Chapter 9

It was dawn by the time Stormpaw opened her eyes. Clouds surrounded the mountains and covered their makeshift camp.

Stormpaw blinked when she realized that she was alone. She sprang to her paws and looked around anxiously. The scents were difficult to pick up because the clouds had covered them. When Stormpaw discovered that she was really not alone, her eyes widened.

Panic gripped Stormpaw's heart when she climbed the highest rock she could find. Through the veil of clouds she saw that Crowpaw and Arrowpaw were struggling from the grip of a massive tabby tom. A pure white she-cat with blue eyes had pinned down Mothpaw, who yowled in shock. In front of the dangerous looking group was a creamy brown she-cat with dark blue eyes.

The she-cat looked at Stormpaw. Her odd colored eyes were bright with curiosity when she looked at Stormpaw.

"I don't believe it," she gasped. "It's Magnolia!"

"You're kidding, right?" The large tabby's paw was placed over Crowpaw's neck as he spat and struggled. Arrowpaw had been knocked unconscious when he tried to claw at the tabby.

"Maggie died moons ago," the white she-cat muttered. "She couldn't have survived on her own."

"I'd know her pelt color anywhere," the creamy brown she-cat meowed. "It's definitely Magnolia…or maybe Maggie was hiding something from us."

Stormpaw didn't have a chance to respond. Paws suddenly slammed down hard on her back, sending her flying into the clearing where the group had been waiting. She spun around to see a dark gray tom with black feet glowering at her. The tom's eyes were filled with hatred as he glared at her.

"Shadow, leave this one alone," the she-cat murmured as she approached him. His pelt was still bristling with anger when she shoved him aside.

"But…but Gloria, she's a…"

"She is a friend of ours," Gloria replied calmly. "Do you remember Magnolia…or Maggie, as we called her?" When Shadow gave a simple nod, she sighed. "This must be her…daughter."

Stormpaw gaped at Gloria in disbelief. Even Shadow looked dumbfounded by the young cat's proclamation.

"Magnolia was my sister," he spat. "She would never stoop so low as to having kits."

"She must have fled when she learned she was expecting kits," the heavy-set tom meowed. "She knew how treacherous it was raising a family up here."

"Who are you?" Stormpaw's demanding cry seemed to silence them all.

"My name is Gloria," the creamy brown she-cat replied with a dip of her head. "You've obviously met Shadow…and this is Frost. She joined our group a few moons ago." Frost, though she looked to be about the age of an apprentice, nodded.

Her eyes were hard like chips of ice, as though she had been through difficult times. Stormpaw noticed that there was a similarity between her and Speckletail. She tried not to think about it as she looked back at the large tabby.

"And of course this furball is Henry," Gloria added when she looked at the tabby.

"That sounds like a kittypet's name," Crowpaw sputtered. Henry's paws slammed into the young cat's chest. Crowpaw wailed in shock at the sudden attack.

"Leave them alone!" Stormpaw cried.

Gloria looked at Stormpaw. For a moment she was afraid the she-cat would refuse. The look in Gloria's eyes told her that the group had faced difficult times before.

"We should kill them while we have the chance," Frost growled.

Stormpaw gasped in dismay. Would they really kill her friends?

As if her soundless question had been answered, light poured through one of the clouds. Stormpaw's eyes narrowed into tiny slits.

It is them, Spottedleaf whispered. StarClan has chosen them.

The light faded as quickly as it had appeared. Stormpaw gazed at Gloria for what felt like moons. Eventually the rogue flicked her tail. It was a signal that told the others to release Stormpaw's friends. Shadow let out a low snarl before he backed away from her.

"I believe we've come to an understanding…of sorts," Gloria meowed after heartbeats of silence had passed.

"You won't hurt them?" Stormpaw demanded. When Gloria nodded she was relieved. Stormpaw bounded over to Mothpaw, whose shoulder was bleeding from a wound Frost had inflicted. "Are you okay?" she whispered.

"My pride is hurt more than my wound," Mothpaw growled.

Stormpaw couldn't help but purr in amusement. Despite her obvious injuries Mothpaw was trying to make it seem like a good moment.

OoOo

It was sunhigh by the time they reached some decent shelter. Gloria had taken the lead, with Frost close at her side. Shadow and Henry were close together, whispering to one another. Stormpaw wondered if they were trying to understand what was happening.

Stormpaw realized that they had come to an opening in the mountain.

Gloria was the first to enter the cave. Stormpaw followed, her pelt brushing against the cold rock.

Darkness quickly engulfed the group. Stormpaw blinked until her eyesight adjusted to the darkness. She was surprised that she could see so well. It was like the cave was bright as day.

"Why is it so bright in here?" Stormpaw asked.

"I can't see a thing," Crowpaw hissed irritably.

"Don't be such a cold stiff." Henry butted Crowpaw in the back with his muzzle, laughing as the apprentice snarled in response.

"Enough!" Gloria's yowl seemed to echo louder than ever. "I want silence while I learn where these cats have come from."

Her blue eyes glittered like frost as she looked at Stormpaw.

"Well…we're apprentices," Stormpaw replied. "We come from four Clans…ThunderClan, RiverClan, ShadowClan and WindClan." Frost's eyes seemed to widen when Stormpaw mentioned ThunderClan.

"So these Clans…are they like the Tribe Of Rushing Water?" Henry asked the question, and Gloria spat at him before he could ask more.

"No, I don't think they are at least." Stormpaw went on to explain the basics of Clan life. Gloria seemed very interested, while the others just looked merely annoyed that Stormpaw would have suggested joining the Clans.

Gloria finally closed her eyes after Stormpaw was finished. She looked around to see that Mothpaw and Arrowpaw were shaking their heads in disbelief. Crowpaw looked like he was ready to rip her face off.

None of the apprentices looked ready to accept the fact that these were the rogues StarClan had asked them to find.

Silence followed Stormpaw's words after Gloria had closed her eyes. For a moment Stormpaw was afraid the she-cat would simply slaughter them all on the spot. Instead Gloria's eyes snapped open and her gaze focused on Stormpaw.

"I would like to meet these Clans," Gloria whispered.

"They need your help," Stormpaw mewed shakily. "StarClan told us to come find you."

"StarClan? Sounds like a load of foxdung to me," Henry growled.

"They're real!" Frost's cry suddenly made all cats look at her. Her blue eyes widened in shock before she looked down at her paws in embarrassment.

"Than it is decided…we will go with these Clan cats and meet the Clans," Gloria announced after another wave of silence followed.

Henry and Shadow looked like they were about to protest, but they shut their jaws when she glared at them icily.

A decision had been made. The rogues were going to join the Clans, whether they wanted it or not.