Ashclan was not always called Ashclan. Many moons ago, back before the clan settled into their new home, the clan was referred to as 'ShineClan', due to the fortune of good luck starclan had assigned to them. The lands were plump and rich with prey, the territory lush with plants and trees, and each bordering clan was considered an ally. Peace fell upon the land, until one day, everything changed with a message from Starclan. The clan was warned of a destructive future ahead, and they were told to leave the forest to seek out a new home.
At the time, the Leader, Leafstar, refused to believe this information. He believed that their land was perfect, and no harm would come to it. So he kept the prophecy to himself, and forbid the Medicine cat at the time to spread the information.
Moons passed, and the forest became dry, as it did during Greenleaf. The meadows were a rich golden, and the tree's leaves were beginning to thin. Still, Leafstar refused to move, until the Deputy named Ashfur received a message from starclan, warning him of the danger. From there, the deputy confronted the leader and the medicine cat, demanding what the message meant, and why no action was taken. Stubbornly, Leafstar retorted, preaching his belief that their land would not be harmed.
Following Starclan's orders, Ashfur left the clan, followed by a group of Warriors, Apprentices, Queens, and Kits, as they feared that what Starclan said would ring true. Once safely out of the territory, a fire broke out, caused by the twolegs, and it is believed that all of the cats that stayed behind with Leafstar perished, including the Medicine cat at the time. With only a medicine cat apprentice by their side, the cats traveled for three moons, hunting and facing dangers as they went, as the stars sone brighter in the direction upon which they were bound to go. They arrived in a forest, green and plump with prey, and the cats finally rested.
With the Medicine Cat Apprentice at his side, Ashfur left the cats to venture on a journey to a new area--the Moontree, a simple looking willow tree that glowed brightly every moon, surrounded by a pool of water. From there, the apprentice was made the official Medicinecat, and Ashfur was given the name 'Ashstar', following with nine lives, confirming that Leafstar was dead. He was told that from then on, as a reward to showing loyalty to Starclan, that the clan would now be called 'AshClan', in remembrance of the events of their homeland.
Fast-forward six moons, and the Clan now officially calls the territory it's home.