Ishani was starting to get the hang of walking around. It was easy, almost easier than learning how to fly. Dustpaw came up to her, "You need to go talk to Phoenixstar, she is starting to think you're a chosen cat or something."
"Wait, chosen cat?" Ishani didn't like where this was going.
Larkpaw bounded up, "Yep, they say that StarClan sent you to help us!"
"Help you with what?"
"Oh…" Larkpaw looked undecided. "Um, I'm not sure. Oh, maybe we can help you!"
"That makes more sense," Ishani thought, "I did wish to have more time with Dusty. Maybe he's here too, as a cat of course."
"You know," Larkpaw said with a question in her eyes, "You keep saying you didn't know what you were. Were you something else before you came here?"
Ishani was glad she had a chance to explain what she was. "I used to be a plane. A creature that can fly and I was one that was built to race." The two cats had no idea what she was talking about. "Okay," Ishani restarted, "Just picture a huge cat with wings and three big black paws. I was one of those. They have shining… fur that's smooth called paint."
"Does it gleam when the sun hits it?" Dustpaw asked.
"Yes, yes it does. Anyway, I was sitting, wishing on a shooting star to have more time with Dusty when a column of white fire shoots toward me and zapped me into this world." More cats had gathered around to hear. Some of them looked curiously at her, as if seeing her through new eyes.
Dustpaw had a look of fear on his face, "You were a m- monster."
Stormclaw ran his tail down his back, "Ishani was never a monster, just a strange creature."
"No," Dustpaw argued, "I've seen those creatures before. They had long, thin, and hard wings and fly without flapping them. They have big, black paws like the monsters of the thunderpath!"
"I wouldn't say he was wrong," Ishani nodded, "That does sound like a plane but I don't think planes, cars, or boats live in this world."
Stormclaw looked at Ishani, "You want to see a monster?"
Ishani didn't like the word 'monster' or its description. They sounded like horrible beasts and something she'd never want to see, but, she thought, I could try to fit in with these cats because I have a feeling we're going to be staying here awhile. Learning their customs would help. Ishani shook her pelt, "I probably should… but is it safe?"
Willowpelt smiled, "As long as you stay off of the thunderpath."
"You can see the thunderpath after you go talk to Phoenixstar," Stormclaw said, reminding her to meet with SunClan's leader. Stormclaw led her to a hole in a tree and slipped in. Ishani slid into its dark, damp opening. The musty hole led into a larger room within the tree's trunk where a cat the color of fire sat with regal posture. "Ishani's here," Stormclaw purred.
"I see that," Phoenixstar hissed, "Do you know why you're here?"
Ishani didn't like the tone in the leader's voice. "No, I'm not."
Phoenixstar unsheathed her claws, "You are here to help us get rid of the rogues. StarClan sent you, I just know it. What cat has that color nose or that golden of a pelt? What do you say, Goldstar?"
Ishani shoved her ears back in fear. Why was this cat making her join her? "I say I need to find Dusty and leave. I don't know what StarClan is and why you're calling me Goldstar but I'm leaving!"
The leader's eyes narrowed, "You aren't leaving yet, not until the rogues have been dealt with. You will begin your warrior training and now will be called Goldpaw."
Ishani noticed shock flashing in Stormclaw's eyes at the mention of her becoming a warrior. "Who will train her?" he asked, dipping his head, "You can't and I… well, I have an apprentice already."
The she-cat turned to her deputy, "You will mentor her in secret," she whipped her head toward Ishani, green eyes glowing in the darkness like torches, "and you will not breathe a word about this. Most of the clan doesn't know about the rogues. We cannot have the clan thinking I am not fit to be leader."
Ah, so she's worried about losing power, Ishani had to take that into account, a paranoid leader was a weak and very dangerous leader. "I accept becoming an apprentice," Ishani said as if Phoenixstar had simply asked her, "But I will not if you do not hold me like this. I shall be able to say what I like and wander as far as your territory allows. I will not be a prisoner but a member of this clan until the rogues are gone."
"Very well, Goldpaw, we'll have your apprentice ceremony tonight as the sun sets." The flame colored feline flicked her tail with narrowed eyes. Ishani could feel them as she crawled out of the tunnel. How had she gotten herself into this mess?
