Disclaimer – I don't own Warriors.

As soon as her sore paws hit the soft, cool grass, Gingerpaw yowled with excitement. "We made it! We're here!"

"Quiet!" Jayfeather hissed. "You don't know what's inside this forest."

"Hopefully somewhere to live," Cassie snorted.

Echostorm stepped forward. "No, he's right. We need to be careful. There's always a risk of rogues like the ones we ran into on the way here."

Crookedtail nodded. "Stay quiet."

The ginger she-cat rolled her eyes, but nodded. She allowed the two warriors to step in front of her as they scented the air for cats –or anything else that could harm them, for that matter. Eventually, they were in what seemed to be like the heart of the forest.

"This place seems so different from home," Minnowpaw whispered.

Gingerpaw agreed with the gray she-cat. She had never been in a forest before, so she wasn't exactly comfortable in their new territory.

"This is mouse-brained!" Tallpaw hissed. "Only TreeClan cats will be able to successfully live here."

"Stay calm, young one," Jayfeather threw over his shoulder. "All of you will be comfortable in your new home eventually."

Suddenly, there was the sound of a twig snapping and the sudden scent of cat rushed over Gingerpaw. Padding up to Minnowpaw's side, she hissed, "Do you smell that?!"

Before her friend could answer, three cats appeared out of the bracken. One was a large spotted tortoiseshell tom, with what looked like a white apprentice at his side. The third cat was a slender, solid brown she-cat.

"What are you doing here, trespassers?!" the tom hissed.

Echostorm stepped forward and bowed his head. "We mean no threat to you. We are simply looking for a home."

"I believe you're in the wrong place," the she-cat curtly replied. "This is LeafClan's territory."

Jayfeather shook his gray head. "No, you're wrong. This is the right place."

"How would you know?" the apprentice asked.

The she-cat's eyes trailed over towards Jayfeather and the fur on her spine bristled. "You're of StarClan?"

"Yes I am. I don't think I've had the pleasure of meeting you yet. I am Jayfeather."

She nodded. "I am Elmstar, leader of LeafClan. This is Spottedclaw and my apprentice Frostpaw." Elmstar pointed to each cat in turn. "What about you all? Which Clans do you come from?"

"We all come from different Clans," Echostorm explained. "I am Echostorm from TreeClan. Mistpelt, Blackpaw Amberpaw are my Clan mates." The three nodded. "Tallpaw, Birdpaw, Speckledpaw, Crookedtail, Forestgaze, and Firestorm and her kits Sunkit and Rainkit are all from MeadowClan. Minnowpaw and Gingerpaw are from LakeClan. Oh, and Cassie is a loner who guided us through the Twolegplace."

Gingerpaw puffed out her chest as her name was said. She wanted to prove herself worthy to these cats. They were to become her Clan mates or her enemies, after all.

"And I'm assuming that StarClan sent you?" Elmstar prompted.

This time, Forestgaze answered. "Yes. Our Clans are gone or being destroyed as we speak."

"TreeClan is already gone," Blackpaw whispered.

Spottedclaw snorted. "So you expect us to take you in?"

"Not on your life!" Amberpaw snarled and stepped forward. The two locked eyes and stared at each other for what seemed like moons. Finally, Spottedclaw muttered something under his breath and looked away, while Amberpaw growled triumphantly.

"Take it easy, Amberpaw," Echostorm murmured.

"Come," Elmstar turned around and gestured the group with her tail. "You all seem tired. You may come to LeafClan camp to get something to eat and so we can sort this out."

Gingerpaw sighed as she stood up and followed the three. She was glad that they hadn't been attacked, but she couldn't help but feel like something was about to go horribly wrong.

Echostorm couldn't help but fluff up his tail as he took in the stares of contempt he and his friends were getting from the LeafClan warriors. He was for sure of one thing now; they weren't welcome even with Elmstar's permission.

"Who are they?" a small dusky brown tom asked.

Frostpaw, who had walked over to him, muttered, "Outsiders from different Clans and their loner guide."

A pure black tom quickly came over to Elmstar. "Elmstar," he growled. "What is the meaning of this?! Who are these cats?"

"Calm down, Nightfang." Elmstar replied in a soothing voice. "These cats were sent here by StarClan to build their own Clan."

Nightfang, nodded, but Echostorm tensed as he gave him a scathing glare.

"This is Nightfang, my deputy." Elmstar addressed to the group. "He will be with us as we sort this out. But for now, go get something to eat. Get some of your strength back."

The black-pawed tom kept his head low as he passed cats to get to the fresh-kill pile. One scraggly tom hissed in his ear as he walked by: "Enjoy the food we caught."

"I don't like this one bit," Mistpelt whispered as they were sharing a thrush. "We need to talk to Elmstar and then get out of here."

He nodded. "I know."

Soon after everyone was finished, a small black and white she-cat approached them. "I am Blackspots, the medicine cat. Elmstar has told me to come retrieve you all."

Echostorm stood up. "Very well. Let's go."

The medicine cat led them to an old fox den. Inside, there was Elmstar and Nightfang. The deputy still had a hostile look in his yellow eyes when Echostorm nodded towards him. What's his problem? The tom wondered.

"Alright," Elmstar broke the silence. "You are going to be your own Clan, correct?"

Echostorm took this chance to be the speaker. "Yes. Is there any territory that isn't LeafClan's?"

"No, there isn't. The whole forest is ours."

He remained calm, but cursed their luck inside his mind. "I see."

"We could give them a bit of territory surrounding that clearing," Blackspots suggested.

Nightfang growled. "I say we chase them out here and now."

"We cannot do that, Nightfang," Elmstar said in her soft voice. "It is not the will of StarClan."

"Then are we going to just give up prey-rich territory because dead cats tell us to?"

Jayfeather hissed. "I may be dead, but I can tear your fur off anytime!"

Echostorm sighed. Well there goes our peacemaker.

"If you give us that land, we will be in your debt for at least a moon," Forestgaze offered. "We could share a portion of our prey or-

"No," Elmstar interrupted. To Echostorm's surprise, she was staring at the two kits. "I have a better offer. If you haven't noticed, LeafClan has no kits. We only have two apprentices and they are on the verge of becoming warriors."

"What's your point?" Amberpaw hissed.

Suddenly, the leader seemed like less of a friend. "We will give you a portion of our territory on one condition. You give us the kits."

A/N – I don't have much to say. Only one thing.

I have to admit that Amaranth by Nightwish is inspiring me lately.