A full moon was rising in the sky as Flame, Oak, and Star padded noiselessly through the undergrowth. The night before, they had spent the night in a cavern under a place called Highstones. As soon as Flame and her siblings had touched the stone in the middle of the cavern, she had been swept away by claws of cold air. When she had opened her eyes, she saw countless starry cats in front of her. One purple-gray she-cat had stepped out of the ranks, telling Flame she was called Violetcloud. Then Violetcloud had simply repeated Susanna's prophecy to her. Flame thought it over in her head as they padded through the forest.

Magic will rain from the paws of three cats when a smoke colored warrior rules the forest.

After they had left Highstones, they had met a loner, who told them where the territories for each clan were. Now they were traveling through the forest, hopefully about to meet one of the clans. Thunderclan. It was moonhigh by now, and Flame and her siblings were exhausted. "Let's stop for the night, Flame." meowed Star. The pitch-black she-cat was dragging her tail in the dirt, and Oak was no better.

Flame meowed agreement, and soon they came to a large clearing. They couldn't get through the wall of gorse bushes surrounding the clearing, so they jumped easily onto overhanging tree branches, falling lightly into the sheltered clearing.

The three cats spread out and Flame saw many good places for them to sleep, but before she could ask her siblings what they thought, she heard Star meow quietly, "Over here!"

As Flame and Oak padded over to see what Star discovered, Flame picked up a strong scent of Thunderclan. Soon they came to the place Star had found. It was a crack in a huge rock, towering many tail-lengths above their heads.

Flame saw Star walk through a hanging curtain of lichen, and she followed her, Oak right behind her. Through the curtain was an area big enough for all three cats. "A cat has been here before us," meowed Oak thoughtfully.

They settled down for the night, and in a few moments, the sleepy Flame had drifted off to sleep.

"Who are you? What are you doing in my den?" Flame blinked sleepily, then when she saw the angry she-cat that was shrieking in her face, she jumped to her feet. Standing before her was a lithe, fierce looking queen with cream colored fur and hazel eyes. Oak and Star were already awake, staring horrified at the newcomer. "I asked who you are!" spat the cream colored cat.

"U-um… I'm Flame, and these are my siblings Oak and Star." Flame stuttered, stunned. "We were sent here to protect the clans from a smoke colored warrior."

"Wait, you said she's called Star?" the cat said, gesturing to the small black she-cat. "She's a clan leader?"

"What? No!" exclaimed Star.

"Then why is your name Star?"

"That's just my name! We're from far, far away. We traveled for three moons to get here!" meowed Star indignantly.

The creamy she-cat let out a gasp of surprise. "Three moons? That's a whole season! You traveled all of leaf-fall to get here?"

"This is Thunderclan, right?" continued Star.

"Yes," meowed the stranger cautiously.

"We need to speak to your clan leader. Do you know where we can find him?" Flame interrupted.

"Yes, Flame." meowed the cat. "For one thing, the clan leader is a she-cat. For another thing, she's standing right in front of you."

"You're the clan leader!" exclaimed Oak. "What's your name?"

"Maplestar." she meowed. "Anyway, first you need to come out of my den. Second, I need to make sure you're not intruders from Windclan." Star, Oak, and finally Flame stepped out of the cozy den under the rock.

"Shiningstream!" Maplestar called. A blue-gray she-cat bounded over to join them. When she saw Flame, Star, and Oak, she stopped short. She hissed, and the fur on her shoulders bristled.

"Intruders!" She shrieked. Shiningstream then bowled over Oak, and they rolled together, hissing and spitting. "Maplestar? What's going on?" she said, breaking apart from Oak after seeing her clan leader wasn't following in the battle.

"Shiningstream," Maplestar meowed. "These are not intruders. They traveled for a whole season to help the clans."

"Help us with what?" the blue-gray she-cat meowed.

Maplestar turned to look at the three small cats. "What are you here to help us with, Flame?"

Flame blinked uneasily, not liking to have to be the one to talk to Thunderclan's leader. "Well, we had a friend back where we came from." she began. "Her name was Susanna. She told us a prophecy." At these words, Shiningstream and Maplestar exchanged an awed glance.

"What was the prophecy?" asked Maplestar. "Was it about Thunderclan directly? Is that why you came to our camp?"

"The prophecy was, 'Magic will rain from the paws of three cats when a smoke colored warrior rules the forest.' And we didn't know this was your camp. We just needed a sleeping place. We're sorry for the intrusion. We can leave now if you want." Flame finished, depressed

"No, don't go." meowed Maplestar. "I think I know this 'smoke colored warrior'."

"You do?" asked Star, turning to look at her.

"Yes, Star. He is Shadowclan's leader, Stormstar. He has been stealing our prey and territory for a moon now. Have you come across the other clans?"

"No." Oak replied promptly "Only a loner living in a barn. He told us the clan territories and boundaries."

"Good." meowed Maplestar. "And the loner you met was called Sticky. All the clans know him well." Maplestar then looked the three cats over.

"You must only be seven moons!" exclaimed Shiningstream. "You're barely out of kithood!" By now, more cats had crowded around the three newcomers. A pinkish-white tom was peering curiously at them, while a white queen was keeping her kit away, eventually taking him by the scruff and dragging him into a big gorse bush, which Flame guessed was the nursery.

"Would you like to join Thunderclan?" Maplestar asked unexpectedly. "If you prove your loyalty we will make you apprentices." Star, Oak, and Flame glanced at each other excitedly. A flicker of unease was in Star's blue gaze.

Oak and Star looked expectantly at Flame. "Give me a bit of time to think it over, please, Maplestar." she meowed quietly.

"You have until sunhigh then." meowed Maplestar briskly. "Let me call some of my warriors to show you around our camp. They will also explain the way of the clans to you."

Maplestar flicked her tail to three big cats and a small one, sitting with their fur fluffed up against the leaf-bare wind. "Tawnywillow, Spottedriver, Grasswind, Rushingwater! Show these three cats around the camp. They are thinking about becoming apprentices here."

The four cats that had come to show them around looked thoroughly puzzled. Still, they padded over and nodded respectfully to their leader. One of them, a dark brown tabby, nudged them to their paws. "Come on then," he meowed gruffly, "Let's take you around."

Another cat, a dark gray tabby, asked them what their names were. "I'm Flame," Flame meowed, "and these are my littermates, Star and Oak."

The third cat, a white and brown tabby, looked them over then said, "You're not from around these parts, are you?"

"No." Oak answered. "So what are your names?"

The gray tabby stepped forward. "I'm Rushingwater." He meowed briskly.

The brown tabby meowed, "And I'm Tawnywillow."

Then the white and brown tabby hastily meowed, "I'm Grasswind."

An elegant gray she-cat padded forward. White speckles dotted her sleek body. "My name is Spottedriver." she meowed calmly. "Welcome to Thunderclan."

"T-thank you." Flame stammered. "So where are we going to go first?" Grasswind began to lead the patrol of cats.

"Why don't we show them the gorse tunnel?" asked Tawnywillow. "And then they can see the Highrock and leader's den." Grasswind nodded and began to lead the cats toward a narrow tunnel of gorse at one end of the clearing.

"This is the gorse tunnel." Whispered Rushingwater in Flame's ear. It's to keep intruders out. I guess it didn't work on you.' He added with a purr.

"How did you three get into the camp anyway?" questioned Grasswind. "Wormwiggle was guarding the entrance!"

"We jumped into the tree branches and then down into the clearing." meowed Star as they approached a huge rock, many tail-lengths high, jutting out toward the sky.

"Clever." added Spottedriver. "This is highrock. It's where Maplestar goes to call the clan cats together when there is a meeting. Her den is underneath, in that crack in the rock." Oak gasped in awe.

The patrol padded on, until they reached a fern tunnel. "This is the medicine cat's den." It was Tawnywillow speaking this time. "Why don't we take you to meet him?"

They walked through the fern tunnel where there was a sheltered area, and a crack in a rock next to it, where there were herbs stored everywhere. A russet colored tom padded out to meet them. "Who's this?" He meowed suspiciously. "Enemies?"

"No, Redpelt." meowed Spottedriver. "These three cats are from far away. They might become apprentices here.

"Well, I suppose we always need new apprentices." meowed Redpelt hesitantly. "What are their names?"

"Flame, Star, and Oak." meowed Tawnywillow. "Where's Skypaw?" He added.

"Away gathering herbs. Windkit has a stomach-ache." Redpelt answered.

"Who's Skypaw?" asked Star,

"Redpelt's apprentice." answered Grasswind. "All apprentices' names end with 'paw'. "

"And kits' names end with 'kit'." added Rushingwater. "And clan leaders' end with 'star.'"

"That's cool!" meowed Oak. "Oh, and when can we see Skypaw?"

"Maybe when she gets back from gathering her herbs." answered Redpelt.

"Can we see any other apprentices?" meowed Flame hopefully. Suddenly the ferns around them rustled and a pretty silver she-cat padded towards the crevice in the rock where the herbs were stored, more clamped in her jaws.

"Who's this?" she asked. The fur on her neck bristled. "Are they intruders from another clan?" Spottedriver glanced at the silver cat worriedly.

"No, Skypaw." she meowed. "These three cats are from far away, and are thinking about becoming apprentices. The silver cat who was Skypaw warily introduced herself. The three siblings returned her greeting.

Skypaw glanced at them one more time, then turned to speak to her mentor, "Redpelt, here's the watermint. I also found a few juniper berries, and there's some yarrow in the den."

Redpelt nodded in acknowledgement, then took up some of the berries and padded over to a big gorse bush. Rushingwater then turned to look at the newcomers. "Now we can see the warriors den." he meowed. "That's where I sleep, with the other warriors."

"We sleep there too." added Grasswind. The group went to look at a bush where a few cats slept. "This is the warriors den." announced Grasswind again.

They then headed to a fallen tree, pushing their way through branches till they reached an opening. "This is the elders den." Tawnywillow told them. "Retired warriors live here for the rest of their seasons. You can meet Bramblethorn, Marigoldpetal, and Dandelionstem."

The sun was rising higher into the sky. Flame, her siblings, and the clan cats were seeing the last spot in the camp. As they padded toward the nursery, Flame saw other cats peeking curiously at them. A pale orange tom and a yellow tabby were watching them intently. "Now, you can go in one at a time. We have a lot of queens at the moment. It'll be super cramped if we all go in. " Rushingwater commented. "Star, you first.

Star slipped into the nursery. Flame could hear her explaining herself to an angry queen. A little while later, Star came out. "The kits were so cute! And there were so many of them!" exclaimed Star.

Oak went after Star, and soon enough, it was Flame's turn. As she squeezed through the thorns, she saw four queens. "Hello." called a white cat. "You must be Flame. I'm Whitepoppy. This is Lightkit. He's going to be an apprentice soon." This queen sounded friendly. Flame meowed a greeting.

Another queen, spotted brown and yellow, also meowed hello. "I'm Dawnstreak." she told Flame. "These are my kits Cloudkit, Crimsonkit, and Windkit." Flame remembered the name Windkit.

"Didn't Windkit have a stomachache?" Flame asked.

"Yes." she answered. "I suppose you heard Redpelt talking about it? He feels better now."

"That's great." Flame purred.

She turned to the next she-cat, a dusky brown cat with bright green eyes. "I am Nettlesting." She had four kits. "Their names are Goldkit, Waterkit, Bluekit, and Swiftkit." she told Flame "They're three moons."

The last queen, a brown tabby with dark green eyes, meowed, "My name is Tigerleaf. Redpelt says my kits should be here any day now!" Tigerleaf purred.

Later, when Flame squeezed out of the nursery after the farewells of the queens, she heard a cat padding up behind her. Flame turned around. "Maplestar?" she exclaimed. Maplestar twitched her tail. Star and Oak were trotting behind her.

"I've spoken to your siblings." Maplestar meowed. "They are willing to become apprentices of Thunderclan." Star kneaded the ground nervously, while Oak glanced around uneasily.

"You guys agreed?" questioned Flame. "Well, I've been thinking about it... "

"Please Flame!" pleaded Oak.

"Alright." meowed Flame. "I'll do it."

"It's settled then. I'll tell the clan." Maplestar conceded. She padded over to the highrock, and in one graceful leap, was on the top. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the highrock for a clan meeting!" she yowled.

Cats began to appear from the dens around them. Flame recognized Redpelt and Skypaw, and two other apprentices padded over to join them. Bramblethorn, Dandelionstem, and Marigoldpetal emerged from the elders den. Two older apprentices padded over to join Skypaw. Shiningstream sat beneath the highrock, and Tawnywillow, Spottedriver, Grasswind, and Rushingwater came out of the warriors den later.

Tigerleaf padded out of the nursery, with Nettlesting supporting her. Dawnstreak and Whitepoppy followed behind, the kits on their tails. More warriors appeared from the bramble bush, A pinkish-white tom, and a pale orange tom.

The brambles at the entrance to the camp rustled, and a patrol slid out carrying fresh-kill. A black she-cat with white paws padded to chat with Shiningstream. A gray-white she cat set down her vole, a yellow tabby just behind her.

Once all the cats were there, Maplestar began to speak. "As some of you already know, three young cats have arrived in our clan. They wish to become apprentices. I have agreed." A ripple of disbelief passed through the cats, but the queens, kits, elders, and Redpelt murmured encouragement. "Now, I also have a few more ceremonies to do. We will start, by making Flame, Oak, and Star apprentices." Maplestar continued.

"Flame, Oak, Star, come forward." she meowed. Flame padded forward, her pelt brushing Oak's.

Maplestar addressed them. "You have chosen to become apprentices of Thunderclan. Oak, from this day forward, until you receive your warrior name, you will be known as Oakpaw." Pride shone in Oakpaw's eyes. "Smallfoot, you trained Grasswind and are ready to take on another apprentice. Pass all the skill you used in teaching Grasswind to mentor Oakpaw." Smallfoot, the pale orange cat, padded forward. Oakpaw looked confused.

"We have to touch noses!" hissed Smallfoot. Oakpaw clumsily touched his new mentor's nose.

"Star," Maplestar began again. "From this day forward, you will be known as Starpaw. Your mentor will be Tawnywillow." Starpaw touched noses with Tawnywillow gracefully. Her pelt prickling with excitement.

Finally, Maplestar called Flame's name. "From this day forward you will be known as Flamepaw. Your mentor will be Spottedriver." Flamepaw was happy with Maplestar's choice. She liked the pretty she-cat. Flamepaw gently touched noses with Spottedriver.

"Welcome to Thunderclan." she whispered.

Then all the cats began calling their new names. "Flamepaw! Starpaw! Oakpaw!" Flamepaw was ready to burst with excitement. She couldn't wait till her first day of warrior training. She went to sit by Oakpaw and Starpaw as Maplestar began another ceremony.

Flamepaw heard a squeak of excitement. She turned to see Lightkit, fully groomed bouncing up and down on his paws. Maplestar called him forward and then apprenticed him to Wormwiggle. Flamepaw and her siblings joined in calling his new name. "Lightpaw! Lightpaw!"

"Finally," Maplestar meowed, "Two of our apprentices are ready to become warriors. Greenpaw! Ravenpaw!" The two older apprentices stepped forward. A black tabby with green eyes which Flamepaw guessed was Greenpaw, and a black tabby with pale blue eyes.

"I, Maplestar, leader of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Greenpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." meowed Greenpaw happily.

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Greenpaw from this moment on you will be known as Greenstripe. Starclan honors your courage and your kindness,

and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan." Maplestar finished.

"Ravenpaw." Maplestar meowed. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do " Ravenpaw meowed solemnly.

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Ravenpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Ravenwing. Starclan honors your compassion and speed, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan.

"Ravenwing! Greenstripe! Lightpaw! Oakpaw! Starpaw! Flamepaw!" The clan called their names.

"Tonight you will guard the camp while sitting silent vigil." Maplestar told Ravenwing and Greenstripe. "It will end at dawn." The newest warriors nodded, and took their place guarding the entrance. The cats began to disperse, but the other two apprentices who sat by Skypaw rushed over to them.

"I'm Sunpaw," meowed a dark orange tom with yellow eyes. The other cat, a silver she-cat with blue eyes, informed them that her name was Moonpaw.

"We'll show you where you can make your nests!" meowed Moonpaw kindly. "Sunpaw, fetch Lightpaw. We have a spot for him too."

"Is Skypaw your sister?" Oakpaw asked Moonpaw.

"Yes, she is."

"Why isn't she training to be a warrior?" wondered Oakpaw.

"She chose the path of a medicine cat and was apprenticed to Redpelt." Answered Moonpaw casually.

"Are there any rules when you're becoming a medicine cat?" meowed Starpaw.

"Well, you can't have a mate."

"That stinks." added Flamepaw.

"Ya, I could never do it." meowed Moonpaw. "It was very brave of Skypaw to." Just then Sunpaw ran up, Lightpaw at his tail.

"Come on. Let's show you the nests." meowed Sunpaw. The apprentices followed Sunpaw and Moonpaw to their new den. Whitepoppy, Lightpaw's mother, ran up and licked his ear.

"Goodnight, Lightpaw." Whitepoppy told the small brown tabby. Then she padded away.

Inside the apprentice's den were six mossy nests. Sunpaw flicked his tail to two in the back. "Those are ours." he meowed.

Moonpaw prodded the moss on a nest with her paw. "This one was Greenpaw's, and that one there was Ravenpaw's." Moonpaw nudged Oakpaw and Starpaw. "You two can sleep in those."

Sunpaw touched two newer nests with the tip of his tail. "Flamepaw and Lightpaw, you can sleep here." he informed them. Moonpaw and Sunpaw then settled into their nests at the back. Starpaw and Oakpaw went into their nests, and a second later, Lightpaw and Flamepaw were in their moss-lined nests.

"Goodnight." mumbled Sunpaw sleepily. Starpaw, Oakpaw, Moonpaw and Lightpaw also murmured goodnight, as did Flamepaw. Soon she was fast asleep.