Chapter 1
Swirlstar was crouched in her den, light filtered in from the gap in the rock filling the den with warm air. Birds sang over head as the sun begun to rise. Noises started to come from the camp as the hunting patrol of Shadowheart and Flamepaw began to leave.
She signed as she saw at how small her clan was, they had no enemy clans but if badgers attacked they would have no hope in wining. She silently got to her paws and padded out from her den to find tiger kit pouncing around a plump thresh pretending to catch it.
She smiled at the young kit. "Like this" she meowed lowing down into a hunters crouch. She silently and carefully crawled along before pouncing on the plump vole. She gestured with the kit to try. The kit crouched low stalking forward and pounced tripping over its tail. Tigerkit got up head and tail high "I will become the best hunter in the clan" he meowed proudly "Well after I stop falling over my tail" he let out with a laugh.
Swirlstar padded away from the kit, she longed to be out in the forest running but she could not go unless someone looked after the kit. They found her alone in twoleg place, lost and lonely. They found her and brought her back with them only moons ago.
Swirlstar had run away from her old clan as she was a half clan cat and they would of never excepted her, they had made that clear. She got the courage one day to run and start her own clan where they were loyal and caring. Shadowheart and flame paw had come with her. Shadowheart being her sister and never would have been accepted. Flamepaw came as she was weak with a bad paw and the clan threw her out and called her useless. Her paw quickly healed when they found a new home.
Shadowheart and Flamepaw emerged from the entrance as the sun was at its highest. They carried two mice and a crow. They nodded there heads towards Swirlstar before heading to the fresh kill pile beside her to put the prey.
Swirlstar turned to Shadow heart "Going out into the forest" she meowed before she lead her self up the hollow into the forest. The wind blew through her fur sending shivers down her spine.
She lifted her nose and sniffed the air smelling loners. Her ears pricked before she crouched low following the scent trying not to be seen. As she got closer to a grassy space where they trained there apprentices she saw two toms. She stared at them, they were both skinny and looked weak but she knew she could not underestimate them.
She padded out of the undergrowth her teeth on show as she snarled at the intruders. "What are you doing on Swiftclan's territory". They stared at her with pure wonder. "Explain your self" she hissed.
"We are not looking for trouble" a bracken coloured tom replied "Just food and somewhere to rest" the other tom nodded.
"I could help you" Swirlstar replied with caution "But how do I know I can trust you"
The two toms looked at her with pleading eyes. "Follow me but remember you will be watched very closely till we know you can trust you."
"We?" replied a light grey tom with a white underbelly. Swirlstar nodded "We, there are more of us at the hollow"
The two toms followed her through the forest, Swirlstar behind them so they didn't try to surprise attack her. As they drew nearer to the camp the toms begun to bristle. "They won't hurt you unless you hurt them or I command them" she replied.
The toms nodded and padded on following the strong scent of cats. As they padded to the top of the hollow they looked down in wonder as they saw they saw the apprentice and mentor sharing tongues and the kit playing with a crow.