your name is?" Tawnypelt mewed.
"I'm just black." The cat mewed.
"Your more white than black, and I'm Tawnypelt." Tawnypelt mewed.
"Nice to meet you, want to join our group of the Forest runners?" Black asked.
"I was going to ask for you to join Shadow-clan, we're asking to merge the group with us since we need some warriors." Tawnypelt mewed.
"How many cats do you have in this Shadow-clan?" Asked Black.
"Just me and Tigerstar." Tawnypelt mewed.
"Two? That's it?" Black mewed.
"Yeah we've had a rough time." Tawnypelt mewed. "How many is in this group of yours?"
"Me and my friends, just seven." Black mewed.
"Can you take to were you cats are?" Juniperpaw mewed.
"Sure, it's not very far. Follow me." Black mewed as he led the way.
It wasn't very far until they arrived to a pit where the group was situated. It was a neat place for a camp to be built but it was a complete mess.
"Looks like we're going to clean this place up." Tawnypelt mewed.
"Yeah and three of us have died due to an inexperienced cat with herbs." Black mewed.
"Your group is trying to have a medicine cat but it's struggling. We should arrange this with Molestar to see if he can send a medicine cat over to help with this cat." Juniperpaw mewed.
"How many medicine cats does your clan have?" Asked Black asked.
"Three with one in training, the oldest is an elder, we have Jayfeather, and Alderheart was the medicine cat's apprentice but he stepped down when I and my sisters were born." Junierpaw mewed.
"Maybe you can arrange for a medicine cat for Shadow-clan's rebuild." Black mewed.
"Sure thing. Also can I have one of your friends to escort me back to find Tigerstar?" Mewed Tawnypelt.
"Sure thing, you're up Pine." Black mewed as Pine quickly bounded his way over. "Pine is this groups fastest cat as he was known to run the river's course and back in one sunrise. You have to be quick to keep up with him."
"I'll try my best." Tawnypelt mewed as Pine began the race as Tawnypelt bounded after him.
Everyone soon headed north as they wanted to loop around and head back to where they began. They headed up hill as they found a large cave. Fortunately, the cave wasn't deep but the entrance was small enough to prevent anything big from entering.
"This will be perfect for the tribe." Juniperpaw mewed as he felt the cool air settle onto him.
"We don't need to stay here forever as we need to keep going." Poppyfrost encouraged him.
"Okay." Juniperpaw mewed as he took a sip from the pond as several cats leaped out at him
"Who are you?" Juniperpaw asked.
"We're the forest runner's ancestors." The she-cat ghost mewed.
"Do you know Star-clan or the Tribe of endless hunting?" Juniperpaw mewed.
"We know the Tribe of endless hunting." The cat's ghost mewed.
"We have a tribe of cats with us." Juniperpaw mewed.
"The Tribe of the Rushing water?" Asked the she-cat.
"Yes." Junierpaw mewed.
"Tell them we have that we have their word." She mewed as she and her friends disappeared. Juniperpaw crawled out as he joined the group as he left an X next to the cave.
"Tribe ancestors?" Asked Tawnypelt.
"Yes." Juniperpaw mewed as he led the cats to find the rest of their territories. They quickly find the Mutts a home alongside the northern section of the land which was a bit more open than the rest.
They approached a gorge that had an open pit but it sloped gently inwards, the place was rich in moss. It was enough that Sky-clan would love the territory. All they had to do was find Wind-clan's territory and that it-self was also very easy. There was a part of the river that the cats found to be very open as it was rich in rabbits.
"Looks like we can tell the clans." Nightcloud mewed.
"We'll be satisfied afterwards." Juniperpaw mewed as they all headed back to where everyone was at.
When they got back the others said there was a log in the forest where it sat close to a Two-leg structure. There was a star carved into the bark as Star-clan would greet them. Everyone was surprise as everyone began to head off to find their territories. Pine was busy leading the way when he wanted to stop by to show something off: A decent sized waterfall that was under 7 different trees.
"This could be the perfect place for the Gathering." Molestar mewed.
"This could be a fun place for apprentices during the Greenleaf months." Pine mewed.
"We'll see you at the gathering." Molestar mewed as he watched Pine, Tawnypelt and Tigerstar bound away.
"They say they call this place Cannonball. They say when the weather is warm enough this place would be swarming with cats." Juniperpaw mewed as he told his leader.
"Okay, show me to the camp." Molestar smiled as the apprentice led the way to the Cedar trees with the hole he fell in. When they arrived, the hole was big enough to fit all of them in there. "You've found yourself a good place to settle in."
"Thank you." Juniperpaw mewed as he went to work to build the camp up.
The clans were busy for the next few days hunting, establishing borders and building their camps. Molestar, Juniperpaw and Lightpaw were all hunting together. A pheasant was nearby as it was plucking the ground for food. Juniperpaw pounced on the pheasant and he was able to pin it, Lightpaw ran in to help and she sunk her teeth into its neck. Molestar padded over as they made the catch.
"You two have made a fine catch of that bird." Molestar congratulated the two apprentices.
"Thanks Molestar." Juniperpaw mewed as his blue eyes met his leaders.
"I know this may seem odd but I'm ready to tear you from your mentors." Molestar mewed.
"Any reason why?" Lightpaw mewed.
"I've seen you two have been a great help to the clans when they moved from the lake to here. And I thought about it long and hard and I think you're ready to leave your apprenticeship training." Molestar mewed. "Your ceremonies will be held at moon high." He soon turned carrying the pheasant back to the camp. Lightpaw and Juniperpaw soon followed as they both felt ready for their surprises.
Epilogue
The sun was setting when the three cats returned to the camp and it was finished. Juniperpaw padded over to Poppyfrost as she was ready to talk to him.
"Bramblepaw and Featherpaw seem to be doing better now that we've moved here. Their training is coming along smoothly." Poppyfrost mewed.
"Yeah and Molestar said that this ceremony would mean I will no longer have you as my mentor." Juniperpaw mewed as he yawned.
"Is Molestar making you a warrior?" Asked Poppyfrost curiously.
"I don't know." Juniperpaw mewed.
Soon Molestar began to run his way up the rocks of the camp as he quickly scrambled to the top.
"Cats of Thunder-clan, it's been a while since I have held a clan meeting but I feel like I need to congratulate two cats that have been vital since the journey here. But looking down upon us tonight is two cats that we would like to make it part of the clan. Lightpaw? Juniperpaw? Do you promise to uphold the warrior code at the cost of your life?" Molestar mewed.
"I do." Lightpaw mewed.
"I do." Juniperpaw mewed.
"Then you will receive your warrior names. Lightpaw you will be Lightheart. Your kindness and generosity as well as your will to help others in times of need, these are qualities in a trustworthy cat that can help bind the clans together in times of need. Juniperpaw, your new name will be Juniperfrost, You have honesty, skill, wisdom and the will to lead on cats to battle or on a long journey have served you well. You're also very compassionate when it comes other cats feelings as you tried to help them out, I've heard back there that you did your best to help Breezepelt before he went to Star-clan. You will make an excellent warrior and maybe even leader if you're lucky. May you two be vigilant until dawn?" Molestar mewed as he jumped off the rocks as he left to two cats to watch over the camp.
[A/N]: It's finally done, not as long as the one before it but I think this still came out to a decent length. Other than Grammar mistakes, I say I did do a pretty good job with this.
Also I was kind of sad seeing Shadow-clan get disbanded in the River of Fire like that so I'm going to make them keep going but they will be small for now. If you want to see a continuation of this where Juniperfrost, Lightheart and several other cats help rebuild shadow-clan? Message me and I would consider that for the future. This is Joseph Ida signing out. Peace!