Wow, it's been a while. Like *looks at the last story I updated* over three years. I wonder how many of my old followers remember me. Life got in the way, and I've since started college.

I'm going to say that, no, I will (probably) not continue my old stories; I don't remember the endgame to any of them, and many of them are so badly written that I'd have to restart. (I seriously read through all of them and cringed at every chapter. I am super surprised and honored that anyone thought it was good writing. I'm half tempted to get rid of them, but I won't.) I'm going to say I may recycle old ideas, characters, or even completely rewrite the stories I believe are worth saving.

Now that all that's out of the way, here's my first chapter back. I cannot guarantee a consistent schedule, but I will finish this. I am accepting OCs, and the form will be at the bottom. I still do not own Warriors.

Here is a note: at this time period, it was common practice to have kits with someone outside the Clan (mainly loners, occasionally kittypets, never other Clans). For them, it was a way to build ties with those outside the Clan. For me, it's a way to prevent founder effect and inbreeding. This would have occurred at the beginning of the Clans, when blood purity wasn't such an issue.

"Claykit, you are now Claypaw. Gorseheart, you have proven yourself a warrior of tremendous strength and courage. I know you will train him well in the art of tunneling."

The newly named Claypaw trotted to the larger she-cat, energy bubbling under his skin. He held himself back and gently pressed his nose against his mentor's. Her eyes mirrored his own nervous determination, and he kept his focus on the green depths as all WindClan cheered for him.

"Claypaw! Claypaw!"

The voices died down as the others returned to their daily routines. Claypaw sat back on his haunches as the adrenaline seemed out of him. "What do we do n—gah!" His pertinent question was interrupted by the rough tongue of his mother, Heatherstem. He squirmed. "Mother!"

"Hush, little one," she said between licks. "It isn't every day my baby becomes an apprentice." Claypaw continued the fight for a few more seconds and then succumbed her will with a displeased expression.

"Let our son breathe." Badgerheart's low voice caused Heatherstem to look up. Claypaw used that opportunity to wiggle free from her grip. She gently cuffed him around the ear. The large tom purred and glanced at Gorseheart, who stood off to the side. "My apologies for stealing your apprentice."

Gorseheart waved her tail dismissively. "You two are his parents. I feel you have first right to him." She turned to Claypaw. "I'll be back soon. I expect you to be ready by then."

Claypaw ran a paw over his ear and nodded. She looked him over and retreated to her Runningheart's side. The second she was gone, Heatherstem took her place, nosing and fussing over him. "My baby is going to be a tunneler! I'm so proud!" Satisfied with her thorough grooming, she sat up and pressed herself against her mate's flank, leaving a mildly annoyed and disgruntled Claypaw.

He asked, "Do you have to do that, Mother? It's embarrassing."

Badgerheart exchanged a sly glance with Heatherstem and brought Claypaw closer with a paw. Claypaw squeaked and flushed hot under his (freshly cleaned) fur. "Are you saying you are too old for your family," he teased.

"I'm too old to be treated like a kit!"

"Let us elderly cats fuss a little longer," Badgerheart stroked Claypaw with his tail, "before you truly outgrow us."

The family cuddled together for a while and enjoyed each other's warmth. Despite his earlier protests, Claypaw snuggled into the narrow gap between his father and mother and tuned out their conversation.

Gorseheart returned too soon. She flicked the dozing Claypaw's ear. "Get up. We're leaving."

Claypaw blinked blurrily at his mentor, yawned, and stood up, He nuzzled Heatherstem. "Love you two." Both parents gave their own farewells. He bounced after the dark tabby. "What are we going to do? Will we see the Gorge? Fourtrees? Outlook Rock? Am I going to go in the tunnels? Will I fix a tunnel? Ca—"

She interrupted, "Explore, yes, yes, yes, no, no. In order to be a proficient tunneler, you must know the territory both above and below surface level."

If she thought that would calm him down, she was sadly mistaken. "Are we going to see ThunderClan? Are we going to fight ThunderClan? I can take them!" To her credit, she showed an immense amount of patience.

"Of course not." She led the way up the hollow. "We aren't bloodthirsty mongrels like them. If—do you need help?"

"No," Claypaw lied, obviously in need of help. His stubby legs frantically scratched against the sandy walls and rocks. She hopped back down and nudged him up and over. Heatherstem's hard work was wasted, as sand particles coated his legs and belly. He shook his fur out. "I could've gotten up myself."

Gorseheart shrugged. "With the way you were talking, I assumed you didn't want to spend all afternoon climbing the first obstacle." She sniffed him over and, satisfied, padded through the gorse tunnel. Claypaw followed. Thorny branches brushed his thick coat, and the well-worn earth cooled his paws. He emerged from the other side.

His mouth gaped open.

In front of him stretched the plain. Lush, green grass stretched as far as the eye could see. Spots of purples and pinks, blues and yellows, dotted the landscape. Giant synthetic structures sat on one side, a dark, dense smudge on the other, and pointed peaks stretched heavenwards between them. Soft breezes ruffled his pelt and carried rich rabbit scent.

His mentor's tail touched his shoulder. "Try not to get overwhelmed. This is only the top half of our land."

"But it's so big!" Claypaw's ear anxiously twitched. "Is it even possible to see it all?"

She purred. "We do what we're known for: run." Without further notice, Gorseheart sprinted off in the direction of the shiny creations close to the peaks. Claypaw followed as fast as he could. His ears reflexively flattened against the wind. His claws dug into the sod. His tail streamed behind him. His back arched and stretched. Muscles burning, heart pumping, he felt alive.

Gorseheart slowed to a stop, and Claypaw followed suit. His flanks heaved with the effort of breathing. She flicked her tail at the structure, which was much larger than he originally thought. "This is the Twoleg barn, and behind that is the Twolegplace. It's rather calm in Greenleaf and Leaf-bare but be sure to avoid here as much as possible; there are dogs."

Claypaw tilted his head and squinted at the giant barn. "What's a . . . dog?"

"Dogs are slobbering beasts with a taste for cat blood. Twolegs sometimes let them run around the moor, so you'll see one eventually." At his traumatized expression, she quickly added, "They really aren't that smart. You'll have no problem getting away, especially when you get better at tunneling." He nodded, and she pointed at the peaks. "Those are the Highrocks. Highrocks hold Mothermouth and the Moonstone, where medicine cats and leaders talk with StarClan."

"Have you ever been there?"

"Every apprentice has to go at least once before becoming a warrior," she replied. "It's a tradition that goes back to Mothflight's discovery of the Moonstone."

"What was it like?"

She flicked his muzzle with her tail. "That's something you'll find out on your own."

Claypaw cast a final glance at the Highstones before turning to her. "Where to next?"

Claypaw sagged in the nest by Berrypaw. His muscles ached from overuse, and his pelt was covered in pollen and dirt. He half-heartedly licked at the grit between his toes, only to lower his head back down with a groan. The nest was old enough that any scent had long since faded, and the moss and heather smelled musty, but he particularly care right then. He closed his eyes.

A sharp pain at his tail tip jerked him out of a faint doze. He yelped and yanked his tail closer and met the excited gaze of Kitekit. "What in StarClan's name are you doing?"

"I'm bored," Kitekit squeaked, "and I want to play with you!"

Claypaw rolled over and hugged all extremities close to his body. "I'm tired. Go away."

Paw steps moved from behind him to the front. He grumbled and peeled one eye open a slit. "Can I help you?"

Kitekit gently settled down next to the apprentice. "How about I help you?" He probably intended to sound dramatic, but his high-pitched voice threw it off. Claypaw opened his mouth to tell him to scram but gave up when his friend's tongue coaxed little rocks and dirt from his pads. It felt nice. He leaned back.

WindClan:

Leader: Violetstar – blue-gray tom with blue eyes and a missing ear

Deputy: Eagleclaw – black and brown tom with long claws and gold eyes

Apprentice: Molepaw

Medicine cat: Swallowleap – gray and white tom with blue eyes

Senior Moor Runners:

Nettlefur – spiky-furred gold tabby she-cat with gold eyes

Hare-ear – cream and white she-cat with unusually long ears and gold eyes

Mintnose – white tom with green eyes

Fenfoot – brown she-cat with darker paws and spots and blue eyes

Apprentice: Whisperpaw

Vinefur – tortoiseshell she-cat with tangled fur, a missing tail tip, and yellow eyes

Moor Runners:

Jaywing – long-legged blue-gray tom with blue eyes

Badgerheart – black and white tom with a long tail and blue eyes

Apprentice: Berrypaw

Rainbreeze – silver and white she-cat with green eyes and a scar on her right shoulder

Fernfur – silver she-cat with wispy fur and blue eyes

Senior Tunnelers:

Cloudscar – white tom with a black tail tip, green eyes and a scarred muzzle

Whitefang – small white tom with a graying muzzle and yellow eyes

Featherear – gray tabby tom with black splotches, tufty ears, and blue eyes

Tunnelers:

Gorseheart – dark brown tabby she-cat with a white chest green eyes

Apprentice: Claypaw

Runningheart – dark brown tabby tom with long legs and blue eyes

Heatherstem – tiny brown tabby she-cat with yellow eyes

Specklewish – tortoiseshell she-cat with large paws and blue eyes

Echo-ear – silver and black tom with blue eyes and bad hearing

Queens and Kits:

Mistleflight – white she-cat with green eyes

Breezekit – cream and white tabby she-cat with blue eyes

Kitekit – gray and black tom with green eyes

Coalkit – black tom with blue eyes

Peatkit – gray and white tom with green eyes

Apprentices:

Molepaw – dusky brown tabby tom with gray eyes

Whisperpaw – blue-gray tabby she-cat with blue eyes

Berrypaw – tortoiseshell she-cat with gray eyes

Claypaw – large, light brown tom with dark paws, a dark stripe down his back, and yellow eyes

Elders:

Salttooth – silver she-cat with white splotches yellow eyes

Lichenstorm – mottled brown and black she-cat with blue eyes

Firescar – bright ginger she-cat with yellow eyes and a missing ear and eye

OC form: PM this to me or I will not accept them!

Name:

Age:

Clan: (SkyClan, ThunderClan, ShadowClan, or RiverClan)

Rank:

Description:

Personality (three traits, at least one negative):

Do I have permission to edit some things about this character?:

Leave reviews so I know how well (or poor) I'm doing! It's useful and quite nice.

Question of the day: if you had to choose one of the five Clans, which would it be?