the plot
The great river running through RainClan territory had always been treacherous. Occasionally it would flood, and swallow the camp and territory in water. Many cats would drown or perish of starvation. In those long, painful moons they would live like rogues on neutral grounds, were prey was scarce and competition great. So when the year's spring brought a flood it was not unexpected. The cats waited, waited for the water to shrink back into its churning black river. But it did not. The river claimed more and more land each day, so that RainClan had no place to call home. The other clans were hostile, so they would get no help from them. RainClan's leader, deputy and elders spoke seriously of the matter, and eventually it was decided that the clan would evacuate the flooded territory. They would leave the familiar stretch of land and strike out for a new home, many, many lopes away. The journey began as summer reared. Though frail, hungry and tired, RainClan were determined to complete their quest. The first few days were not too trying; only the elders and kits found themselves growing weary. But after a moon every cat was pawsore and thoroughly exhausted, and all hope vanished. Many kits and elders died of starvation, as only small portions of food could be shared around the clan. Even the toughest warriors felt death tugging at their paws. RainClan felt despair, knowing that they would never complete the journey alive. The clan stopped in early autumn, sheltering on the lip of a forest. The clan were shocked as light began to streak the sky; green, indigo, blue. The aurora was a beautiful, shimmering ray of hope, a sign from StarClan. This struck hope in the hearts of RainClan, and so they contined with their journey. Every night from then on, RainClan followed the direction in which the aurora's expanse had pointed. In mid winter they reached their destination; a large stretch of territory, coated in pines and prey-rich forests, apparently empty. RainClan, ecstatic with joy and praising StarClan, settled in this territory. They became strong again, and many more kits were born to replace those had had perished on the grueling journey. These kits were then apprenticed and made warriors, so that the cycle continued. But the peace did not last more than ten moons or so. A young apprentice by the name of Aurapaw, born on the new territory, awoke one night to gaze upon the shining colours of the aurora. This was not unusual; it graced the skies every moon or so in RainClan's new territory. But this night it was different; twisted into one direction. Being insatiably curious and adventurous, Aurapaw left camp to discover what the aurora had discovered. The foolish young tom followed the ghostly light of the aurora to the other side of the territory. There, he was shocked and horrified to discover that another group of cats had made their home there. They called themselves 'Aurora's Faithful', and played host to a huge, spiraling twoleg building which they called 'The Shrine'. In terror, Aurapaw fled to his own territory and informed his clan all he had seen. As the moons flew by, RainClan discovered more about their mysterious neighbours... The strange clan had inhabited the forest for more than one hundred moons. They do not follow StarClan; they follow the rule of a goddess they call Aurora. Now a warrior, Auraflame discovers a shockingly disturbing piece of information about the strangers. The moment a kit is born, they are taken by the tribe's leader to the very peak of the Shrine, where they are held over the Spire. This is done to every kit. The strange clan call it 'acceptance'. If, on that night, the aurora does not grace the skies, every kit in the litter will be tossed from the spire as a sacrifice. But RainClan do not know the most disturbing thing about the strangers; they are watching them, all the time. Now a she-kitten has been born in RainClan, without parents nor kin. This kitten, Decemberkit, has attracted the attention of the strangers. Excited, the leader of Aurora's Faithful visited the RainClan camp to recite an ancient prophecy... [i]When water swallows land hearts and souls are torn only then shall Aurora be reborn. A coat white as snow shall mark her clear she will return without anger or fear. To capture all souls her grace will call Aurora's paws to rule over all.[/i] Terrified by the prophecy, RainClan drive the strangers from their territory. But the tribe will return to visit the kitten as she grows. But does the goddess Aurora really lie slumbering in Decemberkit's heart?