Prolouge

Long ago, a lithe golden tabby watched his territory lapped up by hungry flames. Many cats crouched behind him in fear, kits cuddling into their mothers."What do we do, Sunstar?" A she-cat with fur as black as the midnight sky dipped her head from behind him."Nightbird," Sunstar turned to face her and the rest of the clan."We leave. This can no longer be our home. We leave now." Cats gasped, but nobody objected. Nightbird nodded, then pushed then pushed through the crowd to help lead the way. Sunstar followed her, his eyes the sparkling deep blue of the sun-drown place.

"I think it's time we rest." Nightbird laid her silky black tail on Sunstar's broad shoulder."The clan is tired." Sunstar hesitated, but then nodded and turned to address them."We may rest now." The clan sighed in unison, then laid down to rest. Sunstar took in his surroundings as he sat. They were currently in a craggy and narrow mountain path. Threatening, billowing black clouds hung overhead. They rumbled deeply, like a battle growl. Sunstar flattened his ears."Everyone, shelter under ledges. I think it's going to rain." They all obeyed without hesitation, having already noticed the menacing storm approaching.

Sunstar sat straight, watching the heavy rain pound down. His gaze hardly move, except for his occasional glance to Nightbird. He smiled as she helped shelter Honeydew's young kits. She smiled at them, flicking their small noses with her tail. He knew that she would always support him, with that deep friendship that they have had since kit-hood. Maybe it had grown to be even more? Sunstar shook the thought away. He had to focus on the clan. He eventually curled up, shielding his eyes with his tail. Sunstar breathed out his thoughts in one mighty sigh, then fell asleep.

The days dragged on. Despite the storm, the sun blazed down mercilessly upon Stormclan. All the water puddles were almost gone."Sunstar," Nightbird said, her voice slightly raspy from lack of water."Have you noticed? The rocks are such unusual colors." Sunstar heeded his deputies words, looking at the rocks around them. She was indeed right. The rocks were unusual mixes of orange, yellow, and red."I've never seen rocks like these before." He murmured, so that only Nightbird could hear him. She nodded in agreement. They continued on silently. But Newmoon's loud screech stopped them."Help!" She cried."Wrenkit is in danger!" Sunstar and Nightbird ran to where she directed.

"Woah!" They both skidded to a halt, sending pebbles falling over a cliff edge. Their eyes widened as the scene unfolded. After the cliff were hundreds of tree-lengths, full of strange yet beautiful formations. On the one closest to the cliff, was the young Wrenkit, clinging for his life. Nightbird jumped forward, without hesitating. She landed gracefully, quickly grabbing Wrenkit in her jaws, then leaped back. She set him down, watching him run to Newmoon while whimpering. But Nightbird turned her gaze back to the strange formations."I think we should go this way." She said after awhile."I could have sworn I saw a perfect shelter." Sunstar hesitated at this idea."Very well. But I want Whirlwind and Ivoryclaw to stay here with the elders, queens, and kits. If we find ideal shelter, we will come back for you."

They all nodded, and began leaping across with Sunstar in the lead. As they continued, the pillars got shorter and shorter. Eventually, Sunstar's bulky paws landed on a ledge. His eyes beheld a spacious, half dome sort of thing. In the back, he saw a small opening. With a flick of his tail, he, Nightbird, and the other warriors headed towards it. He squeezed in, finding it to be a tunnel. He slowly crawled down, relieved that the tunnel opened up more the farther he went. Suddenly, the tunnel started to slope upwards. He dug his claws into the ground to help elevate him. Sunstar's ginger head poked out of the top, revealing a wide, spacious clearing. The top was exposed, so the whole area was lit. He finally squeezed out, Nightbird right after him. She immediately bounded the the edge and bent over."Look!" She purred in excitement. Sunstar and the other went over curiously."It's a mountain stream!" She mewed happily, bending over once more and lapping some up.

"And it's so wonderfully cool!" She smiled. All the others tried it, quenching their thirst."This will suit us perfectly!" A warrior, Thunderfang, purred deeply. Sunstar nodded in agreement."It's settled. Let's go fetch the others." They all nodded. Sunstar assigned a few warriors to stay there, then the others squeezed back through the tunnel. They hopped back onto the formations, and back to where the rest of their clan-mates were waiting."We found the perfect shelter." Sunstar announced happily, making them all ecstatic."I'll help the elders get across." Nightbird volunteered. She purred at Doveflight and Oakflash, the two clan elders. The others helped carry kits across, guiding the queens along.

Sunstar waited in the clearing. His ears perked and Doveflight slipped into the clearing."Where are Nightbird and Oakflash?" He asked quickly. Doveflight purred."Hold your heart, lover tom. She's just helping Oakflash across the last gap." She smiled at him, heading to the stream. Sunstar blushed deeply under his fur."Right." He said quickly, turning his gaze back to the entrance. The last two finally entered. Sunstar smiled gratefully, then looked around. He found an ideal, large boulder, then pounced onto it in one might leap."Brightclan!" He called with a smile."We have found our new home. Thunderfang said he saw lots of mice and lizards on the way over. This place will provide us perfectly!" Everyone cheered, rested and no longer thirsty."Although it doesn't quite have the full open freedom like the forest, we will still prosper!" He continued, followed by another happy cheer."We shall now establish each of our dens."

He leaped down, padding to Silverstreak."How many herbs did you save?" He asked the gorgeous silver medicine cat."Quite a bit, actually. And I saw tons of herbs on the other side of the formations. I could easily gather more." Sunstar nodded in pleasure. Things were going to be okay after all. He glanced at Nightbird once again, and smiled. Brightclan would prosper once again!