Prologue
Stars glittered coldly in the dark night sky. A stiff leaf-fall breeze rolled across the moor, blowing the heather softly. Moving along quietly, a tom made his way through. Senses alert to any possible patrols, he kept low to avoid being seen; thankful that his dark tabby pelt made him blend easily in the shadows. Ears flat, he scurried along the moorland to seek cover in the trees.
Stepping into the forest, the tom was nearly blown away by the serene feeling that overcame him. Spending his entire life in the twolegplace, he had never once set foot into the forest beyond. The ground underpaw was soft while scents of earth, pine, oak, and prey mingled together. The only sound that could be heard was the quiet rattling of the bear tree branches overhead, and a bubbling stream nearby. Had he really been missing out on a life surrounded by such rich scents? Of relaxing quiet?
Eyes shining through the darkness, he carefully padded along the trail. The scent of cats were stale; and for a moment the tom was worried he had went the wrong way. Did make the wrong turn? Or should he keep moving forward? Snap. A tiny branch crashed down from above. The tom leaped back in surprise, shooting a glance upwards.
Two squirrels chased each other through the trees. Relaxing, the tom focused ahead of him once more. He couldn't stop now that he was so close. Despite exhaustion tugging at his paws heavily, he pushed on. If he were to stop now, he would be exposed to just about anything. He needed to get to his destination first before all else.
I promised Mole, he reminded himself. I have to find the Clans.
Determination pulled him forward, and he struggled to find the strength in his weary limbs to keep walking. He had been traveling since sun-high, in hopes that he would reach the Clans before night fall. However he hadn't anticipated the length of the journey ahead of him. Alongside that, he also had to hide from the patrols that guarded the moor. The place he needed to be lay in the forest.
An owl hooted overhead watching him with its huge yellow eyes. Shuddering at its blank stare, he hurried along. It wasn't safe here; especially at night. He barely even knew where he was supposed to go. All he was told was to find the Clan that resided in the forest. However which Clan he had no idea.
What will they do when I meet them? He wondered, leaping across a tiny stream. Will they accept me? Or will they chase me away?
The only way for him to know was to go there himself. A strong scent of cat overwhelmed his nostrils then, causing him to reel back in surprise. He shook himself before slowly padding forward. There were cats here recently; and by the scent left behind, they were a large group. Heart hammering excitedly in his chest, the tom strode onward. He knew then that he had reached where he needed to be.
He had come home at last.