The dawning sun's light stretched along the stone ground of the warrior camp. All was silent except the slight breeze rustling the tree's leaves. Even the dawn patrol warriors were still asleep.

A few moments later, quiet paw steps could be heard and a gray-pelted warrior stepped out into the light, his fur rippling in the wind. This cat was no ordinary warrior. He was Thornstar, leader of FlameClan.

Thornstar had been quite lonely for the moon his mate spent in the nursery. And still, she was in there taking care of his three young kits. So, every morning Thornstar got up and went to hunt alone, as he was doing now.

Silently, he trekked across the stone camp and out into the dark woods ahead. The sunlight was not strong enough yet to illuminate the thick forest surrounding the camp, so it was as dark as a cloudy night inside.

For Thornstar, hunting alone was a way to clear his head and allow him to think. Though he was alone, he never felt lonely in FlameClan's woods.

At the current time of day, prey often was most abundant near the unclaimed territory between FlameClan and RainClan. He wouldn't dare venture too far in alone, but he could go a ways without being detected by RainClan patrols.

Of course, as soon as the forest began to thin, Thornstar picked up traces of a mouse. It was the end of newleaf, so the mouse had to be quite fat. Perfect for a nursing queen.

Thornstar dropped into a hunting crouch and silently followed the scent, being sure to stay downwind. Still, the only sound was leaves rustling above and the occasional merlin singing to other songbirds.

Soon, the mouse, large and delicious, was in view. Just looking at it made Thornstar's mouth water, but he reminded himself that this catch wasn't for him. The mouse stopped and raised its head.

Thornstar lept on top of it and unsheathed his claws. The mouse went limp and Thornstar picked it up in his jaw, warm blood seeping out of the body and onto his tongue.

Thornstar padded over to the nearest tree and dug a hole at the base. When the hole was deep enough, he dropped the freshkill into it and covered it up.

While I'm out here, I might as well catch more, Thornstar thought.

Thornstar hunted for what felt like forever. His silence and patience had gotten him multiple thrushes, squirrels, mice, and starlings, Thornstar's favorite. He could've kept hunting, but Thornstar's hiding spot was getting quite full and he was a little tired.

Sorrelfoot is not going to be happy that I hunted so much, Thornstar thought and chuckled aloud. After digging up the fat mouse he caught first, Thornstar trekked back to FlameClan's camp.

Surely enough, as Thornstar entered the camp he was immediately pestered by a young tortoiseshell-and-white she-cat.

"Where were you all morning?" she asked impatiently.

"I wah huning," Thornstar replied as best he could with the mouse in his mouth.

"How many times have I said that I organize patrols to do that for us?"

Thornstar stopped and laid the mouse by his paws so he could speak clearly. "It helps me relax."

"Relax? Wow, I didn't know you were that uptight," the she-cat joked.

Thornstar smiled and said, "I can show one of the patrols where the freshkill is buried."

"I'm sure you found enough to feed the entire Clan."

"Sorrelfoot, sometimes you need to relax."

"Me? Well, now, I am always relaxed!"

Both of the cats laughed. The leader and deputy of FlameClan were very close, however they were not mates. Sorrelfoot never cared to search for one and Thornstar's heart would always belong to another's

"Well, I better go give this to Goldenspirit," Thornstar told Sorrelfoot and picked up the mouse.

"I'll have a patrol ready to help carry back the freshkill when your done."

Thornstar nodded and headed towards the nursery, mouse in jaws. The nursery was a nice set of brambles with enough room for at least five queens, only two occupied the space.

"Ah, and the father decides to come today," purred the new queen whose belly was barely swollen.

"Nice to see you too, Leaffrost," Thornstar said.

As her name suggested, Leaffrost was often candid and always stated her opinion, but she was a good cat.

"It seems you've got a nice present, Goldenspirit," the lilac tabby declared.

The other queen, a golden-furred she-cat, was Goldenspirit. Thornstar's mate and mother to their three kits. All newborns, their eyes hadn't opened and they were quite small.

Thornstar carefully padded over to Goldenspirit and dropped the mouse by her.

"I did a bit of hunting this morning," he told her.

"From what I hear, apparently you've hunted enough that we don't need hunting patrols anymore," Goldenspirit announced.

"Yes. I did hunt a lot."

"Well, you go and get the rest of it. I'm not the only one in this Clan that's hungry."

Thornstar chuckled and said a quick goodbye before joining Sorreltail and three other warriors.

"It's just beneath this tree," Thornstar told the patrol as he stopped in front of the disturbed ground.

A light gray tabby she-cat named Timberfrost helped Thornstar dig up the freshkill he had hunted that morning.

"Great SpiritClan, you killed a lot of prey," Timberfrost exclaimed once the freshkill was uncovered.

"Timberfrost, Thistlefern, grab as much as you can and take it back to camp. Anything you can't carry we'll take back."

Timberfrost nodded and began picking out freshkill with a light brown tom.

During the short silence, a quiet mewl sounded. Thornstar pricked up his ears.

"What is it?" the third cat, a light brown tabby tom, asked.

"I'm not sure, Riverwind."

Everyone silent for a moment, letting the leader listen. Another meow could be heard.

Sorrelfoot began sniffing around for new scents. However, there were none. So, the warrior cats waited until another sound was made.

There was a whimper and Sorrelfoot dashed off into the unclaimed territory. Riverwind and Thornstar followed closely behind.

The she-cat jumped off of the small hill and skidded to a stop. The other two toms slowed up and stood by her side.

In a small crevice in the rocky hill, a white-furred kit was curled up in a ball. The kit was quite loudly mewling and whining.

"Aw, the poor thing," Sorrelfoot said. She slowly padded over to it and began licking it and cooing.

"It's been abandoned..." Thornstar declared.

"Do you think it's a rogue's?" Riverwind questioned.

"No," Thornstar replied. "A mother would never leave her kit alone. She must be dead."

"And the little one was left."

Thornstar nodded as Sorrelfoot returned to them, the kit in her jaws.

"I take to Finingceek," Sorrelfoot announced, her mouth full of fur.

"Go on ahead," Thornstar said. "Well come back after the prey has been collected."

Sorrelfoot ran back towards the camp as fast as she could. After she was gone, Thornstar turned to Riverwind.

"You and the others keep this quiet," he ordered.

"Why?" Riverwind. "I don't see a problem with a kit growing up in a Clan without being born in it."

"We both know who will end up taking care of it. I don't want it to feel like an outsider."

"What about the rest of the Clan?"

"They haven't seen the kits due to them just being born. Goldenspirit wanted to surprise everyone when the kits were old enough to get out of the nursery. I'll talk to Leaffrost later."

Riverwind nodded and headed towards the others.

Thornstar started at where the kit was found.

It will need a name... I will be its father and I want it to feel accepted. My new kit needs a name. Hm... White fur... Snow. Ah, yes. The perfect name. My son or daughter will be named Snowkit.