Chapter One

Thistlefur stirred in his nest. He was dreaming of far away places and cats... including the small black one that haunts him..

Longkit was dreaming of herself as a warrior and she was hunting.

Thistlefur heard a slight squeaking coming from the nursery. Poor tyke... Barely old enough to eat her own fresh-kill and no mom.

Metalkit walked into ShadowClan borders, and saw a cat she remembered faintly from her times in her mother's belly. "Thistlefur? My name is Metalkit, nice to meet you. I'm from ThunderClan, and my father lives here. May I come in?"

"Well Metalkit, I'm not leader but him and the deputy are gone, so sure. But try not to cause too much trouble," he said with a twinkle in his eye.

"Thank you, Thistlefur. I remember your meow."

Longkit woke up hearing a new cat. She walked out and saw another kit, she ran over to the kit, "Hi! I'm longkit! What's your name?"

"Metalkit. My name is Metalkit!"

"Why are you called that?"

"Mom said I smell like metal." Metalkit replied.

Thistlefur mewed in thought. "Metal? Hm. Anyways why have you come to ShadowClan?"

"To see my father." Metalkit mewed."He said I could come anytime I want,"

"Ok but you won't be accepted in as easily in the future when you are an apprentice," he mewed carefully.

"I know." Metalkit mewed backed. "My dad is Emoclaw, deputy of ShadowClan, I think."

"Would you like an escort to the camp?"

"Can Longkit come too?" Metalkit asked.

"Of course! Longkit should be in the nursery right now anyways..."

"Good." Metalkit followed Thistleclaw into the camp.

"Hey Emoclaw! Your kit is here to see you" Thistlefur went and curled up in the warriors' den again.

"Daddy!" Metalkit cried."I'm glad to see you!" Emoclaw walked out of the den, and frowned.

Emoclaw hissed as Metalkit rushed over. "You are not Ticklekit!" He snapped.

Thistlefur heard Emoclaw snap at Metalkit. I hope he won't hurt her.. .

"Ticklekit?" Metalkit asked."Daddy, I'm Metalkit, daddy! Remember me?"

"Stop talking like that!" Emoclaw steamed.

Longkit went to the ground being scared, "I'll be in the nursery!" she ran back to the nursery and waited at the entrance for Metalkit.

Emoclaw growled, and lunged toward her.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Metalkit screamed as Emoclaw sank his teeth into her pelt. Metalkit rolled backward, into the nursery, and stood up, and was face-to-face with Longkit .

"Come with me!" she gently pulled on Metalkit.

"What about my father?" Metalkit whimpered.

"We'll just let him cool down! I know a really fun place we can go to I only know where it is!" she ran to the back of the nursery to a small hole.

"What is it?" Metalkit asked, feeling a bit didn't notice Emoclaw following them to the nursery.

"If you follow me you'll see!" she started to go through the hole to make sure no one was on the other side, "Come on hurry!" she poked her head through the hole to look at Metalkit.

Longkit ran to another hole. "Be quiet! We don't want to be caught!"

Bloodstar padded warily into camp with a dazed look upon his face. His ears twitched slightly as the slight mews from the nursery registered in his mind. He thought nothing of it, not even as he watched his deputy disappear into the brambles. He plopped onto the ground a few tail lengths away from the fresh kill pile, which he dully noted was rather large, and rested his chin on his forepaws lost in his own mind.

"Come on Metalkit, before someone sees us!"

Bloodstar's ears pricked as he realized that Metalkit was a ThunderClan cat. He slowly rose to his paws and followed the noise of the disappearing kits. He slunk through the brambles, detecting the air for hostility.

Longkit could tell that someone was behind them. This way!" she whispered to Metalkit.

Bloodstar was wary and curious to know where Longkit was taking the ThunderClan kit. He padded lightly behind the two, keeping quite a few tail lengths back. After several heartbeats following the two, he got quite frustrated. He crouched and sprang into the air, landing with a fore-paw on each kit.

"What do we have here?" he hissed into Metalkit's ear. Without waiting for a response, he whirled on Longkit.

"What are you doing with this ThunderClan kit?" he demanded of the ShadowClan kit.

"H-he came to see his father! The clan d-deputy and he got mad so I was going to take to a place where we can play! I'm sorry!" she was shaking really hard.

Bloodstar's eyes softened at the frightened kit and he swiped his tongue across her face to reassure her that he meant no harm. He removed his paws from their backs and sat back on his haunches with a sigh.

"Okay, Longkit, go play but you must be back by sunhigh and Metalkit must be gone. Got it?" His tail flicked slightly in irritation but he understood why Longkit would wish to play with Metalkit.

"Thanks Bloodstar! I will!" she ran off with Metalkit behind her.