Thank you Ravenpelt for being the first ever to review this story! Yay! But now, all you people who read without reviewing, please review!

Disclaim: NO, I don't own Warriors, but I do own Thunderpaw. Now just let me write my 'fics!

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Chapter Three: Clan Blood

Word of Thunderpaw and Firestar's climb spread quickly through the camp. Apparently, someone had seen them while hunting, and had of course told the rest of the Clan. Everyone was talking about it as Firestar tried to organize a morning patrol so he could get to the training hollow with Thunderpaw, as he'd promised.

"Mousefur, could you go with Graystripe and Sootpaw to patrol the ShadowClan bored?" he mewed tiredly, approaching the brown she-cat. He hoped she would say yes, every other cat had found an excuse to stay in the camp on this beautiful day of new leaf.

Mousefur looked up from the shrew she had been eating. "Of course, Firestar." She answered sympathetically, obviously noticing the note of desperation in his voice. She raced over to join the others just as they were leaving.

Firestar sighed and trotted towards the apprentice den. He poked his head inside, but it was empty. He pulled his head out and glanced around the clearing. Ah, there she was, coming towards him from the elders' den. Another apprentice was with her, Twigpaw. He was Cloudtail's apprentice, and rather annoying to tell the truth. He was the oldest apprentice now that Brambleclaw had become a warrior, and enjoyed to tease the other apprentices about it. It seemed the only cat he didn't drive mad was Cloudtail, and himself.

"So, I hear you went flying last night." He sneered to Thunderpaw. "Did you make any friends? A sparrow, maybe? I'm sorry; I think I might have eaten him last night."

Thunderpaw ignored him as she approached her mentor. "Can we get out of here?" She muttered. "I really need to lose this guy."

Firestar purred with amusement and nodded. The two left for the sandy hollow, leaving the small brown tabby to keep himself company.

"So." Firestar began, turning to her once they had reached the small clearing. "Show me your best rabbit stalking crouch."

Thunderpaw tipped her head to one side in confusion. "Huh? Whaddya mean?"

"A crouch you use to stalk rabbits with." Firestar repeated.

"There's a special technique?"

"Yes! Of course!"

"Really? 'Cause I just kinda wing it."

Firestar sighed. This would be a long training session.

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"How was training with Thunderpaw?" Graystripe asked a while later, as Firestar settled himself next to his friend with a plump vole. Firestar groaned.

"That bad, huh?" The gray warrior chuckled.

Firestar shook his head. "It's like teaching a kit! She barely knows anything!"

"Come on, it's not like she's stupid." Graystripe mewed, watching Thunderpaw carrying a rabbit to the elders' nest. "She catch that on her own?"

"Hmm." Firestar took a large bit out of the vole. He had to admit, Thunderpaw was a quick learner. She'd picked up quickly on the different ways of stalking prey. He gulped and sighed. "I just wish she could do what she's told. It's like she has no respect for the warriors' code."

"Well it's not like we've never broken the warriors' code." Graystripe pointed out. "And Cloudtail doesn't even believe in StarClan, but you've got him with an apprentice. So—"

He was cut off by an angry yowl from the apprentices den.

"Why can't you just stay out of my life!" Firestar groaned. It was Thunderpaw shouting at Cloudtail. "You've been picking on me ever since I came to this Clan!"

"So? What are you going to do about it, little rogue?" Cloudtail spat. "It's not like you have any business here anyway! An outcast like you doesn't belong with us Clan cats!"

"Well you should talk, kittypet!"

Cloudtail recoiled at this remark, his eyes angry slits. "Who told you—"

"That's right, I've heard what everyone says about you!" Thunderpaw continued, realizing she'd hit a tender spot. "Everyone knows you're just a stupid kittypet, who would be living with his stupid TwoLegs if Firestar hadn't brought you home!"

Cloudtail screamed with fury and threw himself at the apprentice. Thunderpaw was ready and sidestepped to the right, watching as he crashed into the ground where she'd been standing moments before. She jumped squarely onto his back and hung on tight as he rolled over, trying to dislodge her. The two rolled about the clearing, a flurry of fur, teeth, and claws.

Thunderpaw fastened her teeth firmly into Cloudtail's back leg, hanging on even when he ran his claws over her back. He flipped himself around and flung her into the crowd of on lookers.

"Stupid kittypet!" She snarled, shaking her head and sending blood splattering the ground. "Even a rogue like me can tell you're just a soft little kitten under that warrior's mask!"

"Well even a kittypet like me can tell anyone with rogue's blood is nothing but trouble!" Cloudtail growled. "At least I was raised here! At least I know who my mother is!"

"Rogue blood is better than soft kittypet blood!" Thunderpaw yowled, charging into Cloudtail head-on, knocking him to the ground. She jumped on him again, sinking her teeth into his shoulder, ignoring his claws raking across her belly.

"ENOUGH!" Firestar roared, barreling into the fighting cats and knocking them apart. He glared at the two, now sitting before him, panting and glaring at each other. Both were bleeding from many different scratches, some worse than others.

"Cloudtail, go get yourself checked out by Cinderpelt. Then go swimming or something to cool down that head of yours." Firestar ordered. With one last death glare at Thunderpaw, Cloudtail stalked over to where the medicine cat was waiting for him, her paw swathed in cobwebs.

"Thunderpaw, you come with me." Firestar flicked his tail towards his apprentice, beckoning her towards his den. "Do you mind telling me what this is about?" He hissed as she limped towards him.

"I'm sorry, Firestar." Thunderpaw meowed, staring down at her bloodied paws. "But…It's true, him and Twigpaw have been picking on me this whole time!"

"And that's any reason to attack him out of no where, for the whole Clan to see?" Firestar snarled.

"He started it! You saw him make the first move!"

"I saw you determined to take a chunk out of his leg!"

Thunderpaw snorted. "If he wasn't so kittypet-soft, he wouldn't have let me. Kittypets aren't made to be warriors."

Anger flared in Firestar's heart. "And why can't kittypets be warriors?" He demanded.

"Wull, I mean, they're all used to eatin' whenever they want and not fightin' beyond a friendly tussle with their neighbor…" Thunderpaw muttered. "Anyway, why are you getting so upset about this?"

"If you've heard from the other cats that Cloudtail is a kittypet, surely you've heard that he's my nephew? And that I was once a kittypet!" Firestar meowed coldly.

Thunderpaw stared at her leader in disbelief. "Y-You were a kittypet!" She mewed incredulously.

"Yes, I was." Firestar continued. "Maybe you'll remember that next time you get into a fight with someone about roots." His eyes softened slightly. "It doesn't matter whether or not you're Clan born, as long as you're willing to give your life for the Clan you love. Now, I think Cloudtail's left, so why don't you go visit Cinderpelt now?"

Thunderpaw nodded sadly and slowly made her way across the clearing, through the stares of her Clanmates, leaving a trail of her rogue blood behind her.

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And that's chapter three. Kinda sad, hm? I actually have four all typed up and ready to go. But…I might make you wait if I don't get any reviews…

And no flames. If you're going to criticize, at least tell me how I can fix it -.-;;