Chapter 1, Thunderkit

The wind rustled through the trees of Storm Clan territory. Stonefang was assigning patrols we'll the excited squeals of his kits raced toward him and he was forced to delay. Their mother Gingerstripe was close behind them glancing apologetically at him. Under the biggest coolest tree two apprentices were playing a kit game; cat and mouse.

Falconpaw swiped at her sister Violetpaw with sheathed claws.

"Ha ha mouse!" Falconpaw mock-growled, "my clan will not go hungry tonight!"

"Oh no," Violetpaw purred, "woe is me, oh mighty forest cat!" She flopped on her back and closed her eyes. Falconpaw began to giggle and soon both Violetpaw and Falconpaw were laughing so loudly they must have heard her from the Leaf Clan camp. When Falconpaw opened her eyes, she found her mentor staring down at her, amusement in her eyes.

"Now I thought you were apprentices not kits," Sparrowclaw commented, "I must have been mistaken."

"N- no you weren't we're not kits." Falconpaw stuttered in surprise.

"Well than come with me, Fishtail is leading a patrol." Sparrowclaw ordered. "Violetpaw," Sparrowclaw said, turning to face Violetpaw, "Hawktalon needs you for training."

"Okay, Sparrowclaw." Violetpaw gushed and ran in the direction where battle training usually took place.

"Where are we patrolling?" asked Falconpaw.

"The Sun Clan border." Sparrowclaw responded.

"What happens if we run into another patrol?" Falconpaw asked.

"We walk by and don't say anything." Sparrowclaw said.

"What if they talk to us though?" pressed Falconpaw.

"We walk by and don't say anything." Sparrowclaw repeated indifferently.

"Who's on the patrol with us?" Falconpaw inquired.

"Can't stop asking questions can you?" Sparrowclaw asked in return, "good, I was exactly the same." Falconpaw sighed in relief. "We're going with Fishtail, Sorrelpool and Volepaw." Sparrowclaw answered.

"Ugh," mumbled Falconpaw under her breath.

"Is there something wrong?" asked Sparrowclaw.

"No," said Falconpaw quickly.

"Good. That's what I thought." Sparrowclaw responded. When they reached the center of camp She quickly saw Fishtail. His red-brown tail was easily visible in the crowd and had quite a contrast with the rest of his gray pelt. She ran over with Sparrowclaw close behind her.

"Greetings Falconpaw, Sparrowclaw." He said warmly.

"Greetings." Sparrowclaw meowed.

"Hi!" said Falconpaw loudly. The whole clan looked over. Falconpaw pinked and looked away, muttering "sorry," under her breath.

"It's okay," the reassuring voice of Sorrelpool met her ears. Falconpaw shuddered with what she knew would come next.

"Hi!" Volepaw mocked stepping toward her his eyes filled with mock enthusiasm. Sorrelpool cuffed him on the ears until he said sorry. Falconpaw couldn't understand how such a nice she-cat could have such a vile apprentice.

"Are we ready?" asked Fishtail who was leading the patrol. Mutters of "yes," came from the group. The closest way to the border was through the flat-lands. As the patrol ran across them Falconpaw heard the rush of wind against her fur and purred slightly. Her paws skidded when they reached the border and almost sent her over.

"Careful," hissed Sparrowclaw, "if a Sun Clan patrol saw that you would be crow food." Falconpaw nodded apologetically. They continued walking. Nothing happened for a while, and Falconpaw was getting bored. "I thought patrols were supposed to be interesting," she thought to herself when she heard a little squeal.

"It sounds like a vole or something." she thought to herself. She heard the squeal again. "Now that I think about it, it sounds like Volepaw." she thought and grinned. It wouldn't hurt to catch some prey for the new kits. Silently she slipped into stalking position. Remembering Sparrowclaw's most recent lesson she kept her tail just above the ground. She heard the squeal one last time. It was definitely coming from the Storm Clan side of the border. Again the annoying squeal. She pounced. The felt something warm on her paws she bent down to deliver the killing bite, when she saw what it actually was. It was a black she-kit.

"Hi!" it squealed. So that was what it was saying. Falconpaw yowled in surprise.

"Falconpaw!" called Sparrowclaw in alarm, Fishtail looked concerned, Sorrelpool looked astonished even Volepaw looked a bit disgruntled.

"Oh Star Clan," Sparrowclaw began when she saw the kit. "What were you doing, Falconpaw?" she finished after a pause.

"I-I heard a squeal so I thought it was a mouse or a vole or something. So I pounced on it. I-It's a kit."

"Hi!" the kit squealed again.

"Well, where are you from kit?" asked Fishtail, shaking his head quickly. It was clear though, it smelled of Sun Clan so strong that Falconpaw wrinkled her nose.

"My name is Thunderkit," the kit began "I'm from Sun Clan. But my mother and littermates and everyone was mean to me because I was smaller than the other kits and couldn't play any games. I even heard my father talking to Lionstar about holding back my apprenticeship until Snowspots died, so I would be a medicine cat apprentice. So I thought I would be a loner, and ran away. That was when I met you. Can I be a warrior in your clan?"

"No," hissed Volepaw, "enemy cats are not welcome in Storm Clan." Falconpaw was less willing to judge. She noticed it was smaller than any other kit she'd ever seen, and she knew the fox-hearts of Sun Clan wouldn't like that. The Storm Clan cats grouped together talking in hushed whispers.

"It's so small, I bet it wasn't lying." whispered Falconpaw.

"I think it was," hissed Volepaw, "softie."

"Wanting to help kits is not softness, Volepaw," whispered Fishtail,

"I bet it won't remember Sun Clan at all." whispered Sorrelpool.

Sparrowclaw responded, "I think we should take it to camp and let Claystar decide." Every cat was forced into grudging silence, this was a good plan.

"Okay, Thunderkit, you said your name was, you are coming to camp with us. Our mighty leader Claystar will decide what happens to you." Falconpaw meowed.

"Okay." chirped Thunderkit. They resumed patrolling silently, praying to Star Clan that no Sun Clan patrol would show up. When they reached the border, they promptly ran into Stonefang.

"We need to see Claystar," Fishtail said calmly to the deputy. Stonefang ignored them. "How did the patrol go?" Stonefang asked mildly.

"That's what we need to see Claystar about!" meowed Falconpaw.

"Very well, she's in her den," responded Stonefang, still not completely sure what was going on. Falconpaw rushed toward the den with Thunderkit on her back Sparrowclaw and Volepaw were right behind her. They entered the den and found the red-brown leader finishing a mouse.

"Hello, Falconpaw," she meowed pleasantly, "What's that on your back?"

"Claystar! We were on border patrol, when we found this kit wanting to join our clan, she's from Sun Clan but she hated it there!" Falconpaw blurted out all at once. Claystar looked the kit over.

"She's a tiny kit," Claystar observed, "how old are you kit? One moon?"

"Wow, Storm Clan leader," Thunderkit said looking awed. She's a good actor if she's acting thought Falconpaw.

"Yes I'm Storm Clan leader, I repeat how old are you?" Claystar mewed.

"Three moons!" chirped Thunderkit. Claystar looked surprised but Thunderkit continued. "I'll be four moons soon!" she stated proudly. Claystar looked even more surprised.

"Then your almost as old as Gingerstripe's kits," Claystar concluded. "Very well, I will let the clan decide, if you stay, you will nurse with Crowsong, her last litter of kits will be born in about two moons." Falconpaw felt a pang of joy hearing her mother would be kitting so soon. "We must tell the clan," Claystar continued, "kit, stay with Falconpaw until I call you."

"Okay!" Thunderkit chirped, "I'm Thunderkit by the way."

Claystar smiled, "I'm Claystar, Good day." Falconpaw exited the den followed closely by Thunderkit. She nearly collided with Violetpaw before she reached the fresh-kill pile though.

"Hi Falconpaw!" Violetpaw meowed happily, "Hawktalon showed me a great battle move!" Falconpaw purred in delight, they'd made a promise to each other to teach each other moves that either of them learned. They would be warriors that much quicker.

"Show me," Falconpaw commanded puffing out her chest.

"Okay," Violetpaw began "If a cat jumps on you you do this." Violetpaw flopped on her belly and extended her claws and showed her teeth.

"Cool!" Thunderkit came to Falconpaw's side eyes flashing with excitement.

"Is that one of our kits?" Violetpaw asked Falconpaw staring at Thunderkit.

"No, I found her on patrol she wants to join the clan," Falconpaw responded calmly.

"Is she a loner or rogue or…." Violetpaw shuddered, "kittypet."

"She's neither, she's from Sun Clan, but she wants to join our clan," Falconpaw explained. Violetpaw smiled down Thunderkit.

"So you wanted to join the best clan in the whole forest?" She asked. Thunderkit nodded vigorously.

Violetpaw leaned close to Falconpaw and whispered, "She's so cute."

"May all cats old enough to catch their own prey meet under highrock for a clan meeting!" Claystar boomed. Cats began to crowd under the highrock whispering to each other.

"Gingerstripe's kits are only five moons old, so it couldn't be an apprenticeship," whispered Lightningfoot.

"Falconpaw, Violetpaw or Volepaw haven't completed an assessment yet so it couldn't be a warrior ceremony," added Sparrowclaw.

"Most of our warriors are young, it couldn't be a retirement," responded Grasstail, who had just been made a warrior two moons ago. Falconpaw smiled, they didn't know about Thunderkit. Then Claystar began to speak.

"Storm Clan needs new warriors, and we are understand that helping kits is a vital principle even if it is not part of the warrior code," she began, "I have found a young kit wishing to join our clan, and I will let you decide, will Thunderkit, previously of Sun Clan join Storm Clan?" Shocked whispers filled the camp.

"A Sun Clan kit?" asked Hawktalon.

"Yes," Claystar responded. "All in favor of her leaving raise your left paw," Claystar commanded. To Falconpaw's disgust Volepaw, Gingerstripe and Hawktalon raised their paws. But no one else. Thunderkit was safe. "Now all cats in favor of Thunderkit, to join Storm Clan raise your left paw." Falconpaw promptly raised her left paw. So did all the rest of the clan. "Very well Thunderkit you are free to join Storm Clan if you wish. Your mother in this clan will be Crowsong, an experienced queen who's next kits will be born after you're an apprentice," Claystar announced, "Crowsong do you accept this role?"

"Yes," Crowsong meowed.

"Yay!" chirped Thunderkit.

"Thunderkit follow me, you will meet your denmates soon."

Thunderkit bounced along as Crowsong led her to the nursery. Falconpaw watched them leave and smiled.

"I don't know why but I trust that kit," she said to Violetpaw.

"Me too," her sister meowed.