Shelby is a loner, simple as that. She and her mate, Rushmore, have lived near Twolegplace for as long as she can remember. But when Rushmore passes and she knows she's now alone with his unborn kits, she knows she can't give up. Grieving but determined to survive, she makes the difficult choice to leave the only home she's ever known and search for the Clan cats, the cats who's stories she had only heard as a kit. Hoping they'll accept her and her kits, she's now on a race against time. With her kits due to arrive any day now and winter gripping her icy claws ahold of the land, Shelby is determined to win this race. If not, she'll die trying.