Sandpelt woke up in a small bramble bush and sighed. “This isn’t home.” She had run away from her old home to start over in life. Back at StormClan, everything kept going wrong. Her sister was kidnapped and got in trouble for it. Sandpelt – back then Sandpaw – had tried to stick up for her sister, Lichenpaw, and her leader yelled at her for it. She ended up having to stay in camp for a week. Then Lichenpaw died. She was murdered by a cat named Fernsniffer. Luckily, Stormstar, the leader, killed Fernsniffer for her deeds. Sandpaw almost killed herself just to be with Lichenpaw, but she didn’t. She couldn’t. Later on, Sandpelt had kits. She didn’t know how that happened. She was confused. Her mother got angry with her for not paying attention to her kits, but Sandpelt wasn’t ready for kits. Her mother got angry with her and attacked her. She told her that she will love her kits, or else, and stormed away. Heatherkit, one of her kits, overheard their conversation and told her littermates that Sandpelt didn’t love them. Even after Sandpelt had explained to them that she did love them, Owlkit still seems to hate her. Now, StarClan gave Lichenpaw her warrior name, Lichentooth. Stormstar announced to the Clan that Lichentooth doesn’t have her warrior name and that she is still Lichenpaw because Stormstar didn’t accept it. That’s when Sandpelt flipped. She yelled at her leader saying, “You can’t deny StarClan’t word! If StarClan gave her that name, then Lichentooth has that name! If you deny StarClan, that what are we? We definitely aren’t a Clan, that’s for sure!” and she stormed off and ran away, off to find a new home, a new start.

So far, she hasn’t found anywhere that’s worth living. Everywhere she looked seemed to be rogue infested. She couldn’t fight a group of rogues, not by herself.

Sandpelt walked out of the bush to find something to eat. She scented the air and immediately scented a mouse. The mouse was sitting under brambles, but Sandpelt didn’t care. A meal was a meal. She stalked the mouse and leaped. Although she caught the mouse, she now had thorns in her pads. “Ouch.” She pulled out the thorns and licked her pads. Finally, she could eat, and the mouse was gone within a few bites. “Well, I guess I’m off again. Hopefully I’ll have luck today.” She stood up and started to head off again.

…

It was nearly sun-down when Sandpelt stopped at a small cave to stay for the night. She sighed, “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Maybe I should have just stayed in StormClan.” She stepped into the cave, and curled up for some sleep.

“Hey! Get out of here!” Sandpelt jolted back on her feet to see a dark mottled brown tom with matted fur. “This is my home, so get out!”

Sandpelt put her ears back. “I-I’m sorry. I just wanted a place to stay..”

“Well you can’t stay here!” he hissed.

Sandpelt turned and dashed off. After she was far enough away, she sat down and bowed her head. “Why do these things keep happening to me? Why can’t I just have a good life?” She sighed, and walked over to a small den-like thing that might’ve been used by deer long ago. She curled up. “I miss StormClan…” she mewed as she fell asleep.

…

The next morning seemed to come quickly. Sandpelt hunted, and headed off again. She walked, head low. She had started to wonder if anyone actually lived here, until she crossed a border. She scented the air, and crinkled her nose. Maybe there’s a group of cats here that I can stay with. she thought. She started to run again to where this scent was the strongest.

Sandpelt’s hopes grew as she reached the camp. It was a small group of cats, but Sandpelt didn’t care. She looked around and saw kits playing, apprentices playing games, and warriors chatting. That’s when she heard a hiss from behind her.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” It was a she-cat’s voice, soothing, yet hostile.

Sandpelt turned around. “I’m Sandpelt from StormClan. Well, not anymore.” another cat just hissed as if for Sandpelt to continue. “I left StormClan to find a new home. Not for StormClan, but for me. I wanted to start over.”

The she-cat calmed down a little, but her fur was still bristling. “Well you’ll have to talk to Lynxstar. She’s the leader of LavaClan.” The she-cat led the way to Lynxstar’s den. “I’m Smokecloud by the way, and this is Darkcloud.”

Sandpelt nodded as Smokecloud flicked her tail for Sandpelt to go in. As Sandpelt entered, Smokecloud and Darkcloud left.

“Who is bothering me now?” said a cat that must’ve been the leader.

Sandpelt dipped her head and explained to Lynxstar that she ran away from her old Clan, and found this one. “So, may I please stay here?” Sandpelt finished.

Lynxstar nodded. “You may stay here.” She mewed.

Sandpelt bowed her head and left the den, only to be followed by Lynxstar. She stood proudly in front of her Clan as she announced, “We have someone new joining us today. Her name is Sandpelt, and she has come a very long way. We welcome her to our Clan as it is growing larger.” The rest of the Clan started to chant her name to welcome her to LavaClan.

Sandpelt’s heart filled with joy as she knew this would be the perfect, new beginning.