A/N: Hey guys, it's Wilde. I'm so so sorry for the late publication of our newest chapter. We were having issues writing it, as it is my sister's computer, and she never has time to type it. c: Here goes!


"Well?" The large tom asked, his face inches away from Princess's now. The brown tabby flinched, and forced the fur on her neck to lay flat.

"I am no threat to your Clan," She said calmly, her pads growing clammy and cold.

"You threaten us when you take our food!" The tortoiseshell tom shook his head in disbelief. "You come here to hunt for fun, for sport, when you have all the food you need in your twoleg nest." He spat the last words like poison from his mouth. "We hunt to survive. It isn't all moonlight and daffodils out here, you know. In Leaf Bare, prey is scarce, and we have to fight just to eat." His eyes narrowed.

Princess gulped, and her pelt prickled, but a flash of anger and annoyance shot through her. "Why don't you just get yourself some housefolk, then? If it's so hard for you out here, why are you here at all?!" The brown tabby was beginning to get frustrated with these Clan cats, and she lunged upwards so that she was no longer bowing her head, but staring straight into his yellow eyes, which widened in shock.

The tom's mouth hung open, at a loss for words. He turned to stare blankly at the blue-grey she-cat. Before she could speak however, Princess glared at her, and continued. "And don't you make up some excuse, or vague answer, like this lump of fur." She gestured to Dustpaw, who let out an amused, "Hey!"

Princess rolled her eyes and continued, stomping her paw down on the mossy forest floor. "I came here for my questions to be answered, and to feel the thrill of hunting for the first time! I didn't come here to be hissed at and whined to that you don't have enough food, or territory, when it's been sitting under your noses this whole time!"

The brown tabby's fur bristled, her back arched, she was a fearsome sight to any cat who feared a furball. Soon the elderly blue she-cat couldn't hold back, and she collapsed on the ground, laughing, and spluttering. Princess and Dustpaw stared at her, and after a while she rose to her paws. "I'm sorry, let me introduce myself. I'm Bluestar, leader of ThunderClan. This is Redtail, my deputy."

Despite Princess's anger, she still bowed her head to the leader, as it was respectful and polite. Bluestar dipped her head in turn, and stepped forward. "I have watched you for a while, kittypet. You are fierce, and stubborn, fast, and clever. You fought well when Dustpaw attacked you. Even Redtail was impressed." The wise she-cat flicked the tom's shoulder with her tail. He grunted in agreement, his flame-colored eyes glittering.

"I don't understand..." Princess tipped her head to one side, confused.

Bluestar sighed. "ThunderClan is short of warriors this Leaf Bare," she mewed, cautiously.

"What are you saying?"

"It would be an honor, if you would join us."

"Know that Bluestar does not make this offer to any kittypet," Redtail chimed in. "Once you make your choice, there is no changing it."

Princess blinked her green eyes, and gave her white chest fur a few brisk licks. "C-can I sleep on it?" She looked up at the burly dappled tom hopefully.

"Of course." Redtail mewed. "I'll be here at sunrise to take you to camp," He paused. "That is, if you decide to join."

"Thank you."

Without saying another word, they crept off in different directions, the warriors to their Clan, the kittypet to her housefolk.


Typed by Xx Sugar Foot xX