Hi again. :) Thank you to the people to who pointed out that in the Allegiances, Sandpaw is still listed as a she-cat and that I put the name Henry instead of the she-cat name.

It have chosen to keep Henry a tom, because it will help me write this chapter.

Okay, I have a poll put up on my profile asking who should be Firepaw's/Firestar's mate. Please look at it and vote if you haven't yet! :D

Dianacutie-NaLu4ever- lol, I don't want to change her gender either. But, I have to because it is part of the story. I'll try not to change her personality too much.

"Well?" Hissed Bluestar, his face only a mouse-legth from Rusty's face now. Lionheart was silent as she towered over Rusty.

He flattened under the golden warrior's cold stare. His fur prickled uncomfortably. "I am no threat to your clan." He mewed, looking down at his trembling paws.

"You threaten the clan when you take our food." Yowled Bluestar. "As a Kittypet, you get plenty of food from your Twolegs. You only hunt for sport, we hunt to survive."

The thruth in the warrior's words pirced Rusty like a blackthorn, and suddenly he understood his anger. He stopped trembling and sat up, and straightened his ears. He raised his eyes to meet Bluestar's. "I had not thought of it that way before. I'm sorry." He meowed solemnly. "I will not hunt here again."

Bluestar let his hackles fall, and signled for Lionheart to step back. "Your an unusual Kittypet, Rusty." He meowed.

Graypaw sighed in relief.

Rusty had heard approval in Bluestar's voice, and saw him swap a meaningful glance with Lionheart. The look made Rusty curious. What had flashed between the two warriors? Quietly he asked, "Is survival here really that hard?"

"Our territory only covers part of the forest." Answered Bluestar. "We compete with other clans for what we have. And so new-leaf being so late means that there is little prey."

"Is your clan very big?" Rusty asked, eyes wide.

"Big enough." Replied Bluestar. "Our territory can support us, but there is no prey left over."

"Are you all warriors then?" Rusty mewed.

"Some are." Lionheart answered. "Some are too young or too old or have different jobs. Some have kits to care for."

"And you all live and share prey together?" Rusty murmured in awe, thinking a little guilty of his own easy, selfish life.

Bluestar looked at Lionheart, who starred steadily back. Finally he turned his gaze back to Rusty. "Perhaps you should find these things out for yourself. Would you like to join Thunderclan?"

Rusty was so surprised he couldn't speak.

Bluestar whent on: "If you did join, you would train with Graypaw to become a clan warrior."

"But Kittypetd can't be warriors!" Graypaw blurted out, eyes wide. "He doesn't have the right blood, warrior blood!"

Bluestar's eyes seemed to blaze. "Warrior blood!" He spat. "Too much of that has been spilled lately."

Lionheart moved on, "Bluestar is only offering training, young kit. There is no guarantee that you would become a full warrior, after all, you are used to a more comfortable life."

Rusty was stung by Lionheart's words. He swung his head around to face the gold tabby. "Why offer me the chance then?"

But it was Bluestar who answered, "You're right to question us, young one. The fact is, Thunderclan needs more warriors."

"Understand that Bluestar dose not make this offer lightly. If you wish to train with us, you must fully join the clan. You can't live with a paw in both worlds. Either join and respect the Clan's ways, or leave for the Twoleg place and never come back."

A cool breeze stirred the undergrowth, ruffling Rusty's fur. He shivered, not with cold, but with excitement at all the incredible possibilities opening up in front of him.

"Are you wondering if it's worth giving up your Kittypet life?" Asked Bluestar gently. "Do you realize the price you will pay for your warmth and food?"

Rusty looked at him, puzzled. Surely this encounter with wild cats has proved how easy and luxurious his life was?

"I can tell your still a tom," Bluestar added, "Despite the Twoleg stench that clings to your fur."

Rusty looked at Bluestar, confused. But before Rusty could ask what he had meant, Bluestar continued, "You haven't been taken to the Cutter. You wouldn't be so keen to fight a Clan cat then, I suppose."

Rusty was still confused. Suddenly he thought of Henry, who had become fat and lasy since his trip to the vet. Was that what Bluestar meant by Cutter?

"The Clan might not be able to offer you such easy food or warmth." Continued Bluestar. "In the season of leaf-bare, nights in the forest can be cruel. The Clan will demand great loyalty and hard work, you will be expected to protect the Clan with your life. There are many mouths to feed, but the rewards is great. You will remain a tom, you will be trained in the ways of the wild, you will learn what it is to be a real cat. The strength and fellowship of your Clan will always be with you, even when you hunt alone."

Rusty's head realed. Bluestar seemed to be offering him the life he had so many times, and so tantalizingly, in his dreams, but could he live like this for real?

Lionheart interrupted his thoughts. "Come, Bluestar, let's not waist any more time here. Tigerclaw will wonder what has become of us." She stood up and flicked her tail.

"Wait." Rusty meowed. "Can I think about your offer?"

Bluestar looked at him for a long moment, then nodded. "Lionheart will be here tomorrow at sunhigh." She told him. "Give her your answer then."

Bluestar murmured a low signal, and in a single movement the three cats turned and disappeared into the undergrowth.

Rusty blinked. He stared -excited and uncertain- up past the ferns that encircled him, through the canopy of leaves, to the stsrs that glittered in the night sky. The scent of the Clan cats srill hung heavily in the evening air.

And as Rusty turned and headed back home, he felt a strange sensation inside him, tugginf him back into the depths of the forest. His fur prickled deliciously in the light wind, and the rustling leaves seemes to whisper his name in the shadows.

Next chapter should be up quicker then this one was posted.