New Horizons

Chapter 15

The group of twelve padded onwards in silence, Fireheart and Graystripe confused as to why they were headed towards where Ravenpaw, their old friend who many believed to be dead, resided. "We're going to get Ravenpaw and, if he wants to join us, Barley," Weaselpaw explained, noting the two warriors confusion. Although the young RiverClan apprentice had never met the former ThunderClan apprentice, Mistcloud was never short on stories about the raven tom.

After padding silently on for a short while, they soon arrived at the red barn where Ravenpaw was sat outside with Barley. "Ravenpaw!" Fireheart exclaimed, running up to the black tom. Ravenpaw's amber eyes grew wide, growing ever wider upon seeing the group of cats before him. All of them, minus the kits and the apprentice, were old friends of his from when he resided in ThunderClan.

"What's the occasion?" Barley joked before noticing the sombre look on the cats faces. "What happened?"

Mistcloud sighed, placing the two kits she was carrying – Featherkit and Ripplekit – down between her paws. "Me, Feathershade, and Nightstream aren't liked by our Clan after our true heritage was revealed so we're leaving the Clans. Weaselpaw here wanted to join us in our travel. We met Fireheart and Graystripe at Tallpines and asked if they wanted to join us to which they agreed." She explained.

"So why are you here?" Ravenpaw asked from where he was analysing the kits, noticing how one looked very much like its mother.

"We came to ask whether you two would want to join us," Feathershade explained. By now, every cat had put the kit or kits they were carrying down so that it would be easier for them all to discuss. "Mistcloud has a plan, we just need to get to the point where we can execute said plan. Are you two willing to join us on this adventure?"

Barley was silent whilst Ravenpaw nodded away. "What is the plan?" asked Barley. Mistcloud then proceeded to explain the plan she had, getting Barley on board right away. "I may be old, but I'm not old enough to stay still for too long. Though I do like this barn, it's gotten boring recently. I'd like a change of pace."

The cats gathered up the kits, now being able to carry one kit each, and headed off in the direction of sandy hollow where they met with Cinderpaw. "Fireheart? Graystripe? Where are you guys going with all of them?" she mewed. Fireheart placed the kit he was carrying – Stormkit – down to speak with Cinderpaw.

"We're leaving the Clans and heading off," he explained. "Would you like to join us? We'll need a medicine cat." Cinderpaw thought for a moment before nodding and followed the group towards the twoleg places where they noticed a black-and-white tom-cat sitting on the panelled fence.

"Smudge?" asked Fireheart, watching the tom jump down.

"Fireheart?!" he exclaimed with his eyes wide in disbelief. "Look at you! You look amazing!"

"Thanks," he thanked awkwardly before Smudge took notice of the cats behind him.

"Who are they?" he asked.

"Friends I'm traveling with," he mewed in reply. "We're leaving this territory. Care to join? Your twolegs won't be able to boss you around. You would have to hunt for your own food and learn the warrior code, but it's easy when you get the hang of it." Smudge pondered it for a moment, weighing up the pros and cons before nodding, saying that he'd join them. "Great! Let's go." The group was slowly growing with every stop they made. Soon, they'd have a Clan full of cats on their expedition if Fireheart could convince kittypets to join them, as well as any stray warrior or apprentice.