Chapter 2: Echopaw

I wish I could post pictures along with these chapters... so many of my fans from Quizilla had drawn stuff to go with some of the scenes for some chapters... They were adorable too! If you want to view them (or you can't wait for me to update this story on here, since it will take a while since I'm going to be updating all my edited chapters) then feel free to go to Quizilla or Wattpad and search for I'm a Clan Cat on there! (by xXxFeatherwishxXx on Quizilla and thatsilentdreamer on Wattpad). :) Thanks again for reading, and feel free to leave a review! If you like the story, review, and if you didn't, feel free to review your opinion (the nicest way you can please!).

Before I had a chance to look around the camp some more, we were instantly greeted by the the ThunderClan cats.

"Who is she?" Spiderleg meowed.

"What Clan is she from?" mewed Honeypaw.

"Is she a kittypet?" called out Poppypaw.

From all the voices calling out different scenarios, Firestar emerged from his den. His pelt flamed in the sunlight as he stepped onto Highledge. His emerald eyes looked down onto us as he bounded down from the ledge and to Cloudtail.

"Who is this, Cloudtail?" he asked.

"She calls herself Echo, Firestar," Cloudtail replied. "She wants to join our Clan."

Firestar turned his emerald gaze to me. "Echo, is it?" he asked. I nodded. "Are you sure you wish to join our Clan? It's not as easy as it looks, you know."

I dipped my head to the Clan leader. "Yes, Firestar, I wish to join ThunderClan. I promise I'll be extremely loyal and do whatever I'm told to! I'll do whatever it takes to protect the Clan."

I looked up, my amber gaze meeting his green as we stared each other down. My eyes must of had a pleading look, for Firestar's gaze softened, as if he were remembering the time he was accepted to join ThunderClan. Giving me a small nod, he leaped back onto Highledge. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath Highledge for a Clan meeting!"

He didn't really need to call everyone out… I thought, looking around. My arrival into the camp had already brought out almost all of the cats in ThunderClan.

Cloudtail began to lead me to Highledge. I could feel all of the different stares from the different cats as I climbed up the Highledge, so I was a little ways off from Firestar. Cloudtail nudged me forward until I was right next to him. I looked down at the cats, their eyes narrowed as they continued to judge me.

"Show them no fear," Firestar murmured to me under his breath. "If you show them you're scared, they won't accept you."

I nodded, remembering what had happened to Firestar in Into the Wild. Rusty had needed to prove he was loyal to the Clan cats, so Longtail challenged him and the two began to fight. Although fighting isn't everything a true warrior needs, Rusty had beaten Longtail and he was accepted into the Clans.

I straightened myself up, feeling support from Firestar as I continued to run through the circumstances of the Warrior Code in my head.

"Echo is a loner that Cloudtail and his patrol had met near WindClan border," Firestar began, "and she wishes to join the Clan."

"She wants to join?" Birchfall's mew of disbelief seemed to echo throughout the camp as the cats surrounding him pitched in with their words of confusion and suspicion. 'Show them no fear', Firestar's words echoed in my mind.

The ginger tom ignored him as he continued, "I have taken her plea into consideration, and I have come to the conclusion that she may join the Clan."

"How do we know we can trust her?" another cat shouted.

"Yeah! She might be a spy from WindClan!"

"Or just a rogue that can't fend for herself - let alone the Clan!"

Firestar waited for the yowls of disapproval to die down as he continued, "Echo, are you fazed by what they are saying?" he asked.

I looked at him. Show them no fear. "No."

"Do you admit to anything they are saying?"

"No."

Firestar's green eyes glimmered. "Do you wish to join our Clan?"

My eyes brightened. "Definitely."

"Echo, from this day forward until you earn your warrior name, you will be known as Echopaw." Firestar's gazed sweeped over the cats before him. "Your mentor shall be Squirrelflight."

My eyes widened as the she-cat stepped forward, her dark ginger pelt ruffled as she stretched, making her way to the Highledge. I heard murmurs of approval as I made my way down the Highledge to meet her. "Squirrelflight, you are a loyal and trusted warrior of ThunderClan. I trust that you will teach Echopaw the ways of a true ThunderClan warrior."

"Oh, I will Firestar," Squirrelflight meowed, looking back at me. She grinned, bending down to touch noses with me. I could see in her eyes that they were brimmed with happiness, and slight surprise. Was I her first apprentice?

After a bit of hesitation, the surrounding cats began to call my new name; "Echopaw! Echopaw!"

I sighed. I was now a true ThunderClan apprentice!
Once the meeting died down, Squirrelflight looked back at me. "So, what do you want to do? Do you want to do some exploring?"

I frowned. "Can we go hunting?"

Squirrelflight nodded, calling over Brackenfur and Ashfur, their apprentices in tow. "Hey, you four! Do you want to go hunting with me and my new apprentice?"

"Why not?" Ashfur meowed, glancing back at Lionpaw. "Lionpaw could do with some freshening up."

"Yeah, I'm sure Hollypaw would enjoy it as well, right?" Brackenfur meowed, glancing back at the black she-cat. She nodded, her green eyes glimmering.

As Ashfur's blue gaze turned to look at me, I held back a shiver. Although he had done nothing wrong, he had loved Squirrelflight so much, that his jealousy towards Brambleclaw and her was too great, that he had to hurt her in some way. So during the fire, he had trapped Lionblaze, Jayfeather, Hollyleaf and Squirrelflight, threatening her that he would kill them so she could feel the pain he felt; to save the three, Squirrelflight had given away one of the biggest secrets of all - they weren't her kits. This had caused a huge break between the Three and their family, causing them to be suspicious of everything, and even causing Hollyleaf to murder Ashfur to prevent him from telling any cat about it.

I shuddered at the thought as I followed the others out of camp. I can't let this happen - I have to stop it somehow!

But how? I could barely recall when it would happen. Was it in Eclipse? Or was it in the book with Sol on the front cover? I tried not to show my frustration as I followed the others to a clearing. Squirrelflight nodded to me as the others sat down.

"Alright, Echopaw, first I'm going to teach you the basics of hunting," she meowed. I nodded to show I was listening.

"You may not think that this is necessary, but you should change the different ways you hunt by the prey you're trying to catch," she continued, "for instance; a mouse has great hearing, and if you step the wrong way or if your breathing is too loud, it will hear you and escape. You have to step lightly."

I nodded again, becoming impatient. I already knew all of this from reading the Field Guide that showed the different techniques - I even knew how to fight. But I could feel fear ebbing deep within me at the thought of digging my claws into something living and ending it's life. I tried not to shudder as I continued to listen to the advice Squirrelflight was giving.

"Here, crouch down like I am," she meowed. "The most important thing about hunting is your crouch." She nodded towards Hollypaw and Lionpaw. "How about you two come help?"

The two apprentices nodded as they crouched next to me. I watched Lionpaw's stance and how he leveled his body just a few inches above the ground. I attempted to copy, only to feel an unfamiliar pain rush through my muscles. Guess my body isn't used to a position like this - even though I'm in a cat body, and not a twoleg one.

I stretched, straightening myself as I dropped low to the ground again. Keeping my claws sheathed, I made sure that my paws were evenly spaced away from each other and that my tail wasn't lingering on the ground.

"Very good!" Squirrelflight meowed.

"That's an excellent crouch for your first try, Echopaw!" Brackenfur praised. I sat up, feeling my ears heat up with embarrassment.

"Thanks…"

Ashfur scowled, his blue gaze cold. "Let's test to see if that crouch really is as good as it seems," he meowed, turning to talk to his apprentice.

I let out a sigh. How much can you actually love someone to completely change like that?

"Hey, Echopaw, are you going to sit there all day?" Hollypaw asked, poking me in the side. I stood up, turning to face her. Her green eyes lit up with excitement. "Come on, let's see who catches the most prey!"

"There won't be any more prey left if you keep shouting," Brackenfur scolded. I let out a mrrow of laughter as I followed Hollypaw to begin the hunt.

My ear twitched as I watched the grey coloured mouse intently. I was in my crouching position, listening keenly, keeping my gaze on the fat mouse. It was too busy nibbling on a nut to notice me.

I then saw my chance. I began to creep forward quietly, stopping every now and then when it would look up. Before it could drop its nut and escape, I pounced on it, digging my claws. My eyes widened as I was greeted by soft skin. The mouse let out a squeak of pain, and I instantly felt guitly for what I've done. But the cat inside of me willed me to think differently as I swiftly bit its neck. I reacted backwards as the tang of blood greeted my lips. I spit, backing away.

"Hey, nice catch!" Lionpaw meowed from behind me. I looked over to see the golden tabby carrying a large squirrel.

"Thanks! Same to you," I added.

Lionpaw closed his eyes triumphantly. "The fat geezer never saw me coming!" he bragged, jokingly.

I purred, picking up my mouse, as we headed back for camp. Lionpaw was telling me the story (slightly muffled through the fur of the squirrel) about how he had caught the fat animal in his mouth. I nodded, realizing that he had somewhat dramatized the story to sound cooler.

"Very interesting," I meowed, dropping my mouse onto the fresh-kill pile. Lionpaw shrugged, adding his squirrel.

"Hey, what can I say? I'm a champion," he grinned.

"Wow, nice catch!" Hollypaw meowed, adding her sparrow to the pile. Lionpaw smirked.

"Thanks."

"Not you, mouse-brain," Hollypaw snorted, shouldering past her brother to stand next to me. "You caught a mouse! And on your first try too!" she added.

I shrugged. "It was nothing."

"Great job, you three!" Squirrelflight congratulated us, setting down her few kills.

"Thanks Squirrelflight!" we all said in unison.

As we started to share stories of how we each caught our kills, Poppypaw bounded over. "Hey, Echopaw! Honeypaw and I made a nest for you when you're ready to sleep!" she meowed.

I purred. "Thanks!" As the tortoiseshell she-cat bounded away, I looked up at the sky - it was beginning to darken. Probably dinnertime for humans. I wonder how my parents are doing…? I wondered. Shaking my head from the sad thoughts, I got up, heading for the apprentice den. Lost in my thoughts, I didn't pay attention to where I was going, and ran into something - or rather, someone.

"Hey, watch it!" he snapped.

I shook my head, rebalancing myself from the stumble. I looked at the cat I had bumped into; he was a gray tabby tom, who was previously carrying herbs, but they were now all scattered around the ground.

"I-I'm sorry!" I stammered. Stepping forward, I began to help him collect the herbs. By their texture and smell, I could decipher that they were borage and tansy leaves.

"Hmph," snorted the gray tabby. Looking up, studying him further, I recognized him immediately. Jayfeather! Ah, I love Jayfeather! Er - well, I guess, Jaypaw now. As we finished gathering the herbs, he lead me to the elder's den.

"Here, Mousefur," he meowed, setting the herbs down in front of the elder. She leaned over to lick up the herbs, but stopped when she spotted me. "Who's she?" she asked.

A pale tabby with dark black stripes leaned over and sniffed. "I think she's the new apprentice, Echopaw." My gaze softened. Longtail was a very fierce, yet loyal warrior. That is, until his eyes got clawed by a rabbit and he was confined to the elder's den due to his blindness.

I dipped my head to the elders. "Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Echopaw," I mewed.

"Why're you here?" Mousefur snapped. "It's not time for the apprentices to clean out the elder's den yet."

"I accidentally bumped into Jaypaw," I meowed.

"Accidentally?" Mousefur narrowed her eyes.

"She bumped into me," Jaypaw snapped, his temper showing. He was always touchy about being blind.

"I'm sorry…" I muttered. Jaypaw seemed to have ignored my apology, or pretended as if he didn't hear it, as he began to leave the Elder's den. I dipped my head once again to the elders, then followed him out.

"Hey! Excuse me!" I snapped, getting a little bit fed up with his temper.

"What?" Jaypaw snapped yet again as he turned around, his blind blue eyes unfocused, yet still beautiful as ever.

"I… I am really sorry," I meowed. "I… didn't mean to make you upset…" I meowed carefully, checking my words. Jaypaw hated it when cats mentioned his blindness, or acted as if he were weak.

Jaypaw snorted. "Then stop annoying me!" he hissed, then stalked off back towards the medicine den.

My ears flattened against my head. I was upset at first. Great… my favorite cat out of the entire series hates me, I thought bitterly, then anger began to fill my thoughts. That inconsiderate jerk! What's his goddamn problem? He's worse than the jerks at my school! I began to head towards the fresh-kill pile. Maybe food would take my mind off of the encounter I had.

"What's wrong? You look like a fox in a fit," Hollypaw commented. I sighed, picking a bird from the pile as I layed next to her to eat.

"I met Jaypaw," I muttered, taking a bite. Preparing myself to begin retching at the taste of bird, my tastebuds were greeted instantly by delicious flavors of the forest.

"Oh, no wonder," Hollypaw purred. "Don't worry, Jaypaw's always cranky. He'll soften up once he gets to know you."

I sighed, taking another bite. "I hope so," I mumbled, my mouth full.

Changing the subject, Hollypaw began to tell me about all the cats in the Clan. "Since you're new here, I'll tell you who's friendly… and who's not." I nodded as she continued.

"Berrynose, the cream-colored tom over there," she nodded towards the warrior. He was talking to his siblings, along with bragging to some of the apprentices (including Poppypaw and Honeypaw). "He's really arrogant. He used to be really mean to Jaypaw, Lionpaw and I when he was an apprentice. But once he got his warrior name, he's been worse than ever."

I smirked, remembering how he had an accident which left him with a stump for a tail. They should have named him Stumpytail… or Berrytail. At least having tail would remind him of his stump.

"Everyone else in general is pretty much alright, except for Ashfur… he's kind of… rude. But don't worry, I'm sure he won't talk to you much. He only pays attention to Lionpaw since he's his apprentice," Hollypaw continued.

"Thanks," I meowed. "I'll make sure to keep an eye out,"

"Oh, I don't mean it like that," Hollypaw meowed. "I mean… I trust him… it's just… I'm worried sometimes."

"Oh?" Fear began to seep through me. Was Ashfur really that obvious about eliminating Squirrelflight's kits?

"Nevermind," Hollypaw meowed. We finished our fresh-kill at around the same time as she sat up, beginning to groom herself. I watched as she brought her paw over her ears and muzzle, and attempted to do the same to myself. It felt good to clean all the dirt from my fur.

"You missed a spot here," Hollypaw meowed, picking at my back.

"Oh, thanks!" I meowed.

"No problem," Hollypaw mewed, getting up as she lead us to the apprentice den. It was getting dark and many of the other Clan cats were retiring. I found my nest, a little farther off from some of the apprentices. I settled in it, circling, then curled up, closing my eyes. After everything that had happened today, it wasn't hard to fall asleep.