Another five days had passed since the patrols had gone out. Ashstar remembered seeing Jaywing, who had been wounded so badly by a dog in the twoleg place that she had to stay here. She seemed sad that she couldn't go back to patrolling. The twoleg place patrol had also come back with Rust and Flower, who used to be kittypets. They'd be a great help to the Clans. I kind of like Rust. He seems like he'd be a great leader for ShadowClan. And Flower looks like a great leader for RiverClan.

The patrols hadn't come back since sunrise. He hoped they were doing fine. 

"Ashstar," A voice called. 

Ashstar turned his head to see Rust. 

"I'd like to thank that gray cat for saving me. Do you know where she is?" He asked. 

Ashstar got to his paws. "I'd gladly like to show you," He meowed. Ashstar padded from his den and headed towards the medicine den. The breeze shook the leaves on the trees and ruffled Ashstar's fur. Peace was a nice thing. He stopped in the front of the medicine den. "Alderheart? Mothpaw?" He called.

The vines swished to the medicine den and Mothpaw stuck her head from the den. "Yes?" 

"Rust wants to see Jaywing," Ashstar meowed. 

Mothpaw's head disappeared. A moment later, Jaywing limped from the den. "What?" She asked.

Rust padded closer. "I'm sorry for putting you in danger. And thank you for saving for my life," He meowed.

Jaywing dipped her head. "A true warrior wouldn't have left you to die," She whispered. 

Rust dipped his head to her.

Jaywing turned around and disappeared from Ashstar's sight. 

A light touch on his flank startled Ashstar. He turned to see Cinderheart padding beside him.

"Ashstar, I think it's time that Jaywing's kits became warriors. They've worked hard," She meowed.

"I know," Ashstar purred. He touched her muzzle with his. "I almost thought that we should have more kits," He whispered to her as they started to walk away from the camp.

"Really?" Cinderheart gasped. She looked away. "Just thinking about what happened to our second litter makes me unsure."

Ashstar then remembered. He remembered Softpaw getting killed by her own brother, Wolfpaw. And then Wolfpaw became Wolffang and died, joining the Dark Forest. Then Bunnypelt became a warrior and was out on patrol still. Ashstar worried for him. "But think about our first litter!" He meowed. "Stoneheart and Jaywing have kits. They've grown so fast. And Stoneheart is deputy."

"I know," Cinderheart purred. "I love them. But why did you have to pick Stoneheart to be deputy? I know he's your son and everything, but you could've picked Graystripe," She meowed. 

Ashstar looked away. "I guess it's because Stoneheart is strong and loyal and he's my son," He meowed.

"Leaders don't usually choose their kin to be their deputy," Cinderheart pointed out, flicking her tail. 

Ashstar's ears pricked and he stopped dead in his tracks. 

"What?" Cinderheart asked.

"Shhhh," Ashstar told her. 

Paw steps were coming from the opposite side of Ashstar. He turned but only saw thick clumps of bushes and other greenery.

"Ashstar!" A voice called. "We've found land to live on!" 

Ashstar gasped. "It must be the patrol!" He gasped. He raced toward their voices, jumping over large tree roots and bushes. 

He stopped at a clearing and saw five shapes racing towards him on the hill. The bushes rustled behind Ashstar, and Cinderheart emerged beside him. 

Stoneheart, Graystripe, Sorreltail, Tawnypelt, and Bunnypelt stopped in front of him. 

"Ashstar, I think we've found land," Stoneheart panted. 

Ashstar's eyes widened. "Where?" He asked.

"We couldn't exactly reach it, but it's beyond the mountains," Stoneheart began to explain. "We saw it past the mountains. The forest is large and there's a waterfall pouring down the mountain that spills into one part of the forest and makes a large river! There's even a large moor sitting right beside that!" He meowed. "We saw it all past the mountains! It was beautiful!" He panted.

"Yeah!" Graystripe agreed. He then stepped closer to Ashstar. "Is Jaywing ok?" He asked.

"Yes," Ashstar told him. He padded forward to touch noses with Stoneheart and Bunnypelt. 

Cinderheart rubbed her muzzle against her kit's muzzle's too.

"Lets head back to camp and get ready," Ashstar meowed. "I'd be glad to leave," He nodded to Stoneheart. 

"The patrol I sent out five days ago has returned with amazing news. They've found a large territory beyond the mountains and we'll be leaving tomorrow!" Ashstar meowed.

"Ashstar, what about traveling through the mountains?" Cinderheart asked. "It'll be dangerous. There are blizzards and some cat could fall off and die!" She gasped.

Ashstar looked at her. He completely forgot about the dangers of the mountain. He'd never been there before, but he knew what it was like. And it would be a long journey. He remembered something about a Tribe that lived there. The Tribe of Rushing Water. He remembered that a cat called Stormfur had joined that Tribe. 

"Cinderheart, I have an idea!" He meowed to her. He lifted his head again to look over his Clan. "The Tribe of Rushing Water should be able to help us over the mountains!" He meowed.

The cats down below started talking quietly. 

Ashstar lashed his tail. "We'll be leaving tomorrow," He told them. As the cats went to their dens, Jaywing padded up to Ashstar. "Ummmm, Ashstar," She whispered.

Graystripe padded up beside her, his amber eyes shining proudly. 

Ashstar crawled down from the large rock and looked at them. "What? Do you have any questions about the trip?" He asked.

Jaywing looked at him, her eyes filled with guilt. "I'm expecting Graystripe's kits," She muttered.

Ashstar gasped. "What? But you know we're going through hard times right now! Why'd you have kits at this moment?"

Graystripe took a step in front of Jaywing, almost like he was trying to protect her. "Calm down! It's not like she's going to have the kits right now, she'll be having them in a few moons," He meowed to Ashstar.

"Like I didn't know that," Ashstar growled. He turned away. "Jaywing, I want you in my den," He meowed as he walked towards his den.

Jaywing ran towards him. "Ashstar, I'm sorry!" She meowed to him. "I'm just in love with Graystripe!" She whispered. "And my last mate, Bumblestripe, died," She muttered.

"I remember," Ashstar whispered. "I'm sorry, I just wasn't thinking. It's just that, we're going through hard times right now. And having kits will make this worse," Ashstar meowed. "But sleep in the medicine den tonight. You need to rest," He told her.

Jaywing's head hung low. She turned away from him.

"Good night!" Ashstar called to her, but he didn't get a response back. He crawled into his den and curled up to Cinderheart for warmth. He closed his eyes, sleep drifting over him.