A home found [For ThunderClan]

The past few moons had been rough beyond imaging. Leaf fall was drawing to an end and Leaf bare beginning, but they were stranded to wander the forest without a proper place to rest or settle down. There were kits born, apprentices exhausted and warriors working over time to chase off any potential threats considering they had nothing but each other to protect the Clan. There were no bramble bushes or walls of thorns to protect them anymore. That was a bitter thought. However he couldn't indulge in such things as the Deputy of ThunderClan. He had to fight harder, hunt harder, so that his kin and clan would live to see another day.

It was on one of his routine patrols when he found it, a sight he hadn't seen before. There it was, a stone hollow with caves that lead on for miles. It was a risk to settle there, especially while they had no clue where the caves lead, but it was shelter and far more defensible than where they were now. He had to risk it. His clan couldn't afford to exist in bare minimum protection of leafless bushes any more.

"ThunderClan, let all the clan gather about this tree stump for a clan meeting!" He yowled once he got back to the place they'd made temporary camp. Leafbare snows were starting to coat the forest, kits would freeze if this continued.

Minnowtail padded over. Her eyes were dull with grief for losing two of her daughter's, and her pelt was ruffled and looked like it was unkempt.

Stormpaw followed her mother. He was exhausted and he missed his two sisters who were gone.

Frozenflame's dim amber eyes skimmed over to Duskfall as he padded over. The ginger and grey warrior's whole body screamed with exhaustion, but he was strong and healthy nevertheless.

Winterkit followed. He was really tired.

Minnowtail purred and turned around and picked up her son and carried him the rest of the way.

Pinepaw walked over to duskfall, he missed his two sisters. He walked over to his mentor frozenflame and sat down.

Bluesong padded over to the gathering cats and sat down near Minnowtail. She looked curiously at Duskfall.

--

Dreampaw jumped over to the meeting and sat down.

Viperfang joined his mate in the clearing, pressing against his mate who was looking worrying thin. The warrior knew how hard she'd taken the loss of their kits, but there was nothing he could do. It was no threat he could take on in a fight. "Be strong, my love."

-

"ThunderClan!" Duskfall yowled for all to hear. "I have found a place that may be suitable for us to stay until our camp is cleared of the rubble. The winds and waters have done their part, but it won't be for another moon or so before we can return. Till then, we can stay in a hollow I have found." He sounded confident, as if this was the best decision but Duskfall had some concerns. He still had no clue where the tunnels lead, and also whether predators lurked within. But for now, it was the safest place. Too many had been picked off by predators for his liking. "I suggest we move out tonight, it looks like there will be snow. Kits may not survive the cold. Does anyone have any objections?"

Darkpaw listened with perked ears, relieved at the thought of having a protected place to sleep. Even with only three legs she had tried to support her clan as best she could, hunting whatever crossed her path. She only wished her parents were still alive to help Thunderclan through these difficult times.

Bluesong bopped her head in agreement and let out a small meow of approvement.

Robinflight, wary and tired of being exposed to the elements, was quick to meow her agreement. She was tired of not having the protected camp. An attack could occur at any moment, and she was unnaturally jumpy and easily startled. Her new-found forgetfulness and loss of balance had done some serious damage to her confidence as well. She just looked at her former mentor with weary and defeated eyes, wishing that things could be like they were.

"Very well, Pinepaw get Spottedstar. Then let's be off." Duskfall finished, leaping off the withered stump with a heavy thump in his step. The deputy was just as weary as the rest of them, old bones aching from sleeping on cold hard earth with only twigs and branches for warmth. Looking around, he could see their exhausted faces, his former apprentice Robinflight, Bluesong, and little Darkpaw, who'd lost so much and yet their clan couldn't offer her a second of rest. He hoped, prayed that this was the solution. That maybe in these stony hollows, that they would find their peace.

He gave them all a chance to gather what little they had and to secure all the kits. Duskfall had chosen to carry two squirrels by the tails in his jaw, meagre prey left over, but with Leafbare beginning, wasting food wasn't an option. "Come, follow me." He yowled through his full mouth. His tail flicked in a gesture to follow and he lead them to the Stony Hollow. It was dark, and lacked the green of their previous camp but it had to do. "Apprentices, gather moss and help the queens. Frozenflame, lead a patrol to check the perimeters for danger. Robinflight, lead a hunting patrol, catch whatever you can. Bluesong, gather a few apprentices to start building up our new camp's defences. Does everyone know what to do?"

Spottedstar looked up from her rock overlooking the edge of camp, hearing the announcement but not joining in. Getting up herself, she didn't know quite what to do with herself. Specklefur had been gone for awhile, but it was still unsettling for her.

Nightfire looked up at Duskfall, mentioning Robinflight on a patrol. He better watch her, getting up, he went up next to the she-cat and stayed by her side.

Bluesong nodded and slid off to round up the apprentices. Her pelt was fluffed up with excitement and the prospect of being able to live somewhere other than the open forest.

---

Dreampaw looked up at Nightfire and she shyly padded over to him.
"I'm going to go find herbs... maybe follow Bluesong and the other apprentices?" Dreampaw stated. Her amber eyes never met Nightfire's but inside she was bursting with joy.