Half a moon had passed since Snowfeather had begun her journey into the north where MoonClan lay. Along the way, she'd run into a few clans, though they had let her pass by easily, unlike the trouble she had with RainClan.

During this time, she had traveled through the foothills and mountains, coming across strange cats who lived not in clans, but tribes. She had passed by quickly though, not wanting to trouble them.

Now, she was nearly halfway over the mountains, and she was relieved, for she did not like them. Not many trees grew, and eagles and strange animals stirred inside. Some leftover snow still lay on the ground, and Snowfeather tingled as she felt it beneath her paws.

Patch by patch, Snowfeather sometimes walked on the dry dirt, and at other times, the icy snow. An eagle soared up ahead, and Snowfeather ducked, afraid it would leap towards her.

Snowfeather gazed around for some food, though it was hard finding food here. Only birds and eagles flew, and there were no trees to catch birds in. Sometimes, she would come across a lost rabbit or a mouse, but her stomach still grumbled constantly.

The eagle screeched, and Snowfeather felt herself stiffen as she continued to climb through the mountains.

Snowfeather looked up, seeing the eagle had flown away now. Obviously, it had better things to do. Snowfeather sighed as she continued to walk along the dirt path.

She looked up, spotting a few cat-like figures from a distance. These cats seemed to be everywhere, and she wondered how they even caught food up here in the mountains.

She watched as the same eagle flew down, and suddenly, a cat leapt on top of it, sinking its claws into the eagle's wings. The other cats helped, and Snowfeather stood in awe. They had just caught an eagle. It could surely supply food for a moon!

Snowfeather quickened her pace now, wanting to catch up to the cats to ask how they caught the eagle, when a sudden mrrowl of panic came from one of the cats. Snowfeather watched as they all ran away, leaving the dead eagle behind.

Snowfeather was confused. Why had they run away and left their brilliant catch behind? Snowfeather shrugged, not understand the way of the tribe cats. She decided to eat their prey.

If they're just going to leave it there, why not eat it, she thought as she padded towards the fallen eagle.

She approached slowly, slowly beginning to eat the eagle that they had caught. She ate it quickly, her stomach growls decreasing as she continued to eat.

As she ate at the eagle, she heard a footstep behind her. She turned, but nothing lay behind her.

Confused, she continued to eat the eagle, only to hear a sudden growl come from the side of her.

Snowfeather turned, nearly falling over as she gazed at what was in front of her. It was a cat, but it was not a cat like Snowfeather. This cat was large and tan, its brown tipped tail swaying back and forth.

It was like the lions her clans had talked about from LionClan, but this one had no mane, and it was smaller.

The beast let out an ear-piercing growl, coming towards Snowfeather. Snowfeather panicked, beginning to run away from the dead eagle.

The beast chased after her, hissing and screaming. Snowfeather ran as fast as she could, though the creature was fast, and Snowfeather knew it would catch up at some point.

Her heart pounding, Snowfeather climbed up a hill of rocks, a few falling down on the large cat.

The cat still managed to climb after Snowfeather though, and it swung its claw at her, missing Snowfeather by an inch.

Gasping, Snowfeather realized she could not hide any longer. She had to fight back. Snowfeather stopped running, and she turned, facing the animal. She bared her teeth and hissed, and the creature did the same.

Snowfeather suddenly leapt on top of the beast, clawing at its large back. The animal threw her off, and Snowfeather hit the rocks with a thud. The beast came after her, and Snowfeather scurried underneath it, hissing.

Suddenly, Snowfeather heard a mew from a regular cat, not this creature. Snowfeather's eyes widened as a large rock came tumbling down the hill, and Snowfeather quickly scurried out of the way.

The rock hit the gigantic creature with a bang, and the animal rolled down the hill, dazed. Here was Snowfeather's chance!

She leapt on the creature, clawing at it. The animal hissed and cried, though the rock had done damage, and it could not get to its feet.

Suddenly, Snowfeather struck a claw into its neck, killing the creature on impact. The animal hung its head down with a sigh, its chest no longer fluttering up and down.

"Praise the strange cat!" Snowfeather heard a sudden cry.

She turned, seeing about a dozen tribe cats smiling at her.

A gray tabby she-cat smiled, saying, "We've never seen a small cat like you take on a lion like that. Are you experienced?"

"N-No," Snowfeather stuttered. "I'm a clan cat."

Shocks came from the other cats, and a brown tabby tom spoke this time. "How did you know how to kill one?"

"I didn't. I just defended myself," Snowfeather said, looking back at the dead lion.

Suddenly, a young white tom padded forward. "My name is Weasel That Scurries Under Rock, but I am otherwise known as Weasel. You posess odd skills, clan cat. Would you like to join the Tribe of Crashing Waves?"

"Oh, no," Snowfeather spoke quickly. "I'm flattered by your acceptance. My name is Snowfeather, and I am just making my way over the mountain to another clan."

"But why? Where have you come from?"

"A place far away from here," Snowfeather spoke. "Over many mountains and rivers, through many forests. All of my life has been a journey, but I've found the place I need to go now. I am thrilled by your offer, but I must head on my way now."

"You are making a big mistake," Weasel spoke. "You may have killed this lion, but others are past here."

"I'll take my chances, thank you," Snowfeather spoke.

The tribe cats stared at her oddly, and they acknowledged her one last time before turning away. Snowfeather still felt nervous about what they said. More lions were in these mountains? Sure, Snowfeather was able to kill one, but she couldn't kill all.

Sighing, she continued on her journey, past the Tribe of Crashing Waves.

She traveled throughout the rest of the day, her stomach filled from the eagle she had eaten earlier. Nothing else disturbed her. No lions, cats, or any other animals. She felt safe, she felt hopeful.

She had waited long and hard, and she knew MoonClan was close. She was almost to the place where her family laid, and she couldn't wait to see them.

Suddenly, she tensed. What would they say? Would they even remember her? What if they didn't care about her anymore? What if they still hated her?

Snowfeather did not know what to think as she layed down near a log. The sun had descended, and now only bright stars shined up above, their lights twinkling at Snowfeather. Maybe her mother was up there, telling her to not lose hope, though as each day moved forward, Snowfeather lost more.

"I'm trying, Mother," Snowfeather sighed. "I'm really trying."

She gazed at the stars for a few more moments before she eventually closed her eyes and fell asleep, the cold winds of the mountain blowing against her pelt at night.

Snowfeather dreamt she was in a forest. Squirrels and rabbits zoomed by, and Snowfeather could tell she was in StarClan.

She looked up, wondering why she was here. Were Silverwhisker and Stonecloud giving her another message? She was not sure.

Suddenly, she noticed a familiar pair of bright blue eyes making their way towards her, and she nearly screeched at the pure white pelt of the cat.

"MOTHER!" Snowfeather screeched, running towards the she-cat.

Her mother smiled at her, purring at her daughter. "Oh, Snowfeather. It's been so long," she purred.

Snowfeather let the tears slide down her face as she buried her face in her mother's soft pelt. Her mother was still taller than her, though Snowfeather realized she had grown, and she was no longer the small kit bundled up in her mother's tail.

"I've missed you so much," Snowfeather wailed.

Her mother wrapped her feathery tail around Snowfeather. "And I've missed you. I am very happy to see you have survived, Snowfeather."

"Mother, why did you leave me?" Snowfeather asked with teary blue eyes.

Her mother sighed, gazing down. "I did not want to, Snowfeather. But exile could not reconsidered. I had two other kits to look after too, and I did not want the clan to hurt Flightpaw and Icepaw because their mother had not gone along with BloodClan's plans. I did not want to leave you, Snowfeather. But I had to."

"I understand," Snowfeather sighed.

"You have every right to be mad at me," Snowfeather spoke. "You ended up living better than the family."

"What was it like? What was it like with Moonstar?"

"She's evil, malicious, and can't be trusted. I practically raised her four kits. Every cat in that clan was pure evil, and I'm glad I finally stood up to opression. I could not live in another clan where evil was done over good."

Snowfeather smiled at this. Her mother was still the same.

"Now, why have you lost hope?" her mother asked.

"You listened," Snowfeather smiled.

"Of course I did," her mother replied.

"Well," Snowfeather looked down at her paws. "What if Whiteclaw-Bone, sorry, Ice, and Tooth do not accept me? What if they don't even remember me?"

"They will remember you, Snowfeather. They always have. Do not worry. They will have to accept you. Some of them have had a change of heart …"

Some? What did her mother mean by some, or who?

"Thank you, Mother. I will try my best."

"You're welcome. MoonClan lies just ahead, my dear," her mother smiled, standing up. As her mother slowly began to walk away, Snowfeather suddenly spoke up.

"Wait!"

Her mother turned, gazing at her daughter.

"Tell Silverwhisker and Stonecloud 'hi' for me."

Her mother laughed and nodded, elegantly striding away. Snowfeather smiled as she caught the last glimpse of her mother, then everything faded, and she awoke.