Other New Cats:

Solarfur: golden/orange tom, dark blue eyes

Icecloud: Tornear's mate, white with black stripes and green eyes with amber tints

"Full moon tonight." I glanced over at the other three members of my hunting patrol. Solarfur, the leader and the one who spoke, had just caught a rabbit; the dead creature was dangling from his jaws.

"Yes," Breezeflower responded. The brown warrior smelled at the air, then dashed off in the direction of Four Trees, returning with another rabbit.

"Do you think Bluestar will mention-" Tornear began, but a loud mew cut him off.

"Have any of you seen Mudclaw?" I turned to see Deadfoot standing nearby. "I haven't seen him all morning."

"Neither have I," Breezeflower noted.

"Same here," Tornear agreed.

Solarfur shook his head.

"Nor I," I told the deputy.

"If you do see him, tell him I'm looking for him, will you?" Deadfoot called, then his black pelt disappeared as he raced away.

"Odd," muttered Tornear.

"What Mudclaw does is his business. All we were told to do is hunt," Solarfur growled. He picked up his catch and padded back toward camp.

"He needs to loosen up," commented Breezeflower as she followed him.

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"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Tallrock for a clan meeting!"

I looked up from my rabbit to see Tallstar calling the clan. Moonkit sat on the ground in front of the rock; her light silver fur was neatly groomed by her mother, Cloudfire.

"It must be time for Moonkit to become an apprentice." I glanced next to me at Webfoot. "It's about time. She needs a good mentor to calm her down." Seeing the excitement in Moonkit's blue eyes reminded me of my first apprentice, Cinderpelt. She was just as energetic about her own apprenticeship.

"Moonkit has reached her sixth moon, and her apprenticeship is ready to begin," Tallstar began. "Moonkit, from now on you will be known as Moonpaw." The WindClan leader's eyes looked over to Breezeflower. The warrior looked just as excited as Moonpaw.

"Breezeflower, Deadfoot was your mentor. I hope you manage to pass on everything our deputy taught you to young Moonpaw," meowed Tallstar.

"I will try my best," Moonpaw's mentor promised, after licking her apprentice between the ears.

"Furthermore," Tallstar continued, "the Gathering is tonight. I would like to take Deadfoot, Moonpaw, Gorsepaw, Onewhisker, Nightfur, Breezeflower, Cloudfire, Pinefur, and Solarfur. Fireheart, please come see me in my den." As the cats chosen to go to the Gathering headed to eat, I padded toward Tallstar's den. My leader sat waiting on his moss bed.

"Mudclaw told me that he saw you talking to some ThunderClan cats. Is this true?"

My eyes widened in surprise. Mudclaw wasn't even on that patrol! "It was just Sandstorm and my nephew, Cloudpaw, informing me on what has been happening in ThunderClan," I explained.

"I'll be honest with you, Fireheart. I never expected you to plan on staying in WindClan. No one does. However, I expect you to show full loyalty toward this clan while you're here, not divide it to ThunderClan. Do you understand?"

I nodded. "I'm sorry, Tallstar."

"No apologies needed. One more thing, though. I am willing to take you to the Gathering tonight so you can discuss your future in the clans with a ThunderClan cat. Just make sure you stay away from Bluestar."

"Th-thank you, Tallstar!" I stammered, then padded out of his den.

"You comin', Fireheart?" Nightfur asked me as I headed toward the group of WindClan cats going to the Gathering.

"Imagine that. A kittypet who was formerly of ThunderClan over a real WindClan born cat!" Mudclaw, who was standing nearby, snarled. Ignoring his warrior, Tallstar flicked his tail, and all of the WindClan cats followed behind him.