The bushes at the edge of the forest rippled as a light brown tabby she-cat with long, sleek fur and bright blue eyes, emerged out of the bushes. The bushes quivered again in a torrent of movement as more cats emerged, until a group of felines stood at the end of the tree line.
"HeatherWing, we have chosen our territory well," mewed a large brown-red tom, his whisker twitching. Other cats murmured their agreement quietly. Every cat looked exhausted, their limbs weighed down by a long journey.
"We must get to camp soon! SongFrost can't travel much further," called a tortoiseshell tom, his voice muffled through the mouthful of herbs he was carrying. The black she-cat next to the tom was leaning on him, her eyes dull with tiredness as she glanced up at the cat's leader.
HeatherWing nodded, glancing around until her blue gaze landed on a dip in the ground ahead, veering into a rocky path down the cliff face, which lead to a small flat surface. Caves and holes were etched into the rock face, creating den like spaces that would be protected from the wind during leaf-care.
The light brown tabby strode forwards, flicking her tail for the cats to follow. Luckily the venture down was short and safe, the path was worn by what seemed to be thousands of ancient paw steps.
"This is perfect!" declared a black tom as he gazed around the rocky sight. It was great for a camp, and over hung a cliff which was surrounded by a great body of water - the sea. HeatherWing padded forwards and placed a paw gently on a small bank of bramble at the edge of the cliff, it was like it had been placed there ages before: to create a natural barrier to stop a cat falling to their death.
Every cat was padding around now, sticking their heads into the future dens with wide open eyes.
"This would make a perfect medicine den!" called the tortoiseshell tom as he padded out from a cave which reached far back into the side of the cliff-face. there was small cracks and crags in the walls that would be used for storing herbs and a small stream that ran through it, before twisting and turning its way through the clearing before dissapearing in a patch of the brambles. And tumbling into the sea.
The black tom approached HeatherWing,
"Have they found a place for you to collect your nine lives?" he asked, worry darkening his eyes.
"Yes, under the rocky patch we are using for the gathering," explained HeatherWing, her voice soothing the tom like a calm wave.
He nodded but his pricked fur and wary eyes betrayed his misgivings, "What will happen now?" he asked.
Heatherwing tipped her head,
"We will live as a normal clan, we will become HeatherClan,"
"We shall live as ThunderClan did in the old forest?" he asked
"No, ClearNight, we will not expel half our warriors just because we have too many cats," growled HeatherWIng, her eyes glowing with rage, "They had no right to fling us into a cold leafbare and let us find a new home,"
ClearNight nodded, his own eyes filling with hate as he thought at what his old clan had done to him.
RookStar's gaze raked the cats beneath his as he spoke,
"ThunderClan is too full, and so are the other clans!" he began, ignoring the confused glances of his clan-mates, "So me and the other leaders have decided to send a group of cats to start a new clan!" a ripple of shock ran through the cats.
"They shall be chosen by me and sent to their knew lives tomorrow,"
The entire clan gathered around as the cats got ready to leave, tearful goodbyes and sorrowful wails of distress filled the clearing. RookStar pushed his way through the crowd and approached a light brown she-cat that was at the head of the group,
"HeatherWing, I appoint you the leader of this new clan," he mewed, even through the cat's eyes blazed with hate,
"Lead them we-"
"Haven't you done enough, O' great leader?" mocked a cat in the crowd, cutting him off, RookStar scowled at him before turning to HeatherWing, and muttering a goodbye. Then the group of cats left, on a journey that the cats had to face alone.
All because of RookStar.
"When are you and the other new leaders collecting your lives togeather?" asked ClearNight,
"Yes, and then there shall be four new clans," she paused, lifting her head upwards to the stars regally, "HeatherClan, TansyClan, NettleClan and ReedClan,"
Now every cat was watching her with captivated eyes, also glancing upwards.
The clans had a new territory