"duskstar! duskstar!"

duskstar smiled, seeing all of his clanmates, for what would be the last time before he died.

"find this camp again, brother. bring orcaclan here, and you will thrive." leopardstrike meowed, smiling.

"but.. wolves live around here!"

leopardstrike looked around. "not anymore, duskstar. do you see how peaceful it is here? you have a new chance at life, so accept it."

duskstar nodded, his mouth lifting into a smile.

"it's time for us to go. bye, brother. i know you'll make us all proud."

duskstar's muzzle opened, ready to argue, but he stopped himself. he had to let them go now. it was time for his leadership to begin.

as he started drifting into awake-ness, he could swear he heard one more sentence.

"when the forest is bright and lit, the dusky night will save the ocean."

----

"ughhh, my legs hurt!" starlingdash complained. "where even are we, duskstar? how do you know where we're going?"

duskstar sighed. this was only about the millionth time starlingdash had complained.

they've been on the move for almost three days now, trying to find their ancestors' camp, with no luck.

but duskstar could feel that they were close- they just had to keep looking.

"starlingdash, if you complain one more time, i swear to starclan i will shove these herbs down your throat so you can't talk." buzzardsnow growled.

buzzardsnow was usually friendly, but duskstar knew he was grieving. he had lost his father, pelicangulp, in the fire, and the two were very close.

duskstar wasn't too upset right now, as he kept his mind on moving forward and finding camp. he didn't want to think of the great fire.

the great fire... the name they had given to the fire that destroyed orcaclan.

duskstar feared for the future- buzzardsnow had been trying his best to heal all the injuries the group had, but he only had limited herbs.

but buzzardsnow insisted there would be more when they find the ancient territory, since the old orcaclan was able to live there.

"if anything, there would be more because herbs spread." buzzardsnow had told him.

duskstar hoped he was correct. they couldn't afford to lose anyone right now.

suddenly, a large hawk flew above the cats over head, and landed on a near by tree branch.

buzzardsnow's eyes widened, and he turned to the group. "follow the hawk!"

ashstumble tilted his head. "w-what? it can kill us!"

buzzardsnow turned back to the large bird, his red eyes desperate. "just trust me... it won't harm us."

citrinedazzle looked at duskstar as if buzzardsnow was crazy.

he knew the cats were waiting for him to order them, not buzzardsnow.

duskstar looked at buzzardsnow, then the hawk.

maybe this was a sign from starclan... buzzardsnow is a medicine cat, he is more likely to get signs than anyone else.

"well, what are we waiting for?" duskstar meowed, jumping up.

his leg ached, but he pushed the pain away.

as soon as all the cats started chasing the hawk, it flew away.

"don't let it get out of your sight!" buzzardsnow ordered, "we must follow it!"

duskstar noticed wildflowers and ashstumble exchanging glances, but they continued to run.

and they ran and ran.

and the hawk flew and flew.

duskstar was tired, and it was obvious everyone else was, too.

duskstar was in the back struggling to keep up with his injured leg, but had to keep ignoring it and pushing.

pushing, pushing, pushing.

running, running, running.

and then the hawk stopped, and the cats did too.

starlingdash collapsed to the forest floor dramatically, as citrinedazzle gasped repeatedly, trying to catch her breath.

but buzzardsnow seemed fine. he watched the hawk for a second, before looking around.

his eyes landed on something, and his eyes lit up.

"duskstar, look!" buzzardsnow exclaimed, pointing his tail at something.

duskstar turned, and noticed a gorse tunnel, similar to the starry lake entrance.

duskstar tilted his head, and walked slowly to it.

buzzardsnow followed close behind, and the rest of the group bounded over.

he sniffed at it, and could smell the scents of nature, similar to the old camp.

duskstar hesitated before entering, and then he froze-

it was the place in his dreams!