Duststep staggered forward, his paws heavy with exhaustion. He came to a quick stop and looked down to see a cliff that was hidden by tall grass.
"Why'd we stop?" a mew was heard behind him. A bulky brown tabby tom and a small black and white she-cat came to stand at his sides. Below them was a ravine that can to a rough end a few fox lengths right but ranged far along the left side as far as the cats could see.
"What should we do Duststep?" The black and white she-cat asked.
He stayed silent for a few seconds, pondering until finally he meowed loud enough for the few cats behind him to hear, "Follow the trail and see what we find, the walls are curved so we can keep dry under there." And with a swipe of his tail, Duststep continued forward the cats right behind him.
Moons passed and the cats began to settle in to their new camp.
"Duststep, it is time we become a clan again. We can not longer act as rogues. We need borders, a name, and a 'star." A tall ginger she-cat had mentioned to Duststep. He sent her away and spent two sunrises doing nothing about it until finally he came out of his den and hopped onto a tall stump just outside his den.
"Cats, please gather." He instructed and the cats did as told, "we have lived here for three moons and i can see we've grown stronger as a group of fallen clan cats. That lasts no longer because today we become a clan. I will lead as Duststar with my deputy, Poppywhisker." The cats shared glaces with one another, their tails twitching with excitement.
"DustClan will be strong with cats from all four clans!" an elder shouted.
"Our name will not be DustClan. It is MagnoliaClan, named after my mate who died on the journey." the cats eyes shone with grief in the clearing below. Magnolia, even though she wasn't clanborn she was a great leader who got along well with the cats who accepted her and lead them to find a new home but died of an unknown sickness half way along.
"MagnoliaClan, MagnoliaClan, MagnoliaClan!" the clan shouted below, Duststep's eyes shone with pride as he hopped down to join Poppywhisker. This was the beginning of a new clan.
