This is in Graystripe's POV and this chapter will be short.
Chapter 10-Newcomer
Graystripe, Autumn, Cheetahpaw, Stonepaw, Yellowpaw, Snowpaw, and Mosspaw were trudging through the snow of the icy mountains. Their thin leaf-green pelts weren't thick enough to keep out the cold. Now Graystripe's other daughter, Starsong, lived with the Tribe, there was no one there to help them. The family was always cold and sometimes hungry. Even though they had spent a moon with the Tribe, they still hunted like forest cats. Most of the time Graystripe and Autumn would each carry one kit on their back or in their mouth for a while but then switch.
One morning, about ten sunrises after they had left the Tribe, the family of seven stumbled upon a miracle. It was a hot spring! The cold cats rushed to the springs as fast as their cold legs would carry them and jumped in. They had never felt better. The springs had drawn some prey out from their hiding places and the family had a feast. They slept in the springs overnight, but in the shallow end. Graystripe and Autumn slept next to each other while the five kits slept near a rock together.
In the morning they awoke to a blazing sun overhead.
"We must have overslept," Graystripe announced.
"Oh well," yawned Yellowpaw.
"Yeah, I'm going back to sleep," stated Stonepaw.
"Me too," said Cheetahpaw. Snowpaw and Mosspaw nodded and were soon sleeping soundly as if they had never woken up. Graystripe saw that Autumn was still sleeping so he decided to hunt for them and guard the springs so no unwanted intruder should hurt his family. Graystripe was soon back with four mice, two voles, and two birds. He had to make two trips though. By the time he was back with the rest of the prey his family had woken up, but Autumn was no where to be seen!
"Kits, where's your mother?" he asked.
"Dunno," replied Snowpaw as he bit into a vole.
"Mom said she though she heard something," stated Mosspaw.
"Where?" questioned Graystripe.
"Over there," replied Cheetahpaw. Graystripe flicked his ears as he soon heard paw steps in the snow but he heard not one pair of steps, but two (I know cats walk on all fours)!
"Autumn?" he called. His mate stepped into view and Graystripe let out a sigh.
"Graystripe, we have a visitor," she announced. A tabby kit appeared behind Autumn.
"Well," said Graystripe, "What's your name?"
"I don't know," the terrified kit replied. Graystripe could tell that this kit was a she-cat.
"Graystripe," started Autumn, "We need to take care of this kit. She has no one. That's why I invited her to come to the springs. She's so cold and skinny. I knew that we could offer her warmth, food, and love. Everything she wants. And she's about the same age as our kits."
"Very well Autumn, but you should make sure it's okay with her."
Autumn nodded, "Dear, would you like me to be your mommy?"
"Oh yes please," the kit replied happily.
"Ok," said Autumn, "First of all, I'm Autumn, this is your new father, Graystripe, and your new siblings, Cheetahpaw, Stonepaw, Yellowpaw, Snowpaw, and Mosspaw. We must find you a name as well and start your warrior training. How about Ivypaw?"
"Oh I like that name. What were you saying about warrior training?" Autumn and Graystripe explained to their new kit about how they were traveling to the forest.
"Ivypaw, tell me. How did you end up in the mountains?"
"Well, my mommy was asleep when I walked out of the cave and my daddy was no where around. I started to take a walk and came to a cliff. I saw a log and tried to cross it but my mommy found me on the log. When she tried to walk across it, the log slipped. I jumped to the other side, but my mommy fell down and I never saw her again."
"I'm so sorry Ivypaw," said Graystripe, "but we must press onward. Let's go. We must move if we are to make it to the forest before the end of leaf-green. Ivypaw, you can tell us more about yourself on the way." The family nodded in agreement. They traveled all that day and through the night. By sunrise they were all tired and ready to sleep when Graystripe said, "Is it just me, or does the snow feel less deep?"
"No, I feel it too," said Autumn.
"That must mean..."started Stonepaw. The family rushed ahead and the snow became shallower and shallower. Suddenly they were at the edge of a cliff and looked down. The sun was rising and the family of eight could see the forest. They had reached their new home and no sight could have been more beautiful!