(To be named later) Peakclan and Waveclan

Prologue

Sun flooded in through the twisted branches of the pohutukawa tree, as Sunpool sat staring towards the lapping waves on the edge of the beach. Her fur ruffled in the evening breeze, pale silvery brown with faint grey stripes that ran across her back. Sunpool's deep amber eyes were swirling with worry; it was Pebblekit and Sandkit's apprentice ceremony today and they were both missing. The two sisters were nowhere to be seen, their scent trail leading out the entrance to the pohutukawa that sheltered their camp. Sunpool knew something was wrong; neither of her daughters would miss their apprenticeship ceremony for anything. Sunpool could tell that both her mate and clan leader had the same worries; Splashstar sat on the highbranch, his eyes glazed with fear for the two young cats. Suddenly a yowl interrupted Sunpool's thoughts. It was Pebblekit! She had burst through the entrance and raced into the middle of the clearing, puffing and looking as if she had ran a long way. "It's Sandkit!" She yowled. "She's gone!"

Gasps rippled through the clan, and the cats who were about to leave for a search party stood alert at the camp entrance. Splash star leaped from the branch to stand in front of the kit, and asked carefully, "What happened?"

"A hawk!" Pebblekit Trembled. "It just... picked her up, and took her!" The young cat fell to the ground, as if every word drained her of energy, she had tears welling up in her eyes.

Splashstar did not try to hide his worry. "But hawks barely ever come here!" He growled, glancing at Sunpool. "They never leave the mountains! Are you sure this is true, Pebblekit?"

"Yes! I saw for myself!" Pebblekit growled, angry that her leader mistook her for a liar. Sunpool knew that her daughter would never lie about something like this!

Sunpool could barely listen anymore, she was too worried about her missing kit, but she knew Sandkit was strong enough to try everything to keep herself safe from danger.

"Splashstar!" Came a deep voice from the shadows at the edge of the clearing. It was Shellheart, and at the sound of his voice, Sunpool felt determination and relief wash over her like the waves that lapped at the shore. Shellheart was her mate, a gentle but strong cat with a rich ginger pelt. "What are we going to do about this? My daughter is being carried away as we speak!" He growled, his claws unsheathed.

Sunpool bravely leaped between the two toms, Just as Splashstar began to snarl back at her mate. "Please don't argue you two, this is a serious situation and we need to stay as calm as we can as we get this sorted out!"

Sunpool watched thankfully as the expressions of both cats softened, claws sheathed once more. Splashstar took a deep breath, as if regaining composition. "We need to send out a search party to retrieve sandkit from the mountains!"

"I already arranged one," Said Shellheart shyly, well aware it was not his duty. "They were about to leave when Pebblekit came back." Shellheart gestured to the camp entrance, where a party of cats waited patiently, Otterpelt, Oceanbreeze, Sandwing, and Rainfur.

"We should add more cats and leave immediately!" Splashstar announced. "Sunpool, Shellheart? Will you two join? It's your kit afterall."

"Of course we will!" Sunpool exclaimed for both her and Shellheart.

"May I come too?" Screeched Pebblekit eagerly. "I'm almost an apprentice, I can handle it!"

"Only if you behave." Splashstar sounded as if he was talking to a kit who was about to leave the nursery for the first time.

"I will, I will!" Pebblekit squealed with excitement.

"Then you may go, and Whisperpaw you can go to"'

"Yippee!" the exited voice came from Whisperpaw who was bouncing on the spot.

The medicine cat Dripfeather handed out bundles of traveling herbs to the cats who were leaving, then they all set off on their journey to the mountains.