Lionblaze stood by the camp entrance with Dovewing, Jayfeather, and Crane's Wing. Dovewing was speaking with Ivypool and Jayfeather with Briarlight. Crane's Wing hid behind the golden tom from the glares of some of Lionblaze's clanmates. The clan didn't understand why they were leaving let alone why Crane's Wing, a non-clan cat, got to go rather than one of them and it didn't make the foreign tom feel very good about himself.

Lionblaze took a step away from his friend leaving him to fend for himself and towards Cinderheart. He gave the side of her face a soft lick. She didn't move.

"I wish you didn't have to go," she said quietly. "But I understand why you have to."

Lionblaze nodded. "Thank you."

"You helped me free the spirit in me, the least I could do is be supportive of you doing the same," she said more cheerfully but still quietly so the other cats wouldn't hear.

"And that is one of the many reasons why I love you," Lionblaze told her.

"I love you too," Cinderheart said. "Try to get back before our kits are born."

Lionblaze's gaze shifted from the face of his mate to the swollen flank that held his future children. He was no medicine cat or experienced queen so he couldn't tell how close she was to kitting but she wasn't as big as other queens he'd seen. He hoped they'd be back in time.

"Are you ready?" Jayfeather's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Lionblaze turned to his brother and nodded. With one last goodbye to his mate, Lionblaze followed Jayfeather, Dovewing, and Crane's Wing out of camp.

"This is so cool!" Crane's Wing exclaimed, bouncing on his paws as the group walked out of ThunderClan territory. "I can't believe we're going to the mountains! I've heard so many stories about that place!"

"Calm down, you're wasting energy," Jayfeather grumbled.

"Don't worry, I've traveled for seasons and seasons, I don't tire easily."

Jayfeather looked at his brother. "Lionblaze, you befriended a kit."

"You two are the ones supposedly related to this," Lionblaze responded gesturing at Crane's Wing with his tail.

"Don't bring me into this," Dovewing said.

"I've never met another tribe," Crane's Wing went on. "What are they like?"

"Different from your tribe. Judging from what you told me about it at least," Lionblaze told him. Crane's Wing's tribe was nothing like the Tribe of Rushing Water. It was more like a big group of cats than a tribe. And it was very divided. Many lineages existed within the group and each line remained separate. "They don't have lines."

"I expected that," Crane's Wing nodded. "They've got a Stoneteller, right?"

"Yeah."

"It's probably for the best if you just wait to meet them," Jayfeather said.

"The journey's going to be a few sunrises," Crane's Wing pointed out. "It's not like we have much else to talk about."

"We could just be quiet."

"That's boring."

Jayfeather sighed. Lionblaze snickered in amusement. This was going to be a longer journey for some cats than others.

Author's Note: I wrote this story around three or four months ago, I remember getting writer's block around this part so I slapped the Allegiances in here to make the chapter longer.

Allegiances (Tribe of Rushing Water)

Healer:

Stoneteller/ Crag

Cave Guards:

Stormfur

Moss that Grows by River

Night of No Stars

Pebble that Rolls Down Mountain

Rain that Passes Quickly

Scree Beneath Winter Sky

Sheer Path Beside Waterfall

Prey Hunters:

Brook Where the Small Fish Swim

Dark Shadow on Water

Flight of Startled Heron

Grey Sky Before Dawn

Screech of Angry Owl

Snow Falling on Stones

Splash When Fish Leaps

Wing Shadow Over Water

To-Bes:

Lark that Sings at Dawn

Pine that Clings to Rock

Branch Broken on Stones

Wind that Blows Through Bushes

Elders:

Bird that Rides the Wind

Talon of Swooping Eagle

Cloud with Star in Belly