Chapter 4

"Let all cats join under High Rock for a Clan meeting!" Redstar's deep yowl startled Rocky to the point of jumping. The clearing quickly filled with cats of all shapes, sizes, and colors. They were all murmuring and whispering among themselves, forming a half circle from High Rock, with Rocky in the middle.

"What is he doing here?" one cat wondered.

"What does he want?" another one asked.

Redstar waved his tail commandingly. "ThunderClan needs new warriors," he began. "So it was decided that an outsider would be taken in to become a ThunderClan apprentice."

Indignant whispers erupted from the crowd of cats.

"We already have enough apprentices!" one cat hissed.

"We already have eight!" another meowed.

"Stop complaining!" a cat rasped. It was an old tortoiseshell tom with graying fur. "At least we're being fed!"

Redstar waved his tail again. "I have found a young cat who is willing to become a ThunderClan apprentice."

"Where is he from?" one cat whispered.

"Not from any Clan I know!" another cat hissed.

"Wait!" everyone turned their heads. The yowl came from a strong looking light brown tabby tom. His pale green eyes were leaking fury. "Look at his collar! He's a kittypet!"

Outraged yowls erupted from the crowd.

"That's Nettlepad," Snowheart hissed. Rocky almost jumped with fright. He hadn't realized Snowheart had come to sit with him. He glanced at his other side to see a large gray tom—Graystorm.

"He just became a warrior, too," Graystorm added. "About two moons ago."

"A kittypet can never be a warrior!" Nettlepad yowled. "The prey will run from loud clanging bell, if his stench doesn't scare them off first!" The cats yowled their approval.

Nettlepad opened his jaws widely to continue, but a sleek silver tom with distinct white markings and light blue eyes, waved his tail in front of Nettlepad. The brown warrior, inclined his head, and sat down respectfully. Everyone now turned to look at the new cat.

"That is Silvermask," Snowheart whispered. "Even though he has been a warrior for only three seasons, he is one of the most respected and valued warriors."

"Is it really wise to take in another outsider?" he meowed, loud enough for everyone to hear. "A lot of our young cats are not full-blood ThunderClan already." He looked around at his fellow Clanmates. "We don't need to take in anymore outsiders." The other cats began to whisper among themselves again. Silvermask looked up at Redstar, tilting his head. Redstar nodded, and stood up again. The cats slowly began to quiet down again.

"Silvermask is right," Redstar began. "But also remember that they are skilled warriors, and valued apprentices." There was quiet murmuring, and Redstar looked like he was about to go on, but a blue-silver she-cat stood up, looking at Redstar for permission to speak. Redstar nodded, and then she turned to the rest of the cats.

"Redstar is right," she said. Her mew was a soft mew, and nestled against her was a small kit, that was looking around intently. "Were would we be without these cats? Every ThunderClan cat is important!"

Another she-cat spoke up. It was a silver she-cat with green eyes. "Blueflower is right. What a warrior does every day is what matters the most, not as much as blood. Loyalty is the first code in the Warrior Code." Some cats nodded enthusiastically in agreement, while others will still uncertain of what side to choose. Nettlepad stood up again.

"The other outsiders were different though," he yowled. "This is a filthy kittypet we are dealing with here!" He looked around at his Clanmates before continuing. "Some cats we took in were used to warrior duties. It was as if they were forest-born!" Nettlepad continued. "This stupid kittypet knows nothing. He'll just stuff his face full with all our prey!" He paused to glare at Rocky, who did not like where this was going.

"When we go into battle, if we take him, the enemy will be alerted from across the forest!" Nettlepad continued, with more and more cats yowling their approval.

Snowheart bent down to whisper into Rocky's ear. "Every cat smells your fear. You must prove to him and all the other cats that fear will not hold you back." Rocky flattened his ears, wondering if his fear scent was now even stronger.

"Just go back from where you came from!" Nettlepad yowled. "If you don't, the Twolegs will come into our territory to find their lost kitty that fills the forest with his stench!"

"Do you back down from the challenge?" Snowheart hissed. Rocky still stayed still. He was now locating Nettlepad's exact position. He was right behind a small brown tabby tom. He looked like an apprentice, like Flintpaw and Hawkpaw. Baring his teeth, Rocky, crouched down, then exploded through the air, right onto Nettlepad's back.

Nettlepad was totally unprepared for Rocky's attack. He staggered sideways, and fell to the earth with a puff of dust. Desparate to prove himself to the other cats, Rocky unsheathed his claws, and took two deep swipes. He quickly followed by sinking his teeth into Nettlepad's shoulder. They were now in screeching and tumbling around the clearing. The other cats had to leap out of the way to avoid the whirlwind of flying fur.

Nettlepad then flipped Rocky over, throwing him a tail length away. Without a moment's hesitation, Nettlepad leaped onto Rocky, ripping Rocky's skin. Rocky howled in pain. Blood spurted out of Rocky's leg wound, splattering onto Nettlepad's face. A searing pain erupted in Rocky's leg. Rocky slashed at Nettlepad recklessly. Rocky then felt the collar around his neck tighten. He now struggled even more frantically. Nettlepad had jerked Rocky by his collar from under him. He was tugging hard. Unable to breathe again, Rocky panicked. He slashed everything of Nettlepad he could see. Every time he moved, the pressure around his neck got worse. Finally, summoning all his strength, Rocky jerked away from Nettlepad. Then, with a loud snap, he was free.

Nettlepad and Rocky tumbled away from each other. Rocky landed hardly on his wounded leg, skidding painfully across the sandy floor. Rusty hazily looked around. Nettlepad was lying three tail lengths away, with Rocky's collar dangling from his mouth.

Redstar immediately jumped down from the High Rock. Rocky and Nettlepad stayed fixed to their spots, gasping for breath. With each breath, Rocky winced. The gash in his leg had reopened and was spilling blood rapidly. A cut on his muzzle stung. Nettlepad's shoulders were bleeding heavily, and he had lost twice as much fur as Rocky. They stared at each other, both waiting for the other's next move.

Redstar took the collar from Nettlepad, and through it in front of him. "This cat has lost his Twoleg collar in a fight for his honor. StarClan has spoken its will. This cat is released from his Twolegs, and is now free to join ThunderClan as an apprentice."

Rocky looked up at Redstar. The leader's amber eyes were filled with approval and pride, and a flicker of hope. Rocky slowly nodded his acceptance. He felt a shaft of sunlight warming his sore muscles. The light blazed brightly on his orange fur, making it glow. He stood up unsteadily, but looked at the cats, his head held proudly. No cat argued or jeered. He had proved that he was a worthy opponent in battle.

Redstar placed the mangled collar in front of Rocky. He touched the young cat gently with his nose. "You look like a blazing fire in this sunlight," he whispered. Rocky heard warmth the older tom's voice. Happiness clouded Rocky's mind as Redstar looked up at the Clan. "I named this young cat Firepaw, in honor of his flame-colored coat!"

"Firepaw, Firepaw, Firepaw!" The Clan now yowled Firepaw's new name loudly. Firepaw felt he would burst with pride. Firepaw… His old life was no behind him, and a bright future with the Clans was all he could see.

"Hey, Firepaw!"

"Hi, Firepaw!"

"Welcome, young Firepaw!"

Firepaw knew he could be no happier or prouder at all as he heard the cats that were now his Clanmates congratulating him.