Chapter 1: Clan on the run
Pondstar unsheathed and sheathed her claws. She couldn't believe that Dewclan and Gorgeclan drove them out. She hissed to herself in the makeshift den structure for her. She looked out over the small marsh and her clan. She stood up and let out a low yowl.
"All clan members who can catch their own prey, join here in front of me" and sat down, eyes flicking, as the clan gathered. Her deputy, Gorgeclaw, sat up front. She sighed and gazed over the cats, young and old.
"We have been driven from our home by twoleg place and forced to find a new home, I have heard about a clan that lives in the gorge about a 2 days walk from here. You have also heard about the four warrior clans by the lake, well the clan in the gorge is Skyclan, Also known as the old 5th clan of that forest. We will head towards the gorge for a new home tomorrow, everyone get rest, warriors hunt for the ones who cant and medicine cats, attend to all the cats" She said. The clan nodded in unison and they dispersed to do what they have to.
"Whats wrong?" Gorgeclaw asked, padding up to her. Pondstar sighed "Nothing is wrong, I just can't believe what gorgeclan and dewclan did to us" She hissed, sinking her claws into the marsh. Gorgeclaw let out a small hiss.
"Bunch of mangy crowfood eaters" He hissed and then sighed.
"Am I doing the right thing?" She asked him, glancing at the short-haired tom. "Has Starclan destined us to leave the other clans and live in the gorge?"
"Pondstar, I can't answer that for sure, but I know that with you leader, The clan will make it" He said, reassuring the queen. She sighed.
"Thank you Gorgeclaw, but watch over the clan, I need some time alone" She mewed. The young tom nodded and padded off. She yawned and laid down, placing her head on her paws. She was about to fall asleep when two small furry bundles crashed into her side. She saw two brown kits stumble apart.
"Hello little ones" She said, a low purr in her throat. Fernkit looked away and then back at her leader.
"Hi!" Leafkit said, smiling. Fernkit closed her eyes. A dark tabby she-cat rushed over and looked at Pondstar.
"Im sorry, I wasn't watching them" She apologized.
"It's ok Fangpelt, They are fine" She said, smiling at the queen. Fangpelt sighed and picked up her kits by their scruff.
"Oh, um, Fangpelt, could you send Ravenfur to me" She asked. Fangpelt looked back and nodded then rushed into the make-shift nursery. She appeared a few minutes later, kit-less, and stuck her small head into the gray tube that made up the warrior's den. Soon a jet black tom with dark reddish amber eyes joined the small dark tabby. He placed his tail on her shoulder and then padded over to her.
"Yes Pondstar?" He asked in his deep voice. She sighed and sat down.
"I have a job for you when we leave tomorrow, stay with the queens and elders helping with the kits and retired warriors" She said, flicking her tail.
"I will do all in my power to make sure we lose no kits or faithful older warriors" He said, a flicker of pain crossed his eyes with he said that he will make sure that no kits will be lost.
"Thank you, please send me Deerpelt" She said. The black tom nodded and bounded to the warriors den. He stuck his head in and was soon joined by a tan tom with blue eyes. The new tom bounded up to Pondstar
"Yes?" He asked her, flicking his small tail.
"I want you to be in front of the clan with me, Gorgeclaw and Brightstorm, we will be responsible for checking the terrain before the clan. You and Brightstorm will run ahead every few minutes to check the terrain" She said.
"Yes Pondstar, it would be an honor" He mewed.
"Please tell Brightstorm" She said, flicking her tail to send him off. She disappeared into her den and laid down.
Deerpelt nodded and bounded off to the warriors den. He crawled into the entrance. His tan pelt scraped in the brambles. He picked out Brightstorm's tan pelt and padded to his nest next to his empty mate Goldenfur's nest, which was next to her friend Brightstorm's nest.
"Brightstorm" He whispered to her. She grunted awake and looked around, first at her mate Whiteheart then she swiveled her head and blinked her eyes at him.
"Deerpelt?" She asked "what is it?"
"Pondstar wants us to be at front with her and Gorgeclaw. We have to check the terrain in front of the clan" He told her, blinking his brilliant blue eyes. Brightstorm nodded, understanding filled the slightly older warrior's blue eyes. He sighed and laid down, then got to his tired paws.
He headed out of the den and across the small clearing. He headed into the nursery only to be bombarded by a tawny bundle and a tan bundle. He purred as the two bundles tumbled off his sleek tan fur.
"Hello my kits" He said, a grin on his muzzle. A purr rose from a ginger lump in the corner. The lump started standing onto their paws, a lithe cat shape grew. He purred as a ginger cat with blue eyes rubbed her head on his shoulder. The young she-cat had been a warrior for about 12 seasons and 2 moons before she had become pregnant with his kits. He had found her as a 6 moon old with a red collar by the thunder path, when he had ventured out as a 8 moon old apprentice. She had wandered far from her birth twoleg place. She had a brother named Rusty who was from a twoleg place about 5 days away from where she was found.
"Hi Deerpelt" She said in her silky cream voice, "what brings you?" She asked.
"I came to see my kits and beautiful mate" He said, placing his tail on her shoulder.
"I love you" She whispered to him. He purred and rubbed his head on hers. Brownkit and Russetkit gagged and bounded off to play with Fernkit and Leafkit.
He sighed and mewed "I will not be with you during the journey, because Pondstar wants me up front"
She purred "Ok, keep the clan safe" she mewed.
"I will" He said.