The new RiverClan leader stood, head bowed, as Leopardstar was carried past. She was supported by Swallowtail and Dapplenose. The two warriors quickly disappeared in the hollow of Fourtrees. It had seemed only fitting that the leader be buried in a sacred place of StarClan, since they weren't in their camp.

Mistyfoot stood, signaling to her Clan with a sweep of her tail. The tired cats turned to face her, eyes dull as stones. "RiverClan, we will begin our journey at sunhigh. For now, we must all rest and gather our strength. Dawnflower, Pouncetail, and Beechfur, see if you can find some prey. The rest of us will rest,"

Mistyfoot jumped off of her rock as the rest of the Clan formed a sleeping mass of bodies on the driest patch of ground they could find. The strongest warriors were on the outside, the weakest protected and cushioned by their body heat. Soon Dapplenose and Swallowtail appeared. Swallowtail padded quietly into the center and set down to rest, while Dapplenose chose a spot in right behind the first row of bodies. She curled into a tight ball and was asleep almost immediately.

The cold winds of leaf bare stung their pelts, but the Clan eventually slept. Mistyfoot watched as they dropped off, one by one, and her eyes grew warm. The Clan was always working to protect each other. When RiverClan is threatened, we rise as one to protect us all.

Reedwhisker was keeping watch. Mistyfoot nodded her thanks to him as she found a place on the outside of the circle and slept.

She woke as the sun reached its highest point. Some of her Clan were already awake. She stood hastily and shook out her pelt, scenting the air. The entire Clan was back at 'camp'. Nodding, she glanced for Reedwhisker and saw her deputy curled up on the ground. Blackclaw had taken his place, and he was now guarding a fresh kill pile. Mistyfoot quickly assessed the contents and opted to not have anything.

Stretching out her legs in turn, she opened her mouth and uttered a long, drawn out yowl. The Clan turned to her, the sleeping cats awakening and copying her stretch-out movements. Then they turned to her, their lackluster eyes suddenly brightening with hope. StarClan would be with them by the end of the night.

"RiverClan!" yowled Mistyfoot. "Today we depart to Highstones. Tonight we find sanctuary at Mothermouth's slopes. Warriors, support the weak. We will reach Mothermouth together,"

She closed her mouth, flicked her tail, and led her Clan into the ocean that was WindClan's old territory.

Very shortly her paws couldn't find solid ground, and she started to swim. Her muscles moved in rhythm as she paddled through the water. She kept her eyes above the water, surprised as she saw the great expanse in front of her. It all looked very big, and was glaring white in her eyes because of the sun. She squinted to see her way, feeling uncomfortable for once in water.

No ground met her paws for a long time, and she began to pant. Her Clan echoed her, some panting more heavily than others. How long could this territory go on for? Surely there was some dry ground where the hills used to be?

Mistyfoot gasped as a sharp pain started in her side. RiverClan couldn't go on swimming for much longer. Every stroke was an effort, and every breath seared her ribs. She needed to stop and rest. But would there ever be any solace in this unforgiving territory?

A startled hiss rushed through her lips as something brushed her paws. She strained to see down but was too fixed on looking ahead. If she looked she would sink, and no RiverClan cat could dive.

The brushing happened again, and this time a cat nearby echoed her. "What was that?" whispered Rippletail. It was all he could manage to say because of his labored breathing.

Suddenly, with a splash, the silver body of a fish exploded out of the water, arced into the air, and then disappeared back into the depths. Startled yowling exploded on all sides, and even Mistyfoot couldn't hold back a startled hiss.

Then Minnowstream's amused meow came from somewhere behind Mistyfoot. "It's only a fish!" she remarked. She didn't seem to be breathing as heavily as the rest. Mistyfoot was mystified by this, but didn't question it for long.

"Keep going," she managed to hiss quickly. Any lapse in breathing now would result in her being too short on breath to go much further.

The sun beat its currently unforgiving rays down on the cats' bodies. The water was painted the bright white of the full moon. It was never ending, stretching in all directions, and Mistyfoot was tired, oh so tired……

She was aware of a sudden lapse in sound around her. She was floating, her head sinking below the waves.....

There was a sudden hiss in her ear. "You're on land leader," Mistyfoot's blue eyes flashed open and stared into the dark blue ones of a pure black tom. She tried to say something but only spluttered, water gushing out of her nose, ears, and mouth.

There was a hiss at her side. "Mistyfoot! Are you okay?" She turned and saw Mothwing standing there, worry in her amber eyes. "M'allight," she slurred, still recovering. Mothwing didn't believe her; the medicine cat bent down and listened to her breathing.

"Is she okay?" came the calm voice of Reedwhisker. The black deputy was standing at the head of the Clan, his voice struggling to mask his panic, the panic blatant in his amber eyes.

"She's getting better," meowed Mothwing, her eyes narrowed. "O'curse I'm," slurred Mistyfoot again, water still pouring from her mouth. Reedwhisker visibly relaxed, but his gaze now turned to the rogue who had helped his leader.

"Who are you?" he meowed, his amber eyes now warm. "You saved my leader, and the Clan owes their thanks to you,"

Mistyfoot interrupted the conversation. "What happened to me?" she meowed, her voice becoming normal as the water finished expelling itself from her system.

"You were starting to sink just as the end of this wretched territory appeared. The only reason the Clan didn't follow you was because you were drowning. We were finding the strength to save you when this rogue appeared and saved you," Reedwhisker meowed.

Mistyfoot turned to the black tom, her eyes brightening. "I thank you, as does RiverClan," she meowed formally. "What is your name?"

The black tom blinked his dark blue eyes slowly and gratefully. "My name is Night," he meowed. "And I want to join the Clans,"