Chapter 2

The ravine filled with the sound of paws pounding the earth and yowls to Ravenstar and Brightshade. Mudkit and the elders rose to their feet slowly, exiting the den to see the ruckus.

"Rosefoot, Rabbitpelt, what did you find?" Ravenstar grumbled, looking like he had just woken up.

"We were following a possible rogue trail and we found this strange abandoned kit!" Rosefoot reported, nudging the burgundy kitten forward.

"I have a name you know." the kit frowned.

"Don't talk out of turn, rogue." hissed Rabbitpelt.

"She's only a kit Rabbitpelt, have some patience." Ravenstar glared at the hot tempered warrior, then shifted his gaze to the spotted kitten. "Who are you? Where are your parents? Are they rogues? Cats without Twolegs?"

"Mom named me Cherry, like the fruits on trees? She left our group and told me to stay right there, she said she'd come back… It's been three sun highs since then…" Cherry crumpled into a bundle of fur on the ground. Though her mid length fur added to her bulk, you could still see her ribs underneath.

"Oh my stars, you poor thing. Ravenstar she needs something to eat very soon. We can't just leave her alone. I'll take her in! She looks almost the same age as my kits. Please?" Thrushleap stepped forward, her tail sweeping around her until it could touch the kit.

"Cherry do you remember where your mother was headed? Or the group?" Ravenstar stooped so he could be eye level with her.

"Uhh.. Mom was going towards the river I think?" Cherry's tail flicked to the south weakly.

"Thanks." Ravenstar stood back up and nodded to Thrushleap. "You may take her in now. She will train as an apprentice. We need more anyway." He jumped up onto a stump at the edge of camp and projected his meow, his tone sounding a little rushed. "As you all know, FernClan needs apprentices. We will take this abandoned rogue kit." A couple cats in the clan grumbled but no one spoke against their leader. "From now on this rogue will be part of FernClan, she will be known as Cherrykit. May StarClan light her path."

"Whoa, does that mean I'm part of this group now?" Cherrykit sat up, snapping of her starved daze.

"Yes, you'll be training with my kits to become warriors any day now, isn't that exciting?" Thrushleap stepped forward and nosed the top of Cherrykit's head affectionately. "I'm sure you'll fit in just fine." As she said that the rest of her kits circled Cherrykit, "Can we show her around Mom?" Thrushleap laughed at her children's enthusiasm, "Yes of course, go ahead."

The Clan meeting slowly broke up, going back to patrols and such, Thrushleap's kits were already showing Cherrykit around camp with their mother's permission, explaining clan life to their new member. Adderfoot noticed Mudkit watching them and purred "Take her some fresh kill? She hasn't eaten yet, she must be starving." He nodded and went to the fresh kill pile, selecting a fuzzy mouse and bringing it to the group of kits, who were currently engaged with the medicine cat.

"That's all well and good Bearkit, but have you considered that Cherrykit hasn't eaten anything in three or more days? You should be more considerate." Brightshade meowed, cuffing the dark colored tabby's ear. "See Mudkit has the right idea."

Mudkit gently dropped the mouse at Cherrykit's feet, when he lifted his head back up he found himself nose to nose with her. "Nice to meet you!" she chirped and started eating the mouse. Through mouthfuls of mouse she mumbled "Thank you so much you guys! This is so much better than the other group already."

"Isn't it about time you rascals headed back to the nursery?" Brightshade smiled, then turned to Mudkit. "Would you bring this thyme to Gingerstripe for me? You can take Cherrykit to meet the elders."

"Whaaaat? No fair! Thrushleap said we could show her around!" Tigerkit whined.

Brightshade said nothing, but his tail began to twitch, which was enough to send the kits running from his den. Mudkit picked the herb bundle up in his mouth, and motioned with his tail for Cherrykit to follow. Cherrykit seemed to bounce on her paws now that she had eaten, as they entered the elders den, the two grey males smiled fondly.

"Nice to meet you Cherrykit. I am Stormheart, and this is my brother Ashcloud. We used to be the leader and medicine cat of this Clan, respectively." the one eared cat rose to his feet to greet her, his brother following suit.

"What happened to your ear?" Cherrykit blurted, somewhat in awe of how torn up the toms looked.

"Cherrykit!" Mudkit gasped, dropping his thyme by Gingerstripe, who groggily licked up the woody stems without much thought, then went back to sleep.

"It's okay Mudkit, she doesn't know. I'll tell you the story, okay?"

Cherrykit nodded and laid down with her paws tucked under herself, Mudkit respectfully settled down too, though he had heard the story before.