Chapter 2: RainClan

"So what are your names?" the white-gray tom prompted gently.

"I'm Night, and that is my sister Storm."

"I see," the tom mewed and his companion grimaced at those words, "I am Cloudspots; warrior of RainClan and this is my apprentice, Fernpaw."

"What is RainClan?" Storm asked curiously.

"RainClan is one of the three Clans who roam these lands," Cloudspots explained with fiery passion, "There are three Clans: RainClan, ThornClan, and BreezeClan. We all follow a code that was formed by our ancestors. The Clans are not what you kittypets have heard. We are dignified, just, brave, loyal, and fierce. The skills of Clan cats are unmatched by any other cat!"

"How do you join a Clan?" Night asked sheepishly.

"Well if you're kittypets you should go and ask permission from our leader, Smokestar, and explain why you deserve to even consider joining RainClan," Cloudspots answered simply.

"We aren't kittypets, we're loners," Storm hissed defensively.

Cloudspots frowned and took a small step towards them and tasted the air. He hesitated before nodding, "My apologies, Night and Storm."

"Could we maybe join your Clan?" Storm asked.

"Are you crazy?" Night hissed quietly.

Storm turned to face her, "Well it's not like we have anywhere else to go. Do you want to live in the alleys for the rest of our lives, constantly competing for our next meal? What if something happens to one of us? What will the other do?"

Night stared at her with the grim face and sighed, "Very well."

Cloudspots sat patiently, his ears constantly swiveling back and forth to catch every sound and his nose repeatedly twitching to catch the faintest scents. "If you are sure, please follow me," he meowed.

With that the gray tom plunged into the undergrowth and his apprentice, Fernpaw, paused to cast an unsure glance at the strangers before following her mentor.

"What have you gotten us into?" Night grumbled before bounding after the RainClan cats.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Storm panted and bounded after Cloudspots and Fernpaw, struggling to keep the brisk pace the two had set. Surprisingly Cloudspots was expertly weaving around sharp reeds and fallen logs as if he really could see. The warrior led the two loners to a hollow log that was floating on water and surrounded by tall reeds.

He didn't hesitate to plunge into the fallen log and disappeared, swallowed by darkness.

Fernpaw stepped back to let the two loners go through first, "It's not scary, it's safe," the she-cat spoke for the first time.

Storm, drained of all confidence, placed her paws into the log and slowly walked through it. It wasn't a long log, it was short but the uncomfortable feeling of being closed in made the she-cat add a spring in her step.

When she emerged on the other side she was surprised at what was revealed. A whole camp, tucked away in the tall grasses of the marshes.

In the middle of the clearing was a small fresh-kill pile that had recently been stocked and was smelling deliciously of fresh mice. Then almost directly to Storm's right was a small path that must have led somewhere because the scent of herbs drifted to her nose.

Around the clearing were some strange cats, all older than Storm by a good number of moons. Cloudspots disappeared into a den on the other side of the clearing and she had a tingling feeling that she wasn't supposed to follow.

"Hey! What's your name?" a gray she-cat stared at them with wide eyes that only showed curiosity.

"I'm, um, Storm. Who are you?"

"Mistpaw," the she-cat answered cheerfully.

"You smell funny," Night mewed, "I mean all the cats here have a watery tang but you smell different than them. The name's Night by the way."

Most cats would have taken offense at that and Storm was waiting to see Mistpaw grow mad at the comment but the RainClan cat only threw back her head and laughed, "That's because I'm the medicine cat apprentice. I probably have yarrow on my paws from when I was making a poultice this morning."

"What's a medicine cat?" Storm asked, tipping her head to the side.

Mistpaw stared at them with shock on her face and just as she was about to open her mouth to lecture a reply a muscular gray tom padded over to the group, "That's enough Mistpaw, I'm sure these two have had enough questions for one day."

Storm and Night stared the tom with wide eyes. He was an impressive sight: with sleek, well groomed fur that shined in the light, letting his muscles show through his pelt. His muzzle was scratched with scars and going down one of his eyes he had a scar shaped like a claw. Then there were his eyes, dark amber orbs that looked all-knowing and steady.

"I am Smokestar, leader of RainClan," the impressive cat meowed with a deep, commanding voice.

"Storm."

"Night," her sister replied in a hard voice.

"I was told you wish to join my Clan? What makes you think you've got what it takes to go through our training?" The gray tom asked.

"I'm strong, young, healthy, and prepared to fight," Night answered, her amber eyes glittering with determination.

Smokestar nodded thoughtfully and turned to Storm, "And you?"

Storm seemed to shrink down within her pelt, what did she have to offer this cat? "I don't know much about these 'Clans'," she admitted. "But I'm determined and I will not give up when you test me and my loyalty."

Smokestar nodded, seeming satisfied with their answer, "I believe you. Both of you. If you will please follow me."

Storm and Night trotted after the leader of RainClan and watched as he leaped up onto a huge tree stump. "Let all cats old enough to run through the high waters join beneath the tree stump for a Clan meeting!" he yowled.

Storm watched wide-eyed as cats started pouring out of the dens. Most of them smelled like grass and water but a select few smelled like leaves.

Night crouched down with narrowed eyes and glanced around, never watching a single cat for two long.

Smokestar took a deep breath, "Today StarClan has blessed us with two new apprentices. Storm and Night, loners who have come from the Twoleg Place, have asked permission to join our Clan."

"But they're loners! They are not prepared to go through our training. Their paws are soft and their fur is thin, not ready for our harsh leaf-bares and freezing waters!" a cream colored she-cat protested shouldered her way through the crowd.

"I understand your concern for these cats, Berryfoot, but I am sure of my decision," Smokestar replied with a calm voice. "Now if we may continue . . ."

"From this day forward until she has earned her warrior name Night, you will be known as Nightpaw," the black she-cat took a nervous gulp. "Oakpelt! You will mentor Nightpaw; your battle skills have not gone unnoticed and I hope you will teach all you know to this young apprentice."

Nightpaw padded forward and gingerly touched noses with the dark brown tom.

Smokestar's amber gaze rested on Storm next, "From this day forward until she has received her warrior name Storm, you will be known as Stormpaw. Snowspirit! You will mentor Stormpaw; your cunningness and your ability to track whatever lies in your path, even on water, is unmatchable and I trust you to pass on these skills to Stormpaw."

Stormpaw nervously padded over to the white she-cat and touched noses with her. "Don't worry; you'll be a great warrior," Snowspirit murmured gently.

Smokestar flicked his tail, "That is all for now," he meowed before jumping off the huge stump and disappeared into a hole in the side of it.

"Where did he go?" Nightpaw asked.

"That's the leader's den. I'll have one of the other apprentices show you around camp later but for now let's go for a patrol around the territory. It will give you the chance to see where you're living," Oakpelt mewed.

"Come along, it's going to be a hard walk for you two," Snowspirit said, heading for the entrance of camp.

"We're strong," Stormpaw protested, "we can keep up."

"You'll see what we mean when we leave camp," Oakpelt answered, smirking a little.

Stormpaw gulped and darted through the log, exiting camp.