I don't own Warriors.


Rainbreeze waited in her nest until the sounds of breathing were steady with sleep before she dared to move a muscle. She tiptoed out of the warriors' den, checked to make sure Amberfrost's burial party had returned and was asleep, went down into the Tunnel, and made her way through the darkness to the other side. She hared down the hill as fast as her shoulder would let her, her pelt prickling with excitement. She skirted the edge of the lake, her belly fur brushing the grass as she sprinted, and hopped across the stepping stones to the Big Bramble. She could already tell that Drew was there.

"Nice night, isn't it?" Drew asked as Rainbreeze approached. "Not a cloud in sky to ruin it."

A new emotion tingled through her fur and went down her spine, though she had no idea what it was. "It is."

He came closer, immediately noticing the injury on her shoulder. "What happened?"

She flicked her tail. "Fight with a fox. I'll heal. Come on, it's my turn to show you something. Follow me. It isn't far at all."

The two crossed the stream, the spray from the nearby waterfall darkening their pelts. Rainbreeze recalled the way to the Star Pond and followed the stone path. She jumped over the last stone and waited, tail twitching. Drew clawed his way up, panting. "Maybe not far, but high."

"Exercise is good for you." Rainbreeze poked his belly gently; it wasn't near as round as it was when she first met him. "This is the Star Pond, the place where my Clan speaks to our ancestors, StarClan. But the reason I wanted to come here was because the view of the lake is breathtaking." She walked around a boulder. The lake was a shining silver disc under the half moon. Drew came over and sat down by her. His fur brushed hers, but she didn't move away. They sat there for a while before she said, "I know another place. It's also very close, and downhill."

"As long as it's downhill, then fine."

The warrior went back to the path, bounding down it like she had done so a million times before. She waited at the bottom for Drew to catch up. She led the way along the shore until they got to a huge tree. She ducked behind the ivy and entered a space under the trees and ground. As she padded to a spot where the sky was clearly visible, he came in as well, looking around. "What is this place?"

"Just a little spot I found a while ago." Rainbreeze answered. She lay down under the spot and rolled onto her back, paws on her belly. "Over here's the best spot." Drew crept over, eyes round with wonder. He copied her and looked up. "What do you see?"

"Stars." The tom flicked his ear. "Should I see something else?"

Rainbreeze purred, "Probably not since you aren't a Clan cat. But I see my ancestors looking down on me. That swath of stars over there is called StarClan's Forest, which is where they hunt." She sighed. "They're probably disappointed right now."

Drew moved his head to look into her eyes. "Why?"

"I shouldn't be here. Not with you, or even alive. My mother was the medicine cat, now an elder, and medicine cats can't have kits. Besides, I'm not supposed to meet with cats outside my Clan."

"Tell me about your Clan."

"It's called FrostClan, founded many seasons ago by our leader, Froststar. He had lived with a Clan called RiverClan for a while, one of the Four. There are different levels in a Clan. Kits are not allowed to leave the camp and their name always ends with -kit. Apprentices are training to be warriors or sometimes a medicine cat and their names end with -paw. Warriors have a variety of names and hunt and fight for the Clan. Medicine cats gather herbs and heal the Clan. The deputy assigns patrols and succeeds the leader of they die. The leader's name always ends in -star."

"Sounds very organized." Drew murmured.

Rainbreeze curled over onto her side, facing him. "So how's life like as a kittypet?"

Drew rolled to his side as well. "Eat, sleep, chase birds, swim occasionally. Very easy."

"Sounds kind of boring."

"I do sometimes practice hunting and fighting, but not too often." His eyes lit up. "Do you think that Froststar would let me join the Clan?"

That took Rainbreeze by surprise. "What?"

"Would Froststar let me join FrostClan?"

"It wouldn't be the first time an outsider has joined, but you have to prove you can take care of yourself." Something like pleasure was building up inside her. "If you can get that collar off, catch some prey, and be by the Big Bramble tomorrow at dawn, then Froststar might consider letting you come. I'll bring a patrol around there." She looked up and saw the moon was starting to go down. "I must go."

They walked back onto the shore. "See you tomorrow." Drew murmured.

"Bye." Rainbreeze took a step toward the camp, then hesitated. She spun around, touched her muzzle to his, and bounded away, leaving a shocked tom.


Drew watched Rainbreeze's tail disappear into the shadows, his nose filled with her scent, which smelled like pond lilies and wet ferns. He trotted back to his nest, then remembered he had to get his collar off. He forced his claws to get between the collar and his neck and yanked. After several attempts, it tore off with a loud ripping sound. He buried it and started washing the Twoleg scent from his pelt. Let's see if those hunting skills I've been working on will work now.

He went over to the forest behind the Twolegplace and paused to scent the air. A mouse was scurrying a few tail-lengths away. He sank into a crouch and started approaching the tiny rodent. He stepped on a twig, freezing as it snapped. The sounds of the mouse stopped.

Drew muttered under his breath and continued hunting. This time he detected a shrew. He darted forward, pinning it down with his forepaws. He dipped his head and bit its throat. The taste of blood made his mouth water, but he forced himself not to eat it. He picked it up and went down to the Big Bramble, then crossed the stream. He put his catch in front of him, washed his fur one last time, and waited.

It seemed like forever before the sun turned milky white with dawn. He could smell cats coming, and recognized Rainbreeze's immediately. She turned around the corner. When she saw him, she unsheathed her claws, hissing, though her eyes sparkled. "What are you doing here?"

"I've heard of your group, FrostClan. I want to join."

A silver she-cat with black stripes growled, "Why would we believe you? Let's drive him out!"

"Moonfrost!" Rainbreeze snapped, glaring at the she-cat. "I'm in charge of this patrol, not you." Drew could almost taste the tension between the two. Eventually, Moonfrost looked away. Rainbreeze curled her lip in disdain at her and turned back to him. "We'll see what Froststar has to say. Bring your shrew."

Drew grabbed the fresh-kill and walked behind Rainbreeze. Moonfrost and a ginger and white tom padding at the rear. They had to walk through a slope carved into the side of the hill before the scent of many cats washed over him from behind a wall of ferns. Rainbreeze ducked through a carpet of moss, which led to a tunnel. Drew followed, suddenly very nervous. When he came out, he was met by the stares of many cats. A dark gray tom with yellow eyes stalked forward. "Rainbreeze, who is this?"

"He's a rogue we found on the border, Applefern." Her voice, normally so soft and warm, was cold and hard. "He wants to join us."

Applefern studied Drew. "Come with me." The former kittypet swallowed and followed the tom.


Rainbreeze glared after Applefern as he led Drew to Froststar's den. She curled up in a patch of sun, paw over her nose, trying to forget the hurt in his eyes, and that his muzzle was turning white with age. I never asked for him to be my father. I'm not going to treat him like one. It took her a while to realize a cat was sitting next to her. When she opened her eyes, she saw it was Silverfeather. Great. "Go away. I don't want you."

Silverfeather flinched, but hobbled back to the elders' den. Rainbreeze felt a little bit of regret in her chest, but she pushed it away. She gazed at the ferns that shielded the leader's den from prying eyes, wondering if Drew was managing to convince Froststar. If he can't and he has to leave, I'd gladly go.

Suddenly the fronds twitched and Froststar came through, followed by Applefern and Drew. The leader jumped onto a branch and yowled, "All cats who can hunt and fight, gather by the Tree.

"I have an important announcement. A new cat has requested to join our Clan, and I give him permission. Drew, until you receive your warrior name you will be known as Lightningpaw. Bluefire, you are ready for your first apprentice. Teach all you know to Lightningpaw."

Rainbreeze cheered Lightningpaw's new name the loudest as he touched his nose to his new mentor's. He came over after. Already he looked more like a Clan cat. "Looks like I can finally get a full nights rest." She purred.

"Me, too. I hope I become a warrior soon."

She had to strain her neck to lick his ear, as he was taller than her. "You will. Believe me. I think Bluefire wants you back."

Lightningpaw went back to where the blue-gray she-cat was. Rainbreeze licked a paw and drew it over her face, straightening her slightly bent whiskers. Then she retreated to the warriors' den to take a last minute nap.


Question: So far what do you think of Applefern?


FrostClan:

Leader: Froststar - very pale gray tom with green eyes

Deputy: Applefern - dark gray and white tom with yellow eyes

Medicine cat: Seedfoot - tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes

Warriors:

Crowwing - black she-cat with yellow eyes

Stripepelt - light brown she-cat with darker stripes and amber eyes

Grassclaw - brown and ginger tabby tom with dark blue eyes

Whitefur - white tom with amber eyes

Goldengaze - white tom with gold eyes

Wildflower - silver tabby she-cat she-cat with blue eyes

Clawscar - brown tabby tom with a scarred pelt and a single yellow eye

Breezestorm - ginger and white tom with amber eyes

Bluefire - blue-gray she-cat with amber eyes

Apprentice, Lightningpaw - ginger tom with white streaks and yellow eyes

Riverstone - black and white she-cat with blue eyes

Ravenfur - black tom with amber eyes

Dustclaw - brown tom with yellow eyes

Rainbreeze - dark gray she-cat with white patches and green eyes

Moonfrost - silver she-cat with black stripes and blue eyes

Cloudscar - white tom with green eyes and a scarred pelt

Queens:

Weaselfang - bright ginger she-cat with a white paw and green eyes (Ravenfur, Riverstone, Petalkit, and Flamekit's mother, Whitefur's mate)

Greengaze - brown and white she-cat with green eyes (Goldengaze's mate, expecting kits)

Kits:

Petalkit - tortoiseshell she-cat with yellow eyes

Flamekit - ginger tom with white specks

Elders:

Singingbreeze - old tortoiseshell she-cat with gold eyes

Mossyfur - brown tom with yellow eyes

Thundergrowl - ginger tom with amber eyes and white flecks

Silverfeather - pale silver she-cat with blue eyes