Jaypaw watched as the cats settled into the new life, the first order of Swiftstar is that separation will not be allowed between the new clan. Queens, Elders, Warriors, and apprentices from all four were being grouped into their own dens with each other. Jaypaw could hear the grumbling of the other cats as they settled in.

"Hey! Keep to your own space MoorClan!" growled one of the MountainClan apprentices.

Jaypaw turned around as he watched Howlpaw back up, the cat had a bundle of fresh moss in their jaws. Jaypaw jumped to their side and turned his head towards the larger she-cat. "She's just trying to help, you could've just said that you didn't need any." He meowed calmly.

The MountainClan apprentice, Rosepaw, huffed before turning and settling down in the nest she chose. Jaypaw nodded to Howlpaw before turning towards the nest further away.

Shimmerpaw was moved to under a tree with the other now mixed Medicine cats and apprentices, but Jaypaw took a nest closest two what looks like where she slept earlier that night.

…

"Alright cats, let's get going!" meowed Swiftstar from the far end of the clearing.

Jaypaw's head shot up as the clans started to gather their bearings, the sunlight pouring into the den as he got up onto his paws. He looked over his shoulder at the cats behind him, Ebonypaw and Raggedpaw slowly and groggily got up on their paws from their close nests.

Jaypaw looked over his shoulder at the new clan's previous camp, as they kept to the shadows in the daylight… a relief over the previous trips with more sleep being available. Kits were being carried by their mothers as he barely had enough space to move, as he nudged up against that HillClan queen… Eaglecatcher was it? As she struggled to carry herself towards the clan's destination, her belly weighing her down as the clans kept a steady pace to keep up with them.

Jaypaw dodged as a barrage of kits came tumbling past him, he sighed as he watched them play and the warriors tried to calm them down. "Careful now, we don't want you tumbling off and getting lost."

Jaypaw heard the pitter patter of several paws behind him, flashes of Rose and her gang filled his mind as he froze in place as he glanced over his shoulder.

What looked like the large black tom slipped into the dark alley a while back, followed by cats that he couldn't quite make out. His ears perked as he listened for any sounds, his fur bushing as the clans drifted off further behind him. He turned and rushed towards them, his paws carrying him straight to the front. "We're Being Followed!" he shrieked.

Swiftstar turned to look at the tom as the clans stopped his brow furrowing as he opened his mouth to speak. Before he stopped and his eyes widened, turning towards the alley to the left. "Everyone! Prepare for battle!"

All the cats surrounded the weak as they looked left and right, Jaypaw felt his own fur bush as he followed Swiftstar's gaze. Out from the darkness a group of cats stopped to stare at them, Jaypaw dug his claws into the rough stone surface as he eyed them.

The cats hesitated for a moment, before they were charging straight towards the clans.

"Keep the kits, queens and elders safe!" Swiftstar yowled as he braced himself for the attack, these cats were not as big as the clan thankfully… but they looked mean!"

Jaypaw braced himself as one of the cats slowed down, soon followed by the rest as they neared. A black tom emerged into the light, Jaypaw recognized the tom from the previous glances he could. The piercing blue eyes with a scar running down one side, he looked over the clans as they hesitated.

Swiftstar looked the tom over before Molestar butted in spoke. "Aren't you going to attack?"

The black tom backed off. "Sorry, but you were the ones to show aggression." He growled.

Swiftstar flicked his paw as he settled down. "You were following us, we mistook you for someone else."

Molestar growled as she took a step back, the black tom seemed to still be on his toes however. "I was heading back to our group to the south of here; you seem to be following the same path as we were."

No cat spoke before the tom did. "You question my truths, and you are going past where we are heading."

Swiftstar halted as his tail lashed behind him. "I don't believe I mentioned anything like that, a lucky guess."

The black tom smirk, as his gaze swept over the cats. "Sure… a lucky guess, but interesting to see you." The black tom growled as he looked over Swiftstar's shoulders at Larry who took safety behind him.

"You know him?"

The black tom laughed. "Many moon rises ago, when I was a little kit." He answered before his brow furrowed deeper, as the eyes burned under the lids. "Are you challenging Slash… no, you are looking for a new home. Not too far from his old territory, how interesting. Perhaps I can help you further than this… old timer."

Molestar looked over her shoulder at the tom, before Swiftstar lifted his head and his fur bushed as he dug in his claws. "You are a gifted cat, how are you finding all of this?"

"Lucky guess." The black tom answered.

Molestar leaped forward and pinned the tom against the ground, her claws digging into the tom's neck. "You mock us, answer us! And you will be spared!" she snarled.

The opposing cats surrounded her as Swiftstar rushed to her side. "Stand down Molestar, we do not want to start a battle." He commanded as the she-cat dug her claws deeper, before she stepped off with a spit.

Shadowstar stepped up to the cat's side. "Were you born this way?"

Now it was the black tom that showed aggression. "I don't have to answer anything you ask me, if you don't want our help back off and we will pass!"

Swiftstar dipped his head. "We could use some help, if you know quicker ways to get to our destination?"

The black tom smirked. "Sure enough I do, we travel around this area; but if you want to continue following this tom I can just move on."

Larry seems to begin to panic as he looked around at the cats around him, Swiftstar turned to look over his shoulder at the tom before sighing. "Very well."

Jaypaw watched as the tom looked at his cats, no objections from any of them before the tom spoke. "Alright, but we go separate when we get home."

"It was a plan for all of us." Growled Molestar, as she turned a cold shoulder… and patiently waited for Swiftstar to get the clans back on the path.

"What are your names?"

"I'm Shade." The black tom meowed, before gesturing to his cats. "This is Smoke, Birch, Flame, and Ember." He meowed.

Jaypaw nodded as Swiftstar turned. "Alright, we are continuing forward!" he meowed as the cats eased up.