So The Journey Begins....

[♥Adara]

Adara awoke at the break of dawn, her small woven basket sat just beside a window that allowed the few stray beams of sunlight that had broken through the clouds to caress her cream hued coat. It was reluctantly that she opened her stunning blue eyes, blinking lethargically as her little jaw opened into a wide yawn exposing her white needle like kitten teeth. Stretching out her form her little digits spread making her paws look bigger as momentarily her nails unsheathed themselves. Then she relaxed her dark colored paws running back across the pink fluffy material that lined her bed. For a moment she just nuzzled her head down, trying to get back to sleep until she remembered what day it was.

Leaping out of the bed without a moment to lose she shook her head and glanced back at the bed. God she disgusted herself sometimes, she swore she would never sleep in a basket again, so that when she left to join the fabled clans she wouldn’t struggle to sleep out on the hard ground. But here she was. The morning she was going to leave all cuddled up like a true house pet. Trotting towards her bowls she glanced down at the hard fish shaped biscuits; she had been practicing her hunting but… She did have a big day ahead of her so she decided she would eat something just to be safe. She didn’t have time to catch anything on her big long journey through the forest and she didn’t want to starve. Slowly crunching down on a decent meal of fishy treats she lapped up some crystal clear water from her ceramic bowl and slipped out the kitty door put in place by her human.

Trotting out through the dew laced grass she tried not to hop around a look like a total pet but it was cold and wet so she raised her paws up way clear of the grass before taking a step. Clambering up the lumber pile pressed up against her back fence she stood with her two little paws pressed into the wooden fence and gazed out towards the trees. At this point most kittens would be indecisive about leaving their comfortable homes but not Adara. She knew what she wanted and she knew that if she didn’t leave now she would regret it forever so within seconds she had pulled her slender, agile body up over the fence and landed on the grass on the other side with a satisfying thud.

---

She had been walking for hours, she was sure of it now, the sun was now high in the sky but black clouds prevented any of the warming rays from helping guide the little kitten’s path. She stumbled and tripped and slipped in the darkness of the undergrowth. She had started out the day running, but now she was getting tired and clumsy. Usually she was as agile as a breeze and slippery as a river but now she was getting tired and despite being rather fit she hadn’t slept to well that night and she had started the day off without even considering pacing herself. Now she was paying for it. She was sure she would have found the clans by now but she hadn’t even caught the slightest sniff of their scent since she had been outside the fence. But that wasn’t going to stop her, she was more determined to do this then she had been anything in her life. So shaking her little head as a heavy droplet of water fell from the foliage above and hit her square on the nose she began to walk a little faster and a little stronger and stopped slipping.

---

Maybe she had been optimistic, it was getting late now and she was lost. There was no way she was going to find her way out of the forest let alone back home. She had finally found the scent of other cats, strong scents, weak scents, new scents and old. But she had not even seen one cat. Sometimes she just felt the presence of another creeping up behind her, ready to pounce but when she turned there was no one there. Glancing upwards she couldn’t even see the sun through the dense brush but should her view of been clear she still would not have seen anything. The sun was low on the horizon, its last few rays dancing across the land but it was not enough to light up the darkness of the forest. Adara was wet, cold and hungry but she wasn’t going to get scared or complain or give up. Glancing about with her wide blue eyes, a stubborn look printed across her gentle features she noticed a small hollow in the bottom of maple that grew near an enormous oak that appeared to have been cut in half not to far away.

Creeping towards the tree she glanced around, “Hullo?” she called out tentatively, she didn’t want to disturb anyone who could be sleeping or trying to sleep in there. That would be rude and unnecessary, she was a guest to the forest and she had no business stirring trouble. Poking her head into the hole she squeaked a little “Anyone there?” but there wasn’t. Creeping into the cold but dry little hollow she curled her dark tail around her cream body and pressed herself up against the back where she would be safer. That way she could see who was attacking should they try. Now she was struggling to stay awake, her eyelids were heavy, trying to flutter down over her blue eyes.
However she wasn’t quite asleep. She ran over her plan for the next day.
Find the clans.
Lie and say she was 6 moons old so she could become an apprentice.
Meet some kits of the clan and learn how to behave.
Find a mentor.
Settle in.
It was a big ask and she knew it, but she had always set her sights high and when she achieved them there was no better feeling of accomplishment. And within seconds her eyes had fallen closed and he heavy head placed itself on her paws. Tomorrow. There was always tomorrow her mind was sure. Little did she know she was only about 50feet from the clan’s camp itself.

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[moonheart]

After Dawnclouds encounter with Bloodclaw and her little fight with Night, she decided to let them talk in peace, and went off for a bit to hunt. She was happy to see Bloodclaw back, surely Night had convinced him to stay for he would be a great loss if he left again. After leaving from the Badger Set Dawncloud decided to hunt over by the Burnt Oak, it was a nice little place, full with prey, hopefully, for the clan was running low on food. Upon reaching the tree Dawncloud thought she saw little paw steps in the ground. She was a good hunter so she took every little detail in. Looking around and sniffing the air Dawncloud thought she caught a sweet scent, but not sweet like her own honey scent, it was the scent of a kittypet. "What in the world would a kittypet be doing out here?" she hissed as she followed the paw prints toward the tree. Poking her head inside she saw the outline of a cat, it's body lifted and fell showing that it was breathing. Dawncloud began to curl her lip up in a snarl and bared her teeth. "Wake up kittypet!" she spat.

[♥Adara]

Adara's little body was curled up as tightly as possible; her long chocolate colored tail wrapped around her little form as she slept. It was peaceful out in the forest she found, no one was yelling and no dogs were barking. So she slept on, her dreams were sweet ones. Of home in the cattery with her family, her brothers and her sisters and how she had been so determined to be the best of the best. Suddenly a loud voice cut through the air like a thousand blades. However Adara was exhausted and he reflexes weren’t quite as keen as they usually were and it took her a moment to wake up. Blinking slowly she glanced around as if unsure of where she was, like she had been misplaced but then it all came back to her and she looked towards the voice that had yelled without the slightest glimmer of fear.

Raising her little paw to her little maw she brushed a little droplet of her own saliva that had found its way onto her chocolate colored jaw. Sitting up slowly she shook her head as if to wake herself up a little and abruptly realized what she had done. She had found a clan cat! Well really the clan cat had found her but that was completely beside the point. She was very much awake all of a sudden and she leapt out of the tree hollow to stand before this female. "Awh Wow!" she cried looking at how big and muscular this cat was compared to the ones she was used too. "You must be a warrior" she said in her little squeak of a voice, "I've heard about warriors, See I knew this alley cat and he used to talk about you clan cats alllll the time" she said placing her little behind down on the wet grass and starting to ramble. She wasn’t at all shy, in fact she was quite the opposite and it was even adorable the way she was so keen to speak to the bigger proud cat.

Opening her little mouth the talking started, and once you got her started it was hard to stop. "He said you guys even kill other cats some times! In like wars and stuff. Heh, I'm Adara!" she said not showing the slightest sign of fear or even being nervous. "See I followed your scents out here" she said in an almost proud tone but it was well disguised by her pure awe, "Lucky I found you huh?" she questioned quickly. She was talking so fast it was almost hard to understand. "Cause boy am I starving..." looking around with her crystal blue eyes she didn’t seem to see what she was looking for.”Got nething to eat?" she asked turning her startling, brave eyes towards this shecat with a questioning demeanor.

[moonheart]

Dawncloud was actually pretty surprised at the spunk this she-cat had. She knew she could tear her up for being on NightClan territory but that went against Dawncloud's nature. She loved kits, and by the look of Adara she was most definitely a kit. Listening to her ramble on Dawncloud thought about what she should do with the kit. She was impressed that a mere kittypet followed the scent of her clan all the way out here, and her blue little eyes made Dawncloud's heart melt. She just didn't know what to do, but she knew that she could not hurt this little one. "Shhh.." she began to say and pulled the little she-cat close to her, "listen i am very happy that you found your way all the way out here, but I'm not sure this is where you belong little one. I mean i don't think you would fit in well with the clan cats." Dawncloud hoped she wasn't being to mean, the last thing she wanted to do was hurt this poor kits feelings but she didn't know if she could stay. It most definitely was not her choice. But by looking at the kit Dawncloud could see that she could make a great warrior some day. She was healthy, bouncy, and over all cute. Ohh how i wish i could take her with me, Dawncloud thought.

[♥Adara]

Adara stopped talking as the pretty shecat warrior emitted a soft comforting hush, glancing up Adara noted the warriors eyes were soft and her voice was soothing. Instantly she took a liking to her. But that was Adara really, she loved everyone. Even those who hated her. She had to admit she was a little shocked as her little form was pulled up against that of the female and half expected her to start cleaning her ears as her mother had done. Thankfully, she didn’t. Instead she began to talk in a soft whisper as if they were in trouble. Adara narrowed her blue eyes and tilted her head slightly to the side. Listening intently her ears suddenly flew back and her little blue eyes narrowed. Was this cat trying to get rid of her? Already? She hadn’t even had a chance to prove why she would be a good addition to the clan.

Pushing herself a little away from the females form with her little chocolate paws planted firmly against the chest of this clan cat. "You can’t send me away already!" she said not so much as a plea but more of a demand. How did she know she wouldn’t fit in hmm? Adara could be the perfect warrior but she wasn’t even willing to give her one little chance. Sniffing up the few upsetting emotions that threatened to break out she squared her little shoulders in a stubborn manner. "I’m going to be the best apprentice you ever seen! And then! I’m going to be a leader!" she said getting to her paws quickly and raising her tail not in the slightest upset that her dreams were most probably never going to come true. It was the fact she had set her sights there not the fact she might not achieve them that was important.

Her little blue eyes were almost welling up with tears and they glimmered slightly, she didn’t want to cry because that was weak but it was hard when her dreams were on the verge of being crushed just before her eyes. "Ill fit in! I'm stronger then all my brothers, and I can climb and hunt and run and stalk and all of that..." she insisted desperately trying to convince this female she would be worth taking back to meet the rest of the clan. Just because she didn’t look like the other cats, or smell like them or act like them didn’t mean she wasn’t valuable. "And I'll be really really good..." she said finally as if she couldn’t think of anything else as she sat down once again. She may have been desperate, but she looked confident and immovable. She wanted to go home with this cat.

[moonheart]

Dawncloud almost hated herself immediately for hurting the little kits feelings. She knew the she-cat had what it took but she didn't want to make a mistake of bringing a kittypet to the clan. But she has been a kittypet for top 4 moons, she thought to herself. Dawncloud looked at Adara and could tell she was about to cry. Pulling herself together Dawncloud sat up taller and looked at Adara with her intense green eyes. "Very well, " she mewed, "you are going to prove to me what you have and if it's good enough i shall take you to the clan." Dawncloud looked around and thought about what Adara should do. Maybe i should ask her to show me what she can do, she pondered, yes thats it ask her. "Ok Adara show me what you can do."she meowed. Dawncloud sat and waited, hoping Adara did have what it took.

[♥Adara]

Adara felt like she was going to fade away under the heat of those shining green eyes; however not for a moment did her ocean blue eyes falter. She was not going home! This she cat could not make her! Then she was given a chance and the relief showed as the kitten flicked her tail back and forth slowly along the ground. "I'll help you hunt!" she declared, her little body almost trembling in excitement. She had been practicing hunting for one whole moon now and was rather good at it. Prey was scarce in the Humans territory, they chased them all away and Adara had to learn from an alley cat who like the clan cats relied on what he could find for food. So she was actually quite skilled in tracking, stalking and killing.

Prey was equally as scarce in the forest now, being almost winter but that was not going to discourage the little female who turned on her heels. Now she couldn’t smell any prey but that didn’t mean they weren’t in burrows so she lay herself flat on the ground and listened for heartbeats. She slowed her breathing and focused on her ears, she could hear the warrior's heartbeat pure and strong so she bypassed that one and continued to listen. Slowly, very slowly the throbbing of a tiny mouse's heartbeat came to her. It was a good distance off; she turned to meet the female’s bright green eyes for a moment. "Ill be back soon" she said in a low whisper then turning towards the forest began to slowly walk into the brush.

Her paw steps were absolutely silent, she made not one sound as she slid through the brush, her little kitten form limber and elegant. She had strange flexibility about her, it was characteristic of her breed the Siamese in reality but compared to a clan cat she was most certainly very agile. Her little ears were flicked forward and focused on the heartbeat. The mouse didn’t know she was there; its heart rate was steady. She was getting closer, the thudding was starting to echo in her ears and then she saw it. The animal had been forced above ground in the desperation for food. Lying low she crept forward when the mouse’s heart skipped a beat, and then began the throb faster and faster. It had seen her.

Daring another step forward she pounced, her slender form flying through the air like she was built to soar. She grappled at the mouse as it scrambled back and forth, Forgetting where its hole was located as it just tried to escape her grip. But it was no use. Adara suddenly placed her black paw firmly on its back and leant down to bite its neck with a satisfying crunch. Pride welled up within her. She had caught her first mouse for the clan, it was almost an assessment piece in her eyes and she went trotting back to her assessor with the mouse dangling from her maw, a little droplet of scarlet blood dribbling down her cheek. Dropping the mouse before her finder she glanced up, "Told you I can hunt..." she said with a cheery look about her.

[moonheart]

Dawncloud grinned at Adara, even though this kit was not hers she felt a little pride well up inside herself. Dawncloud gave Adara a quick nod of her head showing that she did approve of her. She then took a look at the mouse, it was plump and juicy looking, a very nice catch for the kittypet. Dawncloud then turned her muscular body and began to run. She was about to test the little cat again. She wanted to see if she could not only catch up but track her as well. "Hurry Adara." she called. "If you can keep up then i'll take you to the clan." Her golden body glowed in the light of the sun as she leaped over a log. Her honey scent drifted behind her as she ran on. "Oh and don't forget the mouse!"

[♥Adara]

Adara let out a soft purr as she noted the pride in the she cats eyes. She had seen that look quite a bit, from her mother and the old alley cat. But now it meant more to her then ever! She has impressed a real true clan cat! The blood lingered on her tongue and made her hungry, but she knew the rules of the clan, the alley cat had strangely known quite allot about the clans. The leader, medicine cats, kits and queens ate before the apprentices and warriors. They were the rules and she wasn’t about to get in trouble now, she didn’t want to get in trouble ever. Then suddenly the she cat began to run, her muscled form pounding through the forest and leaving the kit sitting there all by herself with a mouse dead at her feet. Disappointment grew in the kits eyes as she began to realize that she had been left behind.

However soon the silky smooth voice of the female came back towards her and she scooped up the mouse gently, careful not to damage its flesh to much. She wasn’t leaving her! And luckily her speed was her very best trait. She was elegant and small, her flexibility and light weight allowed her to simply glide across the forest floor. She wasn’t much good for heavy fighting due to her fine form and she couldn’t catch large prey as a kick from a rabbits hind legs could easily snap one of her little bones but she was fast and small enough to run down small prey better then most of the larger more heavy boned cats could.

Dashing after the female it took a few good dashes before she caught the females scent and followed it like a dog on a trail. She couldn’t be shaken, she darted under logs and over rocks with all the speed she could manage. She practically flew through the brush, the scent of the mouse not even distracting her from her task. This was the most important run of her life and she knew it, and within minutes she was running just behind the female, sticking to her like glue. Her heart was racing and her paws were sore from all the walking yesterday but she didn’t dare fall behind incase she lost her forever.

[moonheart]

The wind tugged at the she-cats fur as she raced on. Her heart beat every second, but this run was not to be so long for Dawncloud was actually leading Adara to the camp. Turning her head around she caught sight of the little kit and joy filled her body. Adara was very fast, and Dawncloud knew that one day she would make a great hunter. Oh how happy Dawncloud was now for she knew she was bringing her clan the most awesome kit she had ever seen. Thoughts filled her mind as she ran on, thoughts that were both good and bad. Her bad thoughts were, would her clan, let alone her leader let the kit stay? Dawncloud sent a little prayer to StarClan as she thought about what she would do if the clan turned Adara away. But good thoughts came as well. If her leader let Adara stay, Dawncloud would ask Jadestar if she could mentor Adara. Dawncloud loved spunky and mischievous kits; Adara was surely one of them.

Finally slowing down her pace Dawncloud came to a stop. She sat on a small rock and looked at Adara. "Very good." she panted as the kit sat at the base of the rock, the mouse still hanging from her jaws. Dawncloud looked at the bushes that were covered with fog, beyond those were the camp. Dawncloud then looked at Adara and grinned. "Now place the mouse down and sniff the air, tell me what you smell."

[♥Adara]

Adara raced after this shecat which she had grown to appreciate for the fast clan cat she was. Galloping on the heels of the female she made sure never to ever threaten overtaking or falling to far behind. She had no desire to disrespect neither this cat nor any others she should meet in the future, sure she sometimes spoke up a little too loudly but she wasn’t the type to just lie down and let life happen to her. She was out there making things happen, of course she knew when it was appropriate to be quiet but she wasn’t going to be a submissive little wuss either. Slowing her pace gently as the female came to a stop she couldn’t help but let a relieved sigh pass across her little form. Her jaw was getting a little sore as the mouse was rather large when compared to her tiny little form. She had been the runt of the litter and never really grown to her full size but she had determination that more then made up for it.

Dropping the mouse as instructed she sat at the base of the rock, looking up at Dawncloud, though she was yet to learn this was in fact the clan cats name as she had forgotten to ask in all the excitement. Maybe clan cats didn’t like sharing their names... Catching the encouraging grin Adara tilted her head back and offered a little smile of her own. Exposing little white kit teeth, much like tiny needles in shape and equally as sharp. Listening as the shecat spoke Adara obediently raised her little black nose to the air and inhaled sharply. A complete set of brand new smells entered the females nares and she well could have sneezed in disgust at some of them.

Concentrating hard she narrowed her blue eyes, "I smell you and the mouse..." she started, more thinking aloud to identify the smells one by one.”Fox or badger dung..." then something seemed to register and her eyes lit up. Leaping to her little chocolate colored feet she placed her front paws on the rock excitedly. "Clan cats! I smell other clan cats!" she declared looking around for any sign that other cats were nearby. Snorting a little she looked up "You have a male leader" she informed the female rather proudly, she had learnt the scent of males spray and how they marked their territory very very early and once she had sorted the scents out it was rather easy to recognize. Pausing thoughtfully she looked up, "Scuse me..." she said almost shyly, feeling rather silly for not asking earlier. ”What’s your name?" she said lowering her eyes feeling almost ridiculous but still her eyes were bright at the prospect of being near the clans.

[moonheart]

"Oh I'm sorry Adara." Dawncloud mewed with embarrassment. "My name is Dawncloud. And i must say i can't believe you smelled all of that with just one whiff, you're really good." Dawncloud looked at the kit with pride, oh how she longed to mentor her. Looking around Dawncloud sniffed the air to make sure no other cats were around, then leaning forward she spoke in a hush tone. "Adara right now you are standing outside of NightClan's camp." Dawncloud then looked into her eyes as they began to sparkle with happiness and excitement. The green forest seemed to have an eerie silence as the she-cats spoke, Dawncloud still stayed alert, hoping no one would find them.

Stepping down from the rock Dawncloud sat right next to Adara and thought for a moment. If she wanted to join the clan then her name would have to change, wouldn't it? But either way this was not Dawncloud's choice. Slowly placing her tail on the kits head she spoke, "I am going to bring you to the leader now, but i want you to listen and listen good." Dawncloud turned to Adara to make sure her ears were pricked up and ready for her news. "I just want you to tell me now that you will forever give up your life as a kittypet and swear to never even if life gets hard to ever go back to twolegeds ever again." The green in her eyes began to blaze like fire now, but her voice was gentle.