so many cats... so many damn cats...

The snow bites through Quillstar's pawpads as she tretches through the unfamiliar forest. Her paws were still wet from crossing the stream dividing their new home from the rest of the clans. And they hold this gathering once a moon? Even with the cold, surely they would rather be home in their nest?

Sure enough, the newly named NightingaleClan cats approach a huge fallen tree. Beneath the hefty dusting of snow, Quillstar can see deep claw marks, some weathered from seasons, maybe even years. This was an ancient tree, surviving from what Quillstar would guess was the very beginning.

A former kittypet that lived near DuskClan's borders all her life, she suddenly takes an interest in NightingaleClan. What are these strange cats doing here? They better not do anything strange to her twolegs!

Formerly a kittypet named Maia, Spiderfreeze had gotten into trouble with a band of strays while wandering from home. She gets lost, and finds herself upon Nightingale's clowder. The cats seemed interesting, and before she knew it, Maia had joined in on the journey for a new home.

Originally named a kittypet Maudie, Yellowmoth had left her home after terrible stories of her twolegs. She had recently given birth to her kitten, Gracie, and was not about to let them take her away! As she runs, she meets a group of traveling cats. At this point, Maudie is starved and unsure of her ability to take care of her kitten. And to her surprise, the scary cat with the spiked collar insists she joins in.

She can't do much, she lets them know. She can't hunt, and she can't fight. But she loves her kitten and she can't stand seeing any cat hurt. That's fine, they tell her. Nightingale protects all her cats.

An older cat, toughened by seasons living as a rogue, Ravenstorm (formerly named Raven), lost his mate when Quill was still very young. However, he decides to stay with his daughter and support her throughout her life. So when she gets a little too close to Nightingale's clowder, what else can he do but follow her there? (Despite his reservations about the matriarch Nightingale)

After the death of Nightingale, Quill assumes leadership of the group of city cats. Despite her mourning, the new Eveningstar of HollowClan demands a proper clan formation before they are given a piece of territory. Quill agrees, and changes her name to Quillstar.