The gazes from the rest of the clan seared Willowbound's fur. "What do you want from me?" she spat at her reluctant friends. They're eyes cast down, but the angry muttering continued to ensue. Twitching tails showed the frustration that clouded the air.

Brightspark glanced up, "Well…you must know Willowbound" she whispered, "They're just…different."

Larksong padded forward to stand beside her sister, their tabby pelts gleaming in the moonlight. "We can't allow them to settle here!" she insisted.

"Are you leader here Larksong?"

"No!" her eyes flashed dangerously as she turned toward the tortoiseshell she-cat. Arrowfeather pushed his way through the crowd of angry cats.

"Hush!" their deputy ordered, "Tonight is the full moon, is it not? Boulderstar will lead us to the gathering, and I expect that this bickering will stop. The clans will decide who stays and who leaves."

The clan nodded, appeased. Even Larksong bowed her head in consent. Boulderstar stalked to the head of his cats and le them out of the camp. The snowbound forest glistened as Rootclan bounded through it until they finally reached the pine-encircled clearing that served as their gathering place. It was time to decide.

"They don't want us here," Tawnypaw whispered to her mother, Moondash. The tabby stood and flicked her tail for silence. Her blue eyes were deeply troubled as she contemplated what they had heard. Unseen from the surrounding bushes, the small band of cats had watched as Rootclan protested their presence.

"It is in the paws of starclan," Tresspelt said grimly.

"We can only hope that will be enough," Lightpelt responded. Tawnypaw gazed at her father, then her mentor, as they discussed how they would go on if not accepted. No!She thought. This can't happen!

"Come Tawnypaw," Moondash gestured with her tail to an open sleeping hollow beside her. The mottled apprentice curled up sadly beside her mother, wishing for one last chance for a new life.

A river rushed past Tawnypaw, cutting a clear path through the moor. She didn't recognize any of her surroundings; they had not encountered places like this in oakclan, not even on their journey.

I must be dreaming! She thought. A humming melody came from the swiftly flowing water at her paws. She bent down and cautiously took a sip. Tawnypaw recoiled as the frigid cold liquid slid down her throat. It tasted like the juiciest piece of fresh-kill and had a fresh cleansing feel, like biting new snow.

Turning to flee the potentially dangerous water, she found that her paws were fixed to the bank, and as she gulped her last drop, a startling image filled her mind. It was of her naming ceremony. She still remembered the excitement and wonder that had filled her as she became an apprentice at last. Memories started flowing, coming faster and faster. She remembered her terror as oakclan scattered and her parents and mentor fled toward the hills. She thought of the fear of being discovered by Rushtail and Willowbound, before discovering that they were friends who could help. And of the shock she had felt when they learned that snowclan and rootclan existed. And lastly, of the look in Boulderstar's eyes, and realizing that her life was in the paws of these warriors.

The strange feeling released her and she stood, gasping for breath. A last thought flashed through her mind. I don't want this to end!!