Chapter 8

Oakheart raced across the marshy ground with Nightpaw. Bluefur and Mistypaw were in the clearing practicing fighting moves. They stopped at the edge of the clearing, and watched. Mistypaw was attacking Bluefur, and she was doing very well. She barrelled into Bluefur, and knocked her off balance.

"That looked good!" Oakheart called out. Mistypaw turned to him, her eyes shining. Bluefur purred.

"Are you ready to go?" she asked.

"I thought we could do some more battle training. We should see how Mistypaw is against Nightpaw." The apprentices' eyes lit up.

"Great idea." Bluefur said. "Right, Mistypaw, I want you to try and get past Nightpaw. Nightpaw, you will have to stop her." Oakheart sat down, watching the apprentices. Bluefur sat next to him.

Mistypaw was using her hind legs to push off from the ground when Nightpaw pounced on her. She rolled over, dislodging him. Springing to her feet, she raced to the other side of the clearing.

"Well done Mistypaw!" Bluefur called. "Nightpaw, maybe next time let Mistypaw come to you. You went to her, and that gave her the advantage. Right, try again."

This time Nightpaw waited. Mistypaw focused her eyes on one place, and suddenly pounced. She pushed Nightpaw onto the ground, and pushing off hard, she leapt over him. Nightpaw scrambled to his feet, and leapt after her. He hooked his paws around her back legs. Mistypaw stumbled. Nightpaw took this chance, and pinned Mistypaw onto the floor.
"Good work!" Oakheart walked over to them. "Mistypaw, that was a very good technique, and Nightpaw you did very well to stop her." He congratulated them. "Now, I want you to attack her, Nightpaw. Mistypaw, just try and pin him." Then he stepped back.

Mistypaw was looking nervously at Nightpaw, who was confidently padding up to Mistypaw. Without warning he leapt onto her back. Rolling over, Mistypaw dislodged him again. She sprang to her feet, and leapt aside, avoiding Nightpaw.

The next day Bluefur woke up early. It was still dark outside, and she sat up. Her movements woke Oakheart.

"What's the matter?" He asked.

"Nothing. I just have a lot on my mind." Bluefur sighed.

"Want to go for a walk?"

"Yeah, okay." Bluefur got up and stretched. They walked out of the den and out of the camp.

"Now, what's wrong?" Oakheart asked. Bluefur looked up, startled.

"Nothings wrong."

"Oh, please. Come on, what is it?" Oakheart nudged Bluefur with his nose. Bluefur sighed.

"Well… I haven't seen Thrushpelt for ages, even just patrolling the borders, and with Thistlestar as leader…" Bluefur drifted off.

"You're worried about him." Oakheart finished. Bluefur nodded miserably.

"It's like he's my brother." Oakheart nodded, understanding.

"Come on. Let's get back to camp." Bluefur stood up.

"Intruder!" The cats on guard, Leopardfur and Ottersplash called. Crookedstar burst out of his den.

"Who?" He demanded.

"A ThunderClan cat." Leopardfur escorted the cat into the camp. Bluefur stretched, and hearing loud voices from outside, headed out. She gasped as she saw who it was.

"Bluefur? Do you know this cat?" Crookedstar asked.

She nodded. "Yes, it's Thrushpelt." Thrushpelt looked at her, noticing how she looked better fed than when in ThunderClan, and more at home.

"I'm not trying to intrude. I was just wondering if I could speak to Crookedstar." He dipped his head respectively. Crookedstar growled.

"Fine. Come into my den. You too, Bluefur, and Oakheart. Timberfur, get on with patrols." They padded over. Once in the den, Crookedstar sat down, wrapping his tail round his paws. "What is it?"

Thrushpelt looked nervous. "I was wondering if I could join RiverClan."

Crookedstar looked shocked. "What?" He regained composure. "Why?"

"Well, things have been… different since Thistlestar became leader. He always threatens us to make us do what he wants, and tells us that in any border disputes to not show any mercy, and to kill." Thrushpelt hung his head. "I also saw… saw him kill Sunstar." The last part was said in a whisper.

Bluefur looked shocked. "He did?" She grew angry. "That… that TRAITOR!"

"Bluefur, calm down." Crookedstar said sharply. "So, you want to come into RiverClan, and leave ThunderClan?"

"Yes."

"Leave me alone for a bit. Oakheart, take him to the medicine cat den, and set a guard over him for now." Oakheart dipped his head. Thrushpelt followed Bluefur and Oakheart out of the leaders' den, and to what he assumed was the medicine cat den.

Oakheart looked around the camp. Most of the warriors were out on patrol, and Timberfur had lead one. Suddenly he spotted Rippleclaw leading his apprentice in at the entrance of camp.

"Hey, Rippleclaw!" Rippleclaw headed over.

"Yeah?"

"Can you guard Thrushpelt please? Crookedstar's orders." Oakheart nodded to where Thrushpelt was standing next to Bluefur.

"Sure." Rippleclaw headed over, and Oakheart signalled to Bluefur. She looked worried.

"You okay?" He asked quietly.

"Yeah." She responded. "I hope Crookedstar lets him in. He was my best friend you know."

Oakheart sighed. He nuzzled her. "I'm sure he will." Bluefur looked at him.

"Really?" She asked uncertainly.

Oakheart nodded. "Yeah."

"Let all cats come here for a clan meeting!"

Bluefur's heart thumped. This was it.

"This morning a ThunderClan cat came to our camp, wishing to join our clan." Thrushpelt sat at the bottom of the bank, watching Crookedstar nervously.

"Thrushpelt, step forward." Crookedstar looked down at him, and jumped down. "Is it your wish to leave ThunderClan, and join RiverClan?"

Thrushpelt stared. "It is." He said calmly.

"Do you promise to protect and defend RiverClan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do." Thrushpelt replied, his eyes glimmering with relief.

"Then from now on you will be known as Thrushpelt of RiverClan."

"Thrushpelt!" Bluefur started the call, and Oakheart and the rest of RiverClan quickly followed. Thrushpelt stepped forward and licked Crookedstar's shoulder.

"You will hold vigil tonight as was the tradition of our ancestors." Crookedstar added. He disappeared into his den.